On a late night, under the endlessly sprawling, pitchblack sky.

Da Jeong chirped away like a sparrow, pulling her iron blanket up over herself. With her father’s surgery, the disciplinary committee, and even the orphanage issues all resolved, she felt as if she was flying.

“The orphanage has been completely excluded from the redevelopment zone. We can stay there from now on.”
“Really?”
“And a charity event called ‘Sharing Love’ came from the Welfare Foundation. They really brought all sorts of things. Dad, do you know Hyo Seong Foods?”
Da Jeong, excited, finished her sentence with an upward inflection.

“Of course, I know. It owns the Hu Mart, right?”
“Yes. Everything in that mart, even the Hyo Seong Bakery products, it was endless.”
“I was worried about all the sponsorships getting cut off, so that’s a relief.”
“Right. Did I mention that it’s a foundation run by our company’s vice president?”
“…….”
Staring at Da Jeong’s wideeyed question, Cheol Joong lost his words.

All day long, she had been going on about this ‘vice president’, painting such a vivid picture of a man she had never even met. Yet she seemed completely unaware.

“He looks really scary, you know? But he’s not like that with the kids. Ye Seul says he’s just a scarylooking uncle.”
“Ye Seul said that?”
“Yes. And the boys were nagging him to play soccer with them. I thought he definitely wouldn’t, but then he did.”
“He sounds like a kind man.”
“Well… he does seem that way…”
Da Jeong’s voice, previously flowing like a song, gradually softened. Even her eyelids seemed heavy, as if she were worried about something.

“What’s wrong?”
“Well, he’s a good person, but… people keep saying strange things.”
Recently, strange suspicions had been arising around Tae Sang.

There were malicious reports of sexism at work, speculative articles about his sexual preferences, and slanderous posts decorating the portal sites day after day.

Although she didn’t know who was spreading these rumors and why, it was clear that something unfavorable was happening to him. Da Jeong unwittingly wore a gloomy expression.

“Da Jeong.”
Cheol Joong, who had been quietly observing, spoke with a serious face.

“Yes?”
“Do you… like that man?”
“What? Dad, what are you talking about? He’s our company’s vice president! The man who constantly makes headlines.”
“When did I ask if he was a great person? I asked if you had feelings for him.”
“Well, that’s…

Da Jeong kept her mouth shut, lost in thought. She had expected him to agree with what she was saying, but his reaction was unexpected.

Buzz.

Then, a short vibrating noise broke the awkward silence. Grateful for the unexpected message, Da Jeong quickly checked her phone.

“Ex, excuse me.”
Upon turning on the screen, a short message from Young Mi caught her eye.

Wow, have you seen this? He’s getting married again.

‘Again…?’
Da Jeong tilted her head in confusion as she clicked on the link that Young Mi had sent her. The words ‘Cha Tae Sang, the third generation of Hyosung Group, announces his surprise marriage’ came into view.

Da Jeong read the article with trembling eyes.

[The executive vice president of ‘Hyosung Family 3rd Generation’, Cha Tae Sang, who has been making bold moves, has announced his marriage again not long after breaking off his marriage talks with Daesung Group. However, who the bride will be is still under wraps. According to the PR team of Air Korea, the wedding will take place at the end of next month, with only family attending in utmost secrecy…]

Having read that far, Da Jeong stiffened.

Tae Sang was getting married. The man who had naturally become a part of her life would soon become another woman’s husband.

Suddenly, her mind went blank and a vision of his wedding came to her.

A slimline tuxedo accentuating his handsome features, dignified steps parting the virgin road. Tae Sang, standing at the wedding, would be more composed and cooler than anyone else.

And he would be heading towards a bride enveloped in pure white beauty.

Thinking of that made her heart hurt strangely. The pain was so real, it felt like someone had stabbed her heart with a sharp blade.

“Da Jeong.”
“……”
“Da Jeong?”
“Yes?”
Da Jeong lifted her head with a start. Her deepset eyes were devoid of any sign of life.

“What’s wrong?”
“No, nothing…”
Da Jeong mumbled an answer and quickly put her phone in her bag. She tried to maintain a calm expression, but her mind was filled with thoughts of his wedding.

Is it the chairman again who is pushing the marriage unilaterally? If so, wouldn’t he step forward and break off the marriage again?

Da Jeong was surprised at her thought as soon as she realized it. It seemed like she was hoping his marriage would be broken off.

Unable to hide her bewildered expression, a strange knock sounded in the hospital room.

A knock in a multibed hospital room? Da Jeong looked at the door with a puzzled expression. Then she saw a familiar face beyond the small window.

“Secretary Kim…?”