My heart pounded loudly.

Jin Woo is going to the United States? Just last night, or rather, even this morning, he didn’t say anything…

Ji Hye’s messages, unaware of Ji Na’s confused heart, kept filling up the chat window.

[Indeed, he wasn’t meant to stay in Korea. His time as an intern in our office was the heyday. Really…]

Her messages, full of regret, didn’t quite register in Ji Na’s eyes.

[What should we have for lunch later?] Ji Hye couldn’t get an answer in the end. Because Ji Na, who had been staring at the monitor as if holding her breath, suddenly stood up and left the office.

He said he was going to transfer to another department so that they could be together…

What could going to the United States mean?

Her heart felt so tight that she could hardly breathe. She knew she had to ask Jin Woo first. Ji Na quickly picked up her phone. However, her trembling hand couldn’t touch it properly. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her trembling.

“Why are you here?”

A calm voice came from Ji Na’s side, startling her. There stood Do Jin.

Now that she looked at him, his elongated eyes and flickering pupils seemed eerily snake-like to her.

“Uh… I, I just need to go to the restroom.”

Of all the times…

She felt like she had been caught in the most embarrassing situation by the person she least wanted to be caught by.

“The restroom isn’t that way.”

He spoke with a hint of mockery.

“Go see the manager.”

At that moment, Ji Na wanted more than anything to meet Jin Woo. She told Do Jin and tried to leave his presence.

“There’s something I need to discuss with Ji Na.”

Ji Na. The four letters of her title made her whole body shiver with unease, not excitement or nervousness.

“What’s the matter?”

As Do Jin calmly inquired, he approached Ji Na a step closer.

“No matter how much I think about it, I feel like you’ve deceived me.”

Do Jin’s voice grew quieter. Ji Na, taken aback, took a step back.

“You didn’t look this beautiful when we were dating…”

Regret oozed from his voice, and even his gaze was pitiful.

“Let’s refrain from discussing the past within the company.”

Ji Na firmly rebuked him.

“You didn’t push me away like this before.”

As if reminiscing about the old memories, Do Jin’s eyes seemed moist somewhere. To Ji Na, it was a memory that only brought back a dreadful image.

“I’ll be on my way.”

As Ji Na tried to walk away from Do Jin, he firmly grabbed her arm.

“It’s not over yet.”

Just as Ji Na was taken aback and about to glare at Do Jin, a familiar voice came from the other end of the corridor.

“What’s going on here?”

It was Seo Jin Woo. He looked just as handsome and sophisticated as when they had met in the morning, approaching Ji Na.

“Manager Kim Do Jin. My woman’s arms are quite delicate.”

Jin Woo reached out and released Ji Na from Do Jin’s grip. Do Jin nearly groaned from the strength in Jin Woo’s hands.

“As someone who is married, I would appreciate it if you refrained from interfering with my woman.”

Jin Woo’s tone was calm, but icy. His gaze was rarely so stern.

In the end, Do Jin took a step back.
“Yes, I’ll be more careful from now on.”

She wasn’t just an intern anymore.

She was now a director, like the heavens, that Do Jin wouldn’t dare to look up to.

“Be careful.”

With that piercing word, Do Jin didn’t even look back and returned to the office.

As soon as he disappeared, the icy atmosphere became as gentle as a spring day. Jin Woo’s hand holding Ji Na’s was incredibly gentle.

“Can I ask what’s going on?”

Contrary to the passionate look in his eyes as he gazed at Ji Na, his voice was cautious.

“You’re going to the USA…?”

She hadn’t intended to ask directly. The question popped out spontaneously, and Ji Na trembled even as she asked it.

Jin Woo’s gaze wavered slightly at such Ji Na.

“I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I was planning to tell you once I was sure.”

Sorrow took precedence. The emotion that overcame her before relief was undoubtedly sorrow.

Subsequent emotion: loss. It felt like a hole had been punched right through the center of her heart.

The thought of him leaving made her feel as if a cold wind had blown through her in the middle of summer. Ji Na, who didn’t want to reveal her emotions to Jin Woo, quickly composed her expression.

“When are you going?”

“…”

To Ji Na’s dry question, Jin Woo didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at her for a moment.

“It’s not certain yet.”

Nothing was certain. Ji Na withdrew her arm from his grip. Unfortunately, a sarcastic remark slipped out.

“So, you were planning to tell me the day before you left?”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Jin Woo replied urgently.

“I’m going to work now.”

She didn’t want to ask any more questions. No, she didn’t want to say anything at all. She turned away quickly, afraid that her tears might show.

Maybe it’s for the best. It might be better to sort things out before giving my heart away.

Jin Woo didn’t try to stop her either. Perhaps he felt the same way.

It was worse than when she had met Do Jin.