The man who entered the office comfortably wrapped his arms around Mrs. Jung’s waist.

“Who has upset our madam this much?”

The man with a sinister gaze smirked at her.

“Han Tae-su.”

The adulterous partner was Mr. Ban’s high school junior. Mr. Ban had assigned Han Tae-su to clean up Mrs. Jung’s messes, and they eventually became intimately involved.

“Go to Jeju Island right now and discipline that unruly brat.”

“……Ah.”

At Han Tae-su’s lukewarm response, Mrs. Jung shouted in anger.

“Why, can’t you do it?”

“Haha.”

“Don’t laugh. I feel like throwing something at your face even if it’s you.”

“Ah, please spare me that.”

Tae-su raised his hands in surrender, but his expression remained calm and somewhat lazy.

“Understood.”

“Make sure Choi Arin can never stand before our Jae-hyeok again. Use any means necessary.”

“If the young master finds out, he won’t stay quiet.”

“That’s why you need to handle it discreetly yourself.”

“Yes, yes. That’s my job, after all. You trust me, right?”

Tae-su gently squeezed Mrs. Jung’s trembling shoulder, and her face, filled with anger, relaxed instantly.

“Ha. If only you were always this useful.”

“That’s why you like me, isn’t it?”

Mrs. Jung slapped his hand away, but her face did not show dislike.

“Just one thing before that.”
Han Tae-su’s expression changed dramatically. Mrs. Jung, responding to his insidious gaze, wrapped her arms around his neck.

“If Jae-hyeok catches us again, it’s over for both of us.”

“Of course. Who else but you commands me?”

Her red lips, marked with a dot, curved into a smile. A seductive voice slipped through her parted lips.

Three days later.

Arin was scheduled for discharge.

Ji-yoon had taken leave to stay by her side for three days. Arin felt better with her presence but couldn’t shake off the guilt of being a burden.

“Ji-yoon, I’m really fine now. You can go back to Seoul without worry.”

“I’ll stay until your discharge day.”

“But you’re busy, aren’t you? Even with leave, you’ll be mindful of others. Plus, we’re meeting next week anyway.”

Ji-yoon spoke with a serious expression.

“Can you make it? I’m sure Yu-jung will understand.”

“No, it’s not just any event; it’s Yu-jung’s wedding. I’ve always received her help, so I must go.”

After a moment of contemplation, Ji-yoon spoke hesitantly.

“You might meet the Vice President there.”

She knew exactly what was worrying Ji-yoon. But avoiding Jae-hyeok by not attending Yu-jung’s wedding was unthinkable for Arin.

“It’s okay.”

Arin turned to look out the window, gazing at the white clouds, and continued,

“I’ll just attend the wedding and leave. It’s not just anyone; it’s Yu-jung’s wedding.”

Yu-jung was initially Jae-hyeok’s personal secretary assigned to Arin, but her role was unusual.

She wasn’t under the direction of Jae-hyeok or Arin, but Mrs. Jung. Yu-jung’s primary tasks were simple: ensure Arin took the herbal medicine prescribed by Mrs. Jung and report her every move.

Despite the appearance, Yu-jung wasn’t entirely Mrs. Jung’s person.

Yu-jung was a breath of fresh air in Arin’s suffocating marital life.

When Arin struggled with the medicine supposedly for fertility, Yu-jung intervened.

[This is a different medicine. Same packaging but slightly altered. See this tiny leaf drawing? Mrs. Jung won’t notice. From now on, I’ll bring you this one, so don’t worry and take it.]

Yu-jung had switched the medicines, and as she predicted, Mrs. Jung didn’t notice.

“Remember I loved sweet things? But Mrs. Jung banned all sweets, saying they could cause diabetes and harm the fetus. That made it even harder. But then, Yu-jung…”

[Quickly, take this.]

Yu-jung would hand her a half-crumbled macaron.

[Is this…] [Yes, it’s from Blanc. Eat it before Mrs. Jung comes.]

“I know, right? Blanc. Despite the distance from the main house, she always brought me Blanc macarons.”

Arin reminisced.

“The taste of those crumbled shells… you can’t imagine. Yu-jung almost got fired because of me. Even in that situation, she looked out for me.”

Even after separating from Jae-hyeok, her connection with Yu-jung persisted.

“There was no need for her to see me after the breakup. But she came to Jeju to see me, always bringing Blanc macarons.”

Maybe that was why.

Yu-jung was more than just a secretary; she evoked deeper feelings. Purely, Yu-jung was one of the most precious people in her life.
“But I think it would be too selfish of me to not attend sister’s wedding just because I might feel uncomfortable due to him.”

“……She’ll understand.”

Eventually, Ji-yoon conceded. She too knew the significance of Yu-jung in Arin’s life and couldn’t persuade her otherwise.

“Sigh. Alright, but in return.”

Ji-yoon firmly held Arin’s hand and continued,

“Wherever you go, stay with me, okay?”

“Yes.”

Arin gently caressed the hand Ji-yoon held.

“Ji-yoon, I’m fine.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Nothing will happen. So don’t worry. Once this is over, we can return to our normal lives.”

In Arin’s eyes, directed towards Ji-yoon, there was hesitation and an inexplicable, vague fear.