Chapter 120
An unbelievable statement followed.
“I’m sorry.”
Ga-eun blinked.
“For troubling you these past days.”
His expression remained unchanged, making her wonder if she’d misheard.
Did he just… apologize to her?
“I was angry that I didn’t know your condition. Frustrated. Thinking I knew everything while failing to properly understand my surroundings—exactly like Kwon Si-jung.”
In other words, he was angry at himself for behaving like the cousin he considered foolish, and felt apologetic.
This man was capable of such words.
Continuing to stare in amazement, Si-heon narrowed his eyes.
“Stop staring.”
“I’m just… surprised.”
“I’m not sure what you thought of me. I’m human too.”
He was always several steps ahead of everyone else. Ga-eun knew this. He knew this about himself.
After a brief pause, he added, “For now.”
At that, Ga-eun pulled the blanket up to cover her mouth, quietly laughing.
He seemed almost embarrassed.
“Don’t smile.”
“…I’m not smiling.”
“You’ve always been good at lying, ever since our first arranged meeting, Ga-eun.”
The word “matchmaking” struck her like a sudden, cold breeze. Her mind drifted back to their previous conversation, memories as sharp as shattered glass.
“You seem quite familiar with this. Leaving someone’s soul in disarray, discarding them without a second thought.”
“Yes, I’m familiar. With… those meaningless nights.”
“You handle people like objects. Discarding them with such ease. You’re quite the expert at lying, our Ga-eun.”
She hesitated, her words trembling like autumn leaves. “…Did you know?”
“How could I not? You’re so transparent.”
Crimson flooded her cheeks, as vivid as the ruby adorning her left ring finger. “It was… because my family was strict…” Her explanation hung in the air, weak and fragile—yet true.
Si-heon watched her, embarrassment etched across her features. He rose from his seat. “I’ll be back.”
As Ga-eun attempted to stand, his hand gently pressed her shoulder. “Stay.”
“But…”
“Chief Secretary Myung mentioned you like tea. Would a tea bag be alright?”
“…Yes.”
“I know a good place in Hong Kong. I’ll bring some back.”
His eyes caught her hair band falling beside the pillow—a remnant of last night’s passionate, almost violent encounter. He quietly slipped it into his jacket pocket.
“Why are you taking that?” she asked.
“Insurance,” he murmured.
With that, Si-heon closed the bedroom door softly behind him, walking towards the underground garage. Only then did he realize the subtle softness around his eyes and lips.
Her first time was with him.
All because of this trivial, insignificant reason.
…Far from being a child.
In my honor, he was not the type to obsess over someone’s past or purity.
And yet, why was he so… moved by the fact that he was the first man to possess Ga-eun’s body.
‘Is this happiness?’
He couldn’t be certain, but it felt close to joy.
‘I’ve completely lost my mind.’
Exhaling a light sigh, Si-heon emerged from the garage, pondering whether that Hong Kong cafe Ga-eun loved would still exist.
“…”
Barely five minutes had passed since they parted.
Yet why did Ga-eun’s image persist, haunting his every thought?
Reluctant to acknowledge these feelings, he focused intently on driving. Time already seemed to crawl.
He pulled out her hair band and brought it close to his nose, inhaling her distinctive soft, subtle fragrance. This would be his substitute for her.
His acceptance of this long business trip aligned with his grandfather Chairman Kwon Soon-yeol’s intention. An experiment.
Could he sleep without Ga-eun or not?
“If it becomes unbearable, just say the word. I’ll send you back.”
“That won’t be necessary. If my condition deteriorates, I’ll quickly finish my work and return.”
“Ha! Not just returning midway, but swiftly wrapping everything up. As expected, our heir is different. Isn’t that right, Director Seong?”
If he could sleep without Ga-eun, her existence would become unnecessary. His grandfather would surely think so.
But Si-heon was different.
What he truly wanted to experiment with was… his own heart.
Not as a cure for insomnia, but to understand: did he want Ga-eun or not?
If he did want her.
He would keep her by his side, by any means necessary.
Even Chairman Kwon opposed.
After all, if he couldn’t surpass his grandfather, he’d never be named heir.
This trip held that meaning.
But Si-heon discovered his feelings through another route.
A photo arrived from an anonymous sender.
“…”
There she was, smiling radiantly—beautifully—facing the man she called “Oppa from Juhan”.
Breathtakingly beautiful.
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