A Whisper that woke love

This chapter explores the emotional chasm where Hae-soo is confronted with her deepest fears of losing Tae-ha. Her panic upon seeing him seemingly lifeless becomes a powerful trigger, unraveling the flood of emotions she has long suppressed. It is in this moment that her internal struggle surfaces: the uncertainty of her own feelings, her insecurity about their age gap, and the fear that her love for him might not be enough.

Tae-ha, on the other hand, believes his plan has succeeded perfectly, confident that Hae-soo’s actions reflect not just affection, but love. His staged "death" is a calculated move, and in it, he feels certain of her heart, even as he plays the role of the passive recipient. This chapter illuminates the delicate interplay of vulnerability, manipulation, and emotional realization, as both characters navigate their complex feelings and insecurities.

Chapter Text

Episode 59— Rewritten

Don’t leave me here without you.

A gust of wind howled through the alley rattling the stacked chairs outside the Barbecue shop like hanging skeleton bones. The sky had turned a deep, heavy and swollen. Then thunder rolled like distant war drums. The storm is looming.

The grease-smudged windows quivered as the wind slammed into the glass. Hae-soo’s co-worker craned her neck, mop still dripping.

“Is it going to rain? Why does the sky look like that?”

But Hae-soo barely heard her. Her attention was glued to her phone. Thumb tapping the screen. Refresh. Refresh.

No reply. No message. No read receipts.

Tae-ha always texts back. Always.

A pit opens in her stomach. Cold. Gnawing. Her lips press into a line as she stares at the screen like it might wake up but it doesn't.

Hae-soo’s thoughts:

Did he fall asleep waiting for me again…?

Her mind pulls her into a quieter memory of a sliver of warmth before dawn. The world hushed. Her cheek pressed to a his chest, syncing the rise and fall of his breathing with hers. His arms locked tightly around her, as if it made her fragile. And almost as if he let her go, she might vanish.

She never knew how deeply insomnia had carved into him. The sleepless nights. The shadows under his eyes that no one else saw. But with her, he could rest. With her, he finally slept. As if her heartbeat was the lullaby he’d been chasing all his life like a safe place.

Then the memory sharpened: Early morning light filtered in as she stirred. His face inches away. Hair mussed. Lips parted slightly. Boyish. Peaceful. Innocent.

She brushed a lock from his brow, fingers skimming his soft skin.

Too soft. Too pure.

If someone carried him away right now… he probably wouldn’t even notice.

She poked his cheek gently. “Sleeping so well, huh?” she whispered, amused.

Hae-soo realized she should’ve just let him rest. She always messed with him when he looked like that, unguarded and tender. She loved him most in those moments. Because in those moments, it felt like her presence had meaning.

PFFTT.. She smiled. Then the memory faded like smoke dissolving in air.

Across slums, the silence in her apartment was violent. Tae-ha sat slumped on the cold floor. Blood crusted at the edge of his lip. His head leaned back against the wall, eyes half-lidded. The moment Mincheol’s fist landed on his cheek, he’d felt nothing but rage. He desires to kill him.

His breathing was shallow. The taste of iron clung to his tongue. His knuckles were wrecked.

The door creaked then Lee Jay stepped in. Froze.

“You’ve had me playing dress-up, tailing people, flipping meat at a BBQ joint, pretending to be a loan shark. What’s next, huh?” His voice cracked between disbelief and disgust.

“Is this a game to you?”

Tae-ha gave a breathless laugh. Hollow. Bleeding.

“Do I look like I’m enjoying anything?”

Lee Jay’s jaw tensed. “So what’s the plan now?” he asked after a long pause. “You want her? Or revenge?”

“Because to her, you’re just another unfortunate man. Tragic. Broken.”

“If she really had a conscience, she’d have walked away by now. She’d have turned you away.”

A beat of silence..

“Age difference. Secrets. Obsession. You think those things don’t rot eventually?”

Lee Jay stepped closer. Hand a tube of wound cream to his hand.

“You know what’s really scary?”

He leaned in. His voice turned sharp, low:

“The bond of marriage. That shit lingers. Stronger than you think.”

Then he left. The door shut behind him. Tae-ha sat in the emptiness and the echo of those words clanging louder than any punch Mincheol had thrown.

Tae-ha’s Inner Spiral:

Maybe it would be easier.. if Mincheol disappeared.

then there was nothing left for her to go back to.
then the only path left was the one that led to me.

He wiped the blood from his mouth with a trembling hand. The storm cracked outside lightning flashing like a camera shutter capturing his ruin.

And his mind twisted.

He imagined her, kneeling in front of Mincheol, tending his wounds.

Would you cry for him? Forgive him?
Would you still choose him?

His hands curled into fists.

If you walked in and saw us both bleeding...
Would you run past me just to reach him?

Would you still worry about him first, Na Hae-soo?
IT HURTS.. </3

The question rotted inside him but no answer came. Only the roar of the storm hammering the windows. In that silence, Tae-ha felt the cruelest wound of all: The dread that even obsession might not be enough.

The rain began to fall. Hae-soo’s co-worker waved from the doorway. “Take care, unnie!”

“Yeah… you too,” she responded.

She stood just outside the threshold of the Barbecue Shop. Her fingers curled around her phone. Her hands were cold.

Still no text. Still no call nor missed notifications.

She stared into the darkness beyond the rain, hoping, needing for a silhouette to appear. A shape in the storm. A familiar figure always waiting for her. She always knew, he’s not the kind of man who forgets.

He shows up in the middle of snowstorms.
He crosses cities to pick me up.
He’s always there. Not when it comes to me.

So where is he? And why does it suddenly feel like his silence is hiding something terrible?

The storm broke into a violent downpour, rain slashing against her umbrella like the sky itself had shattered. Hae-soo ran. Heart in her throat, her breath hitching with every frantic step until she reaches the apartment.

The door was unlocked. Her hand trembled as it met the doorknob.

The air was suffocating. Something felt erroneous. It was thick, heavy, still. The hallway lights are dim overhead. Footprints stained the wooden floor, erratic and muddied.

"What happened to the house?"

“Tae-ha…?” she called, but her voice cracked mid-air, barely audible over the pounding rain.

No response..

“Tae-ha?!”

She called louder, desperation growing as her soaked socks slapped against the hallway floor. She burst into the living room and stopped cold.

Her scream tore through the silence. To her shock she wail.

“BEOM TAE-HA?!”

He lay there. His face was swollen and pale. Twisted on his side shirtless. Motionless.

A bruise blossomed across his jaw, blood dried along the line of his mouth. His hand was outstretched as if he’d been crawling and gave up. A trail of crimson smeared behind him like he’d tried to reach her.

Hae-soo dropped her bag and ran to him. She knelt beside him.

“Tae-ha! ! !..” She reached for him, fingertips hovering just above his chest, afraid to touch him, afraid he’d vanish. The moment her skin met his, it was ice. He was ice.

“Oh my God,” she breathed, tears already slipping down her cheeks. “You’re freezing, why are you so cold?”

Her hands roamed his chest, panic overtaking logic. She shook him gently at first, then harder, her voice spiraling into hysteria.

“No! no no no! Tae-ha, wake up! Please! wake up! ! !”

“You always answer me. Always…”

His silence devoured her. Something inside her snapped like a dam cracking wide open. She bent down and buried her face in his chest, sobbing violently, raw and collapsing beneath the weight of all she’d buried for far too long.

“I didn’t ask for this,” she whispered to him. “I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to care, Tae-ha. But I do. I care so much that it’s tearing me apart.”

“You haunt me… in every silence. Every moment I try to push you away, you’re still there. God, you ruin me.”

Her fists clenched in the fabric of his pants as if she could anchor herself to him. Her voice wavered, jagged as glass.

(SOBBING...)

“I told you it was just physical. That this thing between us meant nothing. But it wasn’t true. I said it because I was terrified. Because I’m older, because you’re younger, and I kept telling myself that one day, you’d wake up and realize you deserve someone less… broken, young and attractive.”

“I tried to drive you away. I pushed you. I needed you to stop loving me because I didn’t think I deserved it.”

Her voice cracked in a whisper:
“But you stayed.”

She lifted her head. Looking at him unmoving. Tae-ha knows how to act play-dead.

“No more running,” she whispered. “No more pretending. I love you, Tae-ha. You stupid, stubborn, impossible man… I love you.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. Until it shifted. The sound of a rasping breath. Then followed with a twitch of his hand. A flutter of lashes.

Her eyes widened.

“ Tae-ha?! ” Eyes wide opened. She gasped. Hae-soo sighs with relief.

His voice came like a wind through a cracked door, barely there, but enough to split her in half.

“You said… you love me.”
“Say it again.”

Her breath caught. Her vision blurred. She was too shocked to speak at first, too relieved to move.

“You..” her voice broke. “You bastard !” A strangled sob left her lips. “You scared me half to death!”

A weak smile ghosted across his battered face. “That’s not a ‘yes.’ He lifted a bruised hand and cupped her cheek and used his thumb to brush her tears away like he wanted to keep and preserve them.

Her hand pressed over his. Her voice was a whisper, like a confession at the edge of a cliff.

“I love you.”

“I love you, Tae-ha.”

His eyes in its dark and endless bore into hers.

“You don’t get to take it back,” he said, voice low, raw with emotion and something more dangerous a possession. “You said it. That means you’re mine now.”

She didn’t flinch. Instead, her fingers closed over his wrist, right where the old scar lay beneath his skin. Her lips trembled.

“Then don’t ever scare me like this again,” she whispered. “Don’t leave me like that. Don’t ever leave me.”

Tae-ha leaned forward with effort, catching her lips in a kiss as delicate as glass.

When they broke apart, he pulled her hand to his chest and held it over his heartbeat.

“I’m still here,” he whispered. “And I won’t die.”

“I won’t let anyone take me away from you, Hae-soo. Not ever.”

And then came his final whisper, soft but echoing like a vow through the storm outside:

“I love you too.”

Let me bleed where only you can touch me..

She gathered his weight in her arms, trembling, clutching him tightly, like if she didn’t hold him hard enough, he’d vanish from her life forever. Tae-ha let out a breathless sound, half a groan, half a laugh he buried his face in her chest, grinning. His body ached. Burned. But he was alive.

Alive, and in her arms.

Desire pulsed under his skin. She helped him to his feet slowly. He winced, stifling the pain, unwilling to show weakness. Her arm looped around his back, supporting him. His blood was seeping warmth onto her shirt, but she didn’t let go. He folded into her like he belonged there.

The bed was messy with twisted sheets, crumpled pillows. She lowered him down with care. The second he hit the edge, he exhaled sharply, one hand clutching his ribs. His knuckles were torn, dried blood clung to his jaw. She disappeared into the bathroom.

Tae-ha sat in silence, the hum of the rain pressing against the windows. Then she returned carrying cotton pads, antiseptic, and a small towel soaked in warm water.

Her voice was soft, but laced with something dark. Something shaking.

“Kang Mincheol was here, wasn’t he?”

His gaze flicked to hers.

“Did you fight with him? Did he hit your face?” Her voice sharpened, on the edge of rage and heartbreak. “Did you hit him back?”

Tae-ha didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

That single word slammed through the space between them like thunder. Hae-soo froze, the towel trembling in her grip. Her eyes widened, horror blooming across her face.

“Why? Why would you do that? You know what kind of person he is!”
“You should’ve avoided him, You should’ve walked away!”

But inside his head, his voice was calm ice under pressure.

(Tae-ha's Inner voice) How could I? He came here frothing like a beast, screaming your name. He wasn’t just angry. he was desperate. Desperate to reclaim you.

“Do you even know how many fights he’s been in? How dangerous he is? Why would you throw yourself into that mess without thinking?” she shouted.

Tae-ha watched her. Silent. Steady.

I did think, Hae-soo. I knew everything. I knew who he was. And I still did it. Because he touched what’s mine.

“You’re always the one getting hurt,” she whispered, voice unraveling. “Why is it always you?”

He was leaning slightly against the cabinet, body heavy but eyes unflinching. She moved toward him. Knelt in front of him. Her hands trembled as they reached around his torso, pulling him back into her arms.

And he collapsed into her.

Longing swept through him like a tsunami. His limbs trembled from the surge of overwhelming love clawing its way out of him.

“What could someone as gentle as you possibly gain from fighting back?” she murmured against his skin.

He froze. Her warmth enveloped him. Her words, her tears, her shaking everything wrapped around him like a prayer. Tae-ha blinked rapidly, his chest heaving.

“Are you… crying?” she asked gently, brushing her hand in his soft hair.
“Does it hurt that much?”

Tae-ha grinned, raw and breathless.

“Yes,” he said. “It hurts.”

And then he buried his face in her shoulder. Burning, overwhelmed, alive. She held him tightly. His whole body trembled from the force of emotion so foreign, so all-consuming. This was it. She cared. She chose him.

And with that, something inside him ignited.

I won this time. She finally sees me. Chooses me. And I’ll never let her go.

“He started yelling at me out of nowhere, I was so scared”

she whispered brushing his hair gently. “This… this is all my fault.”

“I won’t let something like this happen again.”

She pulled away gently, reaching for the towel again.

“Let’s get these wounds cleaned up”

But he caught her wrist. And in one sudden, startling motion, Tae-ha pulled her down. She gasped as her back hit the floor, her breath knocked from her lungs. He hovered over her, body aching but his gaze is hungry and thirsty. Possessive. Electric.

FORGET THE MEDICINE NA HAE-SOO

“Na Hae-soo,” he whispered. And then he bit her chin softly, then harder, teeth grazing skin like a brand.

Their eyes locked.

A violent, erotic tension crackled in the air between them. She was paralyzed beneath him by need and longingness. Electricity ran from her neck down her spine, pooling in the pit of her stomach.

She trembled.

“Hng… If we don’t treat it now, it’ll leave a scar…” she whispered weakly, her voice betraying her.

But his lips were already grazing her ear, then lower down to her neck, tracing fire. His breath, his mouth she couldn’t fight it. Her head tilted to the side, giving him access, even as her body trembled beneath him.

She wanted to stop. He kissed her again, and again, until she melted like wax folding into heat.

“Doing this in the middle of getting scolded” her voice cracked through ragged breaths.
“You seriously…”

He paused. Looked into her eyes with a sinful, pleading grin.

She cursed under her breath.

“Worse than a dog.”

And Tae-ha’s inner voice whispered, with savage joy:

(Then it’s a relief to be your dog.)

Her leg brushed in-between his thigh. His hand splayed across her ribs, trembling. She was giving in. Her body was already his, even if her words were slow to follow.

Then, in a voice so soft it trembled:

“My lips are torn…” he said. “The inside of my mouth… it’s cut.”

He leaned closer, his mouth hovering above hers.

“Please. Lick it and make it better".

Chapter 2: Everything I hid behind I Love You

Summary:

This chapter beautifully captures a tender and heartwarming moment between Hae-soo and Tae-ha following their intimate connection, where all their previous worries are gently set aside. Hae-soo’s confession, a declaration of the depth and authenticity of her feelings for Tae-ha, is a pivotal turning point. The scene that unfolds under the sheets, where every caress, every kiss, and every warm embrace speaks volumes of their shared affection, radiates an undeniable sweetness. The night becomes a symbol of vulnerability, trust, and emotional release. As dawn breaks, the atmosphere shifts, there’s a newfound confidence in the air. Both characters awaken to a sense of certainty, their bond stronger and more assured, ready to face whatever comes next with a clearer heart.

Chapter Text

Episode 60 — Rewritten

She kisses him more slow, deep. Her breathing slows, her body warm and relaxed against his. Their bodies press close, the urgency giving way to something sacred. They move toward the bed, hands exploring like they’re mapping each other’s scars. Hae-soo hovered over his body and kiss him passionately.

Mmhhmm..

Uh..

Hng..

"I.. it ended" she whispered gazing in his eyes. She meant to tell him that her period is over.

"We can do it" she exclaimed.

Their kiss deepens as she moves closer, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him fully into her. Their bodies fit together with ease familiar, trusting. No hesitation. Only connection.

Tae-ha gently rolls her beneath him, eyes locked on hers. In the stillness, their breathing becomes the only sound. They stumble, lips still locked, hands desperate not hurried, but yearning. He cups her face like he’s holding something fragile and sacred.

They begin to undress each other slowly, like a ceremony. Each button, each kiss along bare skin is another vow. Her breath hitches as his fingers graze her waist. His lips trail along the curve of her neck, her collarbone, down her warm breast reverent, trembling with emotion. Their movements are slow, achingly intimate. Eyes locked. Breath mingling. Whispers escaping between gasps.

She wraps her arms around his.

(Hae-soo inner monologue)

Make me forget his name completely

Let me be filled with only you..

Each touch is a plea. Each kiss is a promise. They move like waves crashing, surrendering, becoming one. Time ceases to exist. There’s only heat, softness, and the overwhelming sense that this, right here, is where they were always meant to be.

Tae-ha lowers himself to her, aligning their hearts and bodies, and finally they come together. His hand slides along her back, down to her buttocks pulling her over him once more. Their eyes lock heat pooling between them. Hae-soo was sitting on his lap, slowly thrusting into his lower body. Their mouths find each other again, slower, but more urgent, more deliberate.

They lose themselves in each other, again and again hearts bare, bodies aching for closeness. Every brush of their skin is a reminder of what it means to be touched with reverence. Their climax is silent. Eyes locked. Foreheads pressed. Hands trembling. In exhaustion, she buried her face into his and he wraps her tightly in his arms like carrying something fragile savoring every moans she's asserting intensely.

He grins. And the world outside fades away.

Tae-ha had finally dozed off, lying still on the bed with one arm draped across his stomach. His breathing was shallow. Peaceful. He didn’t even flinch when she pulled the blanket over him. Hae-soo sat on the edge of the bed, fingers curled against her thigh, her chest tightening as she stared at him.

Why do you keep doing this?
Why do you make it so hard to stay numb?

The moonlight crept through the curtains, casting a soft glow over his face. Even with the bruises, he looked younger asleep. Less guarded. Less dangerous. Like the pain had peeled away the layers he hid from the world.

Her hand moved before she could stop it fingers brushing gently across the bandage on his cheek.

He shifted slightly, murmuring something she couldn’t understand.

Hae-soo leaned closer.

“You should hate me,” she whispered.

“You saw me at my worst. You saw me stay with a man who ruined me. You watched me fall apart, every day. And you still…”

She stopped. Her throat tightened. “You still look at me like I’m someone worth protecting. Someone worth saving.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. She hadn’t even realized she was crying.

“Tae-ha…” Her voice cracked like glass. “Why didn’t you walk away?”

His eyes opened slowly half-lidded, sleep-heavy but focused on her instantly. As if he’d been waiting to hear her say his name in that voice. He didn’t speak. He touched her face with the back of his fingers.

“Because you’re the only thing I ever wanted to run toward.”

Her resolve crumbled.

All the nights she told herself not to feel it. All the times she swallowed the lump in her throat when he silently waited outside her job, just to walk her home. Every bouquet of roses. Every unspoken word behind his eyes.

I don’t know when I started needing you, she thought.
But I do. I do.

She leaned in, forehead pressing against his. Tears falling freely now.

“I didn’t want this,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to… but I think…”

He barely breathed. Waiting on her next word.

“…I’m falling in love with you.”

His fingers curled around hers so softly, so reverently.

“Then fall,” he murmured. “I’ll catch you.”

She leaned into him, into his chest, into his warmth, into the years of silent devotion he’d carried.

It was already dawn. The world outside was still. Inside the apartment, everything was warm and muted.

Tae-ha stirred, eyes still closed. His one arm lay loosely around Hae-soo’s waist, their legs tangled beneath the sheets. Her head rested on his chest, the silence felt safer. She didn’t move. Just listened to his heartbeat: steady and real beneath her ear.

“You didn’t sleep again, did you?” she asked softly.

His lips twitched, amused. “I did. You’re better than a sleeping pills.”

She huffed a quiet breath, then pulled back slightly, just enough to meet his gaze.

“I meant what I said” she said.

He blinked slowly. Waiting.

“About falling for you.”

Her fingers brushed over the bruise near his lip light, feather-soft. Her touch was gentler than anything he'd ever known.

“It didn’t happen overnight. I didn’t even realize it was happening,” she said. “I was so used to not being seen. Not being chosen. Not being enough.”

She paused.

“But then… there you were. Always there. With your quiet presence and your terrible sleeping habits. With your silence.”

Her voice broke, and she hovered upward pressing her forehead to his.

“And I realized I started looking for you without even knowing it. On the sidewalk. In the shadows. I felt safe when you were near, even when I didn’t know why.”

He looked at her.

She exhaled shakily. “You scare me,” she confessed.

"You make me want something again. You make me want to hope. To believe in something that won’t end in regret.”

He finally spoke, voice hoarse. “And does that regret have my name on it?”

She smiled. Bittersweet. Tearful.

“No. You’re the only thing in my life that doesn’t feel like a mistake.”

She pressed her lips to his cheek right where the bruise was fading.

“I don’t know where this will go. I don’t know if I can be everything you’ve waited for.”

She looked into his eyes, now brimming with emotion he didn’t know how to name. Her fingers interlocked with his.

“So if you’re still waiting…” she whispered.

He pulled her close again, cradling her against his chest.

“I’m not waiting anymore,” he said. “You’re already here.”

And in the cold breeze of the night, they stayed like that. Two broken souls finding shelter in each other, no longer waiting, no longer hiding.

The sheets rustled as she shifted, curling closer to him. Her cheek rested against his bare shoulder, fingers absentmindedly tracing the faint scar that peeked from his chest.

“I kept telling myself I was just grateful to you,” she whispered. “That maybe I was just mistaking comfort for love.”

Her voice was steady. Like if she spoke too loudly, the truth would shatter.

“But then you started showing up in places you didn’t have to be. At hours when the world was asleep. You remembered things about me that I forgot about myself.”

She glanced up at him, eyes heavy with emotion.

“Do you know how long it’s been since someone looked at me like I wasn’t broken?”

His throat tightened.

“At first, I thought you were just kind. Maybe a little strange,” she gave a smile. “But then I started waiting for you too."

Her fingers moved from his scar to the center of his chest, where his heartbeat thudded beneath skin and bone.

“And I hated myself for it. Because I thought I was being selfish… falling in love with someone who already gave me too much.”

A beat of silence. Her lips barely moved when she said it:

“But I am. I’m in love with you, Tae-ha.”

He inhaled sharply, like the words physically struck him.

“Even if this scares me,” she continued, “even if I don’t know what tomorrow looks like… I want you. Not as a ghost. Not as a memory. But here. Now. In whatever way we can have each other.”

Tae-ha’s eyes glistened. The ache in his chest, the obsession, the years of watching from behind glass it all melted into something gentler, something more terrifying than anything he’d ever faced:

Being loved back...

“Say something,” she murmured, fingers tightening slightly on his chest.

He turned slowly to face her completely, cradling her face with a reverence reserved for things once lost and now miraculously found.

“I’ve been waiting to hear you say that,” he said, voice raw.

He kissed her soft, slow, and trembling.

“You saved me once,” he whispered against her lips. “Now let me stay beside you, even when the world tries to take everything.”

"Your ex-husband, I'm jealous of him."

"I tried to hide it, but every time I see traces of him in your eyes, in your memories, I feel like I can't win over him"

She nodded into his touch, eyes filled with something fragile and real.

"I.. I no longer look forward to see him. For me, he is just a part of my past that is no longer existing"

"What else should I look for? I have you now by my side. And that's enough to keep me going, and to move forward"

The dam inside her broke. She clung to him, arms wrapping around his shoulders, breath catching as the tears came from a relief. Because for the first time in so long, she wasn’t surviving.

She was choosing..

“Just promise me you won’t leave,” she choked softly.

“I couldn’t,” he whispered.

They fell asleep like that, wrapped in each other’s truth. Just two hearts that had been waiting far too long.

Morning light crept in slow. Sunlight spills through the curtains, golden and quiet. A pale, honeyed glow stretching across the floorboards and crawling its way up the bed where they lay tangled. The air was still. Calm. Something had changed between them: softened, deepened.

Hae-soo stirred first. Her eyes fluttered open to find Tae-ha already awake, propped up slightly, one arm beneath his head. He was watching her the way he always did when he thought she wouldn’t notice: like she was something sacred. His face looked softer in the light. Less haunted. Younger, even.

She blinked sleepily, voice a soft rasp.

“Have you been watching me all night?”

He smiled. He didn’t lie either.

“Not all night.”
Then after a beat: “Just long enough.”

She exhaled a little laugh, but it faded quickly as she reached out to brush the cut near his mouth. Her fingers moved gently across his skin, as if touching him might somehow ease the pain he hadn’t spoken of.

“Does it still hurt?”

Tae-ha caught her hand and kissed her palm.

“Not anymore.”

She shifted, propping herself up beside him, sheets pooled around her waist. Something in her expression shifted uncertainty creeping back in.

“Tae-ha…”

He looked at her.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“You always seem to know exactly where I am. What I need. You show up before anything else. Her voice faltered. “And sometimes, it feels like you know me better than I know myself.”

She wasn’t accusing. She wasn’t suspicious. She just… needed to understand.

“Who are you, really?”

Silence.

Tae-ha stared at the ceiling for a long second. Then sat up, running a hand through his hair. The shift in him was quiet but unmistakable.

“I was hoping you'd ask one day,” he said softly. “But I also prayed you never would.”

Hae-soo sat up too, wrapped in bedsheet.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know how to tell you the whole truth without losing you.”

Her breath caught. “Try me.”

He turned to her, his eyes unreadable.

“You once saved a boy on the street,” he said. “He was bleeding, scared, barely alive. You gave him your voice. Your coat. Your name, just once. You probably forgot.”

Her heart skipped.

“I never forgot,” he whispered. “That boy was me.”

Hae-soo froze.

Tae-ha smiled faintly, like a man holding out a secret he’d been cradling too long.

“You saved me, Na Hae-soo. And I spent years trying to return that mercy. But I didn’t just remember you… I lived for you.”

She didn’t speak.The weight of his words sank slowly into her ribs.

“I watched you from a distance because I didn’t know how to approach you. Then because I couldn’t stop. I studied your routines, your sadness, the way you forced yourself to smile even when the world was cruel. Every bouquet of roses i brought wasn’t just a meaningless deed, it was proof. That I still saw you.”

He met her eyes.

“I still do.”

Her lips parted. But no sound came. Just a storm of emotions too tangled to name.

Tae-ha’s voice broke.

“I’m not asking you to forgive how I came back into your life. I only ask that… you don’t run yet.”

A long silence stretched between them.

Then Hae-soo reached for his hand deliberately.

“I don’t know what this is yet, Tae-ha,” she said. “But if you’re willing to be honest, fully honest. I’ll stay.”

And in that moment, the obsession became something else.

He reached out, fingers brushing her wrist.

“Does it scare you?” he asked. “Loving me?”

She hesitated.

“A little,” she admitted. “But not as much as losing you.”

He exhaled, eyes stinging. “You won’t.”

She curled up beside him, letting her head rest against his chest. His arm came around her, holding her close and she felt like she could breathe.

MORNING cont..

The soft rustle of bedsheets. Hae-soo stretches beneath the covers as the sound of running water comes from the bathroom.

The bathroom door creaks open.

Tae-ha emerges, towel draped over his neck, droplets still clinging to his skin. His bruises, though fading, are still stark against the soft morning light.

Hae-soo’s eyes scan his face. Her lips purse.

HAE-SOO (sighing): “Sit down. That bruise is still swollen.”

She dabs a cotton pad into ointment and leans in. Carefully. Tenderly. Reapplying the salve with the softest touch.

HAE-SOO (mock-threatening): “If this scars… you’re dead.”

TAE-HA chuckles deep and unrestrained. A full, delighted laugh.

TAE-HA:
“Hahaha! Then I guess I’ll live just to see how you punish me.”

She glares. He grins.

Hae-soo stands, brushing her hair behind her ear.

HAE-SOO: “Are you going to work today?”

TAE-HA (pausing): “…Are you?”

HAE-SOO: “Of course. So get changed. We’ll head out once you’re ready.”

She turns briskly, but Tae-ha lingers, watching her. He looks like he wants to say something but hesitates.

TAE-HA (in his mind):
I was thinking of skipping work today… just to spend a bit more time with you.

TAE-HA (without turning): “You can stay. As soon as I finish changing.”

She moves toward the door, but he stops her.

HAE-SOO (a bit irritated):
“Do you think I’m some kind of pervert who wants to watch you get dressed?”

TAE-HA (without missing a beat):
“You seem to like it though.”

Her eyes widen. Her cheeks flush. She huffs and makes for the door. But before she can escape, he grabs her wrist gently and tugs her back into the room.

TAE-HA: “Stay.”

Hae-soo stumbles a little, speechless, her eyes darting as he begins to dress in front of her. First the trousers. Then a crisp white shirt. He moves with slow confidence. Methodical, masculine, precise. Every motion is effortless. Every detail… deliberate.

She swallows hard unable to look away.

He buttons his cuffs, slicks his damp hair back, then reaches for a tie.

HAE-SOO (attempting casual):
“A-Are you done?”

TAE-HA:
“Almost. But…”
(he holds out the tie)
“I’m still not good at this.”

HAE-SOO (eyeing him):
“You seriously don’t know how to tie it?”

TAE-HA:
“I usually ask someone who does.”

Something inside her stirs.

Someone else?
Someone close enough for that?

She quickly pushes the thought away.

HAE-SOO (muttering):
“Fine. Bend down. You’re too tall.”

He leans in like a loyal puppy, eyes never leaving her face as she loops the fabric around his collar. Her fingers are nimble, but her mind races.

Their breaths mingle.

Their distance disappears.

TAE-HA (murmuring):
“We look like a married couple.”

HAE-SOO (blushing):
“W-What are you talking about?”

TAE-HA (smirking):
“Don’t we though?”

HAE-SOO:
“No. We don’t.”

TAE-HA (insisting like a child):
“A couple.”

HAE-SOO:
“Stop”

TAE-HA:
“A coup..”

Before he can finish, she yanks his tie pulling him closer. He bursts into laughter. Bright. Genuine. Joy spilling out of him. She tries to hide her smile, but he sees the blush spreading on her cheeks.

He tilts his head, eyes fixed on hers.

Then Closer.

Closer..

Closer...

TAE-HA (softly):
“Tighten it a bit more… please.”

Her hands tremble as she adjusts the knot. His breath ghosts over her skin. His gaze full of mischief and desire locks on hers. Her lips part slightly, her heart hammering in her chest.

Then..

His mouth meets hers.

A slow, heated kiss. Tender at first… then deeper. Hungrier. Her fingers curl around his tie. His hands snake to her waist, drawing her closer. Her back arches as his lips leave hers, tracing down to the curve of her neck.

HAE-SOO (gasping softly):
“It… it tickles…”

He smiles against her skin. She shivers. Everything about him, the scent of his skin, the strength in his arms, the way he says her name makes her dizzy.

Hae-soo was left speechless. Then she steps away, her mood shifts.

HAE-SOO:
“Marriage isn’t a game, Tae-ha. It’s reality.
You can’t just walk away when you’re tired of it.”

She turns slightly, her tone softening like she’s speaking to her own ghosts.

HAE-SOO (quietly):
“So when you find someone who suits you… I’ll be happy for you.”

Her voice trembles. She wants him to stop her. To say something, anything that will tell her he’s serious. But the silence between them is heavy, filled with the shadow of her broken past with Mincheol. She keeps walking, hiding the hope stirring in her chest. A hope that this love could be different.

Tae-ha ( Following her )

Suddenly, his arms wrap around her from behind. He buries his face against her shoulder, holding her as though she might disappear.

TAE-HA (murmuring, breath warm against her ear):
“When I said we looked like a married couple… I meant it.”
(beat)
“If that time comes… would you accept me as your husband?”

Hae-soo's steps falter. Her breath catches. She turns to face him, eyes wide.

HAE-SOO:
“B-Beom Tae-ha…?!”

Before he can say more, she leans forward pressing her lips to his. A slow, deliberate kiss that she meant for a YES. Tae-ha freezes for a moment, stunned by her sudden boldness, before melting into it.

HAE-SOO (pulling back, shyly)

“Let’s get going. It’s raining hard, we’ll share an umbrella.”

TAE-HA (grinning, still dazed):
“…Okay. Let’s head to the flower shop.”

OUTSIDE THE APARTMENT..

A sleek black car waits at the curb. Raindrops streak across its glossy surface.

Hae-soo pauses, frowning.

HAE-SOO:
“Tae-ha… there’s a black car out front.
Do you think it’s a loan shark?”

He can't tell her directly that his VIP car with the body guards is waiting outside to escort him heading to the office. So he thought about other ways to conceal it.

TAE-HA (quickly, smiling):
“Ah, no. I booked a private car. I used an app called K-Ride it’s like a VIP shuttle service. With this weather, I thought it’d be faster for us. My treat.”

Hae-soo tilts her head, unconvinced, but says nothing.

The leather seats are soft and luxurious. The faint scent of expensive cologne lingers in the air. A driver in a black suit greets them politely. Hae-soo feels out of place. Tae-ha notices her discomfort so he slides his hand over hers, squeezing it gently.

A moment later, they arrived at the Flower shop. The rain pours harder. Tae-ha steps out first, unfolding a large black umbrella. He circles around to her side, shielding her from the downpour like a king protecting his queen.

As they walk together under the umbrella, shoulders brushing, he leans in with a playful smirk.

TAE-HA:
“Now we really do look like a married couple, don’t we?”

Before she can answer, he lowers his face.

A soft kiss on her forehead.
Another on her cheek.
And then, her lips.

Hae-soo freezes, flushed and breathless. The rain falls harder around them, but under that umbrella, the world feels small, warm, and just theirs.

Flower shop - Morning downpour

The little bell above the door chimes as Hae-soo and Tae-ha step inside. The scent of fresh roses and damp lilies mixes with the lingering rain on their clothes. Hae-soo hurries behind the counter, cheeks still pink, trying to look busy. Tae-ha watches her for a moment, amused, as she fusses with flower stems that don’t need arranging.

TAE-HA (teasing):
“You’re avoiding my eyes.”

HAE-SOO (flustered):
“No, I’m not. I’m just… working.”

Her hands tremble slightly as she snips the end of a rose stem. She doesn’t look at him, but the ghost of his kiss is still on her lips. She can feel her own heartbeat, loud and unruly.

TAE-HA (stepping closer, lowering his voice):
“Your ears turn red when you lie, you know.”

She was caught off guard. Slowly, she lifts her eyes to him. He’s too close, leaning on the counter, his grin easy but his gaze… disarming.

HAE-SOO (softly, almost whispering):
“…Why do you look at me like that?”

TAE-HA (after a beat, voice low):
“Because I can’t believe you’re real. Because I want every second to count.”

The words hang between them as her breath hitches. She quickly glances away, pretending to arrange a bouquet, but her lips curl into an involuntary smile.

HAE-SOO (trying to sound stern):
“You should go, or you’ll be late for work.”

TAE-HA (with a playful smirk):
“Work can wait. Watching you smile like that… I could get used to this.”

She blushes deeper, swatting his arm with the bouquet.

HAE-SOO (under her breath):
“Beom Tae-ha, you’re impossible…”

He laughs softly. An unguarded, warm sound that lingers in the air. For a moment, the flower shop feels like a cocoon, shielding them from the rest of the world.

BEOM GROUP – EXECUTIVE OFFICE – AFTERNOON

The office is sleek, modern, and quiet. Only the faint hum of the city filtering through the tall glass windows.

Tae-ha is standing at the hallway. The bruise on his cheek is faint but still noticeable, a shadow of violence against his otherwise composed appearance. His secretary approaches with a stack of reports, careful, efficient.

SECRETARY (softly):
“I’ll prepare the supplementary materials and have them ready for the next meeting, sir.”

She sets the documents down, but her gaze lingers, just for a fraction too long on his face.

SECRETARY (inner voice):
What happened to you? And why do you look… almost happy about it?

She dares not ask. Tae-ha’s presence is the kind that demands distance cold, precise. Yet there’s something unguarded today, a faint warmth softening the edges of his usual severity.

Her heart skips. She steals a glance again, fingers tightening around her clipboard. But Tae-ha doesn’t notice. He’s not looking at her. He’s looking through her, as though his mind is somewhere else entirely. Na Hae-soo. The thought of her smile, her touch, drowns out the room.

The tension is broken by the sound of the door opening.

TAE-HEE (mocking):
“Maybe someone’s trying to impress someone. Strong perfume today. A little much, don’t you think?”

"Is it Me by any chance?"

The secretary stiffens, caught between curiosity and discomfort. Tae-hee’s gaze slides toward her, sharp and teasing. The secretary’s face flushes. She bows slightly and hastily excuses herself, exiting the room.

TAE-HEE (smirking):
“Don’t you have anyone who’d be upset if you walked around all messy like that?”

Tae-hee steps in wearing an army green suit. Immaculate, confidence dripping from every step. His eyes scan his younger brother’s bruises with mock concern. Tae-ha doesn’t look. Doesn’t flinch. He simply flips a page in his folder. Tae-hee tilts his head, amused at the lack of reaction.

TAE-HEE:
“Relax, I’m just wondering… since when do you let someone get close enough to land a punch?”

TAE-HEE:
“You’ve changed. You look… distracted. Don’t tell me it’s because of a woman?”

Tae-ha finally meets his brother’s eyes. Calm. Unreadable.

TAE-HA:
“Don’t you have work to do?”

Tae-ha walks past Tae-hee without another glance. He watches him go, his smirk fading into something sharper.

TAE-HEE (inner voice):
So it is a woman. Who is she?

The soft hum of rain outside is broken only by the quiet snip of scissors and the rustle of stems. Hae-soo arranges a bouquet with careful precision. Every time she tries to focus, her mind betrays her dragging her back to that moment under the umbrella.

HAE-SOO (inner voice):
Why does it feel like my heart is betraying me?
This isn’t supposed to happen. Not after everything with Mincheol. Not after I promised myself I wouldn’t fall this way again…

But then, unbidden, she remembers the warmth of Tae-ha’s lips, the way he looked at her like she was the only person in the world. Her breath catches. Her fingers slip, thorns pricking her thumb. She gasps quietly.

A coworker notices her faraway expression.

COWORKER:
“Unnie, you’re smiling at those roses like they’re in love with you.”

HAE-SOO (snapping out of it, flustered):
“I.. what? No, I was just thinking…”

She tries to brush it off, but the corner of her mouth keeps curving upward no matter how hard she fights it. She keeps herself busy as the time passes by..

She wipes down the counter, but pauses when her mind drifts back to the way Tae-ha’s hand brushed hers when he took the bouquet earlier.
She waters the lilies, but her reflection in the water shows a shy, unshakable smile.
She arranges tulips, but stops mid-task, remembering his whisper: “We’re like a married couple, aren’t we?” Her ears flush red.

HAE-SOO (inner voice, trembling):
I can’t be like this. He’s too young. Too relentless. And yet…

She bites her lip, lowering her gaze to the petals in her hands.

…why does it feel so safe with him? Like I can finally breathe?

A customer interrupts, placing an order. Hae-soo shakes herself from her daydream, forcing a polite smile. But as the customer leaves, her fingers brush her lips unconsciously, where his kiss still lingers like a secret she can’t wash away.

The following day, Tae-hee tosses his suit jacket out of irritation written across his face. He remembered how his brother treated him the day they cross path at the executive office. He turns to his body guard while he lights his cigarette at the vacant parking space.

TAE-HEE:
“Find out who my brother’s been seeing. Every detail, where she works, who she is, what she’s hiding. I want a full report.”

The bodyguard nods silently, already sensing the brewing storm.

Chapter 3: What I Couldn’t Say Still Ruined Me

Chapter Text

Episode 61 — Rewritten

...

VIP Parking Lot — Late afternoon

The city glows beneath a film of cigarette smoke. Tae-hee leans against the wall, one hand fishing a cigarette from a silver case. His bodyguard steps forward, flicking the lighter to life.

TAE-HEE (inner voice)
A girlfriend…?

Smoke curls from his lips as possibilities flicker through his mind like a crime-scene photos.

Is she Rich. Powerful. Another chaebol?
A pretty, fresh-faced student from a university hall once prowled?
Or some dull, older woman foisted on Tae-ha for a marriage alliance?

The guesses in his mind are endless. But one thing is certain, she’s a secret. Tae-ha guards like a child with a cherished toy. Hidden. Untouchable.

BODYGUARD : “Young master… is that really necessary?”

TAE-HEE : “Hmm?”

BODYGUARD : “Wouldn’t it be better to just assign someone to tail the Second Young Master?”

Tae-hee exhales a laugh, low and mocking.

TAE-HEE : “Do you have any idea how insane my brother is?”

A memory bleeds in of Flashback – years ago..

Two teenage boys in matching uniforms, locked in a vicious tangle on the floor. Tae-ha, thirteen, straddles Tae-hee’s chest. His eyes void of warmth and glitter with a predator’s thrill. He pins him effortlessly. Smirking and savoring every second of domination. Tae-hee, seventeen, trembles under the weight, his eyes bloodshot with rage and terror. He’s never felt fear like this.

Tae-hee’s voice hardens.

TAE-HEE : “If you get caught tailing him, you’re on your own. I’m not pulling you out.”

A beat.

TAE-HEE : “We will dig. From the outside in. Start with people who might slip past his radar.”

The corners of his mouth lift into a slow, predatory smile.

TAE-HEE : “I know where to start.”

Beom Group – Executive Office Hallway

Tae-ha walks ahead in the office lobby. He’s not used to mingling with executives and investors, yet his precision makes it look innate like corporate dominance is his birthright. The board members trade impressed glances. They were walking beside him along the hallway until they part ways. His strategic mind, his calculated charm it’s uncanny. A mirror image of Chairman Beom Tae-joo.

Rumors ripple through the office. Some are about the faint scars along his cheek, half-hidden by perfect grooming. Beneath his pocket, his hand slips into retrieving his phone. A single name lights up the screen: Na Hae-soo. The soft chime of a text notification cuts through the quiet hum of the office. He was standing at the hallway, thumb hovering over the phone screen. The display glows with a string of playful emojis, a language so unlike his usual cold formality. Beneath the polished surface, the man who will one day inherit the Beom empire looks like a boy waiting for attention, waiting to be chosen.

Through the glass walls, female employees steal glances, their conversations hushed but tinged with longing. They don’t even pretend to hide it anymore. A single look from him would be enough to make their week.

But he never turns their way.
His gaze is far away, thinking of somewhere she is. Na Hae-soo.

A smile flickers.

TEXT : TAE-HA → HAE-SOO: Are you busy?

TEXT : TAE-HA → HAE-SOO: Patiently waiting...

TEXT : TAE-HA → HAE-SOO: I can’t wait to see you.

TEXT – HAE-SOO → TAE-HA: I'm at my part-time job..

His lips twitch into a smile that no one could understand. Then a flashback early in the morning at Hae-soo's apartment suddenly stopped him.

A sunlight is thin and pale, filtering through the window. Hae-soo loops his tie around his neck, fingers brushing his collarbone.

Her voice was soft, but with a blade hidden beneath:

“When you find someone that suits you, then get married.”
“I’ll congratulate you.”

It lands like shrapnel.

The air between them sours, and suddenly his perfectly knotted tie feels like a noose.
He pulls it loose, the silk whispering against his throat.

INNER VOICE (Tae-ha):
The only words I want from you are...
Yes. We’re like a couple. And I want us to get married.

Tae-ha stares at the phone. His jaw tightens and his smile fades into something cold and dangerous.

INNER VOICE:
She’s still somewhere else. Still tied to something I can’t see. And it’s cutting me open deep inside. Still, I want to cling to her thought it hurts so bad.

He slips his phone into his pocket, his fingers lingering on his tie as if holding back the urge to call her. The hum of the office picks up behind him. Two junior employees linger by the lounge, having coffee time voices low but audible.

EMPLOYEE 1:
“Arranged marriages… you’d think all chaebols are in love with their fiancées, but it’s all business.”

EMPLOYEE 2 (dreamy):
“Still… imagine an office romance. With someone like him.”

They share a conspiratorial laugh until the name ‘Director Baek’ is mentioned.

The mood shifts.

EMPLOYEE 1 (whispering):
“Remember the last time she was here? The whole floor felt like a funeral.”

The sound fades into a distant hum. Tae-ha doesn’t even glance back. His focus is already locked elsewhere on the only woman who can unmake him with a single word.

Tae-ha’s hand hovers over his phone. One message from her that she'd like to see him and he’d walk out of this building without looking back. The thought coils through him.

Then another Flashback.. The downpour that comes sudden and hard. Tae-ha flips open his umbrella, pulling her close beneath it. The city blurs into muted lights and silver sheets of rain. They pause at the crosswalk too close, too aware. And then, without warning, he kisses her. It’s slow, unhurried, but deep enough to taste the rain on her lips and the rest of the world disappears.

INNER VOICE (Tae-ha):
All my worries… gone. Just this. Just you.

When he pulls back, her gaze lingers just a fraction longer than it should. That look becomes an echo in his mind, a loop he replays when he can’t stand the distance between them.

Then followed a flashback at the Flower shop. The smells faintly of rain and fresh blossoms. Hae-soo stands at the entrance, apron tied around her waist, trying not to laugh as Tae-ha leans on the doorframe like a man with nowhere better to be.

HAE-SOO (teasing):
“You’re going to be late.”

TAE-HA (grinning):
“Then I’ll just blame the florist who kept me hostage.”

She swats at him, but he catches her wrist, their banter a tug-of-war neither wants to win. He lingers just long enough to make leaving feel like an act of betrayal.

.......

BACK TO PRESENT – Executive Office

The phone in his hand feels heavier. His pulse hammers in his throat. One text from her, and the heir to Beom Group would abandon the boardroom, the quarterly reports, the cold marble halls just to stand outside her workplace again, with umbrella in hand.

The employees behind him keep whispering, but their voices fade into static. All he can hear is the soft memory of her laugh and the scent of flowers in the rain.

HAE-SOO at the Flower Shop

The bell above the door jingles as a customer leaves, and Hae-soo exhales slowly. She sets down a bundle of pale pink roses, her fingertips brushing against the petals longer than necessary. She hates when her mind drifts like this because she knows exactly where it’s going.

then a flashback..

She’d told him to leave at least three times. He didn’t budge. Instead, he leaned in the doorway, rain misting behind him, smirking like he had all the time in the world.

TAE-HA: “Say it and I’ll leave.”

HAE-SOO (frowning): “Say what?”

TAE-HA: “That you’ll miss me.”

She’d rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her chest betrayed her. And when the rain started, she hadn’t protested when he stepped close, umbrella stretching over both of them. The kiss had been… wrong. Wrong because she’d let it happen. Wrong because she’d wanted it to happen. It was the kind of kiss that stayed with her, impossible to forget.

Then the sound of the rain against the awning outside jolts her back. Her hands tighten around the ribbon she’s tying, pulling it a little too tight. Hae-soo forces herself to think of something else, but the image keeps intruding: him, leaning under the umbrella, eyes locked on hers like she was the only thing in the world worth waiting for.

She shakes her head, muttering under her breath, “Focus, Hae-soo.” "Focus!"

As if part of her is still standing in that rain, still tasting the moment she swore she’d always want to revisit.

Her phone lights up. Hae-soo tried her best to restrain herself of telling him she wants to see him.

TEXT : TAE-HA → HAE-SOO: I don't want to work. Play with me.

TEXT – HAE-SOO → TAE-HA: If you're getting paid, you have to work hard

Hae-soo's Inner voice: I wanted to see you, please come here..

TEXT : TAE-HA → HAE-SOO: I'll definitely come pick you up tomorrow.

TEXT – HAE-SOO → TAE-HA: Mmm.. you better.

Hae-soo sighed and smiled softly.

The wind cuts through the narrow street despite the pale sunlight. The air smells faintly of damp soil and the first bloom of spring. Outside the shop, Hwajeong, cheeks flushed from the chill, crouches over a bundle of newly delivered flowers swaddled in crinkled newspaper.

Cherry blossoms drift along the gutter. Couples pass by, hand in hand, laughing under a canopy of pink petals. Hwajeong watches them for a beat too long. Her breath catching with that old, familiar ache. Another spring alone. Another season where the petals fall for everyone but her.

She straightens, adjusting the flowers in her arms when she notices a figure.

A man stands at the shop’s front window. Not browsing. Searching. His coat sways slightly in the wind. There’s a sharpness in his eyes, an intent as if he’s tracking someone.

Hwajeong’s gaze follows his line of sight. Inside the shop, Hae-soo is mopping the floor, oblivious.

The man catches Hwajeong watching him and steps closer.

MAN : Do you know her?

Hwajeong blinks. His meaning is obvious.

HWAJEONG : "Listen, when you’re interested in someone, you talk to them yourself. Buy flowers. Ask for her number. Not… stand here like this."

She smirks, letting her voice sharpen.
"Besides, she already has a boyfriend. Got it? So… leave."

Her thoughts spit the words she doesn’t say aloud: Creep. Weirdo.

The man’s jaw tightens, but he says nothing. Hwajeong turns on her heel, pushing into the shop.

.....

The air is warmer inside the shop with a fragrant of peonies and roses. At the counter, Hae-soo chats quietly with the owner, her face relaxed in a way her co-worker has rarely seen. Hwajeong hesitates. Part of her wants to blurt it out: there was a creepy man outside, watching you! but the words snag in her throat. She imagines Hae-soo’s worried expression, the fuss it might cause… and something stops her.

The shop owner laughs, complimenting Hae-soo’s glowing skin and her new clothes.

Something sour coils in Hwajeong’s stomach. She rolls her eyes when Hae-soo’s smile widens. Probably thinking of that man who’s been visiting lately. The Rose Guy. Always buying bouquets, slipping her little lunches, chasing her in the kind of way no one ever chases her.

The jealousy prickles. She leans against the counter, with an edge casual voice.

HWAJEONG: "Unnie… will you buy him something too?

Hae-soo looks up, puzzled.

HWAJEONG (smiling sweetly)
"Your dress is so pretty today. You know… when you get something, you should give something back. Especially if they’re younger than you. Just taking, and never giving? Makes you look… selfish."

The words slide out like silk, but underneath, they’re sharp enough to cut. Hae-soo stills, the weight of the comment sinking in. She forces a small nod.

HAE-SOO : "That’s right… I should give something back."

Time passed, and the clock’s hands inched toward closing. Hwajeong’s words still echoed in Hae-soo’s mind

—you should give something in return.

The suggestion had planted itself like an intrusive vine, winding around her thoughts until it sprouted into resolve. She stepped out of the shop, the cool air brushing against her cheeks as she walked with no set destination. What could I give him? The question kept repeating, her heart ticking faster with each step. She wanted something personal, something that would carry a piece of her to him.

Her thoughts drifted back to their date, when he had surprised her with bags of clothes she’d never asked for. He had smiled as if it was the most natural thing in the world, fussing over sizes and styles, ignoring her protests. The memory brought with it the warmth of his quiet persistence, the way his gaze softened when it landed on her.

Another memory surfaced. Uninvited.

That peaceful night at the convenience store, when he had walked in young, bruised, his lip split, his knuckles raw. She remembered how her eyes had trailed over his clothes then always new, always varied. Fashionable even when he claimed to be poor and unfortunate at home. She had brushed it off at the time, but now… now it tugged at her curiosity.

Now that he had a “new job,” she wondered. Where does Tae-ha really work? What does he actually do for a living?

The questions began to stack in her mind like fragile glass. The more she tried to dismiss them, the heavier they became. And yet, woven between those doubts was the simple thought of what kind of clothes would look good on him, how they would fit across his shoulders, how his eyes might light up when she handed him something she chose herself.

Her mind whispered in a voice both tender and wary:

Beom Tae-ha, who are you really?
Everything about us feels like it was destined. The more I like you, the deeper you seep into me. And as you settle in my heart, you erase my sadness: a sadness I thought I could hide forever. You’re suspicious. Your low voice, laced with that infuriating smile. Everything about you feels like a secret. Suspicious Beom Tae-ha.

In the Beom executive office, Tae-ha sat alone. The glow of the city bleeding through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Papers lay untouched on his desk, his fingers tapped idly on the desk. His mind wasn’t here. It was with her, trailing her steps in his imagination, recalling the way her gaze lingered a little longer now, how her guard seemed to drop in fleeting moments.

He could feel it. Like the faintest shift in wind before a storm breaks, she was bending. Not because he’d forced her hand outright, but because he’d been there, again and again, chipping away at the walls she clung to.

His lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. Persistence was the sharpest blade, one that cut deep without leaving a visible wound.

He leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded as if savoring a taste only he could recognize. She’s thinking about me right now. He didn’t need proof. He felt it in the pull, the invisible thread he’d been tightening between them since the day he crossed her path.

When her call finally came, he would be ready. No matter where he was, no matter what hour it would be the easiest decision in the world to leave everything behind and go to her.

The evening air carried the faint scent of rain on pavement outside. Hae-soo walked briskly. Her arms folded tight, her mind already turning over a dozen possibilities. She wasn’t one to give gifts lightly. Never to a man who could so easily unnerve her, but Hwajeong’s words kept replaying in her head. You have to give something back.

Her steps slowed near a row of shops, her eyes darting between displays. A tie? Too formal. A wallet? Too impersonal. She wanted something only she would think to give him something that would feel like her touch even when she wasn’t there.

And then came the flood.

One memory after another crashing over her. Him standing outside the shop refusing to leave, teasing her until she smiled; the umbrella tilted toward her as rain pattered around them, his kiss warm and unhurried in the cool air; the way he’d bought her clothes without asking, as if providing for her was his second nature.

She told herself these were fleeting moments, dangerous to keep close. But still, they pulsed in her chest, warming her in ways she hadn’t felt in years. Her lips betrayed her, curving into a quiet smile as she reached for the shop door handle. Get a hold of yourself, she thought, but her heart was already beating too fast.

Somewhere above the city, in that glass tower she didn’t know well enough to suspect, Beom Tae-ha was waiting. That night she would bring him something of her own without realizing she was giving far more than she intended.

...

Chapter 4: Beyond Words, I Was Bare...

Chapter Text

Episode 62 - Rewritten

...

Na Hae-soo walked down the row of shops. While her eyes scanning the windows searching for a gift, she paused at a street corner, then pulled out her phone and dialed the number for her old part-time job at the convenience store.

Her heart sank when the manager explained the position had already been filled.

Hae-soo forced a light laugh, though regret weighed on her.
“I’m really okay. Please… let me know if the position opens up again later.”

When the call ended, she stood on the sidewalk, staring at the pavement. A long sigh slipped from her lips.

The truth was simple, she needed another job, desperately. Rent was overdue, and though she had begged for an extension, she was only buying time. Her shabby apartment was the cheapest she could find, but even then, it swallowed most of her paychecks. Every day was survival, juggling multiple jobs just to keep her head above water.

But tonight, as she walked alone, she realized the reason she wanted to quit the night shifts wasn’t only exhaustion. She wanted breathing space. Rest. More than anything, time with him.

Beom Tae-ha. The only name pressed against her heart.

Yet the irony made her chest ache. Money pulled her one way, but love pulled her another. And now, with Kang Mincheol reappearing like a shadow from her past, moving out became urgent. She could no longer stay in that apartment, not when it could put Tae-ha in danger. Protecting him had become her instinct, the same way she used to protect herself.

A memory surfaced the night she first saw him bloodied, bruised, utterly alone. The image clung to her: his busted lip, his fragile silence. If only she had known then what he would come to mean to her… she would have done more, shielded him, kept him safe.

Her eyes softened, a smile curling despite the weight of her thoughts. Na Hae-soo’s heart had always been a giving one pure, loving, instinctively caring. And now, thinking of him, she felt her priorities rearranging. She wanted to protect him, even at the cost of herself.

Even if she still didn’t know everything about him. Because one thing she did know was unshakable, Beom Tae-ha was a good kid.

Her fingers tightened around her phone as her resolve solidified.

So when I see you today, she thought, I’ll give you a gift… and I’ll ask you where you really work.

Na Hae-soo stopped at a small clothing boutique, a middle-aged shop owner, warm-eyed and eager, greeted her.

“Welcome! Are you looking for something in particular?”

Hae-soo smiled politely, her fingers brushing over a rack of pressed shirts.
“Just browsing…”

The saleslady leaned in, conspiratorial, “For yourself? A friend? Or… a guy?”

Her heart stuttered. Heat rushed into her cheeks. She hesitated, voice faltering as she replied,
“…A guy.” she murmured

Even saying it felt strange. A guy. Was that really all Tae-ha was to her now? Memories surged. His body against hers, the weight of him, his breath spilling heat against her skin. The way she melted, helpless, every time they ended up tangled in the dark.

Hae-soo blushing (inner thoughts)

W-well, technically he’s a guy… she argued with herself, a nervous laugh slipping out. But in her head, the word echoed differently : BEOM TAE-HA is now a MAN in NA HAE-SOO's eyes.

“Yeah,” she muttered under her breath, half to herself, half to the clerk, “he’s… manly. Like… peak manliness.”

Her face burned crimson.

The shopkeeper grinned knowingly and began guiding her through the racks. “Then let’s find something perfect for him. How tall is he? What’s his build? What style does he give off?”

“He’s really tall ! like… 192, 193 cm, maybe even taller.”
“His body’s… huge. Super built.” Her voice dipped, embarrassed by her own honesty.
“And… he usually wears dark clothes. Black, gray. Always.”

Her words trailed off, almost wistful. She realized how much she noticed about him, every detail etched into her memory. The shopkeeper pulled out a sleek black printed collared shirt. Trendy but understated. “This will suit him. Men like him… they can wear anything and make it look perfect.”

The truth struck her: Tae-ha could make anything look good. Whether it was a suit, a coat, or nothing at all. His presence alone made everything else irrelevant.

Still, as she paid and folded the shirt into a small bag, doubt gnawed at her.
Will he even like it? Or think it’s silly?

She stepped out into the fading evening light, clutching the bag, completely absorbed in imagining his reaction, his smile, maybe his quiet laugh. So absorbed, she didn’t notice the guy lingering across the street. The same figure from earlier, the one Hwajeong had shoved away with irritation. His eyes fixed on her, his steps silent and patient as he began tailing her again.

Oblivious, Hae-soo walked on, the thought of Tae-ha consuming her whole world, while danger crept closer from the edges of her vision.

On the other side of the city, Beom Tae-hee slipped through the crowd disguised in a pale suit, the kind of color he would never usually wear. A mask covered half his face, and dark shades concealed his eyes. To any passerby, he looked like just another talent manager scouting the streets.

But his true purpose was far darker.

He lingered outside the gates of a prestigious university, a folded photo of his younger brother clenched in his hand. He unfolded it, flashing it casually at passing female students.

“Excuse me! Have you seen this student? I’m a manager with OO Entertainment. We’re surveying his background.”

The students paused, curious, whispering among themselves. Of course they recognized Beom Tae-ha. Everyone did. His height, his striking features, his presence. He was the kind of student impossible to overlook.

To Tae-hee’s irritation, their admiration poured out in waves. He cut through their chatter, his voice slick with authority.

“We need to understand his past to some extent. If there are… issues with women, that could ruin his image after debuting.”

His words grew more manipulative, laced with false professionalism.

“If you know of any major flaws or blemishes in his personality, please tell me. It’s strictly for reference. Thank you for your cooperation.”

But the answers frustrated him.

One girl, braver than the rest, shook her head.

“Uh… even if you ask, no one really knows him.”
“Yeah,” another chimed in, “he’s famous here, but… he never hangs out with girls. No rumors, no scandals.”
“It’s like he kept everything about himself a secret,” the first added, lowering her voice.

Tae-hee’s jaw clenched behind the mask. The words hit like a wall. Secret. Always secret.

By the end of the afternoon, Tae-hee and his shadowing bodyguard were drained from the futile hunt. He shoved the photo back into his jacket with a curse.

“It’s all hopeless. College is a dead end.”

The bitterness in his tone was sharp enough.

“Even his high school days have been scrubbed clean. No one knows anything. But if I dig deep enough, I’ll find something.”

His eyes, cold and gleaming from behind the sunglasses, narrowed as if the thought alone gave him satisfaction.

“Everyone has a flaw. And when I find his… it’ll be the crack that breaks him.”

At the busy street..

It was nearly evening. The sky bruised into twilight, wind carrying the faint scent of roasted chestnuts and fresh fruits from the vendors on the street.

Na Hae-soo passed by a stall where bright tangerines and strawberries called to her. She paused, tempted. But she forced herself to keep walking. Every penny mattered. Every second mattered. She needed to move out urgently. For herself. For Tae-ha.

As soon as possible, she repeated in her mind, her chest tight with resolve.

But soon, that tightness became something else.

A shadow. A presence. A figure that never drifted far behind, no matter how many turns she took. No matter how quickly she walked. Her steps quickened, her throat constricted as her instincts screamed. Someone’s following me.

Her pulse hammered. She pulled out her phone, her trembling fingers typing:

TEXT – HAE-SOO → TAE-HA: Tae-ha, Can you come a little sooner?

Meanwhile, across town, in a high story building, Tae-ha sat in his office. His body is present but his mind elsewhere. Documents lay untouched on his desk. His phone lit up and his chest thudded violently, danger flashing across his mind before he even read the words. Na-Hae-soo sent him a text message and he felt like she was in danger.

The corner of his mouth curved in grim certainty. He had been right. Always right to worry.

Tae-ha, Can you come a little sooner?

Without hesitation, he was on his feet. His security team scrambled to follow as he strode out of the office. But Tae-ha was already ahead of them, sliding into the car, his hand white-knuckled around his phone. On the screen, a small glowing dot marked her location. A GPS. He never confessed it to her, how he had installed that tracker onto her phone one night while she slept peacefully.

For his sanity that he'll be able to find her wherever she goes. Whatever her location is. For her safety.

“Drive me in a nearby supermarket,” he ordered his body guard with voice sharp.

The black car screeched to a halt at the curb. Tae-ha’s pulse hammered so hard he swore it echoed in his ears. He threw the door open before the chauffeur could react, his long strides devouring the pavement.

“Stop the car. I’ll walk from here. Don’t follow and wait for my call.”

Tae-ha (inner voice):
There she is.

Through the blur of headlights and the drizzle-damp air, his gaze locked on her slender figure at the end of the street. A lone silhouette under the neon glow near the supermarket. She looked too small, too vulnerable.

Why didn’t you tell me what was wrong, Na Hae-soo?
What’s happening to you?

On the crowded street, Hae-soo finally stopped beneath the neon glow of a supermarket sign. People were still around safety in numbers, she prayed then she turned.

“Excuse me. Who are you?” she demanded, voice trembling loud enough.

The guy froze, startled by her sudden courage. He laughed it off, shifting awkwardly.

“I—I just saw you walking. You’re incredibly pretty. Could I maybe get your number?”

Fear and disgust tangled inside her. Her gut twisted. If she walked home, he’d know where she lived. If she walk farther with no people around, he might corner her.

“I’m sorry,” she said firmly. “But please leave me alone.”

That should have been enough. But her anticipation wasn’t.

His hand darted out, gripping her arm. He leaned in, boasting about his profession, thrusting a business card at her like proof of worth. His voice dripped with entitlement. Insults followed when she tried to break free.

Tae-ha quickened his pace, weaving through the passing crowd. Each step tightened the knot in his chest. He could see her standing rigid, face taut with unease. And in front of her, a guy, his gestures sharp, voice raised.

Tae-ha’s jaw clenched.
Who the hell is he?

The storm inside him broke into a dangerous calm. His eyes never left her, scanning every twitch, every flinch of her body language.

I need to know what’s going on with my Na Hae-soo. Right now.

Hae-soo’s past traumas swelled her memories of freezing, of being powerless. But this time… this time, she bit them back. Her fear burned into anger.

“I SAID NO! ! !” she shouted, shoving his hand off. Her voice cracked through the street.

“I’m an old lady who’s already been married and divorced. Compliments mean nothing to me!”

The guy blinked, taken aback by the raw force in her tone.

“For your information” her voice rose, trembling but unrelenting,

“I’m seeing someone far better than you. Younger. More handsome. Do you understand?”

Tae-ha’s smirk deepened as the words left her mouth. Better than you. Younger. Handsome. She was defending him. Claiming him. Every syllable tightened around his chest like chains but chains he welcomed.

And then..

A shadow loomed behind her. A presence so large, so commanding, and the air shifted.

The guy's eyes flicked up widened at the sight of the towering figure behind Hae-soo and his face drained of color. His long strides closed the distance, his shadow falling over both of them. A tall figure in a dark brown suit, broad-shouldered, sleek black hair, features so sharp they seemed carved for power. Not just handsome but lethal. His gaze was a knife, piercing straight through him. For a heartbeat, he froze like prey recognizing the predator too late.

The stalker stumbled back a step. She was telling the truth, his mind screamed.

Then, a large warm hand slipped around Hae-soo’s waist. She startled, but the instant his familiar scent filled her lungs, her knees nearly gave. Relief washed over her in an overwhelming wave. She tilted her head up there he was. Her Tae-ha. Smiling faintly, eyes brimming with something between pride and fury. She didn’t have to turn around; she knew.

Beom Tae-ha, her knight in shining armor.

The creep’s throat bobbed as his eyes darted between Tae-ha’s hand resting so firmly, so possessively, at Hae-soo’s waist and the sharp, unforgiving stare burning holes into him.

His bravado collapsed, eyes darted between them. Hae-soo's flushed face pressed against the safety of Tae-ha’s chest, and the sharp, merciless gaze pinning him in place.

Tae-ha tilted his head slightly, as though studying an insect. His lips curved into a cold half-smile.

Voice was low, steady and almost polite. “You heard her.”

“She said no. That means you leave. Now.”

The weight of his words made the guys knees weak.

For a moment, silence blanketed the street. Even the bustle of passersby seemed to fade as the intensity of the scene pressed down. The guy stammered, forcing a nervous laugh. “I.. I was just kidding around. She misunderstood”

Tae-ha stepped forward, closing the space, his height eclipsing him entirely. The movement was slow, deliberate, and suffocating. His eyes never wavered. “Do I look like I enjoy jokes?”

The creep’s words died in his throat.

Tae-ha tilted his head slightly, voice almost a whisper.

“You lay a hand on her again, and I’ll break every bone in your arm. Do you understand?”

The guy’s breath hitched. He nodded quickly, backing away.

Only then did Tae-ha curve his arm tighter around Hae-soo, pulling her gently into him, as though to shield her from every wandering eye on the street. His scent, his warmth that she melted into it, her fear started dissolving into trembling relief.

The guy bolted, disappearing into the crowd.

Tae-ha finally lowered his gaze to her, the storm in his eyes softening just for her. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, amused by her flushed face and how hard she tried to look composed.

“You called, and I came. Just like you wanted.”

...

Chapter 5: I Belong Nowhere But You

Summary:

This chapter is meant to linger in the quiet spaces between Tae-ha and Hae-soo, where words remain unspoken but emotions weigh heavily. It exists to fill in the gaps and the hidden details, the subtle expectations, and the restrained desires neither of them dares to voice. By holding back their confessions, both reveal more of themselves than words ever could, allowing the silence, the tension, and the unravelling of their fears to shape the story. This pause is not emptiness, but a necessary breath before the inevitable storm of truth.

Chapter Text

Episode 63 — Rewritten

....

Tae-ha knew exactly what mask he was wearing in Na Hae-soo’s eyes. A gentle, steadfast, reliable Beom Tae-ha. And he would do everything to keep that mask in place. She didn’t need to know about the weight of his family name, the ruthless bloodline he belonged to, or the power curled in his palm like a blade.

If she ever learned the truth… if she ever saw what I’ve done to protect her… would she still look at me the same?

His blood roared hot, boiling with rage at the sight of the stalker clawing at her. Just the thought of her being unsafe when he wasn’t there gnawed at him. He wanted her locked away in his arms, shielded from the world, even if it meant chaining her to him.

But then, her voice. Her words, claiming him. Defending him. Shouting that he was better, younger, more handsome. Words she had never once spoken directly to him yet spilled in a rush to fend off another man.

Something ignited in his chest. Excitement, hunger, triumph. A victory he hadn’t yet earned, but one that tasted so sweet it was maddening. His anger melted into something softer as her eyes finally landed on him. That gaze could undo everything in him. For a moment, he just wanted to bask in it. But then… he couldn’t resist. He had to test her. To hear her say it again.

Tae-ha tilted his head slightly, his voice deceptively gentle:

“Noona… who is that man?”
“Are you already tired of me?”
“You’re not just using me and planning to throw me away, are you?”

His eyes searched hers, sharp as glass beneath the softness, daring her to break his illusion.

Hae-soo’s breath caught.

“Uh—no, of course not! There’s no way I would!”

Her voice trembled but her words were honest. She grabbed his arm and her small hand anchoring him before he lunged. “Let him go,” she pleaded softly.

Tae-ha obeyed, though his muscles strained with the urge to break the man in half. He let her guide him away, but his gaze never leaving the creep. Every detail of that face carved into his memory.

By the time his phone buzzed inside his pocket, his decision was already made. He typed fast:

Text to Lee Jay:
Follow the guy who stalk Hae-soo. Take him. Make sure he remembers tonight for the rest of his life. I'll be back and meet you both at the abandoned warehouse.

He slipped the phone away before she could see. When his eyes returned to her, he wore only warmth.

They walked side by side in the cooling night. The city’s hum faded into the background, leaving only the sound of their footsteps and the wind brushing past. Hae-soo clutched her bag tight, replaying the terrifying encounter in her mind. Yet her heart clung to the memory of Tae-ha appearing like a shield between her and the world.

Finally, she broke the silence, her voice soft.
“Did you leave work immediately… just to come to me?”

“...Yes.”

“Will work give you trouble because you left early?”

A corner of his mouth lifted, teasing, eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
“If I get fired, will you take responsibility?”

Hae-soo flushed, fumbling in her bag. Rummaging, rummaging, as if she could distract herself. Finally, she pulled out a crumpled 2,000 KRW note. The same small gesture she always gave him. Like giving pocket money to a boy who’d done well.

She held it out sheepishly, her lips pressing into a nervous smile. For a moment, Tae-ha just stared at the small note in her hand. His chest tightened, an ache both sweet and dangerous. In her eyes, he was not a monster. Not a chaebol heir with power and darkness at his fingertips. He was simply hers.

The crumpled 2,000 KRW note rested in Tae-ha’s palm. He looked down at it, the edges damp with the warmth of her fingers. A cheap, laughable reward for a man who had just abandoned an entire company’s worth of obligations to rush to her side.

Something inside him iced over.

(Tae-ha’s inner monologue)
Ha… of course. This is what I’m worth in Na Hae-soo’s eyes. A cheap move. That’s Beom Tae-ha always running when it’s her, always accepting scraps if it means he can stay by her side.

He pocketed the bill without expression, but the gesture etched into him like a scar.

They walk in slope down the narrow stairs in silence until they reached her apartment door. The hum of the hallway light buzzed overhead. Just as he was about to step back, she broke the quiet.

Hae-soo (hesitant): “Before you go… I want to ask you something.”

Her voice wavered, then steadied, as if she forced herself not to sound too hopeful.

“I’m just curious but… what company do you work for?”

The question Tae-ha had always known would come. He lifted his eyes to hers, unreadable, and gave the vaguest smile.

Tae-ha: “Just some random company.”

The air shifted instantly. Her eyes dimmed, like someone had blown out a candle. She had hoped for honesty, or at least a sliver of trust. Instead, she got mist. She didn’t argue. Didn’t press. Just tucked her longing back inside, where she always kept it.

(Hae-soo’s inner monologue)
Why does it feel so wrong? That vague answer… e nough to kill the excitement I felt in an instant.

The silence grew heavier between them, thick enough to choke. Tae-ha saw it, felt her mood shifting, the way she shrank into her quiet. He had anticipated this exact moment. And still, he wanted more. He wanted her to break. To finally stop hiding her thoughts and demand to know who he really was. He craved her insistence, her persistence, her devotion.

But Hae-soo, as always, swallowed the ache.

Hae-soo (softly): “You have to go back to work, right?”

Tae-ha: “Yes.”

Hae-soo: “…Thank you for walking me home. And for making me feel safe. You should get going if you’re busy.”

She hesitated, then added, her voice nearly cracking: “Still… it was nice seeing your face. Even for a moment.”

in her thoughts: IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOUR HANDSOME FACE, THAT I CAN'T HELP BUT WANT TO TOUCH..

Her eyes dropped, refusing to meet his. Deep inside, she was sulking like a wounded child, punished by his walls. Her throat tightened with words she couldn’t say, that she wanted to punish him for brushing her off, for always keeping her at arm’s length.

And Tae-ha, standing so close he could feel the storm inside her, only smiled faintly. He liked the taste of her silence, even as it stung. Hae-soo shifted nervously, clutching a paper bag against her chest before holding it out to him.

Hae-soo: “Here's… a gift. It’s nothing special, just… I hope you like it.”

Inside the bag was a shirt, printed, a little odd, not his style at all. But her eyes searched his face like the smallest approval might save her from regret.

She opened the door, hesitating, as though her body wanted to stay while her words pushed him away.

Hae-soo (softly): “Well then… take care.”

The door began to close. Tae-ha’s hand lingered against it, his body unmoving. He wanted her to tell him to stay, to cling, to beg, to not let him go. His heart ached with the urge to scoop her up, keep her with him every second. If he could, he’d fold her into his pocket and never let her out again.

But duty called. That filthy man who dared trail her home still needed to be dealt with. He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to turn and take the first step up the stairs.

Then.. a soft, small, trembling hand brushed his back before wrapping around him from behind.

He froze.

Hae-soo pressed herself to him, hugging him so tightly it hurt. She said nothing but her silence is louder than words, her longing was clear. Stunned, Tae-ha turned and instantly folded her into his arms, holding her as though he might crush her if he let go.

Hae-soo (laughing nervously): “Tae-ha… I—I can’t breathe, you’re clinging too tight.”

His lips curved, the sound bursting out of him.

Tae-ha: “Pfft—HAHAHAHA. Ahhh… I knew it. You’ll miss me.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she met his teasing with honesty.

Hae-soo: “Who wouldn’t? I can’t think of letting you go tonight… but I know you have work. Still, thank you. For saving me. For always making me feel safe.”

She rose on her toes, cupped his face with trembling hands, and kissed him. Just the rawness of longing, the weight of gratitude, and the spark of something she couldn’t hold back anymore. No hesitation.

Tae-ha melted into it, his restraint collapsing.

(Tae-ha’s inner monologue)
That’s right, Na Hae-soo… cling to me more. Don’t ever let me go. I like it too much. I’ll never give this up.

When she finally pulled back, her thumb brushed his cheek, tender and pleading.

Hae-soo: “Take care. And please… don’t get hurt, okay?”

He smiled, the shadows in his eyes veiled by laughter.

Tae-ha: “Hahaha… okay.”

A Flashback Secretary's POV..

At Beom Executive headquarters, the atmosphere buzzed with urgency. Papers shuffled, phones rang, and the low hum of conversation never ceased. Secretary Ha’s heels clicked briskly across the marble floor as she carried another stack of documents to her desk, her mind already on the dozens of tasks waiting.

The company was on edge. New projects, high-profile investors, all eyes watching. It should’ve been an all-hands-on-deck kind of day. And yet… Her gaze flickered toward the glass office at the far end of the hall.

Beom Tae-ha.

He sat at his desk, posture immaculate, suit sharp as always. To the casual eye, he looked every bit the young executive. Too serious, composed, untouchable. But Secretary Ha had worked long enough under him to see the fissures. His pen tapped without rhythm. His gaze kept slipping to his phone, again and again, thumb twitching as though waiting for a message that carried more weight than the multimillion-dollar contracts in front of him.

Secretary Ha’s inner thought tightened.
Why does Chairman Tae-joo place so much faith in him? He’s brilliant, yes, calculations sharp as a blade, strategies clean as if rehearsed. But behind that calm exterior… it’s like he isn’t really here. His body is in the office, but his mind… elsewhere.

Her lips pressed together, the memory of a recent conversation with a colleague resurfacing.
"They say the Chairman trusts him more than the eldest son. But why? He doesn’t even look like someone who wants to be here. Not workaholic, not obsessed with control like the others. He looks, restless. Always restless."

She scribbled notes mechanically, unable to stop herself from glancing back. His phone lit up. Tae-ha’s eyes sharpened instantly so quick, so visceral, it made her breath hitch. Whoever was on the other side of that screen… that was his true priority.

Before she could ponder further, the heavy door to the executive floor swung open. A bodyguard stood there Tae-hee’s man.

Bodyguard:
“The eldest young master is unwell today. He won’t be coming in.”

Secretary Ha blinked. "Sick? Again?"

Before she could respond, another disturbance this time from Tae-ha himself. He rose suddenly, sliding his phone into his pocket, his expression full of anxiousness. "I'll take care of the rest tonight", he strode past her desk. His cologne lingered a beat longer than his presence.

“Y-young master, wait! The meeting...”

The elevator swallowed him before she could finish. Left alone with mountains of reports, Secretary Ha let her pen drop, exhaling in disbelief.

First Tae-hee, now Tae-ha. The Beom brothers… What on earth are they hiding? And why does it feel like none of them are truly here? Like their minds are bound to something… or someone… beyond these walls?

Her eyes drifted to Tae-ha’s abandoned desk, the faint glow of his phone still etched in her memory. Whoever had that kind of power over him… Secretary Ha wondered if she had just glimpsed the one flaw in the seemingly indomitable Beom Tae-ha.

Abandoned building..

The abandoned warehouse was silent except for the faint drip of water from a rusted pipe. Dust hung in the air like smoke. Rows of empty shelves stretched into the shadows, a graveyard of forgotten things.

On the floor sat the stalker, wrists bound behind him, ankles tied, a strip of tape plastered across his mouth. His eyes darted wildly in the dark, catching the faint light of a swinging bulb.

The door creaked open. Footsteps echoed measured, heavy. Beom Tae-ha.

He had come straight from Hae-soo’s doorstep, suit still pressed, but his face was transformed sharp with fury, eyes glinting like a blade. His silence was louder than a shout.

Without hesitation, Tae-ha drove his foot into the man’s stomach. The stalker doubled over, gagging and coughing against the tape.

“Take it off,” Tae-ha commanded.

Lee Jay obeyed, ripping the tape free. The man gasped for air, then spat curses.

“You bastards! Worthless thugs! what are you, gangsters? Hitting a man over a woman? You’re sick!”

He laughed, high-pitched and shaking, as though clinging to bravado. Then Tae-ha snatched the phone from his pocket. A swipe. A pause. His face shifted from calmness shattered into something feral. The screen was a gallery of filth. Shots of Hae-soo’s back. Her waist. Her legs. Angles that slithered like poison, all focused where no stranger had a right to look.

Something in Tae-ha cracked. His breath went shallow. His chest tightened until it felt like his ribs would snap. The cool executive mask he wore daily was gone, replaced by raw violence.

He hurled the phone to the ground and crushed it beneath his heel, glass splintering beneath polished leather.

The stalker screamed as Tae-ha’s hand clamped around his collar, slamming him against the cold floor. Pain exploded through the man’s body as he choked and writhed, Tae-ha’s knuckles white with pressure.

Tae-ha’s voice was low, trembling with restrained rage.
“You touched her with your eyes. You followed her. You thought she was prey.”
His grip tightened. “She belongs to no one. Not you. Not anyone.”

The stalker wheezed, spittle flecking his lips. “Y-you’re insane! All this over some divorced woman!”

A savage kick silenced him. His scream echoed off the concrete walls.

The bulb above swung, throwing his face into half-light, half-darkness. The face of a man who could be a savior in one world, and a monster in another.

The leather of the velvet-black gloves creaked as Tae-ha flexed his hands. They weren’t just gloves it was part of his ritual. A second skin. He’d worn them the night he broke a drunkard’s nose in the back of a barbecue joint. The night he cornered two rowdy men outside a convenience store, their laughter silenced with his fists. And now, here in a dead, hollowed-out room. His gloved hands closed in on the trembling stalker who had dared follow Na Hae-soo.

The gloves carried memory. Violence. A secret self he kept tucked beneath the tailored suit and polite smiles. A self that never left him.

Tae-ha crouched down, the dull sheen of the gloves catching the flickering bulb overhead. His voice was too calm.
“You know what I like about these gloves? They leave no trace. I can ruin you, and when I take them off” he pulled at the wrist seam, snapping it back tight “it’s as if it never happened.”

The stalker whimpered, shifting against his binds.

Lee Jay’s calm voice cut through the storm. Stepping forward, with firm respectful tone.

“Young master! shouldn’t you stop personally getting involved? You have the company on your shoulders now. Every move you make is watched. Every bruise, every scar people will start asking questions.”

Tae-ha’s eyes blazing, flicked to him.
“Leaving it to someone else is more dangerous than doing it myself.”

He turned back to the bleeding, whimpering man at his feet, his shadow stretching long over him.
“Because only I know how much he needs to suffer.”

Tae-ha could feel it. Eyes everywhere. In the boardroom. In the hallways. Even in the silence, he imagined his father’s presence looming over him. The Chairman wasn’t only measuring his work. He was measuring his blood. Testing whether Tae-ha had the ruthlessness it took to inherit Beom Group. Whether he could wield cruelty as naturally as breathing.

Chairman Beom Tae-joo.
The man who had stripped him of his childhood.
The man who now watched him like a hawk from the shadows.

And Tae-ha knew one thing: he wasn’t going to let that throne slip into anyone else’s hands.

The glove tightened into a fist. His jaw locked.
He would win the heirship.
He would keep Hae-soo.
And if the world had to be burned down in the process, so be it.

The storm outside hadn’t let up. Rain slashed against the windows of the speeding car, smearing the city lights into streaks of silver and red. Tae-ha sat in the back seat, his chest still heaving from the violence he had just unleashed. The smell of blood lingered faintly in his memory, mingling with leather and smoke. He handed Lee Jay the gloves. Jay gave a stiff nod, clutching the gloves like a ritual object before stepping away into the night.

When the car pulled back onto the main road, Tae-ha leaned against the window, watching the world blur past.

But his mind refused to be still.

Images surged through him in waves:
—Mincheol, shamelessly chasing after Hae-soo like a starving dog.
—Tae-hee, his elder brother, prowling the company halls and prying into his life, sniffing at the inheritance as if it already belonged to him.
—And Hae-soo, eyes dimming when he brushed off her question, her small voice pretending to be fine while her hands betrayed her, clinging to him at the door as if afraid he’d vanish the moment she blinked.

The memory made something inside him twist violently. His chest burned, his veins surged hot.

Tae-ha pressed a hand over his mouth, trying to contain the laugh that wanted to claw out. He was losing control, and he knew it. His life was supposed to be strategy, calculation and control but the thought of Hae-soo unraveled all of it.

He wanted her. No—he needed her.

The warmth of her lips, the brush of her small hands against his face, the way she looked at him with that fragile trust no one else had ever given him. It was more intoxicating than power, more dangerous than money.

“Turn the car around,” he ordered suddenly, voice hoarse but unyielding.

Lee Jay stiffened at the wheel. “Young master… you're supposed to be headed in the office and the meeting”

“Turn it around.”

Rain hammered harder, but their silence filled the car. Jay’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, but he obeyed. The car veered sharply, heading away from the corporate towers and back toward the dim, narrow streets where Hae-soo lived.

Tae-ha’s pulse quickened, heat flooding through him as though the closer he got, the less human he became. In that tiny apartment, in her cramped little world, she was the only one who could disarm him. The only one who could tether him with a single glance.

And if anyone else tried to pull that leash. Be it Mincheol, Tae-hee, or the entire Beom empire, they would be cut down without mercy. Because Beom Tae-ha had already chosen his home. And that home… was Na Hae-soo.

Basement..

The VIP car peeled away, leaving Tae-ha in the downpour. Rain soaked through his suit in seconds, plastering the fabric to his skin. He barely noticed. Every nerve in his body thrummed, dragging him forward, down the cracked concrete steps into the basement level where Hae-soo lived.

The corridor was still, the silence punctuated only by the storm outside. But one detail lit fire in his chest, her light was still on. She was awake. Waiting.

His breath came ragged. His pulse thundered. By the time he reached her door he could hardly control himself. He knocked, once with sharp, urgency. His hand shook with the urge to pound the door down and drag her to him.

But then..

The latch clicked. Slowly, the door eased open. A small hand appeared first, then her figure quite hesitant and fragile. Yet her eyes widened, as if she had known he would come. As if she had been waiting for him all along.

Something inside Tae-ha snapped. He shoved the door wider and crossed the threshold in one stride, the storm clinging to him like a beast unchained. She was sweating. Damp hair clung to her temples.

The sight unsettled him, why was she flushed when the night was cold? Had she been trembling? Restless? Thinking of someone else?

His jaw clenched.

Hae-soo, (breathless): “W-Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at the office?”

Her words barely reached him. His arms were already around her, crushing her against his soaked chest. And what he felt wasn’t cold, it was fire. Heat surged from her body into his, feeding the hunger that had been clawing him raw since he left her.

One hand slid down, seizing her, pulling her close until there was no space left between them. His lips found hers in a violent, searing kiss of tongue, teeth, desperation. She gasped, but instead of resisting, she clung to him, surrendering to him. Their mouths bruised together, breaths stolen, her soft whimpers swallowed whole. The taste of her, the warmth, the salt, the faint sweetness was enough to make him dizzy.

He broke from her lips only to whisper against them, voice raw, trembling with a need that bordered on madness:

Tae-ha (whispering): “Please… tell me not to leave.”

In his mind, the words roared louder, clawing him from the inside. His breath was hot against her mouth, his forehead pressing into hers as though he couldn’t bear even an inch of distance. Rainwater dripped from his hair onto her cheeks, mingling with the heat of her sweat.

Inside his chest, the storm was louder

I WANT YOU. I want you to be the one who would ruin me. Strip me bare. Break me. Burn me until nothing of Beom Tae-ha remains but the man who kneels only for you.

Tae-ha (hoarse voice, trembling):
“Please… tell me to stay the night.”

His plea was raw, stripped of all his usual poise. It wasn’t a command, nor a negotiation. He was begging. His heart thrashed like a caged animal, and his grip on her body said what his words could not: if you don’t keep me, I don’t know if I’ll survive walking away.

The rain outside pounded harder, as if demanding her answer too. She could feel him trembling not from the cold, but from the unbearable weight of wanting her.Na Hae-soo’s throat tightened. Her lips parted, but no words came. Every rational thought screamed that she should push him away, send him back to the world where he belonged. But her body betrayed her. Her fingers clutched his soaked shirt, as if she were the one afraid of losing him.

“I…” Her voice cracked, and the hesitation broke like glass. She buried her face against his chest, inhaling the dampness of rain mixed with his skin. “Don’t leave Tae-ha.”

It was all he needed.

A guttural sound escaped Tae-ha, half relief, half hunger. His lips crashed onto hers again, more violent, more desperate like a starving man who had finally run into a stream water. The kiss burned, tongues colliding, her back hitting the wall beside the door with a dull thud. His hands roamed her body with a feverish greed, memorizing every curve, every shiver, trying to carve her into his very bones.

He tore his lips from hers only to whisper, breathless, against her skin:
“You don’t know what you’ve done to me, Noona. You don’t know what you’ve unleashed.”

In that tiny apartment, storm raging outside, nothing existed beyond the fever of their bodies colliding. His obsession. Her surrender. Their ruin, tangled together in the dark.

Chapter 6: Until You Can’t Breathe Without Me

Chapter Text

Episode 64 — Rewritten

WARNING : Explicit scenes

...

The storm outside swallowed the night, but inside the apartment, the air was scorching, and thick with the sound of two people on the edge of breaking. Tae-ha pressed her against the wall, his soaked suit dripping onto the floor, but he didn’t care. His mouth moved down her jaw, sucking the delicate skin of her throat until she gasped. Each sound from her lips unchained something darker inside him.

Her fingers tangled in his wet hair, pulling, desperate. “Tae-ha…” she whispered, breath ragged, her voice trembling between fear and want.

He groaned at the sound of his name from her lips hungry, almost animal. His hands slid under her shirt, tracing the heated skin beneath. Her stomach quivered under his touch, hands hovering on the warmth of her breast. His gaze devoured her soft curves, the rise and fall of her chest, the flush spreading across her skin.

Hae-soo's thoughts : THE HANDS THAT USUALLY CARESS ME SLOWLY, ARE TOUCHING ME IN A RUSH MANNER

Tae-ha: (voice gasping) : “God… Hae-soo,” his voice cracked as he trailed his tongue along her collarbone, tasting her, claiming her. “You’ll ruin me.”

His lips claimed her again, slower but deeper, as though he wanted to swallow her whole. His hands slid down, tugging at her thermal pants, pulling them until it hangs on beneath her knees trembling yet unresisting. She arched into him, hips pressing against his hardness.

Her breath hitched when his warm hand skimmed her thigh, then slipped under the lace between her legs. The velvet, soft and sinful, dragged across her most sensitive spot, making her jolt.

“Tae-ha! ! ! unnghhh W..A-IT.. ” she gasped, clutching at his shoulders, eyes fluttering shut as he pressed harder, stroking her through the fabric until she was shivering, hips arching into his hand.

Her breath came uneven, almost trembling as his lips trailed down her neck.

Hae-soo (panting, eyes wide): “If you… if you do this now… I’ll never be able to stop wanting you.”

But her mind… her mind wasn’t clean.

Before his knock shook the door earlier, she had been on the bed, flushed and restless. One hand between her thighs, panties pushed aside, her own fingers moving in a rhythm she couldn’t control. His name had fallen from her lips in broken whispers. . .“Tae-ha… Beom Tae-ha…” like a sinner calling out for salvation, or damnation.

She wanted his hands, not her own. His heat, not the loneliness of her own touch. She wanted the weight of him pressing her down, his lips claiming her until she couldn’t breathe. That shameful hunger lived inside her every time she remembered his eyes, his voice, his face bending closer.

Now, with his body caging hers against the wall, the memory of what she had been doing only moments before burned her alive. Her cheeks flamed. She couldn’t admit it. Not to him, not to anyone.

Tae-ha (gasping): "How strange, a while ago you were saying that it was fine If I just leave"

But Tae-ha’s eyes searched her face. As if he could smell the truth on her skin, taste the secret still clinging to her.

Hae-soo (covering his lips): Ssshhh... Be quiet..

He leaned close, voice low.
Tae-ha (rasping, biting her finger): “You’re already wet… were you waiting for me, noona?”

Her eyes widened to her shock. Panic flashing, but he only smirked hungry. His hand slid down, pressing firmly over the damp heat between her thighs, where the evidence of her earlier sin lingered.

She gasped, mortified. “T-that’s not! ”

“Don’t lie to me,” he whispered, breath ragged. His fingers teasing the soaked fabric. “Were you touching yourself… thinking of me?”

Shame and desire tangled until she couldn’t tell them apart. Her heart stopped. She turned her face, hiding, but her silence was an answer in itself. Her face burned. She shook her head, but her hips moved against his hand, betraying her again.

Hae-soo (whispering, broken): “I… I don’t know… I just… I couldn’t stop thinking about you…”

Tae-ha’s scoffs with content.
“Good… I want you ruined for me, even when I’m not here. Only me, Hae-soo. Only me in your head, in your body.”

That confession ignited him. His fingers parted her slick folds, teasing, stroking, then pressing harder until she cried out.

Hae-soo: “Ahhh—! Haa… n-not so rough”

Tae-ha: “I can’t help it. You drive me insane. I need you.”

His teeth gritted, voice was hoarse as he whispered against her ear:
“Only me. You hear me? Only I get to touch you like this.”

She could only nod, body betraying her resolve as heat coiled low in her stomach.

Two fingers thrust deep inside her, curling, filling her so suddenly she almost screamed. He pinned her harder against the wall, his mouth silencing her cries as he pumped his hand ruthlessly, drawing out wet sounds that echoed obscenely in the quiet apartment.

Her thighs trembled, clenching around his hand. Her head fell back, lips parted in desperate moans.

Hae-soo: “Tae-ha… ahhhnn… nghh… I can’t.. I can’t take it!”

Tae-ha (growling): “Yes you can. You’re mine. Say it.”

"Just a little, I'll rub my p*nis between your thighs before we start"

His hand slid lower, pressing firmly where she was already trembling with heat. The friction made her jolt, a choked sound spilling out of her throat.

Hae-soo (moaning): “Hahh… haa… ahhh—hnngh…”

Her body arched, clenching helplessly against his touch.

Hae-soo’s thoughts: Why does my body tighten so hard every time he presses there? Why does it feel like it’s still not enough?

Hae-soo (pleading): “More… just a little more… ahhh!”

Her fingers curled into his shirt, nails digging desperately. She hated the way he smirked against her skin, as if enjoying her torment. Tae-ha leaned in, teeth grazing her skin.

Tae-ha: “You want me inside you that badly? You really want me to ruin you right here?”

Hae-soo’s thoughts: Why… why am I so sensitive like this? He’s barely even inside me, just rubbing… and yet… every nerve feels like fire. Every time I’m with him, I can’t look straight at his face… because the way he looks at me it’s so obscene, so hungry.

Her answer was a sharp gasp, her hips arching into his palm. He chuckled, low and feral. “Then tell me to. Beg me properly, Na Hae-soo.”

Her eyes flicked up briefly. His face hovered above her, dark and hungry, lips slightly parted. The sight made her flush hotter.

Hae-soo’s thoughts: He looks so indecent… so unlike the calm man he shows the world. I should be punishing him for teasing me like this. But instead… I’m the one breaking apart.

Hae-soo (gasping, voice trembling): “Stop teasing me… just do it. Do it now.”

He stilled for a heartbeat, savoring her demand, before curling his mouth into a wicked grin.

Tae-ha: “You’re already begging? Hah… Noona, you sound like you’ll die without me inside you.”

Hae-soo (whispering): “Please…”

Hae-soo’s thoughts: I can’t hide it anymore. I want him completely, recklessly, even if it ruins me.

Tae-ha (murmuring, triumphant): “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

With one sharp motion, he pulled her panties aside and thrust into her. Her strangled cry filled the small apartment. Raw, unrestrained only to be swallowed by his mouth as he crushed his lips against hers, devouring every sound she made. She cried out, muffling her moans against his shoulder as wave after wave of pleasure rolled through her.

By the time he freed himself from his trousers, her nails had dug crescents into his skin. She pulled him down to her, whispering against his lips, “Stay with me… don’t leave.” Her own hands moved shakily to unbutton his shirt, fumbling with the soaked fabric until impatience overtook her she yanked it open, buttons scattering. He let out a hiss as her palms pressed against his bare chest, feeling the tremor of his heartbeat pounding out of control.

Tae-ha’s grin sharpened, he tugged the fabric upward, baring her skin to the cool air.

He lifted her in one fluid motion, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. She gasped as he carried her upward with the feral hunger in his eyes. And with that plea, he entered her, slow but deep, filling her completely. Both of them gasped, clinging to each other as though the world outside had ceased to exist. The rhythm started steady, but quickly turned frantic. His hips driving into hers, her cries swallowed by his mouth as they clung to each other harder, tighter, desperate to fuse into one body.

Tae-ha's hair is dripping from his sweat mingled with the rain.

Hae-soo: “Tae-ha, about earlier… the man who trailed me. I’m sorry if I used your name to push him away. I hope you’re not mad at what I did.”

Silence...

Tae-ha’s thoughts: Used? So all that… all those words I held onto, the way you shouted my name with fire in your voice… it wasn’t me you were choosing. It was just survival.

Tae-ha’s fingers twitched at his side. The air between them thickened, and she could feel his stare burning holes through her lowered lashes.

Tae-ha: “…So that’s all it was?”

Hae-soo blinked. “What do you mean?”

His one hand slid behind her waist, pressing her back into the wall. His voice was low and husky almost trembling with restraint. He had convinced himself that those desperate shouts, those defiant declarations, were real. That in that moment she wasn’t just fighting off a stranger, but claiming him as her lover, as her man. The thought had kept him alive with a burning joy, a triumph so deep it made him shake.

But now… she was taking it back. Dismissing those words as nothing more than a convenient excuse.

A dull ache spread in his chest.

Tae-ha: “Those words… the ones you shouted. The ones that kept echoing in my head all night. You’re telling me they meant nothing?”

Her throat tightened. “I—I only said them because he wouldn’t leave me alone.”

He swallowed hard, but the sting refused to ease. He wanted, he needed her to claim him fully. Not halfway. Not with apologies or hesitations. He wanted her heart, her body, her soul, all tethered to him with no escape.

Instead, she looked at him timidly, as if afraid he would be annoyed. His grip on her waist tightened as if daring her to take it back again. But Tae-ha wasn’t angry. Anger would’ve been easier. What he felt was far worse: disappointment sharp enough to bleed, and a desperate hunger clawing inside him demanding that she take those words back, that she never call them a lie again.

Tae-ha: “Noona, don’t insult me. Don’t insult yourself. I know what I heard. You claimed me.”

Before she could respond, his mouth crashed against hers. Desperation. Fury. Longing. His kiss devoured the apology she had tried to give. She gasped, fingers clutching his skin, but he didn’t let her pull away. His tongue pushed past her lips, and her knees nearly buckled.

Tae-ha (breaking the kiss, breathless): “Say it again. That I’m the one you’re with. That I’m better than anyone else. Say it to me, not just to some stranger.”

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, face flushed. “Tae-ha…”

But his hand slid down, cupping the curve of her thigh, lifting it against his hip as if to pin her to him. The friction of his body against hers made her gasp.

Tae-ha: “I don’t want apologies. I want the truth. You wanted me, didn’t you? You weren’t lying.”

Her mind screamed to resist, but her body betrayed her arching, trembling, heat flooding through her at his touch.

Hae-soo (whispering, almost pleading): “I wasn’t lying…”

That was all he needed. His eyes gleamed, wild and satisfied, before his lips trailed down her jaw to her throat, biting softly, marking her as his. Her hands tangled in his hair, torn between shame and surrender. The rhythm of their breathing grew ragged, tangled, until her whispered apologies had long since turned into moans of longing.

And Tae-ha, his disappointment had vanished, replaced with something far more dangerous. Triumph.

Tae-ha (inner monologue): That’s right, Na Hae-soo. Claim me. Ruin me. Because I’ll never let you take it back again.

“Hae-soo,” he groaned, voice breaking as he buried his face in her neck, “you’re mine. Say it.. say you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” she gasped, nails raking down his back, pulling him impossibly closer. “Only yours.”

That broke him. He moved harder, deeper, until the both of them shattered together, bodies trembling, the world collapsing into blinding heat and broken whispers. And with one firm thrust, he gave her what she begged for. Her strangled cry filling the small apartment, swallowed immediately by his mouth crashing onto hers, devouring every sound she made.

Tae-ha's thoughts: If Na Hae-soo was going to ruin me, then I'll let her ruin me entirely

WARNING : More explicit spicy scenes..

Her breath caught as Tae-ha pressed her thigh higher against his hip, his body grinding into hers with restrained violence.

Hae-soo: “T-Tae-ha… not here”

Tae-ha (voice low, trembling): “Then where, noona? Where else can I show you that you’re mine?”

His lips crushed hers again, feverish and demanding. His tongue explored her mouth while his hand slipped fingers spreading across the trembling warmth of her stomach. She shivered as his touch slid higher, claiming every inch of her.

Her protest turned into a gasp when his palm cupped her breast, thumb circling over the hardening peak.

Hae-soo (gasping): “N-no… if you.. if you keep touching me there I..”

He smirked against her lips, voice husky.

Tae-ha: “That’s exactly what I want. Don’t hold back. Relax Na Hae-soo, give yourself to me.”

His mouth left wet trails down her throat, then lower, capturing her nipple between his lips. The sudden heat of his tongue made her arch against the wall, moaning helplessly. Her hands clawed at his shoulders, half-hearted resistance melting into desperate need.

Her release built violently, her body convulsing around his fingers, wetness coating his palm. He drank in her cries as if they were his victory.

But he wasn’t finished.

Tae-ha : "Then.. let's do it more often"

Tae-ha : "Should we fuck everyday? are you going to get tired of me faster?"

Chapter 7: I Want to Cling to You More..

Chapter Text

Episode 65 — Rewritten

...

She gasped as he carried her to the bed, laying her down with a reverence that clashed with the feral hunger in his eyes. The rhythm built quickly. Hungry, relentless, every thrust driving her deeper into the sheets. Her moans grew louder, mixed with his grunts. Her nails raked down his back, desperate, almost punishing, as if she wanted to carve his name into his skin. Every thrust shook through her bones, pushing her further into the sheets until her body bent helplessly to his will.

Hae-soo (voice breaking): “Ahhh! N-no more… I can’t!”

Tae-ha (rasping against her ear): “Yes you can. You’ll take everything I give you… until you can’t breathe without me.”

Her cries hitched as his rhythm grew rougher, harder. The slap of skin against skin filling the room, wet and shameless. She tried to bite back the sound, but his hand caught her chin, forcing her to face him.

Tae-ha (demanding): “Look at me when you break. Only me.”

Her lips trembled, whispering his name over and over, each syllable pulling him deeper into madness. The overwhelming pleasure pricked tears on the corners of her eyes.

Hae-soo: “Tae-ha… Tae-ha… ahhh, Tae-ha!”

His hair plastered to his forehead from sweat and rain, lips parted as he groaned with each violent snap of his hips. His pupils were blown wide.

Tae-ha (inner monologue, frenzied): That’s it. Drown in me. Forget everything but not me. Your voice, your body, your soul mine.

Tae-ha : "Are you still trying to push me away?"

The coil inside her snapped. Her whole body spasmed, walls tightening mercilessly around him. Her scream tore through the air, raw and unrestrained, as waves of release consumed her.

Hae-soo: “Tae-ha… I think I'm about to c*m"

The force of her climax dragged him over the edge. With a guttural groan he drove deeper, holding her crushed against him as he spilled into her, heat filling her in thick pulses. He buried his face against her neck, biting down hard as if to mark her. Hae-soo collapsed into shoulders, bodies slick with sweat, breaths shattering into each other’s mouths. His arms refused to release her, holding her trapped, locked, claimed.

Tae-ha (hoarse whisper against her ear): “Now you can’t deny it. You belong to me.”

Hae-soo (broken, whispering through gasps): “If this is what belonging to you feels like… then ruin me more.”

Tae-ha : "If it's too much, should we stop now?"

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, tears streaking down her cheeks from the unbearable force of it all. His hand clutched her hair, pressing her closer. Her thighs trembled, straddling him, his length still buried inside her, thick and throbbing, refusing to soften. Their breaths mingled, skin flushed, as the room thick with heat and the aftertaste of their climax.

Hae-soo (voice trembling, half-moan, half-tease): “That’s a lie. No matter how much we do it, I never get tired easily… ahhh ! Try experiencing it yourself… see if you can get tired of this. How could anyone get tired of something like this?”

Tae-ha (low, husky, obsessive, eyes locked on hers): “Then tell me to stay over every night. Tell me to bring all my clothes here… go to work from here… and never leave your side again.”

He gripped her waist tighter, grinding up into her, his voice breaking into a plea wrapped in dominance.

Hae-soo (moaning through her words): “Nngh… Stay over… every night… bring your clothes here…”

The words tumbled out between shuddering breaths, and for a moment, she didn’t know if she was saying them just to appease him or because her heart secretly wanted them too. Tae-ha’s eyes darkened at her words, something feral flickering in the depths. He seized her mouth in a crushing kiss, swallowing her gasp, his tongue claiming every corner of her. She gasped into his lips when she felt him twitch inside her. He hadn’t pulled out. Her body clenched instinctively around him, wet and messy, their hips still pressed flush together.

Hae-soo (gasping, startled): “H-huh? Why… why is it getting hard again?”

Her voice was in half disbelief, half excitement. Her hands clung to his shoulders as her own body betrayed her, already aching for another round. Her body trembled on his lap, still filled by him, heat pooling low as if her release had only primed her for more. She tried to steady her breath, but every movement and every small twitch of her hips dragged another moan from her throat.

His lips curved into a dangerous smile.

Her eyes widened as he pin her down. He thrust up suddenly, sharp and deep, making her cry out against his lips.

Hae-soo (screaming softly): “Ahhhhnn.. T-Tae-ha!”

Her arms tightened around his neck anchoring herself, but her eyes burned, because deep down she knew he wasn’t just chasing her body. He was demanding everything.

Hae-soo (panting, half-protest, half-desire): “N-no… Tae-ha, we just.. we just finished…”

Her words dissolved into a gasp as he rolled his hips upward, hard and slow, pressing himself deeper inside her as if to prove her wrong.

Tae-ha (voice rough, fevered): “Then let’s start again. I don’t want to stop. Not when you’re this tight around me… not when you’re holding me like you’ll never let go.”

He grabbed her hips firmly. The obscene sound of their bodies meeting echoed in the quiet apartment, mingling with her broken cries.

Hae-soo (moaning, clinging tighter): “Ahhh… y-you’re… nghh, you’re insane… you’ll ruin me…”

Tae-ha (whispering against her lips, possessive): “That’s what I want. Ruin me back. Make it so I can’t live a day without you.”

Her walls clenched violently at his words, betraying her, and she threw her head back with a strangled cry as he began to thrust in earnest hunger. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders, leaving crescents on his skin.

Hae-soo (inner thoughts, unraveling): Why… why does it feel even better now? Every time he moves, it’s like I’m falling apart. Even when I try to resist, my body betrays me. Am I the one clinging, or is he the one who won’t let me go?

His mouth traced her neck, sucking hard enough to mark her, his hands roaming to memorize every inch of her body.

Tae-ha (obsessively, between thrusts): “Say it again. Tell me you want me here. Tell me I belong to you.”

Hae-soo (half-crying, half-pleading): “Y-you belong to me… ahhhhnngh… Tae-ha, don’t stop…!”

Her words pushed him over the edge. He growled low in his throat, clutching her to him as if he could bury himself deeper, chasing her cries, chasing the proof that she couldn’t live without him either.

Tae-ha (inner monologue): I waver back and forth at your words, swaying like a rope on a swing. That’s right. It’s all a lie. The truth is… I want Na Hae-soo to have me. I want her to pick me up and take me away. Don’t throw me away. Always keep me somewhere your eyes can reach. Cherish me. And then… the thing you said to that creep trailing you… say it again. But this time… say it in front of Mincheol.

Her cries filled the room, as Tae-ha drove into her with a rhythm that bordered on savage. Each thrust sent a shock through her body, her legs trembling around his waist.

Hae-soo (panting, voice breaking): “T-Tae-ha… ahhhhnnn! I.. I can’t, it’s too much!”

But even as she pleaded, her hips betrayed her, moving to meet him, grinding down greedily, hungry for more.

Tae-ha (ragged, desperate): “Then fall apart with me. Don’t hold back. I want to see you break, only for me.”

He pressed his forehead to hers, their breaths colliding, sweat mingling, and his eyes burning into her. The tension in his jaw, the way his chest heaved, it was as if he was staking his entire existence in the way she clenched around him.

Her body convulsed, head tilting back with a strangled scream as waves of heat tore through her. She tightened so violently around him that he cursed low against her ear, his rhythm faltering into something uncontrolled.

Hae-soo (mind unraveling): I’m… I’m dissolving. He’s inside me everywhere. Even if I wanted to push him away, my body won’t… my heart won’t…

Her release hit hard, trembling through her body in waves that left her shuddering uncontrollably in his arms. And in that moment, her voice keeps crying his name, Tae-ha snapped.

Tae-ha (groaning, voice hoarse): “Na Hae-soo… nghhh !!”

He buried himself deep, clutching her like she were the last tether to his sanity. His release tore through him, violent and consuming. His entire body seizing as he spilled inside her. They clung to each other, gasping, trembling, their bodies sticky with sweat and heat, their heartbeats pounding against each other’s chests. He didn’t pull away. Still seated inside her, his arms tightened, almost crushing, as if letting go even an inch would mean losing her.

Tae-ha (whispering, obsessive, broken): “See? You can’t get tired of me. You’ll never tire of me. Because I won’t let you.”

Her lips trembled, body still twitching from the aftershocks. And though she wanted to scold him, to tell him he was wrong, what slipped past her swollen lips was a quiet, dangerous truth.

Hae-soo (soft, spent, but honest): “You’re right… I can’t.”

The storm outside still lashed against the windows. The world was hushed and slowed. Hae-soo slumped against his chest, her body trembling faintly, thighs still quivering around him. The room was thick with the scent of rain-soaked clothes, sweat, and heat. His weight, his warmth and the steady thrum of his heart pressed her deeper into the realization that she had given him all of her, again.

Tae-ha stayed buried inside her, as if anchoring himself there, arms locked tight around her back. Hands grasping her buttocks. His cheek pressed against the crown of her damp hair, and for once, he wasn’t smirking, nor teasing. He just breathed long, uneven, shaky trying to calm a storm in his chest.

Tae-ha (soft, almost trembling): “Hae-soo… don’t regret this. Don’t you dare regret me.”

She could feel the desperation trembling in his voice and the fear clawing under his obsession. Her lips parted slowly, her hand rose, caressing the side of his face, her thumb brushing the damp strands of hair clinging to his temple.

Hae-soo (gentle, hesitant): “I… don’t regret you.”

He pulled back just enough to see her face. Her eyes were glazed, lips swollen from his kisses. The sight hit him like a blade and a balm at the same time. His thumb traced her bottom lip, lingering there.

Tae-ha (hoarse whisper): “Say it again. Say it until I believe it.”

Her throat tightened, but she didn’t look away. She let the truth slip past her lips.

Hae-soo (breathing unsteadily): “I don’t regret you, Tae-ha. Not even once.”

Something broke inside him. His arms crushed her closer, lips pressing against her temple, her cheek, her jawline, frantic, almost reverent.

Tae-ha (inner thoughts): If you knew what I’ve done for you… if you saw the darkness I hide, would you still say those words? Would you still hold me like this?

But he didn’t dare ask. He just held her, breathing her in, engraving the softness of her against him like a man desperate to memorize a dream before waking. She nuzzled closer into his chest, eyes fluttering shut as the exhaustion washing over her. She felt safe, as if the chaos outside couldn’t touch her in his arms.

And Tae-ha, staring down at her fragile trusting face, realized with a sharp ache that he could never let her go.

Her small murmur slipped through the quiet. Half-asleep, unconscious.
Hae-soo (mumbling faintly): “Don’t go…”

It shattered him. His throat burned. He pressed his lips to her hair, tightening his arm around her.

Tae-ha (whispering against her): “I won’t.

The rain softened into a steady patter, like a lullaby against the thin glass of her basement window. Inside the cramp apartment are two bodies muffled by the warmth and tangled together.

Tae-ha couldn’t take his eyes off her. Even as drowsiness pressed heavy on his own lids, he fought it, desperate to etch every detail of this moment into his memory. The way her hand still rested weakly on his chest. The faint furrow of her brows that hadn’t quite smoothed out, she was still battling the remnants of her fears.

Tae-ha: “Are you sleeping?”

Hae-soo (rolling her eyes): “No. I couldn’t sleep because my back hurts… because of someone.”

Tae-ha (laughing): “Hahaha!”

Hae-soo: “Because of you, it still feels like my stomach is full.”

Tae-ha: “That’s… a strange way to put it.”

He sobered, smile fading as his gaze locked onto hers. His warm hand slipped into hers.

Tae-ha (serious): “Hae-soo… I have something I want to say.”

Something in his voice with a low, steady urgency made her chest tighten. Her hand went cold instantly.

Hae-soo (nervously): “What is it? Is something serious going on? The way you’re looking at me… it makes my heart sink.”

Tae-ha: “Hae-soo… from now on, whenever you’re in danger or anxious or even when you just… want me there.. like what happened yesterday… can you promise to call me? So I can be there. So I can protect you, no matter what. I’ll always be right here whenever you need me.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that grazed her lips.

Tae-ha (pleading): “Promise me, Na Hae-soo.”

Her heart softened, breaking under the weight of his vulnerability.

Hae-soo (whispering): “I… promise. Is that it?”

He nodded, eyes bright with something childlike contentment just with those words.

Hae-soo: “I promise. Just… don’t get tired of me, can you?”

Tae-ha (laughing again): “Hahaha.”

Hae-soo (pouting): “But you have to promise me something too.”

Tae-ha (curious): “And what does Hae-soo want from me?”

She drew closer, cupping his cheek tenderly, their pinkies hooking sealing a vow.

Hae-soo: “From now on… can you promise me not to get hurt again?. No matter what happens. Can you do that for me, Tae-ha?”

For a moment, silence. He wrapped his arms around her body, but no answer came. Hae-soo's brows knit, lips pushing into a pout.

Hae-soo (whining): “What? Why aren’t you answering? I’ll punish you! Hurry up and promise me too! You—really! ”

But his eyes were already closed, his breathing evening out.

Tae-ha (inner monologue): I’m sorry, Na Hae-soo. I can’t promise that. I can’t give up being hurt… not when it keeps you close to me. Not when it makes you turn your eyes back to me. Getting hurt… is the cheapest way to stay in your world.

Her small fists tapped against his chest, her pout deepening.

Hae-soo (grumbling): “You just keep smiling at me. You don’t even promise me back! So unfair!”

She nudged him again, rolling her eyes.

Hae-soo: “Don’t pretend to sleep! … Wait. Huh? Are you actually asleep?”

He didn’t stir. His face was peaceful, softer than she’d ever seen it, lips curved faintly. With a sigh, she shifted carefully and pulled the blanket over them both. His warm scent, faintly sharp, lingering of rain and shampoo settled around her like a second skin.

Hae-soo (inner monologue): So this is what it feels like… to be claimed, even in silence. To be wanted without words.

She brushed his hair slowly, tenderly.

Hae-soo (whispering at his sleeping face): “Tae-ha, you sly fox. When I ask you something, you dodge the answer. When I ask you to promise, you just smile. So self-indulgent. How dare you… with that angel face. So unfair.”

Hae-soo shifted slightly, she burrowed closer into the curve of Tae-ha’s chest. His arms, even in sleep, adjusted instinctively, tightening afraid she might slip away.

She smiled faintly at that, her heart warming in spite of her doubts. “You really… won’t let me go, will you?” she whispered into the quiet, knowing he wouldn’t answer. Tae-ha’s chest rose and fell, steady, his warmth enveloping her like a cocoon. His hand twitched once against her waist, almost like he was reaching for her even in his dreams.

She groaned softly, clutching her lower back.

Hae-soo (muttering): “Ugh. My back hurts!”

Half-asleep, half-awake, she glanced at him again. He was soundly asleep, breaths steady, body relaxed and vulnerable that the world couldn’t touch him. She traced his features with her eyes, memorizing every detail. The curve of his lashes, the softness of his jaw, the faint scar that the shadows couldn’t hide.

When she couldn’t resist anymore, she pressed a gentle kiss against his lips, careful not to wake him.

He didn’t move.

She smiled to herself, settling down at last. But in the quiet of her heart, a tremor of unease lingered.

Hae-soo (inner monologue): I don’t even know… how long this will last. How long until these smiles and promises fall apart. My heart already fears it. My heart already expects it.

Her eyes fluttered closed. For once, she allowed herself to let the weight of the day dissolve, to let herself believe in this simple peace. No arguments, no dangers, no shadows lurking. Just the safety of his arms.

Her lips brushed against his collarbone before sleep overtook her. “Goodnight, Tae-ha,” she murmured, barely audible. She pressed her forehead against his chest, letting the rhythm of his heartbeat lull her. Slowly, she drifted into sleep beside him, uncertain but unwilling to let go. Only the sound of their breathing in rhythm with one another.

Their bodies tangled drifted together into fragile rest.

Warmth into morning..

The first touch of morning light crept through the thin curtains, as the soft and golden gleam of the sun is painting faint streaks across the small window of the apartment. The air was still damp with the scent of rain. The road was washed clean, hushed and unwilling to disturb them.

Hae-soo stirred first. Heavy with sleep, for a moment she forgot where she was. Then the weight around her waist reminded her that his strong and possessive arm, were holding her all through the night that he hadn’t loosened his grip once.

She tilted her head slightly. Tae-ha’s face was so close and peaceful. His lashes casting long shadows, lips parted with steady breaths. Without the sharpness of his usual expression, he looked younger, almost vulnerable, like the boy he had once been.

Her chest tightened. “You’re not supposed to look this gentle,” she whispered, afraid of her own heart, afraid of how much she wanted to stay in this illusion forever. She shifted, careful not to wake him, and brushed the strands of hair that had fallen across his forehead. Her fingers lingered a moment too long. Then, unable to resist, she kissed him softly.

Tae-ha stirred. His eyes didn’t open, but his hand moved against her back, pulling her closer until her face was pressed in his chest.

“Stay,” he murmured, half-asleep, voice rough slightly awake from dreams.

She caught her breath and paused. Instead, she smiled faintly, whispering gently into his ear, “I'll stay, just a little longer.”

Evening at his favorite hide-out..

Tae-ha stood on the roadside ledge, the city sprawling beneath him like a kingdom laid bare. High-rise towers glittered against the night, neon signs flickered, traffic lights pulsed like veins feeding life into the streets below. It was the view that always reminded him that this was his world to own, to bend, to conquer.

This was also the place where he first crossed paths with Lee Jay, his shadow turned confidant. Tonight, as usual, a line of black VIP cars idled nearby, bodyguards standing by like silent statues. At a distance, Lee Jay leaned against a car, smiling faintly at his master’s familiar ritual.

Tae-ha (mocking): “Did you change jobs to digging dirt on hillsides?”

Lee Jay (snorting): “At this point, I’d believe you if you told me you hunt down women who run off with your money.”

Tae-ha scoffed, amused, slipping both hands into his pockets. The pride radiating off him wasn’t about the skyline, nor the convoy at his back. It was about the shirt he wore. A black, long-sleeved, printed, simple. Cheap by his world’s standards. Not his style at all. But it was a gift from Na Hae-soo, and because of that, he could’ve worn it every day, every hour, like it was a badge of honor.

Tae-ha (bragging, tugging his collar): “Got it as a gift. Does it suit me?”

Lee Jay, staring at him, stifled the urge to laugh.

Lee Jay (inner thought): Yeah, it suits you. Suits you too damn well, lunatic.

Tae-ha smirked, almost boyishly, too wrapped up in his pride to notice the weight behind his guard’s silence.

Then Lee Jay broke it, shifting his tone.

Lee Jay: “Young master, I’ll only ask once… What does she think of you? Did she like you back?”

The question hung heavy in the night air, like the world was holding its breath. Tae-ha’s eyes narrowed faintly, gaze fixed on the horizon.

Tae-ha: “I’m curious about that too.”

His voice carried no hesitation, yet deep inside, the truth burned quietly.

Tae-ha (inner thought): By now… what does Na Hae-soo really think of Beom Tae-ha? Of the man who would burn this city to ash just to keep her?

Tae-ha stood alone on the hillside, staring down at the world lit up beneath him. The shirt clung to him in the night breeze, cheap fabric, precious weight. Every thread carried her touch, her choice, her unspoken claim on him.

Tae-ha (inner thought): Na Hae-soo… are you thinking of me right now? Or am I just a shadow you’ll push away once the morning comes?
Tae-ha (inner thought):This… this isn’t enough. Her smile, her gift, it only feeds the hunger. She gave me this shirt, but when will she give me herself?

His bodyguards loitered nearby, but their presence was meaningless. None of them could see how the ground shifted under his feet, how fragile he felt when her absence pressed in too sharply.

He dragged in a long breath of night air, his chest burning with the ache of it.

Tae-ha (inner thought): Don’t brush me off. Don’t treat me like something temporary. I want more than just your body. I want you to claim me… like you did in front of that man. Say it again, but this time, mean it.

He tilted his head back, eyes half-closed, the city glowing below him.

Tae-ha (murmur): “Hae-soo… tell me you’re mine.”

Hae-soo’s apartment.

Hae-soo sat on the floor with a small basket of laundry. Her hands folded clothes one by one—shirts, blouses, a faded cardigan. Each motion is careful, mechanical, yet her mind was nowhere near the task.

The words from her part-time job earlier lingered like a thorn in her chest. The elderly women had been arguing laughing, blushing, and debating shamelessly about physical intimacy, about the ties between body and heart. Some called it terrifying, others said it was the only thing that kept them alive.

Hae-soo had laughed along politely then, but now… the question gnawed at her.

Hae-soo (inner thought): Is physical intimacy really something to fear? If our bodies tangle together, if I give in completely… will I ever be able to escape if it doesn’t work out?

Her fingers lingered too long on one shirt, folding it and unfolding it again. She bit her lip, uneasy.

Hae-soo (inner thought): I thought I had already decided to just eat and live. Keep it simple, keep it shallow. Pleasure, no promises. That nothing that can break me again.

But the lie cracked the moment she whispered it to herself. Because the truth was shamefully, achingly clear. She was the one craving more. Her heart throbbed with every memory of Beom Tae-ha. His warmth, his hands, the way he demanded her presence like he could breathe only if she allowed it. Her defenses, the fortress she had built around herself, were crumbling brick by brick, undone not by his wealth or his arrogance, but by his unbearable sincerity.

Hae-soo (inner thought, trembling): It’s strange. I’m starting to trust you without even knowing who you really are, Beom Tae-ha. Without knowing your past, your scars, the dangers shadowing you.

Her eyes dropped, staring at her own hands.

Hae-soo (inner thought): Back then, when I was still naive… when I still believed in love, I thought trust was a simple thing. But now… aside from the good things you’ve shown me, there’s still something about you that feels suspicious. Something I can’t name. Something I’m afraid to see.

She pressed the last folded shirt to her chest, closing her eyes. But the truth was there: she wanted him more than she dared admit.

Hae-soo had stopped folding. She stared at the shirt in her hands.

Hae-soo (inner thought): I told myself it was only for a little while. Just comfort, just desire, no ties. But every time he looks at me, every time he holds me, I want more.

The words she refused to speak out loud burned on her tongue. Her throat tightened.

Hae-soo (inner thought): I want his warmth to stay longer. I want his eyes to be only on me. I want him to stop asking me to tell him to stay, because I’m afraid if he does, I’ll never let him go.

She lied down against the folded clothes on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling as if she could quiet the ache that had taken root in her.

Hae-soo (inner thought): What am I doing? This isn’t supposed to happen. It was supposed to be simple. But the more I touch him, the more I let him touch me… the more I realize, I don’t just want his body. I want him. All of him.

Her lips trembled into the faintest smile, though her eyes betrayed a heaviness.

Hae-soo (whisper, barely audible): “Beom Tae-ha… what are you doing to me? You are being way too suspicious, and yet I don't hate that about you."

She grab the folded shirt, it was his sweater he left last night he stayed. Her hands lingered on it, restless. An the quiet room itself was too small to hold her storm.

Smoking Area..

The office smoking area was still thick with the stench of half-burned cigarettes and stale laughter. Mincheol stood a little apart, hands tucked in his slacks, nodding politely at his co-workers’ brags. They boasted about sales numbers, clients won, overtime hours logged like war medals.

The manager, old, balding, with a belly softened by years of office dinners clapped Mincheol’s shoulder with paternal pride.

Manager: “This one here, he’s different. Diligent, sharp, a real problem-solver. You’ll all see, in ten years Mincheol will be sitting in my chair.”

The group chuckled and praised him, and Mincheol gave a modest smile. For a moment, warmth swelled in his chest; it felt good to be seen, to be recognized for more than the boy who had grown up without guidance.

Then the manager’s phone rang.

The laughter broke off like glass shattering. His expression sharpened at the name flashing on the screen. The others leaned in with curiosity, whispering.

The old man barked, snapping his fingers:

Manager: “Alright, everyone, back inside. Overtime tonight.”

The manager’s voice dropped into a reverent tone, the kind he never used with anyone in the office.

Manager (into phone barely audible): “Yes, sir. Of course. Always. Your support has been invaluable. Without you, our company wouldn’t be where it is today.”

What employees didn’t know was that the man on the other end wasn’t the chairman. It wasn’t even his manager’s superior. It was Tae-ha’s shadow speaking as if he were the hidden pillar propping up their firm. And somewhere else in the city, leaning lazily in the alley, Tae-ha smirked while listening to the live call piped through the speaker. To him, it was more entertaining than a headline broadcast.

Tae-ha (inner thought): So how are you Kang Mincheol? Working hard huh, thinking you’re building something of your own. You don’t even realize the ground beneath your feet belongs to me.

His fingers drummed against the wall in a rhythm that sounded almost like amusement and a warning.

This wasn’t coincidence. It was a placement. A seed. And it was already sprouting..

Notes:

Author's Notes from @Sonatablooms
As I continue to share this ongoing weekly series based on your favorite Manhwa, I’m reminded that creating something from the heart takes not just time, but deep dedication. I’ve spent countless hours revising and perfecting each chapter, offering my work to you as a bridge between the gaps where the official Manhwa novels haven’t yet reached.
However, inspiration and motivation are fed by more than just effort, it thrives on connection. When the work I put out isn't met with even a small acknowledgment, it can be disheartening. A simple comment or a few kind words might seem like a small gesture, but they mean the world to creators like me.
I don’t ask for much, but if this story has touched you, even in the slightest, please share your thoughts. It costs nothing but a moment of your time and goes a long way in encouraging those who pour their energy into crafting these worlds for you.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who leaves a kind word. Whether you’re a registered user or just passing through guest, your support is what fuels the continuation of this journey.

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