Sooah sat in her room, the soft light from her bedside lamp casting a faint glow on the walls. She could still feel the weight of the moment at the gala, Jaemin’s words echoing in her mind. His cold indifference, the way he had completely shattered her expectations, and the absence of the man she had once known.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she replayed the encounter in her mind, still trying to grasp the full extent of the change in him.

The Old Jaemin—the spoiled, unmotivated young man who had always seemed on the verge of self-destruction. The one who had lost himself in alcohol, whose future seemed like an afterthought, a life of privilege without purpose. He had been an easy target for ridicule, for disappointment. Her father had always seen him as an unworthy heir, a failure in the eyes of their families. And at that time, so had she.

But then, there was the new Jaemin. The man who stood before her at the gala—impeccable, calm, and unfathomably changed. His body had transformed, sculpted and lean, exuding a quiet strength that made her feel small in comparison. His face had the same familiar features, but they now carried a hardened edge that spoke volumes. The soft, indulgent boy she had known had vanished, leaving only this stranger who was cool, composed, and strangely distant.

It hit her all at once—how could she have not seen it before? The man in front of her wasn’t the same Jaemin she had broken off with so abruptly. He wasn’t the same man who had been easily discarded, the one she could dismiss so easily. He was a completely different person—someone who had fought through whatever demons had haunted him and emerged stronger than anyone could have imagined.

Sooah’s chest tightened, her thoughts racing. She thought back to the night she had ended things with him, her words cruel and sharp, believing that would sever their bond for good. She had pushed him away, telling him he would never amount to anything, convinced that he was just a temporary phase in her life that she could walk away from. But now... now that same man had become someone beyond her reach, someone who didn’t need her apologies or her acceptance.

And in the quiet of her room, the cold reality of her actions settled over her like a weight. Regret.

She could feel her heart sinking as she thought about what might have been, what could have happened if she hadn’t been so quick to judge him, so eager to protect herself from the pain of what they had. It was only now, after seeing him again, that she understood how much he had changed—and how much she had lost in the process.

A knock at the door broke her thoughts.

“Come in,” Sooah called, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her father entered, his face unreadable, but his eyes betraying the sharpness of his gaze. He stood in the doorway, watching her for a long moment. There was an unspoken tension in the air, as if he could sense the confusion and turmoil that had overtaken her.

“You’re thinking about him,” he said, his voice low. It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

Sooah nodded, her eyes downcast. “I… I never expected him to be like that. To change so much. I don’t know what to make of it.”

Her father’s lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze still fixed on her. “Jaemin was never just a spoiled rich boy, Sooah. You’ve always known that. You made your choice to distance yourself from him, and now you see the consequences of that.”

Sooah winced at the reminder. Her father had never been one to sugarcoat anything, especially when it came to family matters. He had supported her decision to break off the engagement with Jaemin, telling her it was for the best, that it would keep her out of the drama and distractions of the Kang family’s struggles. And in that moment, it had made sense to her. But now, faced with the reality of Jaemin’s transformation, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

She glanced up at her father, the weight of her thoughts too much to keep inside. “I don’t know what to do anymore. I didn’t think… I didn’t think he would ever change. I thought I could move on easily, but seeing him like that—it’s different. I wish I hadn’t done that to him. I... I regret it.”

Her father studied her for a long while before he spoke again, his tone softening just a fraction. “If you truly regret it, you still have options.”

Sooah’s head snapped up, surprised by his words. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t have to stay engaged to Lee Joon-Ho if your heart isn’t in it. I won’t stop you if you want to call it off,” her father said. “I’ve always given you the freedom to make your own choices. If you believe there’s a chance with Jaemin—if you truly believe he’s the one you want—then nothing is stopping you.”

The words hung in the air like a delicate thread, ready to snap at the slightest pull. Sooah’s heart raced. A chance with Jaemin? Could she even consider it? Could she return to someone who had so thoroughly moved on from her, someone who was now out of her reach in ways she hadn’t anticipated?

But then another thought crossed her mind: What if I never get this chance again?

She had been so caught up in her pride, in her desire to protect herself from the pain of an uncertain future, that she hadn’t even considered the possibility of reconciling with Jaemin. Now, facing the reality that he was a different man—stronger, more accomplished, and seemingly unbreakable—Sooah was unsure of where she stood.

Her father was right. She could still break off her engagement to Joon-Ho if she chose to, but what would that mean for her? Was she just running back to Jaemin out of fear of losing someone she once thought she could control, or was she genuinely wanting him back? The lines were blurred now, and Sooah had no clear answer.

She looked her father in the eyes, a heavy silence between them. “I don’t know, Dad. I don’t know what I want anymore.”

He didn’t press her further. Instead, he simply nodded and left the room, his words lingering in the air. “The choice is yours. Just be certain of it before you make a move.”

As Sooah sat alone in her room, her mind raced. What if I’ve already lost him for good?