Chapter 1: The Unexpected Return

The glass lobby of the hotel reflected the golden light of the setting sun, but inside, Seo Hyun-jin felt an icy chill settle deep in her chest. Her heels clicked against the polished marble, each step reminding her of the ten years she had devoted to someone who had abandoned her without warning. The news of his engagement to her boss’s daughter had hit her like a sledgehammer. No warning, no explanation—just a cold, cutting message that left her reeling.

In an instant, Hyun-jin had lost everything: the security of her relationship, trust in the man she loved, and a part of herself. She clutched her bag tightly, trying to hold onto something tangible in a world that suddenly felt too vast and empty.

This vacation was supposed to be a respite, a break from all troubles, a breath of fresh air to forget… to heal. She had imagined sunny days on the beach, peaceful walks along the river, and quiet afternoons at cafés where no one knew her. But fate had other plans.

And then he appeared.

There he stood, right in front of her, like he had stepped out from her most buried memories. Cha Joo-wan. His dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her waver. The man who had occupied her thoughts for a decade stood there, elegant in a dark suit, his hair slightly tousled by the summer breeze. His confident, almost cruel smile had lost none of its charm.

Hyun-jin’s legs suddenly felt heavy. Part of her wanted to run, but another part, perversely, wanted to stay and confront this ghost from the past. She took a deep breath, trying to summon her courage.

— “I… is it really you?” Her voice trembled slightly, betraying the emotion she tried so hard to hide.

Joo-wan tilted his head, a smirk curling at the corners of his lips.

— “Hello, Secretary Hyun.”

Time seemed to stop for a moment. Hyun-jin blinked, unable to comprehend how he could be here, now, in front of her.

— “This is… our first time meeting, sir,” she said, trying to keep her tone firm, though her nervousness betrayed her.

Joo-wan’s smile widened, his gaze unwavering.

— “Really? Yet my instincts tell me that I know Seo Hyun very well.”

A shiver ran down her spine. Memories—shared moments, smiles, arguments—all came flooding back, sharp and intense. The tension between them was palpable, filled with emotions neither had expressed and weren’t ready to face.

Hyun-jin clenched her fists, attempting to mask her unease. Her mind raced: Why was he here? Why now? And most importantly… why was he about to become her new boss?

The rain began to fall, first lightly, then more insistently, drumming against the cobblestones of the entrance. She thought about her week of vacation, now far from the peaceful break she had envisioned. A lighthearted summer? Impossible. This would be a whirlwind of memories, confrontations, and perhaps… suppressed attraction.

— “Sir… what are you doing here?” she asked, her tone hesitant but deliberately cold.

Joo-wan didn’t answer immediately. He stepped closer, as if measuring her every reaction.

— “I suppose fate has a cruel sense of humor.”

Hyun-jin felt her heart race, part of her furious, and another part… strangely curious. She wondered what he was thinking, what he felt, and above all, what he had planned for her.

And just as she braced herself to breathe again, a thunderclap echoed in her mind: this same man was about to become her new boss.

A shiver ran down her spine. Her summer, her vacation, her plan for inner peace… everything had been overturned.

Joo-wan’s gaze locked onto hers, charged with promises, mystery, and perhaps… danger.

And in the silence of the pouring rain, Seo Hyun-jin knew she was not ready for what was about to unfold.

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