“......”

No voice came out. Though I knew I had to say something, all I could do was blink my trembling eyelids. The cozy warmth that had enveloped me just moments ago was gone, replaced by a cold chill that swept over my mind like a splash of icy water.

Excuses... or rather, explanations. I was dumbfounded at myself for having completely forgotten all about that. Was I bewitched? Or had I been too complacent?

“......”

I couldn’t bring myself to look at his face. I had no memory of what expression he had just moments ago. Of course, he must be angry. If not, then he would be coldly cursing me with a harsh gaze. Whatever his reaction, it wasn’t likely to be good for me.

“Jung Sejin.”

“...Yes.”

I barely managed to utter a word. He looked at me sideways, then placed the documents he was holding on his knee. After a long silence, in that flat, even voice he always used, he asked:

“Why was this necessary?”

“......”

I thought that was the last mercy Kwon Yido was offering me. Like he was giving me the chance to try any excuse I had. So, quietly, I kept my mouth shut, waiting for him to listen.

‘Just bring one document.’

What if I said my father ordered it? That option didn’t even exist. If Kwon Yido’s anger was directed at Haesin Group, then my usefulness would end there. Maybe it was better to be just a greedy fiancé.

“...I wanted it out of greed.”

The excuse slipped out casually. My voice didn’t tremble, nor did my expression falter. As I slowly stood up, Kwon Yido asked skeptically:

“Greed?”

I discreetly clutched the edge of the blanket. My throat tightened sharply, but I barely managed shallow breaths. Meanwhile, the fact that I was wearing his clothes felt painfully apologetic.

“...I regretted quitting as head of headquarters.”

‘You regret quitting the head position.’

That was all I could recall. Conversations I had with Kwon Yido flooded my mind. Though I said the role didn’t suit me, I hoped Kwon Yido would think that was a lie.

“If I took this with me... I thought I could secure a position in the company.”

“Ah, ambition.”

He compressed my words into one, emotionless term. Hearing “ambition” made it all feel meaningless. Ambition—a word I had never wished for and that was so far from me.

“...Do you remember what I said last time?”

After a brief pause, he spoke quietly. He placed the documents on the bed and slowly lowered his eyelashes. Even in this situation, his appearance was so perfect it was astonishing.

“Whether to hand it over willingly... or keep it hidden.”

His whispered words were only half-understood. All I could vividly remember was him digging into his jacket pocket and pulling something out. What his tidy fingers held was the USB I had delivered through his secretary.

“This is the original data.”

“......”

It felt like a hard blow to the back of my head. Without time to react, my mind went blank. He placed the USB on the documents and calmly met my gaze.

“Let’s give this to Jung Sejin.”

“......”

I was speechless. No voice came, and I couldn’t even look away from him. I had expected anger, but Kwon Yido spoke with such generosity.

“You should have said if you needed it.”

That was it. He immediately rose from the bed and left the room without looking back. Watching his retreating figure, I opened my eyes wide, unable even to think about stopping him.

Click—the door shut, and my long-held breath burst out like a flood. Suddenly, a wave of reality struck, and a forgotten memory surfaced.

‘Let’s say Jung Sejin has someone he loves.’

The premise of that question was that he was someone loved. When I said I would give everything, he told me he wouldn’t let me lose anything.

‘Well... if I gave it with my own hands, that would be different.’

“...Haa.”

At the trembling edge of my gaze was the USB Kwon Yido had laid out. It was the one I had taken from my laptop and handed to his secretary. Faintly ringing in my ears was his voice from before he left for America.

“I’ll bring a gift when I come.”

He said he would bring it—not buy it, but bring it. As if he already knew what I would ask him for.

“......”

My heart pounded wildly. The results before me seemed to say: an opportunity to achieve the results you desired without betraying your father or Kwon Yido.

***

There had been exactly two turning points in my life. One was the day it snowed so heavily I couldn’t see ahead, and I ran barefoot into the street. The other was when I grabbed a man dressed in expensive-looking clothes and blurted out:

‘I’m an omega.’

That day, the man picked up the filthy omega and was praised in the media as a kind-hearted chaebol. The secret that the blood test disguised as a health check was actually a trait test was known only to my father, the doctor, and me. I had a warm place to sleep and food to eat, so I didn’t regret that choice.

Should I call it fate? There aren’t many moments when a single choice shapes your future. Even if such a moment comes, the chances you won’t regret it later are slim. I was satisfied with both choices but sometimes wondered if there might have been a better decision.

‘This is the original data.’

In that sense, what Kwon Yido gave me was not just a USB, but the key that would determine Haesin Group’s fate. I didn’t know what feelings he had handing it over, but to me, it was one of the important means to prove my existence. Whether to grasp this lifeline from heaven was entirely up to me.

“Here we are, young master.”

The car gently stopped in front of the building. I was staring blankly out the window when Mr. Kim’s voice made me blink slowly. The cloudless clear sky reminded me of my own mind, free of distractions.

As always, Mr. Kim naturally opened the back door. I gave a thankful nod, and he hesitated slightly before asking:

“Shall I wait downstairs?”

Having observed me for a long time, he seemed to understand without words—perhaps knowing my errand wouldn’t take long today.

“Don’t move the car. Please stay nearby.”

After my light reply, he bowed slightly and returned to the driver’s seat. I smoothed my tie and slowly walked toward the building—Haesin Financial Group’s headquarters, where my father was after a long time.

On the way to the elevator, I met some familiar faces. Though I had deliberately avoided busy hours, chance was cruel. From afar, they had wide eyes, and as we got closer, each greeted me warmly.

“Head of Headquarters! It’s been so long!”

Assistant Manager Yoon was the most enthusiastic. He was carrying a beverage carrier with drinks, probably coffee from the lobby café. I smiled warmly at him out of habit.

“Long time no see. How have you been?”

“Oh, how could I do well without the head? What brings you here? Are you back to work?” 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“No, just some business.”

I shrugged and pointed upstairs with my finger. Yoon nodded knowingly, probably realizing I came to see my father. Trying to change the subject, I mentioned the most obvious change first.

“You cut your hair. It suits you.”

“Really?”

Yoon’s eyes widened as he asked. My hair, which once reached my waist, was now cut short, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) barely touching my chin. He gave a smug smile and winked.

“Raising a kid and working leaves no time to manage hair. Everyone said it was a shame, but hearing the head likes it makes me happy.”

“You must be busy. There must be so much to prepare when your kid starts kindergarten.”

“Don’t even mention it. I wish he would listen, but lately he only gets into trouble...”

I chatted with Yoon as we headed to the elevator, exchanging updates. He said his son was the cutest when asleep, repeating it twice. I thought he said similar things when his son just started walking. His expression was unmistakably happy.

“If you need anything for kindergarten, just ask. Expensive is fine too.”

“Wow... Head, then I’ll ask for something big.”

“Let’s see how big it is.”

I originally planned to take the direct elevator, but a brief chat wasn’t so bad. Besides, Yoon seemed to struggle pressing the elevator button with the drinks. Even though I wasn’t the type to send coffee errands, Yoon never made new employees do it.

“No, it’s nothing. What else could I ask from the head? You almost gave me a dowry last time.”

Did I? I tried to recall and pressed the floor for the Management Planning Team. Then I pressed the floor for the chairman’s office, and Yoon whispered discreetly:

“You’re probably the only one who gives massage chairs as birthday gifts to employees.”

“Hmm...”

That did happen once. I only bought it because childcare was tough.

“That was Yoon’s gift, and this time it’s for my son.”

“If that’s the case, bring your kid to work sometime. The kid likes you more than his dad.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say “Okay.” When Yoon brought his son to work, I would be at Kwon Yido’s house. Or maybe not at Kwon Yido’s house, but at my officetel.

“Um... You don’t have time to stop by the Planning Team, right?”

As the elevator doors opened, Yoon asked gently. I gave him an apologetic glance. Yoon lowered his eyes and bowed, then stepped out.

“Oh, right, Yoon.”

Just before the doors closed, I called out to him as if I’d just remembered, playfully winking.

“Next time you see me, don’t call me Head anymore.”

I thought I saw a disappointed expression on Yoon’s face, but the elevator doors closed too quickly to be sure.

The elevator carrying me slowly rose to the floor with the chairman’s office. Watching the numbers go up, I took out the USB from my jacket pocket. The humming machine sound seemed to heighten the tension.

‘...I’m going to the company.’

That morning, I informed Kwon Yido while he was having breakfast. I didn’t say I was going to see my father, but he probably guessed. So instead of asking, he just smiled and said:

‘It took three days.’

‘...’

Yes, three days. Since he handed me the data and acted like nothing had happened, since I hadn’t gone to the greenhouse and stayed in my room gathering myself, and the marks left on my body after the encounter hadn’t faded in such a short time.

‘...Mr. Kim will come to pick you up this afternoon. You’ll probably be back soon—maybe even earlier than Kwon Yido.’

When Kwon Yido heard that, his expression soured. He wiped away the smile on his lips and quietly looked up.

‘Why isn’t he taking the car I gave him, but Mr. Kim is coming?’

‘...I’ll leave the car key in Kwon Yido’s room.’

Since I received a gift, I had to return the two cars I had previously received. Since we’d made a promise with fingers crossed, Kwon Yido wouldn’t object. Even if he did, I wasn’t going to give in this time.

‘Well... fine.’

But Kwon Yido accepted my words more easily than expected. Raising the chopsticks he’d put down, he spoke indifferently.

‘You probably didn’t need a car key, Jung Sejin.’

“......”

Ding—the elevator doors opened. I walked through the wide corridor and stood before a large door. I knocked, and a small voice replied from inside.

“Jung Sejin here.”

The USB in my hand felt strangely heavy. My father answered quickly, and I forced myself to suppress my nervousness as I entered the chairman’s office. The room smelled faintly of leather and grass, with many plants tended by the secretary in a corner.

“So, you have something to say?”

My father looked anxious, much like when he informed me of the marriage. He couldn’t sit still and came over to me. Approaching the door where I stood, he asked eagerly:

“Did you succeed?”

“......”

I hesitated for a moment. I knew how meaningless hesitation was now. The materials I had prepared three days ago to give him.

“Why no answer? Did you succeed?”

Unable to endure it, my father grabbed both my shoulders. Coming so close it felt overwhelming, I smelled cigarette smoke on him—a scent I hadn’t noticed before. He occasionally smoked when things went badly, when Haesin Group was on the brink of collapse.

“...Father.”

“Yes, Sejin.”

Was my choice truly right? I wanted to laugh at his kind answer. But I felt the greedy expectation in his eyes wasn’t for me.

“......”

Without a word, I extended the USB I held to him. As soon as he saw it, his expression brightened. Just as if about to cheer, he bared his teeth to smile.

“This is data about Seonho Group’s financial status.”

“...What?”

His joyful expression cracked slightly. As if to say, “What are you talking about?” or “Why does this matter now?” Sensing something was wrong, his wide-open eyes lost their gentle look.

I quietly lowered my eyes and forced a composed voice.

“I heard Chairman Kwon Byung-wook is about to pass away.”

It was something Kwon Yido had once told me. The group had grown too large, and the chairman was on his last days. He had nonchalantly suggested it might be a useful gift for my father.

“After Chairman Kwon Byung-wook passes, management predicts that Seonho Group will dissolve. We organized opinions from executives, separating subsidiaries that could gain profit from investments and those without prospects into documents.”

I knew it was just nonsense. I knew my father wanted more than this. But since these were the only choices I could make, this was all I could say.

“...I couldn’t find the data my father asked for.”

In the end, I couldn’t betray Kwon Yido. The USB he gave me and the data my father desperately wanted were left with the car key in Kwon Yido’s room. The gift I received from him was enough perfume; what was overflowing needed to be returned to its owner.

“I’m sorry.”