Minra shouldn’t be here.

  Not again.

  Not after what happened last time.

  But somehow—

  Somehow, she was trapped again.

  Between him and the door.

  Between her own confusion and the undeniable truth.

  And HyunSeong?

  HyunSeong was tired of waiting.

  Tired of watching her run.

  Tired of seeing her fight something they both already knew was real.

  So he didn’t hold back this time.

  Didn’t give her room to breathe.

  Didn’t give her an escape.

  "How long are you going to avoid me, Minra?"

  His voice was low, teasing, relentless.

  "How long are you going to pretend this isn’t happening?"

  Minra swallowed hard.

  Her pulse raced.

  Because.

  Because she couldn’t do this.

  Couldn’t keep standing this close to him.

  Couldn’t keep pretending he didn’t make her heart race in a way no one else ever had.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  But she also couldn’t answer him.

  So she did the only thing she could.

  She moved.

  Not away.

  But toward him.

  .

  HyunSeong let her.

  Let her close the distance first.

  Let her set the pace.

  Let her fall into him on her own.

  Because he wasn’t going to stop her.

  Not this time.

  Not when she was finally being honest with herself.

  So when her hands found his shoulders, when her lips brushed against his again—

  He met her halfway.

  A slow, teasing pull.

  A lingering taste of red wine and unsaid words.

  She sighed into him.

  And just like that—

  She was his again.

  Until.

  Until she froze.

  Because in the next moment, when he whispered her name, his voice was softer.

  Too soft.

  Too familiar.

  Too much like—

  Like Shuun.

  .

  Minra pushed him away.

  Hard.

  Breathing heavy.

  Heart pounding.

  Because.

  Because that voice.

  That voice was Shuun’s.

  But.

  But Shuun wasn’t here.

  Right?

  Shuun was never here.

  Right?

  Her eyes blurred from alcohol.

  Her mind foggy from confusion.

  She couldn’t see.

  Couldn’t make out his face anymore.

  Couldn’t think clearly.

  But she knew.

  She knew she had to stop.

  She knew this wasn’t right.

  So she did the only thing she could.

  She whispered—

  "I’m sorry, Shuun."

  And.

  And HyunSeong froze as he felt his world crumble.

  .

  "We… shouldn’t be doing this."

  Minra’s voice was soft, conflicted, heavy.

  "I— I already have someone I like."

  And.

  And HyunSeong should have been relieved.

  Should have known it didn’t matter.

  Because.

  Because he was the man she liked.

  He was both of them.

  The boss she couldn’t stop thinking about.

  The singer she confided in every night.

  He was HyunSeong.

  He was Shuun.

  And either way—

  She had already chosen him.

  But instead of relief—

  Instead of feeling like he had won—

  Instead of anything remotely close to satisfaction—

  He felt fear.

  Because.

  Because what if she realized?

  What if she figured it out?

  What if she found out the truth?

  That the two men she was torn between—

  That the man she was trying to push away for another—

  Had been the same person all along?

  Would she understand?

  Or—

  Or would she hate him for it?

  Hate him for letting her believe she had a choice, when in reality, it had always been him?

  .

  HyunSeong clenched his jaw.

  Stepped back.

  Ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.

  "Get some rest, Minra."

  His voice was calmer now.

  Colder.

  More controlled.

  Because he had to be.

  Because if he let himself keep touching her, keep whispering her name, keep kissing her until she realized there was no escape—

  Then he would say something he couldn’t take back.

  And right now?

  Right now, he couldn’t risk that.

  So he did the only thing he could.

  He left.

  For now.

  But Minra?

  Minra wouldn’t run from him forever.

  And next time—

  Next time, he wouldn’t let her go.

  .

  Chapter 42: "The Lie That Changed Everything"