Ji-Eun's POV
Ji-eun's phone buzzed violently on her nightstand, jolting her awake.
1:47 AM.
Her brother's name flashed on the screen, and her stomach dropped. Min-jae never called this late unless something was wrong.
"Noona," his voice was strained, breathless. "I—I messed up."
Her blood turned to ice. "Where are you?"
A pause. Then, barely a whisper: "The police station."
---
Joon-Hyuk's POV
Joon-hyuk hadn't been able to sleep.
Not that this was unusual—sleep had been a luxury ever since that night years ago. But tonight, it wasn't the usual ghosts haunting him.
It was her .
Han Ji-eun. The woman who looked at him like he was a monster, even as she stubbornly stood her ground. The woman who had somehow made him pause outside a convenience store, watching her eat ramen with a quiet intensity he didn't understand.
His phone buzzed—an unknown number.
Normally, he'd ignore it. But something made him answer.
"This is Kang."
A harried voice on the other end. "Sir, we have an employee emergency contact listed under your company—"
And just like that, he was grabbing his coat.
Why?
He didn't have an answer.
---
Ji-Eun's POV
Twenty minutes later, Ji-eun rushed through the sliding doors of the police station. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows over the tired officers and drunkards slumped in plastic chairs.
And there, in the corner—Min-jae.
Her little brother, usually all cheeky grins and loud laughter, looked small under the flickering lights. His lip was split, his knuckles bruised.
"What happened?" she demanded, rushing to him.
Min-jae wouldn't meet her eyes. "Some guys from school… They were talking shit about Mom. About her illness. I lost it."
Ji-eun's chest ached. Their mother's condition was a raw wound for both of them.
An officer approached, arms crossed. "Assault charges are serious. Unless you can pay bail—"
"How much?" she interrupted, already mentally calculating her meager savings.
The officer named a figure that made her knees weak.
Impossible.
She gripped the edge of the desk. "Please, there must be another way—"
"There isn't."
A deep voice cut through the chaos behind her.
Ji-eun turned—and froze.
Kang Joon-hyuk stood in the doorway, his black coat dusted with rain, his expression unreadable.
What was he doing here?
Before she could speak, he strode past her and addressed the officer with quiet authority. "I'll handle it."
The officer's eyes widened in recognition. "C-CEO Kang?"
Joon-hyuk didn't flinch. "Release him. I'll take responsibility."
Ji-eun's breath caught. Why?
---
Joon-Hyuk's POV
He told himself it was just business.
Han Ji-eun was an employee. A competent one. Losing her over something like this would be inconvenient.
That was all.
(Then why did his chest tighten when he saw the way her hands shook?)
---
Ji-Eun's POV
Outside the police station, the rain had softened to a drizzle. Min-jae, now freed, had already been sent home in a cab—after a stern warning from Joon-hyuk that left him pale and nodding furiously.
Now, it was just the two of them under the flickering streetlamp.
Ji-eun clenched her fists. "How did you even know I was here?"
Joon-hyuk's gaze didn't waver. "You left your employee file as emergency contact for your brother. The station called the company."
Her face burned. Of course. She'd forgotten that detail.
"You didn't have to come," she muttered.
"I know."
A beat of silence. Then, Ji-eun's resolve cracked.
"Why did you help me?"
Joon-hyuk studied her—the way her hands trembled, the exhaustion in her eyes. When he finally spoke, his voice was low.
"Because no one else would."
The words struck her like a physical blow.
Before she could respond, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen—and his jaw tightened.
Park Min-ah.
Ji-eun stepped back, the moment shattered. "You should get that."
Joon-hyuk silenced the call. "It's not important."
But the damage was done. The reminder of his past—of the woman who still clearly wanted him—was a bucket of ice water over whatever fragile thing had almost passed between them.
Ji-eun forced a smile. "Thank you. For Min-jae. I'll repay you."
Joon-hyuk's eyes darkened. "I don't want your money."
"Then what do you want?"
The question hung in the air, charged and dangerous.
For a heartbeat, his gaze dropped to her lips.
Then, just as quickly, the mask slipped back into place.
"Go home, Ji-eun."
He turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the rain, her heart pounding in her throat.
---
Joon-Hyuk's POV
As his car pulled away, Joon-hyuk stared at his reflection in the rain-streaked window.
What do you want?
A question he couldn't answer.
(Or maybe one he was too afraid to.)