Ji-Eun's POV
The boardroom was a battlefield.
Ji-Eun stood frozen outside the glass doors, watching through the blinds as Kang Enterprises' directors hurled accusations like knives.
"A gold-digging scandal days before the merger vote? Incompetence!"
"The stock price has dropped 12% since the photos leaked!"
At the head of the table, Joon-Hyuk sat motionless, his face carved from ice. Then, slowly, he lifted his gaze—directly at her.
Her breath caught.
A director followed his line of sight and snarled, "Is that the girl? Fire her immediately!"
Joon-Hyuk's chair screeched as he stood. "Han Ji-Eun stays."
Silence.
Then—chaos.
---
Joon-Hyuk's POV
He'd known this would come.
The board had been waiting for a weakness, and Min-ah had handed it to them on a silver platter.
But as the shouting reached a crescendo, one thought drowned out the noise: Ji-Eun's face when she saw those headlines.
The way she'd looked at him like he was the one who'd betrayed her.
His phone buzzed—a message from his CFO:
"They're voting you out unless you cut her loose."
Joon-Hyuk smiled coldly.
Time to burn it all down.
---
The Rooftop Confession
Ji-Eun found him on the hospital's rooftop garden, his silhouette stark against the stormy sky.
"You shouldn't have defended me," she said quietly.
Joon-Hyuk didn't turn. "I'll always defend you."
Rain dripped down his neck as she stepped closer. "Even if it costs you your company?"
"Especially then."
A sob escaped her. "Why?"
Finally, he faced her. "Because I love you."
The world stopped.
Ji-Eun's lips parted—
A thunderclap drowned her reply as the skies opened.
Joon-Hyuk yanked off his coat to shield her, but Ji-Eun grabbed his lapels instead, dragging him down.
Their first kiss tasted like rain and recklessness.
---
Halmeoni's Bombshell
Later, soaked to the bone but giddy, they returned to Halmeoni's room—only to freeze at her whispered words:
"Ji-Eun… you look just like her."
Joon-Hyuk went rigid. "Don't."
But Halmeoni continued, her voice frail but clear. "Yoon Soo-jin. The same eyes. The same smile."
Ji-Eun's stomach dropped. Was that why he—?
Joon-Hyuk snarled, "That's not true."
Halmeoni sighed. "Isn't it? You noticed the resemblance the moment she walked into your office. "
Ji-Eun backed away, her heart splintering.
Joon-Hyuk lunged for her. "Ji-Eun, listen—"
But she was already running.
---
Joon-Hyuk's POV
He found her in the hospital chapel, her tears silent.
"It's not why I love you," he said hoarsely.
Ji-Eun laughed bitterly. "Then why did you hire me?"
The truth clawed up his throat: "Because when you yelled at me that first day, you were the first person in years who wasn't afraid of me."
She stilled.
"Soo-jin was kind. You're stubborn. She was quiet. You burn."He cupped her face. "I love you, not a ghost."
The chapel door creaked open.
Min-jae stood there, panting. "Noona—Mom's awake. And she… she recognized CEO Kang."