Episode 4
Back home, Harin was overwhelmed by everything that had happened that day.
She collapsed onto her bed, completely exhausted.
As the tension finally left her body, she felt the last bit of energy drain from her.
“Haah… I’m so tired.”
Just then—
“Joo Harin! Open the door!”
It was Doyoung.
Harin considered ignoring him but worried about disturbing her neighbors, so she forced herself up and trudged to the front door.
“I’m exhausted today. I don’t have the energy or time to see your face or talk. Just go. Before I call the police.”
“What? Come out. Talk to me. If you don’t come out, I’ll stand here yelling until you do.”
Doyoung knew exactly how to get Harin to come out. He knew she hated inconveniencing others, so if he made a scene, she’d have no choice.
Sure enough, Harin reluctantly unlatched the door and opened it halfway.
As soon as the door opened, she was met with Doyoung’s scowling face. The strong smell of alcohol hit her nose.
“Don’t come to my place. Let’s talk outside.”
“Why? Is that jerk in there? You’re lying, right? There’s no way you’re with some chaebol heir.”
“I already explained everything. Why are you coming to my house and doing this?”
“I messed up, I admit it. But I won’t do it again. Let’s try again. How can you just throw me away?”
Harin was more astonished that Doyoung still believed they could go back to how they were. After everything he did—why did he act like he was the one abandoned?
“I was the one who got dumped…”
Determined to make things clear, Harin stepped outside and led Doyoung away from the building.
They stood under the same streetlamp where they had always parted ways after dates.
But tonight, it wasn’t for reunion—it was for closure.
“You didn’t mean what you said earlier, right? How can you say you’re dumping me? You’re going to leave me after all this? I broke up with that other woman for you.”
Doyoung grabbed Harin’s arm and pleaded.
Harin shook him off and responded firmly.
“Wow… you really don’t listen, do you? I’m not getting back together with you. We’re not going back to how we were. You dumped Minji. And not just once—multiple times. I endured it because I thought maybe you loved me as much as I loved you. Because I thought no one else would love me the same. But not anymore. I don’t want to waste another second on trash like you. So please, leave.”
“What did you say, you crazy b*tch?!”
Doyoung’s expression twisted in rage, and the hand that had just been pleading flew toward Harin.
But—
“Tch—what the hell?!”
Doyoung was suddenly thrown to the ground.
“I told you not to show your face in front of Joo Harin again. And I warned you—if you show up again, I’ll make sure you can’t survive in Korea. Looks like you forgot.”
It was Ihyun.
Though he had dropped Harin off earlier, he was now standing in front of her again.
“Director… Why are you here?”
“I had a feeling this might happen.”
“What…?”
Doyoung staggered up from the ground.
“Who the hell are you? Are you her stalker? Why do you keep interfering?”
“Stalker? I’m her fiancé. Anyone can see you’re the stalker. If you don’t back off right now, you’ll be spending the night in jail. Sound good?”
Though Ihyun had a slight smile, his eyes were ice-cold.
“W-What? You think I’m scared of you?!”
Doyoung puffed up with fake pride, but it only made him look more pathetic.
The fact that someone like this had made Harin suffer infuriated Ihyun even more.
He grabbed Doyoung by the collar and looked him dead in the eye.
“No matter what you did, I can throw you in jail right now. Honestly, I’d love to beat you until you can’t even stand—but for Harin’s sake, I’ll hold back. If you want to live in peace for even one more day, you’d better disappear. That’s your best option.”
After Doyoung completely disappeared from sight, Ihyun turned to Harin, who stood frozen.
“So what, you think being a chaebol lets you get away with this?! I’ll report you for assault!”
Still held by the collar, Doyoung made one last desperate threat.
“Go ahead. But think carefully about what’ll happen to you after that.”
Ihyun’s gaze turned cold and dark.
“Damn it…”
Finally realizing the situation, Doyoung muttered curses and ran off in a panic.
“Joo Harin, are you okay? Are you hurt? This is why I told you to come to my place. A secretary shouldn’t be causing trouble for her boss like this.”
“…You waited outside all this time?”
“And that’s why I’m here.”
“Because I have to protect my future wife.”
Ihyun’s warm gaze met Harin’s eyes.
It had been so long since Harin felt this kind of comfort. The feeling of being protected. Of someone standing up for her.
Yes, this was what it felt like.
Since losing her parents, she had always protected herself. And though her relatives had cared for her at first, they all eventually saw her as a burden.
That’s when she realized—no one in this world would protect her. She had to protect both her body and her heart on her own.
But Ihyun was different. He showed up even when she didn’t call. He protected her without her asking.
“Joo Harin, pack your things. Our contract starts today. I haven’t given you a written agreement yet, so if you don’t like it, just treat it as an order from your boss. I can’t leave you alone like this. If I don’t sleep well tonight and tomorrow’s schedule is ruined, it’ll be your fault. You know managing your boss’s condition is part of a secretary’s duties, right? If you really hate coming to my house, I’ll sleep here instead.”
Ihyun knew he was being unreasonable—but he still wanted to bring Harin home.
Originally, he had planned to take her after work tomorrow, but after tonight, he couldn’t leave her alone another night.
“Huh? Your place? No, it’s okay. I’ll pack now and bring my suitcase. Just give me a moment.”
If she said no, he looked ready to barge in through the walls. So Harin quickly turned around and headed inside.
There was no need to show him her pitiful living conditions.
As she began packing, she wondered if she had made the right choice. But she had already made up her mind.
It was just for one year. And even if she asked herself, Would Ihyun still want me after that?—she knew the answer.
No.
A man like him would never give unconditional love to someone like her.
But still, the words he said—“I’ll love you so much you can’t help but love me back”—echoed in her mind.
Harin thought, Maybe… just for once in my life, I could let myself be loved like that, before his feelings change.
Maybe it was all the emotions of the day, or maybe Ihyun was just too warm—either way, cracks had started forming in her walls.
When Harin came out with her suitcase, Ihyun took it from her without hesitation and loaded it into his car.
“I can carry it…”
“With arms that look like they’ll break just lifting this? From now on, just let me do these things. Stop being so stubborn and learn to lean on someone. Lean on me, Harin.”
It was strange hearing such words from Ihyun. But… not unpleasant.
They arrived at Ihyun’s house.
Harin had been here before for work, but today she hesitated at the entrance.
Noticing this, Ihyun gently took her hand and led her inside.
Once the door shut, they were alone in the quiet house.
And then, Ihyun pulled Harin into his arms.
Her face pressed against his chest, and she could hear his heartbeat and feel his warmth.
His chest was warmer than she expected. His heart beat faster than she thought.
“From now on, this is your home. This is where you belong.”
To Harin, it didn’t sound like he was talking about the house. It sounded like he meant himself.
Just moments ago, she had doubted his feelings. She thought they would eventually change.
She had vowed not to believe them.
But now, she found herself wanting to trust him. As if under a spell.
“You’re being too good to me… Why?”
“Because I like you. A lot.”
“But why… me?”
“No reason. Because you’re Joo Harin. I fell for you the moment I first saw you.”
Harin was stunned.
She didn’t understand why someone like Ihyun would like her. But the beat of his heart told her it was real.
At least for now, it was.
Ihyun looked down at her expression.
“You still don’t believe me, do you? It’s hard to trust that your boss of over two years suddenly wants to marry you.”
“But I’ll keep loving you until your heart opens. I’ll make you happy. You just stay by my side and accept it all.”
