Prologue

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December 23.

Of all days, why a business trip to Busan today?

“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!”

The day before the sweetest holiday for couples.

Time that’s barely enough even if she were sitting on a cozy sofa, resting her head on his firm thigh, whispering sweet nothings.

She was the CEO of her company, for heaven’s sake. Why on earth did she have to personally drive to and from Busan?

“Something’s not right here.”

“You have to go. You promised, CEO.”

Secretary Chu’s expressionless face flashed across her mind, and a sigh escaped her lips.

Thinking back, it all started because of her own big mouth.

“Secretary Chu. If you give me some time off this Christmas holiday, I’ll do anything.”

If she’d known it meant a solo business trip to Busan, she’d never have said that.

—“…That’s what you said. So…”

“Sweetie, hang on a sec.”

The expressway from Busan to Seoul showed no signs of clearing up. At this rate, she might end up leaving her boyfriend, who was waiting for her at a hotel in Seoul, to sleep alone.

“No way.”

Anything but that.

Unable to ignore the sweet, deep voice coming through the car’s audio, Seung-eon finally turned her hand from the steering wheel.

Vroooom.

Taking the national road instead of the highway might’ve been a good decision.

The wide road ahead was clear, unlike before, and as she stepped on the gas and took a deep breath, Seung-eon smiled brightly again.

“Sorry. Where were we?”

—I said… I probably won’t be able to see you today.

Was he disappointed, or relieved?

The voice coming through the car’s Bluetooth was hard to read.

“Probably disappointed?”

That must be it.

After all, they’d been together for two years now.

“I’m dating you.”

Sure, she had made the first move, but their beginning had been so special that falling in love had happened in an instant.

“It’s been over two years since we started dating.”

—…Yes, CEO.

“But I’m a little upset.”

—…What?

“We promised to speak casually when it’s just the two of us.”

He was the type who usually listened well, but his stiff personality was hard to change.

Clicking her tongue in mild irritation, Seung-eon muttered under her breath. After a brief silence, the man spoke again in that pleasant voice.

—Kang Seung-eon.

Thump, thump.

Just hearing her name made her heart race wildly.

“God, I’m so hopeless…”

Her bunny-like boyfriend wasn’t good at expressing his feelings and was rather dense. Unless he said things directly like this, he never picked up on her hints.

Maybe that’s why.

Sometimes she felt frustrated by his behavior.

“But then he hits me with moments like this.”

That gap between his usual demeanor and these sudden sweet moments—she liked it.

“I suddenly love my name.”

When she smiled and replied to his call, she heard a chuckle.

“I’m sad I won’t get to see you today. Oh, didn’t you say you had something to tell me over the holidays?”

“Please make time for me this Christmas. I have something to say.”

There was nothing wrong with the Bluetooth, yet no response came.

After a brief pause, he finally spoke again in a slightly trembling voice, as if nervous.

—Seung-eon. I… we…

“No way!”

That kind of voice, at this moment?

“Considering he told you to clear your schedule for Christmas, there’s a high chance it’s a proposal.”

“A… a proposal?”

“Yes.”

“Secretary Chu.”

“Yes?”

“That answer just made my day.”

This was her first serious relationship, but Seung-eon had no regrets about falling in love with him.

She didn’t want to lose him—she never even considered the possibility.

“How many kids should we have?”

One? Two?

“Since my family line is small, maybe three?”

Her grandmother would love that. She’d have as many as she could.

While drinking her metaphorical celebratory soup, Seung-eon suddenly realized the voice on the other end had gone silent.

Or had she missed something?

“Did you say something just now?”

—…We…

Honk honk!

Just as his voice resumed, an incredibly loud honk echoed from behind.

Startled, Seung-eon glanced at the rearview mirror. A heavily tinted car behind hers was flashing its high beams repeatedly.

Was something wrong?

She had a bad feeling and was about to speak.

“Sweetie, wai—”

But at that moment—

CRASH!

“Ugh!”

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Boom!

As she was turning the wheel to pull over to the side of the road, her body was flung forward by the sudden impact. Her forehead slammed against the hard windshield.

Ugh…

Intense pain wrapped around her. Her whole body felt shattered, and her clear vision turned blurry. Hot blood trickled down her forehead.

Hissss.

A strange and unpleasant smell wafted through the air. She tried to speak, but her lips wouldn’t part. Dizziness overwhelmed her, and her eyelids kept closing against her will.

—…eon! Kang Seung…!

Was that the moment?

From somewhere far away, she heard someone calling her.

A man’s voice, filled with panic and concern.

—Kang Seung-eon! Answer me, Kang Seung-eon!!

So…

As she inhaled the metallic scent of blood, Seung-eon let out a faint laugh.

“Is this the last moment of my life?”

But sweetie…

“Let’s break up…”

The words he was about to say earlier.

“Break u—”

No way.

He wasn’t going to… break up with her, was he?

Thud.

Her consciousness faded to black.

“Hm.”

It had been a while since she opened her eyes, yet Seung-eon still couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

Understandably so.

Where was this unfamiliar, confusing place?

Her smooth brows furrowed.

Name: Kang Seung-eon.
Age: 32.

A graduate of Korea’s top university, Daehan University. A genius and the CEO of <LOOKIN>, a company that owns a significant share of HG Group, one of Korea’s top 15 conglomerates.

She was a woman admired by many—and she was supposed to wake up in a room with a multi-million won bed.

“Why am I…?”

Why was she in a hospital room?

Ugh!

Her whole body ached as if crushed. As she grimaced and tried to move, she paused and reached for her memories.

“What happened…”

“Woojin, it’s your birthday today. Is there anything you want? I’ll buy it for you!”

“…A present?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted that Crenborg robot from P company?”

“Uh… actually, I want something else, noona.”

June 13.

Today was the birthday of the person Seung-eon loved most in the world—her younger brother Kang Woojin, the only family she had left after their parents passed away.

She remembered the morning clearly—Woojin had whispered in her ear with a shy smile, and she’d said, “I’ll definitely get it for you! Wait for me!” as she left the house.

But what happened after that?

“Huh?”

She couldn’t remember a thing.

She remembered waving to Woojin as she left—but nothing beyond that.

What the hell was going on…?

Crash—

Suddenly, the sound of shattering dishes broke the silence.

Turning toward the noise, Seung-eon spotted a familiar face staring at her like she’d seen a ghost.

“……!”

The woman dropped the tray she was holding and froze in place. As Seung-eon tried to open her dry lips to speak, the woman quickly walked over and hugged her tightly.

The woman’s familiar scent lingered near her nose as Seung-eon blinked, dazed.

“Is this… a dream?”

The woman hugging her—the always-robotic Secretary Chu—was now sobbing, and Seung-eon was too stunned to speak.

“What the heck?”

What’s wrong with you?

Before she could say a word—

“Doctor!”

Secretary Chu pressed the button near the hospital bed and shouted.

“Patient Kang Seung-eon is awake! She’s awake!”

It was the loudest she had ever heard Secretary Chu speak in her life.

“Secretary Chu… What did you just say?”

Her voice, finally returning, was filled with disbelief.