Jin Woo drove quietly through the city, the car filled with silence. Na-ri sat beside him, dabbing lightly at her eyes with a tissue. Her makeup had smudged from crying earlier, but she couldn't go home looking like that. She had just gotten engaged. If anyone saw her face, they would start asking questions. And she wasn't ready to answer them.
She pulled out a small mirror and fixed her eyeliner, making sure her face looked fine again. Her hands were steady, but inside she still felt shaken. Jin Woo didn't say a word. His eyes stayed on the road. He could feel her pain, but he didn't want to say something that would make it worse.
The car ride remained quiet and a little awkward.
Finally, they arrived at her grandfather's house. Jin Woo parked outside the gate. The engine turned off, but the silence stayed.
Na-ri took a small breath and broke it. "Thank you… for today."
He turned slightly toward her. "You're welcome."
They exchanged a soft, almost hesitant goodbye. Na-ri stepped out of the car and walked to the gate. Jin Woo waited, watching until she went inside safely, before driving off into the night.
Inside the house, the lights were dim. It was already late.
Na-ri walked into the hallway and saw one of the maids cleaning up.
"Where's Grandfather?" she asked softly.
The maid bowed slightly. "He took his medicine and went to bed, miss. He's already asleep."
Na-ri nodded and made her way up to her room.
Meanwhile, across town, Mi-na stood in Ji-a's bedroom. Ji-a had cried herself to sleep, her eyes still red and puffy. Mi-na sat at the edge of the bed, her fingers curled tightly around her phone as she replayed the scenes from the gala over and over in her mind.
Her chest burned with anger.
She looked at Ji-a and then whispered coldly, "Na-ri, I won't let you win. You think this is over? You and Jin Woo will never get married. I'll make sure of it."
Back in Na-ri's room, the air was still. She had just taken a warm bath. Her body felt relaxed, but her mind didn't.
As she sat on her bed, her thoughts drifted to earlier that night. She remembered the way Jin Woo hugged her outside the ballroom. It wasn't the cold, careful way he usually acted. He had held her tightly, protectively. It was like he really cared.
He didn't feel distant tonight at all. He felt... warm.
Na-ri shook her head quickly. "Don't think like that," she whispered to herself.
She reminded herself that this was a business deal. Nothing more. Jin Woo was helping her because it worked for him. That was it. Maybe he hugged her just to comfort her. That's what anyone would do in that moment… right?
Jin Woo had also just gotten home. He had taken a quick shower and was now lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
He thought back to what he told her—"You're not alone anymore.... Na-ri. I'm with you. I'll be by your side. I won't let them hurt you again. I won't lose you again. Not this time...."
Why did he say that?
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"That wasn't part of the plan," he muttered under his breath. "Why did I have to say that?"
He didn't mean to sound so soft… but it just came out.
Na-ri picked up her phone. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she typed a message.
"What did you mean by 'lose me again'?"
She stared at it for a few seconds… then erased it and typed instead:
"Did you get home safely?"
She hit send.
Jin Woo's phone buzzed on his nightstand. He turned over and checked the message. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Yeah. Are you okay?" he replied.
Na-ri's phone lit up with his reply.
"Yes. But I can't sleep." she answered.
She waited, but he didn't reply right away. She was about to drop her phone when it suddenly rang.
It was Jin Woo.
She picked up quickly. "Hello?"
"Don't worry too much," he said gently. "You've done well. I told you, I'll help you… no matter what. Just think of happy things, okay? Forget about all those people."
Na-ri didn't speak right away. But hearing his voice calmed her.
"…Okay," she whispered.
"Goodnight, Na-ri."
"Goodnight," she said softly.
They ended the call.
Na-ri lay back on her bed, phone still in her hand. His voice echoed in her head. He still sounded… caring.
Does he really care? she thought again. But she quickly pushed the thought away.
Hours later, Jin Woo was fast asleep. His body was tired, but his mind wasn't at peace.
Suddenly, he tossed in bed, his forehead covered in sweat.
The dream returned again.
He was behind the wheel, driving in the rain. The roads were slippery. The lights blurred. He couldn't see clearly.
And then… the sound of a horn. A flash of white. The crash.
He woke up, breathing heavily.
The same dream again.