Chapter 38

Sera stood before Yuna’s car, her presence commanding enough to make a few passersby slow their steps and sneak glances. It was the kind of tension you could feel in your teeth—something sharp, something dangerous.

The car door opened with a heavy click. Yuna stepped out, her heels striking the pavement with deliberate precision. Even under the soft daylight, she carried that same aura. She shut the door behind her, eyes fixed on Sera.

“…Hwang Sera.” Yuna’s voice was calm, but disdain bled into the edges. “Of all places, you choose to appear here?”

Sera tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable, though her presence said everything. “You make it sound like coincidence.”

The air between them tightened, heavy with words unsaid.

From my seat inside, I sat stiff, every muscle tense. This wasn’t looking good. A couple of people across the street were already slowing down, pretending to check their phones while clearly watching.

Sera’s eyes finally flicked past Yuna—straight to me. She lifted her hand, pointing directly at me. “I don’t have business with you, Yuna. I have business with him.”

Her finger didn’t waver. She wanted me out of the car.

Yuna’s brows drew together for a moment, confusion flashing across her otherwise composed face. “What do you mean by that?” she asked flatly.

Sera didn’t bother explaining. She kept her gaze locked on me, waiting.

My stomach dropped. This was bad. Really bad. The last thing I wanted was for them to start tearing into each other in the middle of the street. My hand moved on its own, shoving the door open as I stepped out slowly.

Sera’s eyes softened slightly as they landed on me, though her voice was steady, commanding. “Haemin. Get in my car. Now.”

I swallowed hard, frozen in place. My eyes darted from her to Yuna.

Yuna’s gaze snapped to me before cutting back to Sera, her voice low and cold. “Hey, Sera. What do you think you’re doing?”

I could feel her eyes burning into me after she said it, her unspoken warning twisting in my chest.

Sera scoffed softly, crossing her arms. “Hah. That’s rich, coming from you. Shouldn’t I be asking you the same thing? I didn’t know the chairwoman of Nara Group stooped so low—dragging a nineteen-year-old boy into her car like this.”

The words hit the air like knives.

For the briefest second, Yuna’s lips curved into something sharp. But her tone stayed collected and composed. “And what I do with him is none of your concern, is it?”

Sera took a single step forward, her heels clicking. She didn’t raise her voice, but every word landed heavy. “It wouldn’t be my concern if he weren’t someone I knew. But the thing is…” Her eyes flicked toward me, steady, unwavering. “He’s someone close to me.”

That one sentence made my chest seize.

Yuna’s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. “…What exactly are you talking about?”

Sera tilted her head, almost amused. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking that question? What’s your relationship with him, Yuna?”

The silence that followed felt like a blade hanging over my neck.

I had to interfere—if I let them keep going, I didn’t know what would happen.

“S-Stop. Please.” My voice cracked more than I wanted, but I forced the words out. “Don’t fight. This isn’t—”

But they didn’t even look at me.

Their eyes were locked on each other, two storms colliding.

Passersby had started slowing down more noticeably now, their heads turning. A small group stood on the opposite sidewalk, whispering behind their hands. None of it mattered. To Yuna and Sera, the world had shrunk to just the two of them—and me, standing trapped in the middle.

Screw it, explanation can wait.

I couldn’t just stand there. If I let this continue, they’d tear into each other. Before I even realized it, my legs were already moving. I stepped to Yuna’s side and reached for her arm, my fingers brushing against her sleeve as I pulled her gently.

“Yuna, please,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “That’s enough.”

Her eyes shifted from Sera to me, calm yet unreadable. That single glance told me she had no intention of stopping—at least, not yet.

Sera’s gaze darted sharply between us, and for the first time, her composure cracked just enough to reveal a flicker of surprise. “Haemin,” she said slowly, her tone low and measured, “what’s the meaning of this?”

My throat tightened. I couldn’t hold her gaze for long. “That’s enough, Miss Sera. There’s no need for you to interfere any further.’ The words weighed heavy on my tongue, as if I were trying to build a wall out of paper.”

I turned slightly, as if to leave, but Sera stepped forward. Her hand reached out, as if she meant to hold me in place. “Haemin. I’m not done talking with you.”

Before she could touch me, Yuna’s hand shot out, catching Sera’s wrist mid-air. Her grip was steady—not harsh, but utterly unyielding. The single gesture froze the room.

Yet Sera didn’t flinch. Her composure held firm, her eyes meeting Yuna’s with calm defiance.

Yuna’s tone dropped lower, colder. “Haemin is under my care. That’s all you need to know.”

Sera’s lips curved faintly—almost a smile, though not quite. Then, with a sharp flick, she knocked Yuna’s hand aside, breaking free with practiced ease.

Yuna only smirked. Without sparing Sera another glance, she turned smoothly and stepped back toward her car.

I lingered for a moment, but my body followed hers on instinct. Before I knew it, I was back in the passenger seat.

The engine roared back to life.

Through the windshield, I caught one last glimpse of Sera. She hadn’t moved from where she stood. Her posture was still straight, her gaze still steady, but her expression had shifted—darkened. Dissatisfaction lingered on her lips, restrained but unmistakable. Her hand curled into a tight fist at her side, knuckles pale as she watched us pull away.

Even as the car carried me farther away, I could feel the weight of her gaze pressing into my back, like she wasn’t going to let this end here.

I sank against the seat, the blur of the road sliding past the windows while Yuna drove on without a word. A long breath escaped me, heavy and unsteady.

I told myself it was over.

This was the end.

______________

The drive back to Seoul was unbearable. Yuna hadn’t spoken a single word since we left Busan. Her hands gripped the wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned pale, and every time I tried to say something, she gave me nothing but silence.

The air inside the car was heavy, pressing down on me until I could barely breathe. I knew this wasn’t over. I knew she was holding it all in.

By the time we finally reached the city, my stomach was in knots. She pulled into the garage of the penthouse and cut the engine. Without even glancing at me, she threw open her door, then walked around to mine.

The next thing I knew, the door flew open. Her cold hand clamped around my wrist and yanked me out.

“Get out,” she said flatly, her voice like ice.

“Yu—Yuna, w-wait—”

Her grip tightened painfully. “I said get out.”

I winced, stumbling as she dragged me across the garage. Her nails dug into my skin as if she wanted to carve her mark into me.

“It… it hurts, Yuna. Can you—can you let go?” I pleaded softly, trying to keep my voice calm.

But she didn’t answer. She only dragged me faster, her long strides forcing me to stumble to keep up. My heart raced. I could already feel the storm building inside her.

The elevator ride was torture. Yuna didn’t look at me even once. She just kept her hold on my wrist. Her cold eyes stayed fixed straight ahead.

When the doors finally opened, she didn’t slow down. She pulled me straight inside the penthouse, shoved the door open, and marched me to the living room.

“Sit.”

Before I could react, she shoved me hard. My back hit the sofa cushions, the shock stealing my breath.

I stared up at her, frozen.

Yuna stood over me, her shadow falling heavy. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, her breathing steady but sharp. For a long moment, she just stared—her eyes locked on me like I was prey trapped in a corner.

“Talk,” she finally said, her voice low, shaking with restrained fury. “Tell me everything. Right now.”

Her words cut through the air like a blade.

My throat tightened. “E-Everything…?”

SLAP!

The sound echoed through the living room as her palm connected with my cheek. My head snapped to the side, the sharp sting spreading across my skin.

“ARE YOU TRYING TO PLAY GAMES WITH ME?!” Yuna’s totally lost it—her voice raw with rage.

Before I could even recover, her hand shot out and gripped my chin with merciless force. Her nails dug deep into my skin, sharp enough to leave marks, holding me in place.

Pain flared, my lips trembling as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. My cheek burned, my jaw aching under her grip. My eyes stung, but I couldn’t look away from hers.

Her face was close, her breath harsh and uneven, every word dripping with fury. I wanted to speak, but my throat locked, fear suffocating me.

She wasn’t going to let me go until I gave her what she wanted.