LOGIN“Wife, get up. We need to get moving—I’m on a tight schedule. We’re going somewhere.” I sat up immediately. Wait—did he say we were going somewhere? I didn’t recall him mentioning any plans.
“You didn’t tell me we were going out. Where are we going?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I crossed my arms. He mirrored my posture, lifting one brow in return.“Why? Don’t you want to leave the room? Do you plan to stay cooped up here for our entire stay in Venice?” He said with a smirThree days had passed since Bryle and I fell out, yet the silence between us remained as heavy as ever. It wasn’t the kind of silence that felt peaceful or temporary—it was the kind that lingered, stretching itself into every corner of the day, making even the simplest moments feel tense and incomplete.We weren’t arguing, but we weren’t talking either.Meanwhile, Lee Corp continued to improve—strangely, almost suspiciously so. Problems that once seemed impossible to resolve were now being handled with unexpected ease. It should have brought relief, yet the more things stabilized, the more uneasy I felt. Something about it didn’t sit right with me, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place without anyone actually solving it.Aside from that, I had buried myself in Blu Arte’s matters for the past three days. It was easier to focus on work than to confront the growing distance between Bryle and me. Haze had been helping me investigate, sticking by my side a
After finishing the tasks Aeun had placed on my desk, I leaned back in my chair and quickly checked my phone to see if Bryle had called or at least sent a message. But as usual, there was nothing.He had been sulking since last night. It was obvious—he left me in the room after asking about Jacob. He never returned that night. The next morning, I didn’t see him either; the maids said he had already left early for work.To be honest, I don’t know what to do anymore. I already have too many problems with the company, and now this conflict with Bryle has added to it. I feel increasingly restricted, as if every move I make is being limited.“Eli, have you finished everything I gave you?” Aeun asked as she suddenly entered my office. I smiled at her and gave a slight nod. She approached me, staring as if deep in thought.“Why? Do you have a question?” I asked.“Weird,” she muttered, frowning as she narrowed her eyes at me, as though
“What did you say? Jacob apologized to you?” I glanced at Aeun when I heard her faintly sharp tone. “And you forgave him just like that? Just like that? Didn’t you even make him pay for what he did to you?” “Aeun, why would I do that? He hasn’t done anything truly wrong to me. He said it was all Grandpa’s plan anyway, so what reason would I have to be angry at him?” “You know, you’re far too gullible,” Aeun snapped, dropping the folders she was holding from the table with a clatter, visibly frustrated. “You believe him so easily. You’re far too innocent, Eli. It’s obvious that Jacob is just manipulating you because he doesn’t want his image in your eyes to suffer! Wake up, Eli! You’re completely blinded by the goodness he’s showing you!” “It’s not like that. I just really know Jacob,” I defended quickly. “Maybe if you tried to get to know him, you’d find him kind too.” “Even if he can manipulate you, he won’t be able to foo
The weight of everything refuses to leave me. Even in silence, the problems surrounding Blu Arte’s and Lee Corp continue to echo inside my mind, overlapping until I can no longer separate one from the other. A sense of unease settles deep within me—what if the news has already reached the Lee clan? The thought alone is enough to make my chest tighten.I don’t even know what to prioritize anymore. One problem follows another, relentless and unforgiving. The companies I’ve been handling feel like they’re slipping from my control, and now, I find myself hesitating.I need space. I need to think.As I drive toward Bryle’s house, my mind remains clouded, my grip on the steering wheel slightly tighter than usual. But then—something catches my attention.I stopped.I stared at the familiar person I noticed.Fleur?She’s standing outside a convenience store… talking to Bryle.For a moment,
I still couldn’t get the problem with Blu Arte’s out of my mind. Absent-mindedly, I went home to Bryle’s house and headed straight to my room. I didn’t go to Bryle’s room where I had already grown used to sleeping beside him. Instead, I chose to isolate myself here so I could think clearly.I stared at the ceiling, trying to process every possible reason behind the gradual downfall of Blu Arte’s.Could Aeun and Haze possibly be right about their suspicions? What if they were correct—what if Fleur and Jacob were behind the scheme to destroy my company?No. I shouldn’t accuse them without solid proof that either of them is truly responsible.Besides, it seemed unlikely that Jacob would sabotage my company. He was one of Blu Arte’s sponsors. He would never do such a thing to me.I ran my hands over my face in frustration. I was already exhausted from overthinking everything happening in my life. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do anymor
When we returned to Rome, I went back to Bryle’s house. That morning, I stood on the balcony with a brush in my hand, slowly painting across the canvas resting on the easel. My phone suddenly vibrated on the small table beside me. I paused and glanced at the screen. It was secretary Fort. A strange feeling settled in my chest as I opened the message. My brows slowly knitted together as I read his words.'There is a serious problem with Blu Arte’s. The board requires your immediate presence.'My heart dropped.Without hesitation, I put down my brush and hurried inside. The painting remained unfinished behind me.By the time I arrived at the Blu Arte’s building, the tension in the building was already suffocating. Employees whispered among themselves in the hallways. Some glanced at me with worried expressions while others quickly looked away.Something was very wrong.When I entered the conference room, every member of t
I woke up when I felt that there was no one beside me. I immediately scanned the room to see where Bryle was, but it seemed he was no longer in the room. I sighed and slowly got up, and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.I stared at the mirror as I recalled everything that happened la
"Hey, Tata Marie, I'm here. How are you? It's been a while since I last visited..." Bryle spoke to the grave of someone with an unfamiliar name. He called her 'Tata', meaning she was like an aunt or a respected elder, likely a nanny or someone close to him. I smiled softly, touched by how Bryle s
My gaze returned to Bryle again; I didn't know what to say first. He was smiling and gestured for me to open the box. So, I followed and opened it— earrings… I'm not sure if I'll be disappointed or not. “I saw it when I came to the mall, you see? Its shape is a rose, just lik
I remained motionless, refraining from breaking the silence. He closed the distance between us, coming to stand beside me. I observed his gaze as he intently absorbed the piece I had created. Captivated by the painting, he smiled before saying, "You clearly recall the scene of our first meeting."







