On her 29th birthday, her husband passed away.... more>>

And now, Sa-hee was standing face to face with him again.

She had returned to two years ago, the night she first spent with him.

“Confusing, isn’t it? Why are you crying?”

“…I’m sorry. It’s nothing.”

“Ms. Yoon, I’m not s*upid. Don’t think you can fool me.

Are you hoping I’ll just let this slide?”

It didn’t matter how this could happen.

Sa-hee simply wanted to protect Ji-Hyuk.

To do that, she needed to change his fate—

Even if it meant helping him marry another woman instead of herself.

“Be honest with me, Ms. Yoon.

I’m asking if you regret sleeping with me.”

But with those same eyes that once dominated her,

With that same voice that made her heart race,

Ji-Hyuk bound her tightly once more.

Cruelly familiar.

“I’m not so out of my mind as to pretend nothing happened after we slept together.”

“Vice President.”

“Let’s give it a shot. Let’s date.”

A different situation from before, but the same confession. <<less

Hyun-soo had always been compared to her accomplished older sister and treated like an unwanted burden. She ends up living in the annex of the house with Chan-mo and his sons. The next day, she meets the eldest son, Yoon Guk, who turns out to be in the same school, same class, and even her seatmate.... more>>

He keeps catching her attention.

“Hey, about what happened today… don’t mention it at home, okay?”

“What’s there to talk about?”

Though he seems indifferent, Yoon Guk shows consideration, and Hyun-soo gradually begins to develop feelings for him. Then, Yoon Guk makes her an offer she can’t refuse.

“If neither of us has anyone else by then, let’s seriously start seeing each other.”

The night Hyun-soo decides to confess her feelings, a massive fire engulfs the mansion. The towering flames consume everything—the house, the garden, even the people.

Instead of the promised sponsor, the person sitting across from her is none other than that Yoon Guk.

“You seem disappointed that I showed up instead of some old geezer.”

“Why… why did you go so far as to use someone else’s identity to sponsor us?”

It had been a full 10 years. His shadow had secretly loomed over her life all this time, and she couldn’t help but feel uneasy about it.

“You’re asking why I sponsored you?”

“…”

“There’s no particular reason.”

As if nothing had ever changed, he softened his lips into a faint smile. But the words that followed ultimately pushed Hyun-soo into a dark abyss.

“The one who ruins you should be me, not some petty poverty.”

—

Romance Guide (From RidiBooks)

Story Keywords: Modern, Brilliant Male Lead, Possessive Male Lead, Calculating Male Lead, Chaebol Male Lead, Ordinary Female Lead, Wounded Female Lead, Misunderstandings, Reunion Story

Male Protagonist: Yoon Guk (17/29) – Executive Director of ‘Hotel Onyx.’ In the past, he lived with his disabled mother and younger brother. After ‘that incident,’ he parted ways with Hyeon-soo but has secretly been supporting her ever since. His true feelings remain a mystery to everyone.

Female Protagonist: Kim Hyun-soo (17/29) – Teacher at the writing studio ‘Sseum.’ She grew up as the unwanted child in her family, constantly compared to her older sister. Blamed for causing ‘that incident,’ she was ostracized by society and bore the weight of judgment throughout her life.

When to Read This: When you’re curious about how fate’s twists and turns will unravel the tangled threads of destiny.

Relatable Quote: “Misfortune has a smell. That’s why you can’t help but sense it before it strikes.” <<less