Chapter 6.2
She narrowly avoided becoming a soaked mess before the party even began.
Fireworks continued bursting above them as Soyu looked into the eyes behind the mask.
He was Asian—just like her.
And she instantly realized: he was the host of the party.
There was a rule that only the host could wear a black mask—and he was wearing one, perfectly matching his outfit.
It was like a scene from a drama, the way they looked at each other.
“Wait… are you…”
She spoke in Korean, too excited to filter herself.
It felt like fireworks were now exploding in her chest, not the sky.
Her heart was racing so fast, she worried it might genuinely stop.
“You should be more careful.”
His voice was gentle… and strangely familiar.
“Thanks.”
She smiled bashfully.
Then, a mischievous thought crept in.
She wanted to break the rules—just once.
She wanted to lift his mask and see his face clearly, so she could remember it before it faded even more from memory.
Just as she reached toward his mask, her friends called from across the party.
“Hazel!”
Reluctantly, Soyu gave the boy a look of regret.
He let her go gently.
The warmth of his arm fading left a strange chill in its place.
Soyu felt goosebumps prickle down her arms.
“See you again, Noah!”
All she could do was say goodbye—for now.
Next time, I’ll talk to him properly. I’ll see his face clearly.
Waving, she walked carefully back toward her friends.
It felt like her heart was bursting with fireworks again.
But when she turned back to look…
He was gone.
A strange sense of disappointment filled her.
Placing a hand over her still-pounding chest, Soyu caught her breath.
Was that moment something only I felt… or did he feel it too?
The following Monday, Soyu searched everywhere for the transfer student.
She had questions. Questions she needed answers to.
But he was nowhere to be found.
And heartbreakingly, just a few months later, Yeonok forced Soyu to return to Korea.
That night at the party ended up being her final memory of Noah.
* * *
She didn’t see Kang Taeoh at all until the Tuesday they had agreed on.
According to his secretary, he was even busier than usual, preparing for the one-week honeymoon.
So even billionaires live like this, huh?
She always thought rich people just spent money and lived leisurely.
But somehow, seeing Taeoh working this hard made her admire him too.
Lately, Soyu had been feeling a bit lost.
She and Taeoh were the same age, but unlike him, she didn’t have a career she could confidently call her own.
Even while her father had been alive, Soyu had at least gone to work, slowly learning about the company.
But now, even that opportunity had been completely taken from her.
Yeonok had ordered her to step away from the business, under the outdated excuse of “bride training.”
“Everyone’s busy except me.”
The fiancée of the Kanghwa Group’s eldest son.
Aside from that title, she felt like nothing.
She murmured weakly to her reflection in the mirror, feeling utterly powerless.
She felt like a stranger in her own life—disconnected from reality.
“I just want to go pick out the wedding dress already.”
A few more aimless days passed, and finally, Tuesday arrived—the day she’d been waiting for.
The day she was supposed to go dress shopping with Kang Taeoh.
Meet me in the lobby.
She had sent him a message saying it was fine to go alone if he was busy—but this was the reply she received.
The excitement made her feel like she was going on a date.
Soyu came down early and waited for him in the hotel lobby, a subtle smile tugging at her lips.
As always, the lobby bustled with guests—tourists, business travelers, people just looking to relax.
Watching people come and go with their own stories made her quietly happy.
Time waiting for Taeoh didn’t feel boring at all.
Who would’ve thought meeting someone in the lobby could feel this special?
“Huh?”
As she fidgeted with her fingers, unable to hide her excitement, someone suddenly spoke to her.
“It’s you, right?”
Soyu looked up instinctively—and her face instantly stiffened.
“The second daughter of Yua Trading.”
It was the woman she’d seen with Taeoh during their cold war phase.
The one who had gently straightened his tie.
Soyu had completely forgotten about her, and the emotions from that day came flooding back.
“I’m Im Seri. I don’t think we got a proper introduction last time.”
Seri extended her hand.
After a brief hesitation, Soyu shook it.
Seri grasped it firmly—too firmly. Soyu’s slender frame wobbled from the force.
“The only daughter of Clover Group.”
Seri shared her background without being asked.
Clover Group was a powerful conglomerate, comparable in scale to Kanghwa Group.
“Oh, you know—people like us, it’s polite to introduce ourselves with our names and our family background.”
She shrugged as if it were nothing, but to Soyu, it felt like a line being drawn between them.
Seri looked down at Soyu with clear condescension, her lifted chin radiating entitlement.
You and I live in different worlds.
“Can’t believe that little boy grew up and is getting married. Time really flies.”
There’s a history between us that you’ll never understand.
“Oh, and from what I saw last time, you two didn’t seem very close. Don’t take it too hard—he’s always cold to people he doesn’t open up to.”
Unlike you, I know everything about Kang Taeoh.
Soyu hadn’t meant to feel intimidated—but something about Seri’s presence made her shrink back.
“I mean, why would he be affectionate with someone he’s marrying out of a contract? It’s just a formality.”
“…”
“You too, right? You’re not marrying Taeoh because you love him.”
Just then, the elevator dinged, stopping at the lobby.
A group of people exited, but Soyu didn’t notice. Her back was turned, and she was too focused on the conversation.
“What’s your relationship with Kang Taeoh?”
It was a short question, but for Soyu, asking it took a lot of courage.
Seri, smiling as she watched someone approach with confident steps, bent close.
She whispered just loud enough for Soyu alone to hear:
“Didn’t he tell you? I’m his first love.”
The words were hushed—intimate—carried only to Soyu’s ears.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
“Must’ve been a painful heartbreak. I mean, for him to suddenly announce marriage to the daughter of a mid-sized company… I was shocked. No offense, but our families aren’t exactly on the same level.”
Her father had built his company from the ground up.
It wasn’t a conglomerate, but it was stable and well-regarded.
Hearing Seri casually dismiss his life’s work made Soyu angry.
“And yet, giving him to another woman… it feels like such a waste.”
Then came a deeper fury—one ignited by how Seri spoke of Taeoh like he was a thing to be owned.
“Maybe I should just take him back.”
Just as something inside Soyu was about to explode, a familiar hand wrapped around her wrist.
“What’s going on here? Since when are you two so chummy?”
Kang Taeoh, his usual indifferent expression on full display.
Soyu looked up at him with wide, trembling eyes.
Seri’s gaze shifted to their linked hands.
Her smile stiffened, though she tried to force it to stay.
“I just came to see if you wanted to grab lunch—and ran into her. But looks like you two are heading somewhere?”
Taeoh’s attention was no longer on Seri at all. Every ounce of him was focused on Soyu.
Why does she look like she’s about to cry?
“Yeah. We’re going to pick out her dress.”
“You’re going with her to pick out a wedding dress?”
Seri’s expression faltered. She hadn’t expected this kind of tenderness from Kang Taeoh.
“That’s not like you at all…”
“Let’s go.”
Cutting her off, Taeoh pulled Soyu along and walked past Seri without a second glance.
Seri turned around, unable to hide the burning frustration on her face.
What the hell was that?
“Don’t tell me he’s actually into that girl?”
To Seri’s memory, this was only the second time.
The second time Kang Taeoh had ever given all of his attention—so ruthlessly—to one woman.
Kang Taeoh? That Kang Taeoh?
She tried to talk herself down, tried to mock Soyu in her head—but it did nothing to ease the bitter sting.
She had always believed that she was the only one who could ever handle him.
And now, everything was spiraling out of control—because of this girl who barged in out of nowhere.
