Chapter Twenty-three: Web of Deceit.

 Kang Min Jun sat in stunned silence, his eyes fixed on the incriminating headline in front of him. The words "Professional Misconduct" seemed to leap off the page, taunting him with their falsehood. His boss's voice echoed in his ears, demanding an explanation that he wasn't prepared to give.

 "Min Jun, I need to know what's going on," his boss repeated, more urgently this time.

 Min Jun struggled to find his voice. "This... this isn't true. I've done nothing wrong," he stammered, but even to him, the words sounded weak, unconvincing.

 His boss sighed, rubbing his temples as if the situation was causing him a physical headache. "I want to believe you, Min Jun, but the board is already asking questions. This kind of scandal could ruin our firm's reputation, and yours along with it. You need to get ahead of this before it spirals out of control."

 Min Jun nodded numbly, his mind racing with questions. Who could have done this? How had it escalated so quickly? And why now?

 As he left the office, the whispers of his colleagues followed him like a dark cloud. He could feel their eyes on him, judging, doubting. Even his closest friend at the firm, Jae-Hyun, kept his distance, offering only a half-hearted pat on the back.

 When Min Jun finally checked his phone, he saw several missed calls from Soo Jeon. His heart ached as he realized how much he needed her right now, but he couldn't bring himself to face her. Not yet. Not when everything was falling apart.

 Soo Jeon, meanwhile, paced her apartment, her thoughts consumed by worry. The news report had sent her into a panic, and Min Jun's silence was only making things worse. She could sense something was terribly wrong, but without any answers, she felt helpless.

 Deciding she couldn't wait any longer, she grabbed her coat and headed out, determined to find Min Jun and demand an explanation.

 At the same time, Ji-Eun was making her next move. She met with her contact in a dimly lit café, handing over a folder filled with forged documents. These documents, carefully crafted to look legitimate, painted a damning picture of Min Jun's supposed involvement in illegal activities—kickbacks from contractors, fraudulent project bids, and more.

 The reporter's eyes gleamed with excitement as he flipped through the pages. "This will be front-page news," he said, barely able to contain his glee.

 "Make sure it is," Ji-Eun replied coldly. "And remember, you owe me."

 As she left the café, Ji-Eun felt a twisted sense of triumph. She had always been determined, relentless in getting what she wanted. And now, with Min Jun's reputation hanging by a thread, she was closer than ever to pulling him back into her orbit.

 When the new allegations hit the news, the fallout was immediate. Min Jun's firm placed him on indefinite leave, pending an internal investigation. His phone was flooded with messages from concerned clients, some demanding to sever ties with him and the firm altogether.

 The once-promising architect now found himself at the center of a storm he couldn't control, with everything he'd worked for slipping through his fingers.

 Soo Jeon arrived at Min Jun's apartment to find him in a state she'd never seen before. His usually immaculate living space was a mess—papers strewn everywhere, furniture overturned. And there, in the midst of the chaos, sat Min Jun, his head in his hands.

 "Min Jun," she whispered, rushing to his side.

He looked up at her, his eyes filled with a mix of anger, despair, and confusion. "I don't know what to do, Soo Jeon," he admitted, his voice breaking.

 Soo Jeon knelt beside him, taking his hands in hers. "We'll figure it out together. But you have to let me in. Tell me what's going on."

Min Jun hesitated, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He wanted to protect Soo Jeon from the ugliness of the situation, but he knew he couldn't do this alone.

 "It's Ji-Eun," he finally confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I think she's behind all of this."

 Soo Jeon's eyes widened in shock. "Ji-Eun? But why would she—"

 "She wants to ruin me," Min Jun interrupted, his tone filled with bitterness. "And she's doing a damn good job of it."

 As Soo Jeon processed this revelation, her heart ached for Min Jun. She realized that they were both caught in a web of deceit, spun by someone who was willing to go to any lengths to get what she wanted.

 But Soo Jeon wasn't about to let Ji-Eun win. She squeezed Min Jun's hands, her determination hardening. "We'll fight this, Min Jun. We won't let her destroy everything you've worked for."

 For the first time in days, Min Jun felt a flicker of hope. He didn't know how they were going to get through this, but with Soo Jeon by his side, he felt like maybe—just maybe—they had a chance.