Chapter Forty-seven: Turning the Tide.

Soo Jeon leaned against the balcony railing, the cool breeze ruffling her hair as she stared out at the city skyline. Min Jun was beside her, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. They stood in comfortable silence, the kind that spoke volumes about how far they had come together.

 "Mom's been… different lately," Min Jun said, breaking the silence. "Not exactly warm, but she's not as harsh as before. I think your talk with her really made an impact."

 Soo Jeon nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I noticed it too. It's not a complete change, but it's something. A step in the right direction."

 Min Jun turned to face her, his expression softening as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "I'm so proud of you, Soo Jeon. The way you handled everything, with my mom, with all the pressure… I couldn't have asked for a better partner."

 Soo Jeon felt her heart swell at his words. It wasn't just about the validation; it was the realization that they truly were a team, facing their battles side by side. "We're in this together, Min Jun. No matter what."

 As they shared a tender kiss, Soo Jeon felt a renewed sense of hope. But that sense of peace was short-lived, as she soon received an unexpected message from Min Jun's sister, asking to meet. The meeting brought unexpected news: Ji-Eun had been stirring up trouble once again, this time targeting Min Jun's professional reputation.

 "Soo Jeon, I know you've been dealing with a lot," Min Jun's sister said, her voice sincere. "But you should know that Ji-Eun isn't giving up. She's been talking to people at Min Jun's firm, trying to paint him as unreliable because of all this drama."

 Soo Jeon's blood boiled. Ji-Eun had crossed a line, and Soo Jeon was done playing nice. She thanked Min Jun's sister for the information and made a decision—she needed to confront Ji-Eun directly.

 The next day, Soo Jeon walked into a trendy café where Ji-Eun often hung out. She spotted Ji-Eun at a corner table, looking as composed and confident as ever. Soo Jeon approached her with a calm but determined stride, her eyes locked on Ji-Eun.

 "Ji-Eun," Soo Jeon greeted, her voice steady. "We need to talk."

 Ji-Eun looked up, surprised but quickly masking it with a smirk. "Soo Jeon, what a surprise. What brings you here?"

 Soo Jeon didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I know what you've been doing—trying to sabotage Min Jun's career. It ends now. I won't let you keep playing your games."

 Ji-Eun raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I'm not sure what you're talking about."

 Soo Jeon leaned in, her expression unyielding. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You've tried to undermine us at every turn, and I've had enough. I won't let you hurt Min Jun anymore."

 Ji-Eun's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of annoyance. "You think you can just walk in here and tell me what to do? You're nothing compared to what I've built with Min Jun's family."

 Soo Jeon's eyes flashed with determination. "Maybe. But I'm the one Min Jun loves. And I'm not going to back down, no matter what you throw at us."

 For the first time, Ji-Eun seemed genuinely unsettled. Soo Jeon's confidence, her unbreakable resolve, was something Ji-Eun hadn't accounted for. With a final, pointed glare, Soo Jeon turned and walked away, leaving Ji-Eun sitting there, stunned.

 Later that evening, Min Jun listened intently as Soo Jeon recounted the confrontation. He squeezed her hand, pride and gratitude shining in his eyes. "You're amazing, Soo Jeon. I don't know how I got so lucky."

 Soo Jeon smiled softly, leaning her head against his shoulder. "We're both lucky, Min Jun. And as long as we have each other, we can handle anything."

 As they sat together, wrapped in each other's embrace, they knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. But with each passing challenge, they were growing stronger, more united, and more determined to build the life they wanted together—against all odds.