Time to return

Taewoo leaned back, composing himself before he spoke again. This time, his voice was smooth, carrying a hint of amusement, though it was laced with control.

"Enjoy your little vacation, Mingwa," he said, the softness in his tone an eerie contrast to his underlying authority. "I've arranged for you to have a one-week break. You can rest, gather your thoughts, do whatever you need to do."

Mingwa remained silent on the other end, unsure of how to respond to the sudden shift in his demeanor. The tension in her chest tightened, but she didn't dare to interrupt.

"At the end of that week," Taewoo continued, his voice unyielding, "I'll come to bring you back. And by then, I expect you to be ready."