Chapter 40:Breaking the Distance

Ji-Ah barely made it through her shift. Her mind wasn't on work, wasn't on the reports piling up on her desk. Instead, it kept circling back to Evelyn's words, the way she had looked so damn certain.

And worse, Ji-Ah had no argument against it.

By the time she got home, she was exhausted—not just from work but from the constant battle in her own head. She pushed open the door, expecting silence.

Instead, she walked straight into Evelyn.

Ji-Ah tensed. "What are you still doing here?"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "I live here."

Ji-Ah huffed. "You know what I mean."

Evelyn sighed and stepped closer, her expression no longer teasing. "You've been avoiding me all day."

Ji-Ah forced a laugh. "That's ridiculous. I was working."

Evelyn's gaze stayed locked on hers. "And now you're home. So what's your excuse?"

Ji-Ah swallowed. There was no excuse. Not anymore.

Evelyn exhaled, her voice quieter this time. "Ji-Ah, if you really don't care, just say it."

The words caught in Ji-Ah's throat. Because she couldn't say it.

Because it would be a lie.

Evelyn took another step forward. "I'm not asking for a grand confession. Just the truth."

Ji-Ah's heart pounded. The air between them was charged, the tension unbearable.

Finally, she forced herself to whisper, "I don't know."

Evelyn studied her for a long moment before nodding. "That's enough for now."

Ji-Ah blinked. "What?"

Evelyn gave a small smile. "You don't need to have all the answers today. Just don't run from them."

Ji-Ah didn't know how to respond. But for the first time, she didn't try to run.