Chapter 46: The Answer She Won’t Say

Ji-Ah stood frozen, Evelyn's words replaying in her mind.

So what's stopping you?

Excuses. She needed an excuse, but nothing came.

Min-Hye and Seo-Jun watched in silence, eyes darting between them.

Evelyn took a slow step closer. "Just say it, Ji-Ah. Do you want this or not?"

Ji-Ah's breath caught. The truth sat heavy on her chest, stubbornly refusing to be spoken.

Evelyn sighed, her gaze searching Ji-Ah's face. "If you tell me right now that you feel nothing, I'll walk away."

Ji-Ah's fingers curled, nails pressing into her palm.

Say it.

The words stuck in her throat.

Evelyn didn't move. She didn't rush. She just waited.

Ji-Ah's lips parted, but nothing came out.

Silence.

Evelyn's expression softened, as if she already knew the answer Ji-Ah couldn't admit.

Without another word, Ji-Ah turned and walked away, leaving Evelyn standing there in the quiet night.

Chapter 47: A Step Too Close

Evelyn watched as Ji-Ah walked away, her shoulders tense, her pace quick—like she was running from something. From her.

Min-Hye sighed. "She's so stubborn."

Seo-Jun shook his head. "At this rate, she's going to push away something she actually wants."

Evelyn exhaled sharply, setting her coffee cup down. "I'm not going to force her."

Min-Hye gave her a knowing look. "You won't have to."

Evelyn didn't respond. Maybe Min-Hye was right. Maybe she had been trying too hard to act like she didn't care.

Meanwhile, Ji-Ah locked herself in her room, leaning against the door. Her heart was pounding too fast, too loud.

If you tell me right now that you feel nothing, I'll walk away.

She had wanted to say it. To end whatever this tension was between them.

But she couldn't.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Evelyn.

Evelyn: Are you avoiding me?

Ji-Ah stared at the screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard before she typed back.

Ji-Ah: No.

A few seconds later, another message came.

Evelyn: Okay.

Ji-Ah exhaled, shutting her eyes. She wasn't sure why, but that single word made her feel uneasy.