Chapter 32: Yoon Sera

Eight years had passed. Eight years since I left South Korea. Eight years since I left him. Now, as I stepped onto familiar streets, I felt a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me—nostalgia, regret, fear. I had spent the last two years working at Solace Company after completing my post-graduation in the UK. Gaining experience, building a life, trying to prove to myself that I had made the right decision. But the moment I landed back in South Korea, the only thing on my mind was Taesan. I had told myself that time would heal everything. That he would move on. That I would move on. But Dohyun never forgave me. For Eight years, he refused to talk to me. I knew why. He hated seeing his best friend suffer. He hated me for being the reason Taesan suffered. And even though I understood, it still hurt. Because I had never stopped caring about Taesan. Even from miles away, even with an ocean between us, I had always cared. Soobin Oppa had kept me updated. Every single day. Even when I told him not to. Even when I said I didn't want to know. He still told me—because he knew I needed to hear it. And every time, it was the same. Taesan never spoke my name after our breakup. Not once. But he didn't have to. His eyes told the story. Soobin Oppa described it in quiet words, the way he looked devastated, how he suffered, how he had never been the same. I had told myself that leaving was for the best. That it was the only way to save us both from more pain. But hearing about his pain—pain that I caused— made me question everything. And then, he disappeared. Taesan deactivated all of his social media accounts. Vanished from the public eye. No one knew what he was thinking, what he was feeling. No one knew if he had moved on. And now that I was back, I was terrified to find out.

I sat at my desk, skimming through my resume for what felt like the hundredth time. Tomorrow was my interview at Regent & Co. Soobin Oppa had insisted that I apply. "It's a rising company, Sera. You have the skills, and luck might favor you."

But no matter how much I tried to focus on preparing, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for me here in South Korea—something unresolved.Just then, my phone buzzed.

Soobin Oppa called me from his office.

I picked up, sighing softly. "Oppa, don't tell me you're calling just to remind me about the interview again."

He chuckled. "Well, you sound nervous. Are you?"

I leaned back in my chair. "I don't know… It's been years since I had a job interview here. I got used to the system in the UK."

"You'll do fine. Regent & Co. is new but already making a name for itself. The CEO is young, brilliant, and strict, but I know you can impress them."

I furrowed my brows. "Strict?"

"Yeah. They say he's cold, doesn't waste time on unnecessary things. He barely shows up for interviews, though, so you might not even meet him."

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Sounds fun."

Soobin Oppa laughed. "You'll survive. Just be confident. You're overqualified for this job, honestly. They'd be stupid not to hire you."

I smiled a little. "Thanks for the encouragement, Oppa."

"Anytime." There was a pause before he spoke again, his tone more serious. "Sera… are you okay?"

I knew what he meant. Was I okay being back? Was I okay knowing he was somewhere in this city? I forced a small smile, even though he couldn't see me. "I will be."

There was silence for a moment, then a soft sigh from him.

"Alright. Just don't overthink things. Focus on yourself. And call me after the interview, okay?"

"I will, Oppa. Thanks again."

"Always."

After we hung up, I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. Tomorrow was a new beginning. Or at least, I hoped it would be.

I sat in the waiting area of Regent & Co., tapping my fingers lightly against my resume folder. My heart was already racing with nerves, but I forced myself to take deep breaths. This was just an interview. Nothing more. I could do this.

Around me, a few other candidates sat waiting as well, some scrolling through their phones, others reviewing notes. The atmosphere was quiet, professional—until I overheard a conversation from the two women sitting behind me.

"Did you hear about this company's history?" one of them whispered.

"Yeah, it's crazy. HoloVerse Innovations was such a big name, and then suddenly they rebranded, changed their location, and turned into Regent & Co. like nothing happened. It just happened 2 days ago"

I froze. Wait. What? My breath hitched as their words sank in. HoloVerse Innovations? Taesan's company? I felt my hands go cold, my grip on my folder tightening. No. No, no, no. Soobin Oppa fooled me. My mind was spinning. Regent & Co. was just a new name. The company still belonged to Taesan. I swallowed hard. How did I not know this? Soobin Oppa tricked me, fully aware of what he was doing. How can I work here—even if I get the job?! Panic surged through me, my heartbeat roaring in my ears. I had to leave. I had to get out of here before it was too late. I quickly gathered my things, preparing to run.

But before I could take a single step—

"Miss Yoon Sera."

My name was called. My stomach dropped. The receptionist was looking straight at me, waiting for me to step forward. Oh, no. And at that exact moment, my phone buzzed. I grabbed it instinctively, glancing at the screen. Soobin Oppa. I hesitated before answering, whispering into the phone. "Oppa, what the hell did you do?"

His voice came through the receiver, calm but firm.

"Don't run."

My heart pounded. "You lied to me!"

"I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you everything."

"That's the same thing!" I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

Soobin Oppa sighed. "Sera, I swear, if you run now, I'll be the baddest brother ever."

I clutched my phone tighter. "You tricked me into coming here."

"Because you need to face this."

I felt my breath catch. Face this? Face Taesan? I could feel the receptionist's gaze still on me, waiting for me to stand up and walk through those doors. I was trapped. I had no choice. And worst of all—I wasn't ready.

My legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds as I forced myself to walk toward the interview room. I wasn't ready for this. I wasn't ready to see him. But it was too late now. The moment I stepped inside, I saw him.

Ryu Taesan.

He was sitting at the head of the long conference table. His posture was composed, his presence dominating the room without even trying. He looked dashing—no, striking—just like before, but bolder. More powerful. He still had that same air of confidence, the one that had always made people turn their heads when he walked into a room. But now? Now, he looked untouchable. His jet-black full-sleeve shirt fit him perfectly, the sleeves neatly folded just below his wrists. He had always looked good in black. But what caught my attention the most—what made my breath hitch—was the pair of glasses resting on his nose. He always looked breathtaking in glasses. And right now, he was looking straight at me. His eyes locked onto mine the second I entered. No hesitation. No shock. Just calm, unwavering focus. Like he had already known I was coming. I wanted to run. But I couldn't. Not when my own brother was sitting beside him, acting like nothing was wrong.

Soobin Oppa.

The biggest traitor.

He was sitting across from Taesan, glancing at me with a neutral, professional expression—as if this wasn't a complete setup. And then, in the most formal tone I had ever heard from him, he spoke.

"Yoon Sera, sit down."

I nearly choked.

What. The. Hell.

My brother was pretending like we weren't siblings. Like I was just another candidate. Like this was just a normal interview. I glanced back at Taesan, but he wasn't looking away. His gaze was unreadable, but his fingers were slightly curled on the table—the only sign that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as unaffected as he looked. I took a shaky breath. Then, with all the strength I had left, I walked forward and sat down. I steadied myself as I sat down, keeping my expression neutral. Professional. Calm. Unaffected. Even if my heart was pounding, even if my mind was screaming, I couldn't let it show.

The interview started.

Soobin Oppa and another panel member, a middle-aged man with a sharp gaze, began asking me questions. Their voices were measured, their tones strictly professional.

"You worked at Solace Company in the UK for two years after your post-graduation. It's a well-established firm with strong industry connections. Why did you leave?" the other interviewer asked.

I expected that question. I had prepared for it. I clasped my hands together and answered smoothly, "I wanted to take on new challenges and expand my experience in a different work environment."

He nodded, jotting something down. I could feel Taesan's eyes on me, but I refused to look at him. Soobin Oppa leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable. "Given your credentials, you must have had offers from other companies in the UK as well. Why return to South Korea?"

Another expected question. I kept my voice steady. "I wanted to reconnect with my roots. Working abroad gave me a lot of exposure, but I felt it was time to bring that experience back home."

Lies.

Half-truths at best.

But I said them with confidence, maintaining the image of a focused professional. There was a brief pause. Then, Soobin Oppa turned to his right.

"Mr. Ryu, do you have any questions?"

The air in the room suddenly felt thicker. For the first time since I had walked in, I lifted my gaze—and met his.

Taesan.

He had been silent throughout the interview, watching, listening. But now, it was his turn. His dark eyes held mine, sharp and unreadable. And then, in a voice that was calm, yet piercingly direct, he asked—

"Why did you leave?"

A sharp inhale. I wasn't expecting that. I quickly masked my emotions, keeping my posture straight. Professional. Detached. But before I could even formulate a response, he spoke again—his tone just as controlled, but this time, his gaze darkened slightly.

"And why did you come back now?"

I forced myself to remain steady. I couldn't let him see how much that question shook me. I took a breath and answered, my voice composed.

"Personal reasons."

A long pause. For a second, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes. Something unreadable. Unspoken.

Then—he nodded once, leaning back in his chair.

"Okay."

And just like that, he let it go.

The moment I stepped into the apartment, I slammed my bag onto the couch, spinning around to glare at my traitor brother.

"You set me up!" I snapped, crossing my arms. "How could you send me to his company without telling me?"

Soobin Oppa, completely unfazed, calmly took off his watch and placed it on the table, as if he had just returned from an ordinary day at work.

"I told you to go for the interview. You never asked who owned the company."

I let out a sharp breath, pressing my fingers to my temples. "Oh my God. You seriously tricked me into applying for a job at Taesan's company?!"

He sighed dramatically, walking toward the kitchen like this conversation wasn't giving me a full-blown crisis.

"Sera, sit down. You're being too emotional."

I gaped at him. "Too emotional?! Are you kidding me?"

I had just sat across from Taesan for the first time in Eight years, pretending like we were nothing but a CEO and a job candidate.

I had watched him look at me like a stranger. And worst of all? I had to act like it didn't affect me.

"I can't work there," I muttered, pacing across the living room. "No way. I need to reject the offer before they even give me one."

Soobin Oppa let out an exasperated sigh, pouring himself a glass of water. "Sera, you are literally the most qualified candidate for that job. You wanted to challenge yourself, right? This is the perfect opportunity."

I glared at him. "Don't twist my words. I said I wanted a new challenge, not a trauma reunion."

He took a sip of his water, then looked at me with a raised brow. "So… you're scared?"

I froze.

My jaw clenched. "No."

"Then why are you running?"

I turned away, unable to answer. Because he wasn't wrong. I wasn't afraid of the job. I was afraid of facing Taesan every single day. Of seeing him move on. Of realizing that I was the only one still stuck in the past. Soobin Oppa must have seen my expression shift because his voice softened. "Sera, you can do this. You've worked too hard to let your emotions hold you back now."

I swallowed hard, looking down. "What if it's too much?"

He walked over and placed a hand on my head, ruffling my hair like he used to when we were kids.

"Then you'll handle it. Like you always do."

I sighed heavily, feeling some of the anger fade. I still wanted to strangle him for tricking me, but… maybe he had a point. Maybe, this wasn't just about the job. Maybe, this was about finally facing everything I had been running from.

Two days passed.

I had spent them overthinking everything—whether I should take the job, whether I could handle seeing Taesan every day, whether this was a mistake waiting to happen. But the decision wasn't mine anymore. Because that afternoon, my phone rang. I stared at the screen.

Regent & Co.

My breath caught in my throat, my fingers hovering over the answer button. I already knew what this call was about. Still, I hesitated. Finally, I picked up.

"Hello?"

A polite, professional voice greeted me. "Miss Yoon Sera, this is HR from Regent & Co."

I pressed my lips together. Here it comes.

"We're pleased to inform you that you've been selected for the position. Congratulations."

I swallowed hard, gripping the phone tighter. I got the job. Even though I had been expecting it, hearing it felt different. More real. More terrifying.

The HR manager continued, "You'll need to report to the office tomorrow at 9 AM. We'll complete your onboarding process and introduce you to your team."

Tomorrow.

Less than 24 hours from now, I would officially be working under Taesan. My heartbeat picked up, but my voice stayed steady. "Thank you. I'll be there."

After the call ended, I lowered my phone and stared at the ceiling, exhaling sharply. There was no turning back now.