Chapter Eighteen: Jealousy Is

At this moment, time seemed to stand still. Even Hwang Tae-kyung, who usually couldn't care less about others, stared in shock at Uhey... or rather, at the stain on her dress.

He had a severe obsession with cleanliness. This didn't just mean he couldn't tolerate anyone dirtying his own body—he also couldn't stand the sight of people who looked unkempt. Now, naturally, his fury shifted to Go Mi-nam.

Yet the culprit was sprawled on the ground in a chaotic stupor, short hair sticking out in all directions, muttering incoherently.

Rachel Yoo didn't want to laugh. She simply felt, all of a sudden, that Cha Eun-sang was actually rather pitiful—though this was by no means pity.

"I’m going to lose my mind!" Uhey practically screamed as she realized what had happened. The next moment, a flurry of camera flashes erupted around her, and she instantly froze, wishing she could kick all those reporters away. Seriously? Did they think she could appear on camera like this?

Manager An rushed over at the commotion. Seeing the scene, he hurriedly negotiated with the reporters, pleading with them until they finally agreed to destroy the photos.

By then, a white jacket had already been draped over Uhey, concealing her soiled dress.

Although Uhey had suffered this misfortune while trying to help Hwang Tae-kyung, it was, of course, Kang Shin-woo who stepped in to rescue her. Hwang Tae-kyung had considered it, but the thought of his own clothes touching that vomit-stained black dress... Please, he felt sick just thinking about it. His resentment toward Go Mi-nam only deepened.

"We must get him out!" Even though, after the press conference, this wish was nearly impossible to realize, Hwang Tae-kyung still refused to live under the same roof with him.

By this time, Kang Shin-woo had already taken Uhey to change.

Rachel Yoo and Lee Bo-na exchanged glances. What now?

Lee Bo-na was troubled as well. As the daughter of their direct boss and future heir, her first concern was always the company’s interests. In this situation, she couldn’t continue antagonizing Cha Eun-sang. Besides, her goal had already been achieved—as long as Cha Eun-sang stopped pestering Chan-young from time to time, that was enough. True, she knew they were childhood friends, but as the saying goes, “guard against fire, theft, and your best friend.” Childhood friends were even more dangerous than best friends!

"I’ll take her home," Lee Bo-na said to Rachel Yoo with some resignation. "How about this: I’ll have Jeremy take you back. You really shouldn’t stay too long."

It was already close to ten. The autumn night wind was chilly, sobering everyone on the rooftop. Bo-na shivered, went over to support Cha Eun-sang, all the while thinking she must have done something terrible in a past life to be stuck with this troublesome girl.

Jeremy looked at Rachel Yoo with cautious eyes. "Shall I take you home, little sister?" His hesitancy came from the fact that this girl’s aura was a bit intimidating—again with the “little sister” thing.

Little sister, my foot! Even this baby-faced boy was calling her that!

Though she felt a touch of frustration inside, Rachel Yoo still nodded. "Let’s go," she said, offering a smile for good measure. After all, Jeremy was rather adorable.

Moreover, his careful, tentative manner somehow made her uneasy; she really was defenseless against the innocent type.

But before they could set out, Rachel Yoo’s phone rang.

"I’m downstairs. Come down," came Kim Won’s cool, emotionless voice. Night had fallen over this slightly remote area, but not far away, a pub bathed in purple neon was buzzing with noise. Luxury cars were parked all around. Kim Won’s own car was parked front and center, a cigarette between his fingers, phone in his other hand.

He rarely smoked—only when particularly irritable would he light one up.

After Rachel Yoo left to see Lee Bo-na, he had run into Kim Tan at the hotel. The younger boy had come looking for him, eyes reddened. Kim Won’s heart wasn’t made of stone; he couldn’t ignore his brother, who had always sought his approval.

"Hyung, what are you and Rachel Yoo really doing?"

Kim Tan could hardly contain his anger, his first instinct being that the two were retaliating. He had only recently learned from Secretary Yoon that his brother and his girlfriend had broken up because of their father’s pressure.

"Why did you break up—was it really just because of that? Why can’t you stand up for yourself, hyung?"

Kim Tan’s words were starting to lose coherence; he didn’t even know how to express himself. He felt that Rachel Yoo was getting back at him, and his brother was rebelling against their father. But by doing this, they were giving up their own futures.

"Why can’t you just find someone you actually love?" The boy looked desperate, a would-be knight ready to fight for love.

Kim Won envied his courage, but also pitied his naivety.

He let out a cold laugh. "Well then, Rachel went looking for the man she loves. And how did that turn out?"

Kim Tan fell silent.

"You still don’t understand the burden I carry. You’re not even eighteen yet; you know nothing of what goes on inside the company, yet you dare to criticize me here." Kim Won’s tone was calm. "When you finally understand what you will have to face, then come and talk to me, all right?"

One day, Kim Tan would realize that there were too many things in this world more important than love.

"But… by doing this, you’re hurting her," Kim Tan said, grabbing his brother’s sleeve as Kim Won turned to go.

Kim Won shook off his hand, replying carelessly, "You’ve already hurt her—do you really care if I do too? If you want to be a worthy heir, you must be ruthless, decisive, and cold-hearted."

Kim Won didn’t say anything more, even though his own thoughts didn’t fully align with his words. But he needed Kim Tan to understand: he was still too naïve.

Besides, had Kim Tan never considered that his own relationship with Rachel Yoo was simply because they wanted to be together?

So quickly moving on was impossible, but why couldn’t two single people be together?

Thinking of being single reminded Kim Won of Rachel Yoo’s nominally existing engagement. He realized he needed to ask her what she intended to do about that.

Rachel Yoo could sense Kim Won’s low mood, but assumed he was upset about work. Sliding into the car, she asked, "Did something happen to upset you, Won?"

Kim Won was silent.

She didn’t think Kim Won would be angry or jealous because of her. After all, both of them had people they cared about, and she couldn’t make sense of this current atmosphere. It felt like something more than friends, but not quite lovers.

"Just a minor issue," he replied.

His troublesome younger brother coming to question him and all that—Kim Won suddenly thought that Kim Tan wasn’t so bad to Rachel Yoo after all.

If he told her what had happened today, would this girl start harboring hope for Kim Tan again? Yet he was certain: once Kim Tan’s identity was revealed, Esther Lee would be the first to oppose their engagement.

So…

"Was the party fun?" Kim Won decisively changed the subject.

"It was all right," Rachel Yoo replied. At this, she thought of Cha Eun-sang and recounted the events to Kim Won, without any hint of jest.

Hearing the story, Kim Won laughed. "That’s not so bad. Kim Tan and she will break up soon enough."

…That wasn’t what she meant.

"When that happens, you can win Kim Tan’s heart back," Kim Won said, surprising even himself.

Why did those words sound so base as soon as they left his mouth?