For the first time in forever, I felt bad.

It must've been something I said.

And that something made her act . . . so defensive.

So indifferent.

So cold.

So damaged.

The Yoo InHyeong who wanted nothing but to shut everything out.

The Yoo InHyeong who wanted to trust no one else but herself.

That's when I saw it – The REAL Snow Queen.

“I didn't ask for anything, InHyeong-sshi. Not an apology. Nor a 'thank you'. I didn't even intend to save you originally, if that's what you wanna hear from me.”

I suddenly felt ashamed of myself, as if I stood in front of her stripped bare from all of my defenses, my masks and facades.

She returned nothing but a cold stare, one that literally made me freeze in place.

The kind of stare that makes you wanna guard the deepest and darkest secrets of your soul and hide them away, somewhere she can't ever see.

“You wanna know what I came here for? Truthfully speaking, I found you intriguing, interesting and most of all...challenging.”

I could hear myself snicker, sounding as suave and cool on the outside but deep inside, I knew what kind of mess was going on – I was intimidated by this woman – and that's the problem: Kim MinSeok was the only one