Eunbi's world had become a blur within her alcohol-induced haze as her heart was aching and torn between anger, confusion and her still undeniable love for Sojung.

As the minutes passed by, Sojung, living up to her promise, held Eunbi tightly pressing their bodies together to try to calm the younger down.

The blonde could feel her own breath, ragged and unsteady, against the taller's neck.

The two lovers just continued to lay like that, entwined, until Eunbi's sobs began to subside, replaced by deep, uneven breaths, all the while Sojung just watched over her, with her fingers gently Eunbi's hair, trying her best to comfort the other the best she can.

Finally, Eunbi's grip on Sojung began to loosen, and her eyes closed as exhaustion overcame her, but despite her breaths being now steady signally to the older that the younger had fallen asleep, Sojung continued to hold her, despite her own exhaustion.

As the night drifted on, Eunbi remained nestled against Sojung's chest, finding solace in their shared warmth. Fearing Sojung would disappear, the younger unconsciously held onto Sojung as if her life depended on it. Not once did she want the girl to leave her again despite the fact it was because of her that the blonde's chest was in absolute knots.
 

Unfortunately, when morning came, Eunbi's fear became true as she awoke to an empty bed. The warmth that had comforted her throughout the night was gone, leaving only a faint imprint of Sojung's presence. Panic surged through her as she realised the older had indeed disappeared.

It didn't take long before Eunbi's eyes began to glisten up as she reached out to touch the vacant space beside her, hoping against hope that Sojung's absence was just a cruel dream.

You promised Sojung.. 

You promised you would stay... 

Just what was Eunbi doing? She couldn't help but berate herself for the overwhelming emotions she still harboured for a woman who had callously trampled over her feelings... Was she truly so entangled in the web of Sojung's charm? Did her love for this woman run so deep that she was willing to endure the agony of watching her marry someone else? Eunbi was left adrift in a sea of confusion, unsure of her own heart, uncertain about the depths of her emotions. She couldn't find the answers she sought, and it left her feeling lost and adrift whilst the whole ordeal of the situation was absolutely consuming her.

Sojung... just why did you leave?

However, just as Eunbi's tears began to flow, there was a soft creaking of the bedroom door. She turned her head to see Sojung, standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with regret and longing. It was weird... despite everything the CEO had put her secretary through.. in that moment, Eunbi's tears of sorrow still transformed into tears of relief as she realised that Sojung had not abandoned her just yet. 

Sojung hurried to the bed, her coffee cup forgotten on the bedside table. She knelt down beside Eunbi, reaching out to gently wipe away the tears that had already fallen. "I'm here, Eunbi," she whispered, her voice filled with tenderness. "I'm so sorry, I just went to get you a cup of coffee, I promise I didn't leave."
 

Eunbi wrapped her arms around Sojung, pulling her close, as if afraid that if she let go, Sojung might vanish once more. "Don't ever leave me, Sojung," The girl pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. "I can't bear it."
 

Sojung's heart ached with the weight of her own predicament. She knew she had to protect Eunbi, not only from the emotional turmoil but also from her father's wrath. The engagement had been arranged, and there were expectations she had to fulfil... but despite these realities, she could still feel her own resolve dropping around the younger... she supposed it was an effect Eunbi had always had on her. 

Gently cupping the blonde's cheeks with her thumb continuously brushing away her tears, her hesitant demeanour became more and more obvious.

"Oh Eunbi..." Sojung responded, her voice barely above a whisper, each word weighed down by the gravity of their situation. 'I really wish it didn't have to be like this... I really wished it could've all been different-"
 

"Why can't it be?"  Eunbi couldn't help but question, her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and sadness, whilst her hands held onto Sojung's. With a gentle but determined touch, she brought the older's hand down from her tear-stained cheeks, searching for answers in the depths of her lover's eyes.


 

Sojung took a deep, shuddering breath, her gaze locked onto Eunbi's. As she looked into the blonde's eyes, the weight of her actions bore down on her. Eunbi's desperate plea for understanding had shaken something deep within Sojung's heart. She realised she couldn't keep Eunbi in the dark any longer, and she couldn't let her suffer because of her own silence. She owed Eunbi the truth, the whole truth about everything.

Her voice quivered, but she spoke with a newfound resolve, "Eunbi, there's something I need to tell you..."



"I'm listening..." Eunbi remained silent as she patiently waited for the other to unfold everything. In that moment, she came to the revelation that whatever Sojung was about to reveal.. would definitely not be pretty. 
 

"Eunbi.."

Why is she saying my name again?
 

"The other Eunbi"

Eunbi furrowed her brow, perplexed by the implications of Sojung's words. "The other Eunbi?" she said, her voice tinged with curiosity, "Sojung, just what are you trying to say?"
 

"That bartender who took care of you last night. Her name is Eunbi."

 

Eunbi's astonishment was reflected in her wide, questioning eyes. The gears of her mind spun with inquiries, and she found herself increasingly curious about how Sojung possessed knowledge of the bartender's name. The shared name between her and the bartender only deepened the enigma. "How do you know the bartender's name?" Eunbi asked, her confusion growing more profound with each passing moment.
 

"She was my past secretary, my first secretary actually... before... she had to be let go..."

What happened to Aphrodite's Fashion's Secretary?

The article flashed between Eunbi's eyes as things started piecing together. It kind of made sense now how Sojung was able to find the bar and take her home so quickly.

"What... happened?" Eunbi could only manage to ask, her mind grappling with the unfolding situation. She couldn't quite fathom the connection between the past secretary and their present circumstances, but the way Sojung was behaving hinted at some form of correlation.

"Just before she was hired, I had recently become engaged to Eunwoo," Sojung disclosed, her words laced with complexity. "At that time, there was no animosity between us. I don't know how I truly felt about him at the time, I suppose everything was in good faith... but as far as loving him... I'm not sure... I don't know if I even ever felt that way about him. It was an arrangement made for the sake of our family's business ties. My father orchestrated the whole thing. Strangely, we were meant to be married sooner, but circumstances dragged it out unnecessarily, and that circumstance was Eunbi. Hwang Eunbi," Sojung began to recount, her voice filled with mixed emotions.

Eunbi listened attentively, absorbing the depth of Sojung's words, not daring to interrupt as the older continued her explanation. 



"She was a stubborn