She is well aware that this is a premium establishment because you must make a reservation online before you can enter and dine inside. But she never imagined it to be so luxurious that VIP rooms existed. She'd only seen this in movies.

Dahyun walked inside the room and saw that the man she was meant to see was already there with Dae-won. She couldn't recognize who the man was because he was on his back and facing Dahyun's father at the table.

"Ah, she's here," Dae-won said, remaining seated. "Come closer and greet Mr. Zhang," he urged, making Dahyun's eyes narrow in curiosity. It was just that the name sounded familiar, despite the fact that Zhang is well-known practically everywhere in the world. And so, it is still possible that it is someone else.

It was fortunate that the man moved his head to the side, hoping to get a glimpse of Dahyun. Only then did the latter confirm that he was a well-known man.

Dahyun couldn't be wrong. Because he was the man whom she had been looking for just a while ago. Dahyun recognized him from the publications and articles she read online. Although she had not confirmed that the man her age was Mr. Zhang's son, it is still safe to assume that he was, and could possibly be, the heir of the company.

"Dahyun, come over here," Dae-won asked this time, a little sterner.

Dahyun had no choice but to walk close to the two. She came to a stop beside Mr. Zhang, bowing in respect. The man chuckled as if pleased with Dahyun's attitude.

"You can now sit beside your father," Mr. Zhang said, and Dahyun quickly followed. Even though she didn't say anything, her expression suggested otherwise. She looked as if she didn't want to be there.

"Mr. Zhang is one of my clients; I've been his legal advisor and private lawyer for the past eight years," Dae-won proudly told his daughter.

Dahyun, on the other hand, seemed uninterested. But then she thought it could be the reason why the security guy had treated her as if she were someone significant earlier this morning. That only happened after she indicated her job as an attorney at Kim Law & Criminal Defenses.

"What exactly is the reason I've been invited here?" Dahyun said, sounding a touch disrespectful but not sorry for it.

Mr. Zhang seemed surprised for a moment after hearing what the young woman had said, but then he laughed a little. "Your daughter is indeed impatient," he said to Dae-won, who could only chuckle and remain silent. "This mindset works well in court; everything needs to be direct," he remarked.

Dahyun didn't budge an inch as she locked her eyes on Mr. Zhang's face. She needed an answer to her query, and she was considering leaving if she didn't get it soon.

"My son, Zhang Cai Zen, is in need of someone he can trust, much like your father is to me," he began. "Soon he will be the CEO of the firm I founded, since I am too weak to continue, and I would like to spend the rest of my days at home, resting," he added, which was definitely not what Dahyun wanted to hear. "So, I asked him if he wanted Mr. Kim Dae-won as his private lawyer because I might not need one anymore," Mr. Zhang attempted to clarify. "However, Cai Zen refused," he said.

"Mr. Zhang wishes to appoint you as Sir Cai Zen's legal advisor," Dae-won stated, drawing Dahyun's attention to him.

"I was thinking that if we needed someone we could trust, it should be someone like Dae-won. And recently, I heard his daughter works in the same field as him."

"I see," Dahyun smiled, bobbing her head as she continued to listen to Mr. Zhang.

"In fact, I've heard a great deal of remarkable things about you," the man said, beaming. "Please keep in mind that they are not from your father, but from other legal professionals I know," he clarified, causing Dahyun's eyes to narrow in wonder. "They told me you have a hundred percent victory rate in court; you won all of the cases you handled, which is really outstanding," Mr. Zhang added, laughing heartily.

"That's right. I'm always very proud of her," Dae-won said, forcing Dahyun to feign a laugh. She couldn't believe her ears.

"Please know that if you say yes to this proposal, my entire family will provide you with the best we can," Mr. Zhang continued, his eyes provocative. "In exchange for the assistance you will provide for us, we will provide you with security for the rest of your life," he added. "Let us help one another, Atty. Dahyun Kim."

"I'm sorry, but…" Dahyun answered slowly and carefully, glancing at her father in the corners of her eyes. "Could you please give me some more time to think about it?" she requested.

Dae-won couldn't help but be dismayed by his daughter's response, so he had to say something. "Dahyun, this is the best offer you can get," he tried to persuade the young woman.

"I'll think about it, dad," Dahyun said politely.

"Atty. Dae-won Kim," Mr. Zhang remarked, subtly smiling. "It's her right to think about it carefully, so grant her permission."

"Understood," was all Dae-won could say.

 

 

 

"Sana..." "What's going on?"

For a short moment, Sana let herself drown in Nayeon's eyes. It wasn't because she wanted to, but for some reason, she found comfort in those eyes. Soon after reaching her decision, she averted her gaze from Nayeon and lowered her head.

Nayeon was going to say something when she heard Sana sobbing softly. Her heart broke at the sound of it, and she wished she had the ability to stop it.

"I'm sorry," Sana said between breaths. "I'm sorry if you were the first person who came to mind; I shouldn't have called you, Nayeon. I'm very sorry," she said, breaking Nayeon's heart even more. Those were not the words she wished to hear.

"You understand, right?" Sana asked, wiping away her tears and returning her eyes to Nayeon's face. This time, though, it was the woman who refused to look her in the eye. "I could only trust my family, and when you came into my life, you became my other person," Sana explained. "And I'm not sure why I keep wanting to include you even though we broke up a long time ago."

"You're right, Nayeon." "I can't ask my heart to do something it doesn't want to do, but can you blame me if I'm doing everything I can to not need you anymore?" Sana asked, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't want to rely on you." She sighed and shook her head from side to side, indicating that she didn't want any of this. "Could you please just forget about this?" she pleaded to Nayeon quietly. "If you continue to be here for me, it will be much more difficult for me to stand on my own."

"I see what you're saying, Sana," Nayeon said, nodding. "But can't you just let me help you this time?" she said, still unable to back down despite the pain Sana's comments had brought her.

"You stated it yourself the last time we spoke," Sana remarked, shaking her head vigorously. "You said you wouldn't listen to me if the moment came and I suddenly needed you," she explained.

"What I'm saying now is more important than what I've said in the past," Nayeon reasoned, steadfast in her determination to support Sana. "Can you, for once, stop looking back and focus on what's going on today?" she pleaded, her shoulders slumped.

"Just leave," Sana murmured, about to walk past Nayeon when the woman grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. Sana lifted her eyebrows towards Nayeon, but it took a few moments for the latter to return her gaze.

"Stop thinking that it was just you who felt the burden when I had to walk away," Nayeon muttered, her eyes welling up, but she did a great job of keeping them from falling. "If it was difficult for you, Sana, know that it is the same for me."

Sana shook her head no, refusing to accept Nayeon's explanation or justification for what she had done. "Stop fooling me, Nayeon," she said.

"Who told you that walking away didn't hurt?" Nayeon asked, her eyebrows arched. "I'm not justifying that everyone who goes away has a reason, but there is... in my case," she explained. "It may not be something you're knowledgeable of, but don't condemn me for it. It's best to keep it off that way," she added, her voice shaking from the sorrow she still felt within. It seemed as though something was clutching her heart till it broke. "It took so much courage and strength for me to walk away and not look back when I know in my heart that I still love you," Nayeon added, finally breaking out in tears.

Sana couldn't say anything because Nayeon never showed any emotion during their entire time together. Simply put, this was the first time she had seen Nayeon's vulnerable side, which she assumed the woman didn't want her to see. It was one of the things Sana hoped Nayeon would trust her with, but it was too late now.

"What was the real reason you called me last night, Sana?" Nayeon swiftly regained control of her emotions, allowing her to return to the particular reason she came here.

"Because I needed your help, Nayeon," Sana replied succinctly.

Nayeon responded, "Then accept it."

"My father is seriously ill," Sana whispered, finally letting go of her pride. Sana could sense Nayeon's concern on her face, but she dismissed it. "I desperately wanted help because I couldn't bear seeing him suffer there, and nobody cared because everyone looks at him as if he's a monster who deserves it," she added, her eyes filled with rage and sorrow.

"What else do you want to know?" Sana exhaled deeply. "How come I dropped the call?" she inquired.

Nayeon stayed silent, aware that Sana was upset. Anything she says will enrage the woman even more. She didn't want anything to happen because they were outside. Nayeon didn't want Sana to act outrageously even if no one else was nearby.

"I hung up because I was mistaken when I thought you could help me," Sana explained.

"Sana," Nayeon attempted softly to settle the woman down, but it didn't work.

"Because you had the chance before, didn't you?" Sana asked, her eyes welling up with tears once more. "If you hadn't decided by yourself to have your father handle the case, only for him to suddenly withdraw, there might have been a chance for my dad to walk freely," Sana stated, which Nayeon didn't understand at first. "Your father was one of the best in the city — in the whole country even, Nayeon! When he withdrew the plea, it made my father look more guilty of a crime he never committed!" Sana nearly yelled, but she didn't care. "You ing made it worse!"

Sana conveyed her point, and Nayeon realized that she might truly have shattered everything for Sana. But she didn't regret her earnest intention to help them before. Plus, nothing would really change even if Nayeon walked up to her father now and expressed her anger and disappointment over what happened years ago.

"And do you know what else?" Sana seemed to have lost control of her words at this point. "My uncle's life could be in grave danger because all he wanted to do is to help my father, and he feels sorry for me," the woman sobbed, slowly losing her breath, but the urge to get everything out drove her on. "He borrowed a significant amount of money from a loan shark and was unable to repay it on time, which is why they beat him up," she said, only making Nayeon freeze in her place. She had no idea that there was so much going on in Sana's life.

Sana let out a quiet laugh, wiping her tears away as she regained her breath. "But it's all right now," she said, lowering her head, "because I was able to convince someone I know to lend me some money just this once."

Nayeon's heart was breaking for Sana. She recalls the woman saying how much she didn't want to reach a point where she had to beg for help. Nayeon had to ask, "And how are you going to pay that person?" "Have you now secured a stable job?"

Sana shook her head, a sad smile on her face. "No, and I'm not sure what to do either," she replied. "I need to pay back the money my uncle borrowed from the loan shark," she explained, "That's all I know now."

"Just say the word, and I'll get you a job that pays well no matter what," Nayeon remarked, leading Sana to sigh and gaze down at her feet. She was undoubtedly at a loss for words.

"Why are you making me need you, Nayeon?" Sana asked in a whisper.

"I'll offer you two options," Nayeon continued, dismissing Sana's query as it was unimportant at that moment. "Either you work for me, or I'll utilize all of my connections to get you another job."

"You know I can't keep seeing you," Sana explained, "and I've already told you why."

"But think about it first," Nayeon sighed, feeling the need to explain what she believes is best for Sana. "I will be able to offer you a great head start if you work for me," she stated. "I can offer you an advance payment to help you with whatever you need to get completed right away," Nayeon stated patiently, crossing her arms above her chest. "I'll also pay you more than the others can provide you with."

Sana furrowed her brows and inquired, "And why is that?" "I don't want to owe you a debt of gratitude simply because you pay me higher than the other employees, whatsoever."

"Did I mention that you'd be working for my company?" Nayeon asked, leaving Sana stunned. She had undoubtedly missed that detail. "You'll work for me, not my company," Nayeon clarified.

"I'm sorry, but it sounds dangerous," Sana stated frankly.

"I'll give you $10,000 every month," Nayeon said, "but that doesn't include the bonus you'll receive."

Sana almost gasped when she heard how much money Nayeon was trying to offer her. She swallowed hard, clearly intrigued by what it could be.

"It's still negotiable; I can add more—"

"What kind of job is it?" Sana asked the other woman. "I'd like to know first," she noted.

Nayeon's lips curled up into a tight-lipped smile. She certainly did have something for Sana to work on, and it seems that she had been thinking about it for some time. Sana wasn't sure why, but simply seeing that smile made her heart race.