"What are you doing here?"
The voice cut through the room. Quiet. But sharp enough to stop a heartbeat.
Ji-Ah froze.
Earth froze.
Slowly, she turned.
Ha-Joon stood at the door.
Pajamas. Glasses. One hand still resting on the doorknob. His eyes were locked on her. Calm. Too calm. But something tight sat behind that calm, like a storm held under glass.
He stepped inside.
"What," he asked again, quieter this time, "are you doing in this room?"
Ji-Ah swallowed.
"I was… hiding."
"Hiding."
The word rolled out slowly.
"From who?"
She opened her mouth."From Mada—"
She stopped.
Her brows pulled together.
Why am I explaining myself?
Ji-Ah groaned softly and straightened.
"Why are you even asking me?" she snapped, though her voice stayed low. "I came to get Pip and Earth and leave. I don't want to stay here anymore."
Ha-Joon's reply was immediate.
"You can't."
Her head tilted slightly.
"And why not?"
Before he could answer, Earth suddenly wriggled free from her arms and dropped to the floor.
"Earth—"
The white cat trotted straight out the door.
"Earth!" Ji-Ah rushed after him.
She barely took two steps before a hand caught her wrist.
Strong.
Quick.
Ha-Joon pulled her back. The motion was sudden enough that she stumbled into him. His hand slid from her wrist to hold both her arms, keeping her in place.
"Let go," she said.
She struggled, pushing against him.
"Leave me."
He didn't.
"You came into this room," he said quietly.
His voice wasn't loud.
But it filled the space anyway.
"Why don't you stay."
Ji-Ah glared up at him.
"What even is this room?"
His fingers tightened slightly.
"None of your business."
The words came out flat.
Then he released her suddenly, like he had just remembered he was touching her.
"Don't touch things that aren't yours," he added, stepping back.
"If you want to leave… then leave."
Ji-Ah rubbed her wrist where his grip had pressed into her skin.
"Gladly."
She turned toward the door.
Then his voice followed her.
"If you walk out that door and don't come back…"
She stopped.
"…be sure you arrange my 100,000 won."
She turned slowly.
"What?"
"For breaking the contract."
His gaze didn't move.
"It states clearly you cannot leave unless I terminate the contract myself."
Now anger crept into her voice.
"That violates my rights."
"You signed it."
Silence.
Ji-Ah exhaled slowly.
"…Fair point."
Her brain started racing.
If I leave I owe him 100,000 won.
He hasn't even paid my salary yet.
It's not the end of the month.
And getting another job…
She sighed deeply.
"Fine."
Her shoulders dropped.
"I'm not leaving."
She turned to go again.
"Wait."
She stopped but didn't turn.
Ha-Joon's eyes moved around the room.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "that you had to see this."
Ji-Ah finally looked back.
She shrugged lightly.
"It's fine. I look good in those pictures anyway."
For a second something flickered in his expression.
Then he shook his head.
"That's not you."
Ji-Ah frowned.
"These pictures… the things in this room…"
He gestured around slowly.
"They belong to someone else."
"The owner of those items."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"But that looks like me."
"At first glance," he said.
He pointed toward one of the photographs.
"Look carefully."
She stepped closer.
Her eyes moved over the picture.
Same face.
Same features.
But…
The girl in the photo looked softer.
Her eyes were gentle.
Kind.
Not sharp. Not guarded.
Nothing like the fierceness Ji-Ah carried in hers.
Ji-Ah's hand slowly dropped to her side.
"…Who is she?"
Ha-Joon's gaze drifted toward the covered painting in the center of the room.
He didn't answer for a moment.
When he finally did, his voice was low enough it almost disappeared in the quiet.
"Someone special."
Ha-Joon's words lingered in the quiet.
"Someone special."
Then he turned and walked toward the door.
Ji-Ah watched him take two steps.
Then she moved.
Her hand caught his arm.
"Wait."
He stopped but didn't turn immediately.
"I want to know," she said.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight.
Ha-Joon slowly looked down at her hand on his sleeve.
"If you don't tell me," Ji-Ah continued, meeting his eyes, "I'll find out myself."
A pause.
"And when I do… it won't be gentle."
Something almost like tired amusement flickered in Ha-Joon's eyes.
"You won't."
He calmly removed her hand from his arm.
Before she could react, he took her wrist and guided her toward the door.
Not rough.
But firm.
The door opened.
He pulled her out into the hallway.
Then the door shut behind them with a quiet click.
"You're not allowed in there again," he said.
The words were simple.
Final.
Ji-Ah turned toward him, ready to argue—
Another door opened.
Madam's room.
Yoo-Na stepped out.
Her arms were crossed, and the moment she saw Ji-Ah her face twisted into thin, quiet disgust.
"Well," Yoo-Na said coldly. "What are you doing here?"
Ji-Ah opened her mouth—
But Ha-Joon answered first.
"She was here before you."
His tone was calm.
Flat.
"You should keep quiet."
Yoo-Na's eyes widened slightly.
"You're defending her?"
Before the argument could grow, Madam stepped out behind her.
Her gaze landed on Ji-Ah instantly.
Disapproval washed over her face.
"You're still here?"
The temperature in the hallway dropped.
But Ha-Joon spoke again before Ji-Ah could respond.
"Ji-Ah is staying."
Both women looked at him.
His voice remained steady.
"If that's a problem… Yoo-Na can forget about marrying me."
Silence.
Madam stared at him for a long moment.
Then she sighed slowly.
Her attention shifted to Yoo-Na.
"Well?"
Her voice sharpened.
"What are you waiting for?"
Yoo-Na's jaw tightened.
She huffed and walked forward.
As she passed Ji-Ah, she deliberately bumped her shoulder.
Hard.
Then she entered her room and slammed the door shut.
The hallway fell quiet again.
Ha-Joon looked back at Ji-Ah.
"Go to your room."
She didn't argue this time.
"Tomorrow," he added, "I'll go to your house and convince Seo-Yeon."
Ji-Ah nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
For a moment neither of them moved.
Then Ji-Ah turned and walked down the hallway.
Behind her, Ha-Joon remained standing there, the closed door of that forbidden room at his back.