Yuna stayed wrapped around Ethan for a while, her face resting against his shoulder while sunlight spilled softly through the balcony windows around them. For the first time in days, the heaviness inside her chest didn't feel unbearable. It was still there, quiet and aching beneath everything, but now something else existed beside it too.
Hope.
Small.
Fragile.
But real enough to hold onto.
Ethan's arms remained around her waist securely, his chin resting lightly against the top of her head. He could feel how much lighter she seemed after talking about acting again. Even her breathing had changed.
That alone made him certain he had made the right decision.
After a few moments, Ethan finally spoke quietly.
"There's something else."
Yuna slowly leaned back slightly to look at him. "Hm?"
Ethan's expression became more serious again, though not cold. "Your father's company is finished."
The warmth in the room dimmed slightly after those words.
Yuna's eyes lowered.
Even after learning the truth about her father, hearing it stated so directly still hurt.
"The investigations already started," Ethan continued carefully. "Most of the company's accounts are frozen. The board members are distancing themselves publicly. Half the investors already pulled away."
Yuna stayed silent.
"The company name is basically banned now," he finished quietly.
A small ache moved through her chest hearing that. BK Group had once been something huge, powerful, respected. She grew up watching people admire it, fear it, praise it.
And now—
Everything connected to it was collapsing.
Yuna looked down at her hands. "I thought so."
Ethan watched her carefully. "You okay?"
She nodded faintly, though the sadness in her eyes remained. "It's strange," she admitted quietly. "Even after everything I learned… it still feels like I'm watching my childhood disappear."
Ethan's gaze softened slightly.
Yuna let out a small breath before forcing a faint smile. "But maybe it already disappeared a long time ago."
The silence between them lasted a few seconds before Ethan suddenly spoke again.
"You can work under our company."
Yuna blinked and looked up at him immediately. "What?"
Ethan looked calmer now, almost like he had already thought everything through before saying it aloud.
"You want to act again," he said simply. "So do it properly."
Yuna stared at him, confused. "Under your company?"
Ethan nodded once. "You can model, act, do endorsements, films—whatever you want. Our entertainment division is already connected to most of the industry anyway."
Yuna's eyes widened slightly.
She knew Ethan's company was powerful, but she never imagined him saying something like this so casually.
Then Ethan added quietly—
"That way you won't go far away from me."
The honesty in his voice immediately made her heart skip.
Ethan looked away briefly before continuing in a lower tone. "And maybe we'll see each other at the office sometimes."
Yuna stared at him for a second before suddenly laughing softly.
Ethan frowned slightly. "What?"
"You sound possessive."
"I am possessive."
"That wasn't even subtle."
Ethan crossed his arms calmly. "I wasn't trying to hide it."
That answer made her laugh again, warmer this time.
God.
He liked hearing that sound too much.
Yuna stepped closer to him again slowly, studying his face carefully. "You really thought about all this already?"
Ethan shrugged lightly. "I plan everything."
"You planned my career too now?"
"You're welcome."
Yuna shook her head with another soft laugh before her expression became gentler.
"You'd really let me work there?"
Ethan looked at her like the answer was obvious. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Because people will talk."
"They already do."
"You make everything sound easy."
"No," Ethan corrected quietly. "I just stop caring about useless opinions faster than you."
Yuna looked at him silently after that.
The truth was—
She was scared.
Going back into the public eye meant cameras, articles, interviews, rumors. It meant people bringing up her father constantly. It meant criticism. Questions.
But standing here now, hearing Ethan speak so confidently about her future instead of treating her like someone broken…
It gave her strength she didn't realize she needed.
"What if people think your company is protecting a criminal's daughter?" she asked softly.
Ethan's expression immediately darkened slightly.
"You are not responsible for your father's crimes."
"But the media won't think like that."
"Then the media can learn."
The certainty in his voice startled her slightly.
Ethan stepped closer again, his hand resting lightly against her waist. "Listen to me carefully, Yuna."
She looked up at him immediately.
"You built your career yourself," he said firmly. "Not your father. Not his money. You."
Her chest tightened softly hearing that.
"You worked while he ruined himself behind your back," Ethan continued. "So I'm not letting anyone erase your life because of his mistakes."
Yuna stayed quiet for a second before whispering—
"You really believe in me that much?"
Ethan looked at her steadily.
"I wouldn't offer this otherwise."
Something emotional moved through her instantly.
Because after everything that happened recently, she forgot what it felt like to hear someone speak about her future instead of her tragedy.
Yuna slowly smiled.
"Then…" she murmured softly, "I'll do it."
Ethan's brows lifted slightly. "That easy?"
"You already sound like you won't let me refuse."
"That's true too."
She laughed again before nodding more firmly this time. "Okay. I'll join your company."
The moment she said it, Ethan's expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
Relief.
Real relief.
Yuna noticed immediately.
"You were worried I'd leave."
Ethan looked away briefly. "You talk too much."
"That means yes."
He sighed quietly through his nose before finally admitting—
"I don't like the idea of you disappearing into another world away from me."
The honesty in his voice softened her instantly again.
Yuna stepped closer until their bodies almost touched once more. "I told you already," she whispered. "I'm not leaving you."
Ethan's hand slid naturally against her waist again, pulling her lightly closer.
"You better not."
Yuna smiled faintly before tilting her head slightly. "So what exactly would I be under your company?"
Ethan looked thoughtful for a second. "Actress. Model. Brand ambassador."
"Wow. That sounds important."
"You already are important."
The answer came too naturally.
Both of them froze slightly afterward.
Yuna looked up at him slowly.
Ethan realized what he said a second too late.
But surprisingly—
He didn't take it back.
Instead he looked directly into her eyes and added quietly—
"To me."
Yuna's heart tightened painfully in the softest way possible.
Because moments like this confused her more than anything else.
He said cruel things.
Cold things.
But then suddenly he would look at her like this, hold her like this, speak like this—
And it became impossible not to believe him.
Yuna slowly lifted her hands and fixed the collar of his shirt again absentmindedly.
"You know," she murmured softly, "normal people usually confess properly before acting this attached."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Who said I'm normal?"
"That's true."
A faint smirk finally appeared on his lips.
Yuna blinked immediately. "Wait—you're smiling again."
"It's your imagination."
"No, no. I saw it."
"You're becoming dramatic."
"I'm literally an actress."
"That explains a lot."
She laughed quietly again before suddenly wrapping her arms around his neck.
Ethan automatically held her waist tighter.
Yuna rested her forehead lightly against his. "Thank you."
His expression softened slightly. "For what?"
"For not treating me like my life ended."
The words stayed between them quietly.
Ethan looked at her for a long moment before answering in a low voice.
"It didn't end."
Yuna's eyes softened again.
"No," she whispered. "Maybe it's just starting differently now."
Outside the windows, the city continued moving endlessly below them.
The past still hurt.
The grief still existed.
The future was still uncertain.
But standing there in Ethan's arms, with sunlight wrapping softly around them and the possibility of beginning again slowly unfolding in front of her—
Yuna finally felt something she thought she had lost completely.
A future.