Chapter 41
Lee Joon POV
I woke up earlier than usual.
The house was still wrapped in darkness, the kind that lingers before dawn fully decides to arrive as if the sun itself was waiting for permission from the moon.
For a moment, I stayed still, listening.
No movement.
No voices.
No sign of life.
After everything that had happened yesterday, the silence felt… unnatural.
Heavy.
I exhaled slowly and got out of bed.
If nothing else, Laurel needed to eat properly today.
Yesterday, for the first time, she hadn't looked untouchable. Not composed. Not in control.
Just… fragile.
Like something that could break if handled wrong.
And I didn't like that.
I made my way downstairs, the soft echo of my footsteps barely disturbing the quiet.
But just as I reached the last step
I heard voices.
Low. Muted. Almost like someone was trying not to be heard.
I stopped.
"Who's there?" I called out.
A brief pause.
Then movement.
From the side of the kitchen entrance, SEO Hee stepped out, like she had been caught in the middle of something.
"Good morning, oppa," she said, walking toward me.
Too quickly.
Too casually.
I studied her.
"What are you doing here?"
She hesitated, just for a second then smiled.
"Ah… I was hungry. I couldn't sleep, so I came to get something to eat."
She reached for an apple on the counter and took a bite, like that settled everything.
It didn't.
"Didn't you notice Laurel wasn't fine," I said, watching her closely, "when you stayed here the other day?"
She paused mid-bite.
"The other day?" she repeated, brows slightly furrowed.
Then realization flickered.
"Oh… yes."
Her tone shifted.
"I noticed," she said lightly. "But you know Laurel. She won't tell me the truth."
I hummed.
Typical Laurel.
Carrying everything like it belonged to her alone.
I turned to the fridge, took out the milk, and poured it into a glass.
"Mom has been missing you," I said. "You should find time to go home."
That made her go quiet.
"I was planning to," she said, her voice softer now.
I handed her the glass.
"What's wrong?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Just stared at the milk.
"Nothing," she said finally.
But she didn't look at me.
She turned to leave.
Then stopped.
Right at the doorway.
Still.
Like something inside her wasn't letting her go.
"Oppa…"
I looked up.
"Hmm?"
She didn't fully turn back this time.
"…thank you for the milk."
I nodded once.
She left.
I watched the empty doorway for a moment.
Everyone was acting strange.
Not in obvious ways.
Just… slightly off.
Like everyone was holding something back.
But Seo Hee wasn't someone you pushed.
Whatever it was.
She would say it when she was ready.
Or she wouldn't say it at all.
I turned back to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast.
Simple. Clean. Warm.
Something Laurel would eat without arguing too much.
The quiet returned, filled only with the sound of water running, utensils shifting, and the occasional clink of ceramic.
Normal things.
Grounding things.
I was almost done when I heard footsteps behind me.
Steady.
I turned.
Eun Woo stood there, already dressed, posture straight as always.
"Good morning, sir," he said.
Calm. Composed. Predictable.
"Morning," I replied. "Didn't expect you to be awake this early."
He stepped into the kitchen and began clearing the counter beside me.
"You don't need to do that," I said. "I'm almost done."
He didn't stop.
"I need to do something," he said quietly. "Everyone has been working since yesterday. It feels like I'm the only one doing nothing."
I glanced at him.
He meant that.
"You're already dressed for work," I said, stepping closer.
Our eyes met briefly.
"Don't get it dirty."
"…okay, sir."
He paused.
But didn't move away.
"I still want to help," he added.
I sighed lightly.
"Just sit."
He hesitated.
Then nodded.
And sat.
"What about the twins?" I asked.
"They're fine, sir."
"You didn't come back."
He looked up.
"…what, sir?"
"You didn't come back," I repeated. "After you left for Canada to meet Laurel."
He frowned slightly.
"I didn't know you wanted to see me."
I let out a quiet breath.
"It's not that I wanted to see you."
A pause.
"It's that you haven't fulfilled your promise."
That caught his attention.
"Promise?"
"You said if Laurel accepted you, you'd owe me a full day."
Recognition crossed his face.
"Oh… that."
A faint smile followed.
"I didn't think you were serious."
I stepped closer.
"There's nothing about you I don't take seriously."
Our eyes met.
And this time
He looked away first.
By the time breakfast was ready, the house slowly started waking up.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Doors opened.
Voices returned.
First came Nicholas, then Kang Dae.
The energy shifted immediately.
Less quiet.
More real.
"How was the meeting with Andrew?" Kang Dae asked.
"It was fine," I said.
"He asked about you guys."
"What did you tell him?" Nicholas asked.
"The truth."
Kang Dae exhaled.
"I hope he wasn't mad… he was really looking forward to seeing us."
"We all were," Nicholas added quietly.
A brief silence followed.
Heavy.
"Who knew Laurel would collapse like that," Kang Dae muttered.
"The only thing keeping her still right now is the fact that we're all here," Nicholas said. "If not, she'd already be at work."
"…true," I said.
"Sir."
Eun Woo's voice cut in gently.
"You said you wanted to tell me something."
I nodded.
"Come."
We walked back toward my room.
The door closed behind us.
"I met the CEO of GTS last night," I said.
He straightened slightly.
"If everything goes well," I continued, pulling off my shirt without much thought, "they'll consider a partnership, if we meet their qualifications."
There was a pause.
Then
"I'll wait outside, sir," he said quickly, turning away.
I stopped.
"…really?"
I stepped closer.
He shifted back instinctively, avoiding eye contact.
"You're shy?" I asked, a hint of amusement slipping through.
"We're both men," I added casually. "I don't see the issue."
His breathing wasn't as steady now.
Interesting.
"So," he said, forcing focus, "if we meet the qualifications, he'll schedule a meeting?"
"Yes. But only with the CEO."
He nodded.
"Do you know the requirements?"
"No."
"…but I'll figure it out."
I gave a small nod.
"Good."
He turned to leave.
Then paused.
Looked back.
"Saturday, sir… if you don't mind."
"What?"
"The day I owe you."
Ah.
"That."
I shrugged.
"I don't mind."
"…call me."
He nodded.
And left.
The door closed softly behind him.
I stood there for a moment, staring at it.
Something about him…
The way he speaks.
Walks.
Holds himself together
And then almost loses it in the smallest moments.
Careful. Precise.
Yet…
Unsteady in ways he doesn't understand.
"Eun Woo…"
I murmured quietly.
"Why are you so different?"
I kept staring at the door.
For a second
It almost felt like he had taken something with him when he left.
Something I hadn't noticed I was holding.
And somehow
That didn't sit right with me.