─── chapter four.
❛ OVER THE YEARS ❜

2013
Eun-Ji had built a successful career as a floral designer, a job she truly enjoyed. But her peaceful life was disrupted when she unexpectedly crossed paths with Jae-Jun again. It had been a long time since they last saw each other, and the encounter left her rattled, given their painful history.

Jae-Jun suggested meeting for coffee to have a civil conversation, and Eun-Ji reluctantly agreed. For the first time, he got down on his hands and knees to apologize. She accepted, as she had countless times before, though this time it wasn't genuine. Her ability to truly forgive him had long since been shattered.

Despite everything, they got back together. This time, though, he didn't win her over with flowers or cards. Instead, he manipulated her from the shadows, keeping his identity anonymous to make her think it was someone else trying to rekindle the flame. For a brief moment, she played the part of a swooned girlfriend, but it was all an act. History repeated itself-while Jae-Jun didn't physically harm her, he once again accused her of cheating. Eun-Ji found it amusing in a dark way, knowing full well it was him who had been unfaithful, though she never called him out on it.

2015
Dong-Eun passed her teacher qualification exam on her second attempt, determined to start anew. Meanwhile, Yeon-Jin had a baby girl, news that Dong-Eun quietly noted with cold calculation as part of her larger plan for revenge.

Eun-Ji had taken over her parents' chain of restaurants, which had grown to include seven locations across South Korea. She continued to run her successful flower shop with their blessing, and despite everything, remained friends with the group-still entangled in her toxic relationship with Jae-Jun.

2017
Eun-Ji gave birth to a baby girl with Jae-Jun, naming her 'Jeon Joo-Won,' meaning 'beautiful woman' or 'origin.' For the first time, Jae-Jun showed signs of genuine human emotion when their daughter was born. Eun-Ji was relieved; she didn't want a monster like him raising her daughter, though she knew he still treated others coldly. Their relationship, strained beyond repair, ended soon after. Eun-Ji had no desire to stay with him, and though Jae-Jun initially resisted, he eventually agreed to the separation. He was indifferent, content knowing he had his daughter.

2018
Tensions flared when Jae-Jun called Eun-Ji, furious and accusing her of turning their daughter against him. His temper flared even more when Joo-Won called him stupid, pointing out that if he had attended her doctor's appointments, he would have known their daughter was deaf, a condition inherited from Eun-Ji's father.

2021
After cutting off communication with Jae-Jun, he made multiple attempts to win Eun-Ji back, hoping to reunite as a family, but she firmly refused each time. Despite their broken relationship, she allowed Jae-Jun to see Joo-Won, a gesture he reluctantly appreciated. Meanwhile, Yeon-Jin's and Eun-Ji's children became friends, as they were close in age.

2022
Dong-Eun's long-anticipated plan for revenge was finally set in motion, every detail meticulously planned. She hoped that once it was all over, she would finally find peace.

Though Eun-Ji continued to associate with her old friends, they remained unaware of the growing distance between them. To her, their bond was no longer genuine. She was now only keeping them close to ensure their eventual downfall, waiting for the moment when they would come begging for forgiveness once more.

© 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗭𝗡 // 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯