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Morning light filtered through the blinds as Sunghoon sat in his office, the hum of the city outside mixing with the quiet murmur of his work. His eyes were glued to the screen, a stack of papers beside him, but his focus was disrupted when the door creaked open. One of his staff members entered, his face tense.

"Sir, the customer database was stolen," the worker reported, voice steady but urgent. "We believe it was taken last night. We're tracing the source and will identify the culprit soon."

Sunghoon nodded, scanning through the report quickly. "Have we identified the method of entry? What do we know about the card used?"

The worker hesitated before answering, his voice lower as he slid a document across the desk. "We checked the transaction logs. The card used was signed as Lee Iseul."

Sunghoon froze, his grip tightening on the edge of his desk. His face darkened, eyes narrowing with shock and growing anger. Iseul's name hanging in the air like an accusation, and the realization hit him harder than he expected.

Sunghoon stormed down the stairs, his security following close behind as he scanned the CCTV footage. His eyes locked onto Iseul, walking into the company building as if nothing had changed. His anger boiled over.

He approached her, his voice sharp as he stood in front of her. "Good morning, Sunghoon, my bad—I meant Mr. Sunghoon, sir,"

Iseul teased, a playful grin on her face. But Sunghoon wasn't in the mood for jokes today. His glare hardened as he stared at her.

"I thought I was being harsh on you yesterday, but I was wrong. You've deceived me again. I didn't expect this from you," he said, his voice cold.

"What are you talking about?"

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, and two officers appeared by her side. Her eyes widened in realization, panic creeping in. She turned and bolted, but Sunghoon's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"I admit I did it," she said, facing him with defiance in her eyes. "But it's not that serious."

"So you admit to it?"

"Yeah," she shot back, her tone bitter. "I came here last night, and I'll do it again—just to rub it in your face."

The officers quickly moved in, restraining Iseul before she could escape. Sunghoon watched, his anger burning, as they cuffed her and led her away. She tried to keep her composure, but her pride slowly cracked as the humiliation set in.

Sunghoon walked over to her, standing tall and unwavering. His gaze cut through her like a blade. In front of the growing crowd of employees, he spoke, his voice laced with cold authority.

"You really thought you could get away with this?" he said, his tone full of disdain.

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Iseul sat silently in the cold, dimly lit jail cell, her thoughts swirling in confusion. She couldn't fathom why she was here. To her, what she did wasn't even that serious—just a little revenge, nothing worth getting arrested over. But as the hours passed, the weight of her situation started to settle in. Why had it gone this far?

The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw her brother, Sohee, walking into the cell. His usual calm expression seemed heavier than usual as he approached and took a seat across from her.

"Sohee, what are you doing here?" Iseul asked, raising an eyebrow, as she saw him stroll into her cell.

"I'm here because you clearly forgot the part where you don't mess with a guy who owns everything in town. Hello, consequences?"

Iseul rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You were all in when I was showing you the plan. Now you're acting all high and mighty like you're not just as guilty as I am."

"So you're telling me," Sohee shot back, "that you don't think this was a bad idea? You literally walked into the lion's den and expected a parade."

Before Sohee could respond, the officer stepped in, clearly fed up with their bickering.

Meanwhile, at the company, gossip about Iseul was running wild. Whispers of her being some sort of spy filled the hallways, and the office buzzed with rumors. It was clear everyone had their theories, but none of them were flattering.

Sunghcan couldn't stand it. He walked through the corridors, his face set in a scowl. He hated seeing Iseul's name dragged through the mud, especially when he knew it wasn't true.

As he reached the meeting room, he could hear voices inside—Rena's laugh, followed by the sharp clicks of shoes on the floor. He pushed the door open without knocking.

Inside, Sunghoon was seated at the table, flanked by company security as they reviewed the investigation files. Rena was changing out of her coat, clearly trying to avoid the growing tension in the room.

"Hyung, Iseul lost her card. I remember it from yesterday. I logged in for her," Sunghcan said, his voice firm.

Sunghoon's gaze sharpened, but Rena quickly interjected, "Maybe she did it on purpose."

"Look, Rena," Sunghcan continued, his tone unwavering, "I haven't known her for long, but she's the last person to do something like this. Her heart is pure."

For the first time since the incident began, Sunghoon paused. The harsh judgment he'd been quick to pass started to waver, his mind clearing. His gaze flickered toward the security team, and he sharply ordered, "Check all the cameras again. Now."

What actually happened was far from what anyone had expected. As Iseul and Sohee sat in interrogation, Iseul calmly told them the truth.

"Last night," she began, her eyes glazing over slightly as her mind drifted back.

Iseul and Sohee had pulled into the company's parking lot. They both wore hoodies, trying to hide their identities, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on them. The plan had been simple—to make a statement, to get back at Sunghoon.

"I'm going to show him he messed with the wrong Lee," Iseul had declared, determination in her voice.

Sohee's laughter echoed in the silence of the night. "Mhm, that's my sister. Show him who's boss."

But just before they stepped out of the car, Sohee stopped, her face suddenly filled with doubt. "Hey, you're sure they won't know it's us, right?"

Iseul, with complete confidence, waved her off. "Don't worry. I've got it all figured out. I watched all seasons of Suits."

Iseul and Sohee slipped past the dimly lit security guard, their steps quick and light, blending with the shadows of the night. The air was thick with anticipation as they made their way to the parking lot. They knew this was their moment.

"Alright," Iseul whispered, her eyes scanning the rows of cars. "Let's find his car."

As they approached the vehicle, Iseul smirked, pulling out a can of spray paint. She shook it, the sound of the paint balling inside the can echoing softly in the quiet night.

"This is for all the crap he's put me through," she muttered under her breath.

From the other side of the car, Sohee joined in, his own spray can in hand. "He won't see it coming," he said with a grin, adding his own flair to the destruction.

Iseul leaned in closer, her voice cold and cutting as she sprayed the door, each stroke more furious than the last. "Oh, Sunghoon, I'll show you just how much you've underestimated me," she spat, her words sharp with anger. "This is just the beginning."

Sohee let out a low chuckle, his focus on the hood of the car as he added his own insult to the mix.

But the sound of the police officer's voice snapped her back to reality.

"What have you been talking about for the past two hours?" the officer asked, confusion lacing his voice as he stared down at her, notebook in hand.

Iseul blinked, shaking her head as if trying to clear away the remnants of her thoughts. "What happened last night?" she asked, her voice distant, as if the night itself had been a dream.

The officer pressed, his patience wearing thin. "Just tell me how you stole the database."

Iseul furrowed her brow, a slow smirk forming on her lips as the question hit her. "What base?" she asked, genuinely confused, her mind shifting back to the present as she realized they were accusing her of something she didn't even do.

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Meanwhile, back at the company, Changbin squinted at the CCTV footage, scratching his head. "If she doesn't have a pass, then which part of the building would she even have access to?"

Sunghoon's eyes widened, realization dawning on him. "The parking lot..." he hissed, already storming out of the room.

Changbin, still confused but curious, trailed behind him. When they reached the parking lot, the sight in front of them froze Changbin in his tracks.

Sunghoon's car was absolutely ruined. Spray paint covered the sides in half-finished words and chaotic streaks.

Unable to stop himself, Changbin burst out laughing. "Oh my God, she wrote 'Cun—'! The 'T' is missing!"

Sunghoon, already furious, clenched his fists as he reviewed the footage from his car's dash cam. The video showed Iseul holding a spray can, furiously painting the word before she and Sohee froze mid-act, startled by the security guard's flashlight beam.

"They didn't even finish because they almost got caught," Changbin said, struggling to breathe through his laughter.

Sunghoon's jaw tightened as he stared at the screen, his voice cold and dripping with anger. "Iseul Lee..."

Two hours had passed since the incident, and while Iseul was finally free, Sunghoon's mind was far from at ease. He paced back and forth in his office like a caged animal, his thoughts tangled in a mix of irritation and guilt.

Changbin, leaning lazily against the desk, let out an exaggerated sigh. "Man, just call her and apologize already. It's not that deep."

Sunghoon stopped in his tracks, his glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Great idea," he said dryly. "Here's an even better one." He grabbed his phone and tossed it toward Changbin, who caught it with a frown. "You call her. Apologize in my name and in the name of Haven Enterprises."

Changbin stared at the phone in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Does it look like I'm joking?" Sunghoon folded his arms, his tone making it clear he wasn't going to back down.

"You're seriously making me call your ex-wife to apologize for something you accused her of?" Changbin asked, his voice rising in disbelief.

"You're the PR vp. Consider it part of your job description."

Muttering under his breath, Changbin hit the call button. The line rang twice before Iseul picked up, her voice sharp and unimpressed. "What do you want now, Sunghoon?"

"It's not Sunghoon," Changbin said quickly, his tone light and disarming. "It's Changbin, the guy stuck cleaning up his messes. On behalf of Haven Enterprises and its unreasonable CEO, I'd like to formally apologize for the misunderstanding."

Changbin cleared his throat, keeping his tone as diplomatic as possible. "We'd be happy to have you by our side tomorrow, working as usual. No hard feelings."

But Iseul wasn't so easily swayed. Her voice was sharp as she replied, "I'm not coming to work unless the person—your boss—who accused me of this personally apologizes."

And with that, she hung up, leaving Changbin staring at the phone in disbelief.

Back at her apartment, Chaeryoung let out a dramatic groan, pressing her palm to her forehead as she listened to her best friend's defiance. "Do you want to go back to peeling peas in that old noodle shop? Because let me tell you, your man's ego is way too big for that apology."

Iseul leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms smugly. "And mine is even bigger."

Chaeryoung gave her a long, exasperated look before muttering, "You two are a match made in hell."

Back in the neighborhood, Iseul rushed to her mother's side, already hearing her scolding Sohee, who sat at the kitchen table looking like a kicked puppy. Their mom was relentless, her voice sharp as she listed all the ways his actions had embarrassed the family.

Iseul couldn't stand by and let him take all the heat. "Mom, it wasn't just him. I was involved too," she said, sliding into the seat next to Sohee. Her mother sighed, exasperated but slightly relieved to see her daughter taking responsibility.

Over lunch, the siblings couldn't resist venting about Sunghoon, their words getting more absurd with every bite. "I bet his hair gel costs more than this entire meal," Sohee grumbled, earning a snicker from Iseul. "And his personality is just as cheap as his apologies."

Their mother groaned. "Enough about that man. Eat before your food gets cold."

Before long, a knock on the door interrupted their complaints. Heejin, the neighborhood's self-appointed gossip queen, sauntered in without waiting for an invitation. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned against the doorframe.

"So... what's this I hear about the Lee siblings going rogue?" she asked, grinning.

"None of your business, auntie," Iseul replied, rolling her eyes.

"Come on, just a little detail? For research purposes," Heejin teased, already pulling out her phone.

Sohee couldn't help himself. "Fine. We were accused of stealing and Sunghoon like the perfect man he is didn't defend my sister so we got arrested. But like I said accused, we didn't do it so now we're here. You happy now?"

After a satisfying afternoon of venting about Sunghoon with Heejin, Iseul felt oddly triumphant. Every quip, every exaggerated insult they hurled at him felt like justice served. By the time Heejin left, grinning from ear to ear and probably crafting her next group chat masterpiece, Iseul leaned back in her chair with a content sigh.

She'd ruined his reputation, at least in their little neighborhood circle. That thought alone brought a sly smile to her face. Sunghoon deserved it after what he put her through.

It was almost dusk, the soft orange glow of the setting sun seeping through the restaurant's windows. The chatter and laughter that had filled the place earlier were gone now, leaving only the occasional clatter of plates as the last few tables were cleared. Slowly, the restaurant emptied, and soon it was just Iseul, tasked with locking up for the night.

She wiped down the counters with slow, deliberate movements, letting her mind wander. The satisfaction of the day lingered, but the quiet of the empty restaurant brought a hint of unease. What if Sunghoon retaliated? He wasn't the type to let things slide.

Still, she shook off the thought, determined to bask in her small victory. As she turned off the lights and locked the doors, the night air greeted her with a crisp chill.

She was about to head home, the weight of the day settling in, when something stopped her. Iseul turned around, her hand still on the door as she nearly bumped into a tall figure standing in the doorway.

"Sunghoon?"

His gaze was sharp, almost accusatory, his jaw clenched tight. His voice came low, barely above a whisper, as if the words themselves were a weight too heavy for him. "I decided to come personally to apologize for what happened today."

Iseul scoffed, turning her back to him, pacing in a circle around him. Her words dripped with the venom that had built up over years. "You humiliated me. You called me a thief. You didn't even believe me when we lived together for five years. Did you think I would steal from you?" Her tone was incredulous, a raw edge to every syllable.

Sunghoon's eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides. His voice was cold now, defensive. "The thief entered with your pass. What did you expect me to think? You said yourself, you came to the company last night."

Iseul stopped in her tracks, her anger flaring. She turned slowly to face him, the fire in her eyes unmistakable. "I expected you to trust me. To say, 'Iseul wouldn't do such a thing.' To defend me in front of everyone. But no, you stood there, letting them tear me apart." Her voice cracked, the pain of it seeping through her tough exterior.

"Okay, everything's already happened, I get it. What do you want me to do now? What else can I do?"

Iseul's lips curled into a small, almost mischievous smile as she stepped closer to him. Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, each word laced with a sharp edge. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Iseul. I did the wrong thing. I was dumb. That's what I want to hear."

Sunghoon's jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, his expression darkening with each passing second. "I saw what you did to my car." he said, his voice steady but laced with fury,

"Didn't you come here to apologize?" she taunted, her words like poison.

Sunghoon's face remained cold, but his eyes betrayed him. "I already did," he said, his voice colder now, his patience wearing thin.

Iseul tilted her head, eyes narrowing, but she wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily. "It has to be louder. I didn't hear you," she pressed, stepping just a little closer, daring him to break.

Sunghoon stood there, his gaze intense, his silence thick with regret and frustration. He cleared his throat, as if forcing the words out of his mouth. "I'm sorry," he muttered, the apology barely audible, like it wasn't meant to reach her ears.

Iseul, still standing her ground, waited for more. She wanted him to say it louder, to admit the weight of the situation, to make it real. She could see the discomfort on his face, the conflict in his eyes.

Finally, Sunghoon spoke again, his voice firmer this time, carrying the weight of his decision. "Come tomorrow to work," he said, louder, but still restrained, as if he was still struggling with the idea.

Iseul raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Why? Do you miss me?" she teased, leaning in just a little, daring him to admit it.

Sunghoon's eyes narrowed slightly, his face unreadable. "On the contrary," he replied, voice dry, "today was quiet. Peaceful. Without you."

Iseul's smile widened, but she kept her tone light. "Well, if you insist," she said, shrugging casually. "I'll come."

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by Yejin's loud voice from the balcony. "My son, stay away from her! She's a criminal!"

Sunghoon sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. This was typical—his mother had always been vocal, always jumping to conclusions without understanding the full picture.

Before he could respond, Yejin leapt from the balcony, her expression frantic as she charged toward them. "Did they take you as hostage?!" she shouted, her steps quick and determined.

Iseul rolled her eyes, unamused by the drama, while Sunghoon moved quickly to intercept his mother. He gently took Yejin by the arm, pulling her aside to calm her down. "Mom, stop," he said, his voice firm but patient. "I've already apologized to her. Everything's fine."

Yejin's face was still flushed with anger, but she didn't argue further. Sunghoon turned back to Iseul with a resigned sigh.

"Tomorrow, come to work," he said, his tone flat. It was a finality, a way of closing the chapter for now.

Iseul simply nodded, her smile returning. "Fine. I'll be there." She looked at Sunghoon one last time before turning on her heel, eager to leave the mess behind.

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sorry fir the veryyyy long chp but i couldnt seperate it into two it would lose its charm