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[Romantic homicide] - [d4vid]

Iseul strode into the office with her usual serene smile, but this time, something dark and thrilling glimmered beneath it—a spark of carefully concealed mischief. She greeted her team, her tone warm as always, but her mind spun like a finely tuned clock. The pieces were already moving into place.

"Jungwoo-ssi," she called out, her voice smooth like honey with just a hint of a secret.

The young man, ever eager to please, perked up instantly and hurried over. "Yes, Miss Lee?"

"I need your help."

"For you, anything," Jungwoo responded with a grin, already feeling the anticipation bubbling in his chest.

She lowered her voice, a playful whisper threading through her words. "I'd like you to prepare the terrace this evening—something elegant. Food, decorations, the whole nine yards. I'm planning a surprise for someone."

Jungwoo's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he clapped his hands together, practically bouncing on his heels. "A surprise? Oh, this is going to be amazing!"

Iseul chuckled softly, leaning just enough to let her smirk show.

And as Jungwoo raced off, brimming with enthusiasm, she turned to face the windows, her gaze sharp as blades and filled with silent satisfaction. He wouldn't see it coming—but she did. Every twist, every turn, every carefully placed piece of the game.

After finalizing her plans with Jungwoo, Iseul smoothed her blazer, her smirk deepening as her heels tapped confidently against the marble floors. There was one more thing she needed to do.

She strode purposefully toward Sunghoon's office, her chin lifted with quiet power. Shuhua, seated behind the desk, glanced up in surprise as Iseul approached.

"Miss Lee—"

"Inform Mr. Park I'm here," Iseul interrupted, her tone sweet but commanding

Shuhua blinked before picking up the phone, but before she could say anything, the door to Sunghoon's office flew open.

"Iseul!" Sunghoon's voice was filled with a rare, unrestrained excitement. His sharp suit did little to hide the sudden warmth in his eyes, and his lips curved into a smile that seemed out of place for a man as cold and composed as he usually was

Iseul raised a brow, her expression unreadable then entered his office away from prying eyes. "Sunghoon. You said there were things you wanted to tell me. I have things to say, too."

His heart raced faster. "You... you want to talk to me?" He took a step back into his office, his pulse thundering with hope. "That's good. Really good. Please, come in—sit down." He gestured toward the leather chair across from his desk, his voice softening.

But Iseul remained standing, her lips curving ever so slightly. "No."

"No?" His brow furrowed, caught between confusion and intrigue.

"I'll see you on the terrace tonight," she said, her voice smooth as silk. She glanced at her watch with practiced precision. "Seven o'clock sharp. Don't be late."

Sunghoon nodded, his eagerness almost boyish. He felt as if a thread of light had finally broken through the storm in his chest. "Okay. I'll be there."

She watched him for a beat longer, noting the eager tension in his shoulders, the way he clenched his hands as if holding back from reaching for her. Her smirk grew wider before she spun on her heel, walking away with the same calculated grace that always left him breathless.

Sunghoon stood rooted in place, his chest tightening. He let out a long breath as her figure disappeared, leaving only the soft scent of her perfume and the ghost of her words hanging in the air.

Tonight, he thought. Seven.

And in the back of his mind, the question burned like fire:
Was this a chance to reclaim what he had lost—or a trap he would never escape

Finally evening descended over the city, painting the sky in hues of deep amber and violet. The air on the terrace was crisp, filled with the scent of freshly prepared dishes and flowers arranged with meticulous care.

Twinkling fairy lights cast a golden glow over the scene. It was perfect—except for the storm brewing inside Sunghoon.

He checked his reflection one last time, running his fingers through his hair. A final spray of cologne followed before he grabbed his jacket, practically running to the terrace. His steps were hurried, his heart racing with anticipation as he imagined her waiting for him, just the two of them.

But as he opened the terrace doors, his eager smile faltered.

The space wasn't empty. It was filled with people.

Laughter floated through the air, champagne glasses clinked, and Sunghoon felt the ground shift beneath his feet. His eyes scanned the crowd before they landed on her—Iseul.

She stood by the railing, a champagne flute delicately balanced in her hand, her eyes crinkling as she laughed at something Sungchan whispered beside her. Her beauty was effortless, radiant, her figure framed perfectly against the city skyline. And yet, her smile turned cold when her gaze met his.

Sunghoon's steps slowed. His confusion morphed into suspicion.

Iseul turned fully, her eyes darkening with a dangerous glint as she clapped her hands together. Her voice, sweet and cutting, carried across the terrace. "Since Mr. Park is here—and Miss Jung, too—" her eyes flicked briefly toward a confused Rena, "I think it's safe to announce everything now."

Sunghoon's brow furrowed as a murmur swept through the guests.

Sungchan stepped forward, his grin wide and confident. "Thank you all for coming. I'm sure you've been wondering about this gathering." He glanced fondly at Iseul. "We have an announcement to make!"

Sunghoon's stomach twisted.

Sungchan continued, "You've all worked hard, and we've been keeping something under wraps until everything was confirmed. But the time has come..."

A pause. The air grew thick.

"We are opening a new branch in Daejeon!" Sungchan beamed. "And Iseul and I will be leading it together."

The words slammed into Sunghoon like a physical blow.

His heart plummeted.

Iseul... leaving?

His jaw tightened as his eyes burned with fury, his gaze locked on her as she raised her glass in celebration. She clapped, her expression perfectly composed, a picture of grace and poise—except for the glimmer of triumph shining in her eyes.

Across the terrace, Rena's eyes lit up with joy. A radiant smile spread across her lips as she turned toward Sunghoon, barely able to contain her delight. Iseul was leaving. Out of sight. Out of the picture.

But Sunghoon saw none of that.

In his chest, a fire ignited—burning hotter, darker, angrier with every passing second.

He barely noticed when Iseul turned to face him—until her voice, soft and razor-sharp, cut through the chaos.

"Mr. Park..." Her tone was mocking, her eyes gleaming with wicked satisfaction as she tilted her head, lips curling in a dangerous smirk. "Aren't you going to congratulate us?"

He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing, words a low snarl meant only for her ears. "What are you doing, Iseul?"

She lifted her brow, feigning innocence. "I'm excited to leave, of course." She paused, her voice laced with venom and triumph. "And never see your face again."

His heart lurched, fury warring with desperation. He took a breath, but before he could speak, she turned away from him—so quick, so final, as if he had already ceased to exist.

She clapped her hands, her voice light and sweet as she called out to the crowd. "Let's celebrate, everyone! Drinks on the house!"

The cheers erupted.

But Sunghoon didn't hear them.

All he felt was the silence between them.

Sungchan's arm draped easily around Iseul's shoulders, his side hug drawing her in as if she belonged there—right where Sunghoon had always imagined her, but never quite reached. Around them, glasses clinked, and laughter rang out. Everyone seemed blissfully unaware of the storm brewing beneath Sunghoon's skin.

The tension snapped when Sunghoon strode forward, his expression dark, each step purposeful. Without hesitation, he grabbed Sungchan's arm, forcing space between them.

"Sungchan," his voice was low, dangerous, "why am I not aware of this?"

Iseul's eyes narrowed, confusion flickering in her gaze. He wasn't told about the Daejon plan?

"It's a surprise. You don't like surprises?"

"I don't," Sunghoon bit out, each word sharp and deliberate. "Now cancel this."

Sungchan laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "Nothing will be canceled."

The crowd stilled, celebration dying as tension thickened. Eyes darted between the two men, holding their collective breath.

Iseul remained in the center, a silent wall between their rising fury, her pulse quickening as Sunghoon's gaze burned into Sungchan.

"You think you're calling shots now?" Sunghoon's voice dripped venom. "Playing boss because you got your daddy's shares?"

The terrace fell silent.

Eyes widened.
Mouths hung open.
A sharp, collective intake of breath.

Iseul's chest tightened as she turned to Sungchan, whose smirk slipped for a fraction of a second before hardening into stone.

"That's a low blow," Sungchan muttered, his voice like flint sparking against steel.

Sunghoon didn't flinch. "I've given my blood, my years, my entire life to this company. I built it. You don't get to toy with it on a whim."

Sungchan's jaw clenched, his polished mask slipping further. "What's your problem?" His tone shifted from defensive to biting. "Everyone's happy. Rena's happy." He let the name linger, twisting it into a weapon. "What's bothering you so much, Sunghoon?"

His gaze flicked to Iseul with cutting precision.

The answer, for everyone present, was clear.

Sunghoon's jaw clenched as his eyes fell on a non smiling Iseul. Her gaze drifted downward, her head slightly bowed, avoiding the weight of his stare.

The knot in his chest tightened. He wanted her to look at him. To give him something—anything—to explain why this felt like betrayal. But he knew he couldn't unravel here, not in front of everyone.

He forced a breath through his nose, steadying himself, though fury still simmered beneath his calm. "Such a decision demands months of preparation," he said, his voice low and strained. "You can't do it. Not like this."

"Enough!" Sungchan's voice rose, sharp with exasperation. "Just be honest, Sunghoon."

The words cut deep, but before the silence could shatter further, Rena stepped forward, her hand pressing against Sunghoon's chest. Her touch was meant to ground him, to calm the tension that had spiraled out of control.

"Sunghoon, this isn't you," she pleaded, her voice soft but urgent. Then, her sharp gaze darted to Sungchan. "And you, knock it off. Look around—this isn't the place for this."

Sunghoon exhaled hard, his breath ragged and heavy.

He felt her hand push lightly against him, but it wasn't enough to stop him. The walls felt too close. The terrace, too small. The entire world was suffocating with the sight of Iseul brushing her fingers across Sungchan's shoulder, soothing him with a calm, gentle touch that burned like acid in Sunghoon's veins.

He turned on his heel, leaving before Rena could grab his arm again.

The doors slammed shut behind him.

Rena rushed back to the terrace as she approached Sungchan. She adjusted her composure before speaking.

"I couldn't stop him," she said, voice light, but her smile twisted with venom. "Typical Sunghoon—he gets furious when he's not in control. But he'll get used to it." Her eyes flicked pointedly toward Iseul, a silent triumph glimmering in them.

Then, with feigned warmth, she added, "Oh, by the way, I'm thrilled about this business collaboration. It's a wonderful opportunity for you both, especially you, Iseul. You've seemed... out of sorts lately. I hope this will lift your spirits."

Iseul's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. Her eyes darkened with amusement as she closed the distance between them. She pulled Rena into a hug, her arms draping lightly around her rival's shoulders in an intimate embrace that felt more like a vice.

"That only seems true to you, Miss Rena," she whispered, her voice soft, the words a scalpel's blade.

Then, as her lips brushed against Rena's ear, only for them to hear, she delivered her fatal blow.

"I know your marriage is a lie. Consider my leaving a favor—one you'll owe me."

The words sank in like poison, unseen by anyone else, but sharp enough to drain the color from Rena's face.

Iseul pulled back, the warmth in her smile curdling into something darker, something wickedly triumphant. She tilted her head just enough to catch the flicker of panic in Rena's eyes and relished it.

Rena's composure cracked, her hands trembling at her sides, but she clenched her jaw, forcing a fragile smile as though the ground beneath her had not just been yanked away.

Iseul's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She offered a final, innocuous smile before turning away, leaving her words to echo like a curse in the silence.

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