Just Twilight

A sharp knock shattered the tense atmosphere.

Seungwoon’s secretary entered, pushing a trolley with a tea set. The moment he saw her, his brows snapped together.

“Get out.”

“…Excuse me? But you asked me to bring—”

She stopped mid-sentence as Seungwoon suddenly stood and strode toward her, his steps sharp and unyielding.

Standing just a breath away from her, he spoke in a hushed but firm tone.

“Remember this, Secretary Lee. Don’t ever make me repeat myself. About anything.”

From where Junyoung sat, she could only see his back, but the sheer terror on the secretary’s pale face told her everything she needed to know about his expression.

The secretary hurried out, and an even icier silence settled over the room.

Taking a deep breath, Seungwoon turned back to Junyoung, his gaze locking onto hers.

“Did you forget? You were the one who sent out the press release. I’m engaged to Jang Sera. Soon, I’ll be married. Moving to Europe is partly for her sake—she loves Paris. I have no idea what kind of ridiculous misunderstanding you’re having.”

Scoffing, he slumped back into his chair.

Junyoung didn’t respond right away. Instead, she stared at the veins on the back of his clenched hands, watching them darken under the strain.

When she finally spoke, her voice was calm.

“I’m not turning down the offer because I think you have feelings for me despite your engagement.”

Seungwoon’s cheek twitched.

Junyoung didn’t waver.

“I’m refusing because of that night. The way you grabbed my wrist and tried to drag me away, thinking only of your own emotions. You didn’t hesitate to throw away everything we had built up over the years. I saw that for what it was—a threat. And when I imagine what might have happened if someone hadn’t come in at that moment… I still struggle to sleep.”

“Junyoung, that’s not—”

The moment he reached out, she stood.

She hoped her voice wouldn’t shake.