Chapter 72: Ripples and Revelations

A few days later, Seung Hee hovered around me, an unusual sight given her blunt nature. She must’ve been shocked by the news. Lounging on the sofa, scrolling my phone, I suppressed a chuckle and said.

“What’s up? Spit it out.”

“…Nothing.”

Her sheepish expression made me feel a bit guilty for not telling her the breakup with Ju Ria was staged.

After a while, she sat across from me, cautiously studying my face before speaking.

“You… okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Doesn’t bother me.”

I answered honestly, but seeing my casual response, she covered her mouth, muttering in shock.

“Oh no…”

Puzzled, I turned to her. She stammered, genuinely flustered.

“No, I mean—there are other women out there! Isn’t Ju Ria crazy? How could she hide something like that? Even if she was desperate, that’s too much. You were totally used!”

Then she started fuming.

“And now she’s off to the States? I was out there praising her, and she pulls this? Talk about ungrateful.”

I gave a bittersweet smile. Ju Ria likely anticipated these reactions but still chose to cut ties with her family and flee abroad. Then Seung Hee muttered ominously.

“She can’t get away with this.”

Uh-oh?

Her sudden outburst startled me, flashing to the novel’s Choi Seung Hee tormenting Bae Ji An. I sprang up from the sofa.

“What do you mean? Let it go! I said I’m fine, so why make a fuss?”

She stared at me, incredulous, then said softly, embarrassed.

“You really loved her…”

What? I said I’m fine! Why wouldn’t she listen?

Before I could reiterate, she declared with a resolute expression.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get your revenge.”

“Revenge? What?”

“Grandfather and Father already decided. No more ads with Koryo Ilbo—print, broadcast, or their subsidiaries. Mom’s selling her paintings dirt cheap and pressuring other galleries.”

“Seriously?”

My jaw dropped. That far?

When Han Sung got me hospitalized with a head injury, or when I came back battered, there was only minor family friction, and they even considered his sister for my marriage. But now, after a settled breakup with compensation and no harm done, this was the issue?

“Why go that far? We’re already getting what we wanted from them.”

Seung Hee exploded.

“Because it’s infuriating! It’s about pride!”

“…”

Her eyebrows shot up in anger, but seeing me, she sighed in frustration.

“How did Choi Seung Hyun end up like this? I hated you chasing girls as a kid, but seeing you wilt after your fiancée’s betrayal is worse.”

“I’m not wilting—”

“Hold on. You didn’t sleep around back then because Ju Ria rejected you, did you? Find someone new. I’ll set you up.”

“What nonsense is this?”

“Heartbreak is healed with new love.”

“Seung Hee, are you actually crazy?”

Ignoring me, she scrolled through her contacts, ready to set me up tomorrow. Panicked, I snatched her phone.

“Enough! I’m not meeting anyone for a while, so don’t overreact. Tell the adults not to push blind dates on me like before. If they do, I’ll—”

I almost said run away but remembered I already lived alone. I was just visiting home. Clearing my throat, I continued.

“I won’t let it slide.”

Seung Hee sighed.

“My brother’s such a pushover…”

“I’m not.”

I snapped irritably. Then a sharp ding cut through, and her phone lit up. Reflexively, I glanced at the screen and froze.

[Choi Do Yoon: Can I call now? Are you busy?]

“…”

I stared blankly as the message flashed and vanished.

Seung Hee, noticing my sudden silence, grabbed her phone back.

I blinked dumbly before speaking.

“You… talk to Do Yoon a lot, huh?”

She scowled.

“A lot? Only when there’s work.”

“Seems like more than that.”

“What more? It’s annoying as hell.”

Annoying because it’s so frequent… I could barely recall when Do Yoon used to pester me, and I’d brush him off. My heart chilled, a sudden wave of sadness and frustration crashing over me. I looked down, pretending to gather nonexistent clothes or a bag.

“I… I’m gonna go.”

Seung Hee, startled, chased after me.

“Already? It’s late—stay over. You hate being alone at home.”

“…I want to be alone now.”

She looked displeased but didn’t stop me. With a subtle expression, she patted my shoulder twice.

“Forgetting is the best way. It won’t be easy, but…”

“…”

She thought I was wrecked over Ju Ria. I didn’t bother correcting her—it was easier this way.

That night, Do Yoon appeared in my dream for the first time in ages.

In it, he sent the same message—Can I call now? Are you busy?—but to me, not Seung Hee.

Waking up, I checked my phone. No messages.

Handling the breakup’s aftermath was a hassle. I barely calmed Grandfather’s outraged rants, using the invincible logic that dwelling on it would only hurt me more to silence the adults.

Koryo Ilbo, briefly cut off from Haewon’s ads, groveled before me after I restored them. I played the magnanimous forgiver, securing their debt to me for the future. The chaos and arguments in between were indescribable. By the time it was settled, December had arrived.

Year-end was always hectic with evaluations and reassignments. With promotions announced around Christmas, the office buzzed with tension.

Our team, though, was relaxed. None of my peers were up for promotion, so there was no rivalry. Plus, I’d gotten a special promotion last year.

Best of all, my respected team leader, Kim Ju Hyun, was promoted and moving to Strategic Planning. While marketing was hands-on fieldwork, Strategic Planning was the company’s core. At the team dinner, she beamed, accepting everyone’s congratulations. I sincerely added mine.

“Congrats! I knew you’d make it.”

“Thanks.”

But amidst the noise, she pulled me aside and whispered.

“Have you heard who’s taking over as Strategic Planning Director?”

“Why?”

“The last one got demoted.”

“Oh, really? He had a bad rep, so that’s good for you.”

She smacked her forehead, amused by my cluelessness.

“You’re totally out of the loop. The issue is we don’t know what kind of nutcase is coming. A known nutcase is better than an unknown one.”

For someone raising two kids without ever showing strain, her worry about the new team was telling. Strategic Planning was known for its arrogance. I said earnestly.

“No one could challenge your skills, whoever comes.”

“…True. If someone messes with me, I’ll use you as a shield.”

Her support was key to me fitting in post-exposure, so her move felt bittersweet despite the good news.

Half-joking, I nodded.

“Do it. I’m still the biggest deal here.”

She giggled at my quip.

But days later, as the new year hit, that joke stopped being funny.