Chapter 97: When Your Ex-Husband Becomes Your Intern

When had it begun — that small, creeping doubt that maybe he’d been wrong all along?

Even so, Hyun-woo had kept trying to bring the two of them together for one reason only.

Because that was what he wanted.

If Hyun-jin and Seung-hyuk fell in love like in the original story — if everything ended in a perfect happy ending — then maybe, somehow, all his sins from before the regression would be forgiven.

In the end, none of it had been for anyone else.

It had all been selfish.

A way to ease his own guilt.

He hadn’t once truly considered either of their feelings.

“Ha…”

Realizing that made Hyun-woo feel like his world was collapsing.

Everything he had done suddenly felt meaningless.

And worst of all, he couldn’t even look Seung-hyuk or Hyun-jin in the eye.

“So from now on, don’t worry about me and Joo Hyun-jin anymore.”

“……”

“There was never anything between us to begin with.”

“……”

Hyun-woo couldn’t reply.

Seung-hyuk gave him one last glance, then said quietly,

“Get some rest.”

Click.

The door shut softly behind him.

Hyun-woo clenched the edge of the bedsheet and lowered his head.

What was he supposed to do now?

The long-awaited main event had ended in disaster — and the truth he’d been avoiding had finally surfaced.

Part 7. When Your Ex-Husband Becomes an Intern

After that nightmare of an “event,” the weekend arrived.

But Hyun-woo was completely out of it.

He spent the whole weekend in a daze, while Seung-hyuk and Hyun-jin carefully avoided bothering him.

Seung-hyuk occasionally sent him unreadable looks, while Hyun-jin assumed he was just unwell and fretted quietly nearby.

By Monday, Hyun-woo returned to work — moving like a machine.

At least work was busy.

That was a small blessing.

He was buried in documents when Hyun-seok, who’d dropped by for a chat, spoke casually.

“Come to think of it, it’s tomorrow.”

“What is?”

“The intern’s first day.”

“……!”

Hyun-woo’s head shot up from behind his stack of papers.

Hyun-seok blinked at his reaction, coffee mug in hand.

“What, you forgot?”

“Tomorrow…”

“I even sent the notice again last week, remember?”

“……”

Right.

He’d signed off on those documents himself.

And Jung-hoon had reminded him about it too — several times.

But with everything that had happened last week, it had completely slipped his mind.

“I… had something important going on last week.”

“Oh, that’s right — Hyun-jin’s birthday, huh?

Did the party go well?”

“……”

Hyun-woo said nothing.

Hyun-seok frowned.

“What? Something happened?”

“No. Nothing.”

“Then why that face?”

“……”

Hyun-woo ignored him, reaching for another file.

Hyun-seok narrowed his eyes.

Something had definitely gone wrong last week.

But he knew better than to push.

With Hyun-woo, pressing too hard usually backfired — explosively.

Still… I’m dying of curiosity.

He’d been so excited about that birthday surprise, even booked a hotel restaurant — and now this?

What, did he mess it up somehow?

Serves him right.

Who throws a full-blown hotel celebration for their sister anyway?

Hyun-seok clicked his tongue in disbelief.

Those siblings were way too close.

He couldn’t even relate — being an only child himself — but even by family standards, they were excessive.

Seriously, who reserves a sky-view restaurant and buys bouquets for their sister’s birthday?

That was… a bit much.

Sure, they were close, but that level of devotion was weird.

No, don’t overthink it. For my sanity.

He shook his head quickly.

That line of thought was dangerous.

“Anyway, I told you — the intern starts tomorrow, got it?”

“Yeah…”

Hyun-woo nodded heavily.

When Hyun-seok finally left, he let out a long sigh.

Right.

It was about time for Seung-hyuk to start his internship at Munseong.

He’d completely forgotten.

Before the regression, Seung-hyuk had joined the rival company, L&S — and that had led to disaster for Hyun-woo.

So when he’d heard that, this time, Seung-hyuk would enter his company instead, he’d been thrilled.

At least one thing had changed for the better.

But now… the idea of seeing him every day made Hyun-woo uneasy.

At home, he could avoid him.

At work? Impossible.

Just the thought made him wince.

“Director, about that intern we mentioned last week—”

“He’s starting tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, sir.

Team Leader Joo from HR just confirmed.”

“I see… understood.”

Jung-hoon looked puzzled.

Weren’t Director Joo and that intern close?

Hadn’t he said they were family friends?

He remembered talking with the guy once — a low, husky voice that was strangely calming.

Apparently an S-class Alpha too.

There’d already been buzz around the office about his arrival.

But Director Joo’s expression looked… complicated.

Jung-hoon, who’d been his secretary long enough to read his moods, caught on quickly.

“We assigned Supervisor Oh Hye-na as the intern’s mentor. Should we keep it that way?”

“Hmm…”

Hyun-woo remembered the choice.

Supervisor Oh — reliable, quiet, a Beta.

She wasn’t too high-ranking to be intimidating, nor too low-ranking to lack authority.

A safe pick.

But he couldn’t help but worry.

Would the headstrong Seung-hyuk even listen to her?

*No, come on.

He’ll behave.

He’s an intern now.*

At least, that’s what Hyun-woo tried to tell himself.

Still… at L&S, he’d probably been treated like a VIP.

Maybe he expected the same here.

The thought made Hyun-woo rub his temple.

“Director?”

“Ah…”

He looked up at Jung-hoon and cleared his throat.

“Yes.

Let’s leave it to Supervisor Oh.”

“Understood, sir.”

When Jung-hoon left, Hyun-woo stared at the closed door.

Tomorrow — Seung-hyuk would be in the same building as him.

Time really did fly.

But instead of excitement, he felt a strange heaviness in his gut.

Something told him it wouldn’t be smooth sailing.

“Ha…”

He ran a hand through his hair, sighing again.

Even the fact that his headaches had mysteriously stopped lately made him uneasy.

Closing his eyes, Hyun-woo bit his lip — the way he always did when anxiety crept in.

Supervisor Oh Hye-na was now in her fifth year at Munseong Group — a diligent, if weary, mid-level employee.

Once upon a time, she’d been full of pride — top of her class, graduate of a prestigious university, convinced she was special.

Landing a job at a major corporation had been the peak of her life.

But that was all before Munseong.

Now, it was just a memory — a piece of her past she preferred to forget.

The idea that you’re special only lasts until college, she thought bitterly.

These days, she was a fully broken-in cog in the corporate machine.

After clocking in, she stopped by the restroom, flicked water from her cuffs, and sighed.

Right — there was supposed to be a new intern starting today.

She’d guessed she’d be stuck training them.

And now that it was confirmed, she felt no excitement at all — just exhaustion.

A babysitting job during peak season.

Wonderful.

Still, at least college interns only stayed a month.

If she taught the basics, she could get through it without too much stress.

Sighing again, she walked back to her desk.

Then froze.

Someone unfamiliar was standing beside her workstation.

“Excuse me, who are you?”

“……”

The man turned his head.

And when she saw his face, Oh Hye-na’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t help but mutter under her breath—

Wow… just looking at you feels like my eyesight’s been healed.

She stared — completely transfixed by the ridiculously handsome man before her.