Chapter 4 - Past Which Was A Beautiful Present
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A day or two had passed since their encounter at the restaurant, yet Vincenzo found himself inexplicably affected by it. He couldn't understand why the meeting had such a profound impact on him. He had previously wished for Hong Cha Young to move on from him, so why did he now feel upset about the prospect of her going on a date with someone else, even if it was purely professional from her side.
As Vincenzo tried to refocus on the paperwork concerning Suk Hyeong, his thoughts stubbornly returned to Hong Cha Young and the unexpected impact of their evening together. The memory of Han Seok confidently leading her away flashed vividly in his mind, stirring an uncomfortable feeling within him that he couldn't easily shake off.
Her nonchalant remark about the alibi Han Seok had provided for their first date echoed in his thoughts, amplifying his irritation. "Well, I guess the date wasn't entirely fruitless. We finally have our alibi!" she had exclaimed with visible excitement to Miri, unaware of the effect her words had on him.
"Ms. Hong, this man would be perfect for you if only he had a better personality. He's incredibly attractive, wealthy, and well-connected," Miri remarked with a sigh, prompting Hong Cha Young to prepare a response just as a loud thud interrupted them.
Vincenzo slammed his folders onto his desk, the abrupt sound commanding attention in the room. Ignoring the puzzled gazes of Miri and Hong Cha Young, he began jotting notes in his files, the pressure evident as his pen trembled with the force of his irritation.
"Are you alright, Mr. Cassano?" Miri inquired, noticing Vincenzo deep in thought.
After a few attempts to get his attention, he finally responded. "Huh?" He snapped out of his reverie.
"Is everything okay? You've seemed upset and distant these past two days. Is there something on your mind?" Miri expressed her concern while his gaze briefly flickered towards Hong Cha Young, who quickly masked any sign of worry when their eyes met.
"I'm fine, Ms. Seo," he replied, forcing a smile.
"Are you sure-"
"How's the progress with reviewing the alibi?" He attempted to change the topic, steering away from personal matters.
"It's good. We'll be able to use it in court for sure. Right, Ms. Hong?" Miri looked at Hong Cha Young with a smile on her face.
"The alibi will be able to prove Mr
Gil innocent. So we're good on that page. Now, we have to work on presenting some of our suspicions and evidence against Suk Hyeong." Hong Cha Young answered facing him.
He nodded, "I've asked some people to go through the files your brother sent us. For this trail, just presenting that Suk Hyeong can also be a suspect will be enough. So, don't worry about proving him the culprit at the moment."
"Right."
Vincenzo stared at Hong Cha Young one last time and then pushed his thoughts aside, burying them beneath the weight of the case files spread out before him.
Hours passed as he delved into the intricacies of the legal documents, his mind racing with strategies and counterarguments for the trail.
As the evening descended and the office quieted down, Vincenzo finally allowed himself a moment of respite. He closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath to calm his racing thoughts. He looks at Hong Cha Young's empty chair. A slight fashback crosses his mind.
...
"Jaigya!" She rushed in and nudged his shoulder to grab his attention.
