But i wasn't a liar ✔️

Part 42

Part 42

Three days had passed since that unforgettable night when Hyunjin and Yeji finally bared their hearts to each other. The air between them still buzzed with the warmth of their confessions, but their world shifted once again when they discovered  Leeknow and Yuna's own secret—they were in love.

Hyunjin's heart swelled with pure joy when he heard the news. "Yuna deserves happiness," he thought, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Leeknow was a good man—no, the best , If anyone could cherish Yuna the way she deserved, it was him" The relief in Hyunjin's chest was undeniable; he had feared lingering feelings might complicate things, but now? Only happiness remained.

Yeji, however, felt a sharp pang in her chest the moment she heard. Her mind instantly flew to Lia , sweet, kind Lia, who had once whispered her own hidden affections in the dark. "Does she know? Will this break her?" The guilt twisted inside Yeji like a knife. It wasn't fair.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as the truth settled over her

Love isn't something you can force . No matter how much you wish otherwise, hearts choose their own paths.

she realized, her fingers tightening around the edge of her sleeve. The sadness lingered, but beneath it bloomed a quiet acceptance.

The kitchen was in chaos—flour dusted the countertops, eggshells littered the basin, and Yuna, a noble girl who had never so much as touched a mixing bowl, stood determinedly in the center of it all. The servants gaped, too shocked to speak, as she aggressively whisked batter, her brows furrowed in concentration.

Ni-Ki stormed in, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floor. His nose wrinkled at the mess. 

"What are you doing? Let the servants handle this!" 

Yuna didn't even glance up, her grip tightening on the whisk. "No. I want to do this myself." 

Ni-Ki scoffed, crossing his arms. "You're a noble girl—this isn't your job!" 

Yuna finally looked at him, her eyes flashing. "Oh, that's enough! I'm not building an airplane—it's just a cake!" 

Ni-Ki's lip curled. "You've become a copy of Sam!" 

Yuna slammed the whisk down, sending batter splattering. "His name is Hyunjin. H-Y-U-N-J-I-N." 

A tense silence followed. Then, with a dismissive flick of his wrist, Ni-Ki turned to a servant. 

"You—make me a bitter coffee and bring it to the hall." Without another word, he strode out, his back rigid with arrogance. 

The second the door shut, Yuna rolled her eyes and mimicked him in a high-pitched voice "Make me a bitter coffee and then bring it to the hall!" She smirked. "Children his age still drink milk." 

The servants burst into laughter, some covering their mouths to stifle giggles. 

Yuna huffed, wiping her flour-streaked hands on her apron. "Tsh. Just look at his walk—like he owns the world." 

The kitchen door swung open again, and Hyunjin strode in, arms laden with thick science books, his glasses slightly askew from rushing.

"Good morning—wow, Yuna!" His eyes sparkled with amusement at the sight of her covered in flour. 

Yuna beamed, her irritation melting away. "Good morning, Hyunjin!" 

Hyunjin peered at her batter. "What kind of cake are you making?" 

"Strawberry!" 

The servants exchanged pleased glances—the two had such warm, natural chemistry, unlike the tension with Ni-Ki.