Corporate Cupid

Chapter 8 : Unraveling the Lies

Back in her room, Hari found herself thinking about Wonho. The sweet gesture of him checking on her injury lingered in her mind. She couldn't deny that there was more to him than the cold businessman she first met. At the same time, Wonho was equally confused. He couldn't understand why he felt compelled to see her, even if it was just for a small injury. It was unlike him, and that unsettled him.

Saturday arrived, marking their fake anniversary. Wonho picked Hari up, both of them aware that the day had been orchestrated by his grandfather, who insisted on recreating a scene from his favorite TV show. Their first stop was shopping. Hari tried on several outfits, each one earning a different reaction from Wonho. Eventually, he selected a glamorous, expensive dress for her, one that she struggled to fit into. Though the shopping was a little awkward, there was an odd sense of comfort growing between them.

After shopping, they went to a secluded restaurant for dinner. Hari couldn't help but feel out of place in her tight, elegant dress. At one point, she bent down to retrieve her purse, and the dress ripped in the back. Embarrassed, she froze as the restaurant's chefs came out to congratulate them on their anniversary. Wonho, ever composed, quickly stepped behind her, concealing the tear with his body while trying not to smile at the situation.

Meanwhile, Yuna headed to the gym at her flat. She ran into both Woozi and her new neighbor, who offered to help her with her workout. Frustrated, Yuna found herself disinterested in the new neighbor despite his kindness. Instead, her mind kept drifting back to Woozi, even though he had been cold toward her. What she didn't know was that Woozi was quietly watching her, jealousy brewing beneath his stoic exterior.

In the gym's bathroom, Woozi noticed something strange about the neighbor. He observed that the man could read the clock from across the room, even though he supposedly needed glasses. Woozi's suspicions about the neighbor began to grow, but he kept his thoughts to himself for the time being.

Later, the neighbor offered Woozi one of his designs, a standing lamp. Yuna seemed uneasy about accepting the gift, but the neighbor insisted. Woozi's doubts about the man deepened.

Back at the restaurant, Hari's discomfort from the ripped dress only grew. As they finished their dinner, the two walked outside, and Hari's shoe slipped off. With a surprisingly gentle gesture, Wonho knelt down and placed the shoe back on her foot, warning her to be more careful. Just then, fireworks lit up the sky over the Han River. As the vibrant display reflected in the water, Wonho glanced at Hari, his eyes softening as he remarked, "The fireworks are very pretty." His words carried a weight that neither of them was ready to acknowledge.

After the date, Wonho drove Hari home, and she admitted that she had fun on their "fake" anniversary. Wonho echoed her words but noticeably omitted the "fake" part. It was becoming clear that this relationship, no matter how staged, was starting to blur the lines between pretend and real.

On his way home, Wonho found himself smiling at the thought of the day. But his mood shifted when he noticed Hari's wallet on the seat beside him. She had accidentally left it behind. Turning the car around, he headed back to her place, dialing her phone as he approached. But Hari didn't answer. As Wonho neared her family's shop, he saw someone standing in front: Minwoo.

Minwoo called out for Hari, and this time, she answered. Wonho watched from a distance, confusion clouding his mind. He opened the wallet and looked at the ID inside. The name printed on the card was unmistakable: Hari.

Realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Hari was Kim Sari.

Wonho stood frozen, his mind racing. He quickly dialed Kim Sari's number, his heart pounding in his chest. When Hari picked up, unaware of how close he was, she answered casually, her voice ringing in his ears. Standing just a few meters away, Wonho stared at her, torn between shock, betrayal, and something he couldn't quite name.

And with that, everything he thought he knew began to unravel.