THE BITCH CEO (Im Nayeon)

29

NAYEON'S POV (Part 2)

My chest heaved as I stared at her, her words looping endlessly in my mind.

My pulse raced, and I tried to push down the chaos roaring inside me.

Hans stood a few steps away now, watching me with an intensity that was impossible to ignore.

She was giving me space, but her presence still filled the room.

"Why do you care so much?" I finally asked, my voice cracking despite my effort to sound composed.

She tilted her head slightly, her expression softening.

"Because I know you." She said, her tone gentle yet resolute.

"I know how much you push yourself, how hard you work to keep everything, and everyone, at arm's length. But I also know what's behind all that, Nayeon."

"You don't know anything about me anymore," I snapped, though my voice lacked the venom I wanted.

He took a slow, deliberate step closer.

"I know enough. I know you're standing here right now, battling yourself because you don't want to admit the truth. You think walking away will make it easier, but it won't. It hasn't, has it? Not for the past two years." Her words struck a nerve, and I looked away, biting my lip to keep it from trembling.

"Don't do this." I whispered.

"Do what?" She asked, her voice softer now.

"Make me feel like...like I'm the one at fault." I said, the frustration bubbling up again.

"You're the one who broke everything, Hans. You're the one who—" I stopped myself, realizing I was saying too much.

Hans's gaze darkened, her jaw tightening.

"Go on." She urged.

"Say it. Tell me how I broke everything. Tell me how I walked away. Because if we're being honest, Nayeon, it wasn't just me. You hurt me too. That's why i left the country just to forget you. It's not about the business or whatsover, i left because i was too hurt and i can't carry the painful memories if i stayed in this country."

"You don't get to twist this around." I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

"I'm not twisting anything." She said, her voice low but steady.

"I'm just reminding you that we both made mistakes. But I'm here now, trying to fix this. Trying to fix us. You're the one who keeps running."

"I'm not running!" I yelled, the words echoing in the room.

Hans stepped closer, close enough that I could see the determination in her eyes.

"Then prove it. Stay. Face this with me instead of pretending it doesn't exist."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

"You don't get to do this. You don't get to waltz back into my life and act like you care after everything." I said, my voice trembling.

"I never stopped caring. And you know that. I knew Jeongyeon tells you everything."  She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her words hung in the air, heavy and unshakable.

My breathing was uneven now, and I felt the weight of everything I'd been avoiding crashing down on me all at once.

"Why now? Why come back now? Why couldn't you just leave me alone?" I asked, my voice cracking.