The usual buzz of Jungwon's office—typing sounds, casual conversations, the hum of printers—filled the air. The space was sleek and modern, glass walls reflecting daylight, and polished floors echoing every step. Everything was normal... until Chloe arrived.
She walked in with steady steps, heart pounding beneath her calm exterior. Her hair was neatly tied back, her outfit modest yet elegant. Her eyes held a firm resolve, though inside, she was torn.
"Good afternoon. I'm here to see Jungwon," she said calmly to the receptionist, her voice soft but unmistakably clear.
"Do you have an appointment, miss?" the receptionist asked, clearly startled by the quiet authority Chloe exuded.
"Just tell him… Chloe is here." A faint smile curved her lips, but her gaze was sharp—unshakable.
A few employees nearby slowed their steps. Some exchanged glances and whispered. Her name—Chloe—wasn't unfamiliar. They had heard it before. In conversations. In gossip. Often… from Selvinalisa.
Selvinalisa herself was at the pantry, laughing with two coworkers, when someone leaned in and whispered, "She's here. Chloe."
Her laughter froze. The smile faded. Wariness took its place.
Meanwhile, Jungwon had just returned from a meeting, documents in hand, walking quickly down the hallway. When he reached the front area, his eyes locked onto her—Chloe. Standing there, composed, elegant… but unreadable.
Time stopped.
The office hushed. Even keyboards seemed to fall silent.
All eyes turned to one thing:
The woman they never thought would actually come… now standing right there.
Jungwon froze in place. He hadn't expected this. Maybe he had feared it, somewhere deep down. But her gaze made it all real.
"I need to talk," Chloe said softly as she stood before him.
"But not here. We both know this place… has too many spectators."
The sky was turning orange as Chloe and Jungwon sat across from each other at a quiet café near the office. It was a small place with warm lights, soft jazz in the background, and barely any customers. Two cups of tea sat untouched between them.
Jungwon stared down at his spoon, stirring slowly. Chloe sat upright, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her eyes fixed on the man who once felt like home—and now felt like a stranger.
"Why did you come to the office?" Jungwon finally asked, voice low but tense.
Chloe inhaled deeply before answering. "Because I needed to see for myself. I'm tired of guessing. Tired of waiting for an explanation that never comes."
He looked up, meeting her eyes. Guilt flickered in his expression. "You're misunderstanding. Selvinalisa and I… we're just coworkers."
"Coworkers who wear your jacket and post 'Thanks, Won' with a heart emoji?" Chloe shot back, voice still calm but laced with hurt. "Do you think I'm stupid, Jungwon?"
Silence.
"I never stopped you from being close to people," she continued, her voice beginning to tremble. "But what hurts the most is how easily you trusted someone you barely know… over the woman who stood by you through everything."
Jungwon closed his eyes. Her words cut deep.
"Selvinalisa said… you get jealous. Controlling. That you don't support my career." His tone was half-hearted, almost unsure.
Chloe laughed bitterly. "And you believed her? Someone you've known for a few months… over me?"
He stayed quiet, unable to form a reply.
Chloe stood up, picking up her bag. "I didn't come here to argue. I came to let you know… my silence wasn't weakness. It was hope. But hoping for you only destroyed me."
Jungwon looked up, wanting to say something. Chloe lifted a hand.
"If you still loved me… you would've never made me feel like a stranger in my own relationship."
And with that, she walked away—without looking back.
The streetlights of Seoul flickered to life as Chloe stepped onto the sidewalk. The cool air brushed against her face, but her steps didn't falter. Her heart was still sore, but her mind was clear—staying in silence any longer would only destroy her from the inside.
Jungwon remained inside the café, staring blankly at the door she had just walked out of. His chest was tight. Should he chase after her? Call her name? But his body stayed still, paralyzed by the weight of his own guilt.
Then came the sound of a car pulling up.
A sleek black sedan stopped at the curb. The back door opened.
From the driver's seat stepped out a man in a neat suit and warm smile—Sunghoon. A familiar name. A business partner from a year ago. Jungwon remembered him clearly—Chloe had introduced them during a meeting. Back then, he was just a potential collaborator.
Now… he was something else.
Sunghoon opened the car door for Chloe.
"Sorry for the wait. You okay?" he asked gently.
Chloe gave him a soft smile. "Much better now."
She stepped into the car without glancing back.
Through the café window, Jungwon watched it all unfold. His eyes widened, mouth slightly open—but no words came. He stood, stunned, helpless. The woman who once waited for him… was now being picked up by someone else. And he couldn't do anything.
His fists clenched. He wanted to run out. Stop the car. Say something.
But he knew—Chloe wasn't his anymore.
And Sunghoon didn't feel like a threat.
He looked like safety.
The car pulled away, leaving Jungwon behind, motionless.
Inside the car, Chloe stared out the window. Tears slid silently down her cheeks, but her lips remained sealed.
She would no longer cry for someone who didn't know how to hold on.
Behind her: the café, her past… and the man she once fought for, now fading in the distance.