Chapter 7 — The Unknown Path
Chapter 7
The day felt heavier than usual.
Today is as usual day..
The office walls loomed like towers around me, each step echoing through the hallways, reminding me that I'm small here alone.
But I had no choice. I had to try.
My desk was cluttered with files and forms I had never seen before. Instructions scribbled in corporate shorthand.
I bit my lip, trying to make sense of it all, my fingers trembling slightly as I arranged papers neatly.
Hana's presence was constant. I could feel her eyes even when she wasn't looking directly at me.
A soft laugh, a whisper to someone across the room always just loud enough that I knew it was about me.
"Keep your head down, little newbie," I muttered to myself.
You're not here to impress anyone. You're here for ryo .
And survive I did.
I tackled the files one by one, rereading each form, double-checking every line.
I Don't want to make any mistake ...
Every mistake felt like a dagger ready to be thrown by someone like Hana.
Then, came a soft clearing of a throat.
I looked up.
ML, CEO Siwoo, stood at the edge of the office. Hands folded behind his back, expression unreadable.
His gaze lingered on me longer than necessary, scanning every movement.
I froze, unsure whether to continue working or look up politely.
"You're efficient," he said suddenly. Flat, no emotion.
I blinked. "I… I try my best, sir."
He nodded once, then turned away, but not before glancing at Ryo's photo on my desk.
My stomach flipped. Why was he looking at my son?
It seems he have some connection with ryo,
I just finish my paper work.. and
The rest of the day passed in a blur of tasks.
Emails. Calls. Reports. Meetings.
Each new assignment tested me in ways I hadn't imagined.
And yet, I felt… capable.
For the first time, I realized I could handle this world even if it was foreign and harsh.
During a short break, I peeked at the employees around me.
Hana whispered something to another coworker, both smirking.
I ignored it, focusing instead on a note from Ryo tucked into my bag:
Mama, you're The best mama.
I smiled softly, a little warmth spreading through my chest.
Even if the office was a battlefield, I had someone depending on me.
Someone who believed I could survive anything.
When the day finally ended, I walked to the elevator, exhausted but satisfied.
CEO was already there, waiting. The elevator doors opened, and our eyes met.
This time, he didn't look away immediately.
Something unspoken passed between us.
Respect? Curiosity? A warning?
I couldn't tell. But I felt it an invisible line had been drawn between us, one that would shape every day moving forward.
As we stepped into the lobby, I got a call and felt happy, because I just wanted to escape from there. I took my phone and stepped outside, and then I saw that Ryo's video call was coming through.
I pick up and said, hello ryo. What happen?
"Nothing mama, I just want to tell you please bring some egg for me. I want to eat pudding again."
Oh,Ok.
Stay home properly and don't trouble the neighbour aunt too much, okay? I'm on my way back.
Ok, mama. I'm waiting..
My call end, and
As soon as my call ended, I put my phone into my bag and turned around. I saw the CEO staring at me, but the moment I turned, his attention shifted-as if he hadn't been looking at me at all, as if he wanted me to believe that he wasn't.
But just as I was about to say something, Jisung the CEO's secretary arrived.
The CEO told him that they should leave, and at the same moment, their driver showed up.
I was shocked when I saw their car; the blackish car alone made my eyes widen.
But I simply ignored it, bowed politely, and walked away to wait for a taxi.
I was still waiting when a car suddenly pulled up in front of me. For a moment, I didn't understand what was happening. Then the car window rolled down, and Jisung was sitting in the front. From there, I could also see that Siwoo was seated in the back. I bowed and asked what was wrong. I thought maybe they had forgotten to tell me about some work I needed to do or something like that.
But Jisung told me that they would drop me home and asked me to get in. I instantly declined in a polite manner, lowered my head, thanked him for the suggestion, and said there was no need for that, why would they trouble themselves? My taxi was about to arrive anyway.