As Sunwoo exited the elevator, he initially intended to leave the hotel, but he changed his mind and approached the front desk.

"Is there anything you need, sir?" the hotel staff member, who had been watching Sunwoo as he walked over, asked politely.

"Ah, hello. Is there a nearby supermarket or convenience store that’s open?" Sunwoo inquired.

"The convenience store is just to the left of the hotel, and there’s a 24-hour supermarket about a 10-minute walk down that street," the staff member replied with a warm smile.

"Thank you!"

"Not at all. Is there anything else you need?"

"No, that’s all. Have a good day."

Sunwoo gave a slight bow and exited the hotel. Although it was still early, the summer sky was already bright.

He looked around to get his bearings and then headed in the direction the staff had indicated. He stopped briefly at the convenience store, but finding nothing substantial beyond snacks, he left and continued on his way.

Having skipped two meals, the hunger pangs from the baby in his belly were becoming more insistent, and he knew snacks wouldn’t be enough. He had been craving something tart and sweet for a while now, which made him even more eager to find the supermarket. After about 10 minutes of walking, he spotted the supermarket across the street, its lights glowing brightly.

"Oh!"

The store was larger than he had expected, and he felt confident he would find the fruit he had been craving.

Excited, Sunwoo crossed the road and entered the well-lit supermarket. The inside was even more spacious than it appeared from outside, and the shelves were stocked with a wide variety of goods.

His eyes quickly zeroed in on the fresh produce section, where he saw the fruit he had been dreaming of—nectarines, with their smooth surface and vibrant red color.

Sunwoo picked up a nectarine and brought it to his nose. The sweet aroma made his mouth water instantly.

He placed three small nectarines into a clear plastic bag, then hesitated before adding two crisp, green apples to the bag as well. Just looking at the weighty bag of fruit made his hunger intensify.

Eager to eat, Sunwoo headed straight for the checkout, not even bothering to browse the rest of the store. As soon as he left the supermarket, he pulled out a nectarine, rubbing it against his slightly wrinkled dress shirt before taking a bite.

Crunch.

The tangy, sweet juice and aroma filled his mouth and nose as he bit into the smooth surface. Walking back to the hotel, Sunwoo quickly devoured all three nectarines.

By the time he neared the hotel, he had also finished off both apples.

"Huh? When did I eat all of this?"

Sunwoo stared in surprise at the empty bag, shaking out the last crumbs.

No wonder my stomach feels so full.

He had eaten everything without even realizing it, plucking out each fruit one by one. Sunwoo patted his full belly and glanced up at the sky.

The sky had lightened to a pale blue, signaling the approaching dawn.

"I got plenty of sleep, my stomach is full…."

Having slept well since the previous evening, Sunwoo thought a walk might be a good idea to help with digestion. As he looked around, he noticed a river flowing behind the hotel.

"I bet there’s a walking path by the river."

He muttered to himself, crumpled the empty plastic bag into his pocket, and headed toward the river behind the hotel.

It seemed like a good idea to watch the sunrise, take a stroll, and then return to the hotel.

As he had hoped, there was a walking path along the river, but it was on the opposite side from where he was standing.

"Ugh…"

Sunwoo scratched his cheek, letting out a low sound. He had walked longer than expected, and his legs were starting to ache, making him hesitate.

But the bench on the opposite path looked inviting, and he thought it might be nice to sit there and rest.

"I might as well cross over now that I’m here."

After a brief moment of contemplation, Sunwoo made his decision and began crossing the bridge. About halfway across, he stopped. The sun was slowly rising in the east, casting a reddish glow.

It was still cool, but the humidity made sweat bead on his forehead. Sunwoo turned his body and leaned against the bridge’s railing.

"Where did all my stamina go…."

He reminisced about how he used to stay up all night and work overtime without breaking a sweat.

"Oh, right. I’m pregnant."

Sunwoo was suddenly reminded of his pregnancy and the fact that he was carrying a child. He leaned further against the railing, gazing down at the clear, flowing water beneath the bridge.

"Sigh…"

I should have brought some water. He licked his dry lips. Still, the fresh air and the river breeze were refreshing, making him feel much better.

Sunwoo stood there, basking in the early morning sunlight, feeling as though he could start the day anew with a fresh mindset.

But then, oddly enough, his thoughts drifted to Executive Director Kang. The face he made while tearing up his resignation letter, insisting that Sunwoo couldn’t quit.

He had seemed angry, yet there was a hint of something like confusion in his expression.

"Why on earth wouldn’t he let me quit? Shouldn’t he have been glad to see me go? Is it possible he feels responsible because I’m unwell? That doesn’t seem like him at all."

Though he appeared angry, his actions were strangely caring, which only added to Sunwoo’s confusion.

‘What’s his problem?’

What problem? Does it even matter now? There’s no reason to dwell on the actions of a madman. He’s weird because he’s just that—crazy.

‘Right, there’s no reason to think about him anymore. Goodbye, Mr. Crazy Boss! Let’s never see each other again!’

Sunwoo clenched his fists and muttered a cheer of determination to himself. Forgetting about Kang and focusing on how to live well here seemed far more productive.

Just then, a sharp, tearing sound pierced the air from behind him.

‘What was that?’

Sunwoo whipped around in shock just as a loud bang echoed, followed by the sound of a car door slamming shut.

And then, the person who practically jumped out of the car was…

"Executive Director Kang?"

To Sunwoo’s surprise, it was none other than the man he thought he would never see again. His eyes widened. How in the world had this man found him here?

Kang Jinwook strode over to Sunwoo and grabbed his wrist, yanking him forward roughly.

"Have you lost your mind, Choi Sunwoo?"

Kang Jinwook shouted, his face contorted with anger.

"What the hell are you doing? Why are you trying to kill yourself?"

Sunwoo winced at the pain from the tight grip on his wrist and looked at Kang in confusion.

‘Huh?’

What did he just say? Did he accuse me of trying to kill myself? Did I hear that right?

Sunwoo tilted his head in bewilderment, still unable to grasp the situation. Kang Jinwook’s expression was hard as stone, and Sunwoo assumed he was angry. But that wasn’t all.

Kang Jinwook looked as if he had just been hit with a major shock.

"Uh… Excuse me, Director…?"

Sunwoo called out, still dazed.

"Don’t do anything foolish, and follow me," Kang Jinwook commanded coldly, turning on his heel.

"Wha—Wait, what?"

Before Sunwoo could fully process what was happening, Kang Jinwook had dragged him to the sleek, black car parked nearby. The passenger door swung open on its own, and with a firm shove from Kang, Sunwoo found himself pushed into the seat.

"Oh!"

Sunwoo barely had time to register the situation before the car door closed with a decisive thud.

He glanced around in a panic, trying to figure out how to open the door. But there was no handle, and he couldn’t find any button to release the lock.

"Buckle up."

Kang Jinwook, now seated in the driver’s seat, barked the order coldly.

"Hey, Jinwook—uh, Director Kang. What the hell is this?"

Sunwoo almost called him "Director" out of habit but quickly corrected himself to use his name as he protested.

"Buckle up."

But all he got in response was that absurd command.

"It’s not about the seatbelt!"

He wanted to demand answers. How did you find me? Why are you dragging me into your car? How did you even know I was here?

The questions swirled in his mind, but instead of arguing further, Sunwoo quietly reached for the seatbelt.

Kang Jinwook’s eyes had turned pitch-black, gleaming ominously. His expression was one of barely restrained anger, tinged with a hint of madness that made Sunwoo worry he might accidentally trigger something in him.

There was no escape right now. The best option was to stay calm and assess the situation.

Not because he was afraid of Kang Jinwook, of course.

No, definitely not.

Screech.

The car roared to life and shot forward.

Sunwoo’s body was flung backward, then jerked forward as the car surged ahead. He clung to the seatbelt as if it were a lifeline.

The sleek black car sped down the road, cutting through the morning sunlight.

Drivers of the few cars on the road were left wide-eyed in terror as Kang Jinwook’s vehicle barreled through like a rampaging beast, splitting the traffic like the Red Sea.

Sunwoo gaped in disbelief at the reckless way the car tore through the other vehicles. Despite his dangerous driving, Kang Jinwook’s expression didn’t change at all.

Gasp! Huff!

Ahhh! Oh no!

Every time the car seemed about to crash into another, only to swerve away at the last second, Sunwoo let out silent screams of terror.

He had heard that when you’re truly terrified, you can’t even scream—and now he understood that perfectly.

Sunwoo sat with his mouth open, clutching the seatbelt as if it were a lifeline, trembling uncontrollably. In the end, he decided to shut his eyes tightly, unable to bear watching any longer.

If he kept watching, he felt like he might just pass out on the spot. This wasn’t something his unborn child needed to see, either.

"Kang Jinwook, you crazy bastard."

Sunwoo didn’t forget to curse Kang Jinwook silently as the car hurtled down the road.

The car, speeding like a madman, eventually reached the streets of downtown Seoul. It was rush hour, and the road along the river was packed with cars in every lane.

Kang Jinwook glared at the congested road with a frustrated expression, and it was only then that he realized how quiet the passenger seat had become.

He quickly turned his head to the side and saw Choi Sunwoo, who had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position with his head tilted to one side. Kang Jinwook frowned deeply.

"Why is he sleeping like that?"

He tapped the steering wheel with his finger, displeased, before pressing a button on the door panel.

The passenger seat slowly reclined backward, and as Sunwoo’s posture stabilized, his expression became more relaxed.

The sound of his steady breathing gently tickled Kang Jinwook’s ears. Glancing at the sleeping Sunwoo, Jinwook then turned his gaze back to the road ahead.

Though the road was still frustratingly congested, for some reason, the irritation he had felt earlier had subsided quite a bit.