Shin woke up to the faint murmur of voices.
As he slowly opened his eyes, harsh sunlight spilled through the cracks in the curtains. The birds chirped cheerfully just outside the window, indifferent to his disoriented state.
The sunlight stung his eyes, sharp as a blade.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Butler Hong's worried voice cut through the haze.
Standing beside him was Father Keir. His face remained unreadable, but the quiet concern in his eyes was hard to miss.
Shin sat up in bed, blinking away the brightness. He rubbed his eyes, then paused, suddenly uneasy. Reaching for his phone on the bedside table, he squinted at the glowing screen.
9:14 A.M.
Butler Hong cleared his throat gently. "I tried to wake you earlier, but you were deeply asleep."
"It must be exhaustion," Father Keir added with a sigh. "You work yourself too hard."
"I don't feel sick," Shin replied with a frown.
Still, something didn't feel right. He never slept this long. Not even during his busiest days.
He remained seated on the bed, unmoving, staring down at his palms as if expecting to find something strange. But they looked normal. Everything around him seemed normal—except the heavy feeling in his chest.
He had dreamed. That much he knew.
Something vivid, something strong—powerful enough to linger.
But the memory was already slipping away like water through his fingers.
Even the dreams that used to come to him repeatedly—the ones with the red forest and the woman—were gone now. Faded and blurry.
"…Why can't I remember anything?" he murmured to himself.
"Young Master?" Butler Hong leaned forward, noticing his dazed expression.
Shin shook his head and stood up, pushing aside the creeping unease. The floor was cold under his feet.
"Did Tristan come by earlier?" he asked.
Butler Hong shook his head. "Not at all.
"You sent him on a business trip, didn't you?" Father Keir chimed in, voice tinged with judgment. "Even that boy is working hard—but at least he isn't as stiff as you. When are you bringing your girlfriend home?"
Shin paused for a beat, then muttered, "She's busy with her studies," before heading into the bathroom, leaving the two older men behind.
One looked worried. The other, clearly annoyed.
Father Keir let out a huff and stomped his foot in irritation.
---
Elsewhere, in a sunlit mansion filled with scented candles and irritation-
"Hurry up with my milk bath!" Calin shouted, her voice echoing through the marble bathroom. She was lounging in a silk robe, spreading a cooling mask over her face.
"Miss, it's ready," the nervous maid replied from the doorway.
Calin waved her off impatiently. "Then get out."
This past week had felt like punishment. Nothing was going her way.
She couldn't sleep properly. Couldn't step outside without hearing whispers and seeing judgmental stares. Her family had to pull a lot of strings—money, media influence, and bribed officials—to erase the online scandals of her breakdowns and mistreatment of staff.
Finally, those damning videos were gone. Her image was slowly recovering.
However, this also made her realize that Shin Keir had truly been angry after her visit to the hospital that time.
If not for the help of Elder Madam Keir—with her influence and connections—it would've been difficult for Calin to restore her reputation.
Just as she began to feel relieved, Calin overheard gossip within their social circle: Shin Keir had actually attended someone's debut party?
It was the most absurd thing she'd ever heard, yet many insisted it wasn't just a rumor.
How could that be possible?
When she had celebrated her own debut, it had been a grand, lavish banquet with all the most prominent and noble families in attendance. Yet Shin Keir hadn't shown up.
It would be a lie to say she hadn't been disappointed. But everyone in their circle knew that Shin was not only fiercely private but also someone who loathed large crowds and extravagant events.
Unless it was for business, he was rarely seen at parties.
Frustrated and in a foul mood, Calin couldn't think of any way to approach him again.
Since all this trouble started after she visited him in the hospital against his wishes, perhaps it would help if she brought Marianne along to apologize.
Slumping deeper into the tub, she let the warm, milky bath soothe her skin as she dialed Marianne's number.
The phone rang without answer. Annoyed, Calin called again. This time, Marianne picked up.
Calin quickly softened her tone. "Sister Marianne, it's me. How have you been?"
"Calin, I'm busy right now. I can't talk long," came Marianne's tired voice, echoing faintly through the bathroom speaker.
Calin rolled her eyes but kept her tone friendly. "Oh, I just wanted to ask about what you mentioned last time, about Brother Shin wearing a utility uniform at the hospital. Did you find anything out?"
There was a pause on the other end.
"I didn't... but," Marianne hesitated. Ever since she was transferred from the main branch, she figured there was no harm in sharing one more thing.
"I'm not completely sure, but when we visited his room, I think someone was in the bathroom."
Calin instantly straightened, her senses sharp. "You mean to say...someone was hiding in the bathroom while I was talking to Brother Shin?"
"Hm, just a guess. I could be wrong," Marianne replied uncertainly. "Anyway, I have to go. I've been transferred to another hospital branch, and there's a lot I need to arrange."
"You were transferred?" Calin raised an eyebrow.
Rather than feeling guilty for dragging Marianne into the mess, Calin felt indignant.
Shin Keir had nearly destroyed her reputation, and Marianne had only been transferred to a different hospital?
It wasn't as if she lost her job!
Why was Shin Keir being so cruel only to her?
After ending the call, Calin mulled over her thoughts before messaging Sergei:
[ I heard your prospective fiancée, Marianne Vega, was moved to a rural hospital. Doesn't really speak well of her abilities, does it? She couldn't even keep her position. Honestly, she's too boring and dull. Not someone fit for you. ]
Venting her frustration, Calin felt a little better.
Still, Marianne's words lingered in her mind.
If someone had really been in that bathroom… that person had witnessed her humiliation firsthand?
Who could it have been?
It clearly wasn't Tristan. But then, why would someone choose to hide instead of quietly leaving the room?
Calin's mind worked overtime, trying to piece it together.
Who could've visited Shin Keir at that time? Someone close to him? And what if that person had recorded everything?
And then, with a jolt of intuition, she remembered the woman she'd seen with Shin Keir in the hospital parking lot.
"Impossible…" Calin murmured.
But if it was her—whoever that woman was—then she must be laughing now, smug and satisfied, reveling in Calin's disgrace.
Just moments ago, Calin had felt lighter. But now, a wave of anger and hostility crashed over her.
If that vixen really was the one, she'd better watch her back!
Dare to compete with Calin Ricci for Shin Keir?
She wouldn't let that bitch off easily.
No one could steal what belonged to her—Calin Ricci.
---
Meanwhile, back in her dorm, Yeri returned just after lunch that Monday.
As she opened the door, the sweet, strong scent of roses hit her immediately.
Right—Shin Keir's red roses still filled the room, 999 of them, bright and impossibly fresh.
She had nowhere to put the extras, so she'd simply placed the spare bouquets by the door. Somehow, even after several days, they looked like they had just been picked.
It was almost magical.
She began replacing the water in the vases and even stopped by a store earlier to buy a few more containers to hold the overflowing flowers.
The room smelled like a garden.
Halfway through arranging them, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from someone unexpected.
Lianna Neri?
Yeri tilted her head. Oh right—she had exchanged numbers with Mrs. Neri back then.
Originally, she had planned to prepare her things for next week's field trip, but curiosity got the better of her. She agreed to the meeting.
Since Lianna was the one who invited her, Yeri choose the place.
Around 1 p.m., the two met at Brizola, a restaurant close to campus with private rooms.
Yeri remembered she had a VIP card for the place so it would've been a shame not to use it.
"Sister Lianna, did you wait long?" Yeri greeted her warmly.
Lianna's dull eyes lit up at the sight of her. "Don't worry, I just got here a few minutes ago. Your dress… it's pink, right?"
Yeri smiled and nodded. She recalled Lianna once mentioning that she had color blindness. "Can you see other colors too?"
Lianna gave a wry smile. "No. Only you have colors."
"You weren't born with it, right? I think it'll get better someday," Yeri said, trying to reassure her.
After they placed their orders, a brief awkward silence fell between them.
After all, Yeri wasn't particularly close to Lianna—they were barely acquaintances.
Noticing the tension, Lianna gave her an apologetic smile.
"I wasn't sure if you'd be free today. I just thought, since it's a holiday, maybe you'd have some time. Sorry for bothering you."
Yeri hadn't expected her to apologize—after all, she was the wife of the renowned Dr. Neri. "It's no bother. I actually have a lot of free time today."
Lianna looked visibly relieved. She knew it was odd to reach out to Shin's girlfriend, but in her heart, she had no hidden motives.
She wasn't sure why she felt so drawn to Yeri, but being around her always made her feel calmer. Like she'd stepped into a different world—free and one without fear or anxiety.
Her last conversation with Zahn Neri had ended coldly. They hadn't spoken since.
But that didn't concern her; it had always been like that between them.
Their relationship was strained. Like a fortress—strong and ordinary from the outside, but hollow within.