Chapter 16: I’m Calling Off the Engagement

The dark night sky had gradually given way to light.

I blinked open my eyes, the sharp morning sunlight spilling through the window.

The lingering effect of the marriage registration form Ji-Han had handed me last night must’ve been stronger than I thought.

Once again, I had spent the night wide awake.

The phone on the pillow next to me lit up. A message from Jae-Ha had arrived.

[I’ll be there on time. Do well today. – Jae-Ha]

He was supposed to meet me at the W Group building in time for the shareholders’ meeting.

After showering, I sat at my vanity table. As I began applying makeup, another message popped up on the phone screen.

[Something urgent came up; I won’t be able to pick you up. See you at the meeting. – Ji-Han]

“I figured he wouldn’t come anyway.”

I murmured to myself, glancing at the message.

Last night, he had surely gone straight to Seo-Rin’s. I never believed him when he said he’d come pick me up. I could still vividly recall how I had waited for him in vain in my past life, brushing the emptiness of his absence with trembling hands.

Right… You didn’t even show up on the day we finalized our divorce.

Some things hadn’t changed at all.

A bitter smile crept to my lips as those past memories resurfaced.

It hadn’t been a marriage born of love.

Our relationship hadn’t started with affection, but the me from that life had thought—like other couples—we’d eventually build a family, have children, and live out of mutual affection.

How foolish and naive that thought was…

“This ends today.”

This tiresome, miserable relationship would finally end with today’s shareholder meeting.

I set down the lipstick I had been applying.

As I turned to leave, the house felt emptier than usual.

Though it was filled with large furniture, the space itself felt unbearably hollow.

After losing my family, this place had become my only refuge.

This newlywed home had been a wedding gift from my grandfather.

“I’ll be back.”

The front door closed behind me.

Unlike the bright world outside, the dark interior faded behind the closing door—just like the fading relationship between him and me, soon to be strangers.

***

Arriving at the W Group headquarters, I passed a sign reading “W Group Emergency Shareholders’ Meeting” and walked down the long hallway.

Though this was only my second time walking this path, it felt different. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

The hour crept closer to the top of the hour.

Standing before the tightly shut conference room doors was a familiar figure.

“Mr. Hyeon.”

He turned at my call.

“Yeo-Jin, are you sure about this?”

In my past life, just before the shareholders’ meeting, he had asked me the very same question.

In this cold and harsh place, his worried gaze was the only warmth I had known.

The only person who had truly stood on my side.

As I looked into his concerned eyes and held his wrinkled hand, I felt his warmth again.

“Thank you, Mr. Hyeon. I’m okay.”

He opened his mouth slightly, as if about to say something.

“But… are you sure we can trust him?” He asked quietly—about Jae-Ha.

He already knew my plan, and his concern showed plainly on his face. After all, Jae-Ha was the eldest son of Hojin Group and born into its legacy.

I fully understood why Mr. Hyeon would be worried.

“Yes. The meeting will go well today.”

Hearing the certainty in my voice, he nodded.

“And don’t trust him—trust me.”

I turned away from him and took a step toward the door.

Through it, I could hear the voices of the shareholders. My hand trembled on the doorknob.

The day I had longed for since returning. A moment I had only dreamed of.

“Let’s go in.”

This was where it would all begin again.

I would never forgive Seo Ji-Han or Chae Seo-Rin—for their betrayal or for driving me to death.

Taking a deep breath, I threw open the heavy doors.

As I stepped inside, I saw the room filled with shareholders.

It was my second time facing them, yet the tension still surged through me uncontrollably.

“Good morning. My name is Yoon Yeo-Jin.”

The room, once buzzing with chatter, fell completely silent at my entrance—as if water had been poured over it.

I spotted the nameplate labeled Yoon Yeo-Jin on the table in the center.

And sitting beside it—right where he acted as if he naturally belonged—was Ji-Han.

He smiled and made a small wave as though it were the most normal thing in the world.

Today, he would become a stranger to me.

“I’m sure you all have many questions and doubts about me.”

I could clearly recall the voices of those who had gossiped about me…

“You probably have a lot of questions about me, and doubts as well.”

I could clearly recall the things people used to say about me.

The stubborn stares of those who scrutinized me, thinking I was too naïve.

A former anchor with no business background, a woman—there were endless reasons why I supposedly couldn’t be an heir.

In my past life, I could only endure it. But this time was different.

“I’m sure many of you are wondering what exactly I bring to the table.”

I swept my gaze over the shareholders, most of whom were still trying to grasp the situation.

Some avoided my eyes. Others cleared their throats awkwardly.

I had come here determined not to bow to the greed that surrounded this table.

That’s when I spotted him quietly watching me from among the shareholders.

Vice President Kim Young-Min.

He had been the key player in the last life—securing Ji-Han’s control and orchestrating the merger between Hojin and W Group.

I remembered clearly how he had once scoffed when I had brought up my concerns.

“Enough… You’re saying that because you don’t know better, Miss Yoon.”

His sharp gaze had made me recoil back then.

“There’s no better opportunity than this—the union of W and Hojin.”

Back then, he had boldly voiced his support and seemed quietly calculating now.

“Yes. As many of you may suspect, I am currently the largest shareholder of W Group.”

Gasps broke out across the room.

Even Vice President Kim, who had kept his face composed until now, furrowed his brow at my bold statement.

A woman not even in her thirties, sitting there with her chin held high—he clearly didn’t like it.

But in my hands was W Group.

Even Ji-Han had known that, and that’s why, for the past five years, he couldn’t let me go.

“I may not have been prepared to hold such a position—”

“……”

“—but that doesn’t change the fact that my voice holds weight here. And you all should listen to what I have to say.”

I turned my gaze toward Ji-Han, seated not far from me.

Looking into his eyes—brimming with greed—made me feel sick.

You wanted it, didn’t you? No, you probably thought you already had it. The W Group.

He seemed caught off guard, surprised that I wasn’t behaving as he had expected.

But only for a moment—Ji-Han chuckled to himself.

He was probably imagining himself taking over W Group and proceeding with the merger with Hojin.

His eyes locked with Vice President Kim’s, as if sealing a silent agreement. There was a look of confidence—of premature triumph.

Will you still look that confident after I make my announcement?

“And so, I’ll say it clearly.”

All eyes turned to me, the air tense with anticipation.

A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

“From this point forward, W Group will be managed by a professional CEO. I will no longer involve myself in day-to-day operations.”

The shareholders blinked rapidly, struggling to process what they had just heard.

Murmurs rippled through the room.

“My god…”

“Well, I mean, what does an anchor even know about business?”

“If she’s stepping back, does that mean he’s the professional CEO?”

At the deputy vice president’s words, everyone turned toward Ji-Han.

They assumed he was the professional CEO.

It would’ve seemed strange that the head of another group was sitting in the W Group meeting hall.

Ever since my grandfather’s death, talks of a merger between the two companies had been quietly ongoing.

From his seat, Ji-Han tilted his chin up, looking at me with a satisfied, almost smug smile.

As if he were the protagonist of this moment.

It was revolting.

“Allow me to introduce our new professional CEO.”

“Hello—”

Ji-Han stood with a confident, friendly smile—only to freeze.

The conference room doors flung open.

All eyes turned toward the man entering: Seo Jae-Ha.

He strode confidently to the center and stood right next to me.

“This is Seo Jae-Ha, whom I’m sure many of you already know—from Hojin Group.”

I clearly enunciated his name as the room stared back and forth between us in stunned silence.

They had assumed Ji-Han would be the one I would appoint. Not Jae-Ha.

Ji-Han’s face went pale.

“Hello. I’m Seo Jae-Ha.”

Jae-Ha offered a polite smile in Ji-Han’s direction, who stood there stiff, blinking rapidly.

His eyelids trembled as he clenched his fists tight, as if ready to explode.

The room was paralyzed in disbelief.

That’s right… I never said it would be you, Ji-Han.

You assumed. You miscalculated.

“And since we’re all gathered here today, there’s one more thing I’d like to say.”

More gasps followed. The shareholders now looked truly alarmed.

Like they couldn’t believe there was still another bombshell coming.

“I’m calling off my engagement with Mr. Seo Ji-Han.”

Silence fell like a heavy curtain.

Ji-Han shot to his feet.

– CRASH!

The chair behind him clattered to the floor.

His hands crumpled the documents in front of him.

His face, contorted in tension and fury, was unlike anything I had ever seen from him.

He clenched his jaw and shook his head stiffly, trembling with rage and betrayal.

The sheer satisfaction I felt at the sight of it gave me chills.

You look pathetic, Ji-Han.

I should’ve discarded you long ago.

“What is this?”

“Did she say ‘call off the engagement’?”

Whispers erupted all around the room.

I turned toward Ji-Han, who glared at me with ice-cold eyes, and smiled sweetly.

This is just the beginning. I’m going to destroy you.

“From today forward, W Group will not participate in any of Hojin Group’s business ventures. That means…”

Even before I finished, the Hojin Group representatives seated next to Ji-Han had turned pale.

“…there will be no investment. And no merger between the two companies.”