The neon lights blurred around her as Hana sprinted through the heart of Gangnam.
She didn't care about the stares. Didn't care that her slippers slapped awkwardly on the pavement. Her lungs burned, her vision swam—but she had to keep moving.
She hadn't looked back.Not once.
But she knew he was there.
Baek Do-Won wasn't the kind of man who let loose ends walk away—not after what happened with her father's company. She was the heir. The final thread.
And he intended to pull it.
A honk snapped her back to reality—she'd nearly stepped into traffic.
Her breath caught in her throat.
This wasn't just a bad dream anymore.
She was being hunted.
Joon-Hyuk's car skidded to a halt outside the café. It was empty.
Too late.
He pulled out his phone, dialed Min-Ji.
"Where is she?"
"She turned onto Seolleung-ro. The traffic cam picked it up—she's running."
"She's running?" he repeated, horrified.
From him? From Baek? From both?
He punched the gas.
His hands trembled on the steering wheel.He had never been afraid like this. Not in the boardroom, not in billion-dollar negotiations.
But Hana... Hana made him feel like a man again. A reckless, terrified, lovesick man.
He didn't want to admit it before.
But now?
He was desperate to reach her.
Hana ducked into a subway station, heart pounding so loud it drowned out the city.
She collapsed onto the steps, hands trembling.
Why now? Why him?
Why couldn't her past just stay buried?
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her to her feet.
She screamed.
"It's me—Hana! It's me!"
Her heart nearly exploded.
Joon-Hyuk.
He was panting, chest heaving, eyes wild.
"I thought I lost you," he whispered, voice broken.
For a second, just a second, she let herself lean into him.
Then reality snapped back.
"You shouldn't have come."
"And you shouldn't have run alone."
She pulled away. "He's here. Baek Do-Won. He found me."
Joon-Hyuk's jaw clenched.
"Then let him come," he growled. "I'm not letting anyone touch you again. Ever."