Isla couldn't get his voice out of her head. As she strode through the dimly lit corridors of her building, Jin Woo's final words echoed, playing over and over like a broken record.
"You're lying to yourself, Isla."
She pressed her lips into a thin line, fighting back the emotion rising within her. She hated him—at least, she was supposed to. But with every encounter, every moment of heated confrontation, something had shifted. And the realization terrified her.
Slamming the door to her office, Isla leaned against the cool glass window, staring out at the city lights flickering in the distance. The night had always been a place of solace for her—a time to regroup, to clear her thoughts—but tonight, all she could feel was confusion and frustration.
Why did Jin Woo, of all people, have to complicate things? For years, they had been at each other's throats, vying for power and control. Their rivalry was legendary. It had defined her. And now, he was threatening to tear it all apart—not with cold, calculated moves, but with something much more dangerous: vulnerability.
She clenched her fists, her mind racing with thoughts she didn't want to have. There was no way she could allow herself to feel anything for him. It was too risky, too dangerous. They were enemies for a reason. Letting her guard down now would mean losing everything she had worked so hard for.
But Jin Woo's touch… the way he had looked at her, as though he could see right through her defenses—it was unraveling her carefully built walls faster than she could rebuild them.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, breaking through her turmoil. Isla snapped out of her thoughts and grabbed the phone, her heart sinking as she saw the caller ID: Chairman Kwon.
Taking a deep breath, she answered.
"Isla, I trust everything is under control?" The chairman's voice was as sharp and cold as ever. It always sent a chill down her spine.
"Yes, Chairman," Isla replied, forcing her voice to remain steady.
"Good. I hear there's been some disruption with the board recently," he continued. "Don't let anyone get in your way, Isla. Remember, you're the one in control."
Isla swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over her like a heavy cloak. Control. It was what she had always valued, what she had always fought for. But lately, control was slipping through her fingers like sand.
"Yes, sir," she answered, her voice tight.
"Don't disappoint me," Chairman Kwon added before hanging up abruptly.
Isla let out a slow breath, the tension in her chest growing heavier by the second. She wasn't just fighting for herself—there were much bigger stakes at play. She couldn't afford to let anyone, especially Jin Woo, get in her way.
As she sank into her chair, the sound of the door opening behind her startled her. Isla turned sharply to see Hana, her assistant, standing in the doorway.
"Sorry to interrupt," Hana said softly, sensing the tension in the air. "But there's something you need to see."
Isla's brow furrowed. "What is it?"
Hana hesitated, then stepped forward, holding out a tablet. "It's about the board."
Isla's heart skipped a beat as she took the tablet and scanned the document. Her blood ran cold.
It was a report—leaked to the press. Someone had exposed sensitive information about the company's finances, and it was directly linked to Isla's division.
"What… how did this happen?" Isla demanded, her voice rising with anger.
"I don't know, ma'am," Hana replied, her eyes wide with concern. "It just hit the news an hour ago."
Isla's mind raced. This was a calculated move, a deliberate attack. Someone was trying to undermine her, to destroy everything she had built. And she had a sickening feeling that she knew exactly who it was.
"Jin Woo," she muttered under her breath.
Hana blinked, confused. "Ma'am?"
Isla stood abruptly, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and betrayal. She couldn't believe she had almost let herself be fooled. Jin Woo hadn't changed. He was still the enemy. And this—this was his way of trying to bring her down from the inside.
"Get the legal team on this," Isla ordered, her voice sharp and commanding. "I want to know who leaked this, and I want them dealt with immediately."
Hana nodded and rushed out of the room, leaving Isla alone with her racing thoughts.
She paced the office, her mind spinning with rage and disappointment. She had almost let herself believe that Jin Woo could be different, that maybe—just maybe—there was something real between them. But now, it was clear. He was using her vulnerability to his advantage, just like she had always suspected.
There would be no more weakness. No more doubt.
Isla stopped in front of the window, staring out at the city below with cold, determined eyes.
If Jin Woo thought he could play her, he was sorely mistaken. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.