On that day three years ago, Winter stood there blankly, holding the sudden termination notice.
Hugo indifferently handed her a check. Winter stared blankly at the bearer check presented before her eyes.
'Zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight...'
It was an amount that didn't even feel real. Winter looked up at Hugo with surprised eyes.
Hugo, who had been standing expressionlessly, opened his mouth.
"Winter Yoo."
"Yes?"
"You should go now."
"...Where to?"
"To where you should be."
"...Are you saying someone like me doesn't deserve to be here?"
"That's not it."
"Then what?"
After a moment of silence, Hugo spoke again coldly.
"Leave."
"I mean, where to?"
"To a place that suits you, Winter Yoo."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Well then, I wish you the best of luck."
Hugo left Winter there, fuming, and coldly walked away. Winter, burning with anger, took that money and went straight to law school. And now she had returned proudly as a lawyer.
Hugo stopped just one step away from Winter. Winter narrowed her eyes and looked up at his beautiful face.
Hugo silently extended his hand towards Winter.
Even his large hands were beautiful. The silver ring on his long, straight fingers particularly caught Winter's attention.
"What, what is it?"
Winter looked up at Hugo, who had extended his hand towards her, in confusion.
The man's handsome face was as smooth as a well-crafted sculpture. His sturdy physique standing before Winter was imposing in itself.
His cold gaze was deep and calm, impossible to read anything from. He still had that heavy and solid presence that overwhelmed others at a glance.
Winter tried hard to steady herself, not wanting to be crushed by the man's aura.
"What is it?"
Hugo just silently looked down at Winter.
Winter unconsciously held her breath. Somehow, it felt suffocating.
The man knew how to make someone choke without saying a word. Under his cool gaze, she felt her whole body being pressed down.
Winter glared at Hugo with all her might, but she couldn't easily open her mouth again.
With his gaze firmly locked with Winter's, Hugo silently bent down. And he snatched away the glass Winter was holding. It was the martini glass that Winter had received from Elise, not knowing it was laced with a sleeping pill.
Ah, Winter let out a short gasp of surprise.
The brimming alcohol spilled over the glass. The transparent liquid trickled down the man's long fingers.
"What, what are you doing?"
Winter shouted angrily. The people watching in silence began to murmur.
Hugo carelessly tilted the glass and poured all the alcohol onto the carpet. Then he calmly handed the empty glass to Elise, who was standing stiffly, and answered nonchalantly.
"I'm helping you."
Elise's face turned pale as she received the empty glass. She looked like a child caught doing something naughty.
"What did you say?"
Winter asked back as if she couldn't understand.
But Hugo turned around without hesitation and started walking towards the exit.
"Oh, Hugo!"
Elise called out to Hugo urgently and followed him out. Winter watched the two of them walk away with a bewildered look.
The people gathered around began to gossip openly.
"What was that just now?"
"I don't know either. What was that?"
"Hey, weren't those two said to be engaged?"
"Who?"
"Attorney Kang and Attorney Chae."
"Really? Is that why he acted so strangely just now? To stop his fiancée from drinking? Wow, he's more old-fashioned than I thought. Attorney Kang usually doesn't care about other people's business."
"It's not certain. It's just a rumor I heard."
"Even so, why did he take something given to someone else? What a strange person, I tell you."
Hugo was currently one of the most famous figures in the legal world. Even his slightest actions were talked about daily.
Hugo's grandfather and the founder of Seolbeop, Maximus Kang, had long maintained his position at the top of the Korean legal industry.
Hugo was famous for inheriting all of his grandfather's unparalleled talents. His inherited brilliance, competence, genius, and excellent business sense were unrivaled.
Not to mention his handsome appearance, tall stature, cool intellect, innate dignity, and elegant atmosphere.
"I'd have no regrets if I could date a man like that for just one day."
"Don't even talk about it. Would someone like us even catch his eye?"
"I wonder if the engagement rumor is true? I heard he's never dated anyone."
"They say he doesn't even look at women. There are all sorts of rumors, like he's against marriage or he likes men."
Hugo, a young and handsome wealthy man who was also the most promising star in the Korean legal world, was already an object of desire for many.
Not only did prestigious families rush to propose marriage, but there were also women lining up just begging for a chance to meet him once, not even daring to hope for marriage.
But Hugo had never even glanced at anyone until now. He was as famous for his cold and heartless personality as he was for his handsome appearance and great wealth.
His beautiful face was always indifferent, and his sunken eyes never wavered, like a frozen lake. It seemed as if nothing could cause even a small ripple in his calm heart.
Even knowing they couldn't attract Hugo's interest, there were still far too many women throwing themselves at him, body and soul.
Regardless, Hugo equally ignored all these women and didn't give them the time of day. His cold and unfriendly personality was known to everyone.
Winter finally came to her senses amidst the murmuring crowd.
That disgustingly unpleasant personality is still the same. Winter thought, biting her lip.
Winter stared intently in the direction where Hugo and Elise had disappeared together. Her head was throbbing from the sudden ordeal she had just experienced.