I stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor, the sound slicing through the tense air. Hak looked up at me, his expression a mix of frustration and bewilderment, trying to decipher my intentions. But I didn't care anymore.
I had already decided I couldn't face Solinka—not after everything. Resignation felt inevitable. But right now, my only motivation was to get out of this office, away from Hak's irritating demeanor.
"Let's take this somewhere else. The 20th floor." My words were clipped, cold.
Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out, not sparing him so much as a backward glance.
I reached the 20th floor alone, anticipation buzzing under my skin as I waited for him—the cheater. The quiet hum of life still lingered in the building; a few employees were scattered here and there, finishing their work. But in the secluded corner of the library, the world felt hushed and still.
He arrived five minutes later. Tall and imposing, he strode toward me with his hands buried deep in his pockets. His expression was hard, his jaw clenched, and anger flickered in his eyes like a warning. Each step he took radiated irritation, and when he stopped before me, his voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"What's your problem?" he snapped, his tone as sharp as his glare. I didn't flinch.
"What did you mean by 'that bitch'?" I asked, my voice steady despite the tension crackling between us.
His lips twisted into a mocking smirk. A chuckle escaped him, low and derisive.
"I said," he bit out, his voice dripping with disdain, "it's none of your business."
His words were a growl, thick with aggression and tinged with boredom, as if the very act of answering me was beneath him.
"Did you always say that?" I demanded, my voice sharp with frustration.
"So what?" he shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Anger churned inside me, threatening to boil over. I leaned forward, my words cutting.
"So, it was true then. She sent the email. Not to see your face."
His brows furrowed, confusion flickering across his face.
"Who are you even talking about?"
"Solinka," I spat, the name heavy between us.
The color drained from his face as his eyes fixed on me, wide with shock.
"How… how do you know her?"
"As we work together," I replied, my words deliberate, daring him to challenge me.
His expression twisted, the surprise giving way to anger that darkened his features.
"No. That's not what I mean. You know something."
I raised an eyebrow, refusing to back down.
"What if I do?"
"She told you? Do you two know each other?"
Why did he seem so aware that his scandal with her was no longer a secret? The whole affair felt far from discreet, the whispers reaching too many ears. The thought weighed heavy, a reminder that Solin's words had played a role in spreading their stories to others. Now, even Hak Seng seemed rattled, his unease plain to see.
"I feel ashamed seeing him again," It reminded me of Solin's words, the weight of it settling like a stone in my chest.
"We did," I admitted quietly when he sought confirmation.
"Ah, I see!" His voice lifted, tinged with something between exasperation and determination.
"Well, do me a favor—tell her she needs to keep herself in check."
My brows furrowed.
"Why? What did she do wrong?"
"Tell her to meet me. And let her know I won't accept that resignation email she sent."
I tilted my head, curious.
"If she handed you a hard copy instead, would you accept it then? Is that what you mean?"
"It's not that easy!" the words shot out, sharp and firm, breaking the tense silence.
"Don't use your power to pressure her," came the quick retort, laced with indignation.
"It's on me!" someone else countered, their tone defiant.
"I don't like your words—or your tone!"
"Who are you?" the question hung in the air, dripping with challenge.
"Piss me off one more time!" The voice grew louder, anger bubbling dangerously close to the surface.
"What did you just say?" The disbelief was palpable.
"Don't bother her again!" The statement was resolute, leaving no room for argument.
"Who are you to interfere?" The accusation came next, sharp and dismissive. "You don't know anything."
He turned the confrontation seemingly over, but as he began to walk away, he couldn't resist one final jab.
"Just focus on your work! Such a waste of time."
I stood there, frozen. My heart pounded, and though the argument had fizzled out, the tension lingered in the air like smoke. I didn't want it to end like this, but I could feel the weight of my actions. I couldn't stay here after causing such a scene.
I looked at him, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"And what do you know about her?" I asked, my voice steady but laced with suspicion.
He turned back toward me, his gaze sharp and calculating.
"Looking at you," he said with a sneer, "I thought you were smart enough to keep your nose out of things that don't concern you. Why do you care about us? We're a couple. What about you?"
I couldn't contain the bitterness that surged within me.
"A couple?" I scoffed. "That's a load of crap! Aren't both of you separated?"
His face darkened in an instant, the intensity of his hunter's gaze sharpening, his eyes now fixed with an unwavering seriousness!
"What did you say?"
His voice thundered, and before I could react, he had me by the collar, his fingers tightening around it with a force that made it hard to breathe.
"Who the hell are you to talk about my relationship with her?" he hissed, his anger a raw, seething thing.
"Don't you dare speak her name again in front of me. If you open your mouth once more, I'll make sure you regret it."
I held his gaze, unwavering, even as the tension in the air grew thicker. His grip on my collar loosened slightly, but the venom in his eyes remained.
"And don't you dare try to reach out to her again," he added with a final, threatening growl.
He shoved me away, a forceful motion that caught me off guard. His hand shot out, aiming to strike, but I gripped his wrist with surprising strength, holding him in place.
"What did you do to her? You knew what you were doing, didn't you?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of fury and desperation.
His eyes gleamed with malice, the kind of look that sent a chill down my spine.
"She's mine," he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "Don't even think about it."
"It's not like that," I spat back, the words barely out of my mouth when he let out a mocking chuckle.
"We slept... together," he said with a smirk, as though reveling in the pain he'd caused.
That was it. I couldn't control myself any longer. My body acted before my mind could catch up, shoving him back with all my strength, my fist connecting sharply with his mouth.
He staggered, nearly losing his balance, but he caught himself, a hand instinctively going to his bleeding lips.
But I wasn't done. I struck again—another blow, then another, until his defenses crumbled and he hit the floor with a sickening thud.
"I could have overlooked your cheating, but I never imagined you could sink this low, have no sense of dignity…"
I sank into the chair, my thoughts racing, but before I could collect myself, he yanked me back down with a violent force. A fist slammed into my face, followed by another blow. My head snapped back, crashing against the edge of the library wall, and I felt the sting of blood trickling from a cut above my eyebrow. Yet, through the haze of pain, I found the strength to retaliate, grabbing his collar with a vice-like grip and shoving him aside.
"Hey! Hey! Stop!"
A man's voice, desperate and commanding, cut through the chaos, but neither of us paid him any heed. We were lost in the fury of the fight, each of us too consumed to heed his plea. It wasn't until a third party intervened that we were finally torn apart.
This was the first time. The first time I returned home and felt a cold, gnawing reluctance to face her. Fear gripped me. I was terrified—terrified that she was angry, that she hadn't forgiven me for everything I had done. What if she wouldn't speak to me anymore? The thought was unbearable. If that were true, I couldn't see how I would survive it.
And then, I saw her.
Continued...