A strange sensation crept over her, like a forgotten memory brushing against her mind but refusing to surface.
Before she could press further, her mother interjected with a polite smile.
"Mr. Park came personally to discuss an important matter with us," Kate Song said. "It concerns you, Ji Eun."
Those words struck like a sudden thunderclap.
Ji Eun's grip tightened on her handbag.
Her instincts screamed.
Something was wrong.
"Actually," Park Hyun Woo continued, his gaze never leaving hers, "I came to settle a debt."
"A… debt?" she repeated, confusion evident.
"Yes."
His voice dropped slightly, softer, but far more dangerous.
"A debt I've owed for many years."
Silence filled the room.
Even Song Minkyu and Kate Song exchanged subtle glances, as though they understood more than they were letting on.
Ji Eun felt it now, trapped in something she didn't understand.
She straightened her posture, forcing her composure back.
"I don't recall lending anything to Mr. Park," she said coolly.
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"That's because," he replied, taking a slow step toward her, "you were only five years old when it happened."
Ji Eun froze.
Her mind went blank.
Five… years old?
Before she could even attempt to recall such a distant memory, his next words fell like a final verdict.
"And now that I've found you again," he added quietly, his eyes darkening with resolve, "I intend to repay it… completely."
A heavy silence followed.
The air itself felt dense, almost suffocating.
Ji Eun's heart pounded violently as a terrible realization crept upon her.
This man...
He wasn't just a guest.
He wasn't just here to visit.
He was here for her.
And suddenly, her meticulously planned escape…
Felt like it had already slipped out of her grasp.
At that very moment, her phone vibrated softly in her hand.
Mo Han.
Waiting for her.