The night air hit Ji Eun's face like a slap of its own, sharp and cold, but it did nothing to cool the fire in her chest.
She didn't run.
Running was what prey did.
Ji Eun walked, slowly, deliberately, heels clicking against the pavement like a countdown. Every step said the same thing:
I am not scared of you.
Behind her, the soft hush of Park Hyun Woo's car engine idled, patient, confident, like the man himself. He didn't call after her. He didn't grab her wrist.
He simply watched.
That was what made it worse.
Ji Eun stopped at the edge of the streetlight's glow and pulled out her phone. Her fingers didn't tremble anymore. The shock had passed. Only strategy remained.
She scrolled past Mo Han's contact. Past her mother's. Past the family butler.
Then she tapped a name saved under one word:
Yuna.
It rang once.
Twice.
Yuna picked up immediately. "Young Miss?"
Ji Eun's voice came out calm, too calm. "Get me three things."
A pause. Yuna knew that tone. "Yes."
"First: my schedule for the next seven days, everything, including the engagement preparations I never agreed to."
"Yes, Miss."
"Second: I want the names of every journalist, editor, and business blogger who has ever tried to dig into the Song family. The persistent ones."
Yuna hesitated. "Young Miss… that list is..."
"I said I want it."
"…Understood."
"Third," Ji Eun continued, eyes lifting to the skyline like she could already see the battlefield drawn across it, "I want every detail on Next Group's current reputation. Scandals, rumors, lawsuits, charity events, business awards, competitors, board members… everything."
Yuna inhaled softly. "You're going after Mr. Park."
Ji Eun's lips curved slightly, humorless. "No."
She looked back once, just once, toward the car.
Park Hyun Woo was still inside. Still watching.
"I'm going after the thing he values most."