When I opened my eyes, faint moonlight was seeping in. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but I could tell that the drunken haze had lifted a lot. As I blinked drowsily, Kwon Yido’s voice came from beside me.

“Awake?”

I slowly raised my head. My eyes were half-closed, but I could see Kwon Yido’s face, still immaculate. Even in the dark, I could tell he hadn’t been asleep.

“...Didn’t you sleep?”

“I woke up.”

He lied without a blink. After how many nights we’ve spent together, as if I’d believe that.

“Your {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} arm must be numb.”

I tried to lift my head, but couldn’t because Yido pulled me into his embrace. He stroked my back and rubbed his face into my hair. His body was so close that his heated warmth spread through me.

“Just go back to sleep like this.”

“...”

It seemed he had no intention of letting me go. So I quietly closed my eyes again. From his chest came the sound of his heartbeat. Slightly too quick, its rhythm lulled the sleepiness that had receded back to me.

“...And why aren’t you sleeping?”

Instead of falling asleep right away, I spoke to him. Because I didn’t want to waste the time until I drifted off. You know how some nights are—so good you wish tomorrow wouldn’t come.

“I just... couldn’t fall asleep.”

That’s supposed to be my line. Thinking that, I burrowed deeper into his arms. When I wrapped my arms around his waist, he pulled me closer.

“I should spray some perfume.”

“Your pheromones are better than that.”

He was asking for pheromones in a roundabout way. Without protest, I quietly passed some over to him. The faint floral scent mixed with his deeper woody one. His mood, which had seemed unsettled, began to ease.

“...”

“...”

For a while, only our breathing could be heard. It was the perfect environment to fall asleep in, but instead, my mind grew clearer. Because his warmth, his occasional heartbeat, and the unsettled look on Yido’s face all lingered on me.

“...I have something I’m curious about.”

I opened my mouth, feeling like I had to say something. Not that I invented a question—I’d been wondering about it ever since regaining all our memories.

“The people around me... how did you choose them?”

When we were engaged again, Yido filled my surroundings with people he had chosen himself. It looked random, but he must have thought carefully.

“Mr. Kim, Lee Taeseong, and Lee Heena... Right, did you hear? The two of them are getting married.”

I spoke as the thought came to me, and he chuckled softly. He answered that it was the first he’d heard. Of course—he’d have no reason to run into Taeseong anywhere.

“So what’s the answer?”

“...”

I lifted my head from his chest. Looking directly at him, even in the dark I felt his clear gaze. He pushed my bangs back and said in a calmer voice than usual:

“Back then... when you were framed and arrested, it was your secretary who begged me to get you out.”

“...”

The secretary meant Mr. Kim, but I couldn’t make sense of it right away. When I was framed and taken away. He must be talking about the day I was handcuffed on embezzlement charges.

“I don’t know how he thought of it, but he reached out to me.”

Yido continued in an even tone. He said Mr. Kim contacted him out of nowhere and pleaded desperately. That I wasn’t guilty, so please, get me out, promising he’d repay him later.

“That’s why I could act quickly. I’d have gotten you out anyway, but not in just one day.”

“...Mr. Kim contacted you?”

Even hearing it from his own lips, I couldn’t believe it. I had thought Mr. Kim abandoned me. That he couldn’t go against Father, so he left me in the end. I’d felt betrayed.

But before I could even take that in, something more shocking spilled out of Yido’s mouth.

“He’s also the one who handed me the material on Chairman Jung.”

“...”

I closed my mouth, stunned. A vague suspicion I’d carried, Yido confirmed outright. Mr. Kim’s voice, saying it was just a matter of interests, overlapped with Yido’s.

“Back then, and this time too.”

So Mr. Kim had planned to betray Father from the start. Or maybe he’d never truly been loyal. I didn’t know how weighty the conclusion he reached had been, but I could guess he was ready to throw everything away.

“And Team Leader Lee...”

Seeing my shock, Yido went on quickly, as if not giving me time to dwell. Maybe it was a good thing—my rattled heart eased slightly when he mentioned someone else.

“He was head of security, but when his subordinates took bribes, he was blamed and fired.”

“Security guards take bribes?”

“Why wouldn’t they? Few see as much corruption as they do.”

He said Lee had no guile, no flexibility, no idea how to make excuses. Upright, only ever walking one path, so even when framed, he said nothing.

“I brought him when he said he’d just quit and leave. At least he’s not the type to do anything stupid.”

So that’s what being “demoted for causing trouble” meant. That’s why he looked so reluctant to speak, but also seemed like he wanted to. He probably wouldn’t have told me even if I’d asked.

“And Lee Heena, the perfumer—she used to be Team Leader Lee’s lover.”

“...”

I thought, I’ve heard a lot of surprises tonight. There’d be no sleeping again. I let out a hollow laugh, and Yido brushed his lips softly against my forehead.

“Seems fate is a real thing.”

Does that fate you speak of include us too? In the past, and now, we had the same relationship again. Though the end was different, if this too was fate, then fate it was.

“Anything else you want to ask?”

I thought he’d tell me to sleep, but instead Yido gently asked me. He must have known that I didn’t want to. And maybe he didn’t want to either.

“How do you know me so well?”

Even I found the question vague. I knew the answer already—the past, all those memories, were proof. He couldn’t not know.

“...Because the imprint never broke.”

But Yido gave an unexpected answer, very slowly. I blinked, brushing my forehead against his.

“Sometimes... I could feel your emotions completely.”

“...”

The imprint never broke? What exactly did he mean? When we first imprinted, I hadn’t felt him at all. Could it be the bond lingered even after we reunited?

“...That must have been hard.”

It was all I could say. I couldn’t grasp his situation enough to say more. Halting, awkward sympathy slipped out. Yido closed his eyes with a faint smile.

“It should be hard.”

“...”

“I hurt you that much.”

Contradictory as it was, whenever I saw this side of him, I felt relieved. That he sincerely wanted to atone. That he never resented me. That until I allowed it, he had no thought of leaving.

“It wasn’t only your fault.”

Maybe I should have said it sooner. Told him he didn’t need to be a sinner anymore. While I took comfort in his penance, it wasn’t pleasant to see someone precious to me suffering.

“In the first place, I only did that because...”

I was about to say it was partly Kwon Ijeong’s fault. But the moment I thought of him, a strange unease stirred. Déjà vu? A murky discomfort shared through Yido’s memories.

“...Yido.”

I furrowed my brows slightly. Maybe sensing something in my tone, he pulled his forehead back from mine. I looked him in the eye and said outright:

“What did you do with Kwon Ijeong?”

The media hadn’t made much of his disappearance. Kwon Ikyung seemed to have searched, but never found him. Even the family gave up on the eldest son of Seonho Group. A bizarre silence surrounded it.

“Did you... do something to him?”

If not for the imprint, I’d never have asked. Only because the thought of Ijeong immediately gave me that déjà vu did I bring it up. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

“I didn’t kill him.”

He answered flatly, as if it were nothing. I wasn’t surprised. I’d already suspected it. A man who once resolved to die with me wouldn’t have let Ijeong be.

“...What is that supposed to mean.”

But I had nothing more to say. Not knowing exactly what he’d done, I couldn’t comment. I let out another hollow laugh, and Yido spoke in a serious tone.

“Just forget it.”

“...”

“I’ll remember it for the both of us.”

Why does he go this far for me? His blind devotion should have felt heavy, yet the more he opened himself, the more I wanted to lean into him. So when I kissed him softly, he bit lightly at my lower lip.

The light kiss deepened quickly. I had started it, but Yido clung more. Sliding his tongue past my lips, he stroked mine.

Ah... Is it okay for this to feel so good?

Why hadn’t I realized how satisfying a kiss could be? Not that I’d had anyone to do it with before. And if it weren’t him, I doubted I’d feel this way at all.

“...”

The hand on my head slid down to my nape. He kneaded it carefully, brushing his pinky against my collar. Then it traced down to tickle the bone below my throat.

“Mm...”

Unintended, a moan slipped out. Not because I was short of breath or because he was rough. Maybe because it felt like there was only the two of us left. As if time had stopped.

“...”

“...”

Our lips parted with a soft smack. A kiss more tender and relaxed than ever. I rubbed my lips against his, wanting more, but instead of returning it, Yido lowered his gaze.

“Sejin, shall we...”

Why did my chest drop hearing those words begin? Not out of dread—out of sweet tension. I couldn’t guess what he’d say, but I knew it wouldn’t be bad.

“...get married.”

“...”

My eyes went wide. His words rang strangely loud in my ears. Like a tape winding in slow motion, I couldn’t grasp it at first. Then he whispered:

“Not the marriage we show others. A real marriage, just you and me.”

Ah. He said, let’s get married.

So casually, yet so sincerely. His eyes sweet, though my whole body was taut with nerves.

“I...”

“...”

“I want to be family with you.”

When I heard that, I felt like crying. Not because his words touched me, but because I remembered what I’d said earlier. When I admitted I’d done everything Father asked, the hidden truth I had blurted without knowing.

...I just wanted a family.

“...”

My vision blurred. Ordinary words, yet to me they carried overwhelming weight. His proposals, sincere and thoughtful, settled deeper in me than any love confession.

“...Who proposes without a ring.”

I deliberately scolded him in a flat voice. Otherwise, everything would spill out—tears, old grief, pent-up neediness. It was a harsh reply, but Yido answered without a flicker.

“I have one.”

“...”

“It’s also your birthday gift.”

I was planning to give it tomorrow anyway... He murmured, gently brushing my eyes. I hadn’t cried, yet he wiped me like I had. Pressing a kiss on my eyelids, he whispered tenderly:

“Thank you for being born.”

“...”

Ah. That’s unfair.

Had anyone ever thanked me like that? People had celebrated my birthday every year, but hearing it from him was different. My one precious person, grateful for my existence. I couldn’t believe it.

“...Did you know?”

Looking back, I had received the same gift then. Though my feelings were different, the situation was similar.

“On my birthday last year...”

I couldn’t finish. My throat closed. Swallowing everything down, I managed only one sentence.

“They told me to marry you.”

‘Sejin, a marriage proposal came for you.’

Father had never once congratulated my birthday. I comforted myself that he was busy, but really, he never valued my existence. People don’t usually care when a tool was made.

“...Let’s invite all the staff too.”

Unable to look him in the face, I buried myself in his chest. My eyes burned, but Yido didn’t press. He only held me silently.

“The planning team at Haesin, and the Sejin staff...”

“...”

“No reporters, just our people.”

“...”

“...That’s how we’ll marry, us.”

We should refuse congratulatory money, I thought. Yeongbingwan would do for the venue, but decorated differently. Give flowers and perfume as gifts, so everyone left with good memories.

“Alright.”

“...”

“Let’s marry like that.”

When he proposed, only two thoughts crossed my mind. One, I knew it. Two, Now it’s truly the end. Of the painful past, the regrets unrealized. Of the forgiveness he’d sought.

“Sejin, I...”

His voice brushed my ear, the only confession that could fill my last void. I gladly gave him the same answer, and promised him my future. Praying there would be no more painful days for us ahead.

At the end of that memory, I choose to be with you.

<Main story complete at the end of that memory>

– To be continued in side stories.