Impossible Romance - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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10.

The Officetel where Kwon Seok-ha resided revealed meticulous attention to detail from the Underground Parking Garage itself. Soft lighting cast a gentle glow, and the spacious, immaculate interior came into view at a glance.
The parking garage, constructed with expensive materials, made even the act of walking across its floor feel comfortable. With the garage alone being this impressive, it was enough to suggest that the building’s interior would be even more robust and magnificent.
Kwon Seok-ha crossed the parking garage and headed toward the private elevator. It was clear that the building thoroughly guaranteed the residents’ private lives.
Jun-hee followed him into the elevator. Inside the gleaming golden elevator, I found myself increasingly aware of Kwon Seok-ha’s presence.
‘What on earth is he trying to say?’
As I turned these thoughts over in my mind, the elevator chimed softly and the doors slid open. Kwon Seok-ha’s apartment came into view immediately.
I followed quietly behind him and stood with composed posture in the spacious Living Room.
There wasn’t much furniture, but the overall atmosphere was calm and refined.
It was too dark to see now, but the expansive windows promised a magnificent view. During the day, I imagined I would see a brilliant blue sky and a beautiful River.
While I marveled inwardly, Kwon Seok-ha retrieved two bottles of water from the refrigerator and settled onto the expansive Sofa. He tossed one bottle onto the table’s edge and gestured to me with his eyes—a silent command to drink.
He opened the water bottle in his hand and moistened his throat. Even the movement of his Adam’s apple was as captivating as a scene from a film.
Throughout all this, I stood silently like a lamb awaiting judgment.
“Pick whichever room you like and use it.”
“Pick a room?”
I questioned what I’d heard, doubting my own ears at such an absurd statement.
“You understood perfectly well. I’ll use the master bedroom, but you can choose whichever of the remaining rooms suits you. If you really want to stay in the master bedroom, I could give you about half the bed.”
He spoke with an unmistakably smug expression on his face.
“Executive Director, I don’t understand what you’re saying. We’re not in that kind of relationship.”
Bewilderment spread across my face. I’d always known he was reckless, but I hadn’t anticipated he’d remain this way even after becoming a Company executive.
“Of course we’re not in that kind of relationship. What were you even thinking?”
Kwon Seok-ha set the water bottle down on the table as he spoke. His tone was so dry and cold, yet so confident, that it made me feel as though I was the one saying something unreasonable.
“Then… I shouldn’t stay here at all, should I?”
“Before that—have we ever dated? Were we ever in a relationship?”
His thick, dark eyebrows twitched slightly.
He was right. We had never formally become lovers. The affection between us had simply deepened before I pushed him away.
No, I don’t know anymore. In my memories, the time I spent with Kwon Seok-ha was more passionate than any other moment in my life.
We never spoke the words to date, yet those moments were more precious and fervent than any other period of my existence.
But now, as an adult, I needed hypocrisy. If those burning moments had to cool, if that was what was best for everyone, then so be it.
“Dating? I never thought anything like that.”
I barely managed to steady my trembling voice as I spoke.
Kwon Seok-ha approached me slowly. The tall, handsome man had shed the innocence of his youth, now tilting his head with rudeness and arrogance.
“Then things become simple. Take it off.”
Heat flooded both my cheeks.
I must have misheard.
I looked up at Kwon Seok-ha with trembling eyes, but he remained composed and unhurried.
“What are you saying? I’ve never dated you, never wanted anything from you. But…”
My face burned crimson. Even in this moment of reunion, I could not reveal even a shred of emotion—that was the nature of my relationship with Kwon Seok-ha.
“I know. Just take it off comfortably. Start with this.”
Kwon Seok-ha lifted his hand as if to embrace Jun-hee, then stripped off his jacket.
“…!”
“What, did you think something else? You and I are just in a business relationship.”
“I know that too, yes.”
Jun-hee lowered her head slightly.
“Starting tomorrow, come to the Company. You’ve been there before, so you’ll know where it is.”
“But still—”
“Listen to what I’m saying first.”
Kwon Seok-ha cut off Jun-hee before she could protest.
“I’m going to assign you as my executive secretary. As my secretary, you’ll need to support me from close by, but there’s a more important reason than that.”
“What reason is that?”
Jun-hee asked in a small but steady voice. Though she had nowhere to stay at the moment, she couldn’t possibly live with Kwon Seok-ha.
“My collateral. You’re collateral, so you can’t leave my sight. That’s all.”
“Collateral? What do you mean by that?”
Jun-hee’s brow furrowed slightly as she remained rigidly in place.
“Just sit down first. I won’t eat you.”
He spoke while loosening his necktie and tossing it onto the Sofa.
The fine silk tie tumbled carelessly across the cushions. He raised one hand to the Sofa, tapping it lightly.
As he gestured for her to sit, his shirt fell slightly open, revealing the hard, defined muscles beneath—marred by delicate droplets of blood scattered across them. The sight pierced Jun-hee’s heart.
Jun-hee moved to the opposite side rather than next to him and quietly perched on the edge.
“Please explain again. What do you mean by collateral?”
Was it even appropriate to use such a term for a person?
Though she thought it absurd, Jun-hee’s chest tightened with anxiety. Kwon Seok-ha was the type to enforce even the most illogical logic.
“You know your father borrowed money from me, right?”
“Yes.”
Jun-hee’s earlobes flushed red, and her mouth went dry. Her family, whether by accident or inevitability, had become dependent on Kwon Seok-ha and his household.
Her grandfather had once received help from Kwon Seok-ha’s Grandfather, and her parents managed his Villa—perhaps from the very start of her life, she had been in a subordinate position to Kwon Seok-ha.
“Your brother came to see me recently. He asked for help.”
Kwon Seok-ha shrugged his shoulders as if it were nothing.
“You should have just turned him away. You could have pretended not to know.”
Jun-hee meant it sincerely. It would have been easier on her heart if Kwon Seok-ha had coldly rejected Jun-young.
Jun-young had always taken for granted the subordinate position passed down through generations, and now he openly fawned over Kwon Seok-ha, who was even younger than her.
“How could I pretend not to know? We’ve known each other since childhood, so there’s affection there.”
He spoke slowly, tapping his fingers against the back of the Sofa. He clearly knew how much Jun-hee’s heart was burning right now.
He was always like this.
This man enjoyed tormenting Jun-hee over problems that were barely significant to him.
“….”
Jun-hee stared at him with her lips pressed firmly together.
Her frustration was overflowing, and tears were on the verge of spilling over.
“But I can’t reach him?”
Kwon Seok-ha shrugged as if discussing someone else’s problem.
“Your brother can’t be reached?”
A sigh escaped from Jun-hee’s lips.
He’d been a troublemaker since childhood, and even as an adult, he remained utterly irresponsible. I knew how much difficulty Kwon Seok-ha’s actions could cause me—or perhaps he didn’t even understand that much. My brother Jun-young wasn’t the type to consider other people’s inconvenience, even if they were family.
Jun-hee turned on her phone screen and quickly searched for Jun-young’s contact.
“Calling didn’t help. Will he answer if you call?”
Following Kwon Seok-ha’s casual suggestion, I pressed the call button, but the connection failed. I attempted the call several times, but each attempt ended in failure. I barely managed to suppress the sigh that threatened to escape from my deflated heart.
“How much did you lend him?”
“If I knew, could I pay it back?”
At Kwon Seok-ha’s question, Jun-hee fell silent in thought.
Of course I couldn’t pay it back. This wasn’t the first time I’d held out my hand to Kwon Seok-ha.
“Actually, both my brother and I are adults, so there’s no reason I should pay his debt.”
After deliberating for a while, Jun-hee finally spoke.
“That’s true. There’s no reason you should pay your brother’s debt. Ahn Jun-young did mention you as collateral to me, but let’s set that aside. Then I’ll have to contact your father. I can’t just take a loss, right?”
“Your father” referred to Jun-hee’s Father.
“No. Please don’t do that.”
Jun-hee spoke hurriedly, her expression troubled. Unlike her brother Jun-young, her father was someone who simply worked without complaint.
He was kind and honest, spending his entire life wishing only for his children’s success.
Even if he learned of this, he couldn’t resolve the situation anyway—I didn’t want to burden him with worry.
“Fine. Then I’ll expect the money by this week.”
“Yes.”
Jun-hee had no choice but to nod in agreement.
“Let me be clear: you’re nothing more and nothing less than my collateral. Don’t get any ideas.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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