Outside the bathroom, silence hung thick after Shin's command.
Shin's voice had been final—an order, not a request.
Yet Calin didn't move.
She stood frozen in place, fingers tightening around the bouquet as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I've been wanting to talk to you... about what happened," she whispered, her voice as fragile as glass. "I came because I was worried. Brother Sergei told me you were unwell."
Shin's jaw tensed. He remained seated, face unreadable, eyes cold. The soft, rhythmic drip of the IV cast elongated shadows on the wall—each drop an echo of his growing irritation.
What nonsense is this person babbling now?
And Sergei Ricci? It didn't matter how noble the bloodline, how lavish the upbringing—dress a fool in gold, feed them poetry and etiquette, and they'll still find a way to exhibit their foolishness.
Calin stepped forward tentatively, her voice breaking with wounded grace. "I truly wanted to apologize for what I said... in your study. I didn't mean to upset you. I know I crossed a line. But I hoped this wouldn't damage the relationship between our families."
Shin snapped. "And breaking into my room, disregarding my privacy twice, is your version of an apology?"
His voice sliced through the air like a blade.
"You might want to reconsider your definition of 'sincerity.'"
Inside the bathroom, Yeri's ears perked up like a nosy squirrel's. She hovered near the door, apple still in one hand, a half-folded towel in the other.
Study? Relationship? Invading what?
Her eyes widened with interest. Whatever this was—it was better than any drama she'd watched during exam season.
And that voice... it tickled something in her memory. Familiar, oddly familiar. Where had she heard it before?
She tilted her head, trying to hear better.
Outside, Calin's eyes shimmered, lips trembling. "I didn't know how else to reach you..." she trailed, her voice fragile like delicate glass. "I thought if I explained things in person—"
"Get lost." Shin growled, his voice low and dangerous. "As for your sincerity, I'll make sure your family will also understand my sincerity."
Calin flinched, the truth hitting her like a slap.
Why can't Shin Keir appreciate her effort? What was she lacking?
Any man would have already soften seeing her dejected appearance.
Inside the bathroom, Yeri's jaw slackened. Ooooh... could she be an ex?! And she's here to win him back and got shredded instead.
She glanced at the door like it was a stage curtain. The tension. The dialogue. It was criminal how addictive this was.
Of course Shin Keir has exes.
Look at him. Tall, sharp-tongued, borderline antisocial—catnip for tragic heroines.
She shook her head, mind racing. So dramatic. It does feel good witnessing a drama rather than watching it on tv.
But still... that voice. She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to place it. It was right there, on the tip of her memory.
Outside, Calin swallowed hard. "What do you want me to do, Brother Shin? Considering our families, I just want us to be in good terms."
Shin's patience dropped to a lethal calm.
This woman must have escape from the mental ward given it's a hospital.
"If you're sick, talk to a doctor," he said flatly, pressing the nurse call button. "Don't bark at the wrong person."
The emphasis on 'sick' landed like a slap.
Calin's lower lip trembled. Her composure shattered.
She had never been rejected in her life—pampered, protected, worshipped like porcelain. And now? Humiliated.
Tears streamed down her face as the bouquet slipped from her fingers, landing on the floor with a soft thud.
Inside the bathroom, Yeri's eyes grew wide as saucers.
She's crying. She's actually crying!
So the rumors were true—nothing's colder than your ex's heart.
Sure, she'd known Shin was sharp-tongued, but this was... ruthless.
In fact, the first time they met, he'd been just as terrifying—though back then, Yeri was unaware, too drunk to take him seriously.
She tiptoed closer, curiosity overtaking caution.
What does this woman even look like?
But before she could peek—
Footsteps thundered down the hallway. Some exchanged words and the door slammed open.
"You—Why are you here?" Tristan's voice was sharp with disbelief. His eyes immediately scanned the room, searching.
A nurse followed close behind, along with Marianne Vega, looking extremely worried.
"Calin, are you okay?" Marianne hurried to the weeping woman's side, patting her back gently.
Tristan's face darkened. It was rare for him to show such open disdain toward anyone—let alone a woman—but the pieces were quickly falling into place.
He threw a look at the nurse and gave a discreet nod. She flushed slightly and exited quickly to report.
Meanwhile, Calin's voice barely rose above a whisper. "I'm sorry. It's my fault, I shouldn't have come..."
She lowered her face, hands covering her tears.
The bouquet lay abandoned on the floor like a tragic symbol of rejection.
Anyone walking in now would think Shin Keir was a cold-hearted villain who'd mercilessly crushed a woman's affection.
Inside the bathroom, Yeri exhaled sharply, clutching the apple like a talisman.
Holy crap. That was intense.
Her heart still pounded, her mind buzzing. But more than anything else, that voice... it scratched at her memory like a needle against vinyl.
Where have I heard her before?
She still couldn't place it, but one thing was certain— There was definitely more drama to come.
As the tension in the room stretched thin, Calin lifted her head, tears streaking down her flushed cheeks. Her voice wavered with desperation, but her next words struck like a stray bullet.
"I-I just don't understand why you're treating me this way... I'm still the fiancée your family recognizes."
Tristan's brows shot up, incredulous.
Shin's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking toward the slightly ajar bathroom door, a dangerous glint igniting in their depths.
Inside the bathroom, Yeri froze.
The apple slipped from her hand.
What is this— a lovers' quarrel?!
If those two were engaged... did that make her the third party? A substitute?
Her mind spun, visions of countless misunderstandings and tearful reconciliations playing in vivid, maddening detail.
In record time, she had produced a full-blown drama series in her head.
Title: I Love You, Scumbag!
Outside, Shin stood slowly, the IV stand clinking softly as he moved. His expression was pure frost.
He had no intention of wasting another word on irrelevant people.
Calin, sobbing harder now, turned and fled past Marianne, who looked between the two men then at the bathroom door. Her mouth opened as if to say something, but she thought better of it and wordlessly followed after Calin.
The door shut behind them.
A heavy silence fell.
Yeri cautiously peeked and emerged from the bathroom with the full weight of a woman betrayed by a drama she made and directed in her mind.
She marched forward, face flushed with fury, and without hesitation, hurled the apple at Shin.
It bounced off his chest and landed with a pathetic wobble on the floor.
"You have a fiancee?!" she snapped, eyes blazing. "Then what am I? In your eyes, am I someone so gullible? Did I force you to take responsibility after that night?!"
Shin's expression shifted—confusion at first, followed quickly by realization.
But she was already storming past him, towel clutched in one hand like a banner of betrayal.
"Save it," she spat. "You two clearly have unresolved business. Unlike your all-powerful family, mine can't survive the fallout of a broken marriage alliance. So spare me the lawsuit and scandal."
The door slammed shut behind her, echoing his silence.
Shin stood alone, an apple at his feet, the IV quietly dripping behind him.
He inhaled sharply—then yanked the IV out without a second thought and stormed after her.
'What just happened?' Tristan stood there trying to reduced his existence.
Outside, down the hallway, Yeri's steps echoed in sync with her boiling thoughts.
'Why did I get angry?' she asked herself.
It wasn't like she had feelings for Shin Keir. Of course not! They barely knew each other.
Still, being lied to—fooled—was an insult she couldn't forgive.
An insult to her pride, her dignity.
An insult to her reputation.
An insult to the parents who adored her and gave her this stunning face.
And most importantly—
An insult to her former self: the once-mighty succubus who brought emperors and countless demons to their knees and succumbed to her beauty.
She, Yeri Zhi, would never share her man with anyone!
So what if Shin Keir was devastatingly handsome? She's drop-dead gorgeous and can easily find a replacement.
So what if he had enough wealth to drown a small country? She came from money, too—maybe not Keir-level money, but certainly enough to enjoy a life others only dreamed of.
So what if he was her first? She wasn't a traditional woman, and in this modern era, people were open-minded. What truly mattered in a relationship was compatibility and character.
As the elevator doors slid open, she stepped inside, muttering curses under her breath.
Just as she was about to press the close button, she heard Shin's voice echoing from down the hall.
With a sneer, she stabbed the 'Close' button.
Thank the heavens for VIP perks—this hospital didn't make its elite guests wait. The elevator responded immediately, the doors gliding shut before Shin could reach her.
For once, technology was on her side.