The club was loud. The bass from the speakers rattled the floor, the lights flashing in rhythmic bursts of color, casting wild shadows across the crowded room. Areum had tried to enjoy herself, she really had. But the weight of everything—her new role as CEO, the constant pressure, the lingering memories of Max—kept creeping back into her mind, no matter how much she tried to drown them out with the thumping beats.

She was surrounded by friends, laughing and dancing, but her heart wasn't in it. She excused herself from the group, slipping outside for a breath of fresh air, hoping the cool night would clear her head. The cool wind was a relief, but it wasn't enough to shake the knot in her stomach.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen.

Jeonghan.

Her thumb hovered over the screen. She hadn't spoken to him much today, busy with endless meetings and catching up on work. But something about seeing his name on the screen made her pause. The idea of hearing his voice—calm, steady, comforting—felt like a lifeline in the chaos of her thoughts.

She hit answer.

"Areum?" Jeonghan's voice came through the phone, a soft and familiar sound. "Everything okay?"

She leaned against the wall, her eyes closing for a moment as she exhaled. "I don't know. I just... I'm not feeling it tonight. I thought I would be able to relax, but I just can't seem to shake it."

Jeonghan's voice was warm, concerned. "Do you want me to come get you?"

Her heart skipped at his words. She hadn't even realized how much she needed him until that moment. "Yeah. Please. I just... I don't want to be here anymore."

"I'll be there in fifteen," he said. "Just hang tight."

She sighed in relief, feeling a weight lift from her chest. She ended the call and slid her phone back into her pocket, her eyes scanning the street as she waited.

The city was alive around her, but all she could focus on was the fact that Jeonghan was coming.

Fifteen minutes felt like an eternity. But finally, she heard the sound of a car engine approaching, and she turned to see Jeonghan's sleek black car pull up to the curb. His headlights flashed once, briefly blinding her, before he parked and got out.

She walked toward him, her heels clicking against the pavement, and when Jeonghan saw her, he immediately smiled—a smile that sent warmth rushing through her. He didn't need to say anything. The look in his eyes said it all.

"You okay?" Jeonghan asked as she got closer. His gaze softened, taking in the tired expression on her face.

Areum nodded, though she didn't feel okay. She felt vulnerable, exposed—like everything she'd been holding inside was about to spill over.

But the moment he was close enough, something shifted. The air between them felt charged, and without thinking, Areum reached up, her hand finding its way to his chest, pulling him closer. His eyes widened slightly, but before he could speak, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

It wasn't like their earlier moments, filled with unspoken words and hesitation. This kiss was different—it was desperate, urgent, a release of everything that had been building between them. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into the kiss, feeling the heat of his body against hers.

Jeonghan froze for just a second, his hands resting on her waist as if trying to process what was happening. But then, with a soft sigh, he kissed her back, his arms pulling her closer, his fingers threading through her hair. The kiss deepened, both of them losing themselves in the sensation of finally crossing a line they had both been dancing around for so long.

For a moment, nothing else mattered. Not the world, not the pressure of her role, not the drama or the weight of her past. All that mattered was this moment—Jeonghan, holding her close, his lips moving against hers in perfect rhythm.

When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Areum's heart raced in her chest, but there was a strange sense of calmness that followed.

"I've wanted to do that for so long," Jeonghan murmured, his voice low and steady.

Areum smiled, a mixture of relief and something deeper she couldn't quite place. "Me too."

They stood there for a moment, the world around them fading away. For the first time in what felt like ages, Areum felt like she could finally breathe.

"I'm glad you called me," Jeonghan said, his fingers gently caressing her cheek. "You don't have to go through this alone."

"I know," Areum whispered, her eyes meeting his. "I just needed you to be here. Thank you."

Jeonghan nodded, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. "Always."

Without another word, he opened the car door for her, the soft click of the handle breaking the stillness between them. Areum slid into the car, and Jeonghan followed, starting the engine. They didn't speak much on the drive back, but there was something comforting about the silence between them—something that told Areum that, no matter what happened next, she wasn't alone.

As they pulled up to her apartment building, Jeonghan parked and turned to her, his gaze intense but gentle.

"I'll be here whenever you need me, Areum," he said softly. "You don't have to do this on your own."

She smiled, her heart swelling with a quiet warmth. "I know. And I think I'm starting to realize that I don't want to anymore."

Jeonghan's lips curled into a smile, and for the first time in a long time, Areum felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

And for the first time in ages, everything felt right.