Chapter 5

Ihan stood beneath the wisteria, breathing heavily.

He looked around in a daze, but there was no sign of Yoo Haru’s figure anywhere.

“What’s with you, Jin Ihan. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Seonghan let out a laugh at the sight of his brother’s disheveled state.

His face was pale, like the blood had drained from it.

His chest heaved rapidly, something Ihan almost never showed.

Even when they exercised together, Ihan always remained calm like a machine.

He was the kind of cold-blooded man who never rushed and always moved according to plan.

They shared half their blood, but Ihan was different in ways Seonghan could never quite put into words.

Their looks were similar, but their personalities, hobbies, and goals all pointed in opposite directions.

‘If we had shared the same goals, we wouldn’t have been able to get along like this.’

The brothers’ peaceful coexistence only held because Ihan had no ambition toward Jinseong Group.

It was a waste for someone of his ability to remain only as the head of Jinseong Beauty, but Seonghan never intended to give him more than that.

He was simply a shield to fend off the board members led by Executive Director Do Jungtae, the chairman’s right-hand man, who pounced like a pack of wolves.

Ihan knew this yet still stayed by their side.

“When the time comes, I’ll leave Jinseong. Until then, I’ll stay on as president.”

He always acted like someone who could walk away at any time, yet he never let go of Jinseong Beauty.

It was probably because of his lingering attachment to his first love.

Jinseong Beauty had been the only remaining connection to Yoo Haru’s family.

‘I haven’t seen him like this since back then.’

Except for those two lost years when he was a wreck, Ihan had always lived a life of restraint and composure.

What on earth had made him this shaken now?

Seonghan’s gaze darkened as he observed him.

Ihan’s eyes suddenly dropped to the ground.

His face twisted sharply as he saw the petals that had been crushed underfoot.

Seonghan raised his hands in defense. He knew very well what this place meant to Ihan.

“I didn’t do that. Don’t misunderstand.”

“The woman who was just here. Where is she.”

“What? Woman?”

“Yeah. She was right here with you.”

“Oh, the aromatherapist.”

Seonghan nodded knowingly.

Now he understood why Ihan had appeared in such a state.

“I sent her away. She won’t be coming back, so don’t worry.”

He patted his younger brother on the shoulder encouragingly.

He didn’t want to trigger anything unnecessarily.

Anything related to his first love was like a detonator for Ihan.

“She said the flowers were pretty. That was all. There was nothing else.”

“…”

Seonghan sighed quietly as he watched Ihan pick up the fallen petals from the ground.

“You’re going to collect the fallen petals too? Sometimes I wonder if you’re really the chairman’s son. He’s almost seventy and still changing women every day.”

“And you’re pretending you’re not the same?”

“Hey, at least I’m young. And I’m legally divorced.”

“Same difference.”

“It’s completely different. Completely.”

Seeing Ihan’s expression relax a little, Seonghan felt secretly relieved.

Even the household staff weren’t allowed inside this wisteria pergola, so he had been worried.

He had feared that his brother’s violent episodes might return.

“What’s that.”

Ihan’s eyes fell on the small oil bottle in Seonghan’s hand.

“Oh, this. The woman gave it to me. She said it would help with my insomnia.”

“Give it to me. Just in case.”

“What, are you playing royal poison tester now?”

Even as he joked, Seonghan handed him the bottle.

The moment Ihan opened it, a soft scent spread through the air.

Even surrounded by the abundant fragrance of wisteria, the translucent purple oil had a distinct presence.

“Why? Is there something wrong with it?”

Ihan didn’t answer. He simply focused his keen sense of smell, analyzing the scent carefully.

His narrowed eyes trembled ever so slightly.

“She said she blended this herself?”

“I think so.”

Seonghan’s face instantly grew serious.

Ihan closed the bottle and stared down at it.

As the oil’s slow ripples stilled, he finally spoke.

“She’s got pretty good skills, that woman.”

“For you to say that, she must be decent.”

When Seonghan reached out to take the bottle back, Ihan moved faster.

“What, give it here.”

Ignoring him, Ihan slipped it into his jacket pocket.

Seonghan stared in disbelief as Ihan added casually,

“Is it a requirement for aromatherapists to live on-site?”

“Yeah. Of course. They need to be on hand like medicine.”

Seonghan’s reply was reluctant.

Ihan gave a sly smile.

“Let her move in.”

* * *

Aromapis Korea Branch in Sinsa-dong.

The newly built structure caught the eye with its pastel-colored exterior, fitting for a fragrance research lab.

The landscaping showed clear attention to detail.

The building’s first floor, home to the aroma shop, was always filled with pleasant scents.

The fragrances often made passersby stop in their tracks.

This was one of Aromapis’s marketing strategies.

The top floor of the ten-story building housed officetels for Headquarters’ executives, which also served as a future meeting point for operations.

Past the five rooms and spacious living room, at the very end of the hallway, the smallest room was Haruka’s.

“I didn’t sleep after all.”

After her interview the previous day, she had tried to sleep but ended up staying awake until morning.

Even so, she exercised at her usual hour and ate a simple breakfast.

Then she lined up three suitcases neatly on the floor.

“Let’s get the packing done first.”

She knew the call would come.

All she had to do now was wait.

Until Jin Seonghan, well-rested after his first good sleep in a while, called her in a good mood.

Her hands moved busily as she packed.

It wasn’t a lot, just the essentials for moving into the mansion.

But between her blending tools and oil bottles, the amount added up.

Ryota walked in just as she was closing the last suitcase.

“Good morning, Haruka.”

He poked his head in with a grin.

Curiosity all over his face, Ryota pushed one of the suitcases aside and asked,

“How was it?”

“What was?”

“You met him after eight years.”

Of course, that was what he wanted to know.

He’d come back late last night from Headquarters business, and apparently that had been on his mind ever since.

It wasn’t hard to read him.

Ryota always acted cynical, but his attitude toward Haruka was different.

Even his twin sister Yui clicked her tongue at him about it.

But Haruka had kept a clear boundary for five years.

She saw him as a colleague, maybe even family, but nothing more.

Honestly, she didn’t have it in her to love again.

The years had been too cruel.

All that was left was a heart charred black with hatred.

“I told you, he wouldn’t recognize me.”

Ryota studied her face closely, then broke into a triumphant smile.

Her expression hadn’t changed, but he clearly guessed what had happened.

She closed the zipper of the suitcase with a faint, tired smile.

“See.”

“It was ridiculous to think someone could remember a person’s body scent. What is he, some kind of sci-fi protagonist?”

“…”

In the past, she would have argued.

There are people like that.

Jin Ihan was one of them.

No matter how many scents were blended or layered, he would pick out a specific smell with uncanny accuracy.

But that theory had been proven false now. She had no answer to give.

“Yeah, I was just overthinking it.”

Ryota’s grin deepened at her reply.

He ruffled her hair and said,

“Then let me buy you a drink. Come on.”

“What? Alcohol?”

“Yeah. You’re moving into the mansion tomorrow anyway. We should have a last supper together.”

His voice was full of excitement.

Haruka was just about to decline his cheeky offer when

Rrrr-.

Her phone rang between them.

She glanced at the screen.

It was an unknown number, but she knew exactly who it was.

“Who…”

“Shh!”

She pressed her finger to her lips, silencing Ryota.

She tapped the call button and spoke.

“Yes, this is Haruka Suzuki.”

[Ah, it’s me. Jin Seonghan.]

Without even greeting her properly, the man arrogantly continued.

[Can you start working tomorrow… no, today?]

Her bait had worked perfectly.

Her eyes flicked toward Ryota.

Her silent lips formed a message.

‘Sorry. Next time for the drink.’