Chapter 23. Flip The Board (1)

Translator: Lili

Lee Rowoon tilted his head slightly downward, as if he couldn’t bear to look at Sera. His breathing was uneven, his long lashes trembling with a fragile intensity.

“I was fine before I wanted you. Loving you has only ever…”

He cut himself off, swallowing whatever words he had been about to say. But Sera already understood what he couldn’t bring himself to say. She forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat, but the dryness burned, making her wince.

“…I understand.”

She wasn’t sure how long they stood there in that unbearable silence. Then, finally, Lee Rowoon spoke, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

“You had a long day. It’s late, and you’re tired. You probably haven’t had the time to think things through properly. I didn’t consider that.”

“…”

“So… when you’re ready—when you have the time to have a real conversation—let’s talk again.”

His voice was tight, as if he had to force each word out. And then, without another word, he turned away.

It wasn’t hesitation—it was as if he had to leave because he couldn’t bear another rejection. Sera stood frozen, watching his unsteady retreating figure, her mind blank.

As both Shin Sera and Han Jia, she had made the rational choice. She knew there was no future for them, no possible way for their relationship to work.

Then why did it feel like she had made a mistake?

Why was her heart pounding so anxiously?

Why did her stomach twist so painfully?

And why did she feel an overwhelming urge to chase after him?

Like always, the answer never came easily.

***

The moment the media embargo was lifted, news of Raum Food’s embezzlement and misappropriation scandal exploded across every major outlet.

Raum Food’s CEO—Lee Seonkyung’s uncle—denied all charges. But the prosecution had already secured undeniable evidence of illicit transactions, rendering his claims meaningless.

To make matters worse, it was also revealed that he had funneled company marketing contracts to his own children, sparking public outrage over yet another case of chaebol favoritism.

Then, as if on cue, another scandal erupted—one that had been eagerly anticipated.

A blind item surfaced, painting the picture of a chaebol heiress with a pristine public image who secretly used drugs to manipulate the men she wanted.

「The only daughter of Group A, known for her polished reputation, is actually a manipulative double-faced woman. She has no qualms about drugging someone to get what she wants. This time, she targeted a high-profile third-generation chaebol and ended up facing serious consequences. Now, people don’t even call her by her name anymore—just ‘drugs.’ 」

The rumors spread like wildfire, conveniently entangled with Raum’s ongoing corruption scandal.

Within hours, anonymous posts flooded forums, directly naming Lee Seonkyung as the person in question.

– She drugged someone into a weakened mental state… took weird photos… and her drug test came back positive. Her parents pulled strings to save their only daughter, but she’s nothing more than a criminal…

And then came the final blow.

Rekka YouTubers released a heavily edited audio recording—just a few seconds long, but enough to further incriminate Lee Seonkyung.

The recording never explicitly named the victim, but the implication was clear.

‘This might stir up some controversy. Are you sure you’re okay with that?’

‘It doesn’t matter. The people who know already know, and the ones who don’t won’t be able to trace it back to me. If someone decides to spread my name, they’ll have to deal with the consequences.’

Cha Jaeheon had agreed to support her without hesitation, even knowing it might drag him into the spotlight.

‘I am a little concerned, though. You poked a lunatic, and I don’t want you to get caught up in the aftermath.’

‘There’s something I need to confirm.’

Ever since she began suspecting a connection between Palseon and Lee Seonkyung, a persistent sense of unease had followed her.

Lee Seonkyung despised Shin Sera yet kept her close, controlling her every move. She clung to a twisted moral superiority, branding herself as absolute good while condemning Shin Sera as absolute evil.

Her downward spiral had started the moment her true face was exposed to Seo Jungwon and the others.

But why?

If Lee Seonkyung was truly the one who cursed Shin Sera, then understanding the motive behind her erratic behavior might lead to the answer.

Desperate people often destroyed what they valued the most when they were pushed to their limits.

Of course, Sera wasn’t reckless enough to provoke her without any precautions. She had planted people around Lee Seonkyung to monitor her movements. If she tried anything, Sera would know immediately.

Even so, she hadn’t expected a reaction this fast.

“Hello?”

— It’s you, Shin Sera! It is you, isn’t it?!

For the entire day, she had been bombarded with phone calls from random numbers. The moment she blocked one, another popped up. At this rate, she couldn’t even get any work done. So, finally, she picked up. And the instant she did, a furious scream nearly ruptured her eardrum.

“Who is this? Who just calls and starts shouting—”

— Don’t play dumb! This is your doing!

The raw fury in Lee Seonkyung’s voice was almost laughable. But instead of reacting, Sera casually played along.

“Oh? Seonkyung? It’s been a while. What are you even talking about?”

By now, it was practically public knowledge that she had targeted Cha Jaeheon. But with all the rumors and leaked videos, there was no way to pinpoint who was behind it all.

Sera had even enlisted the help of Kim Kyungjin—the host of the yacht party—just in case.

If Lee Seonkyung was losing her mind over this, it could only mean one thing: she had no proof that Sera was responsible.

Just as Sera expected, Lee Seonkyung’s rage only intensified.

— I won’t let this slide, Shin Sera! You’ll pay for this—I swear, you’ll regret every last thing you’ve done!

Her voice was sharp, laced with genuine hatred.

But Sera didn’t even flinch.

“Oh… is this about those nasty little rumors? I hate to disappoint you, but I really don’t have time to waste on you.”

Then, in an almost bored tone, she added,

“If anything, you’re the one spreading rumors. Didn’t you start that ridiculous gossip about my birth? You know what they say—people who lie tend to think everyone else is lying, too.”

— So that’s how you want to play it? Ha… hahaha!

Lee Seonkyung’s laughter rang through the speaker—sharp, unhinged, dangerous.

The moment Sera instinctively pulled the phone away from her ear, repulsed by the creeping sense of unease, Lee Seonkyung’s eerie laughter was cut off.

A brief silence followed.

Then, her voice returned—soft, almost affectionate.

— Sera.

Her voice wavered as if it came from a distance, fluctuating between emotions.

— You can’t cover the sky with your hands. The more you try to torment me, the more you will suffer, wandering through your own personal hell. Why do you keep doing such awful things…? I just want you to know your place. If you keep behaving like this, I really won’t have any other choice. You are my—

The call abruptly ended.

“What the hell.”

Sera stared down at her phone, her expression souring.

She didn’t understand a single word of that deranged monologue, but one thing stuck with her.

‘You are my…’

What had she been about to say?

A chill ran down her spine for no reason at all.

***