Chapter 4: Left Behind

[Kang Family Mansion – Early Morning]

The kitchen was filled with the comforting scent of freshly cooked rice and miso soup. Yujin stood quietly by the stove, his hands moving with care as he plated the breakfast he had prepared.

Despite the exhaustion weighing down his body and the nausea from his ongoing chemotherapy, Yujin had risen early—just to make sure Jiwoon had a proper meal before heading to work. It was foolish, wasn’t it? To care so much for someone who barely acknowledged his existence.

But no matter how much Jiwoon seemed to hate him, Yujin still loved him. That was enough reason for him to do this, right? To keep trying, even if the effort was one-sided.

He arranged the plates meticulously on the dining table, making sure Jiwoon’s seat was perfect, as though the smallest gesture might make him stay.

Just as he finished, he heard footsteps descending the stairs.

Jiwoon.

Yujin’s heart skipped a beat. He turned, offering a soft, hopeful smile. “Good morning,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I made breakfast.”

Jiwoon didn’t even acknowledge the food. He barely spared a glance at Yujin before reaching for his coat hanging by the door. With a practiced efficiency, he adjusted his tie and walked right past Yujin without saying a word.

The front door slammed shut with finality.

Yujin stood still, the ache in his chest growing with every passing second. The hollow silence filled the room, and he blinked rapidly, fighting back the sting of tears. He should’ve known. He should’ve expected this.

Letting out a quiet sigh, he walked over to Jiwoon’s untouched chair. Slowly, he pulled it out and sat down. The chair creaked under his weight as he stared at the food. Eating alone had become his new normal, but today, for some reason, it felt even more unbearable.

The food, which had been prepared with such care, tasted bitter in his mouth. The warmth from the rice only seemed to highlight the coldness that had settled in his heart. Every bite was a reminder that Jiwoon had left him alone once again.

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[Kang Group Headquarters – Late Morning]

Yujin arrived at the office, his steps measured, though his body still felt weak from the treatments. Today marked his first official day working as Executive Director—an important role, one that would see him working directly with Jiwoon on various projects.

As he entered the building, the employees greeted him with polite bows. “Good morning, Executive Director Seo.”

Yujin offered them a smile, nodding in acknowledgment, though his thoughts were miles away. He headed straight for his office, hoping that the work would distract him from the ache in his heart. Focus, Yujin. Don’t let your emotions control you.

But how could he, when everything about his life seemed to be a constant reminder of the distance between him and Jiwoon?

As he sat at his desk, he tried to push away the pain, focusing on the reports in front of him. He couldn’t afford to think about Jiwoon now. The pain from his chemotherapy was already overwhelming, and he didn’t need to add to it by dwelling on what he didn’t have.

Today, he had work to do. It was the only thing that kept him going.

Even if it felt like his whole world was falling apart, one small piece at a time.

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(To be continued in Chapter 5...)

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