"When I was eighteen," Haejin said.
His voice had gone flat. Like he was reading from a script.
"Things started changing at AUREYA."
Soorin watched him carefully. The way his jaw tightened. How his fingers kept twitching against his thigh.
'He's compartmentalizing,' she thought. 'Shutting down the emotion so he can get through this.'
"The Hayes family owned the label. Had for generations. But the old guard was retiring. They were training their grandson to take over."
"Ethan Hayes?" Minjae asked.
Haejin nodded. "He was 27 at the time. Fresh out of business school. His grandparents were grooming him to run everything."
Taekyung had moved back from the window. Sat down on the arm of the couch.
"I remember when Mr. Hayes started coming around. He actually talked to us."
"Yeah. That was weird at first."
Haejin's lips twitched. Almost a smile.
