He kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger there for a moment longer than necessary.
Then he forced himself to step back and let her go, even though every instinct screamed at him to keep her close, keep her safe, keep her with him where nothing could hurt her.
But she didn't need protecting.
She needed him to believe in her.
So he did.
"Go," he said. "Before I decide to keep you here all night."
She laughed, the sound light and genuine, and touched his face once with such tenderness it made his heart ache.
Then she got in the car.
He watched her leave, watched the taillights fade into the Seoul night traffic, and thought about tomorrow.
About watching her walk into that studio. About seeing her face Hyunjoo across that table. About witnessing whatever devastating plan she had cooking.
