The subtle shift in the office's atmosphere was unmistakable. It started in hushed tones around the water cooler and in discreet glances exchanged in the hallways. The subject of every whispered conversation was the same: Director Baek Hyun-woo. His newfound confidence, his sharp wit, and most of all, the captivating smile that had replaced his usual weary expression were the talk of the town.
By lunchtime, the rumors had reached a fever pitch. The company cafeteria, usually a scene of quiet, hurried meals, was now buzzing with excitement. Clusters of young female employees, from interns to senior managers, were giggling openly, their phones displaying the same viral photo of Hyun-woo.
"He's so different, right?" one intern gushed, her eyes sparkling. "He looks like a leading man from a drama now. That smile is so… mischievous."
"And the way he handled the legal brief this morning? So sharp," another chimed in. "He's not just handsome; he's smart and calm. I'm telling you, I think I have a new crush."
"I heard he was with Hae-in's family, but honestly, with that charm, he could have any woman he wants," a third added, oblivious to the fact that his every word was a dagger to the heart of the woman he was talking about.
The gossip, like a wildfire, spread from floor to floor, eventually reaching the executive suite. Secretary Na, as always, was the one to deliver the report. She entered Hong Hae-in's office, a mixture of amusement and concern on her face.
"Director Hong," she began, her tone carefully neutral. "There are… some rumors circulating about Director Baek Hyun-woo."
Hae-in, engrossed in a financial report, didn't look up immediately. "Rumors? What now? Did he mess up a case?" Her voice was flat, but laced with a familiar note of dismissive superiority.
"No, not at all," Secretary Na said, clearing her throat. "The opposite, actually. The entire legal department is buzzing about his incredible performance today. And… well, the female staff are quite taken with him. There's a picture of him going around."
Hae-in's focus sharpened. She took the phone Secretary Na offered her, her eyes narrowing as she saw the picture—the same image that was captivating the office. She saw the confident posture, the relaxed shoulders, and the faint, teasing smile that she hadn't seen on her husband's face in years. A jolt went through her, an emotion she couldn't immediately name. It was hot and unpleasant, a clenching in her gut.
Then, she began to read the comments.
"Director Baek is a total gem!"
"I wish he would smile at me like that."
"He's so charming, I wonder if he's single."
"His wife is so lucky. Is she even nice to him?"
The last comment was like a match to a fuse. A possessive, primal rage flared within her. The nerve of them! The gall of these people to discuss her husband as if he were a commodity to be admired and claimed. Her mind, so used to compartmentalizing her feelings for Hyun-woo, suddenly snapped.
A silent, fierce thought screamed through her mind: He's mine. Baek Hyun-woo is mine.
She may have been cold, she may have pushed him away, she may have treated him with disdain, but he was hers. He was hers to fight with, hers to argue with, hers to silently cherish and hers to protect from the world. He was hers and hers alone. The idea of these simpering, giggling women eyeing him, claiming him with their whispers and comments, was an unbearable insult. The fact that he was radiating a charm she hadn't seen in years, a charm that was now captivating others, only intensified her fury.
Her facade of cool indifference cracked, revealing the fiery core of a true queen whose possession was being threatened. Her hands clenched around the phone. The detached curiosity she had felt earlier vanished, replaced by a surge of pure, unadulterated possessiveness and anger.
She looked up at Secretary Na, her eyes burning with an intensity that brooked no argument. "Call him," she commanded, her voice low and dangerous. "Tell him to come to my office. Now."
Secretary Na, who had rarely seen her boss so visibly flustered, gave a small, knowing nod. The game, it seemed, had officially begun. The Queen of Tears was about to face the man who had just stolen her spotlight, and she was not happy about it.