For a moment, silence fell. Employees exchanged glances, murmuring agreement. But then Tai shifted in her seat, her eyes narrowing with realization. She turned toward Nari Hana and spoke aloud, her words firm.
"Wait… this idea—this isn't new. Nari Hana, this was yours, wasn't it?"
The room stilled. Dozens of eyes turned toward the young woman sitting quietly at the corner. Tai leaned forward, determined.
"I saw it. The draft on your desk. You were the one who suggested reworking the cream project if competition grew too strong. Tell them, Nari Hana. Tell Mr. Lang the truth. This isn't Yui's brilliance—it's yours."
Gasps rippled through the employees. Nari Hana's chest tightened, her trembling hands gripping the edge of the table. Seojin's piercing blue eyes were on her now, demanding, questioning, burning.
And Yui—her smirk faltered, her knuckles tightening against the chair as she hissed inwardly. No. Don't you dare take this from me, Nari Hana. Don't you dare..
The atmosphere in the meeting room grew heavier with every passing second. Nari Hana's calm smile trembled faintly, but she kept her head lowered.
"No… this isn't about credit," she said softly, her voice steady yet fragile. "Even if I tell you this plan was mine, no one will believe me. It will only sound like an excuse. What matters is saving the company."
Her quiet words echoed in the tense silence. Tai clenched her fists, her voice rising with emotion.
"Nari Hana! Don't lie to yourself! I've seen it with my own eyes. This was your idea. You worked for days without sleep on those formulas, and this thief—Miss Yui—stole it. Why are you pretending otherwise?"
Nari Hana forced a faint, weary smile, hiding the sting in her heart.
Seojin's sharp gaze shifted from one face to another, but finally, his dark eyes rested only on her.
"Miss Nari Hana," he spoke with calm authority, "I want to hear from you. Which plan do you think is right?"
The employees whispered among themselves, throwing curious glances between their cold CEO and the timid woman beside him. A playful murmur rose from the crowd.
"Look at the way he asks her… Mr. Lang clearly favors Miss Nari Hana more than Miss Yui."
The gossip was not quiet enough. Yui heard it, and her blood boiled. Her nails dug into her palm as she bit back her rage. Favor her? Let's see how long she can survive once I'm finished with her.
Nari Hana inhaled slowly, then lifted her head. Her eyes shimmered with determination as she answered, "Mr. Seo… I believe Miss Yui's suggestion has merit. With only one week left, starting an entirely new project would mean disaster. Instead, we should focus on reclaiming the shares we've lost. If we rush blindly, our employees will work under fear and pressure, and mistakes will be inevitable. But…"
She paused, her voice firming. "If we upgrade the existing formula, we can create something stronger, different from what was stolen. Our cream will become unique again—better than the copy they hold."
The room fell silent. Every employee turned toward her, nodding slowly in agreement. Even Seojin, who rarely showed emotion, leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed solely on her as if no one else existed.
"Yes…" he murmured, his lips curving ever so slightly. "That is the path we'll take."
Relief washed through the room as murmurs of agreement spread. Employees bowed their heads, acknowledging the decision.
But before the relief could settle, the heavy doors of the meeting room swung open with a sharp clang.
Everyone turned. The assistant walked in hurriedly, holding a file and looking pale. His voice shook as he spoke.
"Mr. Lang… we found out who leaked the project."
A wave of suspense rippled through the employees. Seojin's sharp brows furrowed.
"Who?" he demanded coldly.
The assistant hesitated, his eyes flicking nervously toward Nari Hana before the words spilled out.
"It was… Miss Nari Hana."
The room erupted. Gasps, whispers, shocked stares—everywhere she turned, eyes burned into her like knives.
Yui's lips curled into a satisfied smirk, her eyes gleaming with triumph. Finally. This is your end, Nari Hana.
"No… it can't be!" Tai shouted, springing to her feet. "There must be some mistake!"
But the assistant continued, "The CCTV footage shows her. The face isn't clear, but the back… it looks exactly like her." He placed the laptop on the table. The video played—a figure moving in the shadows, slipping into the restricted files room.
Gasps filled the air again. And indeed, from the back, the figure resembled Nari Hana.
Seojin's expression turned stone-cold. His jaw tightened, his dark eyes burned with a mixture of anger and disbelief. Slowly, he turned to face her, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the chaos.
"Nari Hana…"
She froze under his gaze. Her lips trembled, her eyes wide, as if the ground beneath her feet had collapsed.
Everyone's murmurs blurred into a distant hum. All she could feel was Seojin's piercing stare—the same eyes that once softened at her smile now looked at her with suspicion.
Tears stung her vision, but she clenched her fists tightly, refusing to break.
Who framed me? Who wants me destroyed this badly?
And yet, in that moment, all she saw was Seojin's doubt—the very thing that shattered her hear.