Ren's world shattered in that very moment.
The woman he had desperately tried to push out of his mind stood right before him again — the same woman who haunted his thoughts no matter how hard he tried to bury them beneath work, exhaustion, or even the quiet presence of his fiancée, Etsuko… the woman who would probably soon become his wife.
Yet none of that seemed to matter now.
Because the moment Ren saw that older man leaning so comfortably beside Erika, speaking to her with such familiarity, something ugly twisted inside his chest.
He hated it.
Hated how close the man stood to her.
Hated the way Erika listened so calmly.
Hated how natural they looked together — as if he knew every side of her, every scar, every hidden emotion, every rise and fall of her life.
And Ren realized, with terrifying clarity, that no matter how much he tried to move forward…
A part of him still couldn't bear the thought of someone else knowing Erika the way he once did.
"How can someone be that desperate to sell themselves just for money…?"
The thought burned through Ren's mind before he could stop it.
His eyes never left Erika.
First the scandal.
Now this old man.
And this hotel…
"Erika… what the hell is wrong with this woman…?"
The words felt bitter even to him, yet the anger inside his chest refused to settle.
"Fuck…" he muttered under his breath.
His knuckles turned white around the glass in his hand while his jaw clenched so tightly it almost hurt. Every nerve in his body screamed with irritation the longer that man stayed near her.
And the worst part?
Ren knew he had no right to feel this way anymore.
No right to care.
No right to be jealous.
No right to look at Erika as if she still belonged to him.
Yet if that old man dared to touch her again…
Ren wasn't sure he could stop himself from throwing a punch.
He deliberately turned his gaze toward Etsuko, forcing himself to ignore the lingering thoughts from that car ride… and whatever strange interaction he had shared with Erika.
He shouldn't care.
That chapter of his life was supposed to be over.
Yet somehow, it stung.
It stung not to look at her.
Not to notice her.
Not to wonder whether she had glanced at him even once since entering the hotel.
So instead, Ren focused on Etsuko.
On her soft voice.
On the elegant smile resting on her lips as she spoke about something he barely processed anymore.
But then—
A sound reached him.
Erika's laughter.
Quiet. Genuine. Unrestrained.
His fingers stiffened slightly around the fork in his hand.
From across the restaurant, Erika sat at that table beside the older man, laughing softly at something he had said. And for some reason, that sound alone irritated Ren more than it should have.
Because she looked comfortable there.
As if she truly wanted to be beside him.
As if she belonged there.
Ren's jaw tightened subtly while he kept his eyes fixed on Etsuko, pretending not to notice any of it.
Pretending the sound of Erika's laughter wasn't slowly clawing its way beneath his skin.
"Ren… what's wrong?"
Etsuko's voice was soft, almost careful, yet the quiet concern within it pulled him back to reality instantly.
His eyes shifted toward her.
And that realization hit him harder than it should have.
He was here with Etsuko.
On a date.
His fiancée sat right in front of him, dressed beautifully, trying to spend time with him while his mind remained completely occupied by another woman across the room.
Guilt twisted uncomfortably inside his chest.
Because he hadn't been listening to her at all.
Barely paying attention.
Barely responding.
Almost disrespecting her presence without even realizing it.
Etsuko deserved better than half-hearted answers and distracted glances.
Yet Ren couldn't deny the ugly truth pressing against his mind.
No matter how much he tried to focus on Etsuko…
A part of him was still painfully aware of Erika's existence in that room.
Ren parted his lips, about to say something to Etsuko—
But stopped.
The words refused to come out.
As if his throat had tightened too hard.
As if his lips had frozen, unable to form even a single sentence.
Then—
A gentle pat landed on Erika's shoulder.
Ren's eyes shifted instantly.
The older man leaned slightly closer toward her, his expression soft with concern before he carefully held her hand.
"Erika… you can lean on me for support. I'll always be there for you," he whispered in a low, reassuring voice.
And something inside Ren snapped.
The calm expression he had forced onto his face shattered completely.
His chair scraped lightly against the floor as he suddenly stood up, breathing unevenly.
Etsuko looked startled.
"Ren…?"
He bowed his head slightly toward her, avoiding her eyes completely.
"…Etsuko," he said hoarsely. "I don't want this relationship anymore."
Silence.
For a second, the entire world around them felt unbearably quiet.
Etsuko stared at him as if she hadn't heard properly.
Then her eyes slowly filled with tears.
"W-What…?"
Her voice trembled instantly.
"What happened so suddenly?" she whispered. "Did… did I do something wrong?"
Ren clenched his fists tightly at his sides.
"Etsuko—"
"Do you think I'm not good enough to be your wife?" she asked, tears slipping down her cheeks now. "I know I have flaws… but I'm trying… I'm really trying hard…"
Her voice broke completely by the end.
And for the first time that night—
Ren finally looked ashamed of himself.
Ren felt completely torn between Etsuko and Erika.
On one side stood Etsuko — the woman who had always devoted herself to him without asking for much in return.
She always checked where he was.
Whether he had eaten or not.
Whether he was sleeping properly or overworking himself again.
She cared for his well-being so naturally that Ren had started taking it for granted.
Yet despite all her affection, Etsuko was never demanding.
She never forced him to change.
Never pressured him for attention.
Never asked for expensive promises or grand gestures.
All she ever wanted was a little effort from the man who was supposed to become her husband someday.
A little affection.
A little honesty.
A little place in his heart.
And on the other side—
There was Erika.
A woman fate had thrown into his life through a ridiculous PR scandal that should have ended months ago.
Yet somehow, Ren found himself getting involved deeper and deeper into her world.
He learned about her struggles.
Her loneliness.
The burdens she carried behind that cold expression.
And now—
The thought of her sacrificing herself to an older man for the sake of money made something unbearable rise inside him.
Maybe it was anger.
Maybe jealousy.
Maybe guilt.
Or maybe Ren was simply terrified that while he stood hesitating between two paths…
Someone else would become the person Erika leaned on instead of him.
Ren stood up abruptly and pulled Etsuko into his arms before she could break down any further.
"Hey… hey, don't cry," he whispered shakily. "Not for a jerk like me, okay?"
Etsuko's fingers immediately clutched the fabric of his shirt as quiet sobs escaped her.
Ren closed his eyes for a brief second before gently cupping her tear-stained face in his hands.
"Etsuko," he murmured softly. "Are you listening to me, huh?"
But she only cried harder against him.
Outside the large glass windows, rain continued pouring endlessly across the city, the cold storm outside creating a painful contrast to the warmth and heartbreak trapped between them.
For once, Ren didn't know what to say.
Because no words could fix the damage he had already caused.
"I… I didn't want to let you go…" Etsuko whispered through her broken sobs.
And those words struck Ren harder than any accusation ever could.
Not anger.
Not hatred.
Not blame.
Just sadness.
Pure, helpless sadness from a woman who had truly loved him.
Ren slowly rubbed her back, his movements gentle and hesitant, as if he was trying to comfort wounds he himself had created.
But he couldn't do anything else at that moment.
No explanation came to his mind.
No excuse sounded good enough.
No apology felt worthy enough to ease the pain shaking in Etsuko's fragile frame.
So he simply held her there in silence.
Her quiet sobs echoed painfully against his chest while the rain continued pouring outside, drowning the city beneath endless gray.
And for the first time in a long while—
Ren felt truly helpless.
Erika quietly walked past their table, her heels echoing softly against the polished floor while the rain outside continued pouring endlessly against the glass windows.
Ren was still holding Etsuko close, one hand resting against her back as her quiet sobs slowly softened against his chest.
And then—
Erika looked up.
For the first time that entire night, their eyes met properly.
The moment froze around them.
Erika's gaze slowly landed on Ren holding Etsuko in his arms so gently, so carefully, as if he was afraid she would break apart completely if he let go.
Ren felt his breath hitch.
Because something inside Erika's expression changed in that instant.
Not anger.
Not bitterness.
Just a quiet ache hidden behind her calm eyes.
As if seeing him comfort another woman had finally reminded her that she no longer had a place beside him anymore.
Neither of them spoke.
Yet the silence between their eyes said far more than words ever could.
And before Ren could react—
Erika lowered her gaze slightly and walked past him without saying a single word.
When it comes to matters of the heart, people do not always get what they truly want.
Sometimes love is not about holding on desperately until the very end.
Sometimes…
Love is knowing when to let go.
To step away quietly despite the ache in your chest.
To watch someone belong to another person while pretending your heart does not break from it.
To choose their happiness even when it no longer includes you.
And perhaps that was the cruelest part of love.
Not betrayal.
Not distance.
Not even heartbreak.
But the painful realization that no matter how deeply two people cared for each other…
Timing could still pull them apart.
Or maybe… it was never about letting go at all.
Maybe it was simply a cruel tragedy hidden beneath layers of misunderstanding.