Late at night, within the hushed corridors of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.
Ara slowly opened her eyes, the world a blur of clinical white.
"Ah... what happened? Where am I?" she murmured.
As her vision cleared, the harsh fluorescent lights softened, revealing a figure standing before her. It was Cha Tae-jun. He stood with his arms folded, watching her with a calm, patient gaze.
Tae-jun spoke, his voice steady. "You called me saying someone was following you, and then you were attacked. You're in the hospital now."
The memories of the late evening began to flicker back to life. Ara sat up in bed, shifting slowly as a slight headache throbbed behind her temples. Finding herself mostly unharmed, she let out a long, relieved sigh.
She looked up at Tae-jun, her eyes softening. "Thank you for your help."
"No need to thank me," Tae-jun replied. "I've already called your brother; he should be here shortly. Furthermore, the person who attacked you has been identified. He's an anti-fan—someone who took offense to how you treated his favorite actress in your latest movie."
Ara nodded as she listened. While she held a deep sense of gratitude for him in her heart, the revelation of the attacker's identity brought a strange sense of peace.
In her world, such incidents were almost routine. At the very least, it wasn't related to the complexities of her family's business, which was a far more dangerous web to be caught in.
Tae-jun watched her, mildly surprised by how unfazed she seemed. However, he understood that as one's fame and prestige grew, such shadows often followed.
"Would you like something to eat?" he asked.
Ara shook her head gently. "No, thank you. I'm okay."
"Then I will be sitting just outside. If you need anything, let me know. Your phone is in your bag on the table nearby."
Ara gave a small nod. "Okay."
With a final glance, Tae-jun turned and stepped out into the quiet hallway.
A short while later, Kang Min-ho came racing toward the ward. Being the VIP wing on the 10th floor, the area was secluded and still. As the elevator doors slid open, he spotted Cha Tae-jun sitting silently on a bench.
He rushed over, breathless. "Is my sister okay? How is she?"
Tae-jun looked up, impressed by the genuine worry etched on Min-ho's face. He had always thought Min-ho and Eun-soo would make a perfect match, largely because of Min-ho's caring nature—a sentiment his father shared.
"She's alright," Tae-jun assured him. "She's already awake. You can go in and see her."
"Thank you," Min-ho replied, pushing open the heavy door to the room.
Inside, Ara was leaning against her pillows, idly scrolling through her phone.
Seeing her so composed, Min-ho's heart finally stopped racing. He hurried to her bedside. "Sister, are you truly okay?"
"I'm fine," Ara teased lightly. "What could possibly happen to me?"
Min-ho sighed, though his expression remained serious. "I was at the office when I got the call from Tae-jun. I was incredibly worried."
"It's nothing new," Ara said with a weary smile. "Just another anti-fan trying to cause trouble because of a villainous role I played."
Min-ho's gaze sharpened. "Even so, we cannot let this slide. I'll have my secretary contact our legal team. We need to ensure that person never comes near you again."
Ara nodded dismissively. "Sure, sure."
"And Sister," Min-ho added, his tone protective, "you should never be out alone like that. Why were you wandering the streets by yourself?"
"I was with my staff," she explained. "We were enjoying the evening at a cafe near my house. I thought I could make it home in just a few minutes."
Min-ho sighed again, knowing she wasn't wrong to want a moment of freedom, yet still unsettled by the result. "Still, promise me. From now on, don't go out alone."
"I'll remember this time," Ara promised. Then, she looked past him toward the door. "Where are Mom and Dad?"
Min-ho couldn't resist a smirk. "Still asking for Mom and Dad at your age?"
Ara's face flushed with a mix of shyness and irritation. "You... I think I haven't disciplined you enough lately!"
She reached out, catching Min-ho's ear and giving it a playful pinch.
Min-ho let out a dramatic, fake cry of pain. "Sorry, Sister! I won't do it again!"
Ara let go, nodding like a satisfied child. "You should behave properly."
"Now tell me," she prompted again. "Where are they?"
Min-ho rubbed his ear, grinning. "They're out of the country. They're in England on a business trip. I called them, and they said they'd return to Korea as soon as possible. Dad wanted to take the very first flight back, but Mom persuaded him to finish his work first since I told them you were safe."
Ara burst into a small laugh. She could perfectly imagine her father doting on her and fussing, likely getting into a mock argument with her mother about leaving the meeting early.
The siblings chatted for a while longer until Min-ho remembered their guest. "Wait here, Sister. I'll go tell Tae-jun he can head home. I'll stay with you."
"Go, go," Ara urged. "Don't waste his time. He's a very busy man."
Min-ho stepped back out into the hallway, where Tae-jun was still sitting, quietly focused on his phone.
Min-ho approached and gave a respectful bow. "Thank you, Mr. Cha, for helping my sister. I will find a way to thank you properly later."
Tae-jun stood and nodded. "I didn't do much. Since you're here, I'll take my leave."
With that, Tae-jun headed for the exit.
When Min-ho returned to the room and sat in the chair beside the bed, Ara looked up. "Did Mr. Cha go home?"
"Yes, he's gone," Min-ho confirmed.
Ara looked down at her hands. "Thanks to him, I was saved. I don't know what would have happened otherwise."
She then recounted the entire evening's events to her brother. Min-ho listened in silence, his expression thoughtful. "I really must thank him seriously," he muttered.
"I think I'll invite him to dinner," Ara added softly. "To thank him personally."
Min-ho's eyes widened, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Sister, if you like Cha Tae-jun, you don't have to hide it from me. I understand!"
Ara's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson. "What are you saying?! I'm inviting him for dinner just to express my gratitude!"
Min-ho laughed even harder. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say."
"Get out!" Ara shouted, her embarrassment turning into mock fury.
Seeing her reaching her limit, Min-ho finally stifled his laughter. "Sorry, Sister. I was just joking. Don't take it seriously. I won't do it again."
Ara huffed, gradually calming down. "You better not. Otherwise..."
"I know, I know," Min-ho said, smiling warmly. "I was wrong."
Ara nodded firmly. "That's more like it."