Aera's hands were shaking as she entered the Chairwoman's office. The Chairwoman was behind her desk, looking at some papers, and didn't look up until Aera walked all the way over to her desk and was standing in front of her. 

"Hello-" Aera said, preparing to say her greeting, but Heeseung's mother held up a hand, stopping her mid-sentence and standing up. 

"Don't bother with the greetings," his mother told her. "I have no intention of getting to know you. And I just have just one thing to tell you." 

The Chairwoman took out an envelope and slid it across the desk to Aera. "Break up with my son." 

Aera stared at the envelope for a long moment, her mind taking a while to piece everything together. "What?" she whispered, looking up at his mother. 

"Break up with Heeseung." 

Aera pushed the envelope back towards her. "No. I won't." 

"You're not good enough for him," his mother snapped. "You're only going to drag him down. Go find someone else at your level. Take the money and be grateful," she said, this time picking up the envelope and throwing it at her. 

It hit Aera in the stomach and fell to the floor, some of the money spilling out. 

Aera looked at it, tears beginning to slide down her cheeks. "I won't," she said again. 

"What if I gave your father his job back, then would you?" 

"What did you just say?" Aera whispered, looking back up at the Chairwoman in horror.

The Chairwoman just smiled. "I fired him, but I can bring him back. All you have to do is break up with Heeseung. I'm telling you because I know he won't. And... don't you dare breathe a word of this to him, you got it? Or else I'll make sure you and your family suffers immensely."

Aera desperately wiped the tears from her face. She clenched her fists and dug her nails into her skin, hoping the pain would distract her from crying. It didn't work. 

"Think about it," the Chairwoman said, walking around the desk and towards the door. "I'm certain you'll come to the right decision." 

And then she left, leaving Aera there with her tears. 

***

A/N

✨drama✨