POV: Female Lead (Doctor – Jung Ha-neul)
Jung Ha-neul had always been good at reading people. It came with the job. A patient's body language often told her more than their words ever could.
And right now, something was off about Ahn Min-jae.
She had been pushing his buttons for weeks, trying to break through his icy exterior. And though he always remained composed, she had started to notice subtle things.
Like how his breathing sometimes faltered after a stressful conversation.
Or how he would press a hand against his chest for a fraction of a second before quickly hiding it.
It wasn't much. But it was enough.
---
The Incident
It happened on a quiet afternoon.
Ha-neul was making her rounds when she heard the sound of a glass shattering.
Her head snapped toward the source—Min-jae's private office.
Without hesitation, she rushed in.
What she saw made her heart drop.
Min-jae was gripping the edge of his desk, his face deathly pale. His breathing was shallow, his free hand clenched over his chest. A shattered glass lay on the floor near his feet.
"Min-jae!" she exclaimed, running toward him.
His head lifted slightly. His usual cold expression was gone, replaced with something she had never seen before.
Fear.
"Get out," he rasped.
Ha-neul ignored him. She grabbed his wrist, checking his pulse. Too fast. Irregular.
"You're having an episode," she said firmly. "Sit down."
He tried to pull away, but his strength was fading fast. "I don't—need—"
"Shut up and listen to me," she snapped. "You're my patient now, whether you like it or not."
For once, he didn't argue.
---
The Vulnerable Side of Ahn Min-jae
Min-jae sat down, struggling to control his breathing. Ha-neul knelt in front of him, her voice softer now.
"Slow breaths. Inhale through your nose, hold for three seconds, exhale slowly."
To her surprise, he actually listened.
His breathing steadied slightly, but his hand remained over his chest.
"You have a heart condition," she stated. It wasn't a question.
Min-jae exhaled sharply. "It's none of your business."
"Too late. I just made it my business."
He didn't respond, but she could see the exhaustion in his eyes.
"How long has this been happening?" she pressed.
He looked away. "Since I was a kid."
Something in her chest tightened.
She had been teasing him all this time, completely unaware that he had been carrying something so heavy.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, quieter this time.
His lips curled into a ghost of a smirk. "Because you're annoying enough without knowing my weakness."
Ha-neul rolled her eyes. "I should let you pass out, then."
He huffed a quiet laugh.
And for the first time since she met him, Ahn Min-jae didn't look like a CEO.
He looked human.
---
Min-jae's POV: A Moment of Weakness
Min-jae hated feeling weak.
He had spent his entire life proving that he didn't need anyone. That he could handle things alone.
But today…
Today, he had let Jung Ha-neul see a side of him that no one else had.
And the worst part?
He didn't hate it as much as he should have.
—