POV: Male Lead (Ahn Min-jae)
Ahn Min-jae didn't get jealous.
That was a fact—or at least, that's what he had always believed.
Until tonight.
Until he saw her laughing—at another man's joke.
---
The Unexpected Third Wheel
It had started as a simple hospital fundraiser.
Min-jae wasn't particularly fond of charity events, but as one of the hospital's biggest investors, he had to make an appearance.
And, as usual, Jung Ha-neul was there.
She looked… different.
Her usual messy bun and scrubs were gone.
Instead, she wore a sleek black dress, her hair cascading down her shoulders, a hint of makeup enhancing her already striking features.
Min-jae wasn't the only one who noticed.
Enter: The Problem.
Ha-neul was standing near the bar, engaged in conversation with a man in a navy suit.
The guy was tall, attractive, and clearly interested.
And Ha-neul?
She was smiling.
Min-jae's grip on his glass tightened.
---
The Slow Burn of Annoyance
Min-jae didn't move. Didn't approach.
But his eyes were locked on them.
He watched as the man leaned in slightly, saying something that made Ha-neul laugh.
It was a soft, genuine laugh.
Not the sarcastic, teasing one she usually threw his way.
Something in Min-jae twisted.
---
The Confrontation
Ha-neul was about to excuse herself when she felt a presence behind her.
A hand lightly touched the small of her back, and a familiar voice—calm but dangerously low—spoke beside her ear.
"Jung, I've been looking for you."
She turned her head slightly.
Min-jae stood beside her, his expression unreadable—but his grip on his whiskey glass was a little too tight.
The guy beside her glanced between them, raising an eyebrow. "You two know each other?"
Ha-neul smirked. "Something like that."
Min-jae's jaw tightened. "We're leaving."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
Min-jae didn't look at her. He simply tilted his head toward the exit. "Now."
The guy chuckled. "Hey, man, if she wants to stay—"
Min-jae finally turned to face him.
And for the first time, his cold CEO persona was in full effect.
"She doesn't," Min-jae said simply.
There was no room for argument.
The guy's smirk faltered, and he took a small step back. "Right. I'll, uh… see you around, Ha-neul."
Min-jae didn't even wait for her reaction.
He just walked off—fully expecting her to follow.
And the worst part?
She did.
---
A Heated Moment Outside
The second they stepped outside, Ha-neul whirled on him.
"What the hell was that?"
Min-jae kept walking toward his car. "You were wasting time."
"Wasting time?" She grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. "You just interrupted my conversation and dragged me out like some—some—"
"Some what?" he asked, voice dangerously soft.
Ha-neul faltered. His gaze was intense, his face just inches from hers.
Her pulse spiked.
"You were flirting with him," Min-jae said. It wasn't a question.
Ha-neul frowned. "So what if I was?"
Min-jae's jaw clenched. "You're a doctor. Not some idiot at a club looking for attention."
Ha-neul stared at him. Then, slowly, a grin spread across her face.
"Oh my god," she breathed. "You're jealous."
Min-jae scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."
"You totally are." She leaned in slightly. "Did CEO Ahn Min-jae just get territorial?"
He exhaled sharply, looking away. "Let's go."
"Nope. Not moving until you admit it."
"Jung—"
"Just say, 'Ha-neul, I didn't like seeing you talk to another man because I—'"
"Because you're mine."
The words left his mouth before he could stop them.
The teasing smile on Ha-neul's face froze.
Min-jae went still.
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, very quietly, Ha-neul whispered, "What did you just say?"
Min-jae stepped back. Regaining control. Rebuilding his walls.
"Nothing," he muttered. "Forget it."
He turned to unlock the car.
But Ha-neul just stood there, staring at him.
And for the first time, she realized—
He had meant it.
And now, she wasn't sure what to do with that.
---