spoilers

Tap, tap! Urgent footsteps sounded behind me. Han Ju-eon, who had run up with wide strides, finally grabbed my wrist.
“Wait a second, Won-ah… just wait a second.”
I glared at him with irritated eyes. Then Han Ju-eon, breathing heavily, pushed a pair of white sneakers in front of my feet.
“If the wound spreads any more from here, it'll be serious. It’s all my fault, so for now… just for now.”
“……”
“At least wear shoes.”
Only then did I realize it — that I was trying to go home without even wearing shoes. As he kept catching his breath, he knelt down in front of me. At that moment, a conversation we once had in front of the school came to mind.

‘Not even understanding how our Won feels… What should I do? Should I at least kneel down or something?’
‘Hhuek, you’re not gonna kneel anyway.’
‘Yeah, true. That would kill my pride.’

I realized then that Han Ju-eon had finally thrown away his pride. I had wanted it so badly — for Han Ju-eon to be desperate and earnest with me, even just once. This was exactly that moment. But now that I had it, it felt so petty and insignificant that it stirred nothing in me. My tightly closed lips moved on their own.

"I'm still seeing Jeong Hwa-ik."
"……."
"It's long-distance, but we meet up when we feel like it, eat together, have sex and all that."
Sex, my ass… I did feel bad for using Jeong Hwa-ik like this after he got dumped, but there was no other way. I decided to act even more shamelessly.
"It's just easier that way. I'm sick of clingy stuff, like someone."
"……."
"I'm planning to keep it that way."
At my finalizing words, Han Ju-eon rubbed his brow with an unreadable expression. I watched his face anxiously, wondering what kind of response would come. He might explode in anger like before, or spit out something harsh with his eyes blazing. If it was Han Ju-eon, it was entirely possible.
“Cool, just like kids these days.”
“…What?”
“I said, you’re cool.”
But what came out of his mouth had a completely different vibe.
Did I mishear him? I couldn’t take his words at face value and only tilted my head slightly.
Then Han Ju-eon, as if trying to help me understand, began to speak in a gentle voice.
“If you’re going to keep seeing him, then go ahead.”
“……”
“This time I’ll be the second. What else can I do? I was a total jerk to you too.”
I had nothing to say. It was true — Han Ju-eon had treated me like crap.
“I’ll quietly take my punishment. Even if it’s as the second, let Won make me that.”

But it was shocking that he, of all people, was clinging and even coveting the position of being second. To be honest, it was also burdensome.
"I… I don’t like middle-aged men with no money."
"……."
"You— you got kicked out of your executive position. I saw it on the news."
In the end, I decided to change my approach. I provoked his pride by bringing up the executive role he had lost. I thought that would finally drive him away.
"You think I can’t get that damn position back?"
"……."
"Don’t worry. I’m already sharpening my knife. I’ll snatch that executive seat back and hand it over to Won."
But it had no effect at all. As expected, he was someone far removed from normal communication.
My feet hesitated. Just as I was about to flee—
"Or should I just die early for you?"
He said something completely out of the blue.
"What… what did you say?"
I stopped in my tracks and looked up at him.
Han Ju-eon, paying no mind to the panic on my face, opened his mouth again.
"I’ve got full accident insurance coverage, you know."
"……."
"I’ll change the death payout to your name. At least enjoy that while dating a guy ten years older than you."
The dizzying confession made my vision spin.
"…He’s insane, this guy."
I instinctively let out a startled gasp out loud. At that, Han Ju-eon burst into laughter like he was enjoying himself. At the sight of his bright smile, something I hadn't seen in so long, my heart shook before I could even stop it. Eyes curved prettily, corners of his lips lifted cheerfully. The feelings I had tried to forcefully bury began to push up and out of my chest.
As I hurriedly tried to turn my gaze away, Han Ju-eon strode right up in front of me.
"How is it — am I starting to pull you in now?"
His sneaker and my shoe felt closer than ever before. Before I could come to my senses, he spoke first.
"No matter how I think about it, I must really be trash."
"……."
"I want to hold you, sleep with you, keep you by my side — I can't stand it."
The blunt confession left me dazed. At this rate, it was clear I'd get swept up by Han Ju-eon again.
"Not me. I… I’m sick to death of men like you now."
After catching the breath that had risen to my chest, I forced my voice to come out as cold and indifferent as possible.
"I don’t like married men, but I hate divorcés even more."
"……."
"It means I don’t want my life ruined again."
At my firm rejection, Han Ju-eon gave a bitter smile.
"So don’t come looking for me anymore."
"……."
"If you show up just one more time, I’ll run away with Jeong Hwa-ik."
At my bold words, Han Ju-eon’s brows drew together. I stared straight at his face, crumpled like paper, then took a step into the dark street. All I could hope was that today would finally be the end of him coming to me.

So does she still end up with Ju eon?

do u mind sending the link to the novel?

Where do u read the novel??