Fatescript

"He's By My Side"

                          🌸🌸🌸

The black car pulled up smoothly in front of the grand mansion, its headlights casting a soft glow across the manicured lawn. The security lights above the gate blinked gently as Jisoo stepped out, clutching her bag loosely in one hand. She leaned down slightly toward the rolled-down passenger window, where Seona sat beside the driver.

“Please bring my phone back quickly, hmm?” Jisoo said softly, flashing her a small smile. “And don’t forget to send that report tonight.”

Seona nodded with a playful salute. “Got it, ma’am. You relax now.”

“I’ll try,” Jisoo murmured with a knowing sigh, straightening up and watching as the car drove off into the night.

The driveway lights flickered softly as she turned back toward the entrance. Something made her pause. The mansion door was slightly ajar.

She frowned. That wasn’t usual.

Still, she pushed it open and stepped inside, heels clicking against the marble floor.

And there they were.

Sooyaa’s in-laws—seated stiffly on the formal living room couches, looking like they hadn’t moved in a while. Next to them sat Sooyaa, her eyes uncertain and restless, and across from her, perched with a composed yet cool expression, was Hwa-jin.

Jisoo quickly adjusted her posture and offered a polite nod. “Good evening,” she greeted, setting her bag down gently on the nearby table. “I didn’t expect company tonight.”

Hwa-jin's gaze didn’t waver. “Where were you?” she asked, her tone measured—but layered with something sharper beneath.

“I had some urgent matters to deal with,” Jisoo replied calmly. “It was regarding the investor situation. I had to step in myself.”

“With whom?” Hwa-jin asked pointedly. “Was it… Min Jae-hyun?”

Jisoo gave a small nod. “Yes.”

The room fell a shade quieter. Sooyaa looked down at her hands. One of the in-laws exchanged a glance with the other.

Then Hwa-jin spoke again—voice low, but laced with restrained disapproval. “Why?”

Jisoo looked at her, brows tightening just a bit. “Because he’s reliable, and we needed someone who could handle the risk with confidence.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Hwa-jin leaned slightly forward. “Why didn’t you ask me first?”

Jisoo blinked. For a moment, she didn’t respond. The silence in the room swelled with tension.

“I didn’t know I needed permission,” she finally said, voice even. “It was a business call. A necessary one.”

Hwa-jin’s expression darkened, her fingers tightening slightly around the armrest of her chair.

“You can’t just go around searching for investors like it’s a grocery list, Jisoo,” she said, her voice now firm—colder. “You can’t. Not when we already have a framework. It’s not okay to suddenly bring someone new into the project without a full discussion. Without me.”

Jisoo’s eyes didn’t waver. “Mr. Han backed out,” she said, voice composed but firmer now. “He was our main investor. I couldn’t let the project crash with him. I had no choice but to act fast before we let him walk completely.”

“I should’ve been informed!” Hwa-jin’s voice rose slightly, sharp enough to make even the in-laws glance away awkwardly. “You’re making executive decisions on things we built together. You don’t just bring someone like Min Jae-hyun into the fold like that.”