“Oh, but I haven’t seen Jas in a month! I just saw you at the branch last week, didn’t I? You’re so greedy, Father, borrowing my precious Jas like this,” Yua teased with a bright smile.
“Father,” Yua said sweetly, making Marc’s face twitch with concern.
“S-stop that, Yua. Whenever you use that voice, nothing good comes of it.”
“Oh, how cruel, Father. Didn’t you hear our conversation earlier? What do you think of my proposal?”
“Yes, yes, I heard. It’s an interesting idea. We don’t have many products aimed at younger customers. But, just last week, Larshe mentioned the fragrance line. That seems like a safer bet, business-wise, so perhaps as a company, we should focus on that…”
“Of course! And we’ll launch the younger line alongside it! Right?”
Yua clasped her hands in front of her chest and tilted her head adorably. Marc quickly surrendered.
“Alright, Yua. But write up a proper proposal and analyze the potential profits first. We’ll talk after that.”
“I love you, Father!”
Yua hugged her father tightly and kissed him on the cheek. Marc’s face softened, melting into a dopey smile.
Darren, on the other hand, was pointing at Yua, eyes wide in disbelief. His mouth hung open, and his finger trembled as if he couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing.
“Y-Y-Y-Yua?”
The Yua Darren remembered was small for her age, flat, always looking down, introverted, and dependent on him. She used to hide behind him, incapable of doing anything without his help.
But the Yua standing before him now had sparkling eyes, brimming with energy and charm. In the short time she’d been there, she’d already captured the attention of everyone around her, radiating an irresistible allure. Somewhere during their time apart, it seemed she had gone through a growth spurt, transforming like a butterfly from a cocoon into a woman with a curvaceous figure, a full chest, a slim waist, and an undeniable sensuality.
“You—you’ve become so beautiful, Yua. I missed you so much while you were away,” Darren said, his voice gentler than ever, even sweeter than in the past. It was the kind of voice that, in the old days, would have made Yua blush and run into his arms.
But the Yua standing before him now was different. She looked at him with curiosity, as if she didn’t quite understand.
“Huh? Darren? What are you doing here?”
“Darren started working at our trading company. Didn’t I tell you when we met at the branch two years ago?” Marc said, holding back laughter as he explained. Yua’s disinterest in Darren, so unlike the past, was almost amusing to him.
Marc had long since realized Darren’s two-faced nature. He felt embarrassed that he had ever considered entrusting his precious daughter and the company to such a man.
“Oh, did you? I was so busy back then, running around between the factories, clients, and the town hall. And Father took Jas away from me, which made things even harder. It was tough, you know?”
“Really? I’m sorry about that. We were swamped with product inquiries at the time. I remember you were quite busy running around. Anyway, let’s reintroduce you.”
With that, Marc formally introduced Yua to Darren.
“Yua, this is your childhood friend Darren. He joined the company right after he graduated two years ago.”
“Congratulations on your job, Darren! It’s been a while. I’m glad you’ve joined the company! I’m still working at the branch for now, so it looks like we won’t be working together at the main office just yet,” Yua said with a bright smile, shaking Darren’s hand. There was nothing in her gaze but the warmth one might show to a colleague.
“Yua... you knew Darren?” Jas asked, wrapping an arm around Yua with a smile, though his eyes, which were now directed at Darren, had none of the friendly politeness they’d shown before. They were cold and hostile, as if looking at a pest.
“Of course! Darren and I are childhood friends. I used to follow him around everywhere before I went to study abroad!” Yua said with a nostalgic smile, and Darren nodded happily. Jas’s gaze grew even colder, but Darren was oblivious.
“Come to think of it, wasn’t it thanks to Darren that I decided to study abroad? Why was that again? I think I didn’t want to keep relying on Darren forever, so I made up my mind to leave...” Yua tilted her head in thought. Ever since she went abroad, her life had changed at a dizzying pace. Although the time before her departure had been much longer, she could barely recall it. Perhaps it was because she’d spent her days sheltered by Darren and her parents, with no significant changes in her life.
“Studying abroad because of me? Wait, wasn’t it because your grandmother’s health was declining?” Darren asked, confused.
“My grandmother? She’s as healthy as ever,” Yua replied with a puzzled look. Ever since Yua had started living with her, her grandmother had become even more vibrant, full of life, and undoubtedly the most energetic person in her uncle’s household.
Jas was the only one who noticed Marc looking awkwardly away as the conversation unfolded. Darren, meanwhile, was utterly confused. What was going on? This stunning, charming, and sensual Yua was nothing like the gloomy girl he had known. She was a completely different person. And why was Yua so indifferent to him now? Before, she had clung to him constantly, but now her gaze lacked even a trace of the warmth she used to show him. Her closeness to Jas was also unsettling. A chill ran down Darren’s spine as panic set in.
What had happened to her while they were apart?
Darren didn’t know.
Darren had no idea that when Yua moved to the neighboring country, she began working at the Lester Trading Company’s branch while attending school, determined to transform herself.
He didn’t know how the once-shy girl worked hard, interacting with customers despite her initial mistakes, gradually winning them over and becoming the branch’s star attraction, boosting sales in the process.
Nor did he know that, after becoming involved in product development, Yua was rigorously trained by her uncle, who, while indulgent toward her as his niece, was a strict businessman. Through her achievements, she gained confidence, raised her head, and, with her smile, began to captivate everyone around her.
Initially, Yua had a faint crush on Jas, who was her mentor at the time. But as Yua grew stronger and more capable, Jas fell deeply for her, secretly ensuring no other man could get close to her. Now, they were madly in love, completely devoted to each other.
Jas had already won over both Marc, the head of the Lester Trading Company, and Larshe, the branch manager, long ago. It had already been decided that Yua would inherit the company, and that she and Jas’s future children (more than two, guaranteed) would become the heirs of both the main office and the branch.
Jas was fully aware that Darren, in his delusions, still entertained the fantasy that Yua might lean on him as she used to and that he might somehow take over the company. Jas would completely, mercilessly, and thoroughly crush those hopes.
Moreover, when Yua returned to the main office, her old classmates, shocked at her transformation, greeted her warmly. They also quickly realized that Darren’s long-standing claims that he was destined to become the heir to the Lester Trading Company had been utterly baseless. This discovery spread rapidly, and Darren soon became the laughingstock of his former peers.
But most of all…
Darren didn’t know that Yua’s transformation had been partly because of him, and partly thanks to him.
At the time, Yua didn’t resent Darren’s cruel words. She simply resolved to study abroad, not because of any hatred, but because she didn’t want to be a burden. She wanted to grow strong enough to walk alongside him. However, her life after studying abroad had been so stimulating and fulfilling that Yua had entirely forgotten about this reason.
Had Yua not heard Darren’s harsh words that day, perhaps the future Darren had imagined for himself—living the life of a happy heir—would have come true. But in reality, he had destroyed that future with his own hands.
Darren had no idea.
[The End]
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