“Then you absolutely must attend. He’s a true benefactor, to think he holds you in such high regard. It seems the Prosecutor General thinks very highly of you.”Her voice brimmed with pride and satisfaction, and I let out a relieved breath.“Yes, Mother. That means this week will be difficult. It’s a shame—if you’d told me sooner, I could have declined.”At the deliberately added remark, my mother responded just as I’d expected.“Oh, nonsense. Of course you should go to the party. We can see each other any time—we’ll make time later.”She concluded in her characteristically affectionate tone.“I’ve always been proud of you, my daughter.”“Thank you, Mother. I love you.”I uttered the practiced pleasantries, heard the same words in return, and then hung up. Only afterward did a long, weary sigh escape me.Fatigue washed over me, and I slumped back against the bed. But there was no time to rest. I reached for my phone and hit the speed-dial button. While rubbing my throbbing temples, I waited for the call to connect, and soon the voice I’d been awaiting came through.“Ah, Prosecutor General. This is Chrissy Jin.”“Oh, Chrissy. What can I do for you at this hour?”My superior’s pleasant greeting sounded through the line. It felt a bit awkward to change my mind after only half a day, but there was no room for pride.“About the party you mentioned—I’d like to attend as well.”“Is that so?”He brightened immediately.“Good thinking. It’s too valuable an opportunity to pass up, isn’t it? You’ll enjoy it, I promise.”Relieved by his warm response, I asked,“Thank you. Where should I go?”“I’ll send you the address right away. Some people come Friday night, others arrive Saturday during the day—you can come whenever it’s convenient for you.”He laughed heartily.“Some odd ones say they’ll show up Saturday evening—what a waste, if you ask me.”He added that he planned to arrive early Saturday morning. I said, “Very well,” and brought up the matter weighing on me.“Excuse me, but I have no one to accompany me. Is it acceptable for me to attend alone?”At gatherings like this, a partner was usually mandatory. That was one reason I’d always avoided these events. I didn’t want to advertise my personal boundaries, and I’d spent years dealing with my urges casually, without a steady partner. Faced with that practical dilemma, I braced myself—but the Prosecutor General just laughed it off.“Oh, of course. Don’t worry. Some people come solo. And who knows? You might even find someone there—not to be too forward.”Finishing with a tone of genuine warmth, he added,“Don’t work yourself to death, Chrissy. You never know—you might meet someone who suits you at this gathering.”“Thank you. I’d be happy if that happened.”I deflected his comment with practiced ease—though I felt nothing of the sort. He then reminded me to bring a change of clothes and a swimsuit, “just in case,” before we ended the call.When the line went dead, the silence felt oppressive. I exhaled sharply. It was a relief not to have to scramble for a plus-one, but most attendees would surely bring partners. Still, the awkwardness of arriving alone was nothing compared to meeting that despicable man. After all,’d I recalled how I’d rather risk breaking my leg by sprinting into traffic than endure being coupled up among strangers.All that remained was to pack and leave the studio. I’d once tried a similar ruse: when my mother suggested meeting because she had business nearby, I’d lied about another appointment and stayed home. To my horror, she and Father showed up unannounced—and I was caught red-handed. Forced to concoct a flimsy excuse about a canceled meeting, I’d ended up dragged around for hours with that revolting man.So I couldn’t risk lying and staying home this time. My mother might not come, but she could—and would—drop by at any moment. And I had no way of knowing when. The best plan was simply to be gone.Hiding out in a café or elsewhere was no guarantee for someone as unlucky as me. He would inevitably find me. I needed to put as much distance between us as possible—and soon, so that if by the slimmest chance we did cross paths, I could truthfully say I hadn’t been hiding.And I couldn’t let my mother realize I was deliberately avoiding the man she’d loved all her life—couldn’t let her see how I despised him.As soon as I hung up, I packed a small bag with fresh clothes and shoes, and saw the address message waiting. Plugging it into my navigation, I realized the villa was well outside the city. After calculating the travel time, I prepared to depart. To avoid any surprise visits, I left before dawn. As I drove out of town and watched the sunrise over unfamiliar roads, I felt a sense of liberation. It was no exaggeration—I was escaping my own dreadful past. A short exclamation slipped from my lips.“Thank God—it’s Friday!”I arrived near the destination in the ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) early morning and intentionally parked a bit away, planning to wait until a more inconspicuous moment—when a crowd, including the Prosecutor General, had gathered—so my arrival wouldn’t draw attention.After dozing briefly to blink away the weariness of my early start, I glanced at the clock: nearly noon. Finally, I started the car and headed to the villa.“Chrissy, come right in!”As expected, a fair number of people had gathered, but spotting the Prosecutor General was easy. Passing through the gate and weaving between guests, I soon recognized his familiar bald head. I hurried toward him, and he spotted me in time, his face lighting up as he opened his arms in welcome.“Good afternoon, Prosecutor General. Thank you for inviting me.”I greeted him with a smile, and he enveloped me in a friendly embrace, patting my back.“No need for thanks—I’m hardly the host here.”Beside him stood his wife, whose gentle, mature face I knew. I offered a polite greeting to her as well.

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