A brief silence followed the unexpected demand.
The hands that had been drinking whiskey and cutting into steak stopped, and soon every gaze turned toward one place.
The man casually ignored the attention of his companions, reached into his inner pocket, pulled out a bundle of cash, and waved it.
“With this much, you have more than enough reason to crawl over on your knees.”
Come on. All the way to me. On your knees.
His eyes said it all.
Under the glaring spotlight, Ria steadied her breathing and looked straight at the man.
Perhaps this entire situation was Baek Shin-woo’s intention. The hostility directed at her and the humiliating demand both felt like a staged test.
Only then did Ria realize that this moment of humiliation was merely the beginning.
If that was the case, she had no choice but to endure it.
Ria bent her knees toward the man. Before the cold marble could seep into her skin, what overwhelmed her was the man’s mockery—and the manipulation of Baek Shin-woo hidden behind it.
With every movement of her knees, the floor dug painfully into her skin. Yet deeper than the physical pain was the man’s gaze.
Ignoring her humiliation, she moved toward him and stopped before the man who looked down at her as though she were some small animal.
“You came.”
So you really came. Do you like money that much?
His eyes seemed to ask the question.
“Yes, because you gave me sufficient reason to, sir.”
As though he found her ridiculous, the man poured champagne into an empty glass and took a sip. Then he raised the glass and poured it directly over Ria’s head.
The sweet scent accompanied the sticky liquid as it ran down her forehead.
Her eyes stung, but Ria didn’t touch them. She simply stared at the man.
He shook the bundle of cash and scattered it across the floor.
Several bills landed on her wet hair.
He casually muttered,
“Boring.”
He looked like a child who had already grown tired of his game. He crushed the bills beneath his feet before meeting Ria’s eyes.
“Still, you went through the trouble of coming, so take it. It would’ve been more fun if that bastard had seen it too. But I guess he’s busy pretending to be important.”
His chin pointed toward the scattered bills, but his gaze was fixed on Baek Shin-woo standing on the terrace.
Ria stood and picked up the scattered bills one by one.
The man watched her while pouring himself another drink. Although there were many people in the room, everything had fallen strangely silent.
Ria did not put the money into her pocket. Instead, she placed all the bills on the table.
Whether she took the money or returned it, she would be mocked either way.
“Why? Is it not enough?”
The man emptied the amber-colored whiskey in one gulp, then slowly spun the glass in his hand.
