The private jet landed smoothly at Jeju International Airport. The transition from the sterile luxury of the plane to the coastal air was jarring—the island's air was warm, humid, and carried the pungent scent of sea salt and volcanic earth, a world away from the controlled climate of Seoul's business district.
Waiting for them on the tarmac was a new, stark white Mercedes-Maybach, a statement of wealth designed to blend into the island's exclusive atmosphere. Min-Joon and Seo-Yun were quickly escorted through the executive exit. They were met by a local property manager, who bowed deeply.
The drive to the villa was long, winding through groves of dark green foliage and ascending hills that offered dramatic views of the sapphire-blue ocean. The villa itself was perched precariously on a cliff edge, an architectural marvel of glass and sharp, clean lines—a fortress of modern design overlooking the vast, untamed sea. Upon arrival, the staff—flown in specifically for the Chairman—was already in place, ready to cater to their every silent need. Min-Joon conducted a swift, five-minute inspection of the property, evaluating its security features and the readiness of the communication systems.
"Excellent," he pronounced, finally allowing a hint of relaxation to enter his voice. "Everything is exactly as documented. Seo-Yun, come see the master suite. The view is exceptional."
Seo-Yun followed him into the spacious master bedroom. The entire ocean-facing wall was glass, offering an unobstructed panorama of the horizon. She walked directly to the window, gazing out at the endless blue. She felt a connection to the raw, untamed nature outside—it mirrored the chaotic freedom she was about to embrace.
"It's beautiful," she said, her voice genuinely softer than it had been in days. "It truly is."
Min-Joon, however, was already back on a call with his chief of staff, Mr. Choi. He walked over to the integrated electronic control panel on the wall, checking the connection strength.
"Choi, I've settled in. Send me the final integration report on Sungjin. I want it on my secure tablet within the hour." He disconnected the call and placed his secure tablet—the device that linked directly to K.M. Holdings' server—on the bedside table.
Seo-Yun used the opportunity to slip into the luxurious marble bathroom, taking a moment to herself. She pulled out the hidden phone and confirmed to Joo-Hyuk: Code word: 'Horizon.' Confirmation of arrival and transfer success.
Joo-Hyuk's reply was almost instantaneous: Understood. Prepare for 'Sunset.' 22:00 hours.
'Sunset' was their final operational phase: the time set for Joo-Hyuk's boat rendezvous near the villa's private cove. 22:00 hours (10 PM). Only twelve hours left.
As she returned to the bedroom, Min-Joon was still focused on his tablet, frowning slightly.
"What is it, Min-Joon?" she asked, feigning concern.
"A minor glitch," he muttered, tapping the screen impatiently. "My secure server link is momentarily unstable. The Sungjin report file is delaying the download. It says the connection is being 'throttled' or experiencing a 'massive data saturation event.'"
The words 'massive data saturation event' hit Seo-Yun like a physical blow. Her heart leaped into her throat. Could the transfer—her massive, multi-billion won transfer from the jet—have caused a noticeable ripple in his hyper-secure system?
"Saturation?" Seo-Yun asked, keeping her voice light. "Perhaps the local service is slow? This is an island, after all."
Min-Joon shook his head, his irritation growing. "No, this is internal. K.M. Holdings' bandwidth is vast. This is highly irregular." He paused, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "It's as if a huge, unauthorized data stream was momentarily pushed through the network, slowing all legitimate traffic."
He picked up his desk phone to call his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Park. "Park, check the main server logs from 8:45 AM to 9:15 AM. I experienced severe throttling and 'data saturation' during the flight's ascent. I want a full forensics report on any large, unauthorized transfers or strange spikes in bandwidth usage."
Seo-Yun froze, her breath catching. Min-Joon was the master of detection; his mind immediately jumped to the logical, professional conclusion. He was looking for a technical fault or a corporate espionage attempt—anything but a marital betrayal. He had not, for a second, suspected the source was internal to his home life.
"Min-Joon," she interjected gently, walking over and placing a calming hand on his arm. "Please. It's Friday. It's Jeju. You need to switch off. Park will handle it; that's what you pay him for. The report will arrive when the system is clear."
The touch, the soft voice—the performance of the doting wife—had the desired effect. Min-Joon sighed, running his hand through his perfectly styled hair.
"You're right," he conceded, though the irritation lingered in his eyes. He set the phone down. "I am overreacting. It must be an external firewall glitch. But I want that report, regardless." He looked at her, his expression softening as he reminded himself of the purpose of the trip. "Come. Let's go for a walk down to the private cove. We have twelve hours before dinner."
The moment was saved by the strength of Min-Joon's professional hubris—his belief that any problem must originate from an external, corporate threat, not from the heart of his domestic fortress. The small 'glitch' would lead to a report, but Seo-Yun knew the data transfer was already masked by Joo-Hyuk's clever routing system. The investigation would be slow, tedious, and would likely point to an outside attacker attempting to probe the network—a necessary and expected risk for a company like K.M. Holdings.
As they walked hand-in-hand towards the scenic path leading down to the water, Seo-Yun felt the pressure slightly release. She had almost been caught by the very efficiency of her crime. Now, with the final phase set for 10 PM, she only had to endure the next few hours of her perfect, fake life, walking beside the man whose ruin she had meticulously planned. The vast, beautiful ocean lay before them, concealing both the impending sunset and the boat that would bring her freedom.