[Kang Family Mansion – Engagement Night]

The ballroom shimmered under the glow of an extravagant chandelier, casting warm light on the powerful businessmen and their families, all dressed to impress. The air was thick with laughter and pleasantries, but for Jiwoon Kang, the scene felt suffocating—like a prison sentence that had no escape.

Beside him sat Yujin Seo, his soon-to-be husband. His presence was a constant reminder of how fate had cruelly bound them together.

Jiwoon clenched his fists under the table, his knuckles turning white. So this is how my life ends? Forced into a marriage with someone I don’t love?

His thoughts raced back to Minjae, the man he truly loved. The man who wasn’t here tonight—because of Yujin.

Jiwoon’s gaze shifted, fixing on Yujin. The man beside him seemed to have it all: soft brown hair, warm eyes, and a gentle smile that seemed so perfect for a husband. But to Jiwoon, Yujin was nothing more than an obstacle—an opportunist who had stolen his happiness and his future with Minjae.

The elders around them continued their cheerful chatter, oblivious to the tension in the room.

“This marriage is a match made in heaven!” Jiwoon’s grandfather beamed proudly, his voice filled with satisfaction.

Yujin smiled politely, though his heart ached with every word spoken. He wasn’t happy either. He didn’t want this marriage. But Jiwoon’s grandfather had begged him—pleaded with him.

“You’re the only one I trust to take care of him,” the older man had said.

And because Yujin had loved Jiwoon for as long as he could remember, he couldn’t refuse. For Jiwoon, I’ll do anything. Even this.

Jiwoon stood abruptly, his chair scraping harshly against the marble floor. Without a word, he reached for Yujin’s wrist, his grip tight and commanding.

“Let’s talk,” Jiwoon said coldly. “Alone.”

---

[Private Garden – Outside the Ballroom]

The cool night air hit them as Jiwoon dragged Yujin away from the festivities. They stood under the soft glow of the garden lights, the flowers around them a stark contrast to the tension that crackled between them.

Jiwoon shoved Yujin against the stone wall, his chest heaving with fury. His eyes burned with rage, but underneath it all, there was pain—raw and unfiltered.

“Are you happy now, Yujin?” Jiwoon’s voice was frigid. "You got what you wanted. You separated me from Minjae. Did you really think that forcing me into this marriage would make me love you?”

Yujin’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t known Jiwoon thought that way. He wanted to explain, but the words caught in his throat.

“Jiwoon, that’s not—”

“Shut up!” Jiwoon’s voice cut through the night air like a blade. “You disgust me.” His gaze narrowed, a bitter edge to his words. “And since you wanted to be my husband so badly… I’ll make sure you regret it.”

The words hit Yujin like a punch to the gut. The pain was unbearable. He had loved Jiwoon for so long—since they were children, in fact. He had waited for this moment, thinking that once they were married, Jiwoon would come to see him differently. But now…

Yujin’s breath faltered, his chest tightening with every word Jiwoon said.

This was only the beginning of his suffering.

---

End of Chapter 1

[Kang Family Mansion – The Day After the Engagement Party]

The morning after the engagement party, the mansion was quiet, too quiet for Jiwoon’s liking. The echoes of last night’s forced celebration still lingered in the air, but this time, Jiwoon didn’t want to face it.

He sat at the large mahogany table in the dining room, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of his coffee cup. The warm, bitter liquid did little to settle the growing unease in his stomach.

Yujin entered the room quietly, his presence filling the space with a sense of inevitability. He was dressed impeccably, as always—his tailored suit a reminder that everything about him seemed perfect. But Jiwoon knew better. He wasn’t fooled by appearances.

Yujin didn’t speak at first, his gaze softening as he took in Jiwoon’s brooding silence. His heart clenched at the sight of the man he had loved for so long, now distant and unreachable.

“I’m sorry,” Yujin finally said, his voice low. “I never meant for things to turn out this way.”

Jiwoon didn’t look up. His fingers tightened around the cup as he stared at the table, his mind consumed by thoughts of Minjae. Why does this have to be my reality now?

“You didn’t mean for this to happen?” Jiwoon finally muttered, his tone dripping with bitterness. “Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because it doesn’t.”

Yujin stepped closer, his heart racing. He reached out a hand, but stopped short when Jiwoon flinched.

“I wanted to be the one to protect you, Jiwoon. I’ve always wanted that,” Yujin said, his voice filled with pain. “But I never wanted to take Minjae’s place. You were never supposed to be forced into this.”

The mention of Minjae only made Jiwoon’s chest tighten with anger and sorrow. He finally looked up, meeting Yujin’s gaze, his expression hardening.

“Well, here we are,” Jiwoon said coldly. “You wanted this. Now I’m stuck with you, and Minjae’s gone. You’ve taken everything from me.”

The words stung more than Yujin expected. He had known this would be hard, but hearing Jiwoon’s raw anger was something else entirely. He had never wanted to hurt Jiwoon. All he had wanted was to be the one by his side, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.

“I never meant to take Minjae’s place,” Yujin whispered, his voice barely audible. “I just... I couldn’t let you be with him. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you.”

Jiwoon’s heart skipped a beat. The confession was unexpected, a raw admission of Yujin’s feelings. But it only made Jiwoon feel more conflicted. He was angry—no, furious—but there was something in Yujin’s eyes that made him hesitate.

Why did you do this, Yujin?

Before he could say anything else, the door to the dining room swung open, interrupting the fragile moment between them. Jiwoon’s mother, elegant as ever, entered with a bright smile, as if nothing had happened.

“Good morning, Jiwoon! Yujin,” she greeted them cheerfully, as if the night before hadn’t been filled with tension and conflict.

Jiwoon’s mother moved to the table and set down a tray of pastries, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “I just spoke with your grandfather. The wedding is going to be even grander than the engagement. We’ll need to finalize the details soon.”

Jiwoon’s stomach churned at the thought. He wanted to say something, anything, but his mother’s words hung in the air like a trap. She had always been this way—oblivious to his feelings, focused only on appearances and status.

“I’ll have the wedding planners contact you both soon,” she added, her smile never wavering. “The sooner we finalize everything, the better.”

Yujin, sensing the change in the atmosphere, stepped back, his gaze lingering on Jiwoon’s face. He could see the pain behind the cold façade. But there was nothing he could do now. The wheels were in motion, and the marriage was inevitable.

Jiwoon stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back with a screech that echoed in the quiet room.

“I need some air,” he muttered, before walking out, leaving both Yujin and his mother in stunned silence.

---

[Private Balcony – Moments Later]

Jiwoon stepped onto the balcony, the cool breeze hitting his face as he leaned against the railing. The vast grounds of the Kang family estate stretched out before him, but none of it mattered. His thoughts were with Minjae, the person he had loved and lost.

“I can’t do this,” Jiwoon whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. “I can’t live this life.”

But there was no turning back now.

---

End of Chapter 2

[Kang Family Mansion – The Day After the Engagement]

The morning light filtered weakly through the curtains as Jiwoon sat at the dining table, his hands trembling slightly as he picked at his food. The heaviness in his chest hadn’t lifted. His mind kept drifting back to the events of last night—the painful confrontation with Minjae, the anger, the helplessness. He could still feel the ghost of Minjae’s touch, his words echoing in Jiwoon’s mind.

You still have a choice, Jiwoon.

But there was no choice. Not anymore.

Jiwoon’s gaze flickered toward Yujin, who sat across from him, quietly eating his breakfast. Yujin’s presence, once comforting, now felt suffocating. Every time Jiwoon looked at him, he was reminded of the shackles that bound him. A marriage that he never asked for, a future he never wanted.

This isn’t my life, Jiwoon thought bitterly. This isn’t who I am.

Suddenly, without warning, Jiwoon stood up, the chair scraping harshly against the floor. Yujin looked up, startled by the abrupt movement.

“What’s wrong, Jiwoon?” Yujin asked softly, his voice gentle as always.

But Jiwoon’s eyes were dark with rage now, the calm façade crumbling.

“You,” Jiwoon spat, his voice cold and venomous. “You’re what’s wrong.”

Yujin blinked, confusion flashing across his face. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” Jiwoon growled, stepping closer to Yujin. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You know this marriage is a prison to me, and yet you act like everything is fine. Do you think this is what I want? Do you think I want to be here with you?”

Yujin’s face faltered, his smile faltering, but he said nothing. He had always been patient with Jiwoon, always trying to be the perfect husband, but now, he could see the storm in Jiwoon’s eyes, the fury he could no longer contain.

“I… I never wanted this either, Jiwoon,” Yujin said quietly, trying to reach out to him. “But you have to understand—this is what your family wanted. It’s what we agreed to. I’m not your enemy.”

“You’re not my enemy?” Jiwoon’s voice rose in anger, and without thinking, he grabbed Yujin’s arm, jerking him forward so their faces were inches apart. His grip tightened around Yujin’s wrist, and he could feel the pulse under his fingers. Yujin winced but didn’t pull away. He never did.

“But you’re still here, aren’t you?” Jiwoon’s voice dropped to a whisper, thick with disgust. “You think I don’t see it? You think I don’t see how much you want this? How much you need this marriage? You wanted me, didn’t you? You’ve always wanted me.”

Yujin’s lips parted, but Jiwoon didn’t let him speak. His anger flared again, a burning rage that seemed to consume everything. Why does it always come back to this? Why do I feel trapped, suffocated by all of this?

“I never wanted you, Yujin,” Jiwoon spat, his face contorting in anger. “I never wanted this life. I never wanted you.”

With that, he shoved Yujin backward, sending him crashing into the edge of the table. Yujin stumbled but caught himself, his body shaking with the sudden force. He looked up at Jiwoon, hurt flashing in his eyes.

Jiwoon could see the pain in Yujin’s eyes, and for a split second, guilt washed over him. But it didn’t last. His rage was too overpowering, too consuming. He stepped forward again, shoving Yujin against the wall with all his strength.

“You think you can fix this?” Jiwoon’s voice was almost a growl. “You think you can make me love you by forcing me into this marriage? You think you can fix the mess you made of my life?”

Yujin’s chest rose and fell with each shallow breath. His face was pale, but he said nothing. He just stood there, as if he were accepting every word Jiwoon spat at him.

“Answer me, Yujin,” Jiwoon demanded, his hand tightening around Yujin’s shirt, pulling him close. “Is this what you wanted? To break me? To make me into something I’m not?”

Tears welled in Yujin’s eyes, but he didn’t speak. His silence was like a slap to Jiwoon’s face, and that only made his fury grow.

“Stop hiding behind this pathetic act of kindness. Stop pretending like you didn’t know what you were doing when you agreed to this marriage.” Jiwoon pushed him harder against the wall, the words coming out in a desperate, broken whisper. “You knew this would destroy me, and you still chose it.”

Yujin’s face crumpled, and for the first time, Jiwoon saw the true extent of the pain he had caused. Yujin didn’t respond with anger. He didn’t fight back. He simply looked at Jiwoon, the quiet despair in his eyes speaking volumes.

“I’m sorry,” Yujin whispered, his voice barely audible. “I never meant to hurt you.”

The words hit Jiwoon like a punch to the gut. He staggered back, his own breath coming in ragged gasps. For a brief moment, everything went silent. The anger, the hate, the guilt—they all crashed together in a tangled mess inside him.

But before he could process it all, Yujin took a tentative step forward, his hand reaching out.

“Jiwoon,” Yujin said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. And I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes.”

Jiwoon’s heart twisted painfully, but he couldn’t bring himself to respond. Instead, he turned away, leaving Yujin standing there, broken, and alone.

---

End of Chapter 3