The grand hall of the Moonlight Hotel was adorned with chandeliers so dazzling they seemed to steal the glow from the stars outside. Rows of distinguished guests, clad in designer attire, whispered among themselves, their eyes flitting between the stoic groom and the bride, whose trembling hands clutched her bouquet.

It was a wedding fit for royalty, yet the atmosphere crackled with tension.

Jang Seohyun, heir to Jang Group, stood tall in his custom-tailored suit, his expression unreadable, his jaw clenched so tightly it could break glass. Across from him, Kang Hari, the woman who had no place in this world of wealth and power, barely concealed the storm brewing within her.

Hari felt suffocated. The weight of her wedding dress, the penetrating stares of the high society elites, and the glaring absence of warmth from the man standing beside her—all of it made her want to run. But there was no escape. She had signed her fate the moment she agreed to this marriage, or rather, the moment she had been forced into it.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant announced, his voice barely audible over the hushed murmurs of the guests.

Seohyun hesitated. So did Hari. They exchanged a glance that spoke of nothing but resentment. They both knew the truth—this wasn’t love. This wasn’t fate. This was a contract, a cage forged by the hands of their families.

The silence stretched too long, the weight of the moment pressing down on them. Seohyun’s fingers twitched at his side, unwilling yet resigned. With a stiff motion, he leaned in. Hari’s breath caught as his lips barely brushed against hers—a lifeless, empty touch that felt more like a transaction than a promise.

Polite applause erupted around them, masking the cruel smirks and knowing glances exchanged between the powerful elites who had orchestrated this event. Cameras flashed, immortalizing a moment neither of them wanted.

Hari’s grip on her bouquet tightened. Her heart pounded against her ribs, not from love, but from the suffocating weight of what had just happened. This was real. She was now tied to the man who had tormented her childhood, the man who looked at her like she was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Seohyun turned to her, his voice low enough for only her to hear. "Smile. Don’t embarrass yourself."

Hari’s lips curled up in a hollow, practiced curve. "Right back at you, dear husband."

The ceremony concluded, and they walked hand in hand down the grand aisle—two strangers bound by a contract neither of them had the power to refuse.

Hours Later - The Wedding Reception

The reception was an extravagant affair. Guests sipped on expensive champagne, chatting about business deals while pretending to celebrate the union. A string quartet played a soft melody in the background, but it did nothing to soothe the fire burning inside Hari’s chest.

She sat beside Seohyun at the head table, her posture rigid, her fingers clenched around her wine glass. Every now and then, a guest would approach them with false congratulations, their eyes filled with curiosity rather than sincerity.

“She’s quite pretty for a commoner,” one woman whispered behind a gloved hand to another, unaware—or uncaring—that Hari could hear.

“Too bad she doesn’t belong,” another added with a cruel smirk.

Hari’s nails dug into her palm beneath the table, but she kept her face neutral. She had expected this. She had prepared herself for the whispers, the judgment, the condescending smiles. But no amount of preparation could erase the sting.

Meanwhile, Seohyun sat beside her like a statue, his expression cold and impassive. He wasn’t offering her any reassurance, nor did she expect him to. To him, she was a problem that had been forced upon him, an inconvenience dressed in white.

A clinking sound cut through the chatter of the room. One of the senior executives from Jang Group stood, raising his glass. "A toast to the happy couple! To a prosperous future together!"

All eyes turned to Seohyun and Hari. They were expected to play their roles, to lift their glasses and smile as if they weren’t drowning in resentment.

Seohyun exhaled sharply and stood, lifting his champagne flute with effortless grace. "To a future that’s already been decided for us."

A few guests chuckled, but Hari heard the bitterness laced within his words. Gritting her teeth, she followed suit, raising her glass. "To a lifetime of surprises."

She took a sip, allowing the champagne’s sharpness to wash over her, masking the sour taste of her reality.

Later That Night - The Wedding Suite

The suite was grand, luxurious, everything that screamed wealth and power. Yet to Hari, it felt like a prison.

She stood by the window, staring at the city lights below. Seohyun was on the other side of the room, removing his tie with deliberate slowness. The tension between them was suffocating.

"Let’s get one thing straight," Seohyun finally spoke, his voice cold. "We may be married, but don’t expect anything more than what’s necessary. This isn’t a real marriage."

Hari turned to face him, her eyes burning with defiance. "You think I don’t know that? I didn’t choose this either."

A humorless laugh escaped his lips. "Then we understand each other. Stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours."

Hari scoffed. "You act like I wanted to be anywhere near you. You think I enjoy this? Being paraded around like a trophy, ridiculed by your world?"

Seohyun’s jaw tightened. He didn’t respond, but his silence spoke volumes. This wasn’t easy for him either, yet she refused to feel sympathy for him. He was still the arrogant chaebol heir who had made her life miserable growing up.

With a sharp exhale, Hari turned back to the window. "Good. As long as we stay out of each other’s way, this will be tolerable."

Seohyun didn’t reply. Instead, he grabbed a pillow from the bed and walked towards the couch.

“Where are you going?” Hari asked, crossing her arms.

“The couch,” he answered simply, lying down without another word.

Hari stared at him for a moment before letting out a scoff. “Suit yourself.”

She climbed into the massive bed, pulling the blanket over herself. The distance between them felt like an ocean, but neither of them cared.

As the night stretched on, both of them lay awake, staring at the ceiling, knowing that this was just the beginning of their unwanted entanglement.

And neither of them had any idea of the storm that was yet to come.

Fifteen years earlier...

The playground of Daehan Elite Academy shimmered under the early morning sunlight, a world of privilege wrapped in gleaming marble and gold-plated school emblems. Cherry blossom trees lined the pathways, their delicate petals drifting through the crisp autumn air, painting the ground in soft hues of pink and white. The laughter of children—children born into dynasties of power—echoed through the vast courtyard. They moved in perfectly arranged groups, their friendships dictated by status, their hierarchies set before they had even learned to read.

In a school where last names carried more weight than personality, there were two types of students: those born to rule and those who existed to serve.

And Kang Hari was the latter.

Dressed in a slightly faded, second-hand uniform, Hari clutched the straps of her backpack, her knuckles white with tension. The fabric of her sleeves was a little worn at the cuffs, a stark contrast to the spotless, tailor-made uniforms of the students around her. Even the air felt different here—thick with entitlement, a place where a child’s worth was measured in stock shares and bloodlines. This was her first day at Daehan Elite Academy, and she already knew she was an outsider.

Her mother’s words echoed in her mind: "Keep your head down, work hard, and don’t get involved with the rich kids."

Sound advice, but easier said than done.

Hari inhaled deeply, pushing back the weight of nerves pressing down on her chest. If she could just make it through the day unnoticed, everything would be fine. She just had to avoid unnecessary attention—

Thud.

A sudden impact jerked her forward, knocking her slightly off balance.

She barely had time to react before a sharp, shrill voice cut through the air.

“Hey! You stepped on my shoe, you little rat!”

A hush fell over the playground, like a switch had been flipped. The rhythmic chatter ceased, and dozens of eyes turned toward the scene, eager for a show. The atmosphere shifted—silent anticipation swirling like a storm cloud.

Hari turned slowly, dread curling in her stomach like a cold knot.

Her gaze dropped to the ground first, where a flawless, imported leather shoe sat dusted with the faintest trace of dirt.

Then, she looked up and met the sharp, glinting gaze of Jang Seohyun.

Even if she hadn’t recognized him, she would have known from the way the other students instinctively straightened their backs, from the way their eyes darted between the two of them, barely containing their amusement.

Jang Seohyun, the school’s prince. The heir to Jang Group, one of Korea’s largest conglomerates. A boy whose arrogance was as striking as his appearance. Golden-brown hair, neatly styled. Piercing dark eyes filled with disdain. A smirk that barely concealed his superiority.

Seohyun didn’t just own the school—he ruled it.

And Hari had just stepped into his crosshairs.

Her fingers curled around the straps of her backpack, her throat dry as she tried to form words. “I-I didn’t mean to,” she stammered. Her voice was small, barely above a whisper.

Seohyun scoffed, tilting his head slightly, as if considering whether her excuse was even worth acknowledging. He exaggeratedly dusted off his shoe, his expression twisting into mock disgust. “Do you even know how much these cost? Probably more than your entire house.”

Laughter erupted from the students around them—sharp, biting, cruel.

Hari felt her face heat, the humiliation settling deep in her bones. She wanted to disappear, to shrink into the ground, but she refused to let them see her break. Not here. Not in front of them.

A voice inside her whispered: Apologize again. Just apologize and walk away.

But another voice—smaller, angrier—burned inside her.

Why should I?

Why should she let them humiliate her when she hadn’t even done anything wrong?

She took a slow, steady breath, willing her voice to remain calm. “I said I didn’t mean to.” This time, there was no stammer. No hesitation.

Seohyun’s smirk faltered, just slightly.

Then, a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes, as if he had just discovered something interesting. A challenge.

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, his towering presence casting a shadow over her. “Did I just hear you talk back?”

The crowd gasped. No one—no one—talked back to Jang Seohyun.

Hari’s heart pounded against her ribcage, but she stood her ground. “I just think you’re overreacting,” she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. “It’s just a shoe. You can clean it.”

Another round of gasps. Some students even turned to each other, whispering in disbelief.

Seohyun stared at her for a moment, something unreadable flickering across his face. Then, he laughed—a low, mocking chuckle that sent a chill down Hari’s spine.

“You’ve got guts,” he mused. “I’ll give you that. But you should learn something, Kang Hari.” He took another step closer, lowering his voice just enough so that only she could hear. “People like you? You don’t belong here.”

Hari’s fingers clenched around her backpack strap, but she said nothing.

Seohyun straightened, flashing a careless smile at the crowd. “You guys saw it, right? She stepped on me first.”

His words were all it took.

The verdict had been passed.

Hari had just made an enemy out of the most powerful boy in school.

From that day forward, Jang Seohyun became her worst nightmare. The boy who never let her breathe, who made sure every day at Daehan Elite Academy was a battlefield.

And yet, despite everything, she became the only person who dared to challenge him.

Daehan Elite Academy was more than just a school—it was a battlefield of power, where legacies were built, alliances were formed, and outsiders were crushed before they could rise. For Kang Hari, survival meant staying out of trouble, but trouble had already found her in the form of Jang Seohyun.

The day after their first confrontation, Hari hoped to avoid him, but fate had other plans.

It started in the cafeteria. The sprawling dining hall was lined with expensive chandeliers, and the long mahogany tables were adorned with fine china—a stark contrast to the simple rice and side dishes she had packed in her small lunchbox. Around her, the children of Korea’s wealthiest families dined on gourmet meals prepared by private chefs. The difference was glaring, but Hari forced herself to ignore it. She had learned to endure.

Finding a secluded spot in the corner, she quietly unpacked her lunch, careful not to draw attention to herself. Just as she was about to lift her chopsticks, a shadow loomed over her.

“You’re sitting at our table,” a voice drawled.

Hari looked up to see a girl dressed in the latest designer uniform, her arms crossed. Behind her stood a group of students, all watching with expressions of mild amusement.

“I don’t see your name on it,” Hari replied, keeping her voice steady.

The girl scoffed. “This is where the elite sit. Not scholarship charity cases like you.”

Hari felt the weight of their gazes, the unspoken rule that she had overstepped her place. But before she could respond, another voice cut in.

“Didn’t you hear her? Move.”

The cafeteria hushed. Jang Seohyun stood there, hands in his pockets, his expression as cold as ever. His presence alone was enough to make the girl and her group straighten up.

Hari met his gaze, a silent challenge passing between them. He wasn’t helping her—he was making it worse. He wanted to see her humiliated, to make her acknowledge her inferiority in this world.

But Hari wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.

“I’ll move,” she said, standing up. “Not because you told me to, but because this table stinks of arrogance.”

Gasps rippled through the cafeteria. Someone even choked on their juice. No one, absolutely no one, talked back to Jang Seohyun like that.

Seohyun’s jaw twitched, his fingers tightening around the strap of his bag. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something, but then he smirked. “You’ll regret that.”

Hari didn’t respond. She simply picked up her lunch and walked away, but she could feel his eyes burning into her back.

________________________________________

From that day onward, Seohyun made it his personal mission to make her life miserable.

It started with small things—her books mysteriously disappearing from her locker, her gym clothes soaked in water before class. Then came the taunts, the snide comments whenever she walked past.

“Still here, commoner?” he’d say, leaning against his locker with a lazy smirk. “I thought you’d have quit by now.”

Hari refused to be broken. Each time he tried to push her down, she got back up. Each insult he threw her way, she returned with sharp defiance. If he was a storm, she was the unyielding rock that refused to be eroded.

One afternoon, she was walking through the courtyard when she heard a commotion. A crowd had gathered near the fountain, their voices hushed yet excited. Curious, she pushed her way through and found a boy on the ground, clutching his nose as blood trickled down his lip.

Above him stood Seohyun, his fist clenched, his breathing heavy.

“Next time, don’t run your mouth,” Seohyun said coolly, shaking out his hand.

The boy whimpered and scrambled away, disappearing into the crowd. Whispers spread like wildfire. Jang Seohyun had always been ruthless in business simulations and competitions, but to resort to actual violence? That was rare.

Hari turned to leave, but Seohyun’s voice stopped her. “You got something to say, scholarship girl?”

She looked at him, really looked at him. His knuckles were raw, his eyes dark and unreadable. The arrogant prince of Daehan Elite Academy stood there like a king who had just executed his latest enemy. And yet, beneath all of that, there was something else—a flicker of something she couldn’t quite place.

She tilted her head. “What’s the matter? Your expensive shoes get dirty again?”

A slow smirk spread across his lips. “You really don’t know when to shut up, do you?”

Hari crossed her arms. “And you don’t know when to back off.”

For a second, something in his gaze shifted, but it was gone before she could decipher it. He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re an annoying little thing, aren’t you?”

“Get used to it.”

And with that, she walked away, leaving behind the boy who would one day become her husband, never realizing just how tangled their fates would become.