Chapter 2: The Calm Before the Storm

[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.

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[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.

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End of Chapter 2

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