Chapter 3: The Breaking Point

[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

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***