The golden chandeliers of the Kim family dining room cast shimmering reflections across the polished mahogany table, each crystal droplet catching the light like scattered stars. Soyeon adjusted the strap of her emerald-green Dior gown for the twelfth time, her fingers trembling slightly against the silk. She hadn't worn this dress since her father's last birthday party—the final celebration before his sudden heart attack. The memory clung to the fabric like invisible weight.
Across the room, her mother held court near the antique liquor cabinet, her black Valentino dress swallowing the light. Yoonmi's laughter rang hollow as she entertained Jungwoo with some story about Soyeon's childhood antics—no doubt carefully curated to paint her as charmingly rebellious rather than the hot mess she'd actually been.
Jungwoo stood with military straightness in a tailored black tuxedo, his only concession to personality a deep burgundy tie that Soyeon had indeed chosen for him earlier. He nodded at appropriate intervals, his expression giving nothing away, but Soyeon noticed how his fingers tightened around his whiskey glass when Yoonmi mentioned the word "marriage."
"—of course, she was always such a free spirit," Yoonmi was saying, her manicured hand fluttering near her pearls. "But with the right guidance..."
Soyeon couldn't take it anymore. She crossed the room in quick strides, the slit in her dress revealing a flash of toned thigh. "Mother, must you auction me off like a prize heifer at dinner?"
The room went silent. Even the staff hovering near the arched doorways stilled.
Yoonmi's smile didn't waver, but her eyes turned to ice. "Darling, we're simply getting acquainted with Mr. Park. Isn't that why you brought him?"
"I didn't bring him anywhere," Soyeon said through gritted teeth. "He—"
"Actually," Jungwoo interrupted smoothly, stepping between them, "I asked to accompany Soyeon tonight." His hand found the small of her back, warm even through the layers of silk. "After our productive meeting today, I wanted to discuss our partnership with you directly, Mrs. Kim."
Yoonmi's gaze dropped to where his fingers brushed Soyeon's spine. Something calculating flashed in her eyes. "Partnership? How... modern of you."
The butler announced dinner, saving Soyeon from having to respond. As they moved to the table, she leaned into Jungwoo's ear. "I hate you for this."
His breath tickled her neck as he whispered back, "No, you don't."
The meal passed in a blur of truffle-infused courses and veiled barbs. Soyeon picked at her roasted quail, watching as Jungwoo deftly navigated her mother's interrogation—revealing just enough about their "joint venture" to seem transparent while carefully omitting their agreement to avoid marriage.
"—and of course," Yoonmi said during dessert, dabbing her lips with a linen napkin, "the Al-Habib property would be perfect for a wedding venue."
Soyeon's fork clattered against her plate. "We're not getting married."
"Not yet," Yoonmi corrected sweetly. She turned to Jungwoo. "But surely you see the advantages? The merger alone would increase NexGen's valuation by—"
"Mother!"
Jungwoo set down his wineglass with deliberate calm. "Mrs. Kim, while I appreciate your... enthusiasm, Soyeon and I have agreed to focus on our business collaboration first." His hand found hers under the table, fingers intertwining in a show of unity that sent an unexpected jolt up her arm. "The rest will come in time."
The lie rolled off his tongue so smoothly Soyeon almost believed it herself.
Yoonmi studied their joined hands, her expression unreadable. Then, abruptly, she stood. "Jungwoo, let's take coffee in the study. There are some documents I'd like you to review."
Soyeon shot to her feet. "Whatever it is, I should—"
"Stay here, darling," Yoonmi said with terrifying pleasantness. "This won't take long."
The moment the study door clicked shut, Soyeon was moving. She pressed her ear against the carved wood, catching fragments of their conversation:
"—modified the terms..."
"...six-month deadline..."
"...full inheritance only upon..."
Then Jungwoo's voice, sharp as broken glass: "That wasn't our agreement."
Soyeon's pulse roared in her ears. She barely registered the vibration in her clutch until the fourth buzz. Pulling out her phone, she saw Jisu's name flashing alongside a gossip blog link.
Her blood ran cold.
There, splashed across the screen, was a photo of her slumped against Jungwoo outside Eclipse, her dress disheveled, his jacket wrapped around her shoulders. The headline screamed:
"Kim Heiress' Drunken Night with Mystery Man—Who Is the Suitor Mama Kim Approves?"
Worse still were the comments speculating about their relationship timeline, questioning if their "romance" was why she'd missed the Park family dinner.
The study door flew open. Jungwoo strode out, his expression stormy. Yoonmi followed, her smile triumphant.
"Soyeon, darling," she purred, "it seems your little escapade has gone viral. How... fortunate."
Jungwoo's jaw tightened. He took one look at Soyeon's pale face and reached for her phone. His eyes scanned the article, then narrowed. "This was planned."
Yoonmi didn't deny it. "The public already sees you as a couple. Why fight it?" She turned to Soyeon. "Six months, darling. Either you make this real, or you lose everything."
The ultimatum hung in the air like smoke. Soyeon's vision blurred—not from tears, but from sheer, incandescent rage.
Jungwoo stepped between them, his voice low and dangerous. "We're leaving."
Yoonmi didn't try to stop them. As Jungwoo guided Soyeon through the marble foyer, her mother's final words followed them:
"Remember, Soyeon—your father wanted this."
The limo ride passed in tense silence. Soyeon stared out at the glittering skyline, her reflection fractured in the tinted glass.
Jungwoo finally spoke as they pulled up to his penthouse. "We'll fix this."
Soyeon turned to him, the dam inside her breaking. "How? By pretending to be in love? By letting her win?"
Jungwoo's gaze burned into hers. "By playing the game better than she does."
Something in his tone made her breath catch. Before she could respond, his driver opened the door.
"Get some rest," Jungwoo said. "Tomorrow, we fight back."
As the limo pulled away, Soyeon realized two terrifying truths:
First, she was well and truly trapped.
Second—and far more dangerous—was how safe she'd felt with Jungwoo's hand in hers.
To be continued…