Perched on the outskirts of Gapyeong, the mansion stood like a sentinel on an elevated plateau, surrounded by the dense, shadowed embrace of the forest. Its architecture was a seamless blend of traditional Korean elements and modern luxury—elegant, sloping tiled roofs paired with vast glass windows that flooded the interiors with natural light. The sprawling structure stretched into the lush landscape, with manicured gardens, stone pathways winding through vibrant flowerbeds, and towering pine trees casting long shadows. An imposing marble-pillared entrance opened into a vast foyer adorned with intricately carved wooden beams. This estate was more than just a home; it was a gift from the Chairman to the Vice Chairman—a symbol of pride, bestowed upon him at high school graduation.
By six p.m., the mansion buzzed with a subdued energy as guests arrived. These were no ordinary visitors—they hailed from prestigious families and held powerful corporate positions worldwide. Luxurious cars lined the driveway, their headlights sweeping over the gardens in a soft, ethereal glow. Inside, the air was charged with polite laughter, hushed conversations, and the elegance of an event meant for celebration yet layered with unsaid expectations.
Andrew stood at a second-floor window, his gaze fixed on the scene below. His face was set in a grimace, and his fists were clenched tightly at his sides. The door behind him opened quietly, and Secretary Choi entered, his head inclined in a bow.
"Young Master," Secretary Choi said softly, his tone breaking the silence. "It's time."
Andrew didn't turn, his voice clipped and edged with irritation. "There's no need for formality with me."
Secretary Choi held his composure, unfazed by Andrew's terse tone. "It's best to get used to it now, Young Master," he replied, his voice gentle but firm.
Andrew released a sharp breath, casting one last disdainful glance out the window. His reluctance was palpable as he moved to leave the room, each step a reluctant admission of the role he despised but could not avoid. As he reached the grand staircase, the atmosphere below shifted.
The Chairman entered with an air of authority, Youn-Jae beside him. Their presence seemed to pause the room itself. Andrew halted on the stairs, his eyes catching Youn-Jae's. A familiar, charged tension filled the space between them. This was not the first time they had met, but each time they crossed paths, it carried the weight of unfinished business.
Youn-Jae's brows drew together as he noticed Andrew's presence, confusion flitting across his face. The Chairman, noting the silent tension, addressed Andrew with a sweeping gesture toward Youn-Jae.
"Oh, Andrew," the Chairman said, his voice as cold as it was commanding. "Meet your uncle."
Youn-Jae's eyes widened, turning sharply toward the Chairman. "Uncle? What do you mean by this, Father?" His voice shook slightly, laden with confusion and frustration as his gaze shifted between the Chairman and Andrew.
Andrew clenched his jaw, refusing to meet Youn-Jae's eyes, his expression hardening as he turned away. The silence between them grew heavy until Mr. Kim, the mediator, stepped in with a polite bow.
"Chairman, President," Mr. Kim began, his tone smooth yet firm as he noted Andrew's expression. "Andrew is still adjusting to this... new reality. Please, understand that he's unsure of how to respond appropriately."
The tension lingered, thick and unyielding, until Seo - Joon appeared at the top of the staircase. His steps were calm, his gaze alight with a mischief that cut through the seriousness. As he descended, he looked to Youn-Jae with a hint of amusement.
"Ah, yes!" Seo - Joon said, his voice lilting. "Brother, meet my son."
Youn-Jae's expression darkened, his voice nearly a plea. "But Father," he said, searching the Chairman's face for answers that were not given.
The Chairman's expression turned cold, his patience visibly fraying. With a single dismissive wave of his hand, he cut through Youn-Jae's protest. "That's enough! You're all adults; stop this pointless fuss."
With that, he turned and strode toward the garden, his footsteps echoing through the grand hall, leaving no room for further argument.
Youn-Jae stepped forward, facing Andrew again, his eyes filled with unspoken questions and simmering resentment. He opened his mouth, preparing to confront him, but Seo-Joon's hand came down on Youn-Jae's shoulder, stopping him.
Seo-Joon shot a smirk at Youn-Jae, his tone mocking as he spoke. "Relax, brother," he drawled, leading him away before any words could escape Youn-Jae's lips.
Youn-Jae's hands curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms as they walked into the crowd. Bitter frustration flickered in his eyes, his shoulders tense with anger, helplessness, and confusion.
***
The garden buzzed with low murmurs, pockets of conversation weaving through the air like a soft hum, occasionally interrupted by the clink of glasses or a stifled laugh. Groups stood clustered together, their faces adorned with polite smiles as they discussed business ventures or exchanged stories of their lavish lifestyles. The Chairman, accompanied by Seo-Joon, was deeply engaged in conversation with several of his influential colleagues, his voice booming with authority as he carried on with the usual business chatter. Youn-Jae, standing nearby, gave the appearance of attentiveness, his nods measured and deliberate, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
His gaze swept across the garden until, suddenly, a familiar face caught his eye. A sharp shock ran through him—His eyes narrowed, his pulse quickening in confusion and a hint of disbelief. "What is she doing here?" he thought, the image of her walking confidently behind her father piercing through the haze of the evening.
Tobi, who typically despised events like this, had no reason to be in Korea. Yet here she was, her lips curling into a playful grin as she waved at him. The shock was palpable in his expression, but he quickly masked it with a polite nod, his heart heavy with a mixture of surprise and frustration.
As Mr. West and Tobi approached, the Chairman's expression softened into a wide, genuine smile. His arms spread in greeting, his voice booming with warmth. "Anderson! I'm so glad you could make it tonight."
Mr. West's polite smile was a careful mask, his eyes betraying little emotion. "Of course, Chairman. Who could possibly decline your invitation?"
Youn-Jae stepped forward, bowing his head slightly, his movements deliberate. "Hello, sir," he said, his tone respectful, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of irritation at the unexpected intrusion.
Mr. West's gaze shifted to Youn-Jae, and his face brightened with recognition. "Ah, President Han! I've heard you're now managing the headquarters. Congratulations, I'm glad to see things are going well for you," he said, giving a firm nod of approval before his attention shifted to Tobi. "Why don't you give Tobi a tour around?"
Before Youn-Jae could respond, Tobi scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. Her voice laced with sarcasm, she leaned in closer to Youn-Jae, her smirk impossible to ignore. "Oh, come on, Dad. Why are you acting so formally with Youn-Jae, as if we're strangers?" Her tone was biting, and her words rang with a playful, yet caustic edge.
Youn-Jae's jaw tightened. "Not now," he thought. His gaze sharpened, a silent warning in his eyes as he shot her a look. "You're too loud," he muttered, his voice low and tight, attempting to maintain some semblance of order in the midst of the gathering.
Nearby, Andrew observed the exchange with a cold detachment, his expression unreadable as he watched the tension unfold before him. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his posture rigid with a mixture of discomfort and something deeper—anger, perhaps. Just as he prepared to walk away, a voice interrupted him.
James sauntered up behind him, swirling a glass of wine with practiced casualness. His grin was sly, his words coated in mockery. "Poor Andrew," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "All this... because of love, huh?"
Andrew's eyes flashed with annoyance, his jaw clenching as he turned sharply to face James. "And you? Shouldn't you be by your father's side right now?"
James let out a dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes as if Andrew had asked the most trivial of questions. "Ugh, every time they start talking about business, I feel like my head's about to explode," he said, his voice dripping with exaggerated exasperation. "So I slipped away before they could bore me to death."
Just as the words hung in the air, Secretary Choi approached with purpose, his steps firm and resolute. He leaned in slightly, his voice soft but respectful as he addressed Andrew. "Young Master, your father and the Chairman are asking for you."
Andrew's expression darkened, his shoulders tensing as a heavy sigh escaped him. He glanced back at James, his eyes briefly searching for some kind of understanding, some sign of support. But James, uninterested and dismissive, raised a hand and waved him off. "Don't look at me like that. I've heard enough business talk for a lifetime," James said with a bored tone. "I'll stay here—looking for a spot to smoke."
The bitterness hung in the air like a thick fog as Andrew turned away, his thoughts swirling with frustration and anger, the weight of his duties pressing down on him as he prepared to face whatever awaited him in the shadows of his family's expectations.
***
Ji-won sat in the back seat of the taxi, his fingers twisting the fabric of his pants as anxiety gnawed at him. His heart thudded loudly in his chest, each beat a reminder of his dread. The mansion loomed ahead, the lights casting long shadows on the dark road. He had arrived late on purpose—he needed that extra time to center himself, to breathe. But now, as the car slowed to a stop, his throat tightened and doubt flooded him.
"I can't do this," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible as he reached for the door handle. His hands were trembling, but he tried to still them.
The taxi came to a full stop, and Mr. Kim, already waiting at the entrance, opened the door with swift precision. "I thought you weren't going to make it," he greeted, his tone warm, oblivious to the storm brewing inside Ji-won.
Ji-won stepped out and immediately bowed, the gesture stiff. "I'm so sorry, Sir," he apologized, his voice thick with barely contained anxiety.
Mr. Kim waved it off with a practiced, kind smile. "It's alright, the location isn't exactly easy to get to."
Ji-won forced a smile, but it was thin, strained. His nerves made it impossible to relax, his stomach twisted into tight knots.
As they made their way toward the garden, Mr. Kim added, "You've arrived just in time."
Ji-won nodded, his throat dry. But the closer they drew to the gathering, the more his discomfort grew. The laughter and idle chatter of the guests felt like a heavy, oppressive weight pressing down on him. The gleaming suits, the shimmering gowns—he didn't belong here. "I don't belong here," he whispered to himself.
The garden stretched out before them, teeming with well-dressed guests who seemed to float between conversations, their voices blending together like a distant hum. But then, his eyes locked onto one person. Youn-Jae.
His breath hitched in his throat. Even from a distance, Youn-Jae stood out—poised, confident, commanding attention as he engaged with others. He was the epitome of everything Ji-won was not. The sight of him made his pulse quicken, a cold knot of unease settling deep in his chest.
Suddenly, the sharp, authoritative voice of the Vice Chairman pierced through the air. "I have an announcement to make. Andrew, please come up here."
Ji-won froze, the name hitting him like a shockwave. His steps faltered as his gaze swept the crowd, searching for anyone who might respond to "Andrew." Then he saw him—Andrew, standing among the guests, tense and uneasy. Ji-won's mind raced—this was the Andrew he knew. But something felt different—there was a discomfort in Andrew's expression as he moved toward the stage. Ji-won remained rooted, paralyzed, as the realization struck him like a freight train: Andrew wasn't just a stranger here; he was being formally introduced into the family. As the introduction ended and Andrew's presence was officially acknowledged, a wave of shock and curiosity rippled through the crowd, whispers filling the air and weighing heavily on Ji-won, leaving him breathless. But he had no idea this was only the beginning—he was stepping into a battle he wasn't prepared for, a field strewn with emotional landmines, ready to detonate around him.
"Youn-Jae, Tobi, please come up here," the Vice Chairman called, his voice firm as he gestured toward the two of them.
Ji-won stayed rooted to his spot, watching as Youn-Jae and an unfamiliar woman walked forward. He didn't understand why they were being summoned to the stage, but his gaze shifted, catching sight of the Chairman and a foreign man nudging Youn-Jae and Tobi closer together, grinning as if they were a couple. Just then, a chill ran down Ji-won's spine, and his entire body tensed, his mind racing. Was this just his imagination, or was there an announcement coming that would change everything?
The Vice Chairman's next words obliterated what little composure he had left.
"With great joy, I announce the engagement of Youn-Jae and Tobi."
The room burst into applause, but Ji-won barely registered it. The sound was muffled, distorted, as if he were hearing it underwater. The word "engagement" ricocheted through his mind, a relentless, pulsing echo. His breath became shallow, and panic gripped him, tightening around his chest like a vice. He could feel his heart pounding wildly, each beat an agonizing thud against his ribs, his throat constricting as if he were choking on the air itself.
"Engaged?" he whispered, his voice hoarse and barely audible, the words catching in his throat. His hands rose instinctively to grip the collar of his shirt, tugging it as if somehow that could hold him together. But nothing could stop the wave of panic that overtook him, a suffocating force that left him feeling trapped, vulnerable under the weight of the crowd's whispers, their eyes bearing down on him with silent judgment.
Meanwhile, Andrew stood frozen beside Youn-Jae on the stage, shock and disbelief etched on his face as he glanced repeatedly between Youn-Jae and Tobi. His mind raced, struggling to process the scene unfolding around him. "What the hell is this?" he muttered, his voice tinged with confusion and anger. "What about Hyung? I thought they had something." As Andrew's eyes scanned the crowd's reactions, his gaze unintentionally fell on Ji-won.
"Ji-Won Hyung!" Andrew's voice echoed across the stage, loud enough to turn heads. Youn-Jae, Tobi, and his father looked at him in surprise, but Andrew's focus remained fixed on Ji-won, his eyes wide with concern. Ji-won's face was ashen, beads of sweat glistening on his brow. His hands trembled uncontrollably, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. He was unraveling, his body betraying him as he struggled to contain the turmoil inside.
"Hyung…" Andrew said again, his voice filled with confusion, as if he were trying to convince himself it was really Ji-Won standing before him. His tone was softer this time, but still loud enough to draw Youn-Jae's curiosity.
"What are you talking about?" Youn-Jae demanded, casting Andrew a bewildered look. Andrew still didn't respond, his gaze fixed on Ji-won's pale, stricken face. Growing impatient, Youn-Jae followed his gaze—and froze as he spotted Ji-won, the weight of the moment pressed heavily on Youn-Jae, his mouth falling open in shock as he unexpectedly spotted Ji-Won. The tension in his body was unmistakable, as if he were trying to comprehend how or why Ji-Won had ended up at the party. Then it hit him—Ji-Won had clearly heard the announcement. The realization struck Youn-Jae like a blow, and his world seemed to crumble in that instant.
The story doesn't end here...
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