Dinner ended in silence.
The plates were cleared, but the heaviness between them remained.
Jihyun set his chopsticks down and leaned back, eyes fixed on Taewon.
"You knew Mina before me," he said flatly. His voice carried an edge sharper than he meant.
"Not as an idol. In person."
Taewon didn't deny it. He nodded once.
"She was the ambassador of our brand in China for a while."
Jihyun's chest tightened, but he pushed.
"Then why did you remove her?"
"We didn't. The contract just ended," Taewon replied, calm but weary.
"Oh, really?" Jihyun's laugh was bitter. His words cut like glass.
"Then how did she end up in your bed? Did you sleep with her?"
Taewon's jaw flexed. His voice hardened.
"I didn't. I was in rut those days. I don't even know how she entered my room. When I woke up, she was there."
Jihyun's face flushed with anger.
"Don't lie to me. Even if she walked in, don't tell me you couldn't feel who you were inside during rut!"
"I don't even remember if I did or not!" Taewon snapped, his voice rising for the first time.
"It was the first rut that felt like being drunk out of my mind. I blacked out. I can't remember."
Jihyun's hand trembled on the table.
"Then why didn't you accept her? Why not take responsibility?"
Taewon's answer was cold.
"Why would I? I never looked at her that way. Why should I bind myself to someone I don't like?"
Jihyun's laugh turned hollow.
"And what about me? You didn't know me either, but you still married me. Why not her?"
His voice cracked as the truth bled out.
"Do you know what it feels like to hear it from her?
To sit there while Mina told me how her heart was broken by you? Do you know how many people wanted her? Alphas, celebrities, fans? She only wanted you. And you rejected her. You ended her contract."
Taewon's eyes darkened. He stood abruptly.
"Say it clearly, Jihyun. What are you trying to prove?"
"All I want to know,"
Jihyun's voice shook with rage and grief,
"is why you broke her heart.?"
"I didn't break her heart."
Taewon's voice was firm, low. His hands curled into fists.
"I never saw her that way, not from the start. She was just work to me
nothing more.
The contract ended,
Because I didn't have a choice!"
Taewon ground out. His hands curled into fists.
"Since the start, I've done nothing but obey my father's orders."
Jihyun's words came like a dagger.
"Then what if one day they told you to kill me? Or marry someone else again? Or leave me as well ,Will you obey then too?"
"No." Taewon's voice cracked, but his gaze blazed.
"Not again when it comes to you."
"Why not?"
Jihyun shouted, chest rising hard.
"Don't tell me you're falling for me."
Silence. Taewon didn't answer. But that silence was heavier than any confession.
Jihyun's laugh turned into a broken sound.
"Fine. If you want to prove you can stand for me now, then do one thing for me."
Taewon's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Be with Mina," Jihyun said, his voice sharp and cold. "She still wants you. And divorce me."
Taewon froze. His blood ran hot.
"What did you just say?"
"Be with her. Leave me. I'll go abroad. I'll never return."
Taewon's composure cracked. Fury burned through him as he stepped closer, towering over Jihyun.
"Why do you want me with her? Why are you so desperate to leave me?"
Jihyun's chest heaved, his eyes wet but defiant.
"Because all I ever loved was Mina. And now that I know she loved you, I can give her what she wants. If she's happy, then I'm fine with it. This marriage was never meant to succeed!"
Taewon's head throbbed, his restraint snapping. He grabbed Jihyun's wrist tightly.
"Are you insane? Do you even hear yourself?"
"I know exactly what I'm saying."
Jihyun's eyes burned into his.
"It's better for the three of us."
"How?" Taewon growled.
"My love of life gets you.
You get a beautiful who can give you children. And me?"
Jihyun's lips curled into smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I'll finally live the life I want. Freedom. Parties. Alphas who can give me everything you can't."
Something inside Taewon snapped. His blood boiled until his vision blurred.
"Repeat that," he hissed.
"Yes!" Jihyun shouted, his words sharp enough to wound.
"A life full of Alphas
hot, perfect, not restrained like you!"
The world broke. In a flash, Taewon slammed Jihyun against the wall. His hand locked Jihyun's wrists above his head. His other hand gripped the side of Jihyun's neck, trembling with fury.
"What about me?" Taewon roared, his breath hot against Jihyun's lips.
"Am I nothing to you? Not even as an Alpha?"
"You're just a force on me,"
Jihyun spat, eyes blazing.
Taewon's vision went blank. His anger, his jealousy, his desperation
all collided in one reckless moment.
He crushed his lips against Jihyun's, a forceful, bruising kiss that stole his breath, his defiance, and left nothing but fire burning between them.