The hall was quiet when Jihyun stepped inside, calm on the outside but burning on the inside.
He stood beside Soobin,
Liya, Wonyoung, and Jungwon hovering close.
His heart was exploding, yet he forced it down, lips pressed tight.
Behind him, Taewon followed.
The glance Jihyun threw him was sharp, almost like a death sentence.
That single look was enough to make Taewon's chest ache. Before leaving back to Han villa.
(Back at Han Villa)
silence loomed. Minjoon noticed the stiffness in Jihyun's shoulders but said nothing. By dinner, the air was heavy like mourning.
Mr. Kang sat beside Mr. Han.
Mrs. Kang took the seat next to Jihyun, placing down a tray of food with trembling hands.
Jihyun's gaze stayed on his thighs, head lowered, hands rubbing each other restlessly.
"Jihyun, please eat a little, dear,"
Mrs. Han coaxed softly.
"If you keep skipping meals, you'll fall sick."
Her voice broke the stillness again and again, but Jihyun didn't lift his head.
When Taewon walked in, Mrs. Kang turned to him with tears already forming.
"You try, you feed him."
She stood, leaving her seat.
Taewon took the spot beside Jihyun, picking up the spoon.
For a moment, he just looked at him, unable to speak, unable to move.
Then, carefully, he raised the spoon toward Jihyun's lips.
Jihyun's eyes lifted. They were red.
He looked at Taewon, his throat tight, and whispered the words that shattered the room.
"I want a divorce."
The spoon clattered. Taewon swallowed hard, his heart sinking to the floor.
Standing abruptly, he managed only one word.
"Jihyun…"
Mrs. Kang froze.
"D-dear, what are you saying?"
Mr. Han's chair scraped against the floor as he stood.
"I said," Jihyun repeated, louder now,
"I want a divorce. I don't want to be tied to this hypocrite Kang family any longer."
Mr. Han reached forward, gripping his son's arm. "Jihyun, go upstairs and rest."
"No, Dad!" Jihyun's voice cracked. His hands shook.
"I can't do this anymore. I don't want to be together with him. I can't bear it!"
Minjoon rushed inside, confused.
"What's going on?"
Taewon stepped forward, desperate. "Jihyun, let me explain"
"I don't want your explanation!"
Jihyun cut him off, his voice trembling.
"I know what you did. Maybe you weren't directly involved, but from the very first day you know better, I decided I would leave you. And now it's time."
Minjoon's voice rose.
"Jihyun, behave!"
But Jihyun turned to him, tears blurring his vision.
"Hyung, just once let me speak."
His gaze shifted to his father.
"Dad… the day you forced me into this marriage, I understood you were worried for me. But was I that worthless, that disgusting, that you didn't even check properly before throwing me into this family?
You pushed me into the hands of hypocrites."
Mr. Han froze, pain in his eyes, as Jihyun's voice broke into sobs.
"Dad… Uncle Kang deceived you.
The Seoul-America project they never wanted success. They wanted us in debt, broken, so they could take over Han Group. They wanted everything while we were left on the streets!"
The room spun into chaos. Mr. Han's eyes snapped toward Mr. Kang, who still sat calmly on the couch, his face unreadable.
Mrs. Kang's hands trembled. She knew no matter what she said now there was no proof left to protect her husband.
"It's not true!"
Minjoon's voice thundered.
"When the project collapsed, it was Taewon who saved us!
He helped us abroad, he held Han Group together!"
Jihyun shook his head, voice rising in desperation.
"And why do you think he did that, Hyung? To frame his own father?
To cover the truth? Can't you see?
They played us from the beginning!"
Taewon stepped closer, pain etched on his face. "Jihyun, please"
"I want a divorce!" Jihyun's scream pierced the room.
"I don't want this cage, this loveless prison! Let me go!"
Mr. Han turned sharply toward Mr. Kang. His voice was deadly.
"Kang Hyunsik. Tell me. Is this true?"
For a long moment, silence.
Then, Mr. Kang smirked, finally standing.
"Han Jimin, whatever that disgusting omega son of yours said is true.
I'm tired of wasting my time on something as cheap as your company.
I've already lost my son to this farce of a marriage.
So yes, I deceived you."
"Father!" Taewon's voice shook, rage boiling.
Mr. Han stormed forward, grabbing Mr. Kang's collar. His roar shook the walls.
"You hypocrite! I trusted you for years, let you use me, use my son, use my company!"
His palm cracked across Mr. Kang's cheek. "This is the end! Get out of my house.
Take your family and leave. I'll drag you
through court until you rot in prison!"
Mrs. Kang begged sobbing.
"Please, don't! Don't separate Taewon and Jihyun!
My son will die without him!"
But Jihyun only turned away, his cheeks wet, his body trembling.
Taewon dropped to his knees in front of him, hands shaking as he grasped Jihyun's.
His voice broke into pieces.
"If I could I'd change everything. Jihyun, I'll change myself, for you. Just once please, give me a chance. I don't want to lose you."
Jihyun pulled away, his lips quivering.
"I'm sorry."
He fled upstairs, his sobs echoing through the walls.
Taewon stood there, shattered, tears streaming as Minjoon gripped his shoulder.
"Go for now, Taewon. None of us are thinking straight tonight. Take your family."
With blurred eyes, Taewon nodded.
His mother clung to him, his sister crying silently as he led them outside.
Behind them, Mr. Kang stood alone like a stranger, abandoned.
(In the car)
Taewon wept like a child, his chest heaving with grief. Mrs. Kang tried to soothe him, but nothing could stop the storm inside him.
(While,Back in Han Villa)
Mr. Han collapsed onto the couch, stunned, broken. Upstairs, Jihyun's screams echoed raw pain, heartbreak, and disappointment tearing the walls apart.
The bond that once tied two powerful families had been shattered beyond repair.