Seoul City glittered outside her window.
Gu Xixi stood at the window, her reflection staring back at her.
The glass reflected her slender figure and the faint shadows beneath her dark brown eyes.
At twenty-five, she should have been brimming with happiness, the kind that matched the billboards advertising her latest drama.
Instead, she felt caged, Her marriage with Fang Li. 5 years ago was the biggest mistake of her life.
Behind her, she heard the sound of footsteps.
Heavy. Her body tensed. She didn't have to turn to know it was him , "Fang Li."
"Why are you standing there like a statue?". "Do you enjoy pretending you're some tragic heroine?"
Xixi's fingers tightened around the curtain.
She didn't respond. She had learned long ago that silence was safer than words. Words provoked him.
She sensed him moving closer, the smell of his perfume filling her lungs, suffocating.
His hand gripped her shoulder, too tightly,
his nails digging into her skin.
"You're my wife," Fang Li murmured, his lips brushing against her ear.
"Don't forget who made you who you are.
Without me, you'd still be an unknown actress, begging for minor roles.
I gave you A&E. I gave you fame. And this" he squeezed her shoulders harder, forcing her to turn to him, "is how you repay me?"
Pain shot through her shoulder, but she didn't flinch. She had learned not to. "Let me go," she whispered.
His eyes darkened, his grip tightening before he shoved her back against the glass.
Her breath shaking. She knew what was coming. It always came. The bruises had become part of her now.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping. "Don't think you can run, Xixi. You are mine."
When he finally released her, she stumbled back, her slender body trembling.
He walked away as though nothing had happened, loosening his tie and heading toward the bedroom.
The sound of the door slamming behind him echoed through the apartment, and only then did she allow herself to relax.
Her hands shook as she touched her shoulder, already throbbing where his fingers had left their mark.
A tear slipped down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. She hated crying. She hated showing weakness, even to herself.
But tonight, something inside her was different.
She turned back, starring at the window.
Somewhere out there, people laughed, loved, and lived freely.
And here she was, imprisoned in a marriage that had stripped her of everything but her name.
Her lips parted, and for the first time in years, she said the words aloud.
"I want a divorce ".
****
The next morning, Xixi arrived at A&E Agency with oversized sunglasses hiding her puffy eyes.
Photographers had already begun crowding near the entrance, calling her name, praising her beauty.
To them, she was the perfect actress, untouchable, radiant. None of them knew about the bruises hidden under her long sleeves.
Inside, assistants hurried about, preparing for her next drama shoot.
Posters of her face lined the hallway, each one smiling brighter than she ever could in real life.
It was so unreal, staring at a version of herself that felt like a stranger.
She entered her dressing room and sank into the chair, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
Carefully, she applied foundation over the wound on her cheek. She had learnt to hide her wounds for the past 5 years.
But the words she had spoken last night rang in her mind. " I want a divorce "
Her manager, Wei Hana, peeked in. "Xixi, are you ready? The director is waiting."
Xixi forced a smile. "Yes, I'll be right there."
When Hana left, Xixi's hand trembled as she reached for her phone.
She scrolled past countless contacts until she landed on the one she had saved quietly weeks ago, when she'd finally dared to research divorce attorneys in Seoul.
The name on the screen read: Lin Feng – Always Law Firm.
Her heart pounded. Could she really do this? Could she break free from Fang Li's grasp?
She thought of last night. Of the way he had always treated her. Of the way her life felt more like death with each passing day.
She pressed call.
The line rang once. Twice. Then a deep, composed voice answered. "Lin Feng, Always Law Firm. How may I help you?"
For a moment, her heart skipped a beat.
But then she heard Fang Li's voice echoing in her memory: You are mine.
She steadied her breath. "My name is Gu Xixi. I… I need a divorce."
---
The office of Always Law Firm was looking nice and morden .
Xixi entered nervously, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She tugged at the sleeves of her coat, hiding the marks.
The receptionist ushered her toward a glass-walled office. Inside, Lin Feng stood to greet her.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, with an air of authority that filled the room.
His dark hair was neatly styled, and though his expression was unreadable, there was something grounding about his presence.
"Ms. Gu," he said, extending a hand. His voice was calm, steady. "Please, have a seat."
She shook his hand lightly, her eyes flickering to his. There was no judgment there, no pity. Only professionalism.
As she sat, he leaned forward slightly. "You mentioned divorce on the phone. If you don't mind, could you tell me a bit about your situation?"
Her throat tightened. For a moment, the words refused to come.
But then she looked into his eyes dark, steady, and something in her just felt safe with him.
"My husband…" she whispered. "Fang Li. He's… abusive."
Lin Feng's gaze hardened , but his tone remained even.
"I see. Thank you for trusting me with this. We'll take it one step at a time. You don't have to go through this alone."
Xixi blinked , her heart racing. No one had ever said those words to her before. You don't have to go through this alone.
For the first time in years, she felt a flicker of hope.
She didn't know it yet, but this meeting with Lin Feng, the quiet understanding in his eyes would mark the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
And for the first time, Gu Xixi allowed herself to imagine a new life.