Tears streamed down Nari Hana's cheeks as she stood before the washroom mirror. Her reflection was blurry, but the ache in her chest was crystal clear.
"I hated him," she whispered brokenly, gripping the edge of the sink. "I wanted to run far away from Seo-jin. But then… why? Why does it hurt so much to see him with Yui? Why does my heart ache like this?"
Her voice cracked into a scream.
"Why… why… why!"
She pressed trembling fingers to her lips, her thoughts spiraling.
"Seo-jin… you claimed rights over me without my consent. Even after this contract marriage, you crossed boundaries… you became intimate with me."
More tears fell as an unwanted memory resurfaced—one that had haunted her ever since.
One Month Ago
Seo-jin stumbled out of his car, his steps unsteady, his body reeking of alcohol. His assistant rushed to support him, practically dragging him toward the apartment.
When the doorbell rang, Nari Hana hurried to open it. Shock crossed her face as she saw her husband leaning heavily against the assistant's shoulder.
"Mr. Lang went to the club with some employees tonight," the assistant explained quickly. "He drank too much wine. He's completely drunk, Madam."
Nari Hana's eyes narrowed in frustration, but she took Seo-jin's arm and helped him inside. His weight pressed against her, his words slurred and incoherent. She laid him carefully on the bed, brushing back strands of hair from his damp forehead.
"Why drink so much when you can't even handle it?" she muttered, her tone sharp with irritation.
As she turned to leave, a sudden pull stopped her. Seo-jin's arms wrapped around her waist from behind. His voice, heavy with alcohol yet vulnerable, trembled in her ear.
"I love you," he whispered hoarsely. "Please… don't leave me. You think I don't love you, but I do. I love you… more than anything, Nari."
She froze, her breath catching. Seo-jin turned her toward him, cupping her face tightly in his hands. His eyes, usually cold, now shimmered with unshed tears.
"You won't abandon me too, right? Not like my mother…"
Nari blinked in shock. "What are you saying? Your mother is still with you—"
He shook his head violently, his grip trembling.
"No… she left me when I was just a child. She abandoned me. Father brought another woman into our home, but she was never truly my mom. She never cared."
His voice cracked with pain, and a single tear slipped down his cheek.
"Please, Nari… stay with me tonight. Don't leave me alone."
Before she could respond, his lips pressed against hers in a desperate kiss. She tried to push him away, but his broken expression—his tears—stole her resistance. Her heart trembled as she gave in, letting his warmth pull her under.
That night, she stayed.
And when morning came, she awoke to find the bed empty. Seo-jin was gone, leaving no trace behind—only the memory of his touch and the echo of his pain.
Since then, Nari had waited for him every night. She would sit by the dining table, hoping, praying that he would come back. But he never did.
Night after night, she fell asleep in loneliness, her heart torn between hatred and a love she could no longer deny.
Nari Hana's trembling fingers gripped the edge of the sink as her tear-stained reflection stared back at her from the mirror.
Her voice cracked, filled with pain.
"Seojin… you used me. You said you loved me… but those words weren't for me. They were meant for Yui."
Tears spilled again, streaming down her flushed cheeks. She touched her chest as if her heart itself had betrayed her.
"Why… why does it hurt this much?" she whispered hoarsely.
And then—her own reflection shifted, speaking back to her like a cruel shadow.
"It hurts… because you've fallen in love with Seojin Lang. You waited for him every night. You cooked for him. You wore the clothes he liked. You lived for his presence."
Her eyes widened, denial trembling on her lips.
"I… I fell in love with him?"
A sharp voice cut through the air behind her.
"Fell in love? With who? With Seojin?"
Nari Hana froze. Her head snapped around.
Yui Tanaka stood at the doorway, her gaze sharp as daggers, anger simmering in her tone.
Quickly, Nari wiped her tears, her mind scrambling. She remembered Seojin's warning: "No one must know about us. It's a secret."
Forcing a shaky smile, Nari replied, "No… not with Seojin. I… I've just fallen in love with myself."
Yui let out a cold laugh, stepping closer.
"Do I look stupid to you? You really think I didn't notice? When I walked into the cabin, Seojin pulled away too quickly. His eyes… there was something in them he tried to hide. And you—your face said it all."
She turned toward the sink, washing her hands with calm precision. Picking up a tissue, she dabbed her fingers dry, her lips curving into a chilling smile.
"Whatever it was between you two… it's over now. Because I'm back. And when I'm here, I fix everything. Remember this—next time, knock before entering someone's cabin."
With that, Yui gave a sharp glance over her shoulder, flashed a knowing smirk, and walked out.
The silence left behind suffocated Nari Hana. Her tears began again, heavier than before. She clutched the silver locket around her neck so tightly it pressed into her skin.
"If this locket wasn't here to remind me who I am… I'd have already lost myself completely. But now…" her eyes darkened, glowing with dangerous resolve, "…if Seojin doesn't love me, then I'll force him to. I'll make him love me."
A mysterious smile tugged at her lips, replacing her tears with determination.
Meanwhile, inside his cabin, Seojin Lang sat stiffly in his chair, his mind replaying the same memory over and over—Nari Hana's broken face when she caught him and Yui together. His heart twisted painfully, but before he could think further, the door opened.
"Sir, it's time for the meeting," his assistant said firmly.
Seojin didn't respond, lost in thought.
The assistant cleared his throat and repeated louder, "Mr. Seo Lang, the meeting time has arrived."
Seojin blinked out of his haze, his expression quickly hardening. He stood up, adjusting his tie.
"Let's go."
But inside, his thoughts were anything but composed.
The meeting room buzzed with voices as employees eagerly pitched their ideas about the upcoming serum product launch. Some suggested hiring a famous model, others insisted on popular actresses. But Nari Hana… her mind was drifting elsewhere.
Seojin Lang, however, wasn't focused on the meeting. His sharp eyes lingered on her, tracing every nervous movement she made. Suddenly, his commanding voice broke through the chatter.
"Miss Nari Hana."
She jolted upright, her heart pounding. "Y–Yes… yes, Mr. Lang."
Gasps rippled across the room. Seojin's expression hardened, his gaze burning into her.
"Mr. Lang?" His tone dripped with irritation. "Since when did you start calling me Mr. Lang in front of everyone?"
The room fell silent, all eyes snapping toward them. Whispers began, employees exchanging curious glances.
Nari blinked, confused. "I… I don't understand…"
Seojin leaned forward, his voice stern. "You call me Mr. Seo. Not Mr. Lang. Understood, Miss Nari Hana?"
Embarrassed and flustered, she nodded quickly. "Y-Yes… Mr. Seo."
The tension was thick. Everyone knew something was off, but no one dared to speak.
Seojin straightened, his voice firm again. "The serum launch is around the corner. Do you have any promotional ideas, Miss Nari Hana?"
Before she could answer, a mocking voice cut in.
"Lang, why are you even asking her? She's new here. Barely two, three weeks in this company. What would she possibly know?"
All heads turned as Yui Tanaka entered, confidence radiating off her like a queen stepping onto her throne. Without hesitation, she sat beside Seojin, leaning in as if she belonged there.
"From today, I'll also be working in this company. Right, Lang? Why don't you tell everyone?"
An employee timidly raised her hand. "Miss Yui, you… you shouldn't call him Lang. Only close people—"
Yui's lips curved into a sharp smile as she cut her off. Her eyes flicked deliberately to Nari Hana.
"I can call him whatever I like. Because I am his soon-to-be wife. Our engagement is coming very soon, isn't that right, Lang?"
The room erupted in whispers and gasps.
"Miss Yui… Mr. Lang's fiancée?"
"So that's why she's here…"
"Wow, what a power couple."
Seojin's jaw tightened. His eyes flicked briefly toward Nari Hana—her eyes already glassy with unshed tears. His chest clenched, but his words came out cold.
"Yui, this isn't the time. We're in a meeting. Focus."
Turning back to Nari, he repeated firmly, "Miss Nari Hana, I asked you—any ideas for the serum's promotion?"
Her lips trembled, anger and hurt swirling inside her. Finally, she bit her lip and forced out, "I… I do have ideas. Many. But I don't think you'll ever like mine. Why don't you ask Miss Yui instead? Surely she has better ideas than me."
With that, she sank back into her seat, refusing to meet his eyes.
Yui's smile widened. She tapped her pen gracefully before speaking.
"What if we don't rely on celebrities this time? Instead, we let real people test the serum. Everyday people. Their genuine reviews will build more trust in our product."
The room murmured in agreement. It was fresh, relatable, practical.
But then, Tai—an employee sitting beside Nari—frowned thoughtfully. "Wait… wasn't that your idea, Nari Hana? You mentioned this before…"
Nari's heart clenched. She remembered how Yui had been lurking near her desk, flipping through her notes. And now… she was stealing them. Yui tilted her head, smirked knowingly, and even winked at her.
When the meeting ended, everyone filed out with excited chatter about Yui's "brilliant plan." Yui lingered, heels clicking deliberately as she walked past Nari Hana. She leaned in close, her voice laced with venom.
"You'll never win against me. Remember that."
With a smirk, she shoved past her, leaving Nari trembling.
Her eyes turned bloodshot, rage boiling within her chest. She gripped her silver locket so tightly it dug into her skin.
"I don't care about winning or losing. If life was just about games, I'd have given up long ago. But now…"
She pulled out her phone, her voice low and chilling as she spoke into it.
"...I almost let go of my purpose. Almost. But not anymore."
Ending the call, she sank into her chair with a twisted smile.
"Everyone thinks I was forced into this contract marriage. Even Seojin believes it. But the truth is…" her eyes gleamed dangerously, "…it was all part of my plan. From the very beginning."
Her thoughts slipped back to five months ago—to the very first time she laid eyes on Seojin Lang.