The Kim residence glittered like a chandelier that had decided to become a house.
Light.
Laughter.
Champagne glasses chiming like tiny bells.
Guests filled every corner—silk, diamonds, polished smiles.
At the center of it all—
Min-Ji stood glowing in elegance, dressed like she had personally negotiated with luxury itself.
"Make sure the media doesn't come too close," Madam instructed smoothly.
Halmoni sat like a queen on her throne of cushions, watching everything with bright, curious eyes.
Ha-Joon stood nearby, composed, unreadable—his presence alone enough to quiet a room if it wanted to misbehave.
Everything was perfect.
Too perfect.
Then—
"He's not answering—"
The voice cut through the music like a scratch on glass.
Heads turned.
Arisoo stood at the entrance—
not dressed for the party.
Not smiling.
Not okay.
Her hair slightly messy.
Her breathing uneven.
Her eyes—
panicked.
"Arisoo?" Seo-Yeon frowned, stepping forward. "What's wrong?"
Arisoo ignored everyone else.
Her gaze locked onto Ha-Joon.
"She's missing."
The room didn't go silent immediately—
but it tilted.
Ha-Joon stilled.
"…Who?" Madam asked, voice sharp.
Arisoo swallowed.
"Ji-Ah."
Silence.
This time—
real.
Min-Hyuk straightened slowly.
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking!" Arisoo snapped, her voice cracking. "I checked everywhere—her room, the studio, your office—she's not there! I called her—she didn't pick up—I asked everyone—no one saw her!"
Seo-Yeon's face paled.
"She wouldn't leave without telling us…"
"She didn't!" Arisoo said quickly. "Her bike is still outside!"
Ha-Joon's fingers tightened around the glass in his hand—
then—
he set it down.
Carefully.
Too carefully.
"Did you check—"
"Yes!" Arisoo cut in again, stepping closer. "I even called Seo-Jun—she's not at her father's house, not at her apartment—she's nowhere!"
Min-Ji's smile—
flickered.
Just for a second.
Ha-Joon reached into his pocket.
Pulled out his phone.
Dialed.
Everyone watched.
It rang.
And rang.
And—
Nothing.
His jaw tightened.
Again.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Arisoo's voice dropped, softer now—
more dangerous.
"Do you know where she is?"
That did it.
Ha-Joon moved.
Fast.
He brushed past a guest who barely had time to blink—
his calm now sharpened into something else entirely.
"Ha-Joon—" Madam called.
No response.
"Where are you going?" Min-Ji stepped forward quickly, reaching for him.
He pulled away before she could touch him.
"I'll handle it," he said.
Short.
Final.
And then—
he walked out.
Not rushed.
Not panicked.
But every step carried a storm.
Behind him—
Arisoo followed instantly.
Min-Hyuk muttered under his breath, grabbing his coat.
"This isn't good."
Halmoni's eyes narrowed slightly—
bright, but no longer playful.
"Find her," she said quietly.
Outside—
the party lights stayed glowing.
Like nothing had changed.
But inside—
everything had.
Meanwhile…
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Like it had swallowed sound and refused to give it back.
Ji-Ah sat tied to the chair—
hair messy, falling over her face in tangled waves.
Her pink pajamas now wrinkled beyond recognition.
Her stomach growled softly.
"…I'm hungry…" she whispered again, voice dry.
The door opened.
Min-Soo walked in—
calm.
Smiling.
Too calm.
Behind him—
an older woman followed.
His mother.
Mrs. Min looked like someone who wore softness as a mask.
Neatly styled hair.
Gold earrings that caught the light.
Hands folded politely—
but her eyes?
Sharp.
Calculating.
"My son," she said gently, stepping in. "Your father doesn't know about this."
Min-Soo shrugged lightly.
"He doesn't need to."
He glanced at Ji-Ah.
Smirk growing.
"Once I marry her, he won't be able to do anything."
Mrs. Min tilted her head slightly.
"And divorce?"
He chuckled.
"Not happening."
His gaze darkened.
"Did she eat?"
Mrs. Min shook her head.
"No."
Min-Soo clicked his tongue.
Annoyed.
"Feed her," he said. "I don't want her dying here."
He crouched in front of Ji-Ah—
gripping her chin suddenly.
"She embarrassed me," he murmured. "Now she'll pay."
His smile returned—
cold.
"I won't kill you," he added softly. "No… I'll make your life miserable."
Ji-Ah glared at him—
fierce despite everything.
He stood.
"Make sure she eats before she gets dressed," he told his mother.
Then he left.
The door shut.
Silence again.
Mrs. Min sighed softly—
like this was just another chore.
She picked up the food.
Walked over.
Ji-Ah's voice cracked—
"Please… let me go…"
Mrs. Min paused.
Then smiled faintly.
Not kind.
"I want what's best for my son," she said, adjusting her sleeve delicately. "And right now… that's you."
She lifted a spoon.
"Open."
Ji-Ah hesitated—
then her stomach betrayed her.
She ate.
Small bites.
Careful.
"Good girl," Mrs. Min murmured.
After a few spoonfuls—
water.
Ji-Ah drank quickly.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
Mrs. Min didn't respond.
Instead—
she walked to the bed.
Picked something up.
A dress.
White.
Expensive.
Elegant.
Layers of soft fabric that shimmered like it had opinions about wealth.
"My son bought this," she said. "You should feel lucky."
Ji-Ah stared at it.
Lucky?
Her hands clenched slightly.
Mrs. Min stepped behind her—
and began untying the ropes.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Ji-Ah's mind raced.
Run now?
No.
There were guards.
The hotel felt empty—
too empty.
Her gaze flicked—
to the mirror.
Her phone.
So close.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
The rope loosened.
"Stand up," Mrs. Min said.
Ji-Ah did.
Carefully.
The dress was placed in her hands.
"Change."
Ji-Ah nodded.
Walking toward the bathroom—
slow steps.
Measured.
Behind her—
Mrs. Min watched.
Every movement.
Inside—
Ji-Ah closed the door.
Her hands trembled as she changed—
not because she wanted to.
But because she had to.
Outside—
her phone lit up.
Ha-Joon calling.
Mrs. Min glanced at it.
Then—
calmly—
turned it off.
Inside the bathroom—
Ji-Ah stepped back from the mirror.
The dress fit perfectly.
Of course it did.
She looked…
beautiful.
And trapped.
Her jaw tightened.
"Not happening," she whispered.
Today was supposed to be a party.
Not this.
Not him.
She lifted her chin slightly—
eyes sharpening.
Think.
Because somewhere out there—
Ha-Joon was already moving.
And she—
needed to survive long enough
to be found.
Inside the bathroom—
Ji-Ah stood frozen for a second.
Breathing.
Thinking.
Think. Think. Think.
Her eyes flicked to the door.
Then—
an idea sparked.
Small.
Risky.
But enough.
She opened the door slightly.
Peeking out.
"Mrs. Min…?" she called softly.
Mrs. Min looked up from where she stood.
"…Yes?"
Ji-Ah hesitated—just enough to make it believable.
"The zipper," she said, turning slightly. "It's stuck. I can't reach it properly…"
A pause.
Mrs. Min sighed.
Mildly annoyed.
"Useless," she muttered under her breath, already walking over.
She stepped inside.
The moment she did—
Ji-Ah moved.
Fast.
She slipped out past her—
click.
Door locked.
From the outside.
"What—?!" Mrs. Min's voice snapped from inside.
Too late.
Ji-Ah ran.
Straight to the mirror.
Her phone.
Her fingers grabbed it—
hands shaking—
She dialed.
"Pick up… pick up…"
It rang once—
"Hello?"
Ha-Joon.
Relief hit her like air after drowning.
"Grumpy Sir—!"
"Ji-Ah? Where are you?" His voice sharpened instantly.
"They kidnapped me—" she rushed, words tumbling over each other. "I'm in a hotel—I don't know the name but I saw—wait—there's a sign—"
Behind her—
banging.
"Open the door!" Min-Soo's voice roared.
Ji-Ah flinched.
Turning.
"They're here—they're trying to break in—" she said quickly, pacing, heart racing. "Min-Soo—he wants to marry me—he's crazy—"
"Ji-Ah, listen to me," Ha-Joon's voice cut through, steady but tight. "Tell me what you see. Anything. Street name, sign—anything."
She turned toward the window—
rain streaking down the glass.
"I see—" she squinted— "there's a blue sign—something Grand—Grand—"
A loud crack.
The door shook.
"Mom, what did you do?!" Min-Soo shouted outside.
Ji-Ah's grip tightened on the phone.
"They're breaking in—" her voice dropped, fear slipping through now. "Hurry—please—"
"I'm already on my way," Ha-Joon said. "Stay on the line."
Another crash.
Wood splintering.
"I—" Ji-Ah started—
The door burst open.
Mrs. Min stumbled back.
Min-Soo stormed in—
two guards behind him.
"There she is."
"Wait—" Ji-Ah stepped back, clutching the phone. "Don't—"
"Take her."
The guards lunged.
One grabbed her arm—
another her shoulder—
"Let go—!" she struggled, kicking, pulling—
The phone slipped—
Fell.
Still connected.
On the floor.
"Help—! Ha-Joon—!" her voice broke as they dragged her. "Help me—!"
Min-Soo's grip tightened on her wrist.
"You should've stayed quiet," he said coldly.
She fought harder.
"Let me go—!"
Her voice echoed—
fading—
as they dragged her out of the room.
The phone lay there.
Still on.
Still carrying everything.
On the other end—
silence.
Then—
breathing.
Heavy.
Controlled.
Ha-Joon didn't say anything.
He heard it all.
Every word.
Every scream.
Then—
the line went dead.
Inside the car—
rain pounded against the windshield like it was trying to warn the world.
Ha-Joon lowered the phone slowly.
His jaw clenched.
"…Min-Soo."
The name left his mouth like a promise.
He started the engine.
The car roared to life.
And then—
he drove.
Fast.
Too fast.
Because somewhere ahead—
Ji-Ah was still fighting.
And he was done waiting.