The echo of the heavy VIP cabin door clicking shut behind Yoo Ara left a hollow silence in the room. Kang Ji-Hoon sat motionless on the leather sofa, the scent of her perfume still clinging to the humid air. He reached for his glass, the amber whiskey swirling as he took a slow, deliberate sip. His mind was drifting back to the heat of their bodies on the mahogany table when the sharp, shrill ring of his phone cut through the quiet.
He glanced at the screen. Mother.
With a sigh of annoyance, he swiped to answer. "Yes?"
"Ji-Hoon, where are you?" his mother, Mrs. Kang Myung-Hee, asked. Her voice was taut, lacking its usual soft elegance.
"I'm at my club. Why?"
"Come home immediately."
Ji-Hoon leaned back, closing his eyes. "At this hour? Whatever it is, we can talk tomorrow."
"No," she snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Your father needs to speak with you regarding a matter of extreme importance. Get here now, Ji-Hoon."
The line went dead before he could protest. He stared at the dark screen for a moment, a sense of unease creeping into his chest. He stood up, shaking off the lingering haze of alcohol and lust. He reached for his silk shirt and trousers, dressing with quick, efficient movements.
As he stepped out of the private cabin, his head security guard bowed. "Sir, leaving so early?"
"Wrap everything up and close the bar when the crowd thins," Ji-Hoon ordered, his voice cold and authoritative. "I'm headed out."
"Understood, sir."
Ji-Hoon strode through the parking lot, the cool night air hitting his face. He approached his Matte Black Lamborghini, the engine roaring to life with a predatory growl as he slid into the driver's seat. He peeled out of the lot, the city lights blurring past him.
Midway through the drive, his phone buzzed again. This time it was his closest friend and confidant, Lee Min-Ho.
"Yo, Ji-Hoon! I'm heading to Velvet Night now. You in the cabin?" Min-Ho's cheerful voice filled the car.
"No," Ji-Hoon replied, his eyes fixed on the road. "I'm heading back to the estate."
"To the Kang Mansion? Now? Did the world end?"
"My father wants an 'important' meeting. My mother sounded like the house was on fire. I don't know what's going on, but I'll catch you tomorrow at our usual spot."
"Good luck, man. Sounds heavy," Min-Ho said before hanging up.
Ji-Hoon pulled up to the Kang Estate, a magnificent, sprawling fortress of glass and stone that screamed old money and power. He left the car at the entrance and walked inside, his footsteps echoing on the marble floors.
In the grand drawing room, his father, Chairman Kang Dae-Hyun, sat rigidly on a velvet sofa. His mother stood up the moment Ji-Hoon entered, her face pale.
"Sit down, Ji-Hoon," his father said, his voice like grinding stone.
Ji-Hoon stayed standing, his hands in his pockets. "Why did you call me here so urgently? I have a business to run."
"Business?" his father scoffed. "You mean that playground you call a bar? Sit."
Reluctantly, Ji-Hoon sank into the sofa opposite them. "Fine. What is it?"
"You are going to get married," Chairman Kang stated flatly.
Ji-Hoon froze, then a short, mocking laugh escaped his lips. "Married? You're joking. You know my stance on that. Not a chance."
"I am not joking," his father's eyes were cold, devoid of any fatherly warmth. "The Kang Group is facing a massive financial hemorrhage. We are standing on the edge of ruin, Ji-Hoon. Our creditors are circling, and our stock is plummeting."
Ji-Hoon's smile faded. He knew things were tight, but ruin?
"There is only one way to stabilize the corporation," his father continued. "A merger through marriage. We have reached an agreement with the Han Corporation. You will marry their heiress, Han Seo-Yeon."
"No," Ji-Hoon stood up abruptly, his blood boiling. "I'm not a piece of property you can trade to fix your balance sheets. I am not interested in marriage, and I am certainly not interested in her."
"You will do as you are told!" his father roared, standing up to face him.
"I'm leaving," Ji-Hoon turned toward the door. "I'm an adult. You can't force me into a cage."
"If you walk out that door," Chairman Kang's voice dropped to a deadly whisper, "I will have the bulldozers at Velvet Night by tomorrow morning."
Ji-Hoon stopped in his tracks, spinning around. "You wouldn't. That's my club."
"It is your name on the sign, but it is my investment," his father reminded him cruelly. "The land, the permits, the initial capital—it all belongs to the Kang Group. I have the legal right to shut it down and tear it to the ground. Furthermore..." He pulled out a tablet. "I have already instructed the bank. All your personal accounts and credit cards are blocked as of five minutes ago. You have nothing, Ji-Hoon. No money, no club, and no future—unless you marry that girl."
The two men stood face-to-face, their eyes locked in a silent, angry war. Ji-Hoon's chest heaved with fury, his fists clenched at his sides. He was the prince of the night, but in this room, he was nothing more than a bird in a gilded cage.
End of Chapter 3...