The Ji family's grand living room gleamed with crystal chandeliers and polished wood, but the atmosphere was anything but festive. Lin Soha sat beside Ji Suho, her smile sweet but calculated, while his mother and sister beamed with excitement.
"It's decided," his mother said warmly, clasping her hands. "You and Lin Soha will be married. It's the perfect match for both families."
Ji Suho's jaw tightened, but he forced a polite nod. "Yes… we will."
Lin Soha's eyes sparkled, but it was a calculated sparkle, one meant to charm and provoke at the same time. "I'm so happy, Suho," she said softly, leaning closer. "I've always wanted this."
His sister, unaware of his inner turmoil, clapped her hands. "Finally! About time, brother! This will be a grand wedding, and the families will celebrate for months!"
Ji Suho looked down, fingers clenching. "Yes… a grand celebration," he said quietly, his voice heavy with unspoken conflict.
Lin Soha tilted her head, sensing the unease. "Suho… you're not as happy as you should be," she teased lightly. "Don't tell me you still think about her?"
He flinched, unable to answer. It was true. Gu Soojin's image lingered in his mind, her strength, her independence, and the way she had silently survived everything he had ignored. And now he had no control over her—but he had control over nothing else either, not even his own heart.
His mother, noticing the tension, added, "This marriage is for the family, Suho. You'll grow to be happy with her in time."
Ji Suho nodded again, the weight of duty pressing down on him, but inside, a storm brewed. The decision had been made, but his heart refused to follow. The engagement might be official, but his feelings—conflicted, bitter, and unresolved—told a different story.
And somewhere, far away in the capital, Gu Soojin ruled her empire, unaware that her past was pulling at the heart of the man who once took her for granted.
The media buzzed with anticipation, cameras flashing, reporters whispering behind microphones. Ji Suho and Lin Soha stood side by side in the grand hall of the Ji family estate, smiling politely for the cameras, while the family beamed proudly behind them.
"Today, we are happy to announce the marriage of Ji Suho and Lin Soha," Ji Suho's mother declared, her voice warm and proud. "The wedding will take place on the 15th of next month, and we invite everyone to celebrate this joyous occasion."
Lin Soha leaned subtly closer to Ji Suho, whispering, "See? Everyone is excited, especially me." Her smile was flawless, rehearsed, calculated—but Suho's mind was elsewhere.
He glanced at her, forcing a polite smile for the cameras, and told himself firmly, Don't think about Soojin. This is about the family, about duty. Focus on the marriage.
Meanwhile, across the city, Gu Soojin sat in her office at GS Holdings, sipping tea while reviewing expansion reports. Her assistant, Kim Haeun, handed her a tablet with the latest news headlines.
The headline caught her eye:
"Ji Suho and Lin Soha Set Marriage Date—Grand Wedding Announced!"
Gu Soojin raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint, amused smile. "Hmph," she murmured, almost laughing softly. "They really think this matters to me?"
She leaned back, relaxed, and took another sip of tea. The world outside could speculate, the media could celebrate—but she wasn't affected. She was running empires, conquering industries, and expanding her influence. Marriage announcements, family politics, or petty attempts at provocation held no weight against her.
At the Ji family estate, Ji Suho straightened his posture, trying to ignore the pang in his chest. He had made a choice—or at least, he convinced himself that he had. Focus on Lin Soha. Focus on the marriage. Stop thinking about Gu Soojin.
But in the quiet recesses of his mind, her image lingered—a reminder of what he had lost, and what he could no longer control.
Gu Soojin, on the other hand, chuckled quietly, already moving on to the next meeting, the next expansion, the next empire she would conquer. She didn't feel anger, regret, or jealousy—just the quiet amusement of someone untouchable, a woman who had survived everything and thrived despite it all.