Fate’s cruel game

You shoot your shot with Jiho but it flipped back in your face.

"What a waste!" You hissed, jumped out of your car and slammed the door. You make your way into the house.

Upon arrival, Kang Mu jumps in your face, "You are only retuning now? Look at what time it is! Ever since you attempted suicide, you have been acting out. Did you knock your head too or something?"

"Father, I am a grown woman who can handle myself!" You protested.

Kang Mu paused a moment, "Are you drunk right now?"

You hiccup, struggling to stand in one place.

"Did you drive in a drunken state? Have you finally lost your mind!?" He yelled so loud the entire mansion shook.

"She drinks, dresses like a bar girl and comes back home late and in a drunken state, I think there is something wrong with your daughter's head." MinYung said, walking into the living room, "She doesn't care about our reputation anymore."

You chuckle in disbelief, shaking your head, "I have lived my entire life doing as you tell me. If you tell me to sit, I sit with no complain. You tell me to sleep, I go to bed even when I'm not prepared. I have sacrificed every dream and desire to uphold our so-called reputation! Why must I be the one to carry such a heavy burden? I am YOUR daughter, a human, not a robot!"

"ENOUGH!" Kang Mu warned, "You even talk back now, how shameless are you going to keep acting Ari? Why are you doing this?" He sighed, unable to wrap his head around your sudden change in personality.

"The shares you own are a massive deal to this family and the contract said you can only get something out of it if you marry a man from the Gong family. Our two companies will merge and your union will be a fruitful one. I won't let this opportunity slip out of our hands. I have been holding onto this dream since the moment you were born."

"You are shamelessly admitting you sold your daughter off for money?" You question dishearteningly.

"If a daughter's worth is not to bring money to her father, why should she even exist in the first place?" He responded in a cold tone.

You swallow a huge bitter lump, "So I am nothing to you but a means to make money?"

"You should feel lucky i didn't abandon you like your mother did!" He growled, "You have done your part, I will do mine now. At tomorrow's event, you are going to control your self and act respectfully. Your wedding date has already been fixed, in three days, you will marry Gong Joon and it will be announced at the event."

"Are you now going to force me to marry that asshole?" You snapped, "I will NOT marry Gong Joon!"

"It is a command!" Kang Mu sneered, "Go to bed, get your head straight and prepare for tomorrow's event." With those words, he leave.

You stomp to your room and slammed the door - steaming. "Even if I try to run away, I will be found in no time. The only way to escape this marriage to Gong Joon is if I marry Jiho, but he doesn't want to marry me. What a waste!"

The next morning.

You didn't sleep a wink, as soon as the sun rose, you showered, got dressed and tried to leave your room but apparently, someone locked you from outside.

It must be that witch MinYung!

"Let me out! LET ME OUT!!!" You keep banging on the door but nobody came to your aid. Eventually, you grew tired and returned to bed. A plate of food has already been placed on your drawer.

That witch, at least she got me breakfast.

You remained hostage in your room till after sunset then the door was opened. Your stylist and makeup artist came to get you dressed. You had no choice but to comply.

You were put in a bubblegum-pink twead knee-length dress, your hair was straightened and tied in a low ponytail with a clean girl makeup look to compliment your outfit.

You were directed straight to the car and were driven to the venue. At the entrance, you walk down the red carpet with a practiced smile, posed for pictures and eventually made your way into the building.

The gala is upstairs at the grand hall of the hotel. You are on your way there when you noticed, out of the corner of your eye, Gong Jiho, in a delicious black suit entering the men's room at the end of the hallway. You follow him.

Gong Jiho finished freshening up and was on his way out when you opened the door. He backed away in alarm and looked even shocked when he realized it was you.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in an annoyed tone.

You flash him a confident smile, "About what we talked last night, what do you say?"

"I already told you, I will not marry you." He replied.

You sigh in defeat, lowering your eyes, "My father is going to force me to marry your brother in three days, tonight is the only chance I have to change my destiny, OUR destiny. Since I am begging, why can't you just marry me?"

"I don't want to be the CEO, I do not care about you. Do whatever you want but I will not be a part of your silly revenge, so you can go into the room and accept your destiny or run away, I don't care." He said in a flat unemotional tone.

"Why don't you just give it another thought?" You ask, reaching for his hand.

"Don't touch me!" He jerked his hand away, "Get out!"

"You will really ruin both of our lives because of your ego? Fine, do whatever you want." You cast him one last glance and stormed out of the restroom.

Jiho walked to the sink and started washing his hand when realization dawned on him.

When you touched his hand, he felt it and even reacted faster than he would have normally done.

His eyes snapped open as he sharply raises his head, "Did I just …Did I just tell her not to touch me? How did I know she was touching me? Did I …Did I feel her?"

The mere thought of the possibility of him feeling you sends his heart thundering in his chest. He raced out of the restroom and dashed to the event hall.

After your argument with Jiho, you enter the hall. With each step, a dagger is plunged deeper into your chest.

You no longer feel fear or the need to please anyone but despite changing, you are still stuck in the same ugly fate.

Gong Joon shoots your a sly grin when he sees you.

He approaches you with a champagne, "I like how you look tonight, plain and boring, like you always do. I guess Mr Kang Mo have put you back in your place. You've been a little brat these two days and for a moment I thought you had lost it."

He lean to whisper in your ear, "You put a knife on my throat and embarrassed me in front of everyone. I was actually ready to let you go but now, after what you did to me, I will have to marry you and make your life hell."

You ignore him, turned away and strode to the other end of the room. You reach out for a drink on the waiter's tray when suddenly, someone grabbed and spin your around.

Behold, it's Jiho - panting and sweating.

"You?" You asked.

He didn't say a word, only held you tightly, gripping your hands.

"What are you doing?" You questioned cluelessly.

He started chuckling, "You …"

he lifts his enigmatic eyes to look at your face, "You are very cold, must be because you came from outside."

You could not understand a word and jerked your hands away, "What exactly are you even…"

And then, it hits you like a train-dead square between the eyes.

You sharply meet his gaze, "How do you know that my hands are cold right now? Can you perhaps …Can you feel me?"

Jiho only chuckles, "It's crazy right? How do I know that your body is cold? How can I feel you right now, why you? You won't even begin to imagine how long I have yearned for a human touch. To just feel something, anything! I have been living like a robot and I have never been so desperate for anything in my life and now, now I can feel. I can feel!" He released your hand, approached a waiter and abruptly took hold of his hand. His smile instantly vanished.

He waddled back and grab your hand again, "It's weird, I touched that man and I felt nothing but I am touching you now and you still feel cold."

You could not comprehend what was happening between you. "Does that mean I am the only person who you can feel?"

"I think so." He gave a nervous chuckle, "Fate must be playing a cruel game with me." He meets your tensed gaze, panicking himself, "With us."