Double Masks

Jiho kindly drove you home, you bid each other good night and he went off.

You knew the storm that awaits you inside and prepared yourself. Upon entering the house, MinYung and Inha came applauding,

"Congratulations, you have finally become the cheater and whore of the year. Engaged to the older brother, fucking the younger one behind closed doors. How long has this been going on?" MinYung interrogated.

Responding to her question, you roll your eyes, plastering a sardonic smile, "For as long as …" you pause dramatically. They lean.

"Should you not be celebrating since a stain on my image will make your heart smile?"

You headed for the stairs, "I am in no mood to listen to your criticism, find something better to do or go and paint your nails or something, both you and your son should not disturb me this night. As you already know, I am in such a good mood tonight. I think even if I die today, I will die with a smile."

You left their mouths hanging and headed to your room. You lock the door, tossed your heels off and sink into the bed.

Eyes fixed on the ceiling, you trail a lazy finger along the soft contour of your lips, reminiscing about the kiss you shared with Jiho.

For a man who could not feel anything, he definitely is such a good kisser.

For the first in forever, you drifted to sleep with a smile.

THE NEXT DAY.

You woke up to countless missed calls and thousands of DMs. A reporter published an article 'THE SCANDAL OF THE YEAR: SEOUL's FAIRY, KANG ARI, REVEALS AFFAIR TO HER FIANCÉ's BROTHER.'

You read the first two lines which says "Kang Ari is idolized as the perfect, humble, chaebol heiress, but to the public's greatest surprise, at Moon Bay's charity gala last night, Kang Ari shamelessly revealed her affair to Gong Jiho, Gong Joon's stepbrother, by sharing a kiss with him in the presence of all the guests, leaving her fiancé and others in utter shock and disgust…."

You could not keep reading the article and put the phone face down with a tired sigh. You rub your temple, running your hand through your hair. The matter has now gone out of your hands.

Will it matter to you what the public thinks?

You jump out of bed, heading for the bathroom when all of a sudden, your maid barges into the room with a pale face, "My lady…"

You swivel to face her, "Why do you look worried? Is everything okay?"

She regained her composure, "The master is back, he told me to tell you to come out. Your wedding is taking place in two hours."

It takes you a moment to finally absorb what she just said, "Huh?"

According to Kang Mu, getting you married now is the only way to calm the public down - A budding forbidden romance will sway their hearts to overcome your betrayal and will make them fall in love with your love life.

The marriage will be hosted at the Hotel Grand.

Your car parked by the entrance. You remain seated inside, eyes fixed on the top floor. Memories from that unfortunate night came flooding back in; the night you decided to take your life for love.

Drawing a deep breath, you put on your shades, smoothed your hair with your hands and finally stepped out of the car.

You make your way into the building majestically. Your stylist and makeup artist awaits you at the top floor. You are waiting for the elevator to come down and in the midst, a female employee approaches you.

"Good day miss Kang, it is nice to see you are healthy again." She smiled.

She speaks to you with familiarity which only confused you even more. You fix her with a questionable look, "Have we met before?"

Your question made her chuckle. She shook her head, "No, but I was the one who found you on the night you attempted suicide."

"Oh…" You couldn't care any less.

Still, you plaster a grateful smile, "It was wrong of me, i didn't return to thank you for saving my life, I am sorry and also, thank you, I will forever be indebted to you."

She gasped, "What? No! You don't have to thank me. I only did what I was told and it seems you are already thanking your savior in the most beautiful way. The two of you must be meant to be."

Still confused, you ask, "What exactly are you talking about?"

"On that night, a man came to me and told me to rush to room 506, that someone was in need of urgent help and I should inform the emergency. I thought it was a prank but when I got there, luckily, you had just cut your wrist and the ambulance also arrived on time and you were saved, but it's all thanks to him." She explained.

You wonder who it could be, "A man saved me? Who was it?"

Your question made her laugh as if you had just said something funny, "You must be messing with me."

Your solemn reaction made her realize you are serious.

She immediately paused, "No way, this is something I have only ever seen in movies. Does fate really exist?"

"Huh?"

"The man who saved you…" she chuckled gleefully, "He is the man you are marrying!."

"Who? Gong Joon?" You laughed at your own joke, "Did Gong Joon save me? That is not possible!"

"No, not him, but his brother, Mr Gong Jiho." As soon as the name escaped her lips, you freeze, glued to the spot.

She continues, "I wonder why he didn't call the emergency and helped you himself but even what he did was heroic, so he saved you, not me."

This piece of information you've discovered have completely altered the image of Gong Jiho you have in your head. You respect him and adore him even more. But above all, you are even more curious about him: Why didn't he tell you he saved you? Why does he despise you so much? Why are you the only person whose touch can be felt by him?

So many questions but with little to no answer.

Cold footed, you make your way to the dressing room and after an hour and a half, you are done.

Hair tied into a princess bun, glamorized with the most expensive diamond jewelries, your brown eyes echoed with the Smokey eye makeup, lips refined with the cherry red lipstick.

Your white ballgown wedding dress fits you perfectly - simple but in an elegant way - just the way you are.

Somewhere in the hotel.

Gong Joon came with the intention of wrecking the wedding but Gong Hangmo intervened in time. He forcefully pulled him to a room to discuss privately.

"Father, how can you tell me to quietly watch Kang Ari marry Jiho? How is that even possible? Up until one month ago, that girl was crazy about me, you know that she knew I was sleeping with other women but not once has she ever complained or even attempted to break up with me but now… ever since her suicide she… she's changed. But even so, how can she marry my brother? That sly bastard!!"

"ENOUGH!" Gong Hangmo shouted him down, "Why are you feeling bad now when you went ahead and destroyed everything on your own? You know about all the lies and secrets we buried just to make your alliance to that girl possible and instead of concealing your desires till after your marriage to her, you went ahead and destroyed everything. You should be lucky she still chose to marry from our own family, if not, we would have lost our hands on those shares."

"Shares?" Gong Joon chuckled in disbelief, "My heart is broken, my ego hurt, but you are worried about shares? The shares that will not be transferred to me but to Jiho? Those shares!?"

Gong Hangmo sighed, "I truly wanted for you to have those shares but your foolishness got the best of you."

Joon scoffed, "Ever since that accident fifteen years ago, Jiho excluded himself from this family. He acts like a robot with no emotion, sometimes I wonder if he can even feel anything and now suddenly this? Are you not in the bit suspicious of them? When did they fall in love and how? Father…" he reached for Hangmo's hands, desperately looking into his eyes, "What if it's their plan to ruin me? What if Jiho decides to come back to the company and challenge me? What then?"

"You little …" Hangmo forced his hands out of Joon's grip, "You should have thought about that before messing up you little shit. Even though I hate to admit it, Jiho is still my child. No matter who amongst you becomes the CEO and takes over Moon Bay, I won't be at lost. It is up to you to up your game cause if Jiho decides to run for CEO, with the sixty percent company shares that will be transferred to him, he will have the upper hand and might even defeat you."

"Father!!"

"That's enough Joon." Gong Hangmo was beyond disappointed, "Put on your suit, a smile, and attend your brother's wedding." With those words, Gong Hangmo leaves.

Joon grunted, frustratedly picks up and smashed a flower vase into the wall.

He steams, fuming, huffing fire out of his nose, "Gong Jiho, fifteen years ago I had to lie to get you out of my way but it seems you have managed to beat me at the game once again, but this time around, just like I did last time, I will have to play dirty."

The perfect idea hatch in his head, a devilish grin appearing on his solemn face, "I will hurt you in the most wicked and painful way and then watch the two of you crumble in the wrath of my chaos, I promise!"