Chapter 22

"And this is where I first met you!" Yui-Hyuk exclaimed with unmistakable enthusiasm as he stepped into the lush green room, the warmth of the late afternoon sun pouring in through the expansive skylights above. The light illuminated the vibrant hues of the meticulously cared-for plants, casting a kaleidoscope of colors that danced across the polished floor, the dew clinging to each leaf shimmering like tiny jewels. As Yui-Hyuk walked slowly around the various flora, he was a picture of reverence, tracing the contours of each leaf with his fingers, while Yeon-Jun trailed behind him, his eyes wide with a mixture of wonder and confusion.

"I remember your father brought you here when you were just a baby," Yui-Hyuk continued, his voice softening as nostalgia washed over him. He glanced around, momentarily lost in thought, before turning his attention back to Yeon-Jun. "He called you his miracle baby. He thanked me for my words to the hospital chief, which had played a pivotal role in ensuring your healthy birth. On that day, he promised me something special. He said that whenever I needed you, I could take you—anywhere and at any time. That you were mine." A broad smile spread across Yui-Hyuk's face as he welcomed Yeon-Jun to explore the greenhouse, but his own focus soon returned to the details of the upcoming wedding plans.

"Promised..." Yeon-Jun scoffed, laughter bubbling up uncontrollably as he rolled on the floor, clutching his stomach as if the very thought were a punchline to a bad joke. "Promised? Like I'm some prized pig at a county fair?" He wiped away a tear of mirth from the corner of his eye, struggling to regain his composure. "So this is the magical place where you decided to ruin my life?" he said, standing up just as the peaceful sound of the central fountain came to life, its gentle splashes contrasting sharply with the chaotic backdrop of his thoughts. "I'll make sure you're buried right here," he joked, moving to the fountain's edge and dipping his fingers into the cool, crystal-clear water, wondering just how deep it really was. "Maybe I'll just drown you in this water myself."

Just then, a voice echoed through the room, sharp and familiar yet unsettling. "It's crazy how well he hid you," the voice cut through the air, sending a chill down Yeon-Jun's spine. He turned, searching for the source, unease creeping over him. "But one thing the chairman doesn't realize is that I have more control over this mansion than he ever could."

Woo-San leaped to his feet, shock written all over his face. "He took Yeon-Jun!?" The news from Tae-Min and Sung-Hoon had hit him like a thunderclap. He cleared his throat, suddenly acutely aware of the unspoken history between himself and Yeon-Jun, a connection that now seemed to explain Yui-Hyuk's relentless pursuit. "...Mr. Shin Yeon-Jun, why would the chairman even take him?" Woo-San's tone was serious, though he tried to mask it with bravado. But observing the concerned expressions on his friends' faces forced him to reconsider.

"He's been planning this carefully for quite some time," Woo-San sighed, pouring a shot of liquor into three glasses, handing them to Tae-Min and Sung-Hoon, who both accepted them with wary glances. Woo-San took one himself, downing it in one swift motion. "This likely began when you met each other." As they exchanged glances, Sung-Hoon and Tae-Min dug deep into their memories, trying to pinpoint the exact moment their lives had intertwined, eventually recalling how Sung-Hoon had been unexpectedly sponsored to attend the same university as Tae-Min, their academic interests aligning fortuitously. The realization of just how deeply Yui-Hyuk had manipulated their fates loomed over them like a shadow.

"And then came Yixan and Ji-Hyun," Woo-San added, his voice tinged with a sense of dread. A shiver passed through him as he acknowledged that Yui-Hyuk had orchestrated everything with terrifying precision, connecting them all like pieces in a sinister game. "When I first started to piece together his schemes, I was taken aback by how flawlessly he tied everyone into his web of influence—even Yeon-Su."

"What about Yeon-Su?" Sung-Hoon interjected, his heart racing as he realized the implications of what Woo-San was saying. "Was he planted too? Is he some sort of spy? That can't be true, can it?" The thought of betrayal felt like a knife twisting in his gut, though relief soon washed over him as he prepared for the truth.

"Yeon-Su's my cousin. He's Kyung-Min's half-brother," Woo-San explained, and he watched as shock spread across Sung-Hoon's face. The revelation left him momentarily speechless, alternating glances between Tae-Min and Woo-San, before downing two shots in quick succession, his head hitting the table with a dull thud.

"When does it stop being a coincidence?" Sung-Hoon wondered aloud, frustration and disbelief bubbling beneath the surface. The first time he connected the dots regarding Tae-Min and Woo-San's families, he told himself it was just coincidence to avoid jeopardizing their burgeoning friendship. The same reasoning had applied when he uncovered Yixan's ties to Yui-Hyuk and again with Kyung-Min, all the while hoping to shield Yeon-Jun from any fallout. But now, it was becoming painfully clear that he had been blinded by misguided hope, and the weight of that realization bore heavily upon him.

"Do you want another one?" Tae-Min asked, offering the bottle, his voice low with concern. Without hesitation, Sung-Hoon seized the bottle, tilting it to his mouth, desperate for the numbing comfort of the alcohol. "Careful!" Tae-Min exclaimed, lunging for the bottle, but Sung-Hoon expertly dodged him. "If you're a true friend, show me some compassion and drink with me!" It was clear that for all the chaos swirling around them, Tae-Min remained a good friend.

"You have got to be kidding me..." Yeon-Su exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief as he watched Tae-Min retching violently on the side of the road, the scene eerily reminiscent of that one disastrous night when Tae-Min had stumbled into his house, completely drunk. "Don't worry about it too much," Yixan reassured Kyung-Min, stepping outside alongside him, her hand gently rubbing soothing circles on his back. However, her composure shattered as she let out a startled gasp. "Oh my god!" she cried, eyes darting to the ground where Sung-Hoon and Tae-Min lay sprawled, utterly disheveled and unresponsive. "What the heck is happening here!?" Yixan shouted at Woo-San, who was already making a beeline for the back door, clearly trying to escape the chaos.

"What are you doing here?" Woo-San shot back, his brow furrowing in confusion at Kyung-Min's presence. The question was countered instantly. "You're out here partying like you don't care. Do you even know who you're marrying?" Kyung-Min pressed, eyebrow raised, prompting a bewildered look from Woo-San. "How do you know I'm getting married?" Woo-San stammered, his mind racing as Kyung-Min produced the invitation, which he handed over to him. "This was delivered to my grandfather today," he said, a hint of indignation in his voice. Woo-San fumbled with the envelope, his hands trembling slightly as he unfolded the card only to find his and Yeon-Jun's names emblazoned under the gilded 'to be wed' text. Panic surged through him. "I need to go." He stuttered, shoving the card back into Kyung-Min's hands before sprinting off to flag down a taxi, panic evident in his movements.

"I'm far too stressed to deal with these drunkards right now," Yixan muttered under her breath as she disdainfully nudged Sung-Hoon with the toe of her shoe. Kyung-Min let out a heavy sigh, glancing at the two inebriated men on the pavement, one of whom was snoring obnoxiously. "Why don't we just leave them here?" Yeon-Su suggested, but it could only be suggestion

Reluctantly, he decided he would take Tae-Min home, while Kyung-Min opted to haul Sung-Hoon back to his penthouse rather than staying at the cafe, knowing the heavy conversation awaited him the next day. Yixan stayed behind to close up the cafe—an infinitely simpler task compared to caring for two obstinate drunks.

"Do you think he'll handle it well?" Tae-Min mumbled weakly during the ride, his voice barely rising above the humming of the engine as the car slowed down. "All my time with him, I've seen him pampering Yeon-Jun like it was second nature. It blew my mind when he let him go on that hiking trip. Unless someone else steps in to fill the void, I don't think Sung-Hoon will cope. Yeon-Jun was everything to him. Can anyone else even take that spot?"

"Someone can," Yeon-Su replied firmly, turning to lock eyes with Tae-Min, a flicker of determination igniting within him. "Someone can and someone will. We just need to give it time." The fading glow of streetlights illuminated Yeon-Su's features, giving his words a glimmer of hope. "Also, you absolutely reek. Don't get too close to me."

"Hang tight, we're almost home," Kyung-Min urged, opening the car door and effortlessly scooping Sung-Hoon up in his arms. "No… Don't take me home…" Sung-Hoon slurred, his eyelids drooping heavily as he buried his face against Kyung-Min's shoulder, dragging his feet in a weak protest. "Yeon-Jun would kill me..." Kyung-Min rolled his eyes, frustration mounting as they stepped into the elevator. The moment the doors slid shut, he was already thinking about how to manage the situation once they got to his place.

"Wait here," Kyung-Min instructed, gently placing Sung-Hoon on the sleek marble vanity in the bathroom. He turned the faucet on, letting the sound of running water fill the room as he busily prepared the shower and filled up the extravagant bathtub. "Do you want the shower or the bathtub?" he called over his shoulder, only to find Sung-Hoon's glazed expression fixed on the luxurious tub, his eyes brightening with a childlike wonder. "Bathtub it is." With that decision made, Kyung-Min quickly ensured the water was at a comfortable temperature before lifting Sung-Hoon and setting him down carefully in the bath. "Wash your face and take off your clothes. I'll bring you a towel and some clean clothes," he said, turning to leave the bathroom. In his haste, he accidentally dropped the invitation he had been clutching, letting it flutter to the floor.

"Here's some clothes," Kyung-Min rushed inside, placing the towel and clothes on the rack. He barely noticed until he heard Sung-Hoon panting, that he had picked up the card. "He's binding him with a contract..." Sung-Hoon breathed, the anguish in his voice cutting through the air like a knife. "Just like he did with my mother. He's binding him with a contract..." His breathing grew labored, the invitation slipping from his fingers and falling to the floor in tandem with his shattered composure. "I tried—I tried my best—I really did! I tried my best to give him everything I could—everything—everything! I did this so he wouldn't have to... end up like this! Where did I go wrong?" Sung-Hoon clutched his chest, panic rising as he struggled to catch his breath, each word spilling out in a shaky whisper.

"Change your clothes first. You'll catch a cold," Kyung-Min urged gently, wrapping a towel around Sung-Hoon's trembling shoulders, rubbing them in an attempt to offer comfort.

"Can't you help me?" Sung-Hoon implored, his eyes wide with desperation as he turned to face Kyung-Min. "Can't you stop this? You can intervene. Just delay it for a while, and then I'll find a way to get him out of this." His gaze held a glimmer of fervent hope, but Kyung-Min's expression hardened, the reality of the situation crashing over them both.

"I can't do anything," he finally replied, grasping Sung-Hoon's hands in his own to steady him. "Rather, I won't do anything. He made his choice. It's clear he'd prefer to be tied to a contract with a stranger than face the reality of being with a deceitful man who has turned into nothing more than a stranger himself. And especially now." Kyung-Min's voice was firm, a stark contrast to the raw emotion swelling in Sung-Hoon's eyes. "You don't have any right to intervene. Just know one thing. He wanted this, and he'll do it, and you can't do anything about it." Sung-Hoon finally let loose the river he held in his eyes, crying as he covered his face with his hands, knowing that his last bit of hope was just shattered.

"You're cruel," Sung-Hoon said, his voice laced with frustration as he perched on the barstool of the polished kitchen island, droplets of bathwater still clinging to his hair. Kyung-Min smirked as he set a steaming bowl of homemade soup and a mound of fragrant rice before him, accompanied by an array of colorful side dishes. "You should've just left me at the cafe alone," Sung-Hoon continued, his expression darkening. "At least that way, I could only have myself to blame for whatever happens next." He took a heaping spoon of rice, sloshed it into the broth with exaggerated fervor, and crammed it into his mouth, his eyes watering from the heat. The sight of his plump cheeks ballooning as he chewed—paired with the melancholy in his gaze—made Kyung-Min chuckle involuntarily.

"What?" Sung-Hoon shot back, his words muffled through mouthfuls, glaring daggers at Kyung-Min. "Why would you care if I choked to death? Just let me be. I swear, if it weren't for this, I would've gone long ago." He mumbled under his breath, hurriedly gulping down the food as if it were his only solace.

"I can't help you even if I wanted to," Kyung-Min finally broke the tense silence, pouring a glass of clear water for him. "It's a marriage on the surface, but it's clear he's binding Yeon-Jun to Woo-San through some sort of contract. We don't know the terms, so we have no idea if there's a way to get Yeon-Jun out of it. Yui-Hyuk's a master manipulator; he's crafted this situation so intricately that it feels nearly impossible to free Yeon-Jun."

"So what do you suggest we do?" Sung-Hoon retorted, his frustration simmering to the surface. "Just let him stay there? I don't even know what condition he's in! What if he's locked away somewhere?" His anxieties held a grain of truth, but Kyung-Min reminded himself of Yeon-Jun's anticipated future.

"He's marrying Woo-San, not Yui-Hyuk. Worst-case scenario, if things get dire, Woo-San would be able to pay the penalty to break the contract—unless, of course, the penalty is death or he just doesn't want to spend that amount of money," Kyung-Min explained, attempting to offer some reassurance that didn't entirely reach Sung-Hoon's worried expression. "The best strategy is to maintain our proximity to Woo-San; Yui-Hyuk's clearly intent on keeping us away from Yeon-Jun."

"But can we really trust Woo-San? There's bound to be a catch if Yui-Hyuk is so eager to see him married to Yeon-Jun," Sung-Hoon protested. "We can't trust anyone at this point. And it's not like Yeon-Jun is going to confide in us about anything." They both found themselves caught in a web of uncertainty. They couldn't confront Woo-San directly due to their lack of clarity regarding his allegiance to Yui-Hyuk, and with Yeon-Jun effectively unreachable, their best option seemed to revolve around Yui-Hyuk—but that path appeared fraught with complications, especially for Sung-Hoon.

"I had someone prepare this," Kyung-Min said, sliding a folder across the smooth countertop. It was a neatly organized file detailing a proposed employment arrangement. "We're forming a merger with Yui-Hyuk, and this wedding will mark the first time he and my grandfather will meet in over thirty years." The implications were significant; since Sung-Hoon was the only one unraveled from this extended family, Kyung-Min saw an opening to bring him into the fold. "I want you to work as my secretary and lead the merger alongside me."

Sung-Hoon's jaw dropped in disbelief, brows furrowing in confusion. From an outsider's perspective, the idea was solid, even ingenious, but he was acutely aware of the constraints he would face as a secretary—bound closely to Kyung-Min, leaving limited room for independent action as he tried to investigate Yui-Hyuk's machinations.

"Don't worry, this is just the first step to getting you inside the circle," Kyung-Min reassured him, the determination in his voice evident. "You can either return to the cafe and miss any chance to communicate with Yeon-Jun, or you can accept my proposal and work with me. It's your decision." Sung-Hoon studied the contract closely; he had always shied away from agreements that tied him to fixed responsibilities. Yet, the alternative—staying in ignorance—was far less appealing. Realizing the weight of his choice, he resolved to take action.

"I'm in."