Chapter 21: The Terms Of War

The days following the engagement were suffocating. Ji-Ah and Evelyn were forced into a whirlwind of public appearances, interviews, and social obligations that neither of them had agreed to but were now trapped in.

At every event, cameras flashed, reporters asked invasive questions, and their families smiled as if they had orchestrated the perfect love story.

Ji-Ah wanted to scream.

Evelyn, on the other hand, played her part flawlessly—calm, elegant, and untouchable. But Ji-Ah wasn't fooled.

She saw the tension in Evelyn's jaw. The coldness in her eyes whenever their fathers spoke about them as if they were prized assets instead of people.

They were both prisoners in this arrangement.

And Ji-Ah hated that she wasn't the only one suffering.

Private Tensions

One evening, Ji-Ah finally reached her limit.

They had just wrapped up a formal dinner with business elites, where they had been paraded around like trophies. As soon as they were alone in Evelyn's car, Ji-Ah ripped off the diamond bracelet her mother had insisted she wear and threw it onto the seat.

"I can't do this," she muttered. "This fake smiling, fake touching—"

"Then don't," Evelyn said, her voice calm.

Ji-Ah scoffed. "Oh, right. I'll just walk out and—" She stopped, narrowing her eyes. "Wait. What do you mean?"

Evelyn exhaled, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. "I mean, I'm not exactly thrilled about this either. But instead of wasting my energy throwing a fit, I'd rather focus on how to end it on my terms."

Ji-Ah studied her. "You have a plan?"

Evelyn glanced at her, a small smirk playing on her lips. "I always have a plan."

Ji-Ah folded her arms. "Well? Don't keep me in suspense."

Evelyn's smirk faded. "I want to get divorced."

Ji-Ah's breath caught. She hadn't expected Evelyn to be so direct.

Evelyn continued, her voice lower now. "I can't do it yet. If I push back too soon, my father will cut me off from everything I've worked for. But if we wait—if we play along just long enough—we'll find a way out."

Ji-Ah narrowed her eyes. "And what exactly is 'long enough'?"

Evelyn hesitated, then sighed. "Six months. Maybe a year."

Ji-Ah groaned. "A year? Are you insane?"

Evelyn shrugged. "Unless you have a better idea?"

Ji-Ah scowled but stayed silent.

She had nothing.

Evelyn glanced at her again. "Look, we don't have to like each other. But for now, we need to be on the same side."

Ji-Ah let out a long breath, staring out the window. "Fine. But don't expect me to make this easy."

Evelyn smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Their truce was fragile. Temporary.

But for now, it was the only thing keeping them from falling apart.