Prajwal_Kadlag

Ahn Jae-hyun, a powerful CEO, and Kang Ji-ah, his fearless bodyguard, are forced into a contract marriage—unbeknownst to their families, they are already in love. But their happiness is short-lived as secrets unravel, revealing Ji-ah’s hidden twin, a long-lost mother, and a shocking betrayal.

Jae-hyun’s past holds its own mystery—was he truly the heir, or had he been living someone else’s life all along? As deception, fate, and powerful enemies threaten their love, Ji-ah and Jae-hyun must fight to reclaim their destiny.

A story of love, secrets, and a bond that defies all odds—"Beyond the Contract: A Love Meant to Be."

"Beyond the Contract: A Love Meant to Be"

(POV: Kang Soo-min & Ahn Min-jae – Past & Present Mix)

Past – Five Years Ago (POV: Soo-min)

Hiding had become second nature to me.

For as long as I could remember, my life had been dictated by secrets—my true identity, my real mother, and now… my love for Ahn Min-jae.

I still remember the first time I saw him—not as Jae-hyun's cousin, not as the heir to a powerful business empire, but as the man who saw me. The real me. Not Kang Ji-ah's twin. Not someone trapped in a family war. Just… Soo-min.

It started with stolen glances across lavish parties, whispered conversations in empty corridors, and fleeting touches that sent shivers down my spine. We were two people who should have been enemies, yet somehow, we had found solace in each other.

But love built on secrets is a fragile thing.

That night, under the dim glow of city lights, Min-jae held me close, his fingers brushing against my cheek.

His voice was soft, but the weight of his words crushed my heart.

He sighed, pressing his forehead against mine. "Then tell me, Soo-min… how much longer will we keep hiding?"

I wanted to answer. I wanted to say forever, if that's what it took to keep him safe from the storm of our families. But fate was cruel. Because just as I parted my lips to speak, my world shattered—

The past had a way of clawing its way back into the present.

I watched as Soo-min tucked our daughter into bed, her gentle hands brushing through our child's soft brown curls. Our daughter—our secret for years, a living testament to a love we once had to hide.

I should have been angry when I found out the truth. That Soo-min had kept our daughter from me. That she had borne the weight of raising her alone, protecting her from the chaos that consumed our families.

But when I first saw my little girl's eyes—the same shade as mine—anger had no place in my heart. Only love.

"You're staring," Soo-min's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms. "I'm just wondering… do you regret it?"

Her expression faltered. "Regret what?"

"Everything. Hiding. Running away. Keeping her from me."

She sighed, standing up and facing me. "Do you?"

I studied her for a moment, taking in the woman I had loved for so many years. The woman who had sacrificed everything to keep our daughter safe.

Soo-min's eyes softened, and for the first time in years, I saw it—the same love that had never truly faded.

Chapter 17: A Love Hidden in Shadows