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 – Four Years Ago (POV: Soo-min)

Being a single mother was never part of my plan.

I sat in a dimly lit apartment, holding my newborn daughter in my arms. She was so small, so delicate, yet she carried the weight of all my choices.

"It's just you and me now, sweetheart," I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Tears blurred my vision as I thought about Min-jae. Would he have been happy? Would he have held our daughter with the same wonder I did?

I had wanted to call him a thousand times. To tell him the truth. To let him be a father to our little girl.

But every time I reached for my phone, fear held me back.

Min-jae was Jae-hyun's cousin, a key figure in the business world. If our families found out about her, she would become nothing more than a pawn in their games. I refused to let that happen.

So, I erased every trace of my old life.

I changed my number. Moved to a small town outside Seoul. Started over with nothing but my daughter and the ache of a love I couldn't have.

"One day, you'll understand why I did this," I whispered, rocking her gently.

But deep down, I wasn't sure if I even understood it myself.

I told myself that the anger, the betrayal, the years without her—without them—had hardened my heart.

But standing in our daughter's bedroom, watching Soo-min stroke her hair as she slept, I realized something.

Soo-min glanced up, startled. It was late, and I had been silent for a long time.

She smiled faintly. "She has your eyes."

I stepped closer, my gaze falling on our child—the little girl I had missed years of. The first steps. The first words. The sleepless nights and soft lullabies.

"You should have told me," I whispered.

Soo-min's fingers curled into the blanket. "I know."

"I would have fought for you, Soo-min."

Her breath hitched, and for the first time, I saw the guilt in her eyes.

"I was afraid you'd hate me," she admitted. "That you'd think I betrayed you."

I let out a bitter chuckle. "I did hate you."

I reached out, brushing my fingers against hers. "But I never stopped loving you."

I didn't give her time to pull away.

I cupped her face gently, tilting her chin up. "We lost too much time, Soo-min. But I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere."

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she whispered, "Do you really mean that?"

I pressed my forehead to hers, my voice firm. "I swear it."

For the first time in years, Soo-min didn't run.

Chapter 17: A Love Hidden in Shadows (Part 3)