17

"What are you doing to my wife?"

Heeseung froze, his hand still resting on my shoulder as Jake's voice echoed through the room.

He slowly stepped back, releasing me, and met Jake's gaze calmly.

"I asked you a question,"

Jake said, louder this time, his voice tight with anger.

I moved quickly, placing myself between them before things could escalate.

"Jake, stop. Please—"

Heeseung didn't look away. He offered Jake a faint smile, the kind that didn't reach his eyes.

"I was protecting her."

He stepped forward.

Jake didn't wait. In one swift move, he grabbed Heeseung's collar and shoved him backward, slamming him to the floor.

"Jake!"

I shouted, but he was already on top of him, fists clenched.

Heeseung tried to push him off, but Jake's punch landed first hard, direct. Blood gathered at the corner of Heeseung's mouth.

Then Heeseung retaliated. One clean hit.

Jake staggered back, falling onto the floor with a groan.

"This is enough!" I cried out.

I rushed toward Heeseung and wrapped my arms around him from behind, pulling him away before either of them could do more damage.

He breathed heavily, still tense. But he let me hold him.

"Please stop," I whispered.

Heeseung's voice was quiet.

"I'm sorry, Jina."

He gently pried my hands off and stood, dusting himself off without another word.

He didn't even glance at Jake as he left the room.

I watched him limp away, his steps uneven.

My chest ached. I wanted to follow him, but Jake grabbed my wrist.

"Let's go."

He dragged me through the hallway, ignoring the stares from the staff and guests, and shoved open the car door.

⸻

When we arrived home, he didn't say a word. Just stormed into the house, dragging me behind him. His grip was tight, almost painful.

Inside, he spun around and grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to face him.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?"

he snapped.

"You made me look like a joke!"

"Do you know how hard I've worked to protect my image, and now people are going to think I'm losing control over my own wife?"

Tears blurred my vision, but I stayed quiet.

"You almost kissed your boss. Do you have any shame? If this spreads, do you realize what that would do to me?"

He released me with a scoff.

"You should be grateful I even agreed to marry you,"

he spat.

"And now you're turning this into a scandal? What do you even want from me, Jina?"

His words hit like sharp stones.

"I didn't ruin anything,"

I said, voice shaking.

"You never cared about me. All you care about is how you look to other people."

He turned, ready to walk away but I didn't stop.

"You only scolded me today because I embarrassed you in public. Because your reputation matters more than I ever could."

Jake stopped.

He turned back slowly, jaw clenched. His voice was low, but sharp.

"Yes. That's right. I don't care about you. I never did. My name, my status, my career, that's what matters."

I stood there, frozen, tears running freely down my face now.

"I'm just something you dragged into your world," I said.

"And now you treat me like I'm the problem."

He said nothing.

Just stared for a moment then turned and walked into his room, slamming the door behind him.

⸻

I sank to the floor.

Everything inside me felt hollow.

All I wanted was a peaceful life. A love that was gentle. A home that felt safe.

But I was stuck in something that looked nothing like love.

And it was starting to feel like I didn't even exist anymore.