loveless

Turning Point iii

Jiwon wore her red-wine silky dress. It was backless, with a long slit running up her left leg. She matched it with Gucci heels. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a slightly messy bun, leaving her front hair loose. Her jewelry was gold—a set from Cartier she had bought during her trip to California. She paired it with her Gucci bag to match her heels.

The silky dress fit her perfectly. She remembered how loose it had been on the night of the gala.

She peeked into the mirror, admiring her flawless makeup. For a moment, she thought about her younger self.

“Wow, Jiwon, you’ve grown so much,” she muttered.

She knew she looked good, and she loved her look for the night.

Lovely, she thought.

She strutted toward the stairs, where So Hyun sat on the couch waiting for her in his royal blue suit. He looked as good as always, styled neatly, with his golden Rolex watch fitting his suit perfectly. Clean. Enchanting. Always.

He stood as soon as he heard her heels descending the stairs.

Their eyes met, locking in their marriage-of-convenience gaze.

Oh, how handsome can this man get? she thought, staring at him a little too intently. She hated him, but she couldn’t deny the attraction.

“I can literally feel your thirst trap,” he said coldly, a faint smirk on his lips as he walked toward the parked car.

Jiwon rolled her eyes. She hated that he was right.

She walked toward the SUV limousine parked outside.

What a jerk. He couldn’t even open the door for me. No gentleman at all—zero decency, she thought as she stared at the handle.

So Hyun rolled down the window. “Get in,” he commanded, staring at her like she’d be dead if she didn’t obey.

Jiwon bit her lip. “It’s that damn attitude,” she murmured, walking to the other side of the car. As soon as she got in, the ride moved immediately.

They arrived at The Shilla Seoul. The banquet was hosted by the Seong Group, another powerful conglomerate and a close friend of the Parks.

So Hyun stepped out and quickly opened the door for Jiwon.

Jiwon chuckled. “Such a hypocrite,” she whispered in his ear.

“I know you’re a spoiled princess, but behave,” he said coldly, taking her hand.

They walked into the hall hand in hand as the media went wild, cameras flashing nonstop, trying to capture every angle of them. It was Park So Hyun and his wife.

Just look at him acting like a dutiful husband, Jiwon murmured, rolling her eyes.

So Hyun smiled softly, as though his wife had just told him a joke.

Just look at that fake smile, Jiwon continued.

“Behave,” he muttered, keeping up the facade.

They greeted many wealthy guests, people like them, all while maintaining the perfect image of a powerful high-society couple. Jiwon grew exhausted, scanning the room for her best friends.

She needed air. She felt like she was suffocating.

Then her eyes landed on a familiar face—a face she hadn’t seen in years.

Hong Su-A.

The famous Hong Su-A was walking straight toward them. So Hyun was too busy chatting with his foreign business partners to notice.

She looked more beautiful than ever. Her figure was incredible, highlighted by a short, striking light-blue dress. Her long brown hair was cut shorter and dyed lighter. She was the definition of Korean beauty.

So Hyun definitely had good taste.

Jiwon never expected to see Hong Su-A again.

What is she doing in Korea? When did she return? How did the media not find out?

She was sure the internet would be buzzing about her return.

And there she was, right in front of them.

Jiwon glanced at So Hyun, imagining how surprised and embarrassed he might be—but he showed nothing. His expression was unreadable.

Wow. Six years, and this man never ceases to amaze me, she thought.

“I leave you for six minutes, and you’re already married,” Su-A said, a slight blush on her cheeks.

“What can I say? Circumstances,” So Hyun replied.

Su-A smiled as if she could walk back into his life whenever she wanted.

“How are you?” Su-A asked, grinning.

Wow. The disrespect. Did she just ignore me? Like I’m invisible? And look at my foolish husband—no introduction, just flirting with his ex right in front of me.

Well, since my husband can’t do me the honor, I’ll help him.

“Oh, honey, why don’t you introduce us?” Jiwon said sweetly, holding him tightly and staring at Su-A proudly.

“This is my wife, Jiwon. Jiwon, meet Hong Su-A, my friend,” So Hyun said.

“Jiwon sounds familiar,” Su-A said, extending her hand as if meeting her for the first time.

Sounds familiar? We went to the same freaking high school! Jiwon screamed internally.

“Actually, we went to high school together,” Jiwon replied flatly, ignoring the handshake.

I’ll show you who’s crazy, she thought.

Su-A smiled weakly, as if a silent battle had begun.

“Why didn’t you mention your beautiful wife when we met in Madrid?” Su-A asked, dismissing Jiwon entirely.

Jiwon froze. What? They met?

She quickly masked her shock, pretending she already knew. Before So Hyun could speak, she interrupted.

“My sweetheart can be so forgetful sometimes, right?” she said playfully, pecking his cheek and leaving a lipstick mark.

So Hyun wiped it off and continued talking with Su-A, who laughed softly.

A wave of embarrassment ran down Jiwon’s spine.

I’d better leave these lovers. They’re unbelievable, she thought.

Luckily, she spotted her two best friends at the bar, waving her over. She strutted toward them.

“Hey, Jiwon!” Jung Bit Na exclaimed, extending her arms. Jiwon dived into the warmth of the hug.

They were everything to each other. Jung Bit Na, Han Crystal, and Choi Jiwon—better still, Park Jiwon—had met in high school and had been inseparable ever since. They had always had each other’s backs, attending elite schools and forming genuine friendships.

Jung Bit Na came from the Jeong Group, nearly as powerful as the Park Group. She married a famous chef, Jung Min Hoo, who owned a five-star restaurant with multiple branches. They had met in Paris on a getaway. Bit Na had become a housewife with a son. As the only daughter with three brothers, they had been wary of her marrying a chef.

Han Crystal had cut off all contact with her family at 23 because they refused to let her chase her dreams. They wanted her to become a doctor, but she wanted something else. As an only child, she had to choose between being disowned or following the family path. She chose her dreams. Now an American citizen and a self-made millionaire, she had become the most sought-after designer in Korea and a model.

Crystal joined the hug, and Jiwon felt recharged.

“You must be exhausted,” Bit Na said, looking concerned.

“We need some alcohol,” Crystal suggested.

“Get us the strongest you have,” Crystal ordered, smiling brightly.

“They’re despicable,” Jiwon muttered, taking a shot.

She choked on the alcohol. Crystal grinned. “Yasss! That’s the feeling, babe!”

“I can’t believe Su-A is here,” Bit Na added.

“What happened out there? You looked like you were in pain,” Bit Na asked.

“Horrible people. Do you know what she said to me?”

“What?!” Bit Na and Crystal exclaimed in unison.

“She said my name sounded familiar.”

“What a b***h!” Crystal slammed the table.

They glanced around before returning to their conversation. Crystal apologized.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” she said.

“That is so unbelievable,” Bit Na muttered.

“Here,” Crystal said, handing Jiwon another drink for consolation.

“And then what happened?” Bit Na asked.

“She ignored me like I was invisible,” Jiwon said, taking a drink. “And my despicable husband acts like I’m a mess.”

“I knew she was a witch, but damn,” Bit Na muttered, taking a shot.

They were all frustrated. Bit Na glanced back at the couple.

“Just look at them flirting like he isn’t married!”

“That wh*re,” Crystal added.

They laughed loudly together.

“But still, you’re lucky you’re married to a young man. He’s still got it,” Bit Na said.

Jiwon choked on her drink, laughing softly.

“How very vague of you,” she teased.

“I mean, Min Hoo used to be so energized. We did it all the time, but now… I’m just a starving woman,” she said.

“Still, it’s better than being a seven-year-old virgin,” Crystal teased, mocking Jiwon.

“Touche,” Bit Na laughed with Crystal.

“F*ck you guys,” Jiwon said, raising her middle finger.

“How could you be married to that fine sh*t and still be a virgin?” Crystal continued, laughing uncontrollably.

Jiwon kept her middle finger raised and got up.

“You’re not running, are you?” Bit Na asked, smirking.

“I need to use the f*cking toilet,” Jiwon said, clearly drunk.

“You know you’re drunk, right?” Bit Na asked.

“I’ll be right back,” Jiwon replied, not caring.

She zigzagged to the bathroom. “My head hurts. I can’t believe I still can’t hold my liquor,” she muttered, washing her face.

“I need to stay woke. Those f*cking media are here.”

She turned around. “Kang Joon Gi?”