loveless

A turning point ii

She rushed over to him.

She stared at his face, noticing his long lashes. His lips shone brightly—he was indeed enchanting. Her hands slowly moved toward his lips. He had always been tough on her, smiling briskly at everyone, yet he was the devil… her devil. Her gorgeous demon.

“Pretty,” she muttered, smiling as she felt his skin.

“f**k! He’s burning up!” she screamed, placing her right hand on his forehead and her left on hers. Overwhelmed, she quickly checked his temperature with a thermometer.

“Forty degrees!” she exclaimed.

She rushed to get a bowl of cold water, dipping a towel into it and gently placing it over his body to calm the fever. She rubbed the towel all over him, tending to him carefully. Seeing him in such a state shocked her. She had never expected him to fall sick—ever.

The pr*cky jerk she’d believed to be immortal all her life was lying before her, helpless.

She chuckled softly. “This serves you right, jackass,” she muttered.

Why am I doing this? she argued in her thoughts. For humanity’s sake…

SoHyun woke up with a slight headache. His room door—always shut—was wide open, allowing sunlight from the living room to flood in. His cotton clothes were neatly packed beside the window binder. He distinctly remembered leaving the room completely dark, so why was it so bright it wouldn’t let him sleep?

He sighed and spotted Jiwon sleeping beside him on the bed, sprawled out as if life didn’t matter—like a spoiled princess.

He sat up, noticing soup and rice placed carefully on a small stool beside the bed. From the look of it, it had gone cold. He took a spoonful.

He choked immediately.

“So fuckin’ salty,” he muttered, smiling as he turned to look at her sleeping so peacefully, without a single worry.

He quietly got up.

“Since when was she permitted into my room?” he said, pondering whether to wake her or let her be.

Jiwon opened her eyes to the soft blue duvet beneath her. As she glanced around, she noticed the soup—open and untouched—still beside the bed. She sat up and realized how dark the room had become.

It was night.

“What the f**k?” she muttered, flabbergasted. How did I end up here? she complained in her mind, slowly becoming aware of her surroundings. She remembered tending to him, keeping his fever in check, and making fried pollack soup for him.

Looking at the untouched soup, she scoffed. “That s**t hole,” she muttered angrily, scanning the room for him.

As she got up, irritation bubbled inside her. He didn’t even have the human decency to put a blanket on me after I went all out for him.

She marched toward his study, ready to stomp in without caring about his rules.

Just as her hand reached the door handle, SoHyun stepped out.

He stood there in black suit trousers and a white shirt, his tie loosened, dark brown hair falling freely. Papers were clutched in his hand. He looked as handsome as ever.

She met his dark brown eyes. His sharp, neatly carved eyebrows framed mesmerizing lips—lips that could make you lose your mind. His undone buttons revealed a broad chest, more built than she had imagined.

The sight of him made her forget why she’d come.

“Are you done?” he asked swiftly, looking down at her.

Jiwon cleared her throat, feeling like she’d been caught peeking at something forbidden. She quickly looked away, suddenly aware of how close they were, stepping back as if detaching herself.

Embarrassment overwhelmed her. His cold glare surged through her veins.

“Move,” he said, as if he couldn’t care less.

Jiwon looked up, as if finding long-lost courage.

“You’re a jackass, you know that, right?”

SoHyun remained silent and unshaken—and she hated that most about him. His ability to stay calm in chaos.

“I got you through your fever, warmed you, cooked for you, and I get nothing in return—not even a thank—”

“And who made you do that?” he interrupted coldly.

“I—I mean, I couldn’t just leave you there,” she stammered.

“I had just two rules for you,” he said, his tone laced with irritation.

“I was curious—”

“And as expected, the spoiled princess goes on with her gibberish,” he said, stepping closer.

She moved backward, trying to avoid crashing into him.

“f**k you,” she managed.

“You’re nonchalant, pretending for the media, creating this perfect image of yourself when you’re the devil!” she snapped, still retreating as he advanced.

He smirked, watching her unravel.

“You’re the worst. I know we don’t have to be in love, but must you make me feel worthless? Like I’m not enough? Like nothing I say makes sense? You make me feel crazy—unhinged—and damn stupid, when you’re the jerk! It’s not fair…”

Her voice cracked as tears spilled.

SoHyun lifted her effortlessly and moved her aside, walking away as if she weighed nothing. He paused.

“Stop being nosy,” he said before disappearing into his room.

Jiwon scoffed. The pain was unbearable. Nothing she did was ever right. Tears streamed down her face as she reminisced about the day she’d entered this hellhole.

She had always known she’d marry into a wealthy family. She was prepared—just not this early. At twenty-one, she married her stuck-up high school classmate.

They’d grown up in the same neighborhood. Their parents were close friends until his parents died, leaving him with his grandfather. Back then, she was relieved she’d never have to deal with her snobbish neighbor again.

He grew the company rapidly, expanding food branches and signing contracts that skyrocketed them to fame within a year.

The Park Group—the it company.

At the same time, her father’s departmental stores were crumbling. No investors. No customers. Then came the Hong Group, rising just as quickly. Their daughter, Hong Su-A, was SoHyun’s lover. They were the it couple—beautiful, rich, brilliant.

Everyone assumed they’d marry and unite their empires.

But Su-A left abroad and broke up with Mr. Perfect.

Meanwhile, her family drowned in debt. With no options left, her father sought refuge in the powerful Park Group. The solution? Marriage—to hide the sudden merge from the media.

SoHyun didn’t care. He merely consented.

Jiwon wanted to go insane. She knew her fate, but she’d hoped—naively—that her father would protect her, choose better for her. He never did.

She was always the sacrifice.

Her sister Jiyeon had everything. Love. Freedom. Choice. Jiwon had nothing but obligation.

The internet erupted in outrage over the engagement. They hated that the perfect son was marrying worthless Jiwon. Some said it would’ve been better if he’d chosen her younger sister—at least she had the looks.

Her marriage was misery. Silence. Snide comments. Public hate. She never felt enough.

Divorce wasn’t an option. Her father would kill her. The Park Group would destroy her.

The life people admired was her prison.

But with Jiyeon set to marry a wealthy Parisian heir in two months, maybe—just maybe—she could finally escape.

Just Choi Jiwon.

Jiwon sniffled in her room when a knock interrupted her.

“What?!” she yelled.

“Get dressed,” SoHyun commanded.

Who the f**k does he think he is? she muttered.

“We have a banquet tonight,” he added, already walking away.

“I’m not going anywhere with you!” she shouted after him.

But then she smirked. It’ll be our last banquet anyway.

She stormed into her massive closet, tossing dresses aside. Designer bags, heels—everything she owned in her name.

Then she saw it.

The red wine dress she’d worn to their first gala as newlyweds.

“And our last,” she whispered, smiling.