CRIMSON LIES

CHAPTER 1 A love born in chaos, tested by betrayal, and bound by fate. The chandelier above sparkled like fallen stars, casting a soft golden glow over the grand ballroom. Elegant figures moved gracefully, their laughter mingling with the symphony of classical music. But Seo Yuan felt like an outsider, her hands tightening around the champagne glass she barely sipped from. She wasn't used to such lavish events. But when Lee Ji Hoon, the man who had given her a home, invited her to this dinner party, she couldn’t refuse. Ji Hoon had always been her protector, the father she lost too soon. So tonight, she was here for him, even if something felt… off. Her eyes wandered around the room, taking in the crowd. Powerful men, beautiful women, and an aura of authority that she couldn’t quite place. It was only when she turned toward the grand staircase that she felt it—a shift in the air, a presence that demanded attention. Min Yoon-gi. He descended the stairs slowly, dressed in an all-black suit that fit him like a second skin. His silver hair caught the light, sharp eyes scanning the room with an unreadable expression. There was something about him—something dangerous, something magnetic. Seo Yuan didn’t know who he was. But she could feel it—he was different. The moment their eyes met, time slowed. Cold. Calculated. Amused. His gaze held hers, and for a second, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Then he smirked. And just like that, the moment shattered. --- “You’re in my way.” His voice was deep, smooth, and laced with a kind of authority that sent chills down her spine. Seo Yuan blinked, realizing that she had unknowingly stepped in front of him. Instead of apologizing, she tilted her chin up. “Then go around me.” His smirk deepened, a glint of amusement flashing in his dark eyes. “You have a sharp tongue.” Seo Yuan crossed her arms. “And you have an inflated ego.” A few guests turned to watch their exchange, whispers starting to spread. But Min Yoon-gi didn’t seem the least bit bothered. If anything, he looked entertained. “Interesting,” he murmured, stepping closer. “Most people don’t talk to me like that.” “Maybe they should.” Silence stretched between them, the tension thickening. Seo Yuan refused to back down, even though standing this close to him made her pulse race. Then, without warning, he chuckled. A soft, low sound that sent an unfamiliar heat through her chest. “I’ll remember you, Seo Yuan.”** And just like that, he walked away, leaving her standing there—heart pounding, mind spinning. She didn’t know it yet, but that night was the beginning of something she could never escape. The beginning of him.