The air in the scorched hall was thick with tension and the smell of ash. Mr. Lee, clutching his injured arm, glared at his son with a mixture of fury and desperation.
"Enough of this foolishness, Daon!" he barked, his voice strained. "Look at this mess! Look at what his influence has caused! He doesn't deserve you! He never did! Now, let's go home and fix this."
But Daon didn't move. He stood his ground, his body a solid wall between his father and Eunjae. The years of obedience, of silent compliance, shattered into a million pieces.
"No," Daon said, his voice low but firm, ringing with a newfound strength. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
Mr. Lee's eyes widened in shock. "What did you say to me?"
"I said no," Daon repeated, his voice rising. "You don't get to decide who deserves me. You don't get to control my life anymore. All you've ever done is use fear and duty to chain me to you. But I'm not a robot, Father. I'm a man. And he..." Daon turned, his gaze finally landing on Eunjae, who was watching him with wide, disbelieving eyes. "...he is the one who taught me that."
He took a step towards Eunjae, his heart pounding not with fear, but with a terrifying, exhilarating liberation.
"All this time, I was so scared," Daon confessed, his voice trembling with emotion, his words for Eunjae alone. "I was scared of you, of how you made me feel. It was so... big. So overwhelming. It wasn't like the respect I have for my father. It wasn't like the fondness I have for my brothers. It was... it is... something else. Something terrifying and wonderful and... and special."
Eunjae could only stare, his breath caught in his throat, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"When I thought you were in that fire," Daon continued, a sob catching in his throat. "When I thought I lost you... it was like my own heart had been ripped out. I realized then that a life without you isn't a life at all. It's just... existence. And I don't want to just exist anymore."
He finally closed the distance between them, his hands coming up to cradle Eunjae's face, his thumbs wiping away the tears that had begun to fall.
"Eunjae," Daon whispered, his voice raw with love and certainty. "I love you. I love you more than anyone. I love you in a way I didn't even know was possible."
It was the confession Eunjae had waited for, fought for, and nearly given up on. Hearing it now, in the ruins of everything, felt like a miracle.
Mr. Lee watched, his face a mask of bitter defeat. As the sound of approaching ambulance sirens pierced the air, he took a staggering step back. The fight drained out of him, leaving only a hollow, venomous core.
"Fine," he spat, his voice a dry rasp. "Go. Throw your life away for this... this feeling. But mark my words, you will never be happy. The curse will see to that. You will never know a moment's peace! Never!"
With that final, bitter curse, he allowed the paramedics to guide him away, leaving his son in the ashes.
The moment his father was gone, the strength seemed to leave Daon's legs. He fell to his knees, the adrenaline gone, replaced by a wave of exhaustion and overwhelming emotion.
Eunjae was there in an instant, sinking down with him and pulling him into a tight, fierce hug.
"I love you," Daon sobbed into his shoulder, the words muffled but clear. "I'm so sorry it took me so long. I love you. I love you."
Eunjae held him, his own tears falling freely. "I know," he whispered, his voice thick with love and relief. "I know. I love you too, you stupid, beautiful man. I've always loved you."
And there, on the soot-stained floor of the ruined wedding hall, with the echoes of a father's curse hanging in the air, Daon and Eunjae held each other, not as a heir and an outsider, but simply as two men who had finally found their way home in each other's arms.
A week later..
The morning air on the mountain was crisp and clean, scented with pine and damp earth. It was a new day, and for Rinwoo, it felt like the first day of a life he had never dared to imagine.
He stood at the gate of the shrine, a single bag slung over his shoulder. The weight that had once bowed his spine seemed to have lifted, replaced by a nervous, fluttering hope.
Master Hwang observed him with his ancient, knowing eyes, a quiet pride in their depths. "The path is long, and the world is not always kind. But your steps are your own now. Be careful, my boy."
Beside him, Beom Seok fidgeted, his face a storm of conflicting emotions. "Hyung, are you sure about this? You don't have to go. You can stay here. You're safe here."
Rinwoo turned to him, a genuine, gentle smile gracing his lips—a sight that had become rare and precious. "I know, Beom Seok-ah. And I will always be grateful for the safety you and Grandfather gave me. But I'm not running away this time. I'm... moving forward. I want to start a new life. A life without the burden of the past. Without guilt, or shadows, or... anything holding me back."
It was a declaration of independence, not just from Taekyun, but from the person he had been—the victim, the patient, the broken thing.
Beom Seok's composure broke. He surged forward, wrapping Rinwoo in a tight, desperate hug. "Then take me with you," he begged, his voice muffled against Rinwoo's shoulder. "Please, hyung. Let me come. I can protect you out there, too."
Rinwoo's heart ached with a fond sadness. He patted Beom Seok's back. "No, not this time," he said softly but firmly. "This is a journey I need to take alone. But," he added, pulling back and chuckling as he saw Beom Seok's pout, "you can come visit me whenever you miss me. I'd like that."
Beom Seok sniffed, then nodded, a reluctant acceptance in his eyes. Rinwoo reached out and ruffled his hair affectionately, a simple gesture that made Beom Seok blush a deep red, his heart simultaneously soaring and breaking.
Turning to Master Hwang, Rinwoo bowed deeply, a profound respect in the gesture. "Thank you, Grandfather. For everything. For saving me when I had nowhere else to go."
Master Hwang placed a hand on his head in a brief blessing. "The world is your shrine now. Go in peace." He pressed a small, smooth, grey stone into Rinwoo's hand—a good luck charm, worn by time and prayer. Rinwoo closed his fingers around it, feeling its solid, comforting weight.
As he turned to leave, Beom Seok stopped him one last time. "Hyung, wait!" He thrust a small, neatly wrapped box into Rinwoo's hands.
Rinwoo opened it to find a brand new, sleek smartphone. His eyes widened. "Beom Seok-ah, this is too much! I can't accept something so expensive!"
"Please," Beom Seok insisted, his voice earnest. "You need it. So you can call if you need help. So... so I know you're okay. So I can find you when I visit." He looked down, his cheeks flushing again. "And so you can... you know. If you ever want to talk."
Understanding dawned on Rinwoo. This wasn't just a phone; it was a lifeline. A tether of care and concern from the person who had loved him most selflessly. Moved, Rinwoo finally nodded, slipping the phone into his pocket.
"Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll use it well."
With a final, warm smile at the two people who had become his family, Rinwoo shouldered his bag and walked down the mountain path. The sun was rising, casting long shadows and painting the sky in hues of gold and orange. He didn't look back. He walked towards his future, not as Lee Taekyun's husband, not as a victim of a curse, but simply as Rinwoo, ready to discover who he was meant to be.
To Be Continue....
Hello, my wonderful readers!
Thank you for joining me on this emotional journey with "In the Name of Fate." Here are some answers to questions, straight from my heart.
1. What is the main moral of the story?
The main moral is thattrue love requires courage, not just feeling. It takes courage to be honest, to change, to fight for someone, and sometimes, to let go. The curse wasn't broken by just finding a "fated" person, but by each character finding the courage to love selflessly and honestly.
2. Why did I start writing this story?
I started because I wanted to explore a simple idea:what happens after the "happily ever after" doesn't happen? What happens when love gets broken? I wanted to write about the messy, painful, but real journey of putting the pieces back together.
3. What's the meaning behind the title, "In the Name of Fate"?
It's meant to be a little ironic.The characters use "fate" and the "curse" as an excuse for their unhappiness. The real story is about them deciding to make their own choices in the name of their own love and happiness, not just blindly following what fate tells them.
4. Are any of the characters based on real people?
Not directly!But their feelings are. The feeling of not being good enough (like Eunjae), the fear of losing control (like Daon), the pain of betrayal (like Rinwoo)—these are all real emotions that I think many of us have felt.
5. Who is My favorite character and why?
This is like choosing a favorite child!But I have a soft spot for Rinwoo. His journey from being completely broken to finally choosing himself was very powerful for me to write. He shows us that walking away to heal is not a sign of weakness, but of great strength.
6. What did I want readers to feel after finishing the story?
I hoped you would feel a mix of heartbreak and hope.I didn't want to give a perfect, easy ending because life isn't always like that. I wanted you to feel that even after great pain, a new beginning is always possible.
7. Is there a message about family in the story?
Yes.The story shows that family can be both a chain that holds you back (like Mr. Lee) and a safe harbor that helps you heal (like Master Hwang and Beom Seok for Rinwoo). It reminds us that we can choose who our real family is—the people who love and support us for who we are.
8. Why did I include the character of Beom Seok?
I wanted to show a different kind of love.Beom Seok's love is pure, steady, and selfless. He represents the love that is always there, waiting in the background, not with grand drama, but with quiet devotion. He shows that not all love is loud; some love is a gentle, constant presence.
9. What was the hardest scene for Me to write?
The hardest scene was whenRinwoo woke up in the hospital and realized Taekyun was gone. Writing his heartbreaking realization that he still loved him, even after all the pain, was emotionally draining. It's a confusing and devastating feeling, and I wanted to capture that accurately.
10. What was the easiest scene to write?
The easiest wasMingyu crashing the wedding on the motorcycle! After so much tension and sadness, writing that chaotic, funny, and triumphant moment was a joy. It was a burst of energy and rebellion that the story needed.
11. Do I believe in fate and destiny like in the story?
I believe that certain things might be meant to happen,but I believe even more in free will. The story argues that our choices are more powerful than any curse or destiny. We shape our own lives through the decisions we make every day.
12. What should we learn from Mr. Lee's character?
Mr.Lee teaches us a sad lesson: that fear and control are not love. He thought he was protecting his sons, but he was really destroying them. He shows how toxic it can be when love is conditional and based on obedience.
13. Why did I give Taemin and Juwon such a dramatic escape?
Because their love was the most forbidden and dangerous!They needed a grand, dramatic gesture to match the huge risk they were taking. Their escape on the bike symbolizes them literally driving away from the rules that were trying to keep them apart.
14. What does Rinwoo's ending symbolize?
His ending symbolizesself-love and independence. He isn't going to Taekyun or running from him. He is choosing himself for the first time. His new phone and the journey ahead represent him opening a new chapter, on his own terms.
15. What is the one thing you truly hope readers take away from this story?
I hope you remember thatyou are the one who defines your life. Don't let your past, your family's expectations, or a feeling of "fate" write your story for you. Have the courage, like these characters, to fight for your own happiness and become the person you are meant to be.
With all my love,
Your Kuchi Puchi Author❤️