{KOREAN-ENGLISH}
"Mr. Lee," an older gentleman called out, smiling warmly.
Lee Seo Jun had just arrived at the grand charity event. The hall was dazzling,lights strung from the high ceilings, chandeliers glowing above a sea of designer suits and glittering gowns.
Seo Jun scanned the crowd. Where's Mother?
"Seo Jun," a familiar voice called.
He turned to see his mother, Park Su Ho, waving him over gently. He walked to her, bowed in greeting, and stood politely at her side.
"Are you donating tonight?" she asked, eyes scanning him carefully.
"Yes. I heard the funds are going to an orphanage," he replied, adjusting the cuffs of his black tux.
Park Su Ho nodded in approval. "Have you seen An Nari?"
"No. Where's Father?" Seo Jun asked.
"He went to see his mother. She's unwell again," Park Su Ho said casually.
"We should visit her," he said, skeptical.
"No need. It's nothing serious. You know she's quite old now. These little sicknesses are normal at her age."
Seo Jun said nothing more. He bowed slightly and excused himself, walking toward the entrance again.
Watching his back, Park Su Ho sighed.
"He acts cold, but he's the softest of them all."
⸻
Outside, Mr. No was waiting beside the car.
"Clear my schedule tomorrow," Seo Jun said. "We're going to visit Grandma."
Mr. No bowed. "Yes, sir."
Just then, a familiar voice rang out.
"Seo Jun!"
He turned and there she was.
An Nari.
Draped in a striking red designer gown, dark sunglasses on despite the dusk, she practically radiated celebrity energy.
"Nari," Seo Jun said, watching her strut down from her car.
She didn't hesitate to hug him tightly.
"I'm still mad at you for leaving me in the States," she pouted, clearly still offended.
"I'm sorry," Seo Jun replied. Not really. He had left without a word while she was sleeping, instructing Mr. No to take the private jet. She had woken up to nothing but an empty penthouse and confused maids.
They had lived together. She had moved into his apartment while studying abroad even though he never officially asked her to.
"I missed you," she said softly, clinging to his arm.
"An Nari," he began carefully, "I need to talk to you about something."
"Now?" she asked.
"After the event."
She nodded, still smiling, and they walked inside together.
⸻
From across the room, Park Su Ho spotted them.
Her smile faded immediately.
Of all people,why her again?
She watched as An Nari clung to her son's arm like ivy on a tree. A spoiled brat. Not the type of woman who can stand beside a man like Seo Jun. She never listens, never respects tradition. Always chasing glamor.
She had voiced her disapproval before. The entire Lee family had. No one liked An Nari.
But her son kept letting her linger.
⸻
The charity event proceeded with elegance and grace. Donations were announced. Speeches were given. Cameras flashed.
But Seo Jun didn't stay long. He knew what came next,fake smiles, fake compliments, people rushing to get close to his family's power.
He quietly slipped out after donating.
An Nari followed him, of course.
⸻
Inside the car, Seo Jun was driving himself. Mr. No had been dismissed.
"Why didn't you bring bodyguards?" An Nari asked, bored, looking out the window.
"I didn't need them tonight."
She didn't press. Her real concern was the growing space between them a space she had been desperately ignoring for months.
He looked at her for a second.
"Have you been taking anything lately?" he asked.
She stiffened. "No."
Lies.
Seo Jun had caught her sniffing drugs more times than he could count. Cocaine mostly. When she was down. When she was happy. When she felt anything.
He had tried to stop her, but she always went back.
Then, he said the words that shattered the car's silence.
"I got a fake girlfriend."
An Nari's eyes widened, mouth falling open. "What?!"
"She'll be with me during my stay in Korea. You know my parents. They won't support the new project unless they think I've moved on."
"So you're choosing her?!" she cried.
"It's not like that," Seo Jun said, still calm. "She's just a temporary solution. A simple girl, the kind my family approves of. For three months. That's it."
"No!" she screamed. "Absolutely not!"
"An Nari—"
"Stop the car!"
Seo Jun pulled over. She jumped out, heels clicking violently against the pavement. He followed quickly.
"An Nari—"
"Don't touch me!" she shouted. "Three months without you? Some girl replacing me? I won't allow it!"
People began to stare.
She pulled her sunglasses over her eyes, hiding her tears and stormed off.
Seo Jun exhaled and returned to the car. He had expected this. He drove off without looking back.
⸻
Hours later.
In a dim, smoky VIP club lounge, An Nari sat surrounded by glitter and chaos.
Male strippers twirled on the stage. Loud music pumped from every wall. The private room reeked of alcohol, money, and secrets.
An Nari sat on a velvet couch, laughing as she leaned over a mirrored table.
She sniffed white powder aggressively.
"Dance more!" she shouted to the men.
"How dare he?! Who the hell does his family think they are?!" she screamed, flipping the table and sending glasses crashing to the floor.
"Three months?! A new girl taking my place?! Never!"
She dropped to her knees and sniffed from the spilled cocaine on the floor.
"My baby... I'm so sorry," she murmured, eyes glassy and unfocused.
The strippers exchanged uneasy glances.
They had seen a lot... but not like this.
She was a famous face. A trending influencer. But here, she was falling apart and the club owner made sure no one talked.
No one dared to expose her.
Not yet.