{KOREAN-ENGLISH}
Joon So Min didn't know what to say to Lee Seo Jun.
"Get up. It's getting late. You need to sober up," she murmured softly, nudging him but he was already halfway asleep, lips parted, breath heavy.
She sighed, exhausted and confused. Her body ached from trying to hold him up.
"Why are you so heavy?" she groaned, struggling to shift him toward the car.
Finally getting him into the backseat, she paused, staring at his sleeping face. The boyish lines she once knew were sharper now, wearier. She didn't know what to do with him anymore. Not with this version of him. Not with her own emotions tangled in knots.
She dialed quickly.
"Hello? Lee Min Jun?"
"So Min?" he sounded concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Your brother's with me. He's... not in a good state." Her voice shook slightly.
There was a pause on the other end.
"I wish I could come," he said, sounding genuinely torn. "But right now, can you take him home instead?"
She hesitated. But the line had already gone dead.
She looked over at the unconscious man in the backseat.
"So Min..." Lee Seo Jun muttered in his sleep.
Her heart squeezed painfully. She moved to the driver's seat and started the engine.
⸻
At the Lee estate, a maid rushed to help her.
"Mr. Lee?"
"He's drunk," So Min explained breathlessly, struggling to balance him. Another maid hurried over, and they managed to guide him inside.
"Miss Joon So Min?" a voice called out.
She turned. It was a familiar face,a maid who had worked in the estate since the beginning.
"You're back?" the maid asked cheerfully.
"Yes. Just dropping him off," she said quickly.
"You're leaving already?" the maid looked surprised.
"It's late, but—"
"Miss, if you go now, sir will be angry. He might even fire us for letting you leave alone," she said nervously.
So Min looked at the clock. It was past midnight.
She sighed deeply. Why did I even agree to bring him here?
She glanced at the guest room. Everything looked the same... yet different. The room felt too familiar — too comfortable. That wasn't a good thing. Not when another woman would soon call this her home.
She frowned at the thought.
⸻
The next morning, Joon So Min stirred from the guest bed. She blinked, confused for a second, then remembered. She had spent the night.
She got up quickly. She needed to leave before Seo Jun woke up.
But fate had other plans.
Standing by the hallway was An Nari, arms crossed, glaring with disgust.
"What are you doing here?" Nari snapped, her tone already raised.
So Min closed her eyes for a second. Of course she's here.
"It's a misunderstanding," she began, keeping her voice calm. "Seo Jun was drunk. I only helped him get home."
"Oh, I've tried to get rid of you from our lives, yet you keep crawling back like the filthy little sl*t you are," Nari spat venomously.
So Min's fists clenched at her side, but she held her ground.
"I'm not trying to come between you. I only helped him, nothing more."
"Stay away from my fiancé," Nari hissed. "Go crawl back to the gutter you came from."
Maids nearby paused their duties, eyes wide, clearly listening in.
So Min narrowed her eyes.
"Don't speak to me like that," she said sharply. "I may stay quiet, but I'm not weak. And I didn't come here to fight over a man who already belongs to you."
"Joon So Min."
Both women turned.
Lee Seo Jun stood a few feet away, dressed and composed, but with tension in his eyes.
"This is supposed to be our home soon!" Nari yelled. "Why is she here? I don't want pests roaming the halls!"
"That's enough, Nari." Seo Jun's voice was firm. "So Min isn't the problem. I am."
Nari's face twisted in anger.
"Oh, right. Bring in the rats. Let them steal while you pretend it's generosity," she muttered bitterly.
That was it.
So Min blinked hard, swallowing the tears that burned her eyes. She turned without another word.
"So Min!" Seo Jun called after her.
She didn't stop.
He caught up to her and grabbed her wrist.
She turned sharply, eyes glistening.
"What do you want from me?!" Her voice cracked.
"I'm sorry," Seo Jun said quietly, not knowing what else to say.
"There's no need," she said, voice breaking. "Just stay away from me."
She looked up at him with heartbreak in her gaze.
"Our relationship... it was never real to begin with. We weren't meant to be."
Seo Jun's heart clenched.
"That's what you always say," he replied. "Even when I told you over and over how much I loved you. But you never trusted me."
She nodded painfully.
"You're right. I didn't. So please... don't expect anything from me anymore."
She gently removed his hand from hers and walked away.
This time, he didn't stop her.
He stood there,stunned, speechless, hurting.
Was it all fake to her? Did she ever truly love him?
He didn't have answers.
⸻
Later, back inside, An Nari wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.
"Forgive me, Seo Jun," she whispered.
He stiffened.
Then slowly, he removed her arms and turned around.
"Let's get married tomorrow."
An Nari's eyes widened.
Then a slow, triumphant smile curled on her lips.
"Tomorrow?" she breathed.
He nodded. "Tomorrow."
Her face lit up with joy.
"I don't care how soon it is. I'll start dress shopping right away!"
⸻
"You're getting married tomorrow?" Cha Hye asked, stunned as she followed An Nari into a luxury bridal boutique.
"Yes!" Nari squealed. "Now help me pick the perfect gown."
Inside the boutique, workers brought out racks of sparkling wedding dresses.
An Nari's eyes danced as she ran her fingers across the silk, the lace, the tulle.
This was it.
Victory.
Or so she thought.