POV: Female Lead (Ha-neul)
Morning sunlight barely peeked through the curtains when Ha-neul's phone began vibrating uncontrollably.
Still half-asleep, she reached for it, blinking at the hundreds of notifications flooding her screen.
Her heart stopped when she saw the headlines.
"Billionaire Heiress Yoo Ha-neul Caught in Secret Late-Night Rendezvous Before Engagement!"
"Scandalous Footage: Jung Ha-neul and CEO Kang Min-jae's Forbidden Kiss!"
Her fingers trembled as she tapped one of the links.
A grainy yet undeniable video played—Min-jae climbing into her room, their desperate kiss, his whispered words.
Her entire body went cold.
This wasn't just a rumor.
This was war.
A sharp voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Ha-neul!"
She barely had time to brace herself before the door slammed open.
Her father stood at the doorway, his face red with fury.
---
A Father's Wrath
Ha-neul barely had time to get up before her father stormed toward her, his fury like a raging storm.
"Explain this, Ha-neul!" He threw his phone on the bed, where the video continued playing.
Ha-neul swallowed hard. "Appa, I—"
"Do you have any idea what you've done?!" His voice was sharp, cutting. "Your engagement to Do-hyun is happening tonight, and instead of preparing, you were with him?!"
She clenched her fists. "I never wanted this engagement."
His eyes narrowed. "You don't have a choice. The marriage contract is already signed."
Her heart dropped.
Signed?
She staggered back. "You—you went ahead without asking me?"
Her father's expression hardened. "It's for the good of our company. And now, because of this scandal, Do-hyun might reconsider."
Ha-neul let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, please. Do-hyun probably leaked the video himself."
Her father's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
She clenched her fists. "He's been waiting for an opportunity to break Min-jae. And you—you're helping him!"
Before her father could respond, the door burst open again.
This time, it was Do-hyun.
---
The Power Move
Do-hyun entered with dangerous calm.
"I saw the news." His lips curled into a smirk. "Tsk, tsk, Ha-neul. Such a shame."
She glared at him. "Cut the act, Do-hyun. We both know you leaked it."
Her father turned to him. "Is this true?"
Do-hyun sighed dramatically. "Hyung-nim, I'd never do such a thing." He placed a hand over his heart. "I care about Ha-neul too much."
Her father's anger wavered.
But Ha-neul wasn't fooled.
She knew Do-hyun.
This was all part of his plan.
And it was working.
"Luckily," Do-hyun continued, "I'm willing to fix this mess. If Ha-neul publicly apologizes and reassures everyone that I'm the only man in her life, this will all go away."
Her stomach twisted. "You're joking."
Do-hyun's smirk grew wider. "Oh, I'm not."
Her father's voice turned cold. "You will do it, Ha-neul."
She staggered back.
Min-jae's voice echoed in her mind.
"You're mine, Ha-neul."
And now, they were asking her to stand in front of the world and lie.
To erase Min-jae from her life.
She wouldn't do it.
Her eyes met Do-hyun's. "I'd rather die."
Do-hyun's smirk finally faded. "That can be arranged."
For the first time, true fear crept into her heart.
Because in his eyes, she saw it.
A warning.
If she didn't comply—
Min-jae would suffer the consequences.
---