壓. 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚜𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚗 ? ̸

The large dining room felt stifling, filled with the polite chatter of their families; the excitement of closing the deal overshadowed the awkward tension between them. They sat beside him, close enough to feel the chill he radiated, even though he hadn't said a word to them all evening.

He kept his gaze straight ahead, his jaw clenched, barely acknowledging her presence. They had heard rumors about his bitterness over this arrangement: how he had been forced to break up with Iseul, his now ex-girlfriend, how he had fought against this marriage.

After an unbearable silence, he finally turned his head slightly, speaking in a low voice and without emotion.

—Don't expect this to mean anything. I would never marry you of my own free will.