e journalists, and the paparazzi, Jeon and Hyunjin were the perfect couple, wrapped in a whirlwind romanc

s automatic. The endless questions from curious guests, the whispers about their relationship, and the intense scrutiny all took th

polite conversation with the partygoers, and always keeping Hyunjin close, his hand on his back or shoulder, a possessive gestu

d Jeon, feeling the weight of the evening hang heavy over him. He desperately wanted to say som

old and unreadable as ever. He studied Hyunjin for a moment, his sharp eyes s

d, his voice flat, almost emotio

dn't sit well with him. "Is that all tha

. "Yes. That's exactly what matters. The sooner y

better than that-but the cold indifference grated on him. He had agreed to the contract, but h

ecting me?" Hyunjin asked quietly

his jaw tight. "You agreed to this.

ling inside him. "I agreed to a contract, not... not this. Pretendin

ut, but instead, he just stared at him, his voice cold as ice. "You don't get to complain about this, Hyunjin.

a contract, a cage that bound him to Jeon's will. For a moment, he wanted to scream, to tear a

of his footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, each step a reminder of the power imbalance between them

y. Not now. Not wh

-

orld watched them closely. Hyunjin could feel the eyes of strangers on him, journalists and fans speculating about their relationshi

ry. The coldness between them had grown, and their interactions were brief, businesslike. Hyunjin began to wond

without really reading them, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Before he coul

lk," Jeon said

d by the sudden urgency in

in front of Hyunjin with an air of authority that made

aid, his voice low. "They're looking for any weakne

eat. "What do you mean? I h

d the truth-they need a story. If they find anything, even

t he hadn't considered the possibility that they would start digging into his life. He had tried to stay

?" Hyunjin asked quietly,

eed to stick to the script. Every word you say, every move you make-it has to be per

ad never felt higher. One misstep, one slip of the to

ning just slightly. "I'll make sure you

ow could he trust someone who saw him as

n said quietly, the tensi

g his words. Then, without another word, he turned

building, the walls closing in. How much longer could he keep this up? How much longer could

the contract was signed,