ISABEL 🎀

It was just like any other evening shift at the café, the usual rush beginning to slow as closing time approached. I should've felt the relief of winding down, but something felt... wrong. A nagging sensation settled deep in my gut, like the calm before a storm. I'd always had this sense-this feeling that prickled at the back of my neck when something bad was coming.

And then, the bell chimed.

I looked up, as Uncle Kim Jungmein the same as always, with that familiar gentle smile on his face, walked to his usual spot and sat down. I exhaled a small breath, trying to shake off my nerves as I grabbed a menu and walked over.

"Evening, Uncle Kim," I greeted him with a warm smile, handing him the menu even though I already knew what he'd order. "The usual?"

He nodded but didn't say much, just that distant, thoughtful look in his eyes.

After a few minutes, I brought his drink and set it down in front of him. He looked at the cup, not drinking, just... staring at it. Then he glanced up at me, his expression shifting into something more serious.

"Isabel, dear" he started slowly, "sit down for a moment."

I blinked,  "Um, sure. But are you alright? You seem... worried."

He gestured toward the empty chair across from him, and after glancing around the now-empty café, I hesitated before finally sitting down.

"What's going on, Uncle Kim? You look tense."

He sighed heavily, fingers drumming the edge of the table. "I've been meaning to talk to you for a while now."

"Okay..." I said, my voice uncertain. "About what?"

His gaze dropped to his hands, and there was a long, uncomfortable silence before he finally lifted his head. "Isabel, I've done a lot for you. Helped you when no one else did. I paid Ms. Han's hospital bills, took care of things when you couldn't."

I frowned, a sense of dread creeping up my spine. "And I'm very thankful to you Uncle Kim,  and you offered to help. I didn't ask you to-"

"I know," he interrupted gently, though there was a strange weight behind his words. "But now, I need you to help me in return."

My heart started to race. "What do you mean?"

He inhaled deeply, and then the words came-slow, deliberate, as if he were delivering a death sentence. "I want you to marry my son."

For a second, I was sure I hadn't heard him right. I stared at him, a nervous laugh bubbling up in my throat. "What?  Uncle Kim, come on... That's not funny."

But his face was serious, lined with tension and something almost... desperate.

"I'm not joking, Isa," he said softly, looking down again. "I need you to do this. It's not just about me, but for my family. My son needs stability, and you... you can give him that."

My mind reeled, disbelief crashing over me. "No," I said, shaking my head as I stood up. "No, Uncle. Kim, this is ridiculous. I can't marry your son. I won't."

He sighed, standing up too, his hands resting on the table. "You owe me, Isa. I helped you when no one else would. It's time to repay that debt."

My hands curled into fists. "I didn't ask you for that help! You offered! I never agreed to anything like this!"

His eyes softened with what almost looked like regret, but the words that followed cut deeper. "I understand that, but now it's time for you to show your gratitude. You're a good girl, Isa. You'll make the right decision."

I took a step back, my pulse hammering in my ears. "This isn't gratitude," I spat. "This is blackmail, Mr. Kim"

Uncle Kim's expression darkened, As I address him as Mr. Not uncle.

"You don't understand how deep this goes. If you refuse..." He paused, looking down. "You'll regret it."

I stared at him, my skin crawling with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "What are you saying? That you'll force me? Threaten me?"

He didn't answer, just kept his eyes on the table.

"I'm not some property you can trade, Mr. Kim!" I nearly shouted, my voice shaking with rage. "You can't just throw money at someone and expect them to do whatever you want. I refuse to be bought."

He sighed again, this time a hint of sadness in his voice. "I didn't want it to come to this. But I'm out of options, Dear. My son... he needs you."

I shook my head, backing away from him. "No. You need me because you think you can control me, but you can't. I'm not marrying your son. Not now, not ever."

Mr. Kim's eyes were pleading, but I didn't care.

"You'll regret this, Isabel. You don't know what you're getting yourself into, denying me."

Mr. Kim's expression darkened further as he watched me step back, but there was something else behind his eyes-something calculating, something I wasn't prepared for. He took a deep breath, then spoke quietly, his voice barely above a whisper but laced with authority.

"You know, Isabel," he began, locking eyes with me, "Ms. Han needs that operation, doesn't she? And the therapy that follows... It's not something you can afford on your own."

My blood ran cold. His words hung in the air like a noose tightening around my throat. "What?" I whispered, feeling the ground shift beneath me.

"I know you've been struggling," he continued, his tone almost... sympathetic. "You've done everything you can for her, worked yourself to the bone. But let's be honest-without the money, she won't make it."

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep my voice steady. "What are you trying to saying, Mr. Kim?"

He sighed again, his shoulders slumping as if this was a burden for him to bear. "I don't want to force you into anything, Isabel. Truly, I don't. But I have to think of my son, and I believe you're the best choice for him. You're a good girl, and I know you'll be a good wife. A good daughter-in-law."

I shook my head, my breath catching in my throat. "This isn't fair. You can't do this to me."

Mr. Kim's eyes softened for a moment, but the steel in his voice remained.

"I don't want to do this. But you've left me no choice. Marry my son, and I'll make sure Marta gets the surgery she needs... and the therapy after. I'll take care of everything."

Tears stung my eyes, and I fought to keep them from falling. I couldn't let him see me break. "And if I say no?" My voice trembled despite my efforts.

He didn't hesitate. "Then she won't get the treatment. And we both know what that means."

I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest, bile rising in my throat. "You're blackmailing me with her life."

His expression was somber, but he didn't back down. "I don't see it that way. I'm giving you an opportunity. An option. Think about it, Isabel. This is your chance to save her, and for you to have a family."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The man who had once seemed so kind, so helpful, was now revealing the depths of his manipulation, and I was trapped in it.

"You have 48 hours," Mr. Kim continued, standing up and adjusting his suit jacket. "That's how long you have to make the right decision. After that, arrangements will be made, and you'll be married."

My knees wobbled beneath me ,The weight of his words settled on me like a ton of bricks. 48 hours. That's all the time I had to decide my fate-and Marta's.

I stood there, numb giving him a small nod, as Mr. Kim's smile crept across his face. He looked almost... relieved, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He nodded, taking my silence as agreement, and I could barely process the words coming out of his mouth.

"You won't regret this, Isabel," he said with a soft, almost paternal smile. "You're making the right choice. My son... he'll take good care of you. You'll be happy, I promise."

I felt like I was floating, detached from my own body. I didn't say a word. What could I say? The room was spinning, my mind racing with the gravity of what had just happened. Marta's face flashed in front of my eyes, her fragile smile, her quiet strength. I couldn't let her die... but at what cost?

"I'll have the papers ready by tomorrow," Mr. Kim continued, as though we were discussing something as trivial as a business deal. "I'll meet you here, in the café, and we'll sign everything. Then, we'll head to my household, where you'll be introduced to your new home... and to my son."

His words felt like they were crushing me, but I managed a nod, my throat too tight to speak.

Mr. Kim seemed satisfied with that. "Good girl," he said, patting my shoulder as if I were a child. "You've made a wise decision. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

I wanted to scream, to run, but my body was frozen in place. All I could do was nod again, watching him turn and walk out of the café, his voice echoing in my ears.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, my heart pounding in my chest. The reality of what I'd just agreed to hit me like a freight train. I was about to marry a man I didn't know, for the sake her life, who did everything for me when everyone left me. 

My life, as I knew it, was over.

Taehyung 🦁

I stormed into the house, my mind still racing from the disaster with the truck. The shipment was gone, stolen right from under my nose, and one of my men a coward-had betrayed me. My grip tightened on the doorframe, but as soon as I stepped inside, I saw my father sitting in the living room, that smug smile plastered across his face.

I nodded at him, more out of habit than respect. I didn't have the energy to deal with him now. I needed to get to my room, clear my head, and figure out how to handle this mess.

But just as I made to pass by, his voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Taehyung, we need to talk."

I froze mid-step, my back to him. I couldn't ignore that tone-stern, demanding. It was the same voice he'd used when I was a kid, barking orders, expecting obedience.

"What now?" I muttered under my breath, turning slightly to face him, my irritation clear.

He gestured toward the chair across from him. "Sit down. This is important."

I didn't sit. Instead, I stood there, arms crossed over my chest, waiting for him to get to the point. "I don't have time for this, Father. I've got real problems to handle."

"This is a real problem," he said, his smile fading, replaced by a look of cold determination. "You're getting married."

I blinked. The words didn't make sense at first. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You heard me." He leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled in front of him. "I've found a girl for you. You'll marry her in  next 48 hours."

I felt my blood turn to ice. I stood there, staring at him like he'd just lost his mind. "Are you insane?" My voice was low, simmering with barely contained rage. "You think you can just-

what arrange my life for me? You can't be serious."

"I'm very serious, V," he said, his voice calm, almost too calm. "It's time for you to stop fooling around. Your scandals, your women... it's all becoming too much. The family name is on the line."

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Family name? You're worried about the family name?" I took a step forward, my fists clenched at my sides. "Do you know what I do? Do you even care? I've built an empire, and you think some petty gossip is a problem?"

His eyes narrowed, and that smile I hated so much returned. "Your empire exists because of the family name, V. Without it, you're nothing. Just another criminal, another thug. But with it, you're untouchable."

I shook my head, disbelief and fury mixing inside me. "So, what? You think forcing me to marry some random girl will fix everything?"

"It's not just about fixing things," he said, his voice sharpening. "It's about control. You're out of control, V. Running around with women, causing scandals. YOU'RE reckless, and it's going to cost you."

"Cost me?" I barked out a laugh, but it was hollow. "I've made more money in the last year than you have in five. I don't need your advice, and I sure as hell don't need a wife."

My father's expression darkened, and he stood up, slowly, deliberately. "You need to marry her," he said, his voice cold. "If you don't, I'll make sure you lose everything."

I stiffened. My heart pounded in my chest as I took a step back, glaring at him. "I have my own company, my own contacts. I don't need your money."

His smile returned, cruel this time. "You think you're so independent, don't you? That you've built something on your own. But every business deal, every contract-it all goes back to the Kim name. Without it, without me, you lose it all."

I felt my jaw tighten, the words sticking in my throat. He was right, damn it. Every connection, every business deal I'd made relied on the weight of our family name. Without it, I'd be nothing more than a thug running drugs and guns.

I glared at him, my fists shaking. "You think you can blackmail me into marriage? Into some ridiculous arrangement?"

"You don't have a choice," he said, his voice calm but firm. "If you don't marry her, you're done. I'll strip you of everything. You'll lose every business, every Penney. You'll be left with nothing but your name, and even that won't mean anything."

My teeth ground together. "You can't do this."

"I already have," he said, his eyes cold. "The arrangements have been made. You'll meet the girl on Thursday. And if you refuse..." He paused, his eyes hardening. "I'll disown you. I'll make sure you can't operate in this city or anywhere else. You'll be wiped out."

I stood there, breathing hard, my hands trembling with barely contained rage. "You're insane."

"Maybe," he said with a shrug. "But you've given me no choice. Your antics, your scandals-they're out of control. This is the only way to rein you in."

I wanted to punch him, to tear him apart for even thinking he could control me like this. But I knew he had me by the throat. Everything I'd built-everything I'd worked for-would be gone if I didn't do what he said.

"I'm not marrying anyone," I said, my voice low and dangerous.

"Then you're out," my father replied, turning away from me. "You have 48 hours to decide, Taehyung. Marry her, or lose everything."

I glared at him, my chest heaving, before storming out of the room. The door slammed behind me, but it didn't matter. I was trapped.

And I had no idea how I was going to get out of this.

I paced around my office, fury coursing through my veins.  Marriage? My father really had the nerve to pull this stunt. It was like he thought he could still control me like I was some puppet. I gritted my teeth, yanking my phone from my pocket, my knuckles white from the grip.

"Lim, I need you to dig into my father’s files. Find out everything you can about this girl he's shoving down my throat," I barked. "I want all the details. And don’t make me wait."

I hung up before he could even respond, my mind racing. How dare he? He knew I didn’t need him, I had built my own empire, yet he was still dangling everything over my head, threatening to strip it away. He thinks he’s untouchable.

Hours later, Lim stood in front of me with a file, expression calm and composed. I snatched the folder from his hand, barely holding back my frustration. The name on the first page made me freeze.

“Isabel Faye Wintersbane,” Lim announced.

My heart lurched. Isabel? My cub from the café? No. It couldn't be. There was no way my father would be forcing me to marry her. That would be... I shook my head, trying to push the thought away, but it clung to me.

“It can’t be her,” I muttered under my breath, flipping through the papers. But the more I read, the more reality started to sink in.

I flipped through the documents. There wasn’t much, just her name and a bunch of bills—medical and school fees. I stared at the papers, trying to make sense of it. Is she some kind of charity case my father’s helping out?

I snorted bitterly. My father, the generous benefactor, huh? He’d give the world to a stranger, but when it came to me, he was a monster. No love, just manipulation.

I laughed bitterly, throwing the file onto my desk. “So that’s it? She’s a charity case?” I sneered, pacing again. “My father’s twisted enough to make me marry someone just to ‘save’ them? He wants to control me through some helpless girl?”

Lim remained silent, wisely keeping out of it. My anger was building like a storm, fists clenching at the thought of being forced into this.

I grabbed my phone again, fury in every movement as I dialed my lawyer. The second he picked up, I didn’t give him a chance to speak.

“Draft the damn contract,” I growled. “I don’t care what my father says, I'll will be the one in control of this marriage. Make sure every clause in that contract gives me the upper hand.”

The lawyer stammered, “What kind of terms are we talking about?”

I slammed my fist on the desk, teeth gritted. “ Every. Single. Thing. She follows my rules, and doesn't have any part considering me. If I’m forced into this, I’m going to make sure I own it. My father thinks he can back me into a corner? He’s got no idea who he’s dealing with.”

I hung up, the tension still thrumming in my body. I stood there, staring at the closed file, my chest heaving.

My mind swirled with anger and something else. Something darker. If this was how my father wanted to play it, then fine. But he wasn’t going to win.

“I’ll make the rules, old man,” I muttered to myself. “And if she’s really getting ready to Marry me even after knowing me … well, then she has no idea what she’s just walked into.”

Isabel 🎀

I was walking back from college, my mind a mess of thoughts about assignments and the looming shadow of Mr. Kim’s impossible demand.

The cold air bit at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill creeping up my spine. Something felt off again. My gut was screaming at me that something bad was about to happen, but I tried to shake it off, focusing on the familiar route back to the café.

Then, as if on cue, a sleek black car slowed beside me. The window rolled down, and a man in a crisp suit leaned out, his expression cold and businesslike.

“Miss Wintersbane, I need you to come with me,” he said, his tone sharp, leaving no room for argument.

I stopped, blinking at him. “Excuse me?” I replied, frowning.

“I’m Mr. Kim’s lawyer. You need to come with me. We need to discuss the arrangement,” he said, his eyes hard as steel.

The arrangement. The word made my stomach churn. Without thinking, I slammed the car door shut, glaring at him. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Wait,” he called again, his tone softening ever so slightly.

“Please, Miss Wintersbane. I’m here to explain the terms of your upcoming… agreement.”

"I'm Mr. Kim's lawyer, I mean the man you are going to get married with."

I froze, My heart began to race as I hesitated, glancing up and down the street. My mind screamed at me to walk away, but I was rooted in place by curiosity, confusion, and the gnawing sense that this was going to be worse than anything I’d imagined.

Reluctantly, I opened the door again and slid into the backseat, my stomach twisting into knots. The car smelled of leather and expensive cologne, but it felt stifling. The lawyer, who introduced himself as John, gave me a thin, professional smile before pulling out a folder and handing it to me.

The  Mr. John, had a stiff, professional air about him that only made me feel more on edge. I couldn't believe I was actually doing this

“Here are the terms of the contract,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion as if he were simply discussing a business deal.

I stared at the folder in my hands, my fingers trembling slightly as I flipped it open. The words on the page blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to focus, skimming through the legal jargon until my eyes landed on the clauses. Each one felt like a slap to the face, stripping away my dignity with every line I read.

1. You will have no role in Mr. Kim's life beyond the title  of wife.

2. You will not interfere with his personal life, and he is free to do as he pleases with no obligation to remain faithful.

3. The marriage will be kept secret from the public, and you will not disclose the nature of your relationship to anyone.

4. You are permitted to do as you wish, with the understanding that your actions will not tarnish the Kim family name.

5. You will receive no financial compensation before, during, or after the marriage.

6. This marriage is a business arrangement, lasting for one year, after which Mr. Kim will file for divorce.

I could barely breathe as I read the last clause again, my throat tightening with disbelief. This wasn’t a marriage it was a performance, a farce.

“What the hell is this?” I spat, shoving the papers back toward the lawyer.

He didn’t flinch. He just looked at me with that same cold expression. “It’s the agreement. You marry him, you keep quiet, and in a year, it’s over. No one needs to know, and you get nothing in return.”

Nothing. Not even a shred of dignity. I felt like I was about to explode. This is what my life had come to? Being some tool in a rich family’s power play, forced to marry a man who didn’t want me, who saw me as nothing more than a temporary convenience?

My fingers dug into the papers, crumpling the edges as I flipped through, my vision blurring with anger and humiliation. He wanted a wife in name only—someone to parade in front of his father, to keep up appearances. I wasn’t a person to him I was a prop, a puppet to be used and discarded when the show was over.

He could sleep with whoever he wanted, do whatever he wanted, and I… I was expected to stand by like a doll, only appearing when it was convenient for him to pretend we were husband and wife in front of his father.

“This… this can’t be real,” I whispered, my voice shaking as I looked up at the lawyer.

John simply shrugged. “It’s very real, Miss Wintersbane. And these are the conditions you will agree to if you sign.”

I looked up at him, eyes blazing with fury. “Sign them? Are you serious? You expect me to agree to this… this—” I gestured to the papers, struggling to find the right words. “This isn’t a marriage. This is a contract, a prison. And I’m supposed to be okay with that?”

His expression didn’t change, didn’t soften. “This is the agreement. You marry Mr. Kim, you fulfill your role, and in a year, it’s over, and you get nothing out of this.” He is repeating, like I'm sitting on his boss's throat asking for money.

I shook my head, my mind reeling. “ I know, I've read it and you don't need to repeat it everytime. I’m not a gold digger,” I muttered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

A deep sense of humiliation washed over me. Did he think I was some gold digger? Someone desperate for money or status? I wasn’t. I wasn’t that girl. I never asked for this, never wanted to be tangled in the Kim family’s web of power. But here I was, being forced into a role I never agreed to play.

“I don’t need his money, and I certainly don’t need this… this… whatever this is.”

John raised an eyebrow, his expression indifferent. “It’s not about money. It’s about obligation. You’re not entitled to anything from this marriage. He doesn’t need your loyalty, your companionship—nothing. All that’s required is that you show up when his father is around.”

I clenched my fists, the paper crinkling under my grip. “And what do I get in return? Humiliation? The knowledge that I’m nothing more than a puppet in some sick game?”

The lawyer didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he gave me a small, pitying smile. “You get A name. And the opportunity to walk away after a year, no strings attached.”

No strings attached As if I could walk away from this unscathed.

I stared at the paper, my blood boiling as I imagined the life they were offering me. A year of pretending to be something I wasn’t, all while being completely invisible to the man I was supposed to marry. He didn’t even want me in his life—just in his father’s line of sight.

“This is a joke,” I spat, shoving the papers back into the lawyer’s hands. “Tell your client I’m not interested.”

John remained silent for a moment, then sighed, sliding the papers back into his briefcase. “I understand this is difficult for you, Miss Wintersbane, but you should think carefully. This is an opportunity not many would turn down.”

I glared at him, my chest heaving with anger. “I’m not ‘many.’ I won’t sell myself for some sick arrangement. If your client wants a wife, he can find someone else to play pretend.”

John’s expression didn’t change. He simply nodded and opened the car door for me. “You have only 24 hours left  to decide,” he said as I stepped out onto the curb. “I suggest you think it over carefully.”

I turned my back on him, my heart racing, tears burning the back of my eyes. 24 hours. One day to decide whether I would throw away my pride, my dignity, my self to save Ms. Han and settle some debt I never asked for.

I could hear the car drive away behind me, but I couldn’t move. My legs felt like lead, my hands shaking at my sides as I stared blankly at the sidewalk.

How could they expect me to choose? How could I ever agree to something so degrading, so twisted? I  didn’t know if I wanted to scream or cry. This wasn’t my life. This couldn’t be my life. But as the reali

ty settled in, I realized it was. And there was no escape.