Seo-jin paced the penthouse anxiously, glancing at the clock every few minutes. The silence of their home suffocated her. She tried to busy herself, flicking through magazines or staring blankly at the cityscape from the window, but nothing could distract her from the overwhelming need to see him.
Min-jae had become her everything, her world. It wasn't just love—it was dependence. She craved his presence the way one might crave air, and every second without him felt like an eternity.
By the time the afternoon rolled around, she couldn't take it anymore. Grabbing her coat, she ordered the driver to take her to Kang Group's headquarters. She didn't care about appearances, didn't care about what the employees might think. All she cared about was seeing him.
When she arrived, she ignored the shocked stares of the staff as she strode through the halls and directly into his office. Min-jae was seated behind his desk, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his attention focused on the stack of papers in front of him.
"Seo-jin?" he said, looking up, his tone more curious than surprised.
Without a word, she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. The scent of his cologne, mixed with the faint smell of ink and paper, calmed her frayed nerves.
"I missed you," she murmured softly, clutching onto him as if she were afraid he might disappear.
Min-jae's lips curved into a faint smile. He rested a hand on her back, letting her stay like that for a moment before gently pulling away. "Seo-jin, I have work to do," he said, though there was no harshness in his voice.
She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. "Can't you take a break? Just for a little while?"
He studied her, his sharp gaze softening slightly. "Alright. Fifteen minutes," he said, motioning for her to sit on the couch in his office.
As she sat, watching him pour her a glass of water, Seo-jin felt a warmth spread through her chest. He was giving her what she wanted, even in small doses, and it only made her want him more.
Later that evening, as Min-jae finished his workout in their penthouse gym, Seo-jin waited by the door, a towel in her hand. He was drenched in sweat, his chiseled body glistening under the gym lights. The sight of him made her heart race.
"You're waiting for me again?" he asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he took the towel from her hand.
She nodded, stepping closer. "You're everything to me," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Min-jae's expression softened, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "And you're mine," he said, his voice low but firm.
That night, as Seo-jin clung to him in bed, holding him as if she were afraid he might disappear, Min-jae allowed himself to feel something he hadn't felt in years—contentment. She was his now, completely and utterly his, just as he had dreamed she would be all those years ago.
Their newfound "happiness" became the talk of the family. At the next family dinner, both sides of the family were elated to see the couple behaving like a picture-perfect pair.
Min-jae pulled out chairs for Seo-jin, served her food, and even smiled warmly at her throughout the evening. Seo-jin, for her part, stayed glued to his side, her eyes filled with adoration. To everyone else, they looked like a couple deeply in love.
"Finally, you two are living up to expectations," Seo-jin's father remarked with a satisfied grin.
Min-jae simply smiled, but behind that smile was the knowledge of the truth: Seo-jin's dependence on him wasn't just love—it was submission. She couldn't leave him now, even if she wanted to.
The contract had ensured that, but so had Min-jae's carefully calculated moves. He had planned this from the start, anticipating every eventuality, every weakness. And now, Seo-jin was bound to him in every way possible—legally, emotionally, and mentally.
As they left the family dinner, Seo-jin clung to Min-jae's arm, her face glowing with happiness. Min-jae glanced down at her, his smile widening ever so slightly.
"You're happy?" he asked, his tone deceptively warm.
She nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder. "More than I ever thought I could be."
Min-jae's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. This was exactly where he wanted her—by his side, completely his. No one, not even Seo-jin herself, could break the leash that bound her to him now.
And he wouldn't let her go. Not ever.