The private dining room was tense, the air thick with unspoken words as the two patriarchs—Chairman Kang and Chairman Yoo—sat across from each other, their eyes heavy with concern. A family dinner had just concluded, and Seo-jin and Min-jae had excused themselves, leaving their fathers behind.
To anyone observing, the dinner had been a picture of marital bliss. Seo-jin had stayed glued to Min-jae's side, her eyes following his every move with adoration. Every time he spoke, she smiled as though his words were gospel. Every time he touched her hand, she blushed like a schoolgirl. Her love for him was palpable—almost desperate.
But for the two chairmen, this wasn't a source of pride. It was a cause for alarm.
"She's not the same," Chairman Yoo said, breaking the silence. His voice was low, filled with unease. "My daughter… she's completely changed."
Chairman Kang sipped his tea, his sharp eyes narrowing. "You noticed it too, didn't you?" he said calmly. "How she clings to him. How she looks at him like he's the only thing in her world."
Chairman Yoo's jaw tightened. "This isn't natural. Seo-jin was always strong, independent. But now… it's like she's lost herself. And Min-jae…" He trailed off, unable to put into words the unsettling calmness that radiated from his son-in-law.
Chairman Kang leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Min-jae isn't the boy he used to be. He's calculated, strategic. Everything he does is deliberate."
Chairman Yoo looked at him sharply. "You're his father. Did you know about this? Did you know what he was planning?"
Chairman Kang shook his head slowly. "I underestimated him. We all did. I thought his transformation was simply about proving himself, about earning back his pride. But it's more than that. Much more."
Chairman Yoo's hands curled into fists. "He's trapped her, hasn't he? That contract…"
Chairman Kang's lips pressed into a thin line. "The contract is airtight. Min-jae made sure of that. He knew exactly what he was doing when he had her sign it. There's no way out—not legally, not psychologically."
Chairman Yoo's face darkened. "He planned this. From the very beginning, he planned everything. His transformation, his return, their engagement… all of it was to ensure she would never leave him again."
Chairman Kang nodded, his voice quiet but firm. "He waited years for this. Rebuilt himself from the ground up. And when he came back, he didn't just win her over—he made sure she could never leave him. Not without consequences."
Chairman Yoo leaned forward, his voice rising in frustration. "This isn't love. This is obsession. He's turned her into… into his possession."
Chairman Kang's gaze didn't waver. "And yet, look at her. She's happy. She's in love. To anyone else, their relationship seems perfect. No one would suspect the truth."
Chairman Yoo let out a bitter laugh. "Because he made it that way. He's smart—too smart. He's made sure that everything he's done appears like love, like devotion. Even Seo-jin believes it. She doesn't even realize how deeply he's manipulated her."
Chairman Kang's eyes hardened. "You think I don't see it? I know exactly what my son has done. But tell me, Yoo—what can you do about it? What can any of us do about it?"
Chairman Yoo fell silent, his fists trembling. He knew the answer: nothing. The contract Min-jae had crafted left no room for interference. Seo-jin was bound to him, legally and emotionally.
Chairman Kang continued, his voice cold. "Min-jae has achieved what he wanted. Seo-jin loves him. She depends on him. And as much as it pains me to admit it, she's happier now than she's ever been. Even if you tried to intervene, you'd only hurt her. And I won't allow that."
Chairman Yoo's shoulders slumped, the weight of the situation crashing down on him. "So we're just supposed to stand by and watch as he keeps her on his leash?"
Chairman Kang's expression softened, though his eyes remained sharp. "Do you think Min-jae doesn't love her? That all of this was just about control?"
Chairman Yoo looked at him, confused.
"I've watched my son closely," Chairman Kang said. "He loves her more than anything. Enough to reshape his entire existence for her. Enough to wait years, to endure unimaginable pain, just to make sure she would never leave him again. Is it dark? Yes. Is it twisted? Perhaps. But it's love. A love so consuming that it's terrifying."
Chairman Yoo shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "This isn't what I wanted for my daughter."
"And yet, this is her reality," Chairman Kang replied. "She's in love with him now. Fully, completely. And as much as you or I may hate it, there's nothing we can do to change that."
The room fell silent once more, the weight of their words hanging heavily in the air.
Chairman Yoo stared down at the table, his mind racing. He hated what Min-jae had done, hated how deeply his daughter had been drawn into this web. But as much as he wanted to fight it, he couldn't deny the truth: Seo-jin was happy. And Min-jae had made sure that nothing—and no one—could take that happiness away from her.
As the two fathers sat in silence, both men realized the same thing. They had underestimated Kang Min-jae. And now, they were powerless to undo what he had so meticulously built.
Min-jae had won.
And Seo-jin… she was his. Forever.