This was not just any party. This was his engagement party.
Jae-Min looked around, surveying the gathering with a practiced arrogance. The wealthiest and most powerful figures in South Korea mingled under the high ceilings, their polite laughter and hollow compliments weaving a symphony of superficiality. They were all here because of him—or more accurately, because of his name. Kang.
The Kang family was a dynasty, its chaebol empire sprawling across industries from real estate to technology. Jae-Min's father, Kang Dae-Sung, was the titan at the helm, a man whose mere nod could sway into markets. His mother, Kang Ji-Yeon, was the queen of socialites, her influence extending into every glittering charity gala and exclusive club in Seoul. Jae-Min was their only son, their supposed crown prince.
But he wasn't a king in the making. He was an embarrassment.
"Jae-Min Oppa," cooed a young woman as she approached him, her sparkling gown hugging her frame perfectly. She was one of many who flocked to him out of obligation or ambition. "Congratulations on your engagement. Soo-Ah is so lucky."
Jae-Min offered her a lazy smile, the kind he had perfected over years of charming away any serious interaction. "Thank you, Seung-Hee. But if you ask me, I'm the lucky one."
It was a lie, of course. Everyone knew it. His fiancée, Han Soo-Ah, had barely spoken to him all evening, her perfectly poised figure gliding from one guest to another. The epitome of grace and beauty, Soo-Ah was everything Jae-Min was not: disciplined, sharp, and untouchable.
She had always been a distant dream to him, even during their courtship, if one could call it that. Their families, a merger of empires wrapped in the guise of romance, had orchestrated their engagement. For Jae-Min, it had been love at first sight—though love might have been too strong a word for his infatuation with her perfection.
For Soo-Ah, it had been an obligation.
"Oppa, are you okay?" Seung-Hee's voice broke through his thoughts, her expression one of forced concern.
"Never better," Jae-Min said, finishing the champagne in one ungraceful gulp before handing her the empty glass. He didn't bother thanking her as he walked away.
As he moved through the crowd, nodding and smiling at guests he barely recognized, his gaze fell on Soo-Ah. She stood by the grand staircase, her white evening gown shimmering under the light. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders in perfect waves, and her every movement was a study of elegance.
For a moment, Jae-Min's chest tightened.
She's too perfect for me, he thought, not for the first time.
He pushed the thought aside. It didn't matter. She was his fiancée now. Their families had ensured that. She might not love him yet, but he was certain he could win her over eventually.
As if sensing his stare, Soo-Ah turned. Her sharp, almond-shaped eyes locked with his for a fleeting second before she looked away, her expression unreadable.
"Jae-Min."
His father's voice startled him. Kang Dae-Sung stood behind him, tall and imposing in his dark suit. The elder Kang's expression was as stern as ever, his piercing gaze scanning the room before settling on his son.
"You're mingling well enough, I see," Dae-Sung said, his tone as cold as the marble floors beneath their feet. "But don't forget why you're here. This isn't just a party. It's a statement."
Jae-Min forced a smile. "I know, Father. Everyone knows the Kang family is the picture of unity and strength."
His father's lips curled into something resembling a smile, but didn't quite reach his eyes. "See that you don't ruin it."
Before Jae-Min could respond, Dae-Sung had already turned away, leaving him alone once more.
As the evening wore on, Jae-Min found himself on the terrace, away from the stifling crowd. He leaned against the railing, looking out over the sprawling cityscape of Seoul. The lights below twinkled like a sea of stars, a sharp contrast to the hollow brightness of the ballroom behind him.
He was about to light a cigarette when he heard the unmistakable click of heels on the stone floor. Turning, he saw Soo-Ah approaching.
"Can't stand the crowd either, huh?" he said, attempting a smile.
Soo-Ah didn't return it. Instead, she crossed her arms and looked at him with a mixture of disdain and exhaustion. "Jae-Min," she began, her voice as sharp as a blade.
"Yes, my love?" he replied, the teasing tone in his voice masking the nervous flutter in his chest.
"Don't call me that," she snapped. Her eyes burned with a fury he hadn't expected. And for the first time that evening, Jae-Min felt truly exposed.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice faltering.
"What's wrong?" she repeated, her laugh devoid of humor. "Everything. This engagement. This charade. You."
Her words struck him like a punch to the gut, but she wasn't finished.
"You're insufferable, Jae-Min. You're lazy, spoiled, and disgusting. Do you even realize how much of an embarrassment you are? To your family? To me?"
He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.
"I'm breaking off the engagement," Soo-Ah said, her voice steady and final. "I can't do this anymore."
Jae-Min felt the ground shift beneath him. "Soo-Ah, wait—"
"No," she interrupted. "You don't get to wait anymore. You don't get to pretend everything's fine while you coast through life, dragging everyone else down with you. Grow up, Jae-Min. Or don't. I don't care anymore."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him alone on the terrace.
For a long time, Jae-Min stood there, the frosty night air biting at his skin. The lights of Seoul blurred as tears welled in his eyes, but he didn't let them fall. Instead, he lit his cigarette, inhaling deeply and exhaling into the void.
He had never felt so small.