Seoul, South Korea
Seo Joon had finally decided—he needed a vacation. Urgently.
It wasn't some grand life revelation—no, this thought crossed his mind roughly every five days. But each time, he buried it somewhere deep inside and carried on with his usual schedule: meeting, lunch with investors, another meeting, stock discussions, a family dinner where his mother would interrogate him with questions like, "When are you finally getting married?" and "Why isn't Hana good for you? She's a senator's daughter!"
Because, apparently, there were only two things that mattered in his life: business and marriage.
"I'm either working, or they're trying to marry me off," he muttered under his breath, sitting in his office and staring out the window at the spectacular night view of Seoul. Millions of lights flickered below him, and somewhere in the distance, the sound of a horn and the city's hustle and bustle could be heard.
On the desk in front of him lay his schedule for the following week. Too many obligations, too many people, too much… everything.
No. That was it. He needed a break.
"Hyun, book me a trip."
His assistant, a twenty-five-year-old who was probably the only sane person in his life, looked up from his laptop.
"Where to?"
"Somewhere with no investors, no stocks, and no matchmaking attempts from my mother."
Hyun pondered for a moment. "Hmmm… How about a desert? Just you and camels?"
Seo Joon shot him a deadpan look.
"Okay, okay, something more realistic… Hmmm… What about Switzerland? Ski resorts, luxury, no politics, no family…"
"Switzerland?"
"Yeah, imagine it. You, snow, you on a snowboard, no phone, no obligations…"
Seo Joon thought for three seconds.
"Book it."
Seo Joon was a man who had it all.
At least, that's what the world believed.
He was the heir to one of South Korea's largest corporations, known for taking over the family business and turning it into a billion-dollar empire. Tall, sharp, always impeccably dressed—even when he wasn't trying, he looked like he had stepped off the cover of a prestigious business magazine. His dark hair was always neatly trimmed, and his black eyes were cold and calculating, missing no detail.
He was the kind of man who commanded attention in a room—not by being loud, but simply by being present. He exuded a quiet authority that either inspired admiration or fear.
But what people didn't know—or pretended not to see—was that Seo Joon wasn't happy.
Being an heir meant responsibility. Being an heir meant your life wasn't your own.
At twenty-five, it had all seemed exciting—power, money, control. Now, at thirty-seven, he knew it was just a gilded cage.
Which was why he now sat in his office, rubbing his temples while Hyun scrolled through his laptop, searching for the best travel options.
"Okay, listen to this," Hyun said, scanning through offers. "A luxury ski resort in Switzerland, exclusive for the elite. Private villas, top-tier restaurants, world-class slopes, and best of all—if you want, you can completely disconnect from the world. No one will be able to reach you."
"You have my attention," Seo Joon said, crossing his arms.
"They also offer private ski instructors, personal snowboarding guides… And I can even arrange company for you if you don't want to be alone."
Seo Joon raised an eyebrow. "Company?"
Hyun nodded meaningfully. "Company."
Seo Joon sighed. "Hyun."
"What?" his assistant replied innocently. "Look, you're thirty-seven, you live like some serious old man, your mother is trying to marry you off against your will, and you plan to spend your vacation—alone—on the snow?"
"That sounds perfect."
Hyun shook his head. "You're a lost cause."
Seo Joon didn't respond, simply turning his chair toward the window.
Hyun didn't understand. No one did.
When you're rich, you never know who loves you for you and who loves you for your money.
That's why Seo Joon was always cautious. Finding women wasn't difficult—what was difficult was that they all felt the same. All perfectly polished, all laughing at his jokes, all saying exactly what he wanted to hear.
But none of them were real.
Maybe a little solitude would do him good. Maybe the fresh Alpine air would help.
"Book the ski resort," he finally said.
Hyun grinned victoriously. "Knew you'd give in."
Seo Joon wasn't sure if he had given in. But he knew this time, he truly needed the escape.
Switzerland was quiet.
That was the first thing Seo Joon noticed as he stepped out of the sleek black SUV in front of his private chalet at the ski resort. No ringing phones, no Seoul traffic, no people asking, expecting, demanding things from him. Just snow glistening under the pale winter sun and the crisp, cold air filling his lungs.
Yes, this was what he needed.
His private villa was located a little further from the main resort complex, which suited him perfectly. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls offered a breathtaking view of the snowy mountains, and the interior was spacious, modern, and incredibly peaceful. No one to disturb him.
Except for Hyun.
Message from Hyun:➡ "Did you arrive?"
Seo Joon sat on the couch, unlocked his phone, and typed a short reply:➡ "Yes."
A second later, the screen lit up again.➡ "And? How is it?"➡ "It's fine."➡ "FINE?! This is one of the MOST EXPENSIVE ski resorts in the world, and you say it's FINE?!"➡ "Yes."
Hyun clearly gave up because he didn't respond.
Seo Joon put his phone down and sank into the silence of his luxurious chalet.
He thought he'd be bored without work and obligations. He thought he'd miss the adrenaline of business meetings. But actually… he didn't.
For the first time in a long while, he felt at peace.
The Next Morning
The day began with the aroma of fresh coffee and the soft sound of snow falling.
Seo Joon pulled on a black sports jacket, grabbed his snowboard, and headed to the slopes. It was still early, and the resort was nearly empty. Just what he wanted.
For the first few hours, he rode alone—gliding down the slopes, enjoying the speed, the rush of freedom that came with snowboarding.
Then, the people started to appear.
Tourists screaming every time someone fell. Couples taking endless photos in front of the hotel. Children having snowball fights near the slopes.
And, of course, the woman in the bright red jacket trying to impress her boyfriend by pretending she knew how to ski—when, in reality, she had no clue.
Seo Joon noticed her because she nearly crashed straight into his snowboard.
In fact, if he hadn't been quick, he'd probably be lying in the snow with a broken nose.
From the side, he also observed a group of wealthy guests clearly more interested in leisure than skiing—gliding slowly, sipping overpriced wine, and laughing.
They weren't here for the sport. They were here for the exclusivity.
Seo Joon shook his head and moved on.
That afternoon, sitting in a small café by the slopes, sipping hot chocolate and watching the snowy landscape, he thought—maybe he had made the right choice after all.