Everyone held their breath. Every single gaze suddenly locked on Mina—the one who, even at this very moment, was still clutching Duyen's hand, while her husband stood there, silently urging her to take his side.
This was bad. Really bad. Nobody fully understood what was happening between them, but everyone could sense it: Valko and Mina's marriage had already cracked. Rumors had long circulated that they were separated. Mina hadn't worn her wedding ring at work for year. The sad part was, Valko still wore his.
His eyes narrowed in fury, staring at Mina and Duyen as if every ounce of his misery had been born from them. Rage was about to blind Valko completely.
A king's wife is supposed to be a queen…
His mind spun back eight years ago, when he had just become a freshman at Yelsulin University. He remembered standing in front of the admission board, staring up at the list of the top ten incoming students.
"Let's see," Valko muttered, tapping his chin while looking up each girl's name and searching out their faces.
Not pretty enough… still not good enough…
Then his eyes landed on the top score. Dinh Duyen Du.
Duyen?
He had never heard that name among the daughters of the local tycoons.
And the score—465. Insane. Even though Valko had worked his ass off, he was only third. Still, the only male in the top ten.
So what does this Duyen look like?
"Look, Duyen! You're number one!" a bubbly voice squealed nearby. A cute girl with twin braids in a short pink dress and fishnet stockings looked like she had just stepped out of a cosplay show.
Valko glanced back, curious.
Urg! He almost cursed out loud.
The top student, Dinh Duyen Du, was… huge. Tall for a girl, with a heavyset frame that looked like a walking Rubik's cube.
No way in hell could she be considered pretty.
Never
If I'm ever paired with her, my reputation will be ruined.
Valko instinctively edged away from Duyen and her friend, Nayeon, as if they carried the plague.
And then—he saw her.
The most perfect beauty he had ever laid eyes on.
Mina.
Her long wine-red hair flowed straight down her back, framing a delicate face that looked as though it had been carved by an artist. She wore a turtleneck sweater, her posture radiating nobility with the ease of someone born to rule. From the moment she appeared, the whole world seemed to fall silent, captivated.
But her eyes… they were distant, indifferent, as if nothing in this world could ever matter to her. Not even Valko standing right there. Like a goddess carved from ice.
Yes. This is her. This is the one worthy to be my queen.
He frantically searched his memory for the Kamakiri family name while Mina's gaze lingered on the score board. Something had clearly caught her off guard.
"Four sixty-five?" she whispered under her breath.
1st – Dinh Duyen Du – 465 points
2nd – Mina Kamakiri – 403 points
3rd – Valko R. Jou – …
Mina's eyes flicked toward Duyen and Nayeon. The mysterious top scorer smiled shyly, awkward but genuine. That humility stabbed at Mina's chest in a way she couldn't quite name.
So that's the one who beat me?
Strange… I've never cared about anyone here. Everyone revolves around me. And yet… she doesn't seem to care about me at all.
Not yet.
Mina opened her mouth, maybe to say something—but Nayeon dragged Duyen away, giggling and promising to drown her in milk-heavy cappuccinos.
"Cappuccinos with extra milk?"
Mina chuckled softly, covering her lips with a delicate hand.
Cute.
Way too cute.
She didn't realize, but every one of her little gestures was seared into Valko's mind. He saw it. The way Mina's attention drifted—quietly, secretly—toward Duyen. Hardly noticeable, but Valko noticed.
And that was enough. Enough to make him decide: Duyen was his rival. Unless he destroyed her completely, Mina would never belong to him.
So he invented a story. Duyen was a stalker. A creep. Valko reveled in the disgusted looks people gave her throughout her years at Yelsulin.
But it wasn't enough. He wanted her annihilated, humiliated to the point she wouldn't even dare show her face at graduation.
And in the end, he succeeded. Duyen is broke.
Valko thought Mina's silence meant submission. That she had accepted her fate as his devoted wife. Until the night he made the one mistake he could never undo.
"I'm sorry, Mina… I only did this because I love you too much…"
His ragged breathing hardly. Mina's sleeping face beneath him, completely unaware. That night with a glass of water still a little bubbly at the bottom, on the table...
Something he could never take back. Ever.
And now, back in the present, with his lies unraveling, Valko pleaded with his eyes.
Mina, I swear I'll be better.
I'll treat you better.
Just once, stand with me.
Please.
But her cold stare made his blood run ice.
Why, Mina?
Why are you holding her hand!?
You're mine.
You're MINE!
The tension grew heavier, and Dao understood exactly what was at stake. Would Mina speak up and protect Duyen—or stay silent, preserving her position in the Kamakiri clan? Silence was safer. Safer for her. Dao steeled herself, ready to step in.
But then—
"I never did that!"
Mina's eyes shot wide. Everyone gasped.
It wasn't Mina who spoke. It was Duyen.
Her legs trembled, but her eyes burned with defiance.
"I have never stalked you, or done anything like that!"
Don't cry, Duyen. Don't you dare cry.
Her hands shook, but she held her ground. Mina could feel it. Even Valko froze, stunned she would dare challenge him.
"I still have the threatening letter you sent to my house four years ago!" Valko snapped.
"What letter?"
The crowd murmured, confused. He had never mentioned this before.
Duyen's eyes hardened. Courage rose in her chest like fire.
"I've never sent you a letter. I don't even know where you live."
Valko faltered. His eyes darted around, desperate. He looked to Kai.
Kai stammered, "The letter—we still have it!"
"Then bring it," Duyen said clearly.
Sweat rolled down Kai's neck. He forced a laugh. "Bring it here, to this party? Don't ruin the mood."
"Yes," Duyen's amber eyes glowed. "Bring it here. I'll stand here all night waiting if I have to."
The three men glanced at each other, pale. They had no letter. And making one up now would be suicide.
Dao laughed, arms crossed.
"So you admit you made it all up, huh?"
"That's not true!" Valko yelled, panicked.
He jabbed a finger at Duyen. "What about when she confessed to Mina and Mina rejected her, huh?!"
Gasps filled the room. Mina froze. Duyen froze. That was supposed to be a secret—just between the two of them. Somehow Valko knew. And he has been making fun of it for the past four years.
Whispers spread instantly.
"So it's true?"
"Did she confess knowing Mina was engaged?"
Duyen's throat went dry. She didn't want this dragged into the open. Not with Mina still tied to Valko. But Mina's grip tightened around her hand.
"Duyen, don't," Mina whispered, eyes full of worry.
Duyen looked down at her, saw the turmoil in her eyes. Mina was ready to speak up. But Duyen couldn't let her.
"Yes. I confessed to Mina."
The room erupted in chatter. Valko smirked.
"And Mina rejected her?" someone asked.
"Yes," Duyen forced the words out.
The crowd gasped again. Mina squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart twisted—because it wasn't true. She had never rejected Duyen. Hearing Duyen say that was like a knife through her chest. And it seemed that at that time, Duyen also misunderstood Mina's words as a rejection...
But what could she do, even if Mina told the truth, the situation would be much more troublesome for both of them.
That was a mistake, that was the truth that Mina did not want to look at. And Mina wished that things had been different.
Valko burst out laughing
"See! Everyone see! I told you! She—!"
"But" Duyen suddenly interrupted Valko, "It doesn't matter. That's not important. What is important is this—how did you know, Valko? Were you spying on us?"
The crowd stilled. Then murmurs rippled again, sharper this time.
He was watching them? Not her stalking him… but him, stalking her?
The tide was turning. Valko panicked, looking at Kai, but Kai only shook his head:
It's over.
Silence hung thick. Then Valko suddenly straightened, plastering on a smile.
"All a misunderstanding! That's all!"
"…Misunderstanding?" Dao, Duyen and Mina were all stunned in unison. Their lips twitched.
"Yes!"
Valko spread his arms, walking forward confidently.
"I must have mistaken Duyen for someone else back then! But now everything's cleared up, I couldn't be happier! Come, let's celebrate!"
He grabbed two glasses of wine, shoved one into Duyen's hand, and clinked it before she could protest.
"To Duyen's innocence!" he cheered.
People exchanged uneasy looks, but then forced smiles. One by one, they raised their glasses. Pretending nothing had happened.
...Like nothing ever happened.
But Mina's furious eyes stayed locked on Valko.
Take your filthy hand off her...