Kang Hye-rin has spent her life learning how to stay invisible — a quiet, diligent employee in the vast machinery of LJ Group. But when her cold, calculating CEO, Lee Joon-hyuk, proposes a contract marriage, invisibility becomes impossible.

To him, it’s simple: a deal to secure the board’s confidence, protect his company, and maintain the image of stability. To her, it’s chaos — a collision between the past she’s tried to forget and the man who once broke her heart.

Years ago, under cherry blossoms and cruel laughter, Hye-rin learned how sharp Joon-hyuk’s indifference could be. Now, he stands before her again — powerful, composed, and offering a ring instead of an apology.

But as business turns into blurred lines, and loyalty begins to look a lot like longing, the boundaries between duty and desire start to crumble. Joon-hyuk’s perfect control begins to fracture, revealing the man buried beneath the mask — the one who remembers the same past, the same guilt, the same girl he once pushed away, the one whom his heart longed for. 

And in the shadows of Seoul’s glittering towers, another man watches: Choi Min-jae, the warm, effortless heir to Sungjin Group, who offers Hye-rin not contracts or promises — but choice.

Caught between the man who wounded her and the one who sees her, Hye-rin must decide whether love built on old scars can ever heal — or whether it’s time to walk away from both men and the world that uses affection as a bargaining chip.

Because in the end, every deal demands a cost — and every heart has a breaking point.

Rumors spread through LJ Group like wildfire.


"Choi Min-jae's Sungjin Group is circling like sharks."


"If Joon-hyuk doesn't settle down soon, the company's finished."


No matter where Kang Hye-rin went, whispers followed her like ghosts. Even Han Dae-shik, the manager who took pleasure in every bit of gossip, smirked when she passed.


"You'll see soon enough," he muttered under his breath. "The company doesn't belong to him forever."


She tried to ignore it, to bury herself in spreadsheets and reports, but the unease coiled tight in her chest refused to let go.


By evening, when most of the office had emptied, her phone buzzed.


Her pulse jumped. She straightened her blouse and took the elevator up, every floor feeling heavier than the last.


When she entered his office, Lee Joon-hyuk was by the window, back turned, staring at Seoul's glittering skyline. The city lights reflected against the glass, making him look like part of the view — distant, untouchable.


"You wanted to see me, sir?" she asked softly.


He turned. His expression was calm, but his eyes held a weight that hadn't been there before.


He walked closer, voice smooth, almost too steady. "A contract marriage. Temporary. It benefits us both — you'll gain financial security and protection from internal politics. I'll gain the stability the board is demanding. Think of it as business."


Her mind went blank. "You can't be serious."


"I don't joke, Miss Kang." His gaze didn't waver. "This is the most logical solution."


A pause. His jaw flexed. "Because you're… suitable."


The word sliced through her composure. Not 'special.' Not 'trusted.' Just suitable.


He didn't notice her flinch — or pretended not to. "I'll give you time to decide," he said finally, turning back toward the skyline. "But not much."


She left the office in silence, her thoughts a storm of disbelief and confusion.


Outside, the night air felt cold against her skin.


She looked up to see Choi Min-jae leaning casually by the exit, his warm smile cutting through the chill. For a moment, the world felt a little less cruel.


And as his voice softened, Hye-rin realized — maybe not every man in power used people like pieces on a chessboard.


Chapter 16 - The Proposal