The press conference was a blur of flashing lights and murmuring voices.
The words "engaged" and "CEO Lee Joon-hyuk" tangled through the air like firecrackers, impossible to contain.
Hye-rin sat beside him, the diamond on her finger glittering too brightly, too falsely. Every time a camera clicked, she forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Joon-hyuk's expression, however, was perfect — calm, collected, untouchable.
He answered questions with precision, as if this entire spectacle were just another quarterly report.
"Yes," he said smoothly. "It's true. Miss Kang and I are engaged. We'll announce the wedding date soon."
A sea of flashes erupted. Hye-rin's heart pounded, the air too tight. She tried to keep her breathing steady, but every word felt like a thread tying her tighter into a lie.
When they left the stage, the world blurred again. The hallway, the murmurs, the security guards — everything was noise until his voice broke through.
"You did well," he said simply.
She turned on him. "Well? You just turned my life into a headline."
His jaw tensed. "It was necessary."
"For you," she shot back. "Not for me."
For a long moment, neither spoke. The silence between them was sharper than anger.
Finally, he said quietly, "I'll make sure you're protected. No one will touch you."
The words might've sounded reassuring from someone else. From him, they sounded like another form of control.
And yet… part of her wanted to believe him.