Yoon Ara didn't realize she was crying until a tear slipped onto her hand.
She stood alone on the small balcony outside her room, the cool night air brushing against her face. Seo Yura's words from earlier kept replaying in her mind—soft, sharp, and impossible to forget.
He doesn't like weak women.
Ara wrapped her arms around herself. She had tried so hard to be calm, to be obedient, to not cause trouble… but maybe that was exactly why she didn't belong here.
The door behind her creaked open.
Jae-min stepped out, his dark hair slightly messy, his expression unreadable. "Why are you standing here in the cold?"
"I'm fine," Ara replied quickly, wiping her eyes.
"You're crying."
She looked away. "It's nothing."
Jae-min moved closer. "Look at me."
Slowly, she did.
For a moment, he just stared at her face, at the redness in her eyes. Something shifted in his gaze—something that wasn't cold.
"Did Yura say something to you?" he asked quietly.
Ara hesitated. "No."
He didn't believe her.
"You don't have to pretend with me," he said.
"You're terrible at lying."
That made her laugh weakly through her tears.
"I'm just… confused," she whispered. "I don't know where I belong here."
"You belong wherever you stand," Jae-min replied, surprising both of them.
Ara looked at him.
Their faces were close now. Too close.
"I never wanted this marriage," he continued.
"But that doesn't mean I want you to be hurt."
Her breath caught.
The wind blew her hair across her face, and before she could move it away, Jae-min gently brushed it aside.
His fingers lingered.
Ara's heart raced.
He stared at her lips for just a second too long.
Slowly, as if he didn't even realize what he was doing, he leaned closer.
Ara didn't move.
She could feel his breath, warm and steady. Her eyes fluttered shut.
Just a little closer…
"Jae-min."
Seo Yura's voice broke the moment.
They pulled apart instantly.
Yura stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable. "I was looking for you."
Jae-min stepped back, his face cold again.
"What do you want?"
"I just thought you should know," Yura said softly, glancing at Ara, "your wife was crying alone. It wouldn't look good if people found out."
Ara's cheeks burned.
"I'll handle it," Jae-min said.
Yura smiled faintly. "Of course you will."
As she walked away, Ara's heart sank.
The warmth from just moments ago was gone.
And she realized something painful—
Whatever almost happened between her and Jae-min…
Yura was determined to destroy it.