Yoon Ara couldn't stop thinking about the moment on the balcony.
The way Jae-min had looked at her.
The warmth in his touch.
And how it had all vanished the second Seo Yura appeared.
The next morning, Ara tried to avoid everyone. She stayed in her room, folding and unfolding the same piece of clothing again and again, her heart restless.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," Ara said softly.
Yura walked in with a small smile. "I thought you might be lonely."
Ara stiffened. "I'm fine."
Yura closed the door behind her. "You looked upset last night. I just wanted to make sure you didn't misunderstand anything."
"Misunderstand what?"
Yura hesitated, then spoke gently. "About Jae-min."
Ara's chest tightened.
"You and jae-min in the balcony! Yura continued. "He was just being polite. That's how he is. But you shouldn't mistake that for… something else."
Ara's fingers curled around the fabric in her hands.
"He doesn't like emotional women," Yura added quietly. "He told me once he hates being tied down. This marriage is just for his father."
Ara swallowed. "He didn't say that to me."
"He wouldn't," Yura said softly. "He doesn't want to hurt you."
The words felt like slow poison.
Later that day, Ara saw Jae-min in the hallway.
"Jae-min," she called.
He turned. "What?"
"Nothing," she said, forcing a smile. "I just… wanted to say thank you for yesterday."
He frowned. "For what?"
"For being kind," she said quietly.
His expression turned cold again. "Don't read too much into it."
Ara nodded. "I won't."
But her heart ached.
That night, she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, Yura's words echoing in her mind.
He hates being tied down.
This marriage means nothing.
And slowly, painfully, Ara began to believe them.