I was discharged three days later.
Ji-hoon didn't ask if I wanted to go home.
He simply said, "The media is waiting outside. Walk beside me."
That was the first lesson of being Mrs. Kang.
Image before emotion.
The hospital doors slid open.
Cameras flashed instantly.
"President Kang! How is your wife's condition?"
"Was the accident intentional?"
"Is it true the wedding was rushed?"
Flashes burned my eyes.
Ji-hoon's hand wrapped around my waist.
Not gently.
Firm.
Possessive.
Protective.
For the cameras?
Or for real?
I couldn't tell.
"Thank you for your concern," he said smoothly. "My wife is recovering well."
My wife.
The words felt strange.
His grip tightened slightly as a reporter shouted—
"Miss Chae was seen visiting you yesterday! Are wedding rumors true?"
Miss Chae.
There it is.
White moonlight has a name.
Ji-hoon didn't even blink.
"There are no such rumors," he said coldly.
He guided me into the black car.
Door shut.
Silence.
The city moved outside the tinted window.
I turned slowly.
"Miss Chae?" I asked calmly.
He didn't look at me. "Chae Yura."
Of course she has an elegant name.
"Ex-fiancée?" I guessed.
He finally met my eyes.
"Yes."
Straight answer.
Interesting.
"And she visited you."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she believes this marriage is temporary."
Ah.
So she thinks I'm disposable.
Cute.
The interface flickered faintly.
THREAT DETECTED: Social Instability Risk
Good.
The system agrees with me.
"What does she want?" I asked.
"Position," he replied. "Influence. My family supports her."
Ah.
Chaebol politics.
Mother-in-law problem too?
Lovely.
The car stopped in front of a towering glass building.
KANG CORPORATION.
So this is the battlefield.
—
The lobby fell silent when we entered.
Employees bowed respectfully.
Eyes curious.
Whispers controlled.
Ji-hoon walked like he owned gravity itself.
I followed without hesitation.
If I show weakness, they'll devour me.
Inside the private elevator, he finally spoke.
"She will come today."
"Miss Chae?"
"Yes."
"Good."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"You don't sound worried."
"Should I be?"
The elevator doors opened.
Top floor.
Minimalist luxury.
Power radiating from every corner.
His office door opened—
And she was already there.
Tall.
Elegant.
Soft cream dress.
Long glossy hair.
Perfect makeup.
She turned slowly.
Her eyes landed on me.
Smile.
Sweet.
Measured.
"Oh," she said lightly. "You must be the wife."
Wife.
Not Mrs. Kang.
Not by name.
Just a title.
I stepped forward calmly.
"Yes. And you must be the ex."
Her smile froze for half a second.
Then recovered.
Ji-hoon remained silent.
Observing.
Testing.
Yura walked closer.
Her perfume was subtle. Expensive.
"I'm sure this marriage must be… difficult," she said softly. "Considering the circumstances."
"What circumstances?" I asked pleasantly.
"The contract," she replied.
Bold.
So she knows.
Interesting.
I glanced at Ji-hoon.
He didn't deny it.
That means she knows more than she should.
Yura leaned slightly closer to him.
"Ji-hoon, your mother asked me to remind you about dinner tomorrow."
Casual.
Intimate tone.
Claiming territory.
He didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
He stepped toward me.
And placed his hand on my lower back.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
"My wife will attend," he said calmly.
Her smile tightened.
"Of course," she replied.
Her eyes dropped briefly to where his hand rested on me.
Then back to my face.
Challenge accepted.
I smiled sweetly.
"I look forward to meeting your family properly," I said.
Ji-hoon's fingers pressed slightly firmer.
Approval?
Possibly.
Yura's gaze sharpened subtly.
"Oh," she said lightly. "I hope you adjust quickly. The Kang family can be… overwhelming."
Threat disguised as concern.
Classic.
"I adapt well," I replied gently. "Especially when I'm motivated."
Silence thickened.
Ji-hoon finally spoke.
"This meeting is over."
Yura's eyes flicked to him.
Then back to me.
She walked toward the door.
Just before exiting, she paused beside me.
Quietly.
Low voice.
"You should be careful," she whispered. "Temporary things tend to break easily."
Then she left.
The door closed.
Silence filled the office.
Ji-hoon's hand slowly left my waist.
"You handled that well," he said calmly.
"She underestimates me," I replied.
"Yes."
His tone was thoughtful.
Not amused.
Not dismissive.
Evaluating.
"She won't stop," he added.
"I didn't expect her to."
The interface shimmered again.
MISSION UPDATE:
Marriage Image Stability +2%
Corporate Risk Alert Active
Global progress flickered.
4%
Interesting.
So public unity increases progress.
And she—
She's not just romantic rival.
She's tied to corporate instability.
This is bigger.
I walked toward the massive window overlooking Seoul.
"Tell me something," I said without turning. "If I disappear tomorrow, would it affect your position?"
Silence.
Longer than expected.
"Yes," he said finally.
"Why?"
"Because you are legally tied to my shares."
My eyes widened slightly.
Oh.
So that's why I'm useful.
Strategic marriage.
Financial leverage.
And Yura wants that position.
Makes sense.
I turned back to him.
"Then we have a common enemy."
He studied me quietly.
"You don't seem afraid."
I met his gaze steadily.
"I already died once."
The words slipped out.
The system didn't punish.
Interesting.
So references are allowed.
Just not revelation.
His expression darkened slightly.
"So did I."
For the first time—
The room felt smaller.
Not because of Yura.
But because we both know—
This isn't just marriage politics.
This is survival.
Two worlds.
Two battlefields.
And the same enemy type in both.
Ji-hoon walked toward his desk.
"There is a board meeting tomorrow," he said calmly. "They will question your capability."
"Good."
He paused.
"You're confident."
"I'm observant."
Silence stretched again.
Then—
A faint vibration pulsed in my chest.
The golden interface flickered.
ANCIENT WORLD STATUS: ACTIVATING
Switch time.
My head felt light.
Vision blurring slightly.
Ji-hoon noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I murmured softly.
In another world—
The Crown Prince might be opening his eyes right now.
And I'm about to wake there.
Before everything faded—
Ji-hoon stepped closer.
Closer than before.
"Don't lose," he said quietly.
I smiled faintly.
"In which world?"
Darkness swallowed me.