Constrained to Start (8 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 15

“Do you remember the day you comforted me by saying, ‘It’s not your fault, oppa’?”

“…….”

“From that moment on, you were mine. And now you’d throw me away over someone like Jin Jae Yi?”

His utterly absurd words made everything in front of her go pitch black.

It was a trap she couldn’t possibly escape alone—the more she struggled, the deeper she sank into despair.

“Just stay by my side. Like this, for the rest of our lives.”

Even a single second felt unbearable—how could she live like this forever?

Kim Yu Jun spoke those horrifying words with a picture-perfect smile. For a moment, Ra Jin felt as if she were under a trance, disconnected from reality.

“So don’t you ever do it again. Never turn your back on me from now on.”

“…….”

“You have to answer me. Okay?”

“I won’t. Never again.”

Only then did Yu Jun’s expression brighten, clear as spring sunshine.

Until Ha Eun arrived, Ra Jin had to give Kim Yu Jun countless promises and assurances.

Even though she’d clearly sworn she’d never do it again, Kim Yu Jun kept asking—while stroking her hair, after bringing her water—repeatedly checking as if he still doubted her.

He pressed so persistently that eventually, she had no choice but to feign sleep and close her eyes.

If Director Hyun hadn’t arrived promptly with porridge and medicine, who knew how long it would’ve gone on? For the first time, Ra Jin actually felt grateful toward Yu Jun’s loyal secretary.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Unnie, are you okay?”

In Ra Jin’s second-floor bedroom, Ha Eun asked while stroking Ra Jin’s hair.

“How much did that psycho torment you? Your face is practically split in half.”

Hearing Ha Eun substitute harsh curses on her behalf warmed Ra Jin’s heart like a cozy blanket.

How empowering it was to know someone was truly on her side—Ha Eun’s rare, fierce cursing sounded sweeter than a love song.

“So what did Kim Yu Jun say?”

“He said he’ll finalize the engagement and take over Myeong Jin—all within this year.”

“And marry you too?”

Ra Jin nodded, then immediately let out a sigh. Though he said “within this year,” there were barely eight months left. What was she supposed to do now?

God had given Kim Yu Jun a sensitive temperament—but also the tenacity to accomplish whatever he set his mind to. Even if Chairman Myeong Jin’s arrest was a stroke of luck for him, the fact that he could seize control of the entire group in one swift move was due solely to his own ability.

“What if I end up marrying Kim Yu Jun after all this?”

“No way! Absolutely not!”

Ha Eun shrieked, “How can you even think about marrying a stalker?”

“I wish Prosecutor Kim would just drag him in for questioning.”

“You mean Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho?”

“Yeah. Even if they can’t arrest him easily as Myeong Jin’s heir, if they keep summoning him or something, and he keeps appearing in the news…”

The idea of public opinion turning against him sounded tempting.

After all, even big corporations could plummet if boycotts started—the suggestion actually made sense.

“No matter how much Kim Yu Jun wants it, if his company gets dragged through the mud, would he really go through with ditching his long-time fiancée to marry you?”

If only that could happen—Ra Jin almost said it aloud. But since it wasn’t so simple, she held her tongue.

“How much longer until that special counsel investigation ends?”

“About two months.”

With only sixty days left, was it even worth hoping?

The words “give up” and “marriage” simultaneously flashed through Ra Jin’s mind. No matter how brilliant Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho was, how could he possibly take down the colossal Myeong Jin Group?

“But have you tried contacting the prosecutor again?”

“Yesterday.”

“Did you reach out first?”

“No. He said he’d contact me again after I got home from the hotel, but he never did.”

Now that she thought about it, Kim Yu Jun had burst in and interrupted her mid-text.

“Why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble. And I felt bad after refusing his request.”

Her naturally timid disposition kept pulling her back to square one. Seeing this, Ha Eun sighed sharply, thumping her chest in frustration.

“Then help him secretly.”

“How?”

“So nobody finds out that you and Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho are on the same side.”

Was that even possible?

Ra Jin had only thought about refusing the prosecutor’s request because it felt burdensome—she’d never considered anything else.

“The prosecutor gets to catch Kim Yu Jun, and you get rid of him—sounds like a win-win, right?”

Win-win?

It actually made a lot of sense. Seizing the opening, Ha Eun launched into an impassioned explanation.

“Besides, Oh Jong Hyuk keeps dropping by every now and then—it’s bad for your mom too.”

“…….”

“What’s the point of constantly reminding her of the person who passed away? It just stirs up old wounds.”

These were issues Ra Jin had never once considered.

From just one step away, Ha Eun saw everything so clearly—while Ra Jin had merely been dragged along helplessly this whole time. Ha Eun’s advice felt like bitter medicine that healed despite its taste.

Suddenly, Ra Jin’s nose stung with bittersweet emotion.

“Might as well take this chance to end things with Oh Jong Hyuk as you’ve always wanted—and get rid of that useless manager too.”

“Wasn’t it Tae Hyung Shik who made Kim Yu Jun chase after you today?”

“Probably.”

“Ugh.”

“A manager’s salary is fixed, right? But didn’t he just buy another luxury watch?”

The clear implication—that he must be taking secret payments from Kim Yu Jun—made Ra Jin scowl.

A manager slacking on his real job but obsessively spying, a CEO draining her dry, and a chaebol heir acting like a full-blown stalker.

If she could secretly aid Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho—the one holding the real power—and resolve all this at once… maybe this was her first and last chance.

“If I get Kim Yu Jun and Oh Jong Hyuk tangled up in an investigation, he won’t have time to bother me anymore.”

Her heart pounded at the deliciously impossible thought.

“Do you think we can really pull it off—without anyone finding out?”

Even though she was leaning heavily toward it, her courage still faltered. She kept asking Ha Eun for reassurance.

“Have you ever seen a celebrity claim they have no lover and actually be single? Especially when they’re juggling two people already?”

“That’s true…”

“But people don’t know.”

Ha Eun’s suggestion—keep it as a secret romance—sank straight into Ra Jin’s ears, leaving her deep in thought.

Celebrities secretly dating and then parting ways was so common. Ra Jin had a vague idea of how they avoided public eyes, where they met, and how they stayed in touch.

“Do you think it’ll work?”

“You just need to fool the manager.”

Simple in theory, yet the hardest part.

Even if he was neglecting his duties, the manager still accompanied her to every schedule—it wouldn’t be easy to deceive him. He might actually be the one person she needed to watch most carefully.

“Since Oh Jong Hyuk only gets reports from Tae Hyung Shik, we really just need to fool the manager—that’s it.”

“Exactly!”

“Could we bribe him?”

Ha Eun shook her head firmly, as if to say no amount of chaebol money could compete.

“What if we found his weakness and trapped him so he couldn’t move?”

“We’ll need to prepare that too, for later.”

“Should we maybe push him to quit being a road manager? Tell him he should aim for a promotion instead?”

The moment she said it, Ra Jin tingled with excitement all over.

Kim Yu Jun had set a hard deadline—this year—so the countdown had already begun. With so little time left, she had to act fast.

All kinds of ideas flooded her mind.

But ultimately, everything depended on how Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho chose to move.

He held the answer sheet—and she’d already missed her chance once.

If she met with him and discussed things, maybe she’d find a solution. If that didn’t work out, she’d have to find another way.

“Ha Eun, let me make a call.”

“Okay!”

She’d barely declared her intent when she froze the moment she saw his number.

“If only I’d contacted him late last night, I’d know what to do now.”

What if he was upset about yesterday? Ra Jin couldn’t bring herself to press the call button.

“What should I do? I’m so nervous.”

Ra Jin pressed her palm to her heart and shuffled her feet anxiously.

“Maybe he’ll call first? Should we just wait until today?”

Just as she looked to Ha Eun for agreement, Ha Eun grinned and firmly pressed the call button.

“Huh? Wait—Ha Eun!”

Her excuse about not being ready vanished along with the dial tone. Now, if she hung up, it would show as a missed call—and Ra Jin was still sputtering in panic when—

[Yes.]

His low voice made her heart drop straight into her stomach.

Ra Jin couldn’t even manage a basic greeting—her face burned so hot she couldn’t utter a word.

Frustration welled inside her, her lips parched and trembling. Why did she turn into a loose-screwed mess whenever she was near him? It drove her insane.

[Park Ra Jin?]

“Y-yes! It’s me.”

[Are you all right?]

Her flustered state must have seemed odd, so Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho checked in on her.

“You said you wanted to meet yesterday.”

All her carefully prepared words vanished—only the main point tumbled out. She scolded herself silently but didn’t back down.

“How about today?”

“…….”

The man who’d said he was fine with either dinner or drinks yesterday now stayed silent. Had his offer expired already?

“Is… is it difficult?”

[No.]

Then what was with this lukewarm response? Ra Jin bit her lower lip hard.

[I’m just thinking of a good place.]

“Oh, the hospital is fine with me.”

Even after she suggested a place, he stayed stubbornly silent. Ra Jin waited so tensely she thought she’d choke on her own breath.

[My mother has a studio space. Would that be okay?]

First his grandfather’s parking lot, now his mother’s studio?

The word “burdensome” rose to Ra Jin’s throat—but she had no better alternative.

“I don’t mind.”

[I’ll send you the address.]

He kept the conversation crisp and clean, without an ounce of extra fluff. Noticing how smoothly things were going, Ha Eun sidled up close to eavesdrop.

“Yes. 8 p.m.”

The call ended abruptly right after he confirmed their meeting time. Typical of him—only ever saying what was absolutely necessary—made Ra Jin smile faintly.

But she couldn’t put down the phone he’d disappeared from. She just held it, lingering alone in the aftermath.

“What did the prosecutor say?”

Only after Ha Eun’s impatient question did Ra Jin’s eyes finally sharpen again.

“We’re meeting at 8.”

“But why that expression?”

“I just… don’t know how I feel.”

“It’s because that psycho’s been tormenting you. Come on, let’s go to my place.”

Ha Eun sprang up lightly from her seat and immediately opened a drawer to pull out clothes.

“Hang out at my house first, then head to the meeting spot. I’ll go with you.”

“Really?”

“After your talk, just ask him to give you a ride back. No one’ll see you—it’s perfect.”

At this critical moment,

Ra Jin hugged Ha Eun’s small back tightly, deeply grateful for her friend who always knew exactly what to say.

“What would I have done without you, Ha Eun?”

“Compared to you covering Sunho’s surgery fees, this is nothing.”

Tears pricked Ra Jin’s eyes at Ha Eun’s words—so full of debt she owed.

They were a rare, precious bond to each other. Sharing warmth and praise, the two eventually broke into soft sobs.

“We’ll never leave at this rate.”

Giggling through her tears, Ra Jin hurriedly packed her things.

Fully armed with a hat and mask, Ra Jin headed to Ha Eun’s place, where she ate Ha Eun’s home-cooked meal and finalized what to say to Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho.

Time flew by in a flash—and before she knew it, Ra Jin had arrived at their meeting spot.

“Ugh…”

She’d never been this nervous, not even in front of countless staff members. Ra Jin massaged her stiff neck and took a deep breath.

“Just stick to what we practiced earlier.”

“Mm-hmm.”

To steady herself, Ra Jin gripped Ha Eun’s hand tightly.

Room 3100.

“This must be it.”

In front of the dark gray metal door, both their eyes gleamed blackly.

Ra Jin swallowed hard and pressed the doorbell. Instantly, as if a camera flash had gone off, the area lit up brightly.

With a cheerful beep and a metallic click, the door unlocked.