“What do you mean it won’t work?”

Hyunkyung smiled brightly and unfolded another dress. It had the same design as the one she just told Yuri to wear, only differing in color. Both were mini-dress one-pieces with the shoulders fully exposed, a deep neckline, and a body-hugging fit. The sleeves and chest area were adorned with small pearl beads, which slightly reduced the sensual atmosphere and added a cute touch.

But still, this is too much! Yuri had never worn mini-skirts, let alone short shorts, so being told to wear such a revealing outfit was unthinkable.

“Hyunkyung, I can’t wear this.”

Yuri shook her head with a troubled expression.

“Why? You’re getting married the day after tomorrow. You should wear something like this and go to a club before becoming a married woman. Are you going to only pull off the Cheongdam-dong look for the rest of your life?”

The day after tomorrow is the wedding?

Moreover, the words ‘before becoming a married woman’ pierced Yuri’s heart like a dagger. As Yuri, who had been adamantly opposed, faltered for a moment, Hyunkyung hugged her with a beaming smile.

“I’ll wear black, and you wear silver. Let’s wear couple looks, okay? Just think of it as an early bachelorette party.”

“It’s not a marriage out of love anyway, so what’s the point of grandly having a bachelorette party…”

A cynical smile involuntarily spilled from her lips. In the end, Yuri nodded.

“Okay, just for today.”

She thought, having always lived under tension, what harm could come from loosening up for just one day? With permission granted, Hyunkyung quickly dressed Yuri before she could change her mind. The dress clung so tightly to her body that it was difficult to even breathe. It was an embarrassingly sexy style, but it felt less burdensome than the wedding dress she had tried on earlier. Such an outfit couldn’t possibly be comfortable, but at least it didn’t feel like shackles on a chain.

“Even with the same size, it looks different depending on the body shape.”

Looking at Yuri’s voluptuous curves, Hyunkyung grumbled enviously. But she soon came to her senses and laid out the makeup she had brought from home.

“Just in case someone recognizes you, I’ll do your makeup close to a disguise. Expect a completely sexy Chae Yuri. We’re meeting Yoona and Minjung at the club, and oh, Manager Kim will be accompanying us too.”

Manager Kim was the head of the security team in charge of the safety of Chairman Joo Seong-wook’s family and often took on Hyunkyung’s personal security as well.

“Well then, shall we get started?”

Hyunkyung picked up a makeup brush with an excited face.

“Ah!”

As the strong whiskey spread through her body like a wildfire, Yuri involuntarily frowned. Coming to the club had slightly lifted her sunken mood, but it wasn’t enough. To borrow the power of alcohol, Yuri immediately refilled her glass.

The top VVIP room of the club that Hyunkyung had reserved was entirely made of glass on all sides, allowing a full view of the club scene below.

Yuri adjusted her posture and sat up, trying to pull down the mini-skirt that had ridden up her thighs. The excessively short length was quite bothersome. Fortunately, she was the only one here at the moment. Hyunkyung and her friends had gone down to the dance floor a little while ago, accompanied by Manager Kim’s security. Yuri had persistently declined and stayed here.

Dressing differently from usual was the extent of deviation Yuri could handle. Hyunkyung knew this too, so she didn’t insist further. She only told Yuri to text Manager Kim if she wanted to come downstairs.

Staring at the flashy lights, Yuri emptied her glass again. Despite downing consecutive glasses, strangely, the alcohol didn’t seem to kick in. It must be a sign of how complicated her mind was.

How long had she been sitting there? Even after waiting, Hyunkyung and the others didn’t return, so Yuri got up from her seat. She was about to text Manager Kim but thought she could easily find them since they were in the same club, so she went down the stairs.

It was a misjudgment, which she realized as soon as she set foot on the lower floor. The densely packed crowd made it impossible to see even an inch ahead. Without knowing the exact location of her party, finding them seemed nearly impossible. Grumbling, ‘I should have brought my phone if I knew this would happen,’ she turned to head back to the stairs when someone’s strong arm wrapped around her waist.

“Caught you!”

Turning around, an unfamiliar man was grinning at her. The man seemed drunk, his eyes half-closed and hazy.

“Babe, I’ve been looking for you.”

“You’ve got the wrong person.”

“Heh, she can’t even recognize her own boyfriend?”

The man pulled Yuri towards himself, emitting a disgusting alcohol smell. It was unclear whether he had mistaken her for his girlfriend due to being drunk or if he was pretending to hit on her. Yuri tried to twist her body to escape from the man, but it wasn’t easy.

Even if she sought help from those around, no one paid attention. They seemed to think it was a lovers’ quarrel.

“Stay still.”

The man buried his face in Yuri’s neck and reached out to her white thighs. As his sticky, sweaty hand shamelessly groped her body, Yuri stomped on the man’s dress shoes with all her might using her high heels.

“Argh!”

Only when the man screamed did people around start glancing over. Taking advantage of the moment, Yuri quickly broke free from the man. But before she could take a few steps, a rough hand grabbed her hair. The pain was so severe that Yuri couldn’t even scream as she was dragged back to the man.

“You dare to kill me!”

The enraged man pressed his face close to Yuri’s and yelled. But as he met Yuri’s cold gaze, he flinched and released her hair from his grip.

What happened next was so instantaneous that it was hard to see properly. A fist flying from somewhere struck the man’s face, and he collapsed to the floor like a log, crying out in pain.

A familiar voice called out to her.

“Are you okay?”

No way. How could he be here?

Yuri hurriedly brushed aside the tangled hair covering her face. It wasn’t a mistake. The man in front of her was indeed Jeho. Seeing him, the tension drained from her body, and her knees buckled. Jeho quickly embraced Yuri as she was about to slump down.

“First, please go upstairs. I’ll take care of the aftermath.”

Manager Kim, who had approached from the side at some point, said.

“Yes, then I’ll leave it to you.”

Jeho supported Yuri, almost cradling her, and headed towards the stairs. Manager Kim grabbed the collar of the drunkard sprawled on the floor, lifted him up, and handed him over to the club guards who had rushed over. The bustling atmosphere inside the club returned to normal, along with the music.

Returning to the VVIP room, Yuri slumped down on the sofa as if collapsing. She was so startled that her legs trembled, and her heart raced uncontrollably.

“Drink. It’ll help you calm down a bit.”

Jeho poured a full glass of whiskey and handed it to her. Despite having already had several glasses, Yuri silently accepted the glass and emptied it.

“Hic.”

As she set down the glass, tears burst out as an aftereffect of the shock. Yuri covered her mouth with her hand, trying to steady her irregular breathing. She didn’t want to show him her tears anymore.

“I’m sorry. I should have come a little earlier…”

“…Earlier?”

Instead of answering, Jeho hugged Yuri tightly. He stroked her head and patted her back as if to reassure her. But when her stiff body still didn’t relax, he cupped Yuri’s cheeks with both hands and kissed her forehead and the bridge of her nose. He gently brought his lips to her tearful eyes as well.

“Mm.”

Yuri slowly inhaled and closed her eyes. Jeho would think her body had stiffened due to what had just happened, but the real reason lay elsewhere.

It was true that the unfamiliar man’s touch had been utterly repulsive. When his hand crept up her thigh, she felt like throwing up. At the same time, Minwoo’s touch came to mind.

Minwoo had never severely laid his hands on her body yet. Just putting his arm around her shoulders or a light embrace. But even after getting married and living together, there was no guarantee that he would remain gentlemanly until the end.

If she hadn’t reunited with Jeho, perhaps at some point, she might have accepted Minwoo. No matter how formal the marriage, there would be pressure for an heir, and eventually, like other arranged marriage couples, they would have children without love and live on somehow. Most end up like that, despite saying it would be like a roommate marriage.

But not anymore. Everything changed the moment she realized her feelings for Jeho. Marrying someone she didn’t love would be hell itself.

How foolish to only realize it now!

Of course, it wasn’t that she loved Jeho. But she was physically attracted to him, and emotionally, feelings of liking were starting to blossom. She couldn’t marry Minwoo with these feelings.

If she broke off the arranged marriage now, all hell would break loose, right? It was obvious that she would suffer internally and externally to the point of being unbearable for the time being. Perhaps she would never escape Congressman Chae’s clutches. But she had no choice.

“Hold me for a bit.”

Feeling like she would burst into tears again, Yuri clung to Jeho’s neck as if clinging for dear life.

“Hold me so tight that I can’t even breathe. Please…”

Jeho tightened his arms around her with all his strength, as she requested. As her head naturally tilted back from the intense pressure, Yuri slowly blinked her tearful eyes.

“It feels like bugs are crawling all over.”

The man’s lingering touch still felt unpleasant as it came to mind. Yuri took Jeho’s hand and guided it to where the man had touched.

“Touch me. Make this dirty feeling go away…”

Jeho’s one eyebrow quirked up at the unexpected request. But he let her guide his hand without resistance. His hand caressing her skin was burning hot. It felt completely different from earlier. Far from being repulsive, it felt so good that it gave her goosebumps.

Before she knew it, the man’s touch had disappeared, and only Jeho’s touch consumed her. Yuri lifted her head and met Jeho’s eyes. In his dark eyes, as deep as an abyss, a fierce flame was slowly spreading, barely visible.

“I’m not seducing you right now.”

“I know.”

He said in a hoarse voice.

“It’s not you, but I who am seducing you.”

Whispering as if sighing, Jeho lowered his lips to Yuri’s neck.

Even as he said he was seducing her, he was careful. So careful that it was maddening. Perhaps he knew well how to seduce a woman. The more careful, the slower he was, the more impatient the other person would become, eventually making the first move.

His lips lingering on her neck gradually moved up, settling on her earlobes, cheeks, nose tip, and forehead. As if on purpose, he avoided her lips until the end. When she couldn’t stand it anymore and tilted her head to kiss him, Jeho softly laughed and turned his face to avoid her lips.

“Haa.”

Yuri involuntarily inhaled heavily, disappointed at not having what she wanted. Jeho cupped her face with his hands, letting her lean against his chest.

“You’re drunk. That’s why you’re acting like this.”

No, no! I’m not drunk.

Yuri buried her face in Jeho’s chest and shook her head vigorously.

Having decided not to marry Minwoo, her mind was clearer than ever. But Jeho didn’t seem to believe her. A subtle whiskey scent wafted from her body, and her face was flushed red.

As Jeho stroked her back as if to soothe her, Yuri lifted her head and glared at him.

“Don’t treat me like a kid. Don’t caress me like that.”

“Then what should I do?”

What? I hadn’t thought that far…

As she hesitated with her lips tightly bitten, Jeho let out a chuckle as if finding it cute. Yuri flared up at Jeho’s reaction that seemed to mock her. She grabbed Jeho’s hand and brought it back to her body. His brow furrowed at her bold action. But he didn’t remove his hand.

“You’ll regret it when you sober up…”

He warned as he casually stroked down her smooth skin.

“I’m not drunk.”

“Okay. Let’s say you’re not.”

Lowering his head, Jeho pressed his forehead against Yuri’s. Gently pressing her plump lips with his thumb, he whispered softly.

“Do you think I can go…”

He had only lightly pushed her shoulders with his hand, but Yuri’s back touched the sofa. Jeho smoothly climbed on top of her, trapping her in his arms and pressing down on her delicate body.

“How far do you think I can go here and now?”

A heated gaze poured down on Yuri’s face.