Engagement Ceremony

Yuri gaze lingered on the Rose Gold Hexagon Cut Moss Agate on his left ring finger, beautiful and as elegant as it was supposed to be the moment it was made and handed to him.

He shrunk in on himself, his hands still wrapped around his throat as he tried to breathe, but he found it hard to.

“This has to be a joke," he muttered under his breath, running his thumb over the ring. “I was shot..I was shot just now," he paused and checked his neck once again, his chest where he was shot and brought it to his face.

There was no sign of blood.

No gun shot wound, and…he ran his hands over his body…he wasn't in pain or sore anywhere.

Yuri placed a hand against his forehead. He was probably unconscious or was this what people who died see before death? He wondered now staring at nothing while a million thoughts ran through his mind.

Why did Gleb's fan attack him, and who was that who carried him?

Was he dead?

Unconscious?

‘Gleb,’ he thought. ‘Did he find my body? Oh God please no,’ he sank his face into his palms, ‘I’ll do anything, if you let me die like this I swear I won't complain, if not, just let him not find me.’

Yuri's mother, Hana Jang exchanged gazes with her husband before looking at her son, curled up in the corner of the room, clearly not okay.

She handed her purse and glass over to her husband and carefully made her way to Yuri's side. When she touched him, he flinched so bad she almost let out a sob.

“Honey!" She half yelled, gripping her hands. “What's the matter?" She asked, “You were really happy a few moments ago."

Yuri slowly turned to look at her, his gaze dark, clearly trembling. He looked at the man behind her like he didn't know who that was, then he suddenly asked.

“What's today's date?"

Hana Jang frowned slightly, but she didn't hesitate to answer. "It's fifth June.”

He shook his head, "I mean the year.”

Hana muttered her oh, her voice shaky when she replied then Yuri's eyes widened. He looked at the ring again and shuddered.

It was the day he agreed to marry Gleb.

His heart suddenly began racing as memories of everything that happened after this moment began to replay itself.

The maltreatment, giving up his career, submitting to Gleb and doing all his biddings until he became nothing more than a hidden house husband existing only to satisfy Gleb whenever he wanted. Not to mention Gleb's nasty fetish for torture.

His hands flew to his mouth when he gagged, tears rolling down his cheeks. Maybe out of relief and fear at the same time. He stopped trembling.

"Impossible.” He muttered, making Hana’s expression shift to worry once again. She looked at her husband for help and he simply shrugged.

The realisation of what had happened hit him so hard he nearly laughed.

He wasn't religious but for the first time in a long time he wanted to thank God for a second chance.

He suddenly snapped his head at his mother, and he smiled.

Six years after today she died in a plane crash after he complained to her about how Gleb treated him, and she tried to visit to find out, only to meet her end.

A smile suddenly found its way to his lips.

"Mom,” he called with a shaky voice as he wiped away his tears and the poor woman nodded eagerly, silently asking what he needed, “Why do you look so scared?" He asked, like he hadn't acted like he saw a ghost and collapsed a few minutes ago.

“W…What's wrong honey? You're scaring me" Hana managed to ask.

Was he going insane? It looked so, but she couldn't bring herself to ask.

“Did you see something? Do you want to go home?"

“I just suddenly felt sick," Yuri said quietly after a long silence, his voice was calmer now despite how pale he looked. "I just had a panic attack.”

Hana's expression softened instantly the moment he said that. She reached up and brushed his hair away from his forehead carefully and cupped his cheeks in her cold palms. "I understand, but please stop scaring your father and I like this," she said, wiping away the remaining tears under his eyes. "Why didn't you tell us you were stressed earlier?”

Yuri lowered his gaze for a moment. This reaction from his parents wasn't new, but nobody noticed when he was slowly falling apart with Gleb until it was too late.

He smiled faintly, “I didn't want to ruin tonight, I'm sorry.”

His father sighed from where he stood. He adjusted the cuff of his suit with visible impatience despite the concern in his eyes.

"If you're sorry, stop scaring your mother half to death,” he mutttered. “You looked like you were possessed earlier."

Hana immediately shot him a glare.

"What? I'm serious,” the man defended himself before looking at Yuri again. His expression softened just slightly. “If you feel unwell again, we're leaving immediately, Understood?"

Yuri stared at his father for a second.

It was funny how his father warned him and he just ignored him and eventually cut all ties.

Even when he tried to call for help, his pride wouldn't let him contact his father, and as they were of the same.blood, the old guy didn't contact him either.

He laughed softly then nodded. "I will, I appreciate it.”

His father exhaled, then he crossed the distance between them, patted Yuri's shoulder and patted the side of his face, before walking off toward the main hall, probably to deal with guests and business partners.

The moment he disappeared, Hana pulled Yuri into her arms.

The warmth nearly shattered him.

Yuri stiffened before slowly relaxing against her, his fingers trembling slightly as they gripped the fabric of her dress. Seven years. Seven whole years since he last felt this warmth. Seven years since he heard her voice without a coffin between them.

Hana personally helped him change into another outfit in one of the guest rooms upstairs. The black suit fit him perfectly, hugging his body without looking stiff. His mother adjusted the collar herself before combing his black hair back neatly with her fingers.

Yuri looked at himself in the mirror.

He looked alive, still young, without a scar from the man he called his husband and happy despite how shaken he had been earlier.

His gaze slowly drifted toward the ring again before he calmly lowered his sleeve over it.

When they returned downstairs, the grand hall was still flooded with music and voices. Crystal chandeliers reflected against black marble floors while expensive perfume and alcohol filled the air heavily enough to suffocate someone.

Gleb’s family really loved showing off their wealth.

As Yuri walked beside his mother, several guests glanced toward him discretely, probably curious about what had happened earlier.

An elderly woman he barely recognized suddenly stopped him near one of the pillars.

“Oh dear,” she said bluntly while staring at his face. “Are you alright? You looked absolutely dreadful earlier.”

Yuri blinked before laughing softly.

“I'm fine now,” he assured her politely.

The old woman looked unconvinced but eventually nodded before wandering off again.

Yuri exhaled slowly afterward and reached for a passing glass from one of the waiters.

Then another…

…and another.

Everything around him almost looked unreal now that he knew he had been granted a second chance. A part of him still couldn't fully believe he was standing here again.

His fingers tightened slightly around the glass, but he suddenly froze.

Near one of the private suites upstairs, the door opened slightly before two familiar figures stepped out.

Ethan, in a three piece beige suit and…

Gleb following closely behind him.