1. The proposal

As I step out of my office building, my cellphone pierces the silence with its ringing tone. I glance at the screen, noticing my boss's name flashing. Quickly, I answer, "Hello?"

"Lee Yongju, get here now!" Designer Joe barked gruffly.

"But... it's lunchtime," I replied hesitantly.

"You've got a pressing issue with the President Director! Move, now!" she urged impatiently.

"What's going on?" I asked, alarm rising in my voice.

"Just get here, now!" she snapped, her tone icy and urgent.

I sigh, feeling pressured. "Fine, I'm coming."

As the call drops, I spin around and sprint back to the HK Group building, despite lunchtime being far from over. My frustration boils over — Designer Joe constantly disrupts my breaks for trivialities. Doesn't she know I'm starving? Why must she prioritize this minor issue now?

What's the real emergency?

-o0o-

I sit uncomfortably across from President Byun and his wife, Mrs. Byun, in Designer Joe's office. Their piercing stares unsettle me, filling the room with an oppressive silence. Every second ticks by like an eternity, intensifying the tension.

"President, she is Lee Yongju, my assistant," Designer Joe said, nudging me forward.

Forcing a polite smile, I stutter, "H-hello, I'm Lee Yongju, pleased to meet you, Sir and Ma’am."

President Byun's piercing gaze lingers intensely on Designer Joe before she exits, enveloping us in an oppressive silence. I sense impending doom looming over us. The room's tension builds, each ticking second feeling like an eternity. Anxiety grips me, leaving me apprehensive about what's to come.

"Miss Lee?" President Byun's voice startles me.

I swallow hard, composing myself. "Yes, Sir?"

"What are your parents' names?" he asked, his eyes piercing.

I'm bewildered. "What's this about, Sir?"

My mind is racing, frantically seeking answers to the shocking inquiry that hangs precariously in the air. Is my mistake catastrophic, a calamity waiting to unravel? Does it entwine the company's finances, threatening to upend our very foundations? Why have the President and his wife converged, their united front foreboding an ominous reckoning?

I'm taken aback by President Byun's piercing stare, as if I've committed an unforgivable sin. His intense gaze bores into my soul, suffocating me with an unbearable weight. The tension is palpable, heavy with anticipation.

"What's your father's occupation?" he demands sternly.

Feeling interrogated, I protest, my voice trembling, "Sir, I'm not dating your son... There's been a terrible misunderstanding. I don't understand why you're implying this.”

President Byun bursts into laughter. "I know! Just answer me."

Composing myself, I reply, "My father was Lee Kangju, my mother, Min Hari. Both passed away. Please, don't involve them." I force a nervous smile, desperate to defuse the situation.

President Byun's expression softens briefly upon learning of my parents' passing. His gaze lingers, as if searching for vulnerability. Then, he quickly regains composure, his stern demeanor reinstated.

"I'm sorry, Miss Lee Yongju. Please read this confidential document. Discretion is essential."

He hands me a yellow document. After brief goodbyes, they exit.

"She's prettier than in the photo, right?" Mrs. Byun whispers, her voice fading behind the closing door.

I can hear the President's wife speaks before they disappear behind the door. But . . . the photo? What is that mean?

-o0o-

I enter the hospital room, seeing my younger brother, Dongju, lying helplessly. His face is pale, eyes closed, and body connected to various tubes and bandages. My heart aches witnessing his condition.

"Dongju, when will you wake up?" I whisper, holding his cold, limp hand. No response.

Overseas treatment is his last hope, but I'm drowning in debt. I've borrowed from banks without collateral. Friends I asked for help have disappeared. HK Group rejected my loan request due to unpaid debts.

I feel desperately alone, hopeless, and heartbroken. Tears well up thinking about my brother's fate. I'm unsure what to do next. All I can do is pray and hope for a miracle to save him.

As I retrieve the document from the President Director, I feel a mix of fear and relief. Scanning the pages, my anxiety fades – no termination or collection notices. Then, my gaze falls on a startling word: "marriage."

I feel a shiver run down my spine. "Am I reading this right?" I whisper, incredulous. Exhaustion and stress must be clouding my judgment. I reread the passage, hoping for a misinterpretation. But the word remains.

"This can't be!" I exclaim, my voice laced with dismay. The room seems to spin, plunging me into a surreal nightmare.

My eyes widen in horror as I contemplate the proposal: marrying Byun Baekhoon, the President Director's son. Rumors swirl that he prefers men, making our union a sham.

Yet, the President Director's offer tantalizes me – a life of luxury, financial security, and crucially, medical treatment for Dongju's illness, all expenses paid.

My mind wrestles with moral dilemmas: can I feign marital bliss for my brother's sake? Does this Faustian bargain worth the emotional toll?

Dongju is still closed tightly. His face is pale like a corpse. Very weak. I bow down helplessly.

Rejecting this offer would make me selfish, disregarding Dongju's well-being. Accepting it means I'll compromise my values, sacrificing personal integrity for the President Director's family reputation, ensuring my brother's recovery, and securing his future.

Yeah, that's all. Just for Dongju. "Dongju, you should heal and live a normal life," I muttered with determination.

I should take this opportunity. Instead of being in debt, it's better to work part-time with a high salary, right?

-o0o-

I must endure and accept my fate. Life feels empty, devoid of purpose. My younger brother's worth surpasses mine; he's my everything. He's the only family I have left. I'll never forgive those who nearly took his life, leaving me with unbearable grief and isolation.

One dream's coming true: marriage. But it's far from perfect. I'm forced into a loveless contract with a stranger man. I struggle to believe he's a man; his captivating beauty offends me. As a woman, I feel insecure, overshadowed and intimidated. His charm weakens me, making me doubt my worth. I fear failing his expectations.

For my beloved brother's sake, I'm willing to sacrifice everything: my happiness, my dreams and my dignity. To save his life, I'll reluctantly become Byun Baekhoon's wife, a charismatic and enigmatic man notoriously known for his extravagant nightlife, same-sex preferences and captivating beauty that defies conventional norms.

The media relentlessly covers every aspect of his life, scrutinizing his each move, and every colleague gossips about him in a mix of awe and disdain. Some colleagues gossip maliciously, calling him "abnormal" or "unacceptable," revealing their deep-seated prejudices. Yet, others can't help but admire his stunning beauty, captivating charm and undeniable elegance that transcends conventional boundaries.