TN01

Episode 1

 

The moonlight began to settle beyond the window on this darkening night.

 

With no other lights except the moon, the shadows grew darker. Underneath them, Taeyoon and Seorin clung to each other, their lips intertwined in a deep kiss.

 

“Haa… Hoo…”

 

No matter how hard she tried to hold it in, faint moans escaped Seorin’s lips.

 

With every deepening kiss from Taeyoon, she felt her mind melt completely.

 

“Haa… That’s enough now.”

 

Seorin, struggling to resist, pushed against Taeyoon’s shoulder. At her feeble resistance, he let out a small chuckle and slowly backed away.

 

In the moonlight, his sharply defined, handsome features immediately caught the eye—straight nose, sleek jawline, and features so perfect they looked like they had been drawn.

 

He stared at her with searching eyes, his dark pupils boiling with an intensity that felt like they might devour her whole. Nervous, Seorin turned her head away.

 

Catching her breath, Seorin slowly began to speak.

 

“We shouldn’t be doing this. Chaehui is right outside…”

 

She felt like crying.

 

Today was the day his engagement was to be officially announced.

 

The TK Group and Ohsung Group were signing an MOU, and at the same time, announcing the engagement of their children.

 

Outside, a grand celebration was taking place.

 

Among the guests was Yoo Chaehui, surely wearing a radiant, peach-blossom smile.

 

It made sense—her long-time unrequited love had finally come true. She must be overflowing with happiness.

 

Little did she know that her fiancé, Taeyoon, was inside a room with another woman, locked in a heated kiss.

 

Seorin’s heart thudded in fear every time footsteps passed by just beyond the thin door separating them.

 

“Hurry, let’s go. If anyone sees us like this…”

 

Just as she spoke, Seorin clapped her hand over her mouth in shock.

 

Voices were coming from just beyond the door.

 

“…But where did Taeyoon go? I haven’t seen him at all.”

 

“Yeah, he hasn’t even been with Chaehui today…”

 

The conversation came from dangerously close, and Seorin’s eyes widened in panic.

 

They were looking for Taeyoon—the guest of honor had vanished, and people had grown suspicious.

 

Seorin’s heart pounded like thunder.

 

If someone were to find them like this…

 

The very thought sent a cold chill down her spine.

 

I have to get out of here.

 

I can’t let anyone see me with him.

 

She tried to pull away from Taeyoon, but he wouldn’t let her go.

 

On the contrary, he pulled her closer, pressing his body against hers.

 

Seorin looked up at him with a gaze that seemed to ask if he was seriously doing this right now.

 

Taeyoon smiled languidly and brought his lips close to her ear.

 

His low voice brushed her skin like wind.

 

“If you don’t want to get caught, kiss me, Eun Seorin.”

 

“Or should we show everyone what we’re doing in here?”

 

Despite the cruel and provocative words, his face remained breathtakingly beautiful.

 

It was cruel—that she could think such a thing, even now.

 

Taeyoon’s burning hand trailed up her back, and Seorin, overwhelmed, closed her eyes tightly.

 

Can I really endure this?

 

Can I watch him marry Chaehui, hiding all my feelings?

 

The dizzying sensations tingling beneath her skin and the suffocating helplessness seemed to swallow her whole.

 

But she had to endure.

 

If it meant getting Dongyeong Foods back, she would endure even more.

 

Seorin opened her eyes. They now gleamed with a different light.

 

Before Taeyoon could react, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips.

 

Seeing her take his lower lip gently between hers, his sharp eyes softened.

 

Seorin let out a quiet breath and slid her tongue between his lips.

 

A sticky sound echoed in the small space.

 

Their kiss grew deeper and wetter. Meanwhile, voices outside continued.

 

“Chaehui is impressive, huh? She managed to steal Taeyoon from that cold Seorin in the end.”

 

“The family difference is huge—Ohsung Group’s daughter versus the daughter of a failing food company.”

 

Their words slashed at Seorin’s heart, but she couldn’t stop.

 

For now, she had to meet Taeyoon’s demands.

 

By the time her lips had started to swell, the voices outside had faded.

 

As the danger passed, Seorin finally pushed him away and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

 

Her blouse was a mess, half undone.

 

“That’s really enough. Go back to Chaehui. Please.”

 

“Why should I?”

 

“What do you mean, why? You’re engaged to her now.”

 

In the darkness, his sharp eyes gleamed. A cold smirk curled on one side of his lips.

 

“You know I never wanted that.”

 

He let out a breath and slowly brushed her lips with his fingers.

 

As he messed up her swollen lips, he gave her a quiet smile.

 

“You’ve always been the only one I wanted, Eun Seorin.”

 

Even while smiling, he looked at her like he could eat her alive.

 

“Don’t think just because I’m engaged to Yoo Chaehui, I won’t have you.”

 

“If you don’t want people to find out about this, you’ll do what I say.”

 

With that, Taeyoon roughly tugged at her blouse.

 

Buttons popped off, revealing her pale shoulders.

 

He lowered his head to her skin and began to tease her roughly.

 

Wherever his lips touched, heat spread like wildfire.

 

No matter how much she resisted, he wouldn’t let go.

 

Seorin shut her eyes tightly.

 

She was still in hell. This place was filled with despair, with no escape.

—

I’m going to marry her when I grow up.”

 

Seorin’s first memory of Taeyoon was of a boy, slightly older than her, pointing at her and making that declaration.

 

His eyes were far too cold for a child, and his black hair glistened in the sunlight, messy and unkempt.

 

He was wearing a child’s formal suit, no doubt chosen by his mother, but his bowtie was rebelliously undone.

 

It was the day Taeyoon’s family had moved into her neighborhood and came over to greet her family.

 

Seorin stopped her pretend cooking with pebbles and blinked at him.

 

“Me? With you?”

 

“Yeah. Marriage.”

 

Young Seorin tilted her head in confusion.

 

She knew that her mom and dad had gotten married—but when and how exactly did that happen?

 

The word “marriage” was vague and unfamiliar to a five-year-old child.

 

Yet the boy in front of her, only three years older, looked so serious.

 

“My dad says promises aren’t something you make with just anyone…”

 

Seorin recalled something her dad once said and hesitated.

 

Even at her young age, she understood that a promise was something important.

 

Taeyoon stepped closer to her.

 

“Still, I want to marry you.”

 

“But…”

 

Seorin looked around, nervous that others were watching.

 

Nearby, their parents were watching the scene with amused eyes.

 

Taeyoon’s father laughed and said, “Seorin, why not say yes? If someone as pretty as you became my daughter-in-law, I’d be thrilled.”

 

Seorin’s mother, Suyun, joined in from the tea table.

 

“Yeah, Seorin, I’d be happy if it were Taeyoon.”

 

“But…”

 

Flustered by the adults’ teasing, Seorin opened her large eyes wide, unsure of what to do.

 

After a moment, she ran into her father’s arms and hugged him tightly.

 

The adults burst into warm laughter at the sight.