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Chapter 1
Park Chanyeol, 27, is the third-generation heir, born into wealth, power, and the expectation of a family that built the business world in their image. His father, Park Sung-jin, is the ex-Regional Chamber President of Seoul (KCCI) and is currently serving as a non-standing Vice Chairman, Seoul Chapter (KITA). His older sister Park Yoora is married to the current regional chamber president of Seoul (KCCI). Chanyeol is a shrewd businessman. He handles Park Enterprises smoothly. One day, Chairman Sungjin asks to meet Chanyeol. Chanyeol knows the reason. Lately his father had been nagging him to get married. Chanyeol was sent on various blind dates, candidates carefully selected by his father in order to match their business plans. Chairman Sungjin was looking to expand his company and get more profitable contracts. Until now, none of the dates could get Chanyeol’s attention. So today’s call must mean another potential date set up by his father.
“Hope you are free this Saturday. If not, cancel everything. You are to meet Sehun at 8pm sharp at the St. Regis. Don’t be late. And Chanyeol, this is your last chance. Whether you like him or not, Chairman Oh and I have decided to go ahead with the wedding two months from now. So it will be a bonus if you can like the boy.”
And just like that, Chanyeol is dismissed from the chairman's study. He immediately calls up his secretary, Jongdae. Kim Jongdae, 28, was Chanyeol’s college senior. When Chanyeol took over the company, he personally asked for Jongdae. Luckily, Jongdae had an MBA in finance and business strategy, so a poor financial background wasn’t considered. Most importantly, Chairman Sungjin approved of Jongdae, saying he had loyalty, integrity, and critical thinking, which will help Chanyeol.
"Hyung, another one this Saturday. Sehun of Oh Enterprises. You know what to do.”
“Copy that. Chan, don’t worry, hyung has got your back," says Jongdae.
“I am counting on it.”
By that night, Jongdae gives him the details. Oh Sehun, 24, is the only son of Chairman Oh of Oh Sejong Enterprises. An art student who graduated from the New York School of Arts, Sehun was the owner of the famous art gallery OaOa in Hongdae. Chanyeol has been to OaOa once for an exhibition. They deal with only original work, which sells for millions of won. The dossier had few pictures of Sehun. Now he understood why he was his father’s choice. Young, rich, good-looking, and old money.
Chanyeol meets Sehun on Saturday. The conversation seemed awkward at first but turned pleasant later. Sehun looked divine in person. Calm and composed, he will be a perfect partner for Chanyeol.
“Do you have anything to say?” asks Chanyeol.
“Nothing much. I hope our partnership is fulfilling for both our families.” Sehun smiles softly. Chanyeol likes him. I mean, what is not there to like, thinks Chanyeol? He gets back home and calls his father and asks him to go ahead with the wedding.
“Really? I knew it. Sehun is a sweet boy. I liked him instantly. Your mother and Yoora like him too," says Chairman Sungjin.
“Dad, so I was the last one to meet him, was it?”
“Ah, Yoora was visiting us when we were talking to Chairman Oh. That’s all.” Chanyeol knew he wouldn’t get any further information.
"Oh, you need to come to my office on Monday. There are few papers that need to be signed. Good night, son. You did well.” And that was the closest to praise Chanyeol had received from his father recently. Wondering what would be the paperwork, Chanyeol goes to sleep.
Monday morning:
Chanyeol is greeted lovingly by the staff and personnel of the Chairman’s office. He is asked to wait for the chairman, as he was just finishing up with a deal.
“Sir, these are the papers you need to sign. The chairman, sir, asked me to give them to you while you waited for him. Do you need anything else, sir? "Coffee? Drinks?” asks Secretary Minseok. He served as his father’s secretary for the last 12 years. He was a sweet but efficient man, trusted most by his father, and has always been a strong supporter of Chanyeol.
“No thanks, hyung. You don’t have to wait on me," says Chanyeol.
“Okay sir. I will leave you to it. Call me if you need anything else.” Minseok quickly disappears. Chanyeol goes through the papers. It’s a contract with the Oh group. They were planning for a mega deal, a merger. The Oh family had the ports. They had cash. Merging meant a win-win for both. Shipping, tech, and real estate would make them the number one family in the business world. The contract stated that with their marriage, they get access to exclusive deals. Chanyeol also read the terms and conditions. The penalty clause especially caught his attention. If either family backed out, they would owe ₩300 billion in damages.
So without thinking much about it, Chanyeol signed on the dotted line. He didn’t love Sehun. He agreed because his father ordered it. Duty to the family name came first. It was his job as the third-generation heir. He had to protect his family. When Chairman Sungjin finally came out, Chanyeol handed over the signed contract.
“I really didn’t expect you to agree this easily. Thank you, son.” The chairman then hugs him. Chanyeol hugs his father back. He could feel all the tension ease out of his father’s body.
“I am glad I could help Dad.”
Later that night, Chanyeol asks Jongdae to have a drink with him.
“So just like that, you agreed to get married?” asks Jongdae.
“You know me hyung. I can never say no to Dad.”
"Yes, always the filial son, but Chanyeol, this is your life. Will you be able to live with Sehun for the rest of your life? Build a family? A future?”
“Yes. I can and I will.” answers Chanyeol confidently.
Two months later on the wedding day:
Chanyeol is waiting at the altar for Sehun to walk down the aisle. Even after 30 minutes, there is still no sign of him. The guests have arrived and are anxiously waiting, whispering. He sees his parents and the Ohs having a heated argument. Chanyeol turns to his best man, Yixing, but he shakes his head with no clue. He then looks at Jongdae, who leaves his seat to gather what’s happening. He returns after 15 minutes with an ashen face and a chilling piece of information.
“Sehun has run away," Jongdae whispers in Chanyeol’s ears.
Chapter 2
Chanyeol looks at his parents. He sees his father trying to sit down. His mom, sister Yoora, and brother-in-law Youngmin help him. Chanyeol then looks at the guests whispering loudly. Most of them are business partners and foreign clients. Very few friends and family. His best man Yixing, college mates Suho and Kyungsoo, and of course Jongdae hyung and his father’s secretary Minseok hyung. As for family, other than his own, his mother’s brother, Uncle Heechul, and his wife and children were invited. Minseok hyung was on the phone and was probably calling their family doctor, Dr. Choi Minho. He looks around the wedding hall aimlessly, trying to gather his thoughts, and that’s when he sees him, sitting there, in the third row, dressed in all black like it was a funeral. Byun Baekhyun. The only son and heir of the multi-million-dollar Byun empire. Their arch rivals. His personal nemesis. The Byuns were on the guest list. Not because the Parks like them but because not inviting them would seem obvious. Baekhyun is there because their family is invited to all business events and celebrations.
Chanyeol looks at him closely. He finds it odd that Baekhyun looks back at him seriously, as if trying to say something to him. He expected Baekhyun’s smirk, which had always gotten to him in many board meetings over the last five years. Even a smile, but he got a poker-faced Baekhyun instead. Before he could react, Jongdae grabbed him, asking to join his parents inside the dressing room. Minseok hyung introduced the MC to the guests. Chanyeol walks into the room anxiously. His father was seated holding a glass of water. Yoora was wiping his face and fanning him. His mother was in tears, and his brother-in-law Youngmin was on a phone call.
“Sir, Doctor Minho will be here in another 20 minutes as we speak," Jongdae says to Youngmin. He nods okay and continues to talk. Chanyeol tries to talk to his father, but Yoora takes him aside.
“Sehun. Hmm. He had left a letter for his father. It seems Sehun had a boyfriend for 3 years. They knew but never approved of him because of his poor background. Sehun had been fighting all this while. The only way he could escape his family was to agree to this marriage," sighs Yoora.
“So he chose love over family.” whispers Chanyeol.
Youngmin comes over and pats his back.
"Chanyeol, we have a bigger problem. I have been talking to Mr. Lee. We have to prepare to pay the penalty fees since Mr. Oh is refusing to pay. He is saying we helped Sehun in his elopement.”
“What are you saying, hyung? That’s ridiculous. Where are they? Where is the family? I will talk to him.” Chanyeol is furious.
“They left right after Dad fainted. "Mr. Lee should be here any minute," consoles Youngmin. Chanyeol looks at his father, who is pale and weak. Dr. Minho walks in with Jongdae and Minseok hyung. He starts checking him. After a few minutes, they decide to take Chairman Sungjin to the hospital anyway. Chanyeol’s father refuses to go.
“We cannot cancel the wedding. We will not only lose money but also our reputation.” Sungjin says weakly.
"Dad, don’t worry, we will figure out something.”
“No. Already the gossip has spread. The stocks are crashing. Share prices have fallen, and channels have picked up the news.” He urges.
“How do you know?” Chanyeol looks at Jongdae. Minseok hyung shows him the tab.
Youngmin quickly switches on the TV and flips through the news channels. Everyone is talking about the disaster.
“Dad, let’s go to the hospital. We will definitely do something. I will fix this.”
“You still can. Baekhyun is out there, isn’t he? Call him in.” Chairman Sungjin asks Secretary Minseok to bring Byun Baekhyun inside.
"Dad, no. No way am I going to marry him.”
“You said you would fix this. He’s the only one who can fix this.”
Chairman Sungjin grabbed his arm, his voice low. “The Byuns sent a proposal. If we agree, they will instruct Baekhyun right now.” He nodded toward the back. Baekhyun was already there, leaning against the door, like he had been waiting to be called in. All eyes turn toward him.
“Baekhyunssi, marry my Chanyeol now. Only you can save us.” Sungjin is almost in tears. Seeing his father’s distraught face, Chanyeol is both angry and upset.
Baekhyun walks up to him, holds the Chairman’s hand, and says, “I will. Promise me you will go to the hospital right after the ceremony.” His voice is calm. Chanyeol doesn’t know how to react, but by then Mr. Lee, their family lawyer, arrives. He pulls him and Youngmin aside and updates them about his father’s wishes.
"Wait, are you telling me Dad wants me to marry Baekhyun right now? He has already spoken to Chairman Byun about this?”
“Yes sir. I was asked to draw a new contact for both of you to sign so that the wedding can happen today.”
"Chanyeol, sign it. We are running out of time," says Sungjin.
Chanyeol looks at Baekhyun, whose face is still unreadable. Baekhyun reaches out for the papers first and signs. He then hands them over to Chanyeol. Trusting their lawyer, Chanyeol blindly signs on the dotted line.
"Okay, it’s done, sir," announces Mr. Lee.
"Minseok, get everything ready. Let’s get them married now.” Chairman Sungjin starts walking outside towards the altar. He is followed by Mrs. Park, Yoora, Dr. Minho, and secretary Minseok.
Youngmin and Jongdae are waiting for Chanyeol and Baekhyun to follow.
“What about your parents?” asks Youngmin.
“They are on the way, hyung. I texted them. Should be here in 45 minutes. By then we will be halfway through the ceremony.” Baekhyun walks out.
Youngmin looks at Chanyeol, who looks at Jongdae, who stares at him back. They are speechless. Both walk out. Chanyeol follows quietly. The walk to the altar didn’t feel real to him. Chanyeol’s legs carried him, but he wasn’t feeling them. He saw Baekhyun standing beside the priest. The organ played, but the music was cotton in his ears. The guests were blurry figures. The only thing in focus was Baekhyun, standing confidently in his black suit, sharp-eyed, and sober. Chanyeol wanted to stop. To turn around. To wake up, but his body kept moving. Step after step, delivering him to the one man he never thought he would marry. When his lips formed “I do,” the voice sounded alien to his ears. Like it belonged to someone else and not him. They quickly exchanged rings, and soon it was over. Chanyeol felt nauseous, so he excused himself and ran to the restroom. Inside, after splashing his face with the cold water, he looked at his reflection and saw a ghost staring at him.
“What have I done? I am married to Byun Baekhyun. God help me.” Chanyeol says loudly to himself.
When Chanyeol comes out of the restroom, secretary Minseok and Jongdae are waiting for him outside.
“Sir, you need to get ready for the reception. We have exactly 45 minutes before it begins," says Minseok.
"Hyung, I want to meet Dad. Where is he?” Chanyeol pleads. Both Minseok and Jongdae look at each other. Minseok decides to help Chanyeol and goes against the Chairman’s wishes.
“Right this way, sir. I must warn you; he is in a fragile condition. Both Dr. Minho and Mr. Lee are with him.” Minseok leads the way to the guest room upstairs. Jongdae whispers to Chanyeol that the Byuns are also with the Chairman and Mrs. Park.
“The man doesn’t wait for anything, does he?"
“Sir, I think you have to play it by ear today. We cannot worry the Chairman further," replies Jongdae.
“Yes sir. I agree with Jongdae. Dr. Minho wanted the chairman to get admitted tonight, but sir refused it. He wants to attend the reception.”
Chanyeol furiously gets into the elevator.
“One more thing, sir. The reporters will be waiting outside. Before the reception begins, you have to appear for the press release with Mr. Byun Jr.," says Jongdae.
“Call him Baekhyun hyung. Byun junior sounds stupid.” Chanyeol smirks.
“You know I cannot do that. Here we are.” The elevator opens on the 4th floor to the guest suites. Minseok had already made it inside to announce Chanyeol’s arrival.
"Ah, there you are. Why aren’t you getting changed for the reception?” asks Chairman Sungjin. Dr. Minho had just finished a few checks on him and was writing them down on his notepad. Only Mr. Lee and Youngmin were present besides Minseok, Jongdae, and him.
“Dad, I want to talk to you. Please. Just a few minutes.”
"Alright," Chairman Sungjin agrees. After everyone leaves, Chanyeol pulls his chair closer to his father.
“Tell me what’s going on. Dad, how did you suddenly ask me to marry that guy? I want the whole truth. Please.”
Chapter 3
Chairman Sungjin tells him about how once they, the Parks and the Byuns, were close friends. President Park, Chanyeol’s grandfather, and President Byun, Baekhyun’s grandfather, wanted their children and grandchildren to marry. Everyone in both families had agreed to the union and was preparing for Chanyeol’s aunt, Sungjin's sister, and Baekhyun’s uncle’s wedding. Two weeks before the wedding, Baekhyun’s uncle called off the wedding. He refused to reason and even disappeared from home.
“My sister was pregnant. She had hidden it from us because of the wedding. She couldn’t abort the baby because she was late, so she decided to end her life instead. They couldn’t find Junho, Baekhyun’s uncle. Rumors say he has changed his name and is living somewhere in the Middle East.” Sungjin wipes his tears. “Your grandpa asked me to forget the past and arrange for you to be married to Baekhyun to end our enmity, but I couldn’t. Now we have no other option. They are the only ones who can afford to bail us out. So accept the truth. Forget the past. I heard that Baekhyun is more like his grandfather than his father. Give him a chance. Now go get ready. I will see downstairs in half an hour.”
Chanyeol is processing the whole family feud thing while changing his clothes. He wonders how he will pull through the ‘happy couple’ act with Baekhyun beside him for another two hours. At the reception, he finds Baekhyun as the perfect groom. Charming, calm, and friendly. They mingle with the guests perfectly as if they were meant to be there. Chanyeol was running on autopilot, giving polite, one-word answers. Finally, when the last guests leave, Chanyeol realizes it's time to go home, but where is home? Since they are married, they have to live together to pretend to the world. They fake their marriage is going good to the family and friends but not to the world, especially the media and the press who are camped outside the wedding hall, their family homes, and both their houses. That’s what Jongdae told him. Secretary Minseok takes them to meet the Chairman in the guest room upstairs.
"Dad, how are you feeling now?” asks Chanyeol. Chairman Sungjin is sitting on the chair, and next to him is Chairman Byun. Both their mothers are sitting beside each other. Sungjin asks them to sit down on the couch opposite him. Baekhyun sits really close. There is no space for Chanyeol to move. He tries to ignore his proximity.
Sungjin clears his throat. “I am fine, but I will be admitted in the morning just for a routine checkup. Nothing to worry about. We called you to give you your wedding gift. As this wedding had been organized suddenly, we were not able to discuss much. Since both your apartments will be closed, monitored by the media and press due to the nature of this wedding, we have bought you a new house. It’s a penthouse apartment with four bedrooms and the works. Minseok will give you all the details.”
“You must be tired. Take a rest now. Chanyeol, welcome to our family, son.” Chairman Byun offers his hand. Chanyeol walks over stiffly but smiles at him softly and bows. Before he knows it, he is engulfed in a bear hug. Chairman Byun seemed nice, nothing like what the street made him out to be. Baekhyun too joins him and hugs both sets of parents. When they come out of the room, Minseok is standing with a package along with a new person.
"Sir, this is house paperwork," says Minseok.
“Ah Taemin, did you bring the dossier? Thanks.” Baekhyun addresses the man. He turns and looks at Chanyeol. “This is Lee Taemin, my secretary. We will see him often as Minseok hyung or Jongdae hyung.” Baekhyun introduces softly. Taemin smiles cutely at him.
Chanyeol nods at both of them. Something about Baekhyun calling the secretaries "hyung" hits him. He doesn’t expect respect from him towards his staff. Once inside the car, on their way to the new penthouse, there was an eerie silence. Baekhyun doesn’t look at him. He just stares out the tinted window, his cufflinks catching streetlight as Seoul blurred past. The silence was worse than the organ music. Just as Chanyeol was getting used to the silence, another folder slid across the leather seat. Baekhyun’s doing. His voice was empty.
“Please sign this when you’re ready.”
Chanyeol flipped it open. He found divorce papers inside. Everything was written, and it was even signed by Baekhyun already. That was quick. Baekhyun was on the upper hand now with the divorce papers. Chanyeol’s laugh came out broken.
“So this is your game? The paper shook in his hand. “One year. Play house with me while you gut my family, then throw me away. Just like your uncle played with my aunt? Chanyeol barks.
Baekhyun’s head snapped toward him. For a second, something raw and wrecked flashed in his eyes. Then it was gone, replaced by that cold CEO mask Chanyeol hated.
“No. It’s not a game. This is necessary.” Baekhyun looked away again. “One year together. We make public appearances. Protect your name. Revive your business. After that, you walk away. No money. No assets. No me. Nothing tied you. You will be free," says Baekhyun. Chanyeol couldn’t see his face. Free. The word "tasted" like blood. Chanyeol wanted to scream that he hadn’t been free since Sehun had vanished from the wedding hall.
“You think a single signature fixes this?" he spat. “You think that after all these years I will believe a Byun’s promise?” asks Chanyeol.
Baekhyun said nothing. He was silent till they reached their new house.
Once inside the apartment, Chanyeol quickly explored while Baekhyun stood out in front of the balcony.
“I have chosen the bedroom on the left. Feel free to choose from the three and let me know so that I can avoid it.”
Baekhyun doesn’t answer. He quickly finds the nearest bedroom and walks inside and shuts the door. Chanyeol walks to his room and undresses to take a warm shower. His phone keeps buzzing. Jongdae had sent a few articles and news alerts. When he opens it, it reads, “#ParkByunWedding. #ChaebolShock. #SehunRunawayGroom. As expected. Chanyeol then tries to search articles for "Byun heir, Park heiress suicide." The first article loaded. 17 YEARS AGO: BYUN HEIR JILTS PARK HEIRESS — SHE TAKES HER LIFE. His aunt’s smiling graduation photo stared back at him. Chanyeol’s chest cracked open. He thinks to himself, “History repeats," his knuckles white around the phone. Byuns use parks. Parks die. That’s the tradition. And I just married the new head of it," he thought. Chanyeol couldn’t sleep afterwards.
The next morning:
Chanyeol wakes up early, showers, and gets dressed. He finds Baekhyun in the kitchen, busy. He has already made himself at home, thinks Chanyeol. Next, he finds two mugs on the counter. One black coffee, no sugar. The other, light, two sugars, exactly how Chanyeol drank it. Wow, how did he know? Chanyeol ignored it. He put his phone on the marble island, screen up. It displayed the article with his aunt’s face.
“Is this your family tradition, Byun Baekhyun?” His voice was cold. “Use us? Watch us die? Am I supposed to be the next one after the year is up?” He asks. He sees Baekhyun stand still. The color drained from his face until he looked like paper. Like a ghost. Baekhyun opened his mouth. Closes and swallows slowly. Then, barely a whisper. “I’m not my uncle, Chanyeol.” He didn’t defend himself. Didn’t explain anything much. Baekhyun just set the coffee mug down, picked up his keys, and walked out. The main door clicked shut. Chanyeol stood alone in the quiet penthouse, the smell of cedar and freshly brewed coffee choking him. He was right. He had to be right, because if he were wrong about Byun Baekhyun, then he had just condemned the only man who had ever tried to save him.
Chapter 4
Three weeks later:
Chanyeol and Baekhyun continue to live in their penthouse as strangers. Within the privacy of their home, they each had their own separate routines, which they followed strictly. But when they were in public, they behaved like typical newlyweds. The shy smiles, subtle glances and touches, and answering or completing other’s sentences. No one would ever guess that it was all a show. Chanyeol and Baekhyun were quite popular as a couple. In a week, they would attend award shows, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, speeches, and press meets. Whenever they went, there was always a crowd waiting to meet. And of course the reporters had a field day clicking their pictures, which sold for a high price. All the popular magazines had their pictures either as a cover, a middle page, or a three-page article. Baekhyun was charming and chirpy, while Chanyeol was calm and composed in their appearances. As the noise grew outside of their union, at home there was complete silence. Baekhyun makes coffee how Chanyeol likes it, light, with two sugars, every morning. Chanyeol just pretends not to notice. They remain invisible to each other behind closed doors.
Chairman Sungjin asks Chanyeol how his married life was. He sounded concerned.
“All well, Dad. We are getting to know each other," assures Chanyeol.
“Good. Your mother asked me to invite both of you home for dinner. She said she will see you both soon. Yoora and Youngmin will be there too. It will be a perfect family dinner," says Chairman Sungjin.
"Okay, Dad. I will wait for Mom’s call. We will come.” answers Chanyeol. Perfect family. There was nothing perfect about his life and partner, but he didn’t tell his father. Mrs. Park soon calls them over, and they spend a Saturday night having dinner at the Parks'. Baekhyun was the perfect son-in-law and brother-in-law. He was attentive, friendly, and polite. He listened to Mrs. Park's day at the ladies' club, to Yoora’s cooking class disasters, and to Youngmin’s stock market tips. With Sungjin, he shared stories about his grandfather’s later days. To an outsider, Baekhyun was the perfect missing puzzle to their family, but to Chanyeol, it seemed like he was learning the weaknesses of his enemies.
Later that night after they returned to their penthouse and went to their rooms, Chanyeol heard Baekhyun having a heated argument with someone while he walked past his bedroom to go to the kitchen. He saw the time on the wall clock, and it read 1.05 am. One sentence caught Chanyeol’s attention. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop.
“I know I have lost the OH group merger, Father. I got the numbers right in front of me.” He paused. Chanyeol stood rooted to his spot outside the door.
"No, I am not going to apologize. Not for what happened with Sehun. Not even for Chanyeol.” More pause. Chanyeol could hear his heart beat louder. What had he done for Baekhyun’s father to ask him to apologize?
“Go ahead. Cut me off from the will. Disinherit me if you want. I can’t stop you, can I?” Another pause, but this time there was a click of a call ending. Chanyeol was curious about the conversation now. He was in two minds about whether to knock on the door and ask Baekhyun what was happening and why he talked about him to his father or just ignore everything and pretend he didn’t hear the conversation. Some part of him kept telling Chanyeol that Baekhyun was in trouble with his father because of Sehun and Chanyeol. He didn’t want to believe that Baekhyun chose him over his family.
A week later, Chanyeol had taken a day off to go through some pending paperwork and prepare for next week’s client meetings. As usual, he woke up, showered, dressed, made himself a nice breakfast, ignored Baekhyun’s coffee left for him, and sat in the study with the documents. After a while, he took off his reading glasses and stretched himself when the doorbell rang. He thought it must be Jongdae with more papers to sign, as he was expecting him, so he did not check the camera and opened the door. He was staring at Sehun. Oh, Sehun, his fiancé. His almost husband. Sehun looked handsome and glowing. Hair a little longer, falling into his eyes that weren’t scared anymore. He wasn’t alone. Standing behind him, hand locked in his, was a taller, equally handsome guy with chiseled features and a model-like face. Both were dressed well, and they made a gorgeous-looking couple. Chanyeol assumed it was Sehun’s boyfriend.
“We need to talk. Could we come in, please? It is about Baekhyun hyung too. You are wrong about him. About everything.”
Hearing Baekhyun’s name out of Sehun’s mouth, Chanyeol’s body stiffened.
Chanyeol says, “No. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Leave.”
“Please hear me out. Just five minutes. Not more. "We are not leaving till you listen," says Sehun. Chanyeol wants to push him away and shut the door in his face, but instead he steps aside and allows them to enter. They walked in and promptly sat down on the sofa. Chanyeol sits on the opposite side. He watches how they are still holding hands.
“Talk. You have five minutes.” Chanyeol says rudely.
Sehun takes a deep breath and narrates their love story. “This is Kim Kai, my boyfriend and now my husband. We met four years ago at an art gallery and were secretly dating, as my father found out and didn’t approve. Kai works for Baekhyun hyung as his art curator. He is educated and earning well but comes from a modest family background. His father was a school teacher, now retired and living on his savings. His mother is a housewife, and his older sister is married off. They have their own house too. About a year ago, I found out that my father was arranging for a contract marriage. With you. I tried to escape. I ran away. Got caught twice. Then one night, I was going to jump off the Han River bridge, but Kai found me.”
Chanyeol flinched. He could feel Sehun’s desperation and pain.
“The marriage was set. The contract was signed and the wedding date was announced. I couldn’t stay still. I had to do something. I chose death, but Kai told me to live. He asked for time. My dad came with an ultimatum after the wedding date announcement. He threatened to ruin Kai’s life and his family if I ran away again.”
“And that’s when I decided to go to Baekhyun hyung for help," says Kai. He continued, voice low, “Because I knew. Everyone at Byun Group knew. Hyung has been in love with you, Chanyeol-ssi, since college. He told me that he met you at the fresher’s party the first time and fell in love before he knew that you belonged to the Park group.” Kai pauses. “For the last ten years. He has your photo in his desk. Just… to look at.” The air left Chanyeol’s lungs. 10 years. A decade and he had no idea.
“Baekhyun hyung told me that if I marry you, it will be a loveless life. He didn’t want me to marry someone I didn’t love. That’s why he asked us to run away. He said to agree to marriage and run on the wedding day so that my dad will not be prepared to hunt us down. He assured me that he will bear the consequences. And nothing will happen to you. All this while we were under his protection and got married legally.”
Sehun continued, “His father cut his shares by 60% the day I ran. Baekhyun told him that he refused the Oh merger himself. He told the whole board that he would rather be poor than be like his uncle.” The room tilted. Chanyeol grabbed the armrest. Every moment replayed in his mind. Baekhyun’s hand hovering at his back, the divorce papers: "I'm not my uncle, Chanyeol.”
“He knew that my father would refuse to pay the penalty fees,” Sehun whispered. “He told me that if you had to marry anyone in this situation, it would rather be him than anybody else." He would never hurt you. He would save your life, your money, and your family business rather than let an outsider ruin you," Sehun finishes.
Chanyeol couldn’t speak. He couldn’t breathe.
"Chanyeol," Sehun moved closer. “He didn’t ruin you. He spent ten years loving you from a distance because of your aunt’s death, which put a wall between the Byuns and the Parks. He thought if he told you of it, you would never believe him. So he saved you the only way he knew, without ever asking to be yours.”
Chanyeol was silent. Rooted in the couch.
Then Kai gave Chanyeol a small package.
“This is a USB. It has everything in it. Security footage. From the bridge. That night he gave us passports. From the day he signed away his shares. Watch it. Then decide if you still think he is like his uncle.” Then they left. Leaving Chanyeol devastated and broken.
Chapter 5
Chanyeol didn’t watch the USB. He need not. His world tilts. Byun Baekhyun, whom he thought was the villain, was actually his savior. All this while he was led to believe that Baekhyun was just like his uncle. He married Chanyeol to finish what his uncle started: destroy a Park. Chanyeol thought Baekhyun had helped Sehun to elope so that he could take revenge for their family feud. But the truth hit hard. Baekhyun had helped Sehun run, because he knew that Sehun and Kai were in love and that Sehun tried to end his life under family pressure. Baekhyun had saved two lives. He had married Chanyeol because he had been in love with him since their college days and couldn’t watch him get ruined. He married to save his love. He chose Chanyeol over his father’s plan and lost 60% of his inheritance for it. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to confront Baekhyun. He looks at the time. It was past midnight. He heard Baekhyun come in. He heard him open and shut the fridge and then the balcony door. Chanyeol moves.
It was raining. Baekhyun was there. Out there, sipping from a soju bottle. He looked tired and beat. He didn’t look up when Chanyeol stepped outside.
“Go back inside, Chanyeol. You will get sick.”
“You idiot,” Chanyeol choked out, rain soaking him in seconds. “You are an absolute idiot. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Baekhyun laughed. It was an awful sound. Like holding in ten years of grief.
“Tell you? He took a swig and didn’t look at Chanyeol. “Tell you what? That I have loved you ever since I saw you at the fresher’s party, when we both were only 17 years old? Tell you that I had your schedule memorized because I would ‘accidentally’ run into you at the library?” Baekhyun pauses. The rain hit his face, but he didn’t blink.
“Your aunt died because of my family. My uncle’s sin. I swore I would never be him. So I loved you across boardrooms and newspapers. Because if I got close, I thought…” His voice broke. “I thought I would kill you too.”
Chanyeol took a step. Then another gets closer. “No. You didn’t.”
“I almost did." Baekhyun’s hands shook.
Baekhyun took a deep breath. “At the altar, Chanyeol. You looked like her. Your aunt. Like you would rather die than marry me. Like you were already a ghost. And I realized." He slams the bottle down. It didn’t break. “I realized that I would rather have you hate me alive than love me dead. So I gave you a way out. The divorce papers. One year. I thought if I could just get you out of the wedding hall and pay the damn penalty fees, you would live. Even if it was without me.” The truth hung between them, heavy as the storm. Chanyeol thought of the last ten years. He thought about his hatred for Baekhyun, which was never really hatred. He thought about the man standing in front of him who had burned his own life just to keep him breathing.
“I have spent my whole life hating the name Byun,” Chanyeol whispered. “Without even knowing that I was hating the very man who had been loving me all the while.”
"What?" Baekhyun finally looked at him.
Chanyeol crossed the space between them in two strides. He then grabbed Baekhyun’s face. Filled with rain and tears, he didn’t know. He didn’t care.
“I am not my aunt,” he said, fiercely. “And you are definitely not your uncle. We are just us, Baekhyun. Just a Park and a Byun who were plain stupid for a whole decade. Chanyeol then kissed him. It wasn’t soft. It was angry. Desperate. A decade of what-ifs and too-lates poured into one breath. Baekhyun froze for half a second. Then his hands fisted in Chanyeol’s wet shirt like he was drowning, and he kissed back. Like he had been waiting his whole life for this single moment.
“You don’t have to." Baekhyun gasped when they broke apart.
“Shut up." Chanyeol pressed their foreheads together.
“I’m not doing this for the cameras. See it’s just us. And I am not doing it for our families or the businesses. I am doing it because you are an idiot who made my coffee right for three weeks while I hated you.
Baekhyun’s laugh was sob this time. He buried his face in Chanyeol’s neck. “Two sugars.”
“Yes. "Two sugars,” Chanyeol confirmed, arms locking around him. “You are an absolute idiot. "Oh, what am I going to do with you for the rest of our lives?” Chanyeol kisses him again. He carries Baekhyun to his bedroom and shuts out the door and the outside world.
One year later:
It was the same venue. The same hall. It had the same decorations too. Golden balloons and bright and beautiful fresh flowers. Yet there was a huge difference. The hall was filled with joy, love, happiness, and laughter. Real and genuine. Chairman Sungjin looked at the couple dancing in the middle of the dance floor. He grumbled into his champagne. “Told you the Byuns were trouble. Look at him. He’s got my son whipped.” Mrs. Park just laughed. Chairman Byun, who was right next to him, snorted. “At least mine knows how to keep a park. Unlike some people." They clinked glasses. Peace through mutual insults.
In the corner, Sehun and Kai were dancing. Married for over a year. Sehun was heavily pregnant, and his due date was any time, but he wouldn’t miss Baekhyun hyung’s party. Kai was being careful not to hit Sehun’s pregnant belly.
And in the middle of the dance floor were Chanyeol and Baekhyun. No cameras. No performance. No reporters. Just them, swaying to a song that wasn’t for anyone else.
“Divorce papers expired last week, Park,” Baekhyun murmured, lips at Chanyeol’s ear. His hands were finally, finally allowed to hold. “Looks like you are stuck with me. Legally. Forever.” Chanyeol rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. He hadn’t stopped for a year.
"Good," he said, pulling Baekhyun closer until there was no space left between them. “I was going to tear them up anyway. And it’s Byun-Park now. Get it right.”
Baekhyun’s eyes softened. All of their CEO masks were gone. It was just him and Chanyeol. The boy who had chosen to love his rival for ten years and finally won him over with a sacrifice.
“I love you,” Baekhyun said. It was easy now. Like breathing. Like he had been waiting to say it to him since he was 17.
Chanyeol’s answer was to kiss him. In front of their families and friends. In front of Seoul. In front of the ghost of a feud that died the second Baekhyun chose love over legacy. The feud ended not with a war, but with a Byun who loved a Park more than he hated their history. And for the first time in years, Park and Byun meant family and not rivals.
The End