Chapter 4: Chapter 4

~Ye jun~

We got shoved together for the family shot. Mom on one side of her husband. Me and Si-woo forced to stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the other.

Si-woo’s hand landed on my shoulder.

Hard.

Fingers digging in like he wanted to leave marks.

I smiled for the camera. Big. Fake. Teeth gritted.

My hand found his at our sides out of sight.

I dug my nails in again. Deeper.

He leaned in just enough that only I could hear.

“Smile wider,” he murmured. “Wouldn’t want Mom to worry.”

I turned my head a fraction. Whispered back.

“Touch me again and I’ll scream right here that you’ve been working me to death for weeks.”

His grip tightened until I felt bone grind.

The photographer yelled, “Say cheese!”

We both smiled like we were in a toothpaste ad.

Flash.

Another one.

Another.

By the fifth I was shaking with rage.

Reception was worse.

Toasts.

Her husband stood up first. Said beautiful things about Mom. About new beginnings. About family.

Then he gestured to Si-woo.

“My son has something to say.”

Si-woo stood.

Glass in hand.

Looked right at me while he spoke.

“To a new family,” he said. “May we all… get along.”

People laughed. Clinked glasses.

I didn’t drink.

Mom nudged me. “Junnie, say something.”

I stood.

Legs felt like jelly.

Raised my glass.

“To Mom,” I said. “The woman who taught me you can survive anything. Even surprises.”

More laughter.

Si-woo’s eyes never left mine.

After the toasts they started pulling people for more photos.

Mom and the groom first.

Then “the boys.”

We got dragged to a quiet corner of the hallway for “candid” shots.

The photographer left to grab another lens.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Just us.

Si-woo rounded on me so fast I barely had time to breathe.

He grabbed my collar. Slammed me back against the wall. Not hard enough to bruise my back. Hard enough to make the air punch out of my lungs.

“If you breathe one word,” he hissed. Face inches from mine. “One fucking word about how I treat you at work. To my father and your mother. To anyone. I will make sure your mother never sees another day of financial security. I will ruin her. I will ruin you. Understand?”

His breath was hot on my face.

I stared back.

Heart hammering.

Then I laughed.

Low.

“You think threatening me is gonna scare me quiet?”

His eyes narrowed.

“I think it’ll keep you smart.”

I leaned in closer. Until our noses almost touched.

“You’ve been trying to break me for days . You failed. And now?” I smiled. “Now we’re family. So every time you try to destroy me at work, I get to come home and sit across the dinner table from you. Every holiday. Every birthday. Every fucking time Mom wants us to ’bond.’ You don’t get to escape me either.”

His jaw ticked.

I kept going.

“And that little sketch you left on your desk? The one with the ropes and the wrists? Yeah. I kept it. So if you ever come for my mom’s security or mine I’ll make sure everyone sees exactly what kind of ’Ice-Cold Devil’ you really are.”

His hand on my collar tightened.

For a second I thought he might hit me.

Instead he let go. Stepped back.

Breathing hard.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Kang Ye-jun.”

“Good.” I straightened my shirt. “I’m tired of losing.”

He stared at me like he was seeing me for the first time.

Then he laughed.

“We’ll see.”

He turned. Walked out.

I stayed there. Back against the wall. Chest heaving.

Laughed too.

Because what the hell else was there to do?

My boss was now my stepbrother.

The man who’d spent weeks trying to crush me was legally tied to my family.

And I had his dirtiest secret in my pocket.

I pushed off the wall.

Fixed my hair in the reflection of a framed picture.

Walked back into the reception smiling like nothing happened.

Mom waved me over.

“Junnie! Come dance with your new stepdad!”

I went.

Danced. Laughed at the bad jokes. Ate cake.

All while Si-woo watched from across the room.

Eyes dark. Promise in them.This wasn’t over. Not even close.

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