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THE EARLY ACCESS CHAPTERS WERE AVAILABLE IN STCKME!!

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"Moon?" The voice called her name softly, but she stayed still, her eyes locked on the paper in front of her. Her mother shook her shoulder gently, pulling her from her thoughts. Moon looked up to see her mother's apologetic smile.

"Come on, sign it," her mother said.

Moon glanced around the room. They were in the mansion's office. She was still in her pajamas from the night before, with a warm cardigan over her shoulders. The room felt cold and heavy.

Mr. Jeon sat behind a desk, looking serious. Jungkook sat beside him, his face expressionless and cold. Moon's brothers sat on a couch a bit farther away, their faces tense and worried.

Moon picked up the pen, her hand shaking. She looked at the marriage certificate in front of her, realizing that signing it would end her freedom. Her grip on the pen tightened as she fought back tears.

The room was silent except for the rustle of the paper and Moon's racing heartbeat.

With a deep, shuddering breath, Moon signed the certificate. The pen clattered on the desk as she let it go. Her shoulders drooped, and she felt a crushing sense of defeat.

Without a word, she stood up.

"I'll take my leave," Moon said quietly, her voice barely audible. She turned and began walking toward the door, not waiting for anyone to respond.

When Moon reached her room, she shut the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to steady her racing heart. The room was a blur as she stumbled toward the bathroom, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

Once inside, she slammed the bathroom door shut and locked it with a trembling hand.

Moon leaned against the bathroom sink, her reflection staring back at her through the fogged-up mirror. She turned on the faucet, letting the cool water run over her hands as she struggled to compose herself. The harshness of reality hit her in waves, each one more overwhelming than the last.

She splashed her face with water, hoping to clear the numbness from her mind. Her movements were automatic, driven by a need to escape the crushing weight of the room she had just left. The water trickled down her face, mixing with the tears she could no longer contain.

As she looked up at her reflection, the cold, hard truth of her situation was etched in her eyes. The girl in the mirror was no longer the vibrant, hopeful individual she had once been. She saw someone who had been broken by circumstances beyond her control, a mere pawn in a game she never wanted to play.

Moon sank to the floor, her back against the cold tile, pulling her knees to her chest. The reality of her future hit her with a force that made her gasp. Every part of her screamed for a way out, but there was no escape from the reality she was now bound to.

Minutes ticked by, stretching into what felt like hours

Suddenly, a soft knock on the bathroom door startled her. She looked up, her heart pounding. "Moon? Are you okay?" Her brother's voice was filled with concern,

Moon remained silent, unsure of how to respond. After a moment, she took a deep breath, managing to steady her voice. "I'm fine," she said, though the words felt hollow and unconvincing. "Just... give me a moment."

As the echoes of her brother's footsteps faded away, Moon slowly walked out of the bathroom and into her empty bedroom

just then, a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. The door creaked open, and a maid stepped inside. Her eyes were downcast, avoiding Moon's gaze as she spoke.

"Ma'am... everybody is waiting for you for the ring exchange," the maid said gently. She glanced up at Moon for a brief moment before looking away, The maid continued, "You need to dress up too."

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Moon's eyes met her mother's across the room, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of regret in her mother's eyes. It's all done now, what's the point of crying over it now? She was now fully Mrs. Jeon, a married woman. The marriage certificate she had signed this morning, followed by the ring exchange, sealed her fate. Till now, Jungkook hadn't said a single word to her.

Moon turned away, unable to bear the weight of her mother's gaze. She slipped out of the room and into the cool night air, silence in the quiet garden. The stars above seemed indifferent to her plight, their distant light a reminder of the vast, uncaring universe.

She wandered through the garden, the scent of blooming flowers a small comfort in the darkness. She hugged herself while eyeing the rose plants, walking slowly around the big garden where small fairy-like lamps lined the pathways.

Walking aimlessly, she sat near some small plants, brushing the petals of the flowers. Just then, she heard rushed footsteps. She slowly stood up and saw someone approaching her. The person was supposed to call her name but froze, breathless, as he saw her.

He immediately walked forward with such speed that she could not process what was happening. Before she could ask anything, he grabbed the back of her head and slammed his mouth on hers. Moon's mind raced, her body stiffening at the unexpected contact. She tried to push him away, but his grip was firm, his desperation evident. After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled away, his breathing heavy and ragged. His forehead pressed against hers as his eyes closed, and he sighed.

"Why?" she managed to whisper, her voice trembling.

"You were missing for an hour," he said simply, his voice low and strained.

Moon took a step back, trying to regain her composure. She had been out for an hour.

"Do you have any idea?" he asked, his grip tightening. "I...I had to fire those goddamn guards!"

Moon's heart pounded in her chest. She had no idea she had been gone that long.

"I..." she began, her voice shaky, "I wouldn't run. Don't worry, I will not thrash your name, Jungkook... I worry for myself too." She paused, meeting his eyes with defiance. "You don't have to show your fake concern here. Oh, you have to, don't you? As you will get your position for being the best son."

Jungkook's eyes darkened, his jaw clenching. "Fake concern? You think this is easy for me?" He took a step closer, his voice low and intense. "You think I wanted this? That I'm doing this for some title?"

Moon's eyes narrowed. "Aren't you? It's always about duty, isn't it? Being the perfect son, the perfect heir. Well, congratulations, you've won. You have me now, and everything else you wanted."

"Get inside the house now," Jungkook said coldly.

Moon's heart clenched at his tone. She turned to face him, her voice dripping with bitter sarcasm. "Oh, now I have to listen to you too? Oh yes, I suppose I do. After all, I have to listen to you for the rest of my life, don't I?"