Chapter 27:

Scarlet's car pulled up in front of the grand estate, and she exhaled, gripping the steering wheel tightly before stepping out. She already knew what awaited her inside, more judgment, more belittling, more of Ha-joon's family treating her like an outsider. But she refused to be intimidated. She had dealt with worse.

Pushing the doors open, she walked in, her heels clicking against the marble floor. The atmosphere inside was thick with tension. Ha-joon was sitting in the sofa room with his father, Mr. Wi, and his older brother, Sung-hoon, who was lazily watching the scene unfold like it was some evening entertainment.

Across the room, in the open kitchen, Mrs. Wi and Mrs. Kang were preparing tea, their hushed whispers stopping the moment they noticed Scarlet.

Mrs. Wi turned around immediately, her expression darkening as she stormed toward Scarlet.

"How mannerless," she sneered. "How ill-mannered! Your in-laws are here, and you just left without a word to go to the office?"

Scarlet barely had time to react when another voice chimed in from behind.

"그녀는 언제나 이렇게 예의가 없었습니다."(She was always this mannerless.) Mrs. Kang, Ha-neul's mother, added with a scoff. "너 오기 전부터. 그녀는 가족을 소중히 여기지 않아."(Even before you came. She doesn't value family.)

Scarlet clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay composed. She had expected this, expecting them to twist her dedication to her career into a personal attack on them. Before she could respond, Ha-joon suddenly stood up, his chair scraping harshly against the floor.

"Will you all please shut the fuck up?" his voice thundered through the room, startling everyone. A heavy silence fell over them. Even Sung-hoon, who had been watching with mild amusement, finally looked interested.

Ha-joon's eyes were ablaze with frustration as he glared at his mother and aunt. "I've been watching this ever since you people arrived. You've done nothing but berate either me or my wife. What the hell is your problem?"

Mrs. Wi gasped, utterly scandalized. "Our problem?" she repeated in disbelief. "We are your family! And look at how you're talking to us because of this woman?"

Ha-joon scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "This woman is my wife! The woman I chose to spend my life with! And what have you all done since the moment you arrived? Insult her, belittle her, act like she doesn't belong here, like she's some outsider in our own home! 여러분 모두 그녀를 외부인처럼 대하는 것을 멈추시기 바랍니다." (Will you all please stop treating her like an outsider.)

Mrs. Kang clicked her tongue. "그녀는 '외부인'이기 때문입니다. 그녀는 우리 가족을 존중한 적이 없습니다. 그리고 지금 그녀는 당신도 우리를 무시하게 만들고 있어요."(Because she 'is' an outsider. She has never respected our family. And now she's making you disrespect us too.)

"That's rich coming from you," Ha-joon snapped. "Respect? Where was your respect when you stood here and gossiped about her? Where was your respect when you dismissed everything I felt my whole life? You think you deserve respect when you've never given it?"

Mrs. Wi crossed her arms, her face hardening. "We have every right to be upset. You married her without our approval..."

Ha-joon let out a bitter laugh. "Approval? You think I needed your approval? Let's be honest here, if I had asked for your permission, would you have ever let me marry her?"

His mother pursed her lips but said nothing. Ha-joon shook his head, his jaw tightening. "Exactly. You would have never allowed it. You would have found a thousand excuses, just like you always do, to control my life. Just like you did when I was growing up. Just like you did when you treated me like I was never enough. You wanted to choose everything for me, who I should be, how I should live, who I should love."

He took a deep breath, his voice dropping slightly, but the anger in his eyes didn't fade. "I was done living like that. That's why I didn't ask for your permission. That's why I chos* her."

Mr. Wi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Watch your tone, Ha-joon," he warned. "She is still your mother."

Ha-joon let out a cold chuckle, turning to face his father. "Oh, so now you want to play the father card? Now you care? Where was this fatherly concern when I spent my whole life feeling unwanted? Where was this energy when you treated Sung-hoon Hyung as your real son and made me feel like I was just an afterthought?"

Sung-hoon, who had been silent the whole time, smirked but didn't say a word, enjoying the show. He didn't want to argue right now, meanwhile he was burning deep within.

Ha-joon clenched his jaw. "You always made it clear, Father. That no matter what I did, no matter how much I succeeded, I would never be good enough for you. Because I wasn't Sung-hoon hyung."

Mr. Wi's face darkened. "That's not true..."

"It is true!" Ha-joon roared. "And you know it! Don't stand here and lie to me when we both know how you treated me growing up. You never asked if I was okay. You never called me just to check on me. You never congratulated me on my achievements! Nothing!"

His voice broke slightly, but he pushed through. "But when Sung-hoon Hyung so much as breathes, you act like he's the most important person in the world!"

Sung-hoon frowned and looked at him, he was in a good mood to argue or beat the fuck out of him. He scoffed as he said, "So now if you got nothing to cry about, you're going to play the step brother card? Intresting."

Mrs. Wi immediately came to her husband's defense. "That is not true! We love both of you equally!"

Ha-joon's laugh was cold and hollow. "Equally? You're really going to stand here and say that with a straight face?" He shook his head in disbelief. "You never treated me the same way you treated Sung-hoon hyung. And let's not even pretend like I'm imagining things, because I know Sung-hoon hyung knows it too."

Sung-hoon raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening but still refusing to comment. Mrs. Kang sighed dramatically. "제가 말하고 싶었던 것은 바로 이거예요. 스칼렛은 당신을 당신의 가족에 반대하도록 세뇌했습니다..."(This is exactly what I meant. Scarlet has brainwashed you against your own family...)

"Enough!" Ha-joon snapped. "Stop blaming Scarlet for your own faults! She has done nothing wrong! You just hate the fact that she's not someone you approved of. That's what this is really about."

Mrs. Wi took a deep breath, trying to regain control. "Ha-joon, we're only saying this because we care..."

"No," Ha-joon interrupted. "You don't care. You just want control. But I'm done letting you control me. I am not the weak little boy you used to manipulate. I have built a life for myself, a successful, respected life, and I did it without you."

He turned to Scarlet, his gaze softening for a moment before looking back at his family. "And Scarlet? She has stood by my side when none of you did. She is my wife, and if you can't respect her, then you don't respect me either."

Mrs. Wi opened her mouth to argue, but Ha-joon cut her off with one final sentence. "If you can't accept the woman I love, then you don't deserve to be in my life."

A heavy silence followed. Sung-hoon finally stood, stretching lazily. "Well," he said with amusement, "that was quite the show." he walked closer to Ha-joon dangerously that he stepped back a little.

He hold him by his coller and looked straight in his eyes, before saying. "This was the first and the last time I heard you speak against me. Or comment on so much of a thing I do." he moved closer to his ear, enough for him to listen. "I won't sit back and listen quietly. Consider yourself lucky that you're in front of your wife."

"Enjoy your fucking family evening." sung-hoon breath out. Then, without another word, he walked out. Mrs. Wi looked like she wanted to cry, while Mr. Wi's expression darkened in fury. But Ha-joon didn't care anymore.

Without waiting for their response, he turned to Scarlet, taking her hand. "Let's go."

***

The construction site was a whirlwind of activity, workers moving around with materials, supervisors shouting orders, and the constant sound of drilling and hammering filling the air. It was supposed to be a sign of progress, of the future, but to Ha-neul, it felt like nothing more than chaos.

His hands were clenched tightly into fists as he walked through the half-built halls of what would soon be his luxury hotel. The massive structure had already taken form, tall glass windows, marble flooring, and intricate architectural details. He had spared no expense in making this the most extravagant hotel in Paris. But right now, he couldn't see the beauty in it.

All he felt was frustration. Boiling, suffocating frustration.

"Are you all blind?!" he suddenly snapped, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. The workers around him flinched, pausing what they were doing. Ha-neul stormed towards one of the construction supervisors, his face dark with anger.

"I told you I wanted the pillars perfectly aligned! Does this look aligned to you?" He pointed furiously at a section where the pillars seemed slightly off by a mere few centimeters. It was barely noticeable, but to Ha-neul, it was everything.

The supervisor, a middle-aged man with a nervous expression, swallowed hard. "Sir, we followed the blueprint exactly, but..."

"No excuses!" Ha-neul roared. "Do it again! I don't care how much time it takes, I want it done right!"

The man bowed quickly before hurrying off, shouting instructions to his team. Ha-neul let out a sharp breath, rubbing his temple as he turned to look at another section of the site. His gaze landed on a group of workers who were taking a small break, drinking water and chatting quietly. His blood boiled.

"What the fuck are you all standing around for?" he shouted, making the workers freeze. "Did I say you could rest? Do I look like I'm running a fucking vacation resort here?"

One of the younger workers stammered, "S-Sir, we've been working since dawn without a break, we just..."

"Then work harder!" Ha-neul snapped, stepping forward until he was towering over them. "I don't care how tired you are. I'm paying you to get this done quickly, not to sit around like lazy bastards. Get back to work in 30 mins or get the hell out!"

The men quickly nodded, and Ha-neul felt no satisfaction in it. Only more rage burning inside him. His hotel was progressing fast, perhaps faster than it should have. The land he had purchased already had a structure in place, which made it easier to remodel and transform. But instead of feeling proud of how quickly things were moving, he only felt more agitated.

Nothing was enough. Nothing was right. And he knew exactly why. Scarlet. That name alone was enough to send another wave of anger crashing through him.

He had loved her. He still loved her. And last night, when he found out that she was married to Ha-joon, it had felt like his entire world had collapsed.

It didn't make sense. How could she have married someone else? How could she have married his own cousin? How has he never realised before falling in love with her? Had he just been a fool all along?

His hands trembled at his sides, and his vision blurred slightly. He hadn't slept a single second since last night. He had spent the whole night pacing, drinking, trying to make sense of what he had learned, but there were no answers.

Just unbearable pain. He turned towards another section of the construction site where the contract workers were going over the design details. The moment he spotted them, his rage erupted again.

"What now?!" he barked, making them all flinch.

A middle-aged contractor stepped forward cautiously. "Sir, we need your final approval on the modifications to the ballroom area. There are some structural challenges with the..."

"Figure it out yourselves!" Ha-neul growled. "Why the fuck am I paying you people if I have to do everything myself?"

The contractor hesitated. "Sir, we just need..."

"Enough!" Ha-neul cut him off. "I don't want to hear any more useless excuses! I told you I want this hotel finished fast! Do whatever the hell you need to do, but I don't want any more delays!"

The workers exchanged nervous glances before quickly nodding. "Yes, sir."

Ha-neul clenched his jaw and turned away, his breaths coming out ragged. His own voice was beginning to give out from all the shouting, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered.

As he walked past the site, his head spun, his heart pounding erratically. He felt like he was suffocating, like there was something inside him clawing to break free. His whole body was shaking, and for the first time, he wasn't sure if it was from anger or something much worse.

Then, suddenly, he couldn't take it anymore. Without thinking, he turned sharply, walking away from the workers and into a quiet, secluded corner of the site. He leaned against the cold, unfinished wall, gripping his chest. His breathing was erratic, his fingers digging into his shirt as if trying to rip out the pain lodged deep in his heart.

"Why? Why did it have to be her? Why did it have to be Ha-joon hyung?" he asked himself.

A strangled sound escaped his throat, and before he could stop it, hot tears slid down his face. Ha-neul never cried this much. He hadn't cried like this in years. But now, standing there alone, away from the eyes of his workers, he felt completely broken.

He had spent the entire day lashing out, cursing people, finding faults in everything, but the truth was, the problem wasn't them. The problem was him. His heart was in pieces, shattered beyond repair. And no amount of anger could put it back together.

He wiped his face roughly, inhaling sharply. He couldn't fall apart like this. Not here. Not now. With a deep, trembling breath, he straightened, forcing his expression back into its usual cold mask. He wasn't going to let this destroy him. But one thing was certain. Ha-neul had lost Scarlet. And that realization was more painful than anything he had ever felt before.

***

Ha-Joon pulled Scarlet up the stairs, his grip firm but not forceful. He didn't say a word, his jaw tight, his shoulders tense. Scarlet followed without resistance, still trying to process everything that had just happened downstairs. The confrontation had been long overdue, but she hadn't expected it to escalate this much.

As soon as they entered their bedroom, Ha-Joon slammed the door shut. Before Scarlet could say anything, she felt herself being pulled into his arms. She gasped softly at the sudden impact, her body stiffening. Ha-Joon's arms were tight around her, his face buried in her shoulder.

His breathing was heavy, uneven. For a long moment, Scarlet stood frozen, her heart hammering in her chest. Then, slowly, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around him, returning his embrace. Ha-Joon exhaled deeply, his hold tightening.

He didn't speak, didn't move. He just held her, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go. Scarlet felt the warmth of his body, the way his heart pounded just as fast as hers. She closed her eyes, resting her chin on his shoulder, letting him take whatever comfort he needed from her presence.

After what felt like forever, Ha-Joon finally backed away, just enough to look at her. His eyes were stormy, filled with a mix of emotions, anger, frustration, and pain. But most of all, there was gratitude. He lifted a hand and cupped her cheek gently, brushing his thumb across her skin.

Then, without a word, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Scarlet's breath hitched. It wasn't a passionate kiss, not one filled with desire. It was something much deeper, something that held quiet affection, trust, and an unspoken promise.

"Thank you," Ha-Joon murmured against her skin. "For standing by me."

Scarlet shook her head slightly. "No," she whispered, looking up at him. "I should be thanking you. You stood up for me, Ha-Joon. No one has ever done that before."

His jaw tightened. "They had no right to treat you like that."

"They never approved of me," Scarlet said softly. "And maybe they never will."

"Then they don't deserve to be in my life," he said without hesitation.

Scarlet felt her heart clench. It wasn't easy for him to say that. No matter how difficult his family was, they were still his family. But tonight, he had chosen her. And that meant everything.

She reached up, placing her hand over his. "We'll be okay," she whispered.

Ha-Joon looked at her for a long moment before nodding. "Yeah," he said quietly. "We will."

***

In her bedroom, Mrs. Wi sat on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling in her lap. Tears streamed down her face, hot and endless. Her own son. Her own flesh and blood. How could he do this to her?

She had given him everything, raised him, guided him, and taught him how to be the man he was today. And yet, when the time came to choose, he had chosen that woman. A woman who had brought nothing but disgrace into their family. A sob escaped her lips as she buried her face in her hands.

Sung-Hoon sat across from her, watching in silence. He said nothing, just sat there, his expression unreadable. He didn't try to comfort her. He didn't even look particularly surprised.

Mr. Wi sighed, placing a gentle hand on his wife's shoulder. "Yeobo..." he said softly. "Don't cry. Ha-Joon is just... upset."

Mrs. Wi jerked away from his touch, her eyes flashing with anger. "Upset? He disrespected me! He humiliated me in front of everyone! For that woman!"

"She's his wife," Mr. Wi said carefully.

"She is nothing!" Mrs. Wi spat. "She is a disgrace! A stain on our family! And I swear..." she gripped the bedsheets tightly "...I will make their married life hell."

Sung-Hoon, who had been silent until now, finally let out a breath and stood up.

"Do whatever you want," he said, his tone bored. "But don't involve me or my wife in this."

Mrs. Wi looked at him sharply. "Sung-Hoon..."

"I don't care," he said flatly. "Ha-Joon thinks I'm his stepbrother? Fine. Then I am." His lips curled into a bitter smirk. "I won't waste my time on a filthy bastard who can't respect me."

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving Mrs. Wi to drown in her own fury.

***

Ha-Joon finally pulled away completely, running a hand through his hair. He was still tense, still on edge, but there was something softer in his eyes now.

"Are you okay?" he asked, studying her closely.

Scarlet nodded. "Are you?"

He let out a small, humorless laugh. "I don't know." He sat on the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his head in his hands. "It's just... exhausting."

Scarlet sat beside him. "I know."

He turned his head slightly to look at her. "I don't regret it, though," he said firmly. "I don't regret defending you. I never will."

She reached out and intertwined their fingers. Ha-Joon stared at their joined hands for a moment before squeezing hers gently.

"No matter what happens," he said quietly, "we're in this together."

Scarlet gave him a small smile. "Together."

As they sat there, hand in hand, they both knew that this was only the beginning. His family wouldn't back down. The war had only just started. But for now, just for tonight, they allowed themselves this moment of peace.