Chapter 33:

Scarlet stormed up the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest as anger and sadness warred within her. She pushed open the door to her room, slamming it shut behind her. Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her face, breathing heavily.

The argument downstairs had drained every ounce of her energy. She had known her mother would react this way, but she hadn't expected it to be this bad. The endless cycle of blame, the accusations, the bitterness, it was suffocating.

Her fingers curled into fists as she let out a sharp, broken breath. What was so wrong about the choice they had made? Even if their marriage wasn't built on love, even if it was fake, did that give their parents the right to tear them apart like this? Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. But then the door opened.

Ha-Joon. He stepped inside without hesitation, closing the door behind him. His expression was unreadable, but the concern in his eyes was unmistakable. He had followed her. Of course, he had. Scarlet turned away from him, biting the inside of her cheek as she walked toward the bed. She refused to look at him, refused to show the weakness clawing at her chest.

But then he spoke, his voice softer than she expected. "Scarlet."

That was all it took for the dam to break. She let out a strangled sob, pressing her hands against her face as her shoulders shook. She hated crying. She hated showing weakness. But right now, she couldn't stop it.

Ha-Joon sighed and walked toward her. He didn't say anything as he reached out and gently pulled her hands away from her face. Her eyes were red, her cheeks wet with tears. She looked at him helplessly, frustration and pain written all over her face.

"They keep blaming each other," she choked out, her voice raw. "What's so wrong about us getting married? Even if it's fake, and even if it's not how they wanted it... does that mean they get to act like we did something horrible?"

Ha-Joon didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his touch impossibly gentle.

She shook her head, her voice cracking. "It still hurts, Ha-Joon. It still hurts that our parents, our own parents, are crossing lines they shouldn't. It's like they don't even care how we feel about all of this. It's not about them. It was our choice. And they can't even respect that."

Ha-Joon exhaled slowly. "They're just..." He paused, searching for the right words. "They're stubborn. They've had their expectations for us for so long that anything outside of it feels like betrayal to them."

Scarlet let out a bitter laugh. "That's not an excuse for the way they talk to us."

"I know," he said softly. "And you're right. It's not fair. But that's just how they are."

Scarlet clenched her fists, more tears spilling down her face. "I hate it."

Ha-Joon sighed. He stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Scarlet stiffened at first, but then she let herself sink into his warmth, her head resting against his chest.

"I hate it too," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Scarlet squeezed her eyes shut, her body still trembling. "Then why does it feel like we're the only ones suffering?"

Ha-Joon rubbed small, soothing circles on her back. "Because we are."

Her breath hitched.

"But that doesn't mean we'll break," he continued. "Let them scream, let them fight. Let them say whatever they want. None of it changes the fact that we made this decision, and we're standing by it."

Scarlet tightened her grip on his shirt. "But for how long? How long until it gets worse?"

Ha-Joon was silent for a long moment before he finally said, "As long as it takes."

Scarlet looked up at him, her vision blurry with tears. "What if it never stops?"

Ha-Joon gazed down at her, his dark eyes filled with something she couldn't quite place. Then, without warning, he reached out and wiped her tears away with his thumb. His touch was warm, grounding.

"Then we deal with it together," he said. "You're not alone in this, Scarlet. You never were."

A shaky breath left her lips. She wanted to believe him. She needed to believe him. But the weight of their parents' words still lingered in her heart like poison. Ha-Joon seemed to sense this. Without letting go of her, he carefully guided her toward the bed. "Lie down," he murmured.

Scarlet blinked at him. "What?"

"You need to sleep."

She shook her head. "I can't..."

"Yes, you can," he interrupted gently. "You're exhausted. You've cried enough for today."

Scarlet hesitated, but the exhaustion in her bones was impossible to ignore. Slowly, reluctantly, she let Ha-Joon pull back the covers and help her lie down. She expected him to leave after that. But he didn't. Instead, he sat beside her, reaching out to brush his fingers through her hair. The gesture was so soft, so unlike him, that it caught her off guard.

"I'm not leaving until you sleep," he said simply.

Scarlet swallowed, staring up at him. His expression was unreadable, but there was a quiet determination in his eyes. She let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes. She didn't think she'd be able to sleep, not with everything that had happened. But with Ha-Joon's fingers threading through her hair, his presence grounding her, her body slowly relaxed.

Minutes passed in silence. Then, just as she was about to drift off, she felt the bed shift. Ha-Joon had moved beside her. Scarlet barely had the strength to react. And as sleep finally claimed her, she found herself hoping, just hoping, that maybe, just maybe, tomorrow would be a little easier.

***

Scarlet stirred awake, feeling an unusual warmth around her. It took her a moment to register the steady rise and fall of a chest beneath her cheek, the faint scent of Ha-Joon's cologne lingering in the air. Her body was snug against his, one of his arms draped around her waist in a loose, almost protective hold.

Her breath caught. For a second, she didn't move. Her mind raced, trying to process the unfamiliar intimacy of their position. They had gone to sleep with distance between them, but sometime during the night, she had ended up in his arms.

Scarlet swallowed hard, her heart pounding against her ribs. Carefully, she shifted, trying to slip out of his hold without waking him. But the movement made him stir. His grip tightened for the briefest second before his eyes fluttered open.

She froze. Dark, sleep-heavy eyes met hers, and for a moment, neither of them said a word. Then, realization dawned in Ha-Joon's gaze. His brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't pull away.

Scarlet cleared her throat, pushing herself up quickly. "I... I should get ready."

Ha-Joon blinked, still half-asleep. Then, with a lazy stretch, he sighed. "Yeah."

She didn't wait for him to say anything else. Practically scrambling out of bed, she rushed toward the bathroom, her heart still racing.

***

By the time Scarlet made it downstairs, dressed in an elegant beige blouse and a fitted black pencil skirt, the tension in the dining room was almost suffocating. She didn't need to look twice to know that neither her parents nor Ha-Joon's parents were speaking to each other.

The silence at the breakfast table was thick, the only sounds coming from the occasional clink of cutlery against porcelain. Scarlet sighed internally, bracing herself as she took her seat.

Esme and Seung-Il weren't at the table, most likely still upstairs after last night's scare. Ha-Neul sat quietly at one end, his expression unreadable as he sipped his coffee. Across from her, Aaira was sitting beside Sung-Hoon, casting Scarlet a sympathetic glance.

Mrs. Rogers, Scarlet's mother, broke the silence first. Her sharp eyes flicked toward Scarlet. "You look tired," she remarked, her tone laced with disapproval. "Didn't sleep well?"

Scarlet picked up her spoon, stirring her coffee. "I slept fine."

Her mother scoffed. "I doubt that. With the kind of stress you've brought upon yourself, I wouldn't be surprised if you're losing sleep."

Scarlet tensed but kept her expression neutral. "I manage."

"You manage?" Her mother's tone was incredulous. "Scarlet, do you even realize what you've done? This marriage..."

"Is done," Scarlet cut in, keeping her voice calm. "It's already happened, Mother. There's no point in repeating the same conversation over and over again."

Mrs. Rogers narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare use that tone with me, young lady."

Scarlet inhaled deeply, gripping her fork. "I'm not trying to argue. I just don't see the point in discussing this anymore."

Mrs. Rogers shook her head in exasperation. "You think this is over just because you don't want to talk about it? You still have responsibilities, Scarlet. Marriage isn't a game, especially not one you enter without informing your parents."

Scarlet clenched her jaw. "I understand my responsibilities perfectly."

Her mother's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then start acting like it."

Across the table, Ha-Joon's mother, Mrs. Wi, who had been ignoring the conversation, finally spoke... but only to Ha-Joon.

"Are you going to the company later?" she asked, pointedly avoiding any eye contact with Scarlet.

Ha-Joon barely glanced at her. "I have work at the company with Scarlet."

Mrs. Wi's expression tightened, but she said nothing. Instead, she focused on cutting her toast with slow precision. Scarlet felt a pang of irritation. So she wasn't even going to acknowledge her?

The atmosphere at the table remained strained. Scarlet continued eating in silence, refusing to rise to her mother's provocations. But inside, a dull ache settled in her chest. No matter how strong she tried to be, it still hurt, this coldness, this endless disappointment in their eyes.

Ha-Joon, sitting beside her, must have noticed. He reached out under the table, giving her hand a quick squeeze before pulling away. It was brief, barely noticeable, but it was enough. Scarlet took a steadying breath. Once breakfast was over, Scarlet and Ha-Joon stood up together.

"We'll be leaving now," Scarlet announced, adjusting her blazer.

Her mother merely nodded stiffly. Mrs. Wi didn't even look up. Scarlet exhaled and turned toward the door. As she stepped out, she felt Ha-Joon place a light hand on her lower back, guiding her toward the car.

The moment they were seated inside, Scarlet finally let out the breath she had been holding. She leaned her head back against the headrest, closing her eyes for a moment.

"You okay?" Ha-Joon asked, starting the engine.

Scarlet let out a dry laugh. "I'm used to it."

Ha-Joon didn't respond right away. He simply pulled out of the driveway, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel. After a moment, he said, "You don't have to be."

Scarlet opened her eyes and turned to him.

He kept his gaze on the road, his jaw tight. "Just because you're used to their attitude doesn't mean you have to keep tolerating it."

Scarlet sighed. "And what do you suggest I do? Cut them off?"

Ha-Joon didn't answer immediately. Then, with a shrug, he muttered, "If it keeps your peace intact, maybe."

Scarlet let out a small scoff. "That's easy for you to say. You barely speak to your own parents as it is."

Ha-Joon gave her a sideways glance. "Exactly. And my life is much quieter because of it."

Scarlet shook her head, but a small, tired smile tugged at her lips. As much as Ha-Joon could be infuriating, at least he never sugarcoated things. The rest of the drive was quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

Scarlet focused on the passing scenery, her mind still replaying the morning's conversation. No matter how strong she acted, she knew the weight of her mother's words would linger. But for now, at least, she had work to focus on. And for now, that was enough.

***

The sleek black car rolled to a slow stop at the gates of Silken Crimson Threads, but before Ha-joon could pull in, the sight ahead made both Ha-Joon and Scarlet widen their eyes in horror.

A massive crowd of reporters, photographers, and news anchors had gathered outside the entrance, their cameras flashing like relentless lightning. Hundreds, no, thousands, of media personnel filled the front of their company, a sea of microphones, recording devices, and frenzied reporters yelling over each other.

Scarlet's grip on her purse tightened. "This... this can't be happening."

Ha-Joon let out a sharp breath, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel. "How the hell did they even find out?"

The headlines on some of the camera screens and signs the reporters held up said it all:

"BREAKING: SECRET MARRIAGE BETWEEN SILKEN CRIMSON THREADS' CEO AND CHAIRMAN!"
"SCARLET ROGERS AND WI HA-JOON - SECRETLY MARRIED FOR HOW LONG?"
"BUSINESS PARTNERS OR A HIDDEN LOVE STORY?"

For a moment, they both considered leaving, driving away and avoiding the madness altogether. But even as Scarlet glanced at Ha-Joon, they both knew running wouldn't help. They had to face it.

"How long are we going to run?" Scarlet muttered, exhaling shakily.

Ha-Joon's jaw clenched. "We're not."

With that, he stepped out of the car. Scarlet inhaled deeply, her fingers trembling slightly as she followed him. The moment their doors opened, the storm erupted. A deafening wave of voices crashed upon them as the reporters swarmed forward, cameras flashing wildly.

"Mr. Wi! Ms. Rogers! Is it true?!"

"Why did you keep your marriage a secret?!"

"How long have you been married?!"

"Is this an arranged marriage or a love marriage?!"

"Did your families know?!"

Scarlet kept her expression neutral, even as the chaos pressed in around them. Ha-Joon placed a steady hand on the small of her back, guiding her carefully toward the entrance. But the questions kept coming, a relentless barrage of curiosity, speculation, and accusations.

"Why didn't you disclose your marriage to the public?"

"Is this a business merger rather than a real marriage?"

"Did you two only marry for professional reasons?"

Scarlet clenched her fists, her pace quickening. Ha-Joon, beside her, kept his composure, though his usual calm expression had darkened.

"Were you two secretly dating before getting married?"

"What about past relationships? Ms. Rogers, weren't you previously rumored to be involved with someone else?"

Scarlet's steps faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. Ha-Joon's grip tightened slightly against her back, a silent reassurance.

" Wi Ha-Joon, how did your parents react? Were they supportive?"

"Ms. Rogers, is it true that your family is against this marriage?"

"Are your parents not on speaking terms with you anymore?"

"Why the secrecy? Were you two hiding something?"

Scarlet finally spoke, keeping her voice controlled. "Our marriage was a private decision. We have our reasons for not making it public earlier."

That only fueled the media frenzy.

"What reasons? Were there complications?"

"Do you regret keeping it a secret?"

"Does this affect the management of Silken Crimson Threads?"

Ha-Joon finally responded, his voice cool but firm. "Our company runs as usual. Our marriage has no effect on our professional responsibilities."

"Then why hide it?"

Scarlet opened her mouth, but before she could reply, another question shot toward them, one that made her stiffen.

"Mr. Wi, is it true that you and Ms. Rogers never actually planned to get married, but were forced into it?"

Ha-Joon's eyes darkened. "That is baseless speculation."

Scarlet forced a small smile, though tension curled in her stomach. "Our marriage is our personal matter. We request that our privacy be respected."

But the reporters didn't back down.

"If your marriage was a personal choice, why didn't you announce it earlier?"

"Was it a marriage of convenience?"

"Does this mean there were issues in your partnership before the marriage?"

Ha-Joon exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin. "We're not answering personal questions. This press conference..."

"Then at least confirm: how long have you two been married?"

Scarlet hesitated. She glanced at Ha-Joon. The truth was... they didn't have an exact answer. Their marriage wasn't conventional.

Ha-Joon noticed her hesitation and smoothly took over. "We've been married long enough that it's not anyone's concern."

Another wave of questions hit them.

"Ms. Rogers, do you see Mr. Wi as only a business partner, or is this a real marriage?"

Scarlet's nails dug into her palm. "We run this company together, and we always will. That's all you need to know."

"So you're not denying it's a marriage of convenience?"

Ha-Joon's temper flared slightly. "We've said what we needed to. If there are any further questions about the company, we're happy to answer. Otherwise, this conversation is over."

Scarlet felt a rush of gratitude toward him. The reporters, sensing that they were losing their chance, threw out more desperate questions.

"Ms. Rogers, does this mean you and Ha-Joon will be running Silken Crimson Threads together permanently?"

"Are there any plans for an official wedding ceremony?"

"Will your families attend, or are they still against this marriage?"

Scarlet inhaled deeply. "We won't be discussing our personal lives further. If you have business-related questions, we can proceed. If not, we need to get to work."

The crowd erupted into a mixture of frustration and determination, but security had already stepped in, creating a pathway. Ha-Joon placed a hand on Scarlet's lower back once more, guiding her forward. They didn't look back. As they stepped through the glass doors of Silken Crimson Threads, the media frenzy continued outside, but inside, it was finally silent.

Scarlet exhaled, her hands shaking slightly. Ha-Joon turned to her, his eyes softening. "You okay?"

Scarlet let out a dry laugh. "That was... exhausting."

Ha-Joon's lips curved slightly. "You handled it well."

Scarlet sighed, rubbing her temples. "I doubt that."

He nudged her lightly. "We faced it. That's what matters."

Scarlet met his gaze and, for once, found comfort in it. Because no matter what storm waited outside, at least inside these walls, they could breathe.

***

The early morning sun casts a golden glow over the construction site of the Lumière Grand Hotel, Ha-Neul's newest and most ambitious project in Paris. Dressed in a tailored gray suit with his sleeves rolled up, he stood near the skeletal framework of what would soon become one of the most luxurious hotels in Europe. His team surrounded him, engineers and architects discussing structural plans, while he surveyed the site with a keen, focused gaze.

Everything had been moving according to plan, until the shouts and the flashes of cameras shattered the calm. Ha-Neul turned sharply, his jaw tightening as a flood of reporters and media crews pushed past the security barriers, heading straight for him. His security team rushed forward, attempting to hold them back, but the reporters were relentless. Microphones, cameras, and eager faces pressed forward, all hungry for a response.

"Mr. Kang! Mr. Kang!" A female reporter at the front called out, her voice urgent. "As the newest business partner of Silken Crimson Threads, did you know about the secret marriage between Scarlet Rogers and Wi Ha-Joon?"

Ha-Neul's expression remained unreadable, his fingers flexing slightly at his side. He expected the media to eventually approach him, given his connection to both Scarlet and Ha-Joon, but he hadn't anticipated it happening so soon, or in the middle of his construction site.

He straightened his stance, his face calm and impassive. "I am currently here for a business-related matter. I have no comment on anything outside of my work."

But the reporters weren't deterred.

"Mr. Kang!" another journalist shouted. "You are Wi Ha-Joon's cousin, did you know about his marriage to Scarlet Rogers before the public did?"

A sharp silence stretched between them, only filled by the occasional clicking of cameras. Ha-Neul's jaw clenched for the briefest second. His gaze flickered toward the steel beams of his hotel structure, his thoughts drifting back to a time when he had stood in Scarlet's garden, pouring his heart out, only to be rejected.

Now, she was Ha-Joon's wife. Not wanting his thoughts to show, he replied, voice controlled, "I don't discuss personal matters in public."

The press only took that as fuel to continue.

"Were you invited to the wedding?"

"Do you approve of their marriage?"

"As their business partner, do you think their secret relationship will affect Silken Crimson Threads and its collaborations?"

"Are you surprised by the revelation of their marriage?"

"Did you find out through Ha-Joon himself or through the media like the rest of us?"

Ha-Neul took a slow breath, maintaining his composed demeanor. "As I said, I am not here to comment on anything outside of professional matters. If you have questions regarding Lumière Grand Hotel or my business ventures, I will answer them. Otherwise, I have nothing to say."

A few reporters exchanged disappointed glances, but some still pushed forward.

"Do you have a personal relationship with Scarlet Rogers?"

"Have you ever been involved with her?"

His fingers curled slightly at his sides. The moment stretched. Then, coldly, he said, "I do not entertain unprofessional inquiries. This conversation is over."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the reporters frustrated, but unable to push any further. As he strode toward his private office at the construction site, his mind was filled with one thought... Why does it still sting?