Chapter 34:

The moment Scarlet and Ha-Joon stepped into the building, the weight of dozens of stares fell upon them. Every single employee, from junior designers to senior executives, had their eyes locked on them. Some whispered to each other, others just stared, but the air was thick with unspoken words.

Scarlet held her chin high, ignoring the burning gazes as she walked toward her office. Ha-Joon, beside her, was unfazed, his expression unreadable. He knew how the corporate world worked, whispers today, acceptance tomorrow. But that didn't mean it wasn't annoying.

Just as they reached Scarlet's office, the door was already ajar. Inside, Christine, her secretary and right-hand woman, was pacing in panic. Her phone was clutched tightly in her hand, her tablet opened on the table, multiple news articles flashing across the screen.

The moment Scarlet entered, Christine turned sharply, her eyes wide with distress. "Ma'am, what's happening outside? Why are there thousands of reporters? The company group chat is exploding! Half the employees are afraid we're about to have a massive scandal, and the other half are treating it like a romance drama!"

Scarlet sighed and sat at her desk, running a hand through her hair. "The media found out about my marriage to Ha-Joon."

Christine's jaw practically hit the floor. "What?"

Before Scarlet could respond, a firm knock echoed at the door. Ha-Joon pushed it open, stepping inside with Thomas, his secretary, following behind. Unlike Christine, who was drowning in emotions, Thomas looked as calm as ever, though his sharp eyes carried a glint of urgency.

"Christine," he said as a greeting.

"Ugh," Christine muttered under her breath, folding her arms as if his presence alone was enough to ruin her day.

Thomas smirked, fully aware that she despised him, but ignored her completely as he turned to Scarlet and Ha-Joon. "It's worse than we thought."

Scarlet exhaled sharply. "Tell me everything."

Christine quickly moved to the side, opening multiple news sites and social media pages on the large screen in the office. "People are divided," she began. "Some are completely against this. They think it's a business strategy, a merger disguised as a marriage. Some say it's unethical that you didn't disclose it earlier, while others believe it's a betrayal to the company's transparency."

Scarlet's eyes darkened. "Unethical? It's my personal life."

Ha-joon agreed, "Exactly."

Christine nodded. "Sure, ma'am. But you know how the corporate world works. The public loves drama."

Ha-Joon leaned against the table, his arms crossed. "What about investors?"

Thomas pulled out his tablet, scrolling through reports. "Some investors are cautious. They want reassurance that this won't negatively impact the company's reputation. If this turns into a full-blown controversy, market shares *could* fluctuate."

Scarlet's grip on her pen tightened. "Could. Not will."

"True," Thomas acknowledged. "But there's another problem."

He exchanged a look with Christine, who sighed before speaking. "Some of the young designers at our company have already spoken to the media."

Scarlet's expression turned to ice. "Excuse me?"

Ha-joon scoffed, "Huh?"

Christine clicked on a video. The screen lit up with the face of a well-known young designer from their company, one of the recent rising stars.

"I just feel... betrayed. We all looked up to Scarlet Rogers as this independent woman who built an empire on her own. And now, we find out she's secretly married to her business partner? It makes you wonder, was she truly the one in control, or was this always planned?"

Scarlet's hands curled into fists.

Another video played, this time from a different designer.

"We deserve to know these things! We work for Silken Crimson Threads, and this kind of secrecy could change everything. What if policies change? What if favoritism starts happening? That's why Mr. Wi was the chairman from the start and Ms. Rogers... or I must say New Mrs. Wi didn't have any problem with that."

Ha-joon nearly stood up from the chair. "This bastard."

Scarlet scoffed. "Favoritism? Since when have I ever shown favoritism to anyone in this company?"

Christine sighed. "You haven't. But speculation feeds rumors."

Thomas, meanwhile, kept scrolling. "Directors of the company are discussing this privately. They want an emergency meeting. Some think this will die down in a few weeks, but others are considering an official statement to address the matter."

Ha-Joon let out a dry laugh. "Address what? That we got married?"

"Exactly," Thomas replied. "They think acknowledging it properly might control the damage."

Scarlet rubbed her temples. "This is ridiculous."

A heavy silence settled in the room. It was one thing to deal with the media, but dealing with internal company backlash? That was an entirely different beast.

Christine shifted awkwardly, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Scarlet, noticing, narrowed her eyes. "Christine? What is it?"

Christine quickly shook her head. "Nothing, ma'am."

Scarlet tilted her head. "Christine."

Christine bit her lip before looking down at her hands. "It's just... I've been working for you for years... years, ma'am. And you never told me you were married."

Scarlet felt a sharp pang of guilt. She tried to smile lightly. "I didn't tell anyone, Christine."

Christine nodded but still looked hurt. "I know, but..."

Before she could finish, Thomas, ever the dramatic one, sighed heavily. "I completely agree with Christine."

Christine turned to glare at him. "Excuse me? You agree?"

Thomas crossed his arms, shaking his head. "As your secretary, sir, I have devoted years of my life to managing your schedule, keeping your secrets, and making sure your meetings go smoothly. And yet, you never trusted me with this information?"

Christine rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You're just copying me!"

Thomas placed a hand on his chest, feigning deep offense. "I am merely expressing my own feelings of betrayal. Why would I need to copy you?"

Christine stomped on his foot under the table.

Thomas immediately yelped. "Ow! You crazy woman!"

"Oops," Christine said, completely unapologetic.

Scarlet sighed, placing a hand over her face. "Not now, you two."

Ha-Joon, meanwhile, was struggling to suppress his irritation.

Christine huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But I still feel a little hurt."

Scarlet looked at her with sincerity. "I'm sorry, Christine. You know I trust you more than anyone. I just... wasn't ready to tell the world. Including my own people."

Christine's expression softened. "I get that, ma'am. I really do."

Thomas, meanwhile, kept rubbing his foot. "Well, I don't forgive you. My loyalty has been shattered."

Christine smirked. "Good. Now you know how it feels."

Scarlet shook her head, but a small smile tugged at her lips. For all the chaos outside, at least inside this office, things still felt... normal.

Ha-Joon, however, brought the conversation back to reality. "So, what's our next step?"

Scarlet straightened, her smile vanishing. "We don't back down. We hold our ground, we reassure our investors, and we make sure this company stays as strong as ever."

Christine nodded. "And the young designers speaking out?"

Scarlet's eyes darkened. "I'll handle them personally."

Thomas exhaled. "This is going to be fun."

Scarlet's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, I know."

Scarlet sat at the edge of her desk, still trying to process the chaos outside, while Christine and Thomas stood in front of her, their expressions serious. Ha-Joon, standing by the window, ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Do we know the root cause of how the media got this information?" he asked, his voice sharp.

Christine, who had been fidgeting with the tablet in her hands, quickly nodded. "Yes, sir. We traced it back to an individual named Jung Something."

Ha-Joon's head snapped toward her. "Jung?" His tone was laced with disbelief and growing fury.

Scarlet stiffened at the name. "Who's that?"

Christine hesitated before explaining, "He's known for being somewhat of a troublemaker and open talker within the business circle. But more importantly, he's related to both of you. He's your cousin, Mr. Wi... and Ms. Rogers, he's also your sister-in-law's brother."

Scarlet's eyes widened. "What?"

Ha-Joon clenched his jaw. "That bastard."

Christine glanced down at the tablet before continuing. "Early this morning, Mr. Jung gave an exclusive interview to a small-time reporter. It was supposed to be a casual discussion, but within hours, it spread across all media platforms, catching major networks' attention."

Ha-Joon's expression darkened. "What did he say?"

Christine pressed a button on the tablet, and the screen lit up with a paused video. "I think you should see for yourself." She played the clip.

The screen displayed a lively café in Paris, the soft hum of early morning conversations in the background. Jung Seung-il sat opposite a reporter, sipping his coffee with a smug expression. The reporter, an eager young man, leaned in slightly, microphone in hand.

Reporter: "Mr. Jung Seung-il, you're a well-known businessman. What brings you to Paris? Business meetings, perhaps?"

Seung-il laughed lightly, shaking his head. "No, no, nothing like that. I came for personal reasons. My cousin and my sister-in-law are here."

The reporter perked up at the unexpected revelation. "Your cousin and sister-in-law? That's interesting! Who are they?"

Seung-il leaned back lazily, crossing his arms. "You must've heard about them. Wi Ha-Joon, my dear cousin, and Scarlet Rogers, my sister-in-law's sister. Turns out they were secretly married."

A pause. The reporter's eyes widened. "Secretly married? Are you certain about this?"

Seung-il smirked. "Yeah, yeah. I mean, imagine our family's shock when we found out! We all had to rush here. It was quite the scene."

The reporter leaned forward, sensing a scoop. "Wait, so you're saying their own family didn't even know about the marriage?"

He shrugged. "Not at first. When we did, things got... complicated."

The reporter frowned. "Complicated how?"

He waved a dismissive hand. "You know how it is. Family expectations, responsibilities, handling the fallout. That's why I left everything behind and came here." He took another sip of coffee. "Handling the family was my most important goal."

The reporter nodded eagerly. "I see. And how is the situation now?"

He sighed dramatically. "The house is tense. You wouldn't believe it. That's why I stepped out this morning, to have some peace and quiet, grab some breakfast." He chuckled. "You'd think a secret marriage wouldn't be that big of a deal, but clearly, everyone is losing their minds."

The reporter gave a knowing nod. "And do you personally have an opinion on this?"

He smirked again. "Who am I to comment on something my cousin did? His life, his rules. But it sure is entertaining to watch."

The video ended.

Silence filled the office as the weight of the interview settled over them. Scarlet's breath was caught in her throat. Ha-Joon, however, was seething. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "That son of a-"

"Sir, please," Thomas quickly stepped forward, sensing Ha-Joon's rising anger. "Getting angry won't fix this. We need to think logically."

Christine nodded in agreement. "Mr. Wi, if I may... losing your temper will only give the media more fuel. Right now, we need damage control."

Ha-Joon exhaled sharply, his body stiff. "Seung-il knew exactly what he was doing. He played this off as casual gossip, but he knew it would explode in the media."

Scarlet rubbed her temples. "And now everyone's talking about it."

Thomas cleared his throat. "And that's not all. Some of the younger fashion designers in the industry are already jumping at the opportunity to stir controversy."

Scarlet's head snapped up. "What do you mean?"

Thomas handed her another tablet, showing various clips and social media posts. "A few up-and-coming designers are going to the media, claiming this scandal is bad for the fashion industry."

Christine scoffed. "They're using it to get attention for themselves."

Thomas nodded. "Some of them are claiming that a CEO keeping such a big secret could mean instability in the company. They're spinning it like it might affect investor trust."

Scarlet clenched her jaw. "So now this isn't just a media frenzy, it could actually affect the company."

Ha-Joon ran a hand through his hair. "This is exactly why I hate dealing with people like Seung-il. He doesn't care about the consequences."

A heavy silence hung over the room, only broken by Ha-Joon's sharp exhale. Scarlet was still processing the chaos that had erupted around them when a sudden knock on the office door made everyone pause. Christine glanced toward it, hesitating.

"Come in," Ha-Joon called out, his tone still laced with irritation.

The door swung open, revealing none other than Kang Ha-Neul. Scarlet's breath hitched slightly, but she quickly masked her reaction. Ha-Neul's expression was unreadable, as usual, but there was a knowing glint in his eyes.

Ha-Joon narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

Ha-Neul stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. "I heard about the mess Jung Seung-il created." His tone was calm but firm. He walked further into the room, his gaze flickering between Scarlet and Ha-Joon.

Scarlet sighed, rubbing her temples. "I'm sure everyone has heard by now."

Ha-Neul nodded. "Exactly. That's why I came here. You need to hold a press conference."

Ha-Joon's jaw tightened. "Absolutely not."

Scarlet looked at him in surprise. "But..."

"Do you know what happens when you step in front of reporters?" Ha-Joon snapped. "They twist your words, they manipulate everything, and suddenly, the situation becomes ten times worse."

Ha-Neul crossed his arms. "And do you know what happens when you stay silent? People fill in the blanks themselves. Right now, the media is eating up Seung-il's words like they're the absolute truth. If you don't speak, they'll make up a hundred more rumors, and those rumors will become facts in the public's eyes."

Scarlet exhaled. "He's right."

Ha-Joon looked at her. "Scarlet..."

"I don't like this either," she admitted. "But if we don't speak for ourselves, someone else will. And we've already seen what happens when Seung-il speaks for us."

Ha-Joon clenched his jaw, glaring at Ha-Neul. "And what? You'll be part of this too?"

Ha-Neul smirked. "Of course. If you think I'm letting you and Scarlet take all the heat alone, you're wrong."

Christine looked relieved. "It's a good idea, sir. I can arrange everything immediately."

Ha-Joon ran a frustrated hand through his hair but finally relented. "Fine. Let's do it."

***

The room was packed with reporters. Camera flashes went off like wildfire as Ha-Joon, Scarlet, and Ha-Neul stepped onto the stage. The murmur of hushed voices filled the air as everyone waited in anticipation.

Scarlet's hands were clenched tightly under the table, but she forced herself to maintain a composed expression. Ha-Joon sat beside her, his expression unreadable but intimidating. Ha-Neul leaned back slightly, a small smirk playing on his lips as if he was enjoying the chaos. The moment the microphones were turned on, the questions began.

Reporter 1: "Mr. Wi, why did you hide your marriage from the public? Were you ashamed of it?"

Ha-Joon's jaw clenched, but his voice remained polite. "I was never ashamed. My marriage is a personal matter, and I wanted to keep it that way."

Reporter 2: "Ms. Rogers, was this a strategic marriage to benefit your fashion empire? Some people are saying this was purely for business."

Scarlet kept her face calm. "That's absolutely false. My company has always been independent of my personal life. I didn't marry Ha-Joon for business, I married him because I love him."

A few murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Reporter 3: "Mr. Wi, your cousin Jung Seung-il made it seem like your family was against this marriage. Is that true?"

Ha-Joon exhaled, his irritation evident. "Seung-il has a habit of speaking out of turn. My family was surprised, yes, but that doesn't mean they are against it."

Reporter 4: "Ms. Rogers, you're known for your independent and strong-willed nature. Some are wondering if you were forced into this marriage due to pressure from Mr. Wi."

Scarlet nearly laughed at the absurdity. "Forced?" She tilted her head. "I assure you, no one can force me into anything. I chose Ha-Joon, just as he chose me."

Ha-Neul chuckled beside her. "If you think anyone can force Scarlet Rogers into doing something she doesn't want to do, you clearly don't know her at all."

Some reporters laughed at that. The tension eased slightly.

Reporter 5: "Mr. Kang, why are you involved in this? Do you have a personal connection to their marriage?"

Ha-Neul smirked. "I'm here because I want to be. And because watching Ha-Joon struggle to answer questions is my entertainment for the day. Anyways kidding. I'm here because I can't bear to see my cousin brother getting backlash."

Laughter broke out in the room. Even Scarlet felt the corners of her lips twitch.

Reporter 6: "There are rumors that your marriage isn't real and is just a contract. Can you prove otherwise?"

Ha-Joon leaned forward, his voice dangerously smooth. "I don't feel the need to prove my personal life to anyone. My marriage is real, whether you believe it or not."

Scarlet decided to add, "And if it weren't, I wouldn't be sitting here dealing with all these questions."

Ha-Neul added with a grin, "Besides, do you think Ha-Joon is capable of pretending to be in love? The man barely hides his emotions."

More chuckles from the crowd.

Reporter 7: "Ms. Rogers, how does this affect your career? Some designers are saying this controversy could damage your reputation."

Scarlet straightened her posture. "My work speaks for itself. Anyone who doubts my capabilities based on my personal life should reevaluate their priorities."

Reporter 8: "Mr. Wi, do you regret keeping this a secret for so long?"

Ha-Joon's expression softened slightly. He turned to Scarlet before answering. "No. The only thing I regret is how the truth came out. I wanted to protect our privacy, but I never regretted my decision to be with Scarlet."

Scarlet blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his sincerity.

Ha-Neul rolled his eyes. "Wow, that was actually sweet. Are you sick?"

Ha-Joon shot him a glare.

Reporter 9: "One last question, where is Jung Seung-il now?"

Ha-Joon's expression darkened again. "I have no idea. But trust me, when I find him, he and I will have a very serious conversation."

The conference continued for a while longer, but by the end of it, Ha-Joon, Scarlet, and Ha-Neul had managed to turn the narrative in their favor. They had faced the storm head-on and, for the most part, came out unscathed.

As they walked off the stage, Ha-Joon muttered, "Remind me to never do that again."

Scarlet smirked. "You say that now, but you handled it well."

Ha-Neul clapped him on the back. "Yeah, yeah, you didn't embarrass yourself. Much."

Ha-Joon glared at him. "Shut up, Ha-Neul."

Scarlet smiled. The storm wasn't over yet, but at least they had weathered the worst of it together.

***

Ha-Neul sat on the couch in Scarlet's office, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone as he waited for dinner to arrive. He had ordered for the three of them, nothing extravagant, just comfort food that he knew Scarlet liked.

She was sitting at her desk, leaning back in her chair, exhausted from the chaos of the day. Ha-Joon, on the other hand, stood beside her, rubbing slow circles on her back, his touch so natural, so easy. Ha-Neul looked away.

The delivery arrived soon, and he silently got up to collect the food. Setting it up on the table in front of them, he made sure everything was there, soup, rice, side dishes, and something sweet that Scarlet always enjoyed.

"Eat," he said simply, sitting down with them.

Scarlet smiled at him, grateful. "Thank you, Ha-Neul."

Ha-Joon wasted no time, picking up a piece of food with his chopsticks and holding it up to Scarlet. "Here, eat this first."

She chuckled softly, taking the bite from him without protest. "You're really doing this here?" she teased, glancing at Ha-Neul.

Ha-Joon smirked. "I don't care if someone sees."

Ha-Neul only looked up from his meal for a brief second. His gaze flickered to Scarlet's lips as she chewed, to the way Ha-Joon's fingers brushed against her skin so carelessly. Then, wordlessly, he looked back down at his plate and took another bite. He was burning. Little by little. Every second he spent in this room, watching them, his heart was crumbling, but he said nothing.

He would never say anything. Ha-Joon kept feeding Scarlet, wiping the corner of her lips when a grain of rice stuck to them. She laughed, slapping his hand away, but she didn't really mean it. There was warmth in her eyes when she looked at him, a warmth that Ha-Neul had never received, never would receive.

He swallowed, the food in his mouth suddenly tasting bland. The worst part? He had done this to himself. He had been the one to stand aside, to watch from a distance, to never say a word about how he felt. He had told her. But never given her a reason to look at him the way she looked at Ha-Joon now. So why was he hurting?

"You're barely eating," Scarlet suddenly pointed out, frowning as she glanced at his plate.

Ha-Neul forced a smirk. "You two are being nauseating. I think I lost my appetite."

Ha-Joon scoffed. "You can always leave."

Ha-Neul met his eyes, and for a brief moment, something unspoken passed between them. He wanted to leave. He wanted to escape this suffocating room. But where would he go? Even if he left, the ache inside him would follow. So he stayed. He picked up his chopsticks again, eating in silence, as Scarlet and Ha-Joon continued their quiet, intimate exchange. And deep within him, he burned.