"You’d better say that was just a joke because I’m really not up for whatever nonsense you just threw my way." A loud, confident voice from a twenty-year-old woman echoed from the backyard of the Wang mansion.

“Rina, this is a solid beginning for your life as well,” Jackson, Rina’s dad, remarked.

Jackson was a single dad who lost his wife, Rina’s mother, when she was just seven. It was a massive blow, and ever since, he’s been dedicated to giving Rina the best of everything.

"Rina, sweetheart, you know I only want what’s best for you," he said, holding her hand tightly. He could feel the warmth of his own blood and soul in that moment. Sure, he’d miss his daughter if she left this house with her husband, but he couldn’t put his own needs above her happiness.

"Well, it sure doesn’t seem that way to me. Dad, I’ve hated that jerk since we were kids! He nearly drowned me in the pool and thought it was hilarious! If it weren’t for Mom, I might not have made it out alive!" Rina started, but her father interrupted her.

"Rina, don’t talk about death so casually," he cautioned, trying to push aside the ache in his heart. The emptiness was consuming him.

He longed for his wife, Wang Han Na. She was a brilliant woman with a beautiful heart. But all beautiful things eventually fade. Her time was limited due to a hereditary illness.

Even with all their money, they couldn't buy Han na a moment more to live. Since her passing, Rina watched her dad struggle through life. Jackson, once full of life and the life of the party, had shut himself away, finding solace in the memories of Han na.

Rina was terrified of that future. If she ever got married and something happened to either her or her husband, she didn’t want them to end up like that.

Losing someone you love is the hardest pain to deal with. To make matters worse, her dad dropped the bomb that she was supposed to get engaged to her childhood rival, Jeon Jungkook, who only looked out for himself.

"Just think of it as doing a favor for your mom, Rina," Jackson said one last time before heading inside.

Rina found herself sitting in the empty garden, lost in thought.

A favor for mom...

She let out a deep sigh and flopped down on the dry grass, thinking back to when everything was so vibrant. Her mom always took such good care of the garden, keeping it thriving. Maybe it was time to breathe some life back into her home.

No matter if Jungkook is involved or not, she’s doing this all for her mom.

From a distance, Jackson watched his beloved daughter with worry in his heart. He realized it was unfair to push her into a marriage with someone she despised. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was making the right decision.

Sure, Jungkook had a big ego, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care about the people in his life. Even if he struggled to show it, his emotions were clearly a challenge for him.

Meanwhile, his daughter was just terrified of what might go wrong. But Jackson promised himself he would do everything in his power to keep her safe, no matter what.

"I regret not being able to do more for you, Rina. I offered you everything material, but I know it didn’t bring you the happiness you were looking for. I truly hope you find contentment in your marriage." He called out to her from a distance, wishing he had the guts to express everything he felt.

But he didn’t want to burden her, making her feel like he was lost and would fall apart without her. He wanted to find a reason to keep going, especially for their daughter, the beautiful reminder of his wife.

...

Taehyung and Jimin burst into their older brother's room, grinning from ear to ear. "Jungkook, guess what? Mom and Dad found you a bride!"

They were practically bursting with excitement, knowing Jungkook would definitely not take the news well.

"And...?" Jungkook replied, sounding totally uninterested. The twins exchanged giggles before trying to act serious again.

"What's going on with you two?" he asked, starting to feel a bit suspicious.

Jimin chuckled, "Oh, it’s nothing really. Just feels nice to have an old buddy joining the family!" Taehyung laughed along.

"What family member? What friend? Just spill it already," Jungkook said, a bit impatient.

"You wanna find out who the bride is?" Taehyung chimed in. Jungkook hung around, waiting for more. Not that he cared much, but he was kinda curious about who he’d be ignoring for the long haul.

"Let the drum rolls begin!" Jimin imitated the sound of a drum roll while Taehyung cleared his throat.

"Jeon Jungkook, do you take Wang Rina to be your lawfully wedded wife, to cherish and hold, from this day on, through thick and thin, in wealth and in want, in health and in sickness, until death separates you?" Taehyung pretended to be the priest. It took Jungkook a moment to catch on to what was going down.

"Wait, Rina? Wang Rina?" He said, totally shocked as he stood up from his chair. The twins were grinning, clearly enjoying his reaction.

"We'll let that sink in for a bit. There's more coming!" Jimin said, and the twins headed out of the room.

Jungkook stayed behind, resting his head in his hand, a little trick he used to chill out.

But then it hit him again.

"Why am I even stressing? It's Rina! This should be a piece of cake since we can't stand each other!" Jungkook muttered to himself.

Still, a small flicker of worry lingered in the back of his mind.