"There are many things to play with. A person's feeling is not one of them"

_

Y/n Park, no, Y/n Jeon, smiled as she stared up at the ring. She couldn't believe she was married. Yesterday had been the best day of her life—one she would never forget. Her husband, Jungkook Jeon, was ten years her senior, but he had always been kind, gentle, sweet, and tender. His eyes, usually warm and expressive, had shone with such love and promise during their vows.

It was so strange to be a married woman. The morning light had yet to break, but the bed was empty. She put her hand out to touch where Jungkook should have been, but the sheets were cold. He must have left the room a while ago, but she hadn't even felt him leave. She'd been so exhausted.

Getting to her feet, she wrapped the blanket around herself until she spotted a robe. She tied the belt, covering her naked body and untucking her hair from the back of the robe. She opened the bedroom door and began to make her way downstairs toward the kitchen. Jungkook had been insistent on the reception being held at his home. He had a large, lavish home, more of a mansion than a house, but she didn't mind. Her parents came from wealth that had been passed down by her grandparents. She had grown up with everything a young woman could ask for, apart from the one thing she always wanted—love.

It was a rather silly, naive notion. Her two older sisters often teased her about what she wanted out of life and how ridiculous and childish it sounded. Love wasn't accepted in their world. They married for money and power.

She had defied the odds and married for love.

Jungkook was everything. His smile was infectious, and his laughter was a melody she could listen to forever.

She couldn't wait to start a family with him, and they had talked about doing so immediately. She hadn't been taking her pill, nor had he worn a condom last night.

Thinking about last night made her ache. She wanted him again, his touch, his kiss, his warmth.Walking downstairs, she marveled at how quiet his house was. She lived in a much older house with creaking staircases that made it impossible to go anywhere without someone noticing.She saw a light coming from Jungkook's office. When he gave her the tour a couple of weeks ago, he'd asked her not to just barge in, to always knock and wait as he often dealt with important business calls and didn't wish to be distracted.

Stepping up to the room, she was about to knock, even though the door was partially ajar. She heard not just her husband's voice, but another man's.

"So, you've got the fortune you've been after and a wife out of it. Whatever next?" the man asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'll keep Y/n happy. It's not hard to do. Feed her a couple of lines and she's like a fucking puppy dog in my hand."

Y/n tensed. Jungkook sounded so cold, furious, and fierce. His usual gentle tone was replaced with something sharp and unrecognizable.

She frowned. In the past six months, she'd never heard him speak like that before. His words were always chosen carefully, filled with affection and care.

"Wow, tell me, Jungkook, do you love your wife, or was this all about the money?" The man chuckled, as if the question was a joke.

The door was open enough to allow her to see Jungkook. He was leaning against his desk, and he wore a suit. His shirtsleeves were rolled up as he gripped the edge of the desk, his knuckles white with tension.

"Park should have known not to mess with me. I told him the best way of securing his business venture was to give me a place on his board and a percentage of his company. Denying me what I deserve, he should have known I'd find other methods. Marrying his daughter, well, it just got me closer to what I require."

Y/n couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing the betrayal she felt.

"The oldest daughter is a slut. The middle one, she's too aware. Y/n, the youngest, well, she was the easiest target. All I had to do was say a few nice things and I had her. She even thought our meetings were fate, not carefully crafted by me just so I could make her fall in love with me."

"I've got to say, Jungkook, I know you're a monster in the boardroom, but marrying to get what you want? I was shocked," the man said, admiration lacing his tone.

"Please, you've known me for years. Besides, the business will take me away a lot of the time, and I can have fun then. She was such a fucking sensitive virgin," Jungkook groaned, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, she'll do as she's told, and we'll all be happy."

"Do you love her?" the man asked, almost mockingly.

"No. Why would I love her? She's a means to an end."

Y/n had heard enough. Stepping away from the door, she rushed back up to their bedroom, her breath coming in short, painful gasps.

Closing the door, she leaned against it, her heart racing, tears threatening to spill.

What the hell?

He didn't love her?

The man she'd known for the past six months would never treat her like that. She couldn't believe it. He'd never said a curse word in front of her, and the way he talked just now—that wasn't the man she knew. That wasn't the man she married.

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