Note: Omg you guys.... Just re read the first few chapters of Twisted Love and WTHHH WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME ITS SO BADDD

(I acc thought I ate too 😭)

I'm so sorry for all the errors!! I have a grammar improved version of the chapters on google docs but if I were to paste it onto Wattpad and publish— I'd lose all the places where you guys left your beautiful comments!! And individually checking each chapter takes wayyy too long!!

Hopefully I'll find the time to in the future!! But until then please continue cutting me slackkk 😭😭🥹🥹

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Jia's PoV

Jia stood with her back straight, holding a champagne flute as she found herself amidst a group of impeccably dressed women, the wives of the powerful men who had been conversing with Jaehyun. The sound of delicate laughter filled the air, though Jia couldn't help but notice the underlying tension that seemed to pulse through the group.

These women, each with flawlessly styled hair and perfectly tailored gowns, seemed more like ornamental pieces than real people. Their smiles were rehearsed, and the way they clung to their husbands' arms as they moved through the grand hall felt... off. Jia had seen this kind of behaviour before, but never in such a concentrated form. It was as if they were all reading from the same script, playing a role they had been conditioned to perform.

"Isn't your dress just divine?" one of the women, a tall brunette with strikingly pale skin, commented, her voice soft and airy. Her name was Minseo, the wife of Assemblyman Jang. Jia noted the way her eyes flickered with something unreadable—was it fear, or something more sinister? The way she spoke, with exaggerated sweetness, seemed... calculated.

"Thank you," Jia responded with a polite smile, her gaze subtly scanning the group. She realised with a growing unease that these women were all alike. It wasn't just their fashion or their idle chatter about the gala; it was something deeper. An eerie sort of obedience lingered in their movements, the way they always seemed to glance toward their husbands before speaking, as if silently seeking approval.

Another woman, Seoyoon, the wife of Chairman Kang, leaned in closer to Jia, her expression unreadable. "You're new, aren't you? I don't recall seeing you at any of the previous events."

Jia smiled politely. "Yes, it's my first time at one of these functions."

"Ah," Seoyoon said with a small, knowing smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of anxiety. "You'll get used to it soon enough. Just... follow your husband's lead. He seems to know his way around."

Husband? Jia barely managed to keep her face neutral as Seoyoon assumed her relationship with Jaehyun. It wasn't the first time she'd been mistaken for something more than an escort or partner at these kinds of events. But the implication of her words struck her differently this time. These women weren't just obedient; they were subdued, constrained by an invisible leash that tethered them to their husbands' every move.

Jia's gaze flitted between the women. There was something almost robotic in the way they interacted with one another, smiling with lips but never with their eyes. They never spoke over each other, never disagreed or expressed any strong opinions. Their entire existence seemed to revolve around maintaining the image of the perfect, doting wife.

"I see you're with Mr. Jung," another woman, Yeji, interjected. She was the wife of a politician Jia vaguely grasped from earlier conversations. "He's quite charming, isn't he? Lucky you." Her words were accompanied by a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Yes," Jia replied, forcing a laugh. "He certainly is."

The conversation drifted from topic to topic—fashion, upcoming charity events, how to host the perfect dinner party. But the more Jia listened, the more unnerved she became. Every response was measured, carefully crafted, as if the women were terrified of saying something out of line. They spoke highly of their husbands but always in a rehearsed, empty tone, as though they were afraid to let their real thoughts slip through the cracks. Fear hung in the air, so palpable that Jia could almost taste it.

The comprehension hit her all at once. These women weren't just obedient; they were trapped. Whether it was by societal expectations or something more sinister, they were confined to this role—of silent, submissive partners, existing solely for the purpose of supporting and flattering their husbands. It was as if their personalities had been hollowed out, leaving only the shell of a person behind.

Jia's stomach churned with unease. She had seen it before, in the way cults operated, controlling every aspect of a person's life until they became nothing more than a puppet. Was the Han Church's influence deeper than she thought? Were these women victims of the same control, manipulated into submission just like their husbands? Or were they complicit in maintaining the status quo, trapped by their own choices?

She watched them, each of them smiling with perfect teeth and empty eyes, and felt a wave of disgust wash over her. This world, the one she was trying to infiltrate, was darker and more insidious than she had anticipated. And these women, with their polished exteriors, were the prisoners of it.

The thought gnawed at her. They were all part of something—something they couldn't escape, even if they wanted to. As if sensing her thoughts, Minseo leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Just a word of advice," she murmured, her eyes flicking toward her husband, who was deep in conversation across the room. "Never question them. Just smile and agree. It's easier that way."

Jia swallowed hard, offering a tight-lipped smile in return, though her mind was racing. What had these women seen? What had they been forced to endure in silence?

She glanced across the room at Jaehyun, who was still engaged in conversation with the men. For a moment, their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them.

She could feel the weight of the charade pressing down on her. She was Areum Ko, but every moment here reminded her of the precarious game she was playing—and the consequences if she failed.

"Excuse me," Jia said suddenly, breaking away from the group. She needed air—needed to clear her head before she became as hollow as these women, prisoners of their own gilded cages.

Jia stepped onto the balcony, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor as she shut the door behind her. The air outside was a sharp contrast to the stifling atmosphere within the gala hall. It was cool and crisp, carrying with it the faint scent of the sea in the distance. The night sky stretched out above her, clear and vast, the stars faintly twinkling as the city lights below flickered like fireflies. The view was breathtaking—sprawling cityscape, towering buildings, and, further out, the endless ocean, shimmering in the moonlight.

For a moment, Jia allowed herself to breathe deeply, the fresh air filling her lungs and washing away the tension that had built up inside her from the encounter with the wives. She leaned her elbows on the stone railing, closing her eyes briefly as she tried to clear her mind. The quiet was a welcome relief after the chatter and pretence she'd endured.

As her thoughts settled, they inevitably drifted back to what she had learned tonight. The wives, their eerie obedience, their hollow smiles. They were afraid—afraid of their husbands, of this world they were trapped in. And then there were the men—the same men who casually discussed business and politics with Jaehyun, who had ties to the Han Church and seemed utterly indifferent to the disturbing nature of the cult.

She had come here to gather intel, and it was becoming increasingly clear that the Han Church's influence stretched further than she had initially thought. These men weren't just corrupt politicians—they were part of something much darker. They didn't just control their wives; they controlled everything around them, shaping society to fit their twisted ideals. And the more she thought about it, the more the pieces fell into place. This world of wealth, power, and control was tightly bound with the Han Church, and she was only scratching the surface.

Her mind was racing, lost in the tangled web of power plays, when she suddenly felt something—barely there, just a brush of movement next to her ear.

Jia stiffened, her muscles tensing as her instincts kicked in. She turned her head slightly, just enough to see the figure standing far too close for comfort. One of the politicians—someone she discerned from Jaehyun's earlier conversation—stood next to her, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. He was older, in his late fifties, with salt-and-pepper hair slicked back and a finely tailored suit that screamed wealth and arrogance.

"Areum Ko, isn't it?" His voice was smooth, too smooth, with an undercurrent of something slimy beneath it. His breath was warm against her skin as he leaned in just a fraction too close. Jia resisted the urge to recoil.

"Yes," she replied, her voice steady, though every instinct told her to move away. "And you are?"

"Assemblyman Lee," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. His gaze raked over her in a way that made her skin crawl. "You looked like you could use some company out here. It's such a lonely place for such a beautiful woman."

Jia's grip on the railing tightened, but she kept her face impassive. The fresh air that had felt so refreshing moments ago now seemed stifling, tainted by his presence. Her mind raced for the right words, something to deflect without showing her discomfort. She could feel the way his gaze lingered on her, like he was trying to assess how far he could push.

"Just needed a moment to clear my head," Jia said, forcing a polite smile, though her thoughts were already calculating how best to extricate herself from the situation.

"You must be new to these kinds of events," Assemblyman Lee continued, his voice low and suggestive. "They can be... overwhelming for someone like you. But don't worry, I can show you the ropes." His hand lifted slightly as though he was going to touch her shoulder.

Before his fingers could make contact, Jia straightened and shifted away, putting just enough distance between them to make it clear she wasn't interested without being overtly confrontational.

"I appreciate the offer, Assemblyman," she said smoothly, keeping her tone neutral, "but I think I'll be fine on my own."

The man's smile faltered for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he wasn't used to being turned down. He recovered quickly, though, his gaze lingering on her a moment longer before he stepped back.

"Well, if you ever change your mind," he said, his tone laced with insinuation, "you know where to find me." With that, he turned and walked back inside, his footsteps fading as the door clicked shut behind him.

Jia exhaled slowly, her heart still racing as she turned back to the view. The city stretched out before her, a sea of lights and shadows. But all she could think about now was the darkness lurking behind the faces of power, the unsettling truths that were beginning to unravel.

This world was more dangerous than she had imagined, and if she wasn't careful, it would swallow her whole.

Jia remained still, her fingers still gripping the cold stone railing as she tried to shake off the discomfort of the encounter with Assemblyman Lee. The calm of the balcony was no longer soothing—it felt like a fragile barrier between her and the dark currents swirling inside the gala.

The soft sound of footsteps behind her caught her attention. She didn't need to turn to know who it was—Jaehyun always moved with that confident, measured pace. He stepped beside her, close enough that she could feel his presence, but still giving her space. His cologne, warm and expensive, mixed with the fresh scent of the night air.

"Areum." His voice was smooth, but there was a sharpness to it that made her glance at him. "Why was Assemblyman Lee coming from out here?"

His eyes were steady, but she could sense the underlying curiosity—and something else, something sharper. He was asking casually, but his gaze flickered with a dangerous edge, as if the mere idea of her being in such close proximity to the assemblyman raised questions he wasn't pleased about.

Jia's expression didn't falter. "He came out for some air," she replied evenly, though she knew Jaehyun wouldn't be satisfied with that simple answer. "I guess he thought I needed company."

Jaehyun's jaw tightened for a moment, his gaze shifting briefly toward the door that Lee had just exited through. "That man always thinks women need his company." He spoke with a casual disdain, as though Lee were nothing more than an annoyance. But when his eyes flicked back to Jia, there was something calculating in his gaze. "Did he say anything?"

She shrugged, keeping her voice light, though her skin still crawled from Lee's presence. "Just the usual... Nothing I couldn't handle."

Jaehyun smirked, though his eyes remained cool. "I'm sure you can." He leaned slightly on the railing beside her, turning his attention to the city view, but his mind was clearly on something else.

There was a brief silence before Jaehyun broke it. "I've been hearing something interesting tonight," he said, his voice low, as if he were speaking to himself more than to her. "These men, they keep talking about a 'new world.'" He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, gauging her reaction. "It's subtle, but they slip it into conversation as if it's some grand vision. A future that's already being built."

Jia felt a chill run down her spine at his words. She had heard it too—more than once. "New world..." she repeated under her breath. It wasn't the first time she'd heard this term in relation to the Han Church and Ryu Han's influence. The cult's teachings were wrapped in ideas of transformation, of creating a utopia, but the reality was far more sinister.

Jaehyun's gaze lingered on her. "You look like you know more than you're letting on, Areum."

Jia kept her expression neutral, though her thoughts were racing. The cult, the politicians, this idea of a new world—it was all connected, and the deeper she dug, the more tangled it became. She had no choice but to tread carefully, even around Jaehyun. Especially around Jaehyun.

"I've heard bits and pieces," she replied, playing it safe. "The Han Church, right? They talk about building a better future, a new society." She turned her head to meet his gaze. "But we both know that's not what they're really after."

Jaehyun's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "We do, don't we?" He straightened up from the railing, his gaze never leaving hers. "Whatever this 'new world' is, it's got these men invested, obsessed even. And that means it's only a matter of time before things start getting... messy."

Jia frowned, the weight of the evening settling heavily on her shoulders. The pieces were coming together, but it felt like the picture they were forming was far more dangerous than she had anticipated.

"And what about you?" she asked, her voice sharper now, more probing. "You seem pretty calm about all of this. Should I be worried?"

Jaehyun's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with that familiar arrogance. "Worried? No, Areum. I think you should be excited." He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers, the intensity between them palpable. "After all, you're in the thick of it now. And trust me... it's going to be quite the show."

Jia held his gaze, her mind swirling with everything she had learned tonight. The cult, the men, this talk of a new world. She was in deeper than ever before, and the danger was becoming more real with every passing second.

But if Jaehyun wasn't worried, then she had to be even more cautious. Because, as she was learning, nothing with him was ever as simple as it seemed.

Jia's fingers traced the cool stone railing as she processed everything that had happened so far. The men inside were an insidious bunch, powerful and corrupt, and their "new world" talk only deepened her suspicion Ryu Han's true intentions to take Jeon Jungkook's place as the top dog. Jaehyun had played his part effortlessly, his charm and ease with them so far beyond anything she could muster.

She turned her head toward him, eyes narrowing slightly. "Did you get far with any of them? They seemed to like you far more than they liked me." There was a trace of bitterness in her voice. "Probably because I'm a woman."

Jaehyun's smirk reappeared, casual and unbothered, as if he'd expected her comment. "What can I say? Old men like their boys club." He leaned back slightly, folding his arms across his chest, the epitome of relaxed confidence. "They were practically tripping over themselves to invite me to everything, telling me all about their little charities and getting together. The real fun begins when the women aren't around."

Jia frowned, not surprised but still disgusted by their blatant sexism. "Anything interesting come out of it? Or just more talk about their golf outings?"

Jaehyun's eyes gleamed, a small flicker of satisfaction lighting up his features. "Actually, I got an invitation to an event in a few days—some kind of exclusive gathering. It's being organised by their local charity."

Jia's frown deepened. "Charity, huh?" She didn't even bother to hide her scepticism. "Let me guess... the same one that's mysteriously linked to the Han Church?"

Jaehyun chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're quick. Yeah, it's more than likely their way of legitimising whatever Ryu Han's cult is up to. They talked about it like it was some big deal, but I'm sure it's just another excuse to pat themselves on the back while the church works its magic behind the scenes."

Jia felt a pit form in her stomach. The Han Church's influence ran deep—much deeper than she had originally thought. But if Jaehyun had managed to secure an invitation, that meant they had an in.

"Are you going?" she asked, her tone sharper than intended.

Jaehyun tilted his head, considering her question. "Oh, I wouldn't miss it for the world." His smile widened as his eyes met hers, and there was something in his gaze, something predatory. "You should come too, Areum. I think you'd find it... illuminating."

Jia stared at him, weighing her options. The last thing she wanted was to spend more time with these men, let alone in some gathering where they'd be even less subtle about their disdain for women. But if it meant getting closer to uncovering the truth about the Han Church, she didn't have much of a choice.

"I'll think about it," she muttered, though she already knew she would be there. She had to be. Too many pieces were falling into place, and she needed to see where this trail would lead. Even if it meant walking straight into the lion's den with Jaehyun by her side.

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