Chained by Expectations | Park Sunghoon

Three

It has been a few days since the announcement of their engagement and now they sat in a room charged with tension. Kim Haneul and Park Sunghoon sat down next to eachother and across from their respective fathers, Mr. Kim and Mr. Park, to sign the marriage contract. Mr. Kim cleared his throat, addressing the elephant in the room.

"I understand that this arrangement might have caught both of you off guard, especially my daughter," he began, his gaze briefly shifting to Haneul, who was sitting across from him. "But it's important to remember that this union is not just about your personal feelings; it's about the benefit of both companies."

Sunghoon, his face etched with a stoic resolve, immediately interjected. "Neither of us wishes to sign this contract. We don't want to be part of an arranged marriage," he asserted firmly, his eyes locking onto Mr. Park for emphasis.

Haneul's father fixed a piercing gaze on his daughter. "Is this true?" he inquired, searching her eyes for a response. But Haneul couldn't bring herself to say the words that she knew she wanted to. Instead, she encouraged Sunghoon by placing her hand gently over his, which rested on the polished wooden table.

"Sunghoon, maybe we can work together to make the best of this situation," she offered in a soft, almost pleading tone. Her eyes met his, but what she found there was disbelief and resistance.

Sunghoon snatched his hand away, his expression hardening. "I don't want to marry you," he declared curtly, the words cutting through the room like a cold wind.

Mr. Park, his patience wearing thin, scolded his son. "Sunghoon, show some respect!"

Meanwhile, Haneul's father, a man accustomed to having his way, directed a stern gaze at his daughter. "Haneul, sign the contract," he commanded.

Haneul hesitated, her heart heavy with the weight of her father's expectations. She reached for the pen, her hand trembling as she picked it up. With a deep breath, she signed her name on the contract, her script elegant and determined.

"You too Sunghoon." Mr.Park demanded. Sunghoon's furious glare did not waver as he took the pen and affixed his signature with a swift, angry stroke. He slammed the pen onto the table and rose abruptly, making a resounding exit, the door slamming shut behind him. The room was left in silence, the ink on the contract still fresh, sealing a future that neither Haneul nor Sunghoon desired.

''Mrs.Choi will help you pack your belongings so you can move into Sunghoon's house." Mr. Kim explained. "We will worry about the greater details later on for now just try to keep a good public image. There are already articles out doubting your relationship with each other and we don't need any bad scandals ruining either of our reputations. " He said sternly.

"Yes, dad." She said quietly as she watched both of the men exit the room.

Time Skip

"Sunghoon is usually never home Haneul, he works late nights at the office so don't worry you won't run into him much..." Mr.Parks voice trailed off as he entered the penthouse.

Sunghoon sat there in the kitchen on his laptop drinking a cup of coffee. He looked up upon here them arrive. "What are you doing here with her?" he asked with a stern gaze fixating on both his father and Haneul.

"Sunghoon she is your new wife so she will be staying here as a wife does." Mr.park said as he set down Haneul's luggage.

"Great, just great. Can't she just get her own place somewhere else?!" He exclaimed as he closed his laptop and began making his way upstairs.

"Sunghoon! Show her where she will be staying and help her get settled in, I don't want to keep arguing with you." Mr.Park raised his voice at his son who was not fazed at all. Rather he made his way up the stairs of his penthouse and down the dark hallway that led to his room.