Bound by Love (Jaeyong)

Chapter 1: An Unwelcome Revelation

In the opulent dining hall of the Lee family estate, the air was thick with anticipation and formality. Jaehyun sat quietly, his posture impeccable as always, attentive to every word exchanged among the adults gathered around the table. At twenty-four, he had long grown accustomed to these gatherings where decisions that shaped their family's future were made.

"Jaehyun," his father began, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "We have something important to discuss tonight."

Jaehyun nodded, his expression composed, though a flicker of curiosity sparked in his eyes. Beside him, his mother's gaze was gentle yet tinged with a hint of apprehension. Across the table, the atmosphere shifted imperceptibly as Mr. and Mrs. Lee exchanged a meaningful glance.

"It's about your future, son," his father continued, a note of solemnity in his tone. "We have arranged a marriage for you."

The words hung in the air, unexpected yet not entirely surprising in the circles they moved in. Jaehyun's mind raced, processing the implications of such an announcement. Marriage, a union carefully orchestrated by their families, was a common path among the wealthy elite to strengthen alliances and secure legacies.

Jaehyun turned to meet the gaze of his parents, his expression unreadable as he absorbed the news. It was a duty, a responsibility he had been groomed for since childhood. A marriage meant continuity, stability—qualities his family valued above all else.

"And who is the fortunate bride?" Jaehyun's mother inquired gently, her voice a measured contrast to the tension that gripped the room.

Mr. Lee cleared his throat, his eyes resting on Jaehyun with paternal pride. "It's not a bride, but a groom."

Silence followed, thick and palpable, as the implications of his father's words sank in. Jaehyun felt a surge of mixed emotions—surprise, perhaps even a twinge of apprehension, but above all, a sense of duty that echoed through generations of family tradition.

Across from him, Mrs. Lee spoke next, her tone calm yet authoritative. "The match has been carefully considered, Jaehyun. It's with the Kim family."

Jaehyun knew of the Kims—a powerful family whose influence rivaled their own. Yet, as his thoughts swirled with the weight of this revelation, his attention was abruptly drawn to the sudden commotion at the far end of the table.

Taeyong, youngest scion of the Kims, stood with an air of defiance, his expression a storm of conflicting emotions. "No," he declared, his voice ringing out with a mixture of rebellion and frustration. "I won't do it!"

Jaehyun watched silently as Taeyong turned and stormed out of the room, the echo of his footsteps fading into the grandeur of the Lee estate.

---

In the quiet aftermath of Taeyong's departure, Jaehyun remained seated, his mind racing with the implications of the evening's events. Duty had always been a guiding principle in his life, instilled by years of meticulous upbringing under his parents' watchful eyes. Yet, as he considered the prospect of an arranged marriage to Taeyong Kim, a rebellious spirit unlike any he had encountered before, Jaehyun felt an unfamiliar flutter of uncertainty stir within him.

Outside, the night air was cool against his skin as Jaehyun stepped onto the terrace, his thoughts still tethered to the tumultuous events of the evening. In the distance, the lights of the city glittered like constellations against the dark canvas of the sky, a reminder of the world beyond the confines of familial duty and expectation.

For Jaehyun, the path ahead seemed uncertain, fraught with challenges and the uncharted territory of emotions he had yet to navigate. As he gazed out into the night, he knew one thing for certain—whether by fate or circumstance, his life was about to change in ways he could never have imagined.

And amidst the quiet solitude of the Lee estate, the echoes of Taeyong's defiance lingered, a testament to the unpredictable course that their arranged marriage had set into motion.

Tbc.