Business owner Kim Ji-won and lawyer Kim Soo-hyun are under intense family pressure to marry. Ji-won's parents want her to wed her ex, photographer Ji Chang-wook, while Soo-hyun is bombarded with blind dates, including persistent heiress Seo Ye-ji...
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I sat across from my parents in our grand living room, feeling the weight of the conversation we were about to have.
My father, always composed and serious, was seated in his usual spot with a cup of tea in hand, while my mother, a beacon of warmth, smiled at me gently from her place beside my father.
But I could sense that something was off.
They had asked me to come over for dinner, which wasn’t unusual, but the tone of the invitation had been different—urgent.
My mother spoke first, her voice soft but laced with concern. "Soo-hyun, we need to talk to you about something important."
I leaned back in my chair, trying to keep my calm. "What’s going on?"
My father set his tea down on the table, looking at me directly. "It’s about your future, Soo-hyun. Specifically, your marriage."
My heart skipped a beat.
I hadn’t been expecting this conversation today, but deep down, I knew it was coming eventually.
My relationship with Ji-won had been serious for a while now, and my parents were traditional—they would want things to progress.
"You and Ji-won have been dating for some time now," my mother continued, her smile still in place but with an edge of expectation. "And we’ve seen how happy she makes you. We really like her."
My father nodded in agreement. "She’s a fine young woman. Intelligent, kind, and grounded. Your mother and I have no reservations about her. In fact, we believe she would make an excellent addition to our family."
I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
My parents had always liked Ji-won, and hearing them speak so highly of her filled me with gratitude.
But I also sensed that this conversation wasn’t going to end with just praise.
My mother clasped her hands together, her expression softening. "Soo-hyun, we want you to take the next step with Ji-won."
I blinked, my chest tightening. "The next step?"
"Marriage," my father said plainly. "We’ve given you time to make this decision on your own, but we feel it’s time you formalize your relationship with her."
There it was.
The ultimatum.
My heart raced.
I loved Ji-won, deeply, but the idea of my parents pushing me into something as monumental as marriage, even if it was with the woman I loved, made me uneasy.
My mother, sensing my hesitation, reached across the table to place a hand on mine. "We’re not trying to pressure you, Soo-hyun. We just want what’s best for you, and we believe Ji-won is that person. We don’t want to lose her, and we don’t want you to lose her either."
