You're Mine, I'm Yours II

Part 12

The golden rays of sunlight streaming through the towering windows did little to warm the tension in the room. First stood unmoving, his broad frame silhouetted against the sprawling city skyline, the glass reflecting fragments of his face , sharp and unreadable. His fingers gripped the windowsill tightly, as though grounding himself against the storm brewing behind him. The distant hum of the city below was a stark contrast to the charged silence filling his opulent office.

Janhea's heels clicked sharply against the polished oak floor as she stepped further inside, her movements calculated yet betraying the frustration coursing through her. The glint of fury in her eyes was unmistakable, her tightly crossed arms signaling that she had come prepared for a confrontation.

"Where have you been?" she repeated, her voice lower but no less cutting. The words hung in the air, demanding a response. Her tone was edged with something more than just anger-a desperation she couldn't mask.

First didn't turn to face her immediately. Instead, he continued to gaze out the window, his back to her, his hands resting on the windowsill. His posture was tense, muscles taut beneath the fabric of his suit. "Don't pretend you don't know, Janhea," he replied flatly, his tone devoid of emotion, as if he had already exhausted all the patience he had for her. "You know exactly where I went."

Janhea's lips tightened into a thin line, her eyes narrowing. "Yes, I do know," she shot back, stepping further into the room, her voice growing sharper. "But I want to hear you say it. I want to hear you admit it-to my face."

Finally, First turned around, his expression cold and detached. He leaned back against the windowsill, crossing his arms over his chest, his gaze meeting hers with a challenge. "If you already know, why bother asking? You're wasting both of our time, Janhea."

Her face flushed with anger, her perfectly composed facade cracking. "Because I've had enough!" she snapped, her voice rising. "I've had enough of you running off to him every chance you get! I love you, First! Can't you see that?"

First's eyes flashed with irritation, his voice calm but laced with a sharp edge. "Love?" he repeated, almost mockingly. "You don't love me, Janhea. You love the idea of me. You love what I represent-power, prestige, status. But you don't love me. If you did, you would have realized by now that I could never love you back. Not in the way you want."

Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She took a step closer, her voice trembling. "That's not true. I've tried, First. I've tried to make this work. To be the woman you need. But you...you're selfish. All you think about is him. Khaotung. Even now, when you know how much it hurts me, you keep going back to him."

First's expression hardened, his jaw tightening. "I never asked you to be anything for me, Janhea. I never promised you anything. You knew what this was from the beginning. If you've deluded yourself into thinking otherwise, that's on you, not me."

Tears streamed down Janhea's face, her shoulders trembling as she struggled to keep her composure. Her voice broke as she demanded, "Then why did you let this go on for so long? Why didn't you just end it before it got to this point?"

First's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening as he finally turned to face her fully. "You know why," he said quietly, his tone heavy with unspoken truths. "You know exactly why I couldn't end it."

Her breath caught, the implication clear. "Your father," she whispered bitterly. "His power. His influence. You let him dictate your life, force you into this engagement, and now-" Her voice rose, trembling with anger. "Now you're telling me you're done? You're going to defy him? Do you have any idea what you're risking?"