The Contract

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**Namjoon** always thought his life would follow a predictable path. As the eldest son of a powerful business family, everything about his future had been carefully mapped out: take over the company, make advantageous connections, marry into wealth. But the moment he was handed that contract, his world began to unravel.

Sitting across from his parents, Namjoon felt the weight of the paper in his hands like a stone pressing against his chest. The words blurred in front of him, the legal jargon hiding something much darker underneath.

**"This is for the business,"** his father said, his voice low and authoritative, as if that was the only explanation Namjoon needed.

Namjoon looked up at him, trying to keep his composure. **"Married? To someone I’ve never even met?"**

His mother, who had been silent until then, spoke in a soft, measured tone. **"You’ve met Kim Seokjin before. Briefly, at the charity gala last year."**

Namjoon vaguely remembered a handsome man with a sharp smile, quick to charm the room with his easy-going personality. But beyond that, Seokjin was a stranger to him, and the idea of being bound to him for life felt... unnatural.

His father continued, oblivious to Namjoon's inner turmoil. **"This marriage will unite two of the most powerful families in the country. It's not just about money. It's about protection."**

Protection. The word lingered in Namjoon's mind long after he left the room. Protection from what? His father’s company was thriving. So why the sudden urgency to merge with the Kim family?

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### **Seokjin's Dilemma**

On the other side of the city, **Kim Seokjin** was facing a similar conversation. Unlike Namjoon, Seokjin had never been interested in the power struggles of the elite. He had his own dreams—dreams of running a successful restaurant, of creating a legacy built on passion rather than wealth. But his family had other plans.

**"You're getting married,"** his father announced over breakfast, the words dropped as casually as if he were discussing the weather.

Seokjin nearly choked on his coffee. **"Married? To who?"**

His father looked up from his newspaper, not even bothering to meet Seokjin's eyes. **"Kim Namjoon. It's already been arranged."**

Seokjin's heart raced, and a sense of dread settled over him. **"I don’t even know him. Why are you doing this?"**

His mother chimed in, her voice unnervingly calm. **"This is what’s best for the family, Seokjin. Your father and I have worked hard to build this empire. It’s time you take responsibility."**

**Responsibility.** The word tasted bitter in his mouth. Seokjin had been running from his family’s expectations for years, carving out a space for himself that didn’t rely on their wealth or connections. But now, it seemed, there was no escape.

He glanced at the contract his father had slid across the table. His name, **Kim Seokjin**, was written neatly beside Namjoon’s. It was already signed by their parents, their futures decided without their consent.

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### **The First Meeting**

The first time Namjoon and Seokjin met after the engagement announcement was a week later. The restaurant they had chosen for their meeting was an upscale place, the kind where conversations were hushed, and everything felt polished to perfection.

Namjoon arrived early, his usual composure rattled by the strangeness of the situation. He had never been one to panic, but the thought of meeting his future spouse under such cold, calculated terms made him uneasy.

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