A few days later, Yura’s phone rang. The voice on the other end was cold, methodical, and unfamiliar.
“Miss Kim Yura,” the man began, “you should know the truth. It’s all been Ru Shi’s doing.”
Yura’s heart skipped a beat. “Who are you? What are you talking about?”
The voice chuckled, sending a shiver down her spine. “You really think your boyfriend ended up in jail by coincidence? Ru Shi planned the whole thing. He wanted Minho out of the picture, so he could have you all to himself. He’s been pulling strings behind the scenes, framing your precious boyfriend.”
Yura’s hands trembled as the words sank in. Ru Shi? The man who had quietly offered her help and shown empathy? Was this all a lie? Was he manipulating her the entire time, setting her up for this twisted marriage proposal?
The call ended abruptly, leaving her in a state of disbelief. Her mind raced as the pieces fell into place. The sudden proposal, the promise to free Minho—it all made sense now. Ru Shi had orchestrated everything. Rage filled her heart, and without a second thought, she stormed out of her apartment and headed straight to the office.
Yura burst into Ru Shi’s office, her face flushed with anger and hurt. She didn’t even bother to knock. Ru Shi looked up from his desk, startled by her sudden entrance, but before he could speak, Yura marched over and grabbed him by the collar, her eyes burning with fury.
“You monster!” she spat, her voice cracking with emotion. “I know what you did. You planned all of this just to get rid of Minho, didn’t you? You think you can control everything with your power and money? You think you can just take me like I’m some sort of prize?”
Ru Shi’s eyes widened in shock. “Yura, what are you talking about? I didn’t—”
“Don’t you dare lie to me!” Yura’s grip on his collar tightened, and tears welled up in her eyes. “I will never marry someone like you. Never! You’re heartless. How could you do this to Minho? To me?”
Her words cut deep, but Ru Shi, still bewildered, managed to grab her wrists gently, pulling her hands away from his collar. “Yura, listen to me. I didn’t do anything to Minho. I swear. I’ve been trying to help you, not hurt you.”
But Yura couldn’t hear his words. The betrayal she felt was too intense, the pain too overwhelming. She pushed him away, her hands shaking. “You think I’d believe you after everything I’ve heard? You were playing with my life, my love. You used Minho’s suffering to force me into this.”
Ru Shi’s jaw clenched, his heart pounding in his chest. He could see the pain in her eyes, the way she was barely holding herself together. “Yura, I didn’t plan any of this. I don’t know who called you or what they told you, but it’s not true. Yes, I have feelings for you, but I would never do something so cruel.”
“Feelings?!” she cried, her voice filled with bitterness. “You don’t know the meaning of feelings, Ru Shi. You manipulate people like they’re nothing but pawns in your game. I hate you.”
The words echoed in the office, the air thick with tension. Ru Shi’s heart sank. He had never seen Yura like this—so broken, so angry. He reached out to her, but she stepped back, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
“Stay away from me,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I will never forgive you for what you’ve done.”
Without another word, Yura turned on her heels and stormed out of the office, leaving Ru Shi standing there, stunned and devastated. For the first time in his life, he felt completely powerless. The woman he had come to care for more than anything in the world now hated him, and there was nothing he could do to change it.
