Haters To Lovers

CHAPTER 2

The grand ballroom sparkled with chandeliers, the gleaming marble floors reflecting the extravagance of the event. The room was filled with society's elite—politicians, business moguls, and the quiet, watchful eyes of mafia leaders hidden among them. It was a day most brides would dream of, but for you, this was anything but a fairytale.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you stood at the end of the long aisle, surrounded by people but feeling utterly alone. Today, you were to marry Jeon Jungkook, the feared mafia king and CEO whose empire spanned continents. But unlike the smiling faces around you, you knew this marriage was built on anything but love.

Jungkook stood at the altar, his broad shoulders tense under his tailored suit. His expression was unreadable, his jaw tight, eyes sharp as he waited. The hate in his gaze was undeniable. He didn't want this. Neither did you—but the decision had been made long before either of you had a say.

You walked down the aisle, each step heavy, as though you were walking toward your own execution. The flowers lining the path were beautiful, the orchestra played a soft, melodic tune, but none of it registered. All you could feel was the weight of the moment.

Jungkook barely glanced at you as you approached, his cold eyes fixed somewhere in the distance. The priest's words felt like a distant murmur as he began the ceremony, asking you both to repeat the vows.

You forced the words out when it was your turn, though they felt hollow. "I do."

Jungkook's voice followed, sharp and controlled. "I do." The disdain in his tone wasn't lost on you, nor on the few mafia members in the room who exchanged knowing looks. They all knew this marriage was a business transaction, a merging of power between two families. What they didn't know was your secret—that you were the queen of your own empire, just as deadly, just as powerful, though you kept it hidden from him.

As the priest pronounced you husband and wife, Jungkook turned to face you, his expression unreadable. His lips brushed yours in a brief, mechanical kiss, a mere formality. There was no warmth, no affection—just the cold reminder that you were bound to him by duty, not love.

Later, at the reception, you stood by his side as guests congratulated the newlyweds. Jungkook barely acknowledged your presence, his attention fixed on a conversation with one of his underworld associates. You could feel the distance between you like a wall, growing thicker with every passing second.

Steeling yourself, you approached him cautiously. "Jungkook..." you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

He turned his head, his gaze cold and unfeeling. "What?" The single word cut through you like a blade.

"I thought... maybe we could talk," you said, trying to find common ground, trying to make sense of this new life you were thrown into.

Jungkook let out a low, bitter laugh. "Talk? About what, exactly? This isn't a real marriage. You're just here because our families decided to play a power game. Nothing more."

His words stung, but you refused to show it. He didn't know your true nature, the power you held in the shadows. One day, he would. But today, you were content to let him believe what he wanted.

"I'm not just some pawn," you whispered, meeting his eyes with a resolve he hadn't expected.

He smirked, though there was no amusement behind it. "You're exactly what they made you. A pretty little piece in their game."

You clenched your fists at your sides but said nothing. The truth would come to light one day. For now, you'd let him hate you. Let him underestimate you. Because when the time came, he would see that you were far more than just a pawn—you were the queen of the game, playing alongside him, but on your own terms.

And whether he liked it or not, he was yours.