our crossed paths | jww.

twenty nine.

The evening air was cool, but Jiwoo felt heat prickling under her skin as she stood on the balcony of her family's house, dressed in an evening gown that felt foreign on her body.

The floor-length dress, handpicked by her mother, shimmered under the soft garden lights below, its intricate beading catching every glimmer.

Her hair was styled more elegantly than she was used to, and heavy earrings dangled from her ears.

Jiwoo shifted uncomfortably, adjusting her necklace and letting out a sigh.

From her vantage point, she watched as one by one, guests began arriving. They moved gracefully across the manicured lawn, each clad in luxurious outfits that screamed wealth and status. It was a world she had always been a part of, yet never truly felt like she belonged.

Her mother's friends, their husbands, and their perfectly polished children were laughing and chatting, glasses of champagne in hand. The tables were set with the finest foods, waiters gliding between guests with trays of sparkling drinks.

It was far from the typical "hospital shareholders' dinner"—this was a display of business power and social standing, and Jiwoo felt like an outsider in her own home.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She checked her phone again, seeing Wonwoo's message flash across the screen.

Wonwoo: On my way. Almost there.

Jiwoo exhaled, reassured by his words, but her anxiety remained. It wasn't just the event, or the sea of faces she barely recognized.

It was the presence of certain guests that sent a chill down her spine.

Her eyes caught sight of two familiar faces in the crowd—faces she hadn't seen in years. Haejoon's parents. The sight of them made Jiwoo's stomach lurch, a wave of memories hitting her all at once.

She hadn't spoken to them since the funeral, and the mere thought of facing them again, here, in this setting, was overwhelming. Her throat tightened as she tried to steady her breathing.

Her phone buzzed again.

Wonwoo: Arrived. I'm here.

Jiwoo quickly made her way downstairs, her heels clicking against the polished floors. As she stepped outside, her breath hitched when she saw him. Wonwoo stood at the entrance, looking effortlessly handsome in a perfectly tailored suit.

His dark hair was styled back, giving him an air of royalty, and his eyes softened when they met hers. Ahrin, already sleepy from the ride, was gently escorted to her room by a nanny.

Wonwoo smiled at Jiwoo, stepping closer. "Thanks for coming," Jiwoo said quietly, her voice a little shaky. "I know this is a lot."

Wonwoo took her hand in his, his touch grounding her. "I told you," he said softly, "I'd go to all lengths for you." His thumb gently brushed the back of her hand, and Jiwoo's nerves eased slightly, though the tension of the evening still weighed heavily on her.

Together, they walked arm-in-arm into the garden lawn.

The moment they stepped onto the grass, Jiwoo could feel the shift in energy. Conversations halted, and heads turned. All eyes were on them, and she could hear the low murmur of voices rising as people began to recognize Wonwoo.

They were a picture of elegance, Jiwoo in her shimmering gown, Wonwoo in his tailored suit.

Jiwoo forced a polite smile, her hand tightening around Wonwoo's arm as they walked through the sea of judgmental stares.