Always By Your Side || MinChan Romance

1.

One

Minho had always suspected that Chan's marriage to Johan was built on shaky ground. From the very beginning, he had felt a nagging doubt about their compatibility. Johan, with his charismatic and attention-seeking nature, seemed to thrive in the spotlight, while Chan was more reserved, preferring meaningful connections over superficial fame. Initially, Minho had kept his opinions to himself, choosing to support his boss during the infatuation phase. Watching Chan's eyes light up whenever Johan was around had made it easy to overlook the red flags.

But as the years passed, Minho found it increasingly difficult to stay silent. He watched as Johan consistently put his career ahead of Chan's needs. The moments that should have been joyous—like Chan's birthday , when he was being awarded or the charity events he tirelessly organized—often felt overshadowed by Johan's absence or lack of enthusiasm. Minho could count on one hand the times Johan had truly celebrated Chan. The glaring example was last year's party where they played a game to see who knew Chan best. Minho could still hear the collective groans when people speculated that Johan would win.

"Who doesn't know that Chan's favorite movie is The Princess Bride?" Minho had muttered under his breath, his frustration simmering just below the surface. He had been shocked when Johan answered incorrectly, revealing how little he actually knew about the man he had married. For Minho, it was a punch to the gut; after seven years working closely with Chan, he could rattle off every detail—the name of Chan's childhood stuffed elephant, his guilty pleasure for cheesy rom-coms, even the way he liked his coffee. How could Johan not know these things?

Minho's concern for Chan grew with every passing event. He saw how Johan's neglect wore on Chan, dimming the spark that had once ignited the Alpha's spirit. The stress was palpable, especially in recent months as Johan's public persona became increasingly intertwined with scandal and drama. The final blow came when Johan publicly cheated on Chan, flaunting his new relationship as if it were a trophy, leaving Chan devastated and heartbroken.

Minho had been there to witness Chan's unraveling. He remembered the day Chan had walked into the office, his usually bright eyes clouded with pain. "I thought we could make it work," Chan had confessed, his voice thick with unshed tears. "I thought he'd change." The sight of Chan in such distress made Minho's heart ache. He wanted to reach out, to pull Chan close and offer the comfort he so desperately needed, but the boundaries he had maintained felt insurmountable.

Despite Chan's efforts to salvage the marriage—like seeking counseling in the hopes of rediscovering what they had once shared, having Minho set up romantic dates that Johan always flaked out of—nothing could mend the betrayal. It was clear that the years of love and investment were not enough to counteract Johan's selfishness. With the divorce proceedings now underway, Chan had become a shell of his former self. The man who had once inspired so many with his leadership and charisma was now filled with doubt and uncertainty, and Minho hated seeing Chan like this.

But as Minho supported Chan through the turmoil, he began to recognize the shift in their relationship. Each late-night conversation, every shared moment of vulnerability drew them closer. As Chan leaned on him for strength, Minho felt an undeniable pull towards him, a yearning to be more than just a friend or colleague. And while Minho never wanted to add to Chan's burdens, he couldn't help but dream of a future where they could be together, unencumbered by the shadows of the past.

The journey ahead would be fraught with challenges, but Minho was determined to be there for Chan, even if it meant facing his own feelings along the way. As the divorce loomed, he could only hope that their friendship would evolve into something deeper, something that could finally heal the wounds left by Johan's betrayal and bring them both the happiness they deserved.