SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)

You don't know what you're getting into.

The reception was in full swing, music reverberating off the walls of the grand hall as guests danced, drank, and feasted under the glittering chandeliers. But despite the extravagant celebration, an undercurrent of tension rippled through the air, most of it centered around the Min family.

Mr. Min sat at a corner table with his other sons—Reginald and two others, Viktor and Henry—all dressed impeccably, yet their presence seemed to darken the vibrant atmosphere. The patriarch’s gaze was cold, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk hunting prey.

Reginald leaned over to Viktor, his voice low but venomous. "Look at him, walking around like a king. The youngest of us all, yet acting like he owns the world."

Viktor smirked, swirling his wine. "He does own the world, brother. Or at least more of it than we do."

Henry, ever the quiet observer, added, "Father won’t let this slide. Will you, Father?"

Mr. Min’s expression didn’t change, but his tone was chilling. "Enjoy the party while you can. This marriage may elevate his status temporarily, but it will also bind him in ways he doesn’t yet realize. He’ll slip, and when he does, we’ll be ready."

---

Meanwhile, Samantha was in her element, commanding the attention of the room like a queen surveying her court. Her icy demeanor and sharp tongue were on full display as she directed the staff with precision.

"More champagne for that table," she ordered a waiter, her tone leaving no room for argument. "And tell the band to switch to something more upbeat. These guests aren’t here to nap."

Crystal, who had been helping coordinate behind the scenes, quietly observed Samantha with a mixture of awe and irritation. "She’s certainly... decisive," Crystal muttered under her breath to Kai, who was hiding nearby with a platter of hors d'oeuvres.

Kai smirked. "Decisive is one word for it. I’d go with ‘terrifying.’ Poor Mr. Lee."

Crystal shot him a warning look. "Careful, Kai. You shouldn’t be saying things like that about your boss’s bride."

Kai raised an eyebrow, leaning in conspiratorially. "Are you defending her? Or him?"

Crystal didn’t answer, but the faint blush on her cheeks gave her away.

---

Sophia had retreated to the edges of the hall, once again seeking solace from the overwhelming crowd. But her peace was short-lived.

"You're hiding again," Samantha’s voice rang out, sharp and cutting.

Sophia turned, schooling her expression into polite indifference. "Just taking a moment. It’s been a long day."

Samantha’s lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Of course. Long days are something you should be used to, though. Aren’t they, assistant?"

Sophia’s jaw tightened. "Personal secretary," she corrected, her voice calm but firm.

Samantha took a step closer, her gaze dripping with condescension. "Do you think I don’t see the way you look at him? The way you linger, hoping for crumbs of attention? Let me make something clear, Sophia. This—" she gestured to the room, the guests, the wedding band on her finger, "—is mine now. He is mine."

Sophia held her ground, her heart pounding but her voice steady. "If you have to declare ownership, maybe you’re not as secure as you think."

Samantha’s eyes narrowed, her facade cracking for just a moment. Before she could respond, Mr. Lee appeared, his presence immediately shifting the energy.

"Samantha," he said, his tone cool. "Is there a problem?"

Samantha’s smile snapped back into place. "Not at all, darling. Sophia and I were just having a little chat."

Mr. Lee’s gaze flicked between them, lingering on Sophia for a fraction longer than was proper. "Good," he said, his voice laced with an edge. "Let’s keep it that way."

---

As the night wore on, Mr. Min and his sons rose to leave, their presence a storm cloud lifting from the celebration. Before departing, Mr. Min approached Mr. Lee, his expression unreadable.

"Congratulations, my son," he said, his voice smooth but insincere. "Your mother would have been... proud."

Mr. Lee’s jaw tightened, the mention of his mother a deliberate wound.

"Thank you, Father. I’m sure that’s exactly what she would’ve wanted to hear from you."

Reginald chuckled darkly. "Don’t let the celebration blind you, little brother. The higher you climb, the harder the fall."

Without waiting for a response, the Min family exited the hall, their departure as cold and calculated as their arrival.

---

Later that night, after the festivities had finally begun to die down, Sophia found herself wandering the garden again, the cool air a welcome escape from the oppressive grandeur. She didn’t expect to run into him. Again.

Mr. Lee stood near the fountain, his tie undone and his hair slightly disheveled. He looked less like the untouchable magnate and more like a man weighed down by invisible chains.

"Couldn’t sleep either?" he asked, his voice softer than she was used to.

Sophia crossed her arms. "Sleep doesn’t come easy when there’s so much... noise."

He nodded, his gaze distant. "It’s quieter out here. Peaceful."

They stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Finally, she spoke. "Your family hates you."

He glanced at her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "That’s not exactly a revelation."

"And Samantha..." Sophia hesitated.

"She’s not what you want, is she?"

Mr. Lee stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "What I want," he said slowly, his voice like velvet, "isn’t something I can have."

Sophia’s breath hitched as he reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a shiver down her spine.

"You should stay away from me," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "You don’t know what you’re getting into."

Sophia tilted her head, her defiance flaring. "And what if I don’t want to stay away?"

His lips curved into a faint, almost pained smile. "Then you’re braver—or more foolish—than I thought."

Before she could respond, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her heart racing and her thoughts in chaos.

---

As the night deepened, the cracks in the perfect facade of the wedding began to show. The Min family’s departure, Samantha’s venomous demeanor, and the dark, unspoken connection between Mr. Lee and Sophia all hinted at a storm brewing beneath the surface.

And in the center of it all, Mr. Lee stood, a man caught between duty and desire, power and vulnerability, light and shadow.