Ransomed Fiancée (Michaeng) ✔️

Summary (Part 16)

Chapter 15:

Chaeyoung stared at the email from Uchinaga Aeri, her heart sinking. The competition was a week away, and she was expected to present her product, a collection of five to seven shoes. It was an impossible task. She had no existing designs, no partially completed projects, just a blank slate.

Rallying her teammates, Chaeyoung started working. Everyone pitched in, searching for materials, sourcing even the tiniest components, and ensuring every logistical detail was handled. But when it came to crafting the shoes, the work fell squarely on Chaeyoung. Yuqi stayed by her side, assisting with whatever she could.

For seven grueling days, she barely slept. She worked standing for twelve to fourteen hours each day, her fingers raw and blistered from constant stitching, her hands dotted with fresh cuts and burns from hurried mistakes. The strain showed on her face, dark circles beneath her eyes, her skin pale from exhaustion but she pushed on, unwilling to let her body's protests slow her down.

Late into the final night, Chaeyoung was stitching the last shoe of the collection. Her hands trembled, and her vision blurred. She paused, removed her glasses then rubbed her aching eyes, stretching her stiff neck. The room was silent, save for the faint rustling of her teammates sleeping in the cramped living room. They had fallen asleep hours ago, surrounded by piles of fabric, scraps of leather, and empty coffee cups.

Chaeyoung's gaze softened as she looked at them. A faint smile tugged at her lips but it faded quickly as her focus returned to the shoes. It was past 2 a.m., and the competition was only a few hours away. With a deep sigh, she slipped her glasses back on and reached for the shoe.

"Almost there," she murmured to herself, her voice hoarse from days of silence and concentration. She picked up her needle again.
By the time the first light of dawn crept through the windows, Chaeyoung finished the final stitch. She placed the last shoe beside the others, her collection complete. Seven pairs of shoes, each crafted meticulously and with countless sleepless hours.

Chaeyoung stood, her body screaming for rest, and took a moment to admire her work. She glanced at her sleeping teammates and whispered, "Thank you," There was no time to rest. The competition nearing and Chaeyoung knew she had given her all. Whatever happened next, she had no regrets.

Chaeyoung packed the completed shoes into boxes. Despite her aching body and the pounding exhaustion that dulled her senses, she carefully packed each pair, ensuring they were protected and displayed beautifully. She hadn't slept in three days but still began cleaning the mess in the room.

An hour later, her teammates woke up and hurried to get ready for the competition. Minjeong noticed Chaeyoung sitting on the floor, sealing the last box. "Boss, have you prepared anything for the presentation?" she asked.

Chaeyoung chuckled. It was weird that Minjeong kept calling her that even when they were still in prison. She shook her head. "I didn't have time. I'll go impromptu."

Minjeong frowned. "I can help you write a script. It won't take long."

Chaeyoung smiled faintly. "No, it'll be more genuine if I speak from the heart. They can tell when something's rehearsed."

Minjeong nodded, trusting Chaeyoung. With everything ready, the team gathered the boxes and left. Miyeon provided them with formal clothes to wear and Chaeyoung's suit happened to be her ex husband's. It was baggy and worn out but Chaeyoung managed to style it well enough to make it look presentable.

They all pushed through their exhaustion as they rode Miyeon's old mini bus. Chaeyoung was impressed by how Jimin still managed to put on makeup despite being half asleep. She chuckled as Minjeong occasionally took pictures of her, capturing Jimin's sleepy moments. The exhaustion finally caught up with them and soon enough they all fell asleep, resting their heads on each other's shoulders.