Ransomed Fiancée (Michaeng) ✔️

Summary (Part 21)

Chapter 26:

Mina found herself visiting the factory, again. While her unannounced presence was welcomed, her visits left the workers and GroundUp teams to feel uneasy and intimidated by her. Mina stood in the corner of the room her eyes instinctively searching for Chaeyoung, even though she had promised herself not to stare too often. She spotted Chaeyoung laughing with someone across the room, her smile bright and carefree. And that was the moment, again, when everything seemed to spiral out of control.

On one hand, Mina's heart swelled. She hated how easily Chaeyoung could make everyone else feel special, how effortlessly she could charm others into her orbit. Mina hated how she still couldn't stop caring, couldn't stop wanting to be the one Chaeyoung smiled at, the one who mattered most. A wave of jealousy rushed through her chest reminding her again that she longed for Chaeyoung, those feelings were very much alive.

But then, the anger flared up like an old wound being ripped open. Her breath hitched as her fists clenched involuntarily. How dare she? Mina thought. How dare Chaeyoung just move on? The thought of Chaeyoung so carefree, so oblivious to the pain Mina had been through, to the way she had been left behind made Mina's stomach churn. That anger was so much easier to feel—clear and straightforward.

Mina took a deep breath and tried to push the emotions down, but they came crashing back, tugging at her heart.

It's stupid, she thought bitterly. It's all so stupid.

She had admitted it to herself, had hugged Chaeyoung impulsively, even made the first move to talk, to rekindle something she wasn't sure could ever be rebuilt. But there were days—days like today—when it all felt like too much. When her longing turned into an unbearable weight and all she could do was pull away. The desire to distance herself physically and emotionally from Chaeyoung was overwhelming. She didn't know which was stronger—the hurt or the love.

Mina stepped outside into the cool air. The fresh air felt good, but the ache in her chest was still there.

It shouldn't be like this. She thought. She had decided to face it head on but here she was, hiding out of fear. Mina paced for a few moments, her breath coming in shallow bursts. She hated the tug-of-war between those emotions. She hated how both of them felt like they were controlling her, taking turns in the driver's seat of her heart. One minute, she was desperate to forgive, to let the love back in, and the next, she was filled with resentment and fear.

The contradiction was suffocating.

"Ms Myoui,"

Mina flinched at the sound of her name, her body stiffening as she turned around. Chaeyoung stood a few steps away, her posture hesitant yet earnest. It was Chaeyoung standing few steps away from her. Mina froze for a second, suddenly unsure of what to do. The desire to reach out, to fall into the comfort of Chaeyoung's presence, was intense but so was the urge to stay distant, to protect herself from the vulnerability that came with loving someone who had hurt her.

Chaeyoung took a cautious step forward, "Ms Myoui, I noticed you stepped away, and....I just wanted to check if you are okay? The machinery can be overwhelming" She spoke carefully, aware of how sensitive Mina was to loud noises and the chaos of the factory floor.

Mina swallowed hard. The anger was still there, but so was the love. So was the longing.

What do I do with this?

Her heart felt like it was being pulled in two directions, torn apart by emotions that refused to coexist in peace.

"I'm fine," Mina replied, brushing past Chaeyoung as she headed toward the factory. Chaeyoung reached out, grabbing her arm, wanting to insist that Mina didn't need to go and that she would handle things instead. But before Chaeyoung could speak, Mina shoved her away with force, making Chaeyoung stumble back slightly.