Ransomed Fiancée (Michaeng) ✔️

Summary (Part 33)

Chapter 62:

"What do you think as my legal advisor?" Mina asked as she sat on couch. Her voice was calm but the tension in her posture betrayed her. Tzuyu sat with her legs crossed across of her with the marriage contract open on her lap. Her glasses rested steadily on the bridge of her nose as she scanned the fine print.

"The marriage contract is... not bad," Tzuyu admitted then set the document down. "It's the fastest and least damaging solution, legally speaking." She hesitated then looked directly at Mina. "But as your friend and Chaeyoung's friend, I really hope you won't choose this. It'll hurt you both in ways I don't think you're ready for."

Mina leaned back, titling her head slightly as she stared at the ceiling. "If I don't choose this, GroundUp will have no hope in the future," she said quietly.

"We can fight," Tzuyu said, "But you need to know what that means. It'll be messy. Long. You'll risk everything. Your reputation, your company and Chaeyoung's too. The backlash will escalate and there's no guarantee of victory. Even if we win in court, the damage to public perception will take years to repair."

Mina closed her eyes for a brief moment. It had taken her years of relentless effort to build her company into what it was today. And it wasn't just a business. It was her father's legacy. Every corner of Velore carried traces of him. Letting it fall into someone else's hands would mean more than just failure. It would mean erasing the last connection she had to him.

Could she truly let it crumble? Could she let go of the legacy she had fought so hard to uphold?

Her mind swirled with memories of her father's voice. And yet, another voice cut through it all, Chaeyoung's. The warmth of her smile, her touch.

"I can lose," Mina whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "I can lose everything for her."

The admission felt like a sharp blade cutting through her heart. The ache so deep it almost stole her breath. But even as she spoke the words, there were doubt lingered just around the corner. She opened her eyes and stared blankly at the contract on the table. The real question was not about her sacrifice, it was about Chaeyoung's choice.

"But... will she choose me over GroundUp?" Mina added.

The words hung in the air filled with uncertainty. For all of Mina's willingness to risk everything, she didn't know if Chaeyoung could do the same. After all, Chaeyoung had her own battles to fight, her own people to protect. Mina's hands clenched into fists on her lap. No matter how much she wanted to believe in them, in their love, the fear of being left behind, of being second to something else, gnawed at her. Could she bear to sacrifice everything only to find that, in the end, she wasn't enough?

"GroundUp hasn't released a statement yet," Tzuyu broke the silence. Her voice hesitant.

Mina's lips curved into a weak smile. "What do you think, Tzuyu? What should I do?"

Tzuyu leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. "I think you should trust her,"

Mina turned her gaze toward Tzuyu, searching her expression for reassurance. "Do you think she'll trust me?"

"She's never doubted you," Tzuyu replied softly.

Mina exhaled sharply,"The executives are forcing me to cut ties with her," she confessed, bitterness creeping into her voice. "To publicly announce that there's nothing personal between us. They want me to betray her in front of the world." Her fingers curled into fists on her lap.