Everything Was Forced ➳ hwang hyunjin × oc

014 | A Silent Embrace

Chapter 14: A Silent Embrace
written in hwang hyunjin's pov

"Good evening, Mr. Hwang. Do you have a moment to review our invitations? I need your confirmation before our team distributes them tomorrow morning." Yoonchae said, walking towards my desk with her hands full of invitations.

"Of course." I replied, gesturing for her to place them down.

As my secretary laid the invitations in front of me, I began flipping through them, making me feel a sense of satisfaction right away. Each envelope was crisp and elegantly designed, embodying the vision and passion that had fueled the creation of HYUN.E.

My fingers brushed over the names printed on the luxurious paper, a mix of pride and anxiety swirling in my chest.

This was my chance to showcase my work, to prove myself in an industry where I had always felt overshadowed.

But as I moved deeper into the stack, I came across the names of my parents and Seungmin, neatly written on the pristine paper.

A deep sigh escaped my lips as I felt my heart sink.

Should I even invite them?

That thought lingered, accompanied by a familiar wave of frustration that seemed to never leave my chest. I couldn't help but wonder what my family would think upon receiving this invitation.

Would Seungmin see this as a declaration of war?

Would Mom hesitate till the last second if she'd come or not?

Would Dad even bother opening an envelope I've sent?

I don't really care how Seungmin will react; if this would provoke him and fuel our rivalry even more. I'd happily compete with him for the rest of my life. It was my parents' recognition that I longed for, their validation that had always felt out of reach.

Especially Dad's...

I traced my fingers over the elegant lettering of my father's name, feeling tears threaten to fall as vivid memories flooded back.

"Are you all set, Mr. Hwang?" Yoonchae asked, snapping me back to reality.

I stared at an empty space, struggling to give a decent answer as my mind remained tangled with heavy thoughts.

"Do you need more time?" She asked in a respectful tone.

With a heavy sigh, I slowly shook my head, tucking the invitations meant for my family into the drawer beneath my desk.

"All good." I said, faking a smile as I neatly arranged the remaining invitations before giving them back to her.

"Thank you, Mr. Hwang! I'll ensure that every guest receives their respective invitations." Yoonchae replied, assuring me with a warm smile. "I'll head out for the night now, but please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything further."

"Thank you for your hard work, Yoonchae. Have a safe trip home." I said, trying to keep my tone light as I bid goodbye. "I'll see you in the morning."

With that, she made my way out of my office, closing the door softly.

I was alone once more, and the weight of exhaustion crashed over me. I closed my eyes, letting the silence embrace me.

Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

But it wasn't that long when I woke up from the sudden buzz from my phone, pulling me from a dream I couldn't quite grasp.

I squinted at the screen, wincing at the bright light, and saw a notification from a news outlet.