His CEO

labyrinth

"Insung... they already know about Jihyun."

Jihyo's voice trembled as she said it, her fingers gripping her phone so tightly.

Her phone buzzed again and again with more headlines and stories that Jihyo couldn't bring herself to look at them anymore. The first few notifications had been enough to set her world on fire.

"What are we going to do?" she asked. "We can't let them... drag Jihyun into this. She's just a child, Insung. This is exactly what I was afraid of..." Her voice wavered, the tears building in her eyes finally spilling over. "It's happening again... and... and it's all my fault..."

Her words broke apart at the end, her shoulders shaking as the sobs she had been trying to suppress finally escaped. She buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed by guilt and fear that crashed over her.

For a moment, the only sound in the car was her soft, broken cry. Insung immediately removed his seatbelt and moved over to hug her. He had seen Jihyo in difficult moments before, but he knew this was different.

This was her breaking point.

"Jihyo," he whispered. "None of this is your fault."

She shook her head, her tears falling harder now. "But it is, I—" she sobbed, her voice cracking.

"Look at me," Insung interrupted as he cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his eyes. His thumbs gently brushed away the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks. "I need you to listen to me, okay?" he continued.

"W-What?"

"I've been thinking about this ever since you left for your business trip..." Insung sighed as he gathered his thoughts, "you know, after everything I've been through with my father, after spending my entire life trying to live up to his expectations, I thought that was it. I thought I was done. I convinced myself that love... wasn't meant to happen to me."

Jihyo's tears were still falling, but now quieter as she listened to him speak.

"I spent so many years being the man my father wanted me to be. I did everything he asked of me. I buried myself in work and prepared myself to take over King's Group like I was supposed to, I followed every rule he laid out for me. I thought that was the only way to live. The only way to be successful." Insung paused to hold her hand. "But you suddenly came to my life and none of that mattered anymore," He continued, genuinely looking into her eyes. "You made me realize that there was more to life than duty. That I didn't have to live in my father's shadow. I fell in love with you so quickly, so completely... before I even knew what was happening. You made me want to put everything behind me—every expectation, every responsibility—just to be with you."

Jihyo let out a shaky breath, her heart racing as she heard the sincerity in his voice. She had always known Insung loved her, but hearing him speak like this made her realize just how deep his feelings ran.

"Yet when you left," Insung whispered. "I tried to go back to being the man I was before—the man who didn't need love. The man who didn't need you. But... I couldn't. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I couldn't stop wanting to be with you."

"Yah, Jo Insung. W-Why are you saying these things to me?"

"Jihyo-yah, we both know things didn't start out perfectly way way back—"

"Are you going to break up with me?"

"No, silly," he laughed, trying to lighten up the mood for a bit, then his hands tightened around hers. "Do you remember what I told you back then?" he muttered. "I said I belong to you and Jihyun. And I meant it. I mean it even more now." Insung continued. "I'm going to spend every day of my life making sure you and Jihyun are happy. That's my only goal now. I don't care about anything else. You and Jihyun are my family, I will protect you with everything I have. I will fight for this family, even if it leaves me with nothing. I'm going to be the best man I can be for you both."