Chapter 5 …

In the blink of an eye, before she knew it, it was the day of Seoyoon’s wedding.

After trying on several outfits, Jeonghee spent a long time in front of the mirror adjusting every detail before finally leaving the house.

She wore a neat light-beige dress, and her long wavy hair was half tied up, revealing the graceful line of her slender neck. Her light makeup, more carefully done than usual, accentuated her clear and refined features.

Among all the clothes she owned, it was the most elegant outfit she could manage—simple, but by no means cheap-looking.

As expected of a wedding hosted by a chaebol family, security was strict from the very entrance of the hotel.

Bodyguards dressed in black suits were stationed everywhere.

The guests filling the lobby were all adorned in luxury brands, wearing relaxed smiles.

Standing among such dazzling attendees, the outfit Jeonghee had put so much effort into suddenly felt shabby.

It was another world entirely—a world perfectly separated from hers, one she could never reach no matter how hard she struggled throughout her life.

Only after her invitation and name were verified on the guest list was Jeonghee allowed into the lobby.

As she headed toward the bridal waiting room, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She had spotted a familiar face in the distance.

In front of the VIP lounge.

Seohun, who should have been greeting guests, was chatting casually with a group of friends surrounding him.

His neatly slicked-back hairstyle and perfectly fitted suit only enhanced his presence.

‘…That woman…’

But what caught Jeonghee’s attention was Shina, standing beside him.

With her perfectly styled hair and an expensive-looking dress that anyone could recognize at a glance, she stood confidently and naturally by his side.

The shallow inferiority complex she had tried so hard to suppress suddenly resurfaced.

And he expects me to trust him while acting like this?

Jeonghee had intended to pretend she hadn’t seen them and simply walk past.

Instead, she instinctively hid behind a pillar.

She had overheard their playful conversation.

“By the way, is it true you ran into Jeonghee at the department store?”

“Of course it’s true. She was out shopping with Seoyoon.”

Shina answered while recalling the memory.

“Right. Didn’t she say she and Seoyoon were best friends?”

“They did look pretty close.”

“That must’ve been interesting—the first meeting between the girlfriend and the fiancée.”

“Watch what you say. Jeonghee might misunderstand.”

Though Shina glared at them with an unusually serious expression, she naturally linked arms with Seohun despite saying it was a misunderstanding.

Then she turned her complaints toward him, who stood there silently.

“You’re at fault too, Seohun. Why are you hiding the fact that you meet me from your girlfriend?”

“Why am I suddenly the target?”

“Because you’re frustrating. I’m the one who ends up stuck in an awkward position.”

You say you’re busy, yet you have no problem eating meals and drinking coffee with me.

Though she sounded like she was sulking, her voice carried playful teasing rather than malice.

“As if I enjoy making time for every little thing.”

“Your father ordered it, right? Then you should explain things properly to Jeonghee too.”

“Forget it. This is all just part of business anyway.”

“You’re so cold. I feel bad, like we’re deceiving an innocent person.”

Jeonghee couldn’t even tell whether that was genuine concern or hypocritical pity disguised as sympathy.

Even though Seohun clearly understood what Shina meant, he merely smiled lightly and pretended not to notice.

He neither denied her words nor attempted to remove her arm from his.

Watching Seohun’s usual indifferent and arrogant demeanor, Jeonghee silently clenched her fists.

“Jung Shina, lower your volume. You’re hurting my ears.”

“Why? Did I say anything wrong?”

“Do I really have to listen to nagging even on Seoyoon’s wedding day?”

Seohun frowned as he spoke dismissively.

The friends around him chuckled.

“She’s right though, Shina. You do nag a lot.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“Since when do friends pick sides? Are you a kid?”

“Seriously, Jung Shina and that temper of hers.”

At some point, Jeonghee had become completely invisible in their conversation.

“Alright, enough. Seohun says he’s getting annoyed.”

“Fair enough. He’ll sort things out soon anyway. We got a little too carried away.”

Wasn’t that tone familiar?

Like children complaining about when to throw away a toy they had grown tired of playing with.

To them, Yoo Jeonghee, the woman who had dated Seohun for years, was exactly that kind of existence.

Nothing more than a toy that could be discarded whenever it became inconvenient.

“Oh right, how’s Seoyoon doing?”

“Who knows. She’s probably sitting in the bridal waiting room by now.”

“It’s your only sister’s wedding. Try to show some concern.”

Even after listening to Shina’s continued nagging, Seohun merely frowned indifferently.

Even from a distance, they looked like a perfectly matched couple.

The world surrounding Seohun was too high and too solid for Jeonghee to cross into.

No.

Perhaps there had never been any opening for her to squeeze into in the first place.

The fact that she didn’t even have the right to confront people who talked behind her back like this made her feel even more miserable.

Clenching her trembling hands tightly, Jeonghee endured the humiliation.

‘The only unwanted guest from the beginning… was me.’

Tears threatened to spill out like a fool’s.

But Jeonghee bit down so hard she nearly drew blood.

She couldn’t cry right now.

Today was her friend Seoyoon’s wedding.

And so, as if fleeing from the scene, she hurried toward the bridal waiting room where Seoyoon was.

* * *

‘Smile. It’s a happy day. Yoo Jeonghee, smile.’

Standing before the bustling bridal waiting room, Jeonghee forced the corners of her lips upward and put on a natural smile.

The last time she had seen Seoyoon was the day she met Shina.

After that, she had argued with Seohun several times and, using busyness as an excuse, had avoided almost all of Seoyoon’s calls as well.

If she looked upset here, it was obvious that attention would immediately shift to her relationship with Seohun.

“Ji Seoyoon! You look absolutely beautiful today!”

“What’s this? Yoo Jeonghee, you wouldn’t even meet me all this time.”

“So? Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“As if. I’m so happy I could cry.”

Though she shot Jeonghee a glare as she entered the waiting room acting unusually dramatic, Seoyoon welcomed her more warmly than anyone, as if she had been waiting for her.

“I told you I’d definitely come to your wedding.”

“Forget that. Do you know how long it’s been since I last saw your face?”

Grumbling, Seoyoon grabbed Jeonghee’s arm and pulled her beside her.

“Seoyoon, congratulations on your wedding.”

“I finally get to hear that. It was surprisingly hard to receive.”

“Sorry. I’ve been busy with one thing after another.”

Jeonghee smiled apologetically and slowly looked around the lavish bridal waiting room.

The chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

The fresh flowers surrounding the room to highlight the bride.

Even the deep pink velour chair enhanced the bride’s lovely appearance.

As the star of the wedding, Seoyoon shone more brightly than ever.

Watching her friend blend naturally into such surroundings, Jeonghee once again became painfully aware of how different she was from them.

A treasured daughter of a chaebol family.

And an orphan with no family.

People had always whispered the same thing.

That someone like Jeonghee didn’t belong beside Seoyoon.

That getting close to her would only bring trouble.

That she should keep some distance.

Ever since their school days, people had said such things whenever they saw Seoyoon and Jeonghee together.

Perhaps she should have been the one to distance herself back then.

The image of Seohun and Shina she had seen in the lobby moments ago overlapped with Seoyoon, making her feel even more pitiful.

“You seriously can’t take your eyes off me.”

“Why? Am I just that pretty today?”

“Yeah. Pretty enough to make me jealous.”

Handing over the gift she had prepared in advance, Jeonghee forced herself to laugh cheerfully.

“Yoo Jeonghee, what’s this? You even got me a gift.”

“Sorry. I bought it a long time ago, but never got the chance to give it to you.”

She couldn’t ruin her friend’s happiness by bringing up Seohun and casting a shadow over the day.

“At least you have a conscience. I’ll forgive you.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you very much.”

“This is why I can never give up my spot as Yoo Jeonghee’s best friend.”

Despite her grumbling, Seoyoon smiled brightly and stared at Jeonghee with obvious affection.