BENEATH HIS COLD EMPIRE

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He didn't even realize his legs were moving.

By the time he rushed out of the study, his pulse was racing and his pride—shattered somewhere behind him.

The echo of her words still burned in his mind:

> "You already do."

The hallway lights felt too bright, his thoughts too loud.

He turned the corner.

There she was.

Seo-rin, in an oversized sweater, barefoot, yawning as she padded down the hallway toward the kitchen. Completely unaware of the storm barreling toward her.

"Seo-rin!" he called out.

She paused, blinking in surprise as she turned around. "Jae-hy—"

"I like you!" he blurted out.

She froze.

The silence that followed was deafening. Even the air stopped moving.

Jae-hyun's chest heaved. His hands were shaking. His voice came out low, rough:

"I hate seeing you with him. I hate how you smile at him. I hate pretending I don't care—because I do. I care too damn much, and it's driving me insane."

Seo-rin's eyes slowly widened, her lips parting. And then—

She smiled.

That gentle, glowing, radiant smile that hit him harder than any bullet ever could.

"I knew it," she whispered.

Just then, slow clapping echoed from down the hall.

They both turned.

Taeyang stepped out of one of the guest rooms, grinning like a smug matchmaker.

"Took you long enough," he said, still clapping. "Damn, I thought I'd have to fake propose to her just to get a reaction."

Jae-hyun groaned and looked away, muttering something about killing him later.

Seo-rin laughed—really laughed—and stepped closer to Jae-hyun.

"Finally," she said softly. "You admitted it."

He couldn't meet her eyes. Not yet. But when her hand slipped into his…

He didn't pull away.

Not this time.

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