The Engagement Nobody Wanted

Chang hated three things in life.

Late meetings. Fake smiles.

And Yunjin.

Unfortunately, all three stood right in front of him.

The chandelier above the banquet hall glittered like it was mocking him. Rich laughter echoed, crystal glasses clinked, and at the center of it all—his parents stood proudly, announcing the worst news of his life.

“Everyone,” Chang’s father said, smiling like he’d just won a war,

“We’re happy to announce the engagement of our son, Chang, and Miss Yunjin.”

Silence.

Then applause.

Chang turned his head slowly.

Yunjin stood beside him in a pale blue dress, her posture perfect, her smile polite—and her eyes burning with pure hatred.

She leaned closer, teeth clenched.

“Don’t smile,” she whispered. “People might think you’re happy.”

Chang smirked. “Don’t worry. I’d rather jump off this building.”

Her smile widened for the guests. “Same.”

They were both 24. Both successful. Both stubborn.

And now—fiancés.

Chang had known Yunjin since childhood.

She was sharp-tongued, fearless, and impossible to control.

And she knew him just as well.

Arrogant. Calculated. Always ten steps ahead.

They had competed in everything—grades, business deals, even family praise.

Love had never been part of the equation.

Yet here they were.

Bound by their parents’ ambition.

After the applause faded, Yunjin turned to him, voice low.

“This engagement?” she said. “It’s not real.”

Chang raised an eyebrow. “Good. Because I don’t plan on being loyal.”

She laughed softly—dangerously.

“Neither do I.”

And just like that, the war began.

Chapter 2: Rules of Hate

Three days later.

Chang opened the door to his penthouse—and froze.

Yunjin stood inside.

Arms crossed. Suitcase beside her. Calm. Confident. Infuriating.

She looked like she belonged there. That annoyed him more than her presence.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he snapped, shutting the door harder than necessary.

She didn’t flinch.

Instead, she reached into her bag and tossed a document onto the marble table.

“Read.”

He scanned it once.

Then again.

His jaw tightened.

Cohabitation clause.

“For image purposes,” Chang read aloud bitterly, his voice dripping with sarcasm,

“our families require us to live together until the wedding.”

He looked up slowly. “You moved in without telling me?”

She smiled sweetly—too sweet. “You were busy pretending this wasn’t happening.”

Chang dropped the paper onto the table.

“This is my house.”

“And now,” she replied, wheeling her suitcase past him toward the hallway,

“it’s our battlefield.”

He watched her walk in like she owned the place, opening doors, inspecting rooms. Too comfortable. Too confident.

“You’ll take the guest room,” Chang said sharply.

Yunjin stopped, turned, and raised an eyebrow.

“I already chose the master bedroom.”

Silence exploded between them.

“You’re joking,” he said.

She stepped closer, eyes challenging. “Check again.”

For a moment, Chang considered throwing her suitcase straight out the balcony.

Instead, he laughed—low and dangerous.

“Fine. Take it. I don’t sleep much anyway.”

That night, they sat across from each other at the dining table like rivals negotiating a ceasefire.

“We need rules,” Yunjin said, folding her arms.

Chang nodded. “Agreed.”

He grabbed a pen.

“Rule one,” he said. “No touching.”

“Good,” she replied instantly. “I don’t want your hands anywhere near me.”

“Rule two,” he continued. “No questions about personal life.”

Her eyes flickered—just for a second.

“Accepted.”

“Rule three,” Chang said slowly, watching her reaction,

“No feelings.”

She laughed. A sharp, humorless sound.

“Trust me. That won’t be a problem.”

He wrote the last line.

“Absolute secrecy about our real relationship.”

Yunjin leaned back, studying him.

“So we pretend to be the perfect couple in public… and enemies in private.”

Chang smirked. “We already excel at that.”

They both stood at the same time.

Easy.

Or so they thought.

Because Chang didn’t know Yunjin had enemies watching her—people who smiled at her in daylight and planned her downfall in the dark.

And Yunjin didn’t know Chang was already involved in something dangerous—something illegal, powerful, and deadly enough to drag her into its shadow.

That night, as Yunjin lay awake in a house that didn’t feel like home, she stared at the ceiling, sensing eyes on her life she couldn’t see.

And across the hall, Chang stood by the window, phone pressed to his ear, voice low.

“She’s moved in,” he said.

A pause.

“Yes. I’ll handle it.”

The closer they were forced to be…

The harder it became to hate.

And the easier it became to get hurt.

Yunjin discovered something important at exactly 6:47 a.m.

Chang was unbearable in the morning.

She walked into the kitchen, hair tied messily, half-asleep, craving coffee—and froze.

Chang stood there shirtless.

Very shirtless.

Leaning casually against the counter. Coffee mug in hand. Looking illegally good.

She blinked.

Once.

Then loudly cleared her throat and turned away.

“Do you not own shirts?”

Chang smirked without looking at her. “Do you not knock?”

“It’s a kitchen,” she snapped. “Not your bedroom.”

He took a slow sip of coffee, watching her reflection in the microwave.

“You’re standing in my kitchen.”

She grabbed the coffee machine. “Our kitchen. Learn the difference.”

Silence.

Then—

“You’re using it wrong.”

She pressed a button harder.

“I didn’t ask.”

The machine made a violent choking sound and stopped.

Yunjin stared at it.

Chang sighed like a disappointed parent.

“Congratulations. You killed it.”

She glared. “It was already broken.”

“It worked five minutes ago.”

“Then it’s sensitive. Like its owner.”

He laughed. Actually laughed.

That annoyed her more.

By noon, war officially began.

Chang found sticky notes everywhere.

DON’T TOUCH THIS.

THIS IS MINE.

STOP EATING MY FOOD.

He added his own.

YOU ATE IT FIRST.

THIS IS STILL MY HOUSE.

STOP MOVING MY THINGS.

Yunjin read them, unimpressed.

She replaced one with a new note:

STOP BREATHING SO LOUD.

Chang stared at it for a full ten seconds.

Then smiled. “Oh, it’s like that.”

That evening, guests arrived unexpectedly.

Chang’s parents.

Yunjin nearly choked on water.

“You didn’t tell me!” she hissed.

“You didn’t ask,” he replied calmly, already fixing his hair.

“Rule two,” she reminded him. “No personal life.”

“This,” Chang said, opening the door, “is public life.”

His mother hugged Yunjin warmly.

“You look so happy living together.”

Yunjin forced a smile. Chang slipped an arm around her waist.

She froze.

He leaned close. “Rule one doesn’t apply in front of witnesses.”

She stepped on his foot.

Hard.

He didn’t flinch.

Dinner was chaos.

Chang fed her food she didn’t want.

Yunjin complimented him like he was a toddler.

“You did such a good job cutting the vegetables,” she said sweetly.

His father beamed. Chang’s eye twitched.

After they left, the door shut.

Silence.

Chang turned slowly. “You enjoyed that.”

Yunjin grinned. “Immensely.”

Later that night, she found him on the couch.

Sleeping.

Blanket half on. Hair messy. Peaceful.

For the first time—

He didn’t look like her enemy.

She shook the thought away violently.

“Don’t be stupid,” she muttered, turning off the light.

From the couch, Chang opened one eye.

“Goodnight, battlefield,” he murmured.

And Yunjin smiled before she realized she was smiling.

_________________________________

Chang → CEO & Creative Director of a luxury architecture + real-estate firm (family empire)

Yunjin → Senior Brand Strategist / Designer at a rival luxury lifestyle company

👉 Their companies collaborate and compete — perfect chaos.

__________________________________

Chapter 4: Power Suits & Coffee Wars

Morning came with violence.

Not alarms.

Arguments.

“Why is my alarm ringing?” Chang snapped, slapping his phone.

Yunjin, brushing her teeth, spoke around the toothbrush.

“Because you set it.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did. 6 a.m. labeled Rise and dominate.”

She smirked.

Chang groaned. “I hate you.”

“Good morning to you too, fiancé.”

They collided in the hallway minutes later—both dressed to kill.

Chang in a tailored black suit, hair perfectly styled, watch gleaming.

Yunjin in a cream blazer, sleek trousers, sharp heels—elegant and dangerous.

They stared.

Too long.

Yunjin broke it first. “Don’t get ideas.”

Chang raised an eyebrow. “You’re the one staring.”

“I was checking if arrogance had a uniform.”

He stepped closer. “And?”

“Fits perfectly.”

The elevator ride was silent.

Until—

“You’re late today,” Chang said casually.

She glanced at him. “How would you know?”

“Your company meeting starts at nine.”

Her head snapped toward him. “Why do you know my schedule?”

He smiled thinly. “Because my firm is partnering with yours. Presentation. Same building.”

Of course.

Fate hated her.

“So,” she said sweetly, “try not to embarrass yourself in front of my team.”

He chuckled. “I own the building.”

At the office lobby, heads turned.

Whispers followed.

“They came together…”

“Are they married already?”

“Power couple?”

Chang placed a hand at Yunjin’s lower back.

Professional. Intimate. Public.

She leaned in and whispered, “Move your hand or lose it.”

“Smile,” he murmured. “Cameras.”

She smiled.

And stepped on his foot again.

The meeting was war.

Yunjin presented sharp, confident, flawless.

Chang challenged every point—with a smirk.

Back and forth.

Fire.

When it ended, the room applauded.

Outside the conference room—

“You planned that,” she accused.

He shrugged. “You were impressive.”

She paused.

“Don’t compliment me,” she said. “It’s unsettling.”

He leaned closer. “Get used to it. We’re engaged.”

She rolled her eyes and walked away.

Chang watched her go, lips curving.

Work was going to be fun.

And very, very dangerous.