CS Chapter 34

Time flew by, and finally, it was the eve of the wedding. In the meantime, Seowoo had taken wedding photos, chosen wedding bands, and spent her days busy as a bride-to-be.

 

After tonight, she would marry Cha Minjun. How had her life come to this? She still couldn’t believe it, often pinching her cheeks hard, something that man would never know.

 

“Ha, I can’t sleep. This is bad.”

 

Even though she had to get up at dawn to go to the makeup salon, her heart kept fluttering, making it impossible to fall asleep.

 

Everything just worried her. Her grandfather’s health issues, her own future, and above all, the thing that bothered her the most… was, of course, her family.

 

As Minjun suggested, she sent them wedding invitations, but didn’t contact them separately. They might think it was inconsiderate, but at least for her, this was the best option.

 

Thinking of her family still made her head spin. Whether they attended the wedding or not, she knew it would upset her either way.

 

Perhaps it was because of her sleeplessness, but a documentary about cults she happened to see a few days ago suddenly came to mind. Seowoo had watched with keen interest the confession of a man who had once been a high-ranking member of a cult.

 

-“My past involvement in a cult is a history of shame. I deeply regret it and feel ashamed dozens of times a day. If it weren’t for the help of my loving family, I would never have escaped the doctrine.”

 

The man shed tears of anguish, but relatively calmly explained how he had become involved in the cult. He said that cults prey on people when they are at their weakest, most vulnerable, and in utter despair.

 

-“Falling into a cult is no different from drug addiction. They brainwash you, saying that only those who believe in the religion will go to heaven, and that any act against it will result in death.”

 

The most important thing to escape a cult was to cut ties with its members. He explained that even if it meant forced hospitalization, contact with them had to be completely blocked. Of course, he added that this required the essential help of family and others.

 

He said that at first, families would resent the family member who fell into the cult and want to give up everything, but he repeatedly pleaded with viewers not to give up. He delivered a somewhat hopeful message that if the family doesn’t give up, an end to the arduous struggle will eventually come.

 

-“It’s the deceiver who is evil, not the deceived.”

 

The man’s words, urging them not to let go of their family’s hand, pierced her like a dagger. Seowoo had already let go of their hands long ago. It was only natural to feel a pang of guilt. She briefly wondered if she could fix it now, but again, she thought there was nothing she could do on her own.

 

Unable to bear the suffocating feeling, Seowoo flung open the window. The cool outside air finally made her feel like she could breathe. Countless stars twinkled beautifully in the night sky, as if blessing her marriage.

 

“Is this marriage… the right thing to do…?”

 

She asked herself, but couldn’t find an answer. Her life was still full of confusion.

 

As she stared blankly at the night sky for a long time, she thought of Cha Minjun. Her face flushed red. She remembered the moment she had blurted out nonsense to him.

 

“Do you have something to say?”

 

“Um… are you going to be okay on your own?”

 

“What difference does it make if you’re here?”

 

“Still… if it’s any comfort to you, I want to be by your side.”

 

“What are you going to do? Comfort me with your body?”

 

At first, she just wanted to comfort him and stay by his side, but his provocation, however unintentional, made her blurt out something absurd.

 

“That milky smell you mentioned, Mr. Minjun… how can I get rid of it…?” 

 

“…Huh, what?”

 

“Or… can you get rid of it for me? You, Mr. Cha Minjun.”

 

She couldn’t understand what possessed her to say such a thing. By the time she came to her senses, Cha Minjun’s large hand was rummaging inside her clothes, and his hot breath fell on her nape like a brand.

 

“…….”

 

Recalling that moment made her face burn.

 

The most ridiculous thing was that, at least for that moment, she had been completely sincere. If he had only said he wanted her, she would have been ready to fall into his arms.

 

Why? Do I… like him?

 

Seowoo asked herself again, recalling the feelings she had felt that day, but once again, she couldn’t define them clearly.

 

“Ha…”

 

It was a confusing wedding eve.

 

***

 

After Seowoo finished her hair, makeup, and other wedding preparations, a dazzlingly ornate tiara was placed on her head.

 

Wearing something worth tens of billions of won on her head made her neck stiff. She instinctively straightened her posture, afraid she might drop the tiara.

 

The tiara, studded with hundreds of diamonds, was a gift from Cha Jinwoong. It was a meaningful gift, the only one of its kind in the world, crafted by a famous Italian jewelry brand exclusively for Ji Seowoo.

 

Remembering her grandfather’s words, telling her to live like a queen wearing this crown, Seowoo looked directly at her reflection in the mirror.

 

“I’ve been in the wedding business for 30 years, and I can say with confidence that you are the most beautiful bride.”

 

The staff member’s flattering comment was a bit embarrassing, but she couldn’t help but keep looking in the mirror, thinking she didn’t look bad. She wanted to keep this image in her eyes for a long time, as she had never been this beautiful in her life, and she felt like she never would be again.

 

As soon as the bride finished getting ready, the heavy sound of dress shoes echoed from afar. Cha Minjun, appearing in a jet-black tuxedo, looked like an alluring black swan.

 

Seowoo held her breath for a moment, gazing at him. She already knew he was a handsome man, but at this moment, he was breathtakingly beautiful.

 

“Are you ready?”

 

He tilted his head and examined Ji Seowoo carefully. The bride’s face flushed to her ears, self-conscious under his gaze.

 

“You look beautiful.”

 

“……Thank you. You look dashing too, Mr. Minjun.”

 

Seowoo deliberately avoided his eyes, not wanting him to see her wandering gaze. It was her wedding day, so his words were probably meaningless, yet her heart pounded with every word he uttered.

 

As they rode together in the wedding car to the venue, she stared out the window in awkward silence. Cha Minjun was the first to speak, slowly.

 

“Ji Seowoo.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“Choose. This is your last chance.”

 

“What… chance?”

 

He turned his head and looked at her face for a long moment before continuing.

 

“Your last chance to run away.”

 

“……!”

 

“You ran away right before becoming a cult leader’s bride, right? So I’m giving you one last chance.”

 

It was strange. His words were clearly meant to be considerate for her sake, yet Seowoo felt her heart crumble.

 

Seeing her hesitate, unsure how to respond, he pressed the point.

 

“If you’re going to run away from me, run away now.”