She didn’t believe the stories. They called you an angel. A goddess. A walking fantasy with eyes like dusk and hands that pulled people out of hell and didn’t ask for anything in return. You were rich—obscenely rich. A trillionaire, born of silk and shadow. Your face lit up runways. Your name made CEOs stutter.

But Sae-byeok didn’t believe in women like that. You weren’t real. You couldn’t be.

So when she spotted you—alone, late at night, walking out of a run-down gas station with a bag of cheap snacks and no bodyguard—she didn’t think twice.

She just moved. Quick. Clean. Practiced. Wallet. Gone.

“You dropped something.”

Your voice—smooth, calm, and behind her.

She ran. Boots slamming concrete. Alley maze. Then—dead end.

She spun. And you were already there.

You dropped the snacks. Stepped in. One hand slammed against the wall beside her head, the other on her hip. Back to the brick. Body-to-body.

Your lips brushed her ear.

“If you’re going to steal from me,” you whispered, “have the decency to look me in the eyes while you do it.”

Her breath hitched. Your knee slipped between her thighs—barely. Her fists clenched. She didn’t move.

“You’re beautiful,” you said. “And stubborn. I like both.”

You took your wallet from her hoodie and smirked. “You can keep the gummies. But next time… steal something I won’t give back.”

You stepped away like it was nothing. And she followed.

She didn’t mean to. Her body moved on its own. Her pride masked everything. But inside— She was SCREAMING.

She just met you. The you.

She caught up just as you reached your car.

“I need money,” she said tightly. “My mom’s sick. My brother—Cheol—he’s still in the children’s home.”

You paused. “I’ll give it to you.”

She squinted. “What do you want?”

“My family’s forcing me into an arranged marriage—with a man,” you said, voice quiet but sharp. “I don’t want him. I want a woman.”

You stepped closer.

“So marry me.”

Sae-byeok blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Be my wife. Publicly. You’ll get the money. And I get to stay free.”

She was panicking inside. “This is insane.”

You leaned in, brushing her hair behind her ear. “You already let me pin you to a wall. Is it really that crazy?”

Her knees almost gave out.

“…Do I get my own room?”

You smiled. “Do you want one?”

And god help her— She didn’t know how to answer.