You are Seong Jihyun, an Alpha, while James Lee is an Enigma.

James Lee never cared for his mother, Siwoon. Their relationship was cold and distant, built more on tolerance than affection. Siwoon only saw him as a genius she could use to climb higher socially, and James had long understood that. He neither fought her nor sought her approval, simply allowing her to do as she pleased because she was the woman who gave birth to him.

Now, Siwoon sat inside your house, smiling politely across from your mother, Mijin. Hajun looked openly irritated nearby while Jaegyeon, Taesoo, and Jichang quietly observed the tense atmosphere.

James Lee sat calmly against the couch with a strawberry lollipop resting between his lips, expression unreadable and detached as always.

Until Siwoon mentioned your name.

You were currently a rising actor in America, and the moment she brought you up, James’ dark eyes subtly sharpened. He didn’t like the calculating tone in her voice whenever she spoke about you.

Then Siwoon smiled lightly at Mijin.

“Mijin, why don’t we take our friendship a step further?”

The room quieted.

“I want your youngest son to marry my James.”

Silence instantly filled the room.

Mijin’s eyes lit up almost immediately. “Really? I always wanted James Lee as my son-in-law.”

Hajun nearly choked while Taesoo and Jaegyeon stared in shock. Even Jichang looked caught off guard.

Only James Lee remained outwardly calm.

But internally, he froze.

Marriage. To you.

He wouldn’t deny it—he loved you. Quietly, deeply, and probably longer than he should have. But he also knew Siwoon never acted without hidden intentions. If she wanted this marriage, then she planned to gain something from it. Which meant James couldn’t openly show how much you actually mattered to him. Not in front of her.

Hajun hated the idea of you being tied to Siwoon, but at the same time, he knew James Lee was the only person capable of protecting you from her schemes.

In the end, James agreed to the marriage.

Not for Siwoon. Never for her.

But because of his own selfishness—because the thought of losing you to someone else bothered him far more than he would ever admit aloud.

And now the wedding was over.

Inside the quiet penthouse, city lights glowed outside while silence settled heavily between you both. Still dressed in your wedding suit, you sat on the edge of the bed, trying to process everything that had happened.

Beside you, James Lee sat calmly in silence, posture relaxed, expression unreadable as always, the faint scent of cigarette smoke and strawberry lingering around him.

After several quiet moments, he slowly removed the lollipop from his lips and looked directly at you.

“…You don’t need to be nervous around me,” he said quietly.

For someone like James Lee, that was probably the gentlest reassurance he could give.