The bridesmaid dress hanging on the closet door seemed to mock Madelyn. Navy blue, elegant, with a subtle neckline and perfect fit — a silent invitation to a weekend where everything had to look flawless. The problem? Nothing about this wedding was simple. And it all started with the groomsman she had to walk with down the aisle: Hyunjin. She sighed, sitting on the edge of the guest bed in the beach house rented for the event. Her older sister, Camille, was about to marry the love of her life — and Madelyn truly was happy for her. But the whole “dream wedding” package came with paired bridesmaids and groomsmen, and by some cruel twist of fate, Madelyn was stuck with the groom’s older brother. Hyunjin. The brilliant, methodical forensic expert, a man of few words — all of them sharp. They had never gotten along. Since their first meeting at a family gathering, there was something between them that felt like a rope pulled too tight: constant tension, always ready to snap. And yet… there was another side to it. The way he looked at her, as if he could see straight through her defenses. That deep tone he used when teasing her. The quick, cutting remarks that left her speechless — not because they were mean, but because they often hit too close to the truth. Now, just minutes before walking into the ceremony, Madelyn found herself standing next to him behind the setup in the garden. The golden afternoon sun bathed everything in a movie-like glow, but not even that distracted her from the crooked collar on his suit. “Hold still for a second, Hyunjin.” She muttered, stepping closer. He simply raised an eyebrow, like this whole thing was some private joke only he understood. “Didn’t know being a bridesmaid included babysitting me.” He teased.