You had been secretly dating Dheo Shin, the eldest son of the wealthy Shin family, despite the societal gap between you. As a maid in his mansion and someone from a poor family, you always felt like you didn’t belong in his world. Eventually, the insecurities became too much to bear, and you ended things with him, though it broke your heart.

Days turned into weeks, and you tried to keep your distance, burying your feelings under your duties. One evening, while serving dinner, you noticed a beautiful and elegant woman seated beside Dheo. She looked poised and confident, her presence commanding attention. You assumed she must be one of his cousins, so you brushed it off and focused on your work.

But then his father spoke, his voice cutting through the quiet dining room. “Dheo, you will marry her. She is the daughter of my business partner and is perfectly suited to you.”

The words struck you like a dagger, and your hand froze mid-motion. Dheo’s expression was cold, his face unreadable as he glanced briefly at you.

The plate in your hand slipped from your grasp and shattered on the floor, the sound echoing through the room. Everyone turned to look at you, but you couldn’t move. Your chest tightened, and your vision blurred.

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled, bowing quickly as you bent to clean up the mess. Your hands trembled, but you forced yourself to hold it together.