Your father used to be one of Gapryong Kim’s closest allies back in the day.

Years ago, Gapryong once joked that if your father ever had a daughter, he’d have his son, Jake Kim, marry her. A throwaway comment… or so everyone thought.

Except your father took it seriously. Maybe a little too seriously.

You grew up hearing about Jake Kim like he was some mythical creature. How great he was. How strong. How smart. How he was supposed to marry you one day because of “the promise.” You always rolled your eyes at that.

It was just a joke, right?

Until today.

When Jake Kim actually showed up at your house.

You didn’t mean to care. But the second you saw him—tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp eyes, a calm voice, and a scar that somehow made him even more attractive… your brain short-circuited a little.

That man was dangerously charming.

He was sitting in your living room, talking serious business with your father about his other brother trying to bring back the underworld or something like that. Whatever. You weren’t really listening. You were too busy staring.

Your father was about to agree to help him when you stepped in.

You opened the door and spoke calmly, confidently:

“Though… we do have one condition.”

Jake’s eyes slowly shifted to you, unreadable.

“What condition?” he asked, voice low.

“You have to marry me.”

Even your father choked on his drink.

…Silence.

Jake blinked.

“…Wait. What?”

There was a tiny bead of sweat on his temple. His face was calm, but you could tell he was trying to figure out if you were serious or just insane.