Chapter 33:
Do you know why that message hurt me so much?
Because it sounded like the beginning of the end.
The end of something peaceful.
Something beautiful.
Who would have thought that all those romance dramas and series I used to dream about would somehow become my real life?
The problem is
I only wanted the romance part.
Not the misunderstandings.
Not the emotional pain.
Not the challenges and impossible situations.
And now, for the first time, I found myself wondering:
Is our relationship even strong enough to survive this?
That evening, I left the house knowing it might be the last time I called Jack my boyfriend.
When I reached the park, he was already there.
Like always.
Sitting quietly under the soft glow of the streetlights, wearing only a simple t-shirt and jeans.
And somehow
Even dressed that casually, he still looked unbelievably handsome.
Cool.
Comforting.
Untouchable.
The kind of person who naturally made your heart skip a beat.
Looking at him now, I suddenly thought:
There was never any way someone like him could truly belong to someone like me.
Maybe this was simply reality finally catching up to me.
As if sensing my presence, he suddenly turned toward me.
Then he smiled softly and waved.
That smile alone almost weakened my resolve.
I slowly approached him while trying to maintain some emotional distance.
The moment I sat down beside him, he handed me something.
"I got ice cream."
I stared at it blankly.
Seriously?
At a time like this?
I quietly took it and placed it beside me without touching it.
When I turned back toward him
He gently kissed my forehead.
My mind immediately went blank.
Heat rushed to my face so quickly that I became embarrassed and frustrated at the same time.
Why was my heart still reacting like this?
I didn't even know if I wanted to be comforted or angry anymore.
Then Jack finally spoke.
"I'm really glad you went home safely."
His voice sounded tired.
"I was worried when I couldn't reach you. I know I have a lot to explain, but honestly… I was just relieved knowing you were okay."
He paused briefly before adding:
"You were my responsibility during this trip."
Something inside me snapped immediately.
I stood up from the bench and looked at him.
"Fine," I said quietly. "Then explain it without touching me."
He looked slightly stunned.
"Jack… I don't even know what you expect from this relationship anymore."
I took a shaky breath.
"You live in a completely different world than me."
"Rich friends. A beautiful family. A giant villa. Influential people everywhere. A life I don't even understand."
Then finally
"A beautiful fiancée."
The moment those words left my mouth, guilt immediately crossed his face.
Real guilt.
He lowered his eyes before sighing softly.
"So this is how insecure I made you feel this whole time…"
His voice carried genuine regret.
"I'm sorry, Lea."
For a moment, the only sound between us was the wind moving through the trees.
Then he finally began speaking again.
"My father owns one of the biggest construction conglomerates in the country," he explained calmly. "And naturally, he wants me to inherit everything someday."
I quietly listened.
"A huge part of his success comes from his connection with the owner of the country's largest media company. Their partnership keeps both businesses powerful."
He smiled bitterly.
"And that's where Faye's family comes in."
Suddenly, everything started making sense.
"For a long time," he continued, "I thought that was simply the life I was supposed to live."
He looked away toward the park lights.
"So I accepted the engagement."
His voice sounded empty when he said it.
"Then I met Faye."
He paused.
"But before anything meaningful could even happen between us… May became sick."
The softness in his expression when mentioning his sister immediately changed the atmosphere around him.
"And that changed everything for me."
He looked back at me quietly.
"When someone you love is suffering, you suddenly realize how meaningless status and contracts can become."
"No amount of money guarantees happiness."
"No business partnership guarantees peace."
"And no title guarantees that the people you love will stay alive."
I could feel my chest tightening while listening to him.
"So I decided I wanted to become a doctor instead."
I blinked in surprise.
"But of course," he said with a bitter laugh, "my family didn't agree."
"Faye's father, especially."
"He made it clear that if there was no future business connection, then there was no point maintaining the engagement either."
"So many things became complicated at once."
Then he looked directly at me.
"And through all of it… my relationship with Faye never felt real."
His voice lowered softly.
"Everything around me felt fake."
The park suddenly felt incredibly quiet.
"But once May got better…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I wanted to experience a normal life."
"A life where I could simply be myself."
"A life where I could choose what I wanted."
Then his eyes softened completely while looking at me.
"And then I met you."
My heart trembled instantly.
"You were like this small hidden light trying so hard to shine."
His voice became gentler with every word.
"I was exhausted."
"I was looking for comfort without realizing it."
"And somehow…"
He smiled softly.
"I found refuge in your laugh, your strange reactions, your kindness… and all the little cute things you do without noticing."
The way he said it
so openly.
So sincerely.
It reached deep inside me again.
And that scared me.
Because despite everything
despite the confusion, despite the hurt
I still loved him.
And I still couldn't tell if I truly belonged in his world.
Then Jack continued softly: