PROLOGUE
[Y/N'S POV]
Ten Years Old
Before Today, I've never heard of the term arranged marriage. And from the way my cousin, Heejin, is crying about it at her wedding, it sounds like a bad thing.
HJ: "Please don't make me do this," Heejin whimpers. "I'm in love with someone else."
Tears slip down her cheeks and smear her mascara.
Rumor has it, Heejin went off to college and fell in love. He comes from a long line of law enforcement. Marrying such a man would put shame on our family.
We're gathered in the bridal suite to prepare for her special day. The maid of honor is in the corner, chugging champagne.
My mother kneels at my feet and fluffs my flower girl dress to perfection while my sister Serim whines about wearing pink.
Aunt: "Love is for idiots, my dear daughter."
My aunt scoffs.Heejin's sobs grow louder.
HJ: "I don't love Suho." Heejin says her fiancé's name with a sneer.
My mother pauses her fluffing to swat at Heejin's ankles and glowers at her.
Y/n's Mom: "Your heart belongs to you and only you, my beautiful girl." She captures Heejin's hand and gently squeezes it.
Y/n's Mom: "We never give something so valuable of ourselves to anyone." Heejin cries harder.
Y/n's Mom: "Arranged marriages are our families' way," my mother adds, dropping Heejin's hand and returning to my dress. "It's what keeps us strong. You have to keep your heart out of it."
HJ: "Prepare yourself, sweet cousin," Heejin says, glancing at me with sad brown eyes. "Arranged marriages are all we get from this life." Her face twists, as if she envisions a grim fate for us both.
HJ: "And whatever you do, don't fall in love with your husband. He'll rip your heart into pieces." She peers over her shoulder to my aunt.
HJ: "It's what my father did to my mother."
Heejin gasps when my aunt roughly tugs her back.
HJ: "Skip the fairy tales, Y/nie," Heejin continues, using my nickname, her crest fallen gaze pinned on me.
HJ: "True love isn't meant for girls like us. Read true crime to understand your future."
Y/n's Mom: "Enough," my mother warns Heejin. "Don't fill her head with such nonsense."
Eighteen Years Old
It isn't until I turn eighteen that I realize Heejin's warning was true.
My father has contracted me to marry Jungkook "Jeon Jungkook" heir to the most feared Mafia family in Korea.
The Jeons are criminals. Ruthless and cunning.
Jungkook's father, Jeon Sunghoon, is known as Monster Jeon.
A monster only creates monsters.
When my father breaks the news, I sob and swear I'm fleeing the country when the day comes. I live my life with the dark cloud of marriage looming over me and pray
it never does.
