Entangled in Rivalry

Chapter 52

Jaeyi POV

I laced my fingers through Seulgi's as we left the office, but she barely squeezed back. Her silence pressed against me heavier than any boardroom confrontation ever could. It wasn't angry silence-it was disappointed silence. That, somehow, hurt worse.

The car ride started quietly, the only sound the faint hum of the engine. She sat angled toward the window, arms folded, her pout exaggerated enough to make me smile if I wasn't drowning in guilt.

I cleared my throat. "You're mad at me."

She didn't answer. Just gave a little huff and lifted her chin, still looking out the window like a sulking child.

My chest squeezed. I hated this. "Seulgi-ah..." I reached across the console, gently wrapping my hand around hers. Her fingers resisted for a moment before slowly relaxing into mine. I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ignore you."

That got her to turn, eyes narrowing. "You did, though."

The words stabbed deeper than I expected. "Not on purpose. I just-work... it swallows me sometimes. I don't even realize it until I see your face like this." I squeezed her hand tighter. "I'll do better. I promise."

Her pout softened but didn't disappear. She was holding out, making me work for her forgiveness, and honestly... I deserved it.

I sighed, letting the words spill the way they rarely ever did. "The truth is... sometimes I feel like I'm never enough. Like no matter how hard I push myself, it still won't meet what people expect of me. So I bury myself in it, thinking if I just do more, it'll fix everything. And in the process, I... shut you out." My voice cracked at the end, humiliatingly raw. "That's not what I want. You're the last person I'd ever want to make feel forgotten."

I hated showing weakness. I hated letting anyone see the cracks in my armor. But Seulgi... she wasn't just anyone.

Before the shame could swallow me whole, she leaned across the console and kissed me. Just like that-no hesitation, no warning. Warm, grounding, absolute. My breath hitched against her, my chest tightening at how easily she dismantled my defenses with a single kiss.

When she pulled back, her eyes were fierce with certainty.

"I know how you are, Jaeyi. A perfectionist, always doubting, always carrying more than you should." Her hand came up to cup my cheek, her thumb brushing softly over my skin. "And I know-even if I tell you you're enough-you'll still doubt it. But listen to me carefully."

I swallowed hard, unable to look away.

"I'm proud of you."

The words sank into me like sunlight through ice, melting something I didn't know I'd been holding so tightly.

"You always do your best, even when you can't see it yourself. Even when you're scared, or tired, or overthinking, you never stop giving your all." Her voice trembled just slightly, though her smile steadied me. "So even if the world doubts you, even if you doubt you... I'll never stop loving you. Supporting you. Because to me, you're more than enough."

My vision blurred before I could stop it. Damn it. The cold, untouchable CEO reduced to tears in the front seat of her own car. Only Seulgi could do that.

I laughed weakly, trying to cover it, but the sound cracked. "You have no idea how dangerous it is to make me cry, Seulgi."

"Shut up and kiss me again then."