{The Day of the event}
An entire week passed in silence.
A silence that was far too calm.
No attacks.
No threats.
No unexpected problems.
As if the whole world was holding its breath before something terrible happened.
And finally...
The day of the gala arrived.
This gala was held every year...
A luxurious gathering that brought together celebrities,
actors, idols, and the world of the wealthy beneath flashing cameras and fake smiles.
But this year...
Everything would be different.
Unexpected.
And dangerous.
-
Tyla woke up at 8:15 a.m. to the vibration of her phone beside her pillow.
Half asleep, she slowly reached out for it.
A message from him.
As usual.
"Good morning babygirl "
A sleepy smile immediately appeared on her lips.
She gently rubbed her eyes before typing:
"Good morning cooky "
The reply came quickly:
"Wake up. A makeup and hair artist is coming to get you ready."
Tyla immediately sat upright on the bed in shock.
"Really?? You're bringing one?!"
"Of course. Today is important."
The sleepiness instantly vanished from her body.
She jumped out of bed and quickly began her preparations.
-
At the same time...
Ian stood near the windows of his large apartment with a phone against his ear.
His expression was cold.
Serious.
"SEO Joon..." he said calmly, "today is the most important day. I don't want any mistakes."
Seo Joon's voice immediately came from the other side:
"Yes, sir."
"I want extremely tight surveillance. Any man connected to Gong Nam Min... arrest him immediately."
"Understood. Everything is ready."
The call ended.
Ian let out a slow sigh before heading to the bathroom.
-
After taking a shower...
He went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
But the doorbell rang.
He opened the door-
To find his brother.
He entered quietly while Ian continued preparing coffee and toast.
Doo Hwan leaned against the table and said:
"So... everything is ready?"
Ian nodded.
"Yes."
Doo Hwan's expression became more serious.
"I'll be at the event too. I want to find Gong Nam Min myself."
Ian glanced at him briefly.
"Alright. But don't let Tyla suspect anything."
He nodded silently.
-
Meanwhile...
Tyla was eating breakfast quickly, practically bursting with nervousness and excitement.
Her mother laughed softly.
"Tyla... eat slowly."
Mrs. Park smiled as well.
"Are you really that excited?"
Tyla laughed nervously.
"Honestly... I'm really nervous."
Her mother gently patted her hand.
"Don't worry, my daughter. I'll be with you. And so will ian."
As for Han Seol, her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Wooow... you're really going to a celebrity gala?!"
Tyla laughed at how cute she was.
-
After breakfast...
She immediately went to take a shower.
Hair mask.
Face mask.
Skin care.
Perfumes.
Everything.
She was preparing as if her life depended on it.
-
At 10:30 a.m...
Tyla sat on her bed wearing a towel around her body and another wrapped around her hair.
She was on a video call with Ian while carefully painting her nails.
Meanwhile, he was inside his dressing room choosing between his suits.
Tyla sighed dramatically.
"Iannn... I'm so nervous. I used almost ten masks.
Look at my skin, does it look good? I even used an exfoliator."
Then she raised her hand toward the camera.
"And what about the nail color? Is it pretty?"
Ian chuckled softly.
"Slow down, Tyla. You're beautiful even without all of that."
She smiled shyly.
"But really... is the color nice?"
He leaned slightly closer to the screen.
The black polish gleamed beneath the light.
"It looks very beautiful on you."
"Ahhhh, good."
Then ian held up two jackets in front of the camera.
"Which one is better?"
She thought for a moment.
"Mmm... the black one."
"Alright."
A few seconds passed before he said:
"The makeup artist will arrive soon."
Tyla immediately squealed with excitement.
"Aaahh, really?!"
He laughed as she ended the call and started running around her room nervously once again.
She finally put on the light brown dress decorated with golden chains across its open back.
Along with black heels.
And simple accessories.
Dangerously elegant.
And twenty minutes later...
The doorbell rang.
The makeup artist had arrived.
Tyla sat in front of the mirror while the artist asked her gently:
"What kind of look would you like today, ma'am?"
Tyla thought for a moment.
"Something elegant that matches the dress... and I want my hair down."
The artist nodded and immediately got to work.
The makeup brushes moved skillfully across her face.
Soft and luxurious makeup.
Long lashes.
And a lipstick shade that perfectly matched the color of the dress.
As for her hair, it was styled carefully.
Then Tyla said shyly:
"And also... could you hide these marks?"
She touched the faint purple marks near her neck and shoulder.
The makeup artist smiled shyly.
"Of course."
The marks completely disappeared beneath the makeup.
Then she applied a shimmering cream to Tyla's legs.
And soon the room was filled with the scent of perfume.
Finally...
Tyla looked at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes fluttered in surprise.
"...Wow."
The artist smiled proudly.
"You look absolutely stunning."
Tyla laughed shyly.
"Thank you."
At that moment, her mother entered the room.
She was wearing a long red satin dress that revealed part of her shoulders.
Her hair was elegantly pinned up.
She stopped immediately when she saw Tyla.
"My daughter... you look so beautiful."
Tyla smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Mom. You look very beautiful too."
-
As for Ian...
He was getting ready as well.
His hair was neatly styled away from his forehead.
A black shirt buttoned up perfectly this time.
A luxurious black suit that made him look powerful and dangerously attractive.
Black formal trousers.
Elegant polished shoes.
And a long black tie.
He carefully adjusted his white-gold watch before applying a little makeup to hide the purple mark on his neck.
Then he sprayed his expensive cologne as the finishing touch.
In the room next door...
Doo Hwan was getting ready too.
A white shirt.
A black suit.
And a calm, sharp gaze.
Afterward...
Ian quietly placed his weapon behind his back beneath his jacket.
Doo Hwan did the same.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated.
A picture from Tyla.
"What do you think? "
The moment he opened the photo-
He froze.
Then immediately typed:
"I want to eat you alive right now. Stop tempting me."
Tyla burst out laughing on the other side.
-
Doo Hwan approached him afterward.
"Ready, little brother?"
Ian calmly adjusted the buttons of his suit.
"Always."
Doo Hwan patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. This time, we'll get rid of Gong Nam Min."
Ian nodded silently.
But the truth was...
His enemy wasn't what scared him the most.
It was Tyla.
Not because he was afraid of her.
But because he was afraid of losing her.
And even more afraid that one day she would learn the truth about him... and hate him.
-
Outside...
Luxurious black cars waited beneath the sunlight.
Ian and Doo Hwan stepped out first with an intimidating presence.
At the same time, Tyla and her mother came out of the house.
The guards immediately bowed respectfully.
And the moment ian saw Tyla-
His heart genuinely skipped a beat.
She looked unreal.
Beautiful enough to hurt.
He slowly approached her and took her hand.
"Tyla... you're driving me crazy."
She laughed softly.
"And you look very handsome today."
Doo Hwan cleared his throat dramatically behind them.
"Ahem, ahem... let's go before this troublemaker eats you, Tyla."
Everyone laughed.
Then they got into the luxurious black limousine.
-
The gala was being held inside a massive hotel that resembled a palace.
A long red carpet stretched from outside all the way into the building.
Cameras flashed nonstop.
Reporters shouted celebrities' names.
And luxury cars arrived one after another.
Ian and Tyla were the last to arrive.
Inside the car...
Tyla's hand trembled slightly from nervousness.
Ian noticed immediately.
He took her hand and gently kissed her palm.
"Don't look at anyone tonight. Just look at me. I'm with you."
She smiled nervously at him.
Then the door opened.
And suddenly-
The cameras exploded.
"Ian, look over here!"
"Oh my God! He brought a girl with him!"
"Is that his girlfriend?!"
Ian stepped out first.
Then extended his hand toward her.
And the moment Tyla stepped out beside him-
The screaming became louder.
"When are you getting married?!"
"Is she really your girlfriend?!"
"Who is this girl?!"
But neither of them answered anyone.
They simply walked together across the red carpet while Tyla held his hand tightly.
Lights everywhere.
Whispers following them.
And eyes watching every movement.
A little while later...
The car carrying Tyla's mother and Doo Hwan arrived as well.
Inside the banquet hall...
Soft music played beneath the giant chandeliers.
Celebrities began approaching Ian calmly.
"How are you?"
"It's been a long time."
"And who is this beautiful lady with you?"
Ian smiled and shook their hands calmly.
"Yes, this is-"
But suddenly-
A blonde famous girl pushed through the crowd and clung to Ian's arm.
"Ian oppaaa~ tell me these rumors aren't true!"
She pointed toward Tyla.
"She's not your girlfriend, right?"
Tyla's eyebrows immediately furrowed.
Because she recognized her.
The same girl who had hugged him in Paris.
Before Tyla could speak-
Ian gently pulled the girl away.
Then wrapped his arm around Tyla's waist and pulled her closer.
"Yes." he said calmly.
"This is my girlfriend."
The blonde girl gasped in dramatic shock.
While the celebrities around them smiled awkwardly.
"Congratulations."
"Wow... really?"
Tyla looked at him and whispered near his ear:
"Who is she?"
Ian rolled his eyes slightly.
"Just an obsessed girl. Ignore her."
Tyla then smiled proudly and held onto his arm even tighter.
Tyla's mother also entered the banquet hall and began speaking with some celebrities she worked with as their manager.
As for Doo Hwan, he sat a little away from the crowd,
watching the place with sharp eyes full of caution.
A small earpiece was inside his ear.
And guards were spread across every corner of the luxurious hall.
Everyone was alert.
Any suspicious movement...
Any strange face...
Any small mistake.