I've Been Gone For Quite Some Time But Hey Atleast I Finished These Weirdos

I've been gone for quite some time but hey atleast I finished these weirdos

And my OC's too bcs I said so

choi jongho boyfriend texts (pt 2)

choi jongho is literally the loml… i cannot stop thinking about how cute he’d be as a boyfriend. clearly i am mentally unwell…

SUNDAY | Seven | smg x f!reader

You wrap around me and you give me life And that's why night after night I'll be fucking you right

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~2.9k | Pairing: smg x f!reader | Genre: smut, romance

Warnings: cockwarming, piv sex, creampie, marking/scratching

Reader Notes: has breasts and a vagina

Mingi didn’t understand the beauty of bathing until he met you. He washed, of course, but his showers were utilitarian and quick, water cold and soap three-in-one. Then you came along and introduced him to the luxurious side of getting clean, and now his life is forever changed. 

There’s a speaker in your bathroom, and a bluetooth controlled sunlamp, and a fucking towel warmer too. You’ve got a basket in your vanity just for face masks, and another for shower melts and bath bombs. He even uses separate shampoo, conditioner, and body wash now.

The absolute best part, though, has to be getting to bathe with you. 

It’s like a ritual for you, and Mingi always feels so special to be included in the process. Today is an everything shower day, and he gets to tag along for the tail end of it - a bath and a face mask. He used to wonder why you end the day with a bath, but after seeing all that goes into an everything shower, he doesn’t blame you for wanting to relax. 

You sit on the edge of the tub, your hair twisted up in your special towel and your naked body still damp. In the early days, you would use towels in between, too shy to be naked with each other out of the context of sex. Now, you’re both comfortable being nude as you wait for the tub to fill. 

That doesn’t mean his dick doesn’t get hard at the sight of you though. He can tell himself it’s not sexual as much as he wants, it still won’t stop his body’s natural reaction to yours. He’s not embarrassed by it anymore, thankfully, and you’re usually too focused on your routine to care. 

Not tonight, it seems. 

You can’t tear your eyes off of him, his chest, his arms, his back, his cock. He feels them on him as he packs towels into the warmer, as he takes two face masks from the cupboard, as he runs the hand towel through his hair to mop up the extra droplets clinging to the ends. You stare unabashedly as he approaches the tub, your gaze caught on the way his hard dick bobs in the steamy air. 

He’ll admit it, he struts a bit for you. 

As always, he climbs into the bath first, exhaling a low sigh at the feeling of the hot water enveloping him. You typically sit in his lap facing away from him, but this time, you climb in and straddle him, the tub just wide enough for your knees to fit on either side of his body. 

He raises an eyebrow, his hands gripping your hips and his cock poking up out of the water between you. 

“I wanna sit on it,” you admit, looking between his face and his dick hopefully. You don’t explain further but he doesn’t need you to, nods down at his cock and watches as you take hold of it, line yourself up, and sink down. 

Fighting to keep his eyes from rolling back in his head, he holds in the long, loud swear he wants to let out. You’re as hot as the bath but infinitely better, the clutch of your cunt mesmerizing to him as always. 

He hands you a washcloth and opens up the first face mask packet, handing it over to you and taking the cloth to put to the side. He opens up his own packet and retrieves the mask with clumsy fingers, the slippery sheet dripping onto his hands before he can unravel it. 

“Fuck, I forgot my headband,” he groans, letting his head tip back and glowering at the fuzzy ears on the vanity. 

“Just push your hair back,” you say, stretching the mask over your face and smoothing the edges out. 

“But my hands are all-” 

You pointedly dunk your hands in the bath to rinse them off and grin back at him when he smiles sheepishly before raking your fingers through his hair and pushing it up and off of his forehead for him. You take the mask next, tugging it apart and carefully laying it on his face, using your fingertips to press down the edges. 

Your cunt flutters around him as you move, clenching when you lean forward to kiss him and squeezing down even harder when he takes you by the hips with firm hands. He’s about to lift you when you press a palm to his chest and ask, “Can we just stay like this? Until the mask comes off.”

“Yeah, baby, of course,” he breathes, smooching your towel clad head and settling deeper into the water. You melt into his chest, the chill of your sheet mask on his pec making it jump beneath your cheek, and he wraps his arms around you both to hold you close and to keep your back warm. 

Your body goes lax against his, your breathing evening out, and he grins to himself before joining you in slumber, so fond of you he could die.

Mingi wakes to cool water, a dry face mask, and a pleasure so sharp, it burns. 

He’s not ready to open his eyes yet but to know you’re still there, he doesn’t need to. There’s a soothing weight holding him down, and a velvet heat surrounding him, and he just might feel more content than he ever has before. 

Maybe also more needy than he ever has before. 

He can’t stop his hips from thrusting in little motions, can’t stop grinding into you, trying to get deeper even though he’s already met the end of you. You’re moving too, rolling into his thrusts and pulsing around his cock, and when he finally opens his eyes, he looks down to find yours still shut.

“Baby,” he whispers softly, rubbing your back with gentle hands in an effort to wake you. “It’s time to take off the masks.”

You hum and, not ready to rise yet, attempt to burrow further into his arms, making him chuckle and pinch your cheek.

“Ow,” you peel yourself off his chest to cross your arms and pout at him, your face mask adorably skewed and your tits pushed together. He just smiles sleepily at you and reaches up to fully remove the mask, his first and then yours, before balling them up and throwing them into the trash basket. 

“So… the masks have come off,” he leads hopefully, gripping your hips and digging his fingers into the supple flesh. 

“Indeed they have,” you nod your head serenely and blink at him, one, two, three times. 

Fuck, you must have forgotten what you said. But Mingi doesn’t want to push you into anything, especially if you’re tired (and you seem like it), so he just nods back and starts lifting you off his cock. Your eyes grow wide and your nails dig into his abs, your pussy clenching so hard around him, he almost can’t move you. 

“What are you doing?” You gasp, obviously alarmed and perhaps even displeased. 

“Well, we’re getting out of the bath, aren’t we? It’s cold,” he doesn’t really understand your confusion, but he stops moving in the meantime, not wanting your bottom lip to tremble any more than it already is. 

“Oh. Yeah, I suppose we should,” you agree in disappointment, looking away from him as if that could hide your feelings. 

“Baby, what do you wanna do?” He asks, leaning over to catch your eye and bringing a soaking wet, chilly hand up to cup the back of your neck and squeeze reassuringly. 

You take a few seconds to think it over and he waits patiently, letting his eyes trace over every square inch of your face. He’s already got you committed to memory but there’s nothing wrong with a little reinforcement. 

“I want to cuddle,” you sigh and draw circles on his pecs. “But I want you to fuck me too.”

“Baby, that’s a thing,” he rushes to tell you. “We could totally do that.”

“Really? I’m not being too needy?” Your voice sounds small and you won’t look him in the eye again, and Mingi shakes his head with fondness. 

“You could never be too needy. Well, you could, but I’ll never not like it. I promise,” he brings his pinky up, hooking it with yours and pressing your thumbs together to seal the vow. “You know this means I have to pull out, right?” 

Your face scrunches in displeasure but you relax your inner muscles and allow him to lift you up and off of his cock. You’re both quick to get out after, Mingi going to the warmer to grab your towels and you carrying out your skincare routine. When you’re done, he wraps you up in the plush, heated fabric and hefts you into his arms, bridal style, to carry you to bed. 

You squeal weakly and throw your arms around his neck, holding on tight like you think he’ll drop you as he crosses into the bedroom. He lays you out on the bed with care, his biceps and abs straining as he lowers you down slowly. He could drop you to be funny, but you seem a bit delicate tonight and it makes him want to take care of you, to coddle you, to baby you. 

You cling to him when he tries to pull away, and he whispers, “Just getting some pajamas, baby,” squeezing your wrist when you’re still reluctant to release him. 

“Okay, we’ll sleep naked, I guess,” he laughs quietly into your hair and climbs on top of you, pushing your legs together and twisting them to the side so he can line himself up. 

“I just want you close,” you breathe as he sinks inside, smiling when he braces his arms on either side of your head and boxes you in.

“This close enough?” He asks, rooting his dick deep inside of you and pressing his chest to yours. 

“Nope,” you grin affectionately, clenching around him just because you can. The sensation of your walls gripping him sends a shiver down his spine, makes his dick twitch and leak inside of you. He’s so sensitive after two hours of being in your perfect little pussy, two hours of not cumming, two hours of not moving at all. 

That doesn’t stop him from drawing his hips back and slowly rolling them forward, filling you with his thick, hard cock and exhaling a ragged groan when he bottoms out again. You feel even hotter now that he’s not in the bath, wetter too, and it’s enough to drag him right up to the edge. 

But he hasn’t made you cum yet, and he refuses to let it be an afterthought. He can’t really get at your clit with your legs together like this though, so he pulls away just enough to take hold of one and wrap it around his waist.

You’re opened up for him now, his hand fitting perfectly in the space between your thighs and his fingers finding that bundle of nerves with ease. Nearly his whole body is pressed to yours and he loves it, loves being this close to you, so close it’s almost like you’re one person instead of two. 

Like this, he can see every expression that crosses your face, hear every sound that leaves your lips, feel every burst of pleasure like it’s his own, so he knows exactly when you start to climb that hill. His touch becomes more purposeful, more insistent, as you clench and squeeze around him, your cunt clamping down when he pulls out and fluttering wildly when he slides back in. 

It’s a slick, hot push and pull, a dance he only ever wants to do with you, because only with you will it be laced with love and desire and passion and devotion. Only with you will it feel this good, this pure, this right. 

Mingi feels like this is what he’s supposed to be doing. When he’s at work or the grocery store or the gym, he’s really supposed to be buried in you, connected with you, loving you. He’s built a home with you and found one inside of you, and if life was kind and sweet like you are, he wouldn’t ever have to leave. 

“Fuck, love you so fucking much, baby,” he forces out through gritted teeth, pressing his forehead to yours and sharing your oxygen. 

“I love you, Mingi,” you whimper, your lips moving against his with how close he is to you. 

Your nails dig into his neck as he hooks his hips up on a thrust inside, dragging the head of his cock over your g-spot. He hopes you leave marks, hopes you scratch him up so he can carry you with him every day this coming week, make every movement a reminder of how fucking good he makes you feel. 

One of his circles catches the side of your clit and you cry out sharply, your cunt squeezing his cock and your leg tightening around his waist. “Like that?” He shifts his touch, trying to replicate the motion that made you shout for him. 

It takes a second for him to find the right angle and pressure, but it’s obvious when he does. Your head pushes back into the pillow, arousal seeps out of you to coat his balls, and you get so fucking tight, it almost hurts. 

He relishes the ache, luxuriates in it, because he knows it means you’re right on the edge, primed to tumble off and take him with you. 

All it takes is a little extra pressure and an urgently whispered, “Fuck, cum for me, please baby, please.”

Your face crumples in pleasure and your pussy locks down around him as you shatter, your breathy moans and weak calls of his name like music in his ears. It’s blinding, almost, the sheer bliss that overtakes him when he starts to fill you up, white hot cum shooting out of his throbbing cock to paint your plush walls. 

His head spins for what could be minutes or hours, his dick slowly softening within you as you both try to find your way back to this plane of existence. He blinks drowsily, his eyelids heavy and his body feeling even heavier, and finds the strength to roll to the side, wrapping his arms around you and bringing you with him. 

With closed eyes, he leans in and tries to kiss your forehead, only for his lips to graze microfiber instead. 

“Baby, don’t forget about your hair,” he breathes quietly, patting your towel-clad head. 

“Fuck, my fucking hair,” you whine, your voice full of regret and despair. 

You already put in all your products, but you still have to take it out of the towel and either blow dry or braid it, and Mingi knows you don’t feel like doing either. 

“I’ll do it for you,” he offers sincerely, hoping you’ll be okay with just the braiding option. Your hair has been in the towel for almost two hours now, so it shouldn’t be too wet still. 

“Really?” You look at him with big, teary eyes, your voice tender and your hand gentle where it cups his cheek. 

“Of course, baby,” he smiles softly, lifting your leg off his waist and pulling out of you with a slippery pop. You’re still laying on the towel and he picks up one corner, dabbing gently at the cum dripping out of you before climbing off the bed and lumbering to the bathroom to retrieve your comb and a scrunchie. 

While parsing through the drawer for a hair tie, Mingi glances up at the mirror and can’t help but beam at what he finds. His cheeks are flushed, his face dewy and glowing, and his hair is an absolute disaster. He’s naked as the day he was born and his cock is still covered in cum, which he quickly rinses off before twisting to get a look at his back. 

There are scratch marks, and his smile just grows wider when the torn skin smarts at being stretched. These will linger for days, he thinks with glee, bouncing on his toes when he sets eyes on a scrunchie. 

He speeds back to the bedroom, finding you sitting up with the towel undone, your head hung low and your hands braced next to your thighs. 

“Baby?” Mingi murmurs, crouching next to you and peering up through your hair to find your eyes closed.

“‘m awake,” you slur quietly, making him jump and nearly fall flat on his ass.

He breathes out a sigh of relief and takes his place behind you, combing through your hair and braiding it with efficiency, his fingers practiced after many trials (and many errors). 

“Thank you, Mingi,” you sigh sluggishly as he wraps his hand around your throat and pulls you back into his chest. He presses a kiss to the side of your head before whispering, “Anytime, baby,” and shifting to lay down, his head on the pillow and yours on his outstretched arm. 

You’re so close, he can feel every breath exhaled into his chest, feel your heart beating against his, feel your body heat melding with his own, as his thoughts grow syrupy and his body grows heavy. 

Mingi wouldn’t have it any other way. 

AN: yay! thanks for sticking with me through another series, i hope you had a good time 💖

Seven Masterlist

My Masterlist

TUESDAY | Seven | smg x f!reader

Goin' to the sun up, we ain't gettin' no sleep Seven days a week, seven different sheets Seven different angles, I can be your fantasy

Rating: M (18+) | WC: ~2.0k | Pairing: smg x f!reader | Genre: smut, romance

Warnings: tit fucking, overstimulation, piv sex, mating press, creampie, cockwarming

Reader Notes: has breasts and a vagina, wears lingerie

Mingi has never been able to decide if he’s an ass, thighs, or tits guy when it comes to you. In his previous relationships, he’s always been able to identify one of the three as his favorite. 

With you, it’s impossible. Your ass is immaculate, the perfect size for his hands to squeeze and smack and, sometimes, spank. Your thighs are lush, thick, soft, and he loves feeling them wrapped around his waist when he’s fucking you, and his wrist when he’s fingering you, and his head when he’s eating you out. And your tits… 

Your tits were molded by the gods themselves, painstakingly and meticulously formed by the hands that create life. They were placed on your body because you’re the only one who deserves them, and Mingi is the luckiest bastard on this planet to get to touch them and hold them and suck them and love them. 

And fuck them. 

God, does he love fucking them. 

It doesn’t do much for you so he doesn’t ask for it often, but some days, all he can think about is getting his aching cock between your perfect breasts. He loves feeling them press up against his length, adores the way they look sandwiching his dick as you push them up and together for him to fuck. 

Today is one of those days. 

He woke with his head resting on your chest, your heartbeat thumping under his cheek in a soothing rhythm as you dozed. The softness of your tits lulled him back to sleep in no time, and when he blinked awake later, it was to an empty bedroom and the lingering scent of your perfume. You warned him you needed to go into work early, but still he mourned not getting a kiss goodbye. 

At the office, he couldn’t stop thinking about you. Your sweet smile and your dulcet voice and the way your tits look in your work bra before you cover them up with a blouse. He didn’t get to see them this morning, but he hoped he’d get to see them tonight and that was enough to keep the thought on his mind all day. 

Even through the commute back to the apartment, you occupied every corner of his brain. Your favorite song played in the back of his mind, and he wondered the whole way home if you’d make it there before him, if you’d get undressed and take a shower and be waiting for him in bed like you like to do sometimes. 

He loves those times, loves coming home to find you naked and soft and ready for him, but he also loves getting home before you and getting right to cooking so you have a hot meal waiting on the table after a long day’s work. Your car was in your spot when he pulled in, and he tried to tell himself not to expect you to be in bed. 

You had to go into the office early, and work all the way till the end of the day, and Mingi expected you to be tired and perhaps a little cranky. 

He definitely didn’t expect you to greet him at the door in lingerie, but that’s exactly what you did. He tried to usher you to the bedroom, but you just placed a hand on his chest and said, “Dinner first.”

He still can’t stop staring at you, even as he brings bites of food to his mouth and attempts to make conversation. Why you’re torturing him like this, he doesn’t know, but it’s taking absolutely everything he has not to spread you out on this table and rip your pretty underwear at the seams. 

“Is this new?” He asks, his eyes caught on the delicate lace covering your nipples. He wonders just how it would feel under his tongue, in his mouth, between his teeth. 

“Why yes, thank you for noticing,” you smile serenely, chewing your last bite before reaching behind your back and unclasping the bra. 

It drops away from your body and your tits drop with it, the sight making his face crumple in pained desire. A whimper leaves him when you bring your hands up and cup them, your nipples peeking through your fingers, making him want to drop to his knees and suck them into his mouth. 

“Why are you doing this to me?” He groans pitifully, pushing his dinner away as his appetite for food wanes and his hunger for you grows. 

“Because I can,” you shrug, your tits bouncing with the movement, entrancing him. 

“You’re so mean,” he says with resignation, before standing and walking around the table to pull your chair out, lean down, and heft you over his shoulder. He feels your giggle more than he hears it, a smile stretching his lips as he lumbers to the bedroom. 

Bending down, he deposits you on the bed with a bounce, cupping your face and drawing you into a heated kiss. He groans into your mouth as he straddles you, following when you lean back on the bed and nipping your lip when you start to pull away. 

“Where do you think you’re goin’, hm? I’m not done kissing you yet,” he mumbles, pouting when you don’t give in and kiss him again. 

“Wanna fuck my tits?” You offer, rising to your elbows as he sits up on his knees. “I’ve been thinking about it all day.”

“You have?” He gasps in wonder, watching you take hold of your breasts and push them together with his mouth open and watering. 

“Yeah, Mingi. Your big, thick cock between them. The look on your face when I lean down and suck. The way you cum so fucking fast for me, so easy.” 

He twitches in his boxer briefs and starts shedding clothing, climbing off of you to push down his pants and underwear before reaching into the bedside table for the lube. The lid opens with a slick click, clear fluid flowing out of the opening into his waiting hand. He warms it up first, rubbing his palms together until it’s not freezing before slathering it all over his throbbing dick. 

He sets one knee on the bed and swings the other over your body, straddling your chest and guiding his cock between your tits. You squeeze them around his dick, just the sensation of your soft skin pressed against his length making him groan. 

He pulls his hips back and rolls them forward, starting up a languid rhythm and watching as his cock slides in and out of the valley of your breasts. The image is so fucking hot, it has him throbbing already, has milky white precum leaking out to glisten on your chest. 

You’re right, he does cum so fucking fast for you when you do this, and after just a few minutes of fucking your tits, he’s already on the edge. 

He wars with himself, caught between the urge to spill his cum all over your sweet tits and the desire to beg you to let him fuck it into your perfect little cunt. When you tilt your head up, laying your tongue out so the head of his dick bumps into it with every thrust, the decision is made for him. 

He tries to keep his head from falling back as he cums, his neck muscles weak in the wake of his pleasure but his brain screaming at him to watch as cum coats your chest and chin in streams. Some of it lands on your tongue and you hum, closing your mouth and swallowing it before taking hold of his dick and starting to pump. 

“Wait, baby, s’too sensitive,” he whimpers, though he’s already thrusting into the circle of your hand. 

“Okay,” you release him and drag your fingers through the mess on your skin, reaching around him to slide them between your legs. “If you won’t fuck me, I will.”

“Fuck, what’s gotten into you today?” He groans as he climbs off of you as gracefully as he can, his limbs still clumsy from his orgasm and his dick already throbbing with need. 

“I woke up with you hard and pressed against my ass and then I had to leave you and go to work. I didn’t even have time to cum in the shower,” you pout as he pushes your legs up and apart, your pussy shiny with arousal and his cum. 

That does sound pretty rough, especially when he had time to cum in the shower. God, and you had such a long day but you still surprised him with dinner and lingerie, like the sweet baby angel you are. 

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll fuck you all night to make up for it,” he promises roughly, lining himself up and sliding home in one smooth thrust. He’s not fully hard yet but your cunt will get him there in no time, your pussy searing hot and so fucking good around his aching cock. 

He didn’t open you up but you’re wet as hell, making his dick glide as he pulls his hips back and thrusts forward, the clutch of your cunt making all the blood in his body rush down into his cock. It’s still so sensitive, it almost hurts, but it’s a good kind of pain, the kind that makes his eyes roll back into his head as he fills you again and again. 

It’s not enough to just be holding your legs up when he wants to be holding your whole body down, so he pushes them as close to your body as they can go and climbs on top of you, putting you in a mating press. 

He can thrust down with real power now, and your face screws up with pleasure as he starts to pound into you, his cock hitting the end of you with every buck of his hips. It feels so fucking good, he’s not sure he can stand it, his rhythm stuttering when you start to squeeze and flutter around him. 

“Getting close, baby?” He asks, wanting to hear the answer even though he already knows. 

“Yeah, Mingi, m’so close,” you whine weakly, your hands covering his where they hold your thighs. 

“I got you, baby,” he breathes as he leans down to kiss you, folding you in half and digging his cock into that spot deep inside that makes you gush. 

His tongue fucks into your mouth just like his cock fucks into your pussy, making you moan and hold his hands tighter, your release building and building and building until he roots himself deep and grinds. 

His pelvis rubbing against your clit is enough to break you, and he pulls away with a feral grin to watch as you unravel for him. He always loves to see the look on your face, to take in the pleasure in your eyes, to know he’s the one making it all happen. 

It’s enough to bring him over the edge for the second time, his cock jerking inside of you as ropes of cum shoot out to paint your walls, globs of white seeping out around where he’s filling you. 

Mingi wants to just collapse against you but you’re still all folded up, and he knows that must be getting uncomfortable. He’s not ready to pull out yet, though, so he just gathers you up in his arms and falls to the side, rolling until you’re resting on his chest with his cock still plugging you up. 

“Let's just stay like this for a while, hm, baby?” He breathes, half asleep with the comfort of your weight on him. 

You don’t answer which can only mean you’ve succumbed to slumber already, and, unbearably fond of you, Mingi just holds you tighter and ignores the way his dick twitches back to life at the feeling of your still-fluttering muscles. 

You need to get your rest now if he’ll be fucking you all night like he promised. 

pls reblog if you enjoyed!! as always, i would love to hear your thoughts 💖

Seven Masterlist

My Masterlist

The Way to His Heart [8]

Pairing: general!Seonghwa x wife!reader

AU: arranged marriage au (Joseon era)

Word Count: 3.6k

Summary: Life has been hell ever since your mother's passing many years ago. Despite being from a prominent family, you've never received the privileges associated with it. It only got worse with the arrival of your stepmother and her daughters. When the intimidating General Park was in search of a wife, your father seized the opportunity to dispose of you, simultaneously securing a connection with the powerful general—killing two birds with one stone.

Part 7 | Fic Masterlist | Part 9

"Sir, the dressmaker has arrived with the mistress' first batch of clothes. Should I send him directly to the House of Lotus?" Jongho asked tentatively from the entrance of his master's study.

Removing his hands from his head, Seonghwa looked up and shook his head miserably, "Lord, no. Send him to me first," The assistant bowed and went to do as he was told, "Right away, sir."

Hongjoong entered the study without bothering to knock, hands propped on his hip as he stared at your husband, unamused, "Would you mind explaining why I'm here instead of presenting the new clothes to your wife, Park Seonghwa?"

"I need advice, Hongjoong." The general croaked, feeling quite lost for once. He had rarely ever been in such a situation; who knew all it took was one woman to put him in such misery. Not even the most vicious enemies he had fought in war could have ever fazed him this much.

He returned from work the day before, enthusiastically sharing his plans for the grand wedding he wanted to give you. However, things went south when he dropped the bomb about the visit to your old home, foolishly believing you would express joy at the prospect of flaunting your newfound happiness to your wicked family. Instead, you were gripped with fear at the idea. You ended up retiring to your quarters early and refused to come out ever since.

Goddamnit, I'm the biggest moron ever.

The dressmaker raised an amused brow, having never seen Seonghwa like this before. He went over to sit down across from his friend, "Hmm, I didn't think you'd be having trouble in paradise this soon. Let's hear it; we'll see if there's anything I can do for you and that lovely wife of yours."

Taking a deep breath, your husband started from the beginning, recounting every single thing that happened from the start of your arranged marriage until the present.

"Wait, you're taking her back to that wretched place? No wonder she's upset, you idiot! You said it yourself; she suffered so badly being caged in there all her life. I mean, sure, your cause is very noble—wanting to make her family pay for what they've done with this plan of yours. But you'd been so focused on that, you forgot how traumatising it could be for her, huh? You really didn't think that one through, my friend."

Letting out a groan, the general pulled at his hair, "Yes, thank you for repeating it all to me like I didn't already know what I did wrong. Now, tell me what exactly it is that I can do to make it all better."

"You're welcome. Oh, I'll tell you what to do, all right. You best keep your dumbass seated here while I talk to her," instructed Hongjoong, watching expectantly as your husband frowned, "What? Why should you talk to her? It's my mess; I should be the one to clean it up."

Sighing, the dressmaker explained, "Look, we all know the only way for you to make things better is to not take her back to the damn house at all. But you do have a point, okay? You've come this far with your plan, and as much as it sucks, she must go there with you in order for this to work out. So, you stay put, and let me convince her to go willingly with you, got it?"

Seonghwa nodded reluctantly, realising his friend was right. As much as he hated how charming Hongjoong was and how persuasive he could be, he would have to rely on those skills to help you see things in the bigger picture. Sure, you were not privy to any details about the revenge, but hopefully, he will be able to make you at least want to stand up to your family for once.

"Lady Park, it's Hongjoong. I've brought your first batch of clothing. May I have permission to enter?" Blinking in surprise, you straightened up, not expecting to hear the dressmaker's voice, "O-okay, please come in."

Despite the anxious state you'd been in since the revelation your husband had dropped upon you the night before, you couldn't help but smile at the unusually colourful outfit of your visitor. Eunsook followed behind him with a group of servants filing in to deliver the precious cargo into your quarters.

The head maid felt relieved to see you smiling again, even if it was only a little. She had been concerned about you after witnessing your retreat into your old shell the previous night, as the fear you demonstrated reminded everyone of your initial arrival.

In an effort to distract you from your upsetting thoughts, the dressmaker quickly pulled out a few designs he thought you'd love, "Come, take a look at this! I made it the way you preferred and added a little touch of my magic. What do you think?"

Fortunately, his strategy worked like a charm, and you immediately moved over to him with sparkly eyes, marvelling at some of the most beautiful hanboks you'd ever seen, even prettier than the ones he had displayed in his shop.

As you admired the clothes in front of you, Hongjoong exchanged a knowing look with the elderly woman. Nodding, she quietly exited your room along with the rest of the servants, leaving you alone with your husband's old friend.

But you weren't entirely alone, of course.

Unbeknownst to you, Seonghwa was right outside, listening intently. He didn't spare any of his servants a glance as they all passed by him with a deep bow, waving his hand carelessly in a gesture to ask them to leave quickly.

"Hey, you haven't answered me. Do you like them, Lady Park?" The dressmaker asked, a teasing smile on his face as he found your endearing shyness adorable.

You nodded quickly, "Yes, I do. I love them. They're all perfect. I just... don't know if I deserve to wear any of these." The general felt his heart clench at your response, realising you were still far from being able to love yourself.

With a scoff, Hongjoong moved to stand beside you, "I'll have you know I only make dresses for people I deem worthy of them. Not just anyone can wear my designs, you know. And you, by far, are probably my favourite client. So that says a lot."

Your husband silently agreed with those words, resisting the urge to rush in there and hold you tight, to tell you that you deserved only the best, that you deserved everything good in the world.

Lowering your head, you fiddled with your fingers before replying in a small voice, "You're only saying that because I'm the general's wife..."

Sighing lightly, the dressmaker turned to face you, "You're not wrong... but that's exactly because not just anyone can be Lady Park. Many women before you tried to be in your position. Regardless of their efforts, he never would have given them the time of day. Yet, he wholeheartedly accepted you."

Recognising the doubt in your eyes, he further explained, "I understand if you think these are just words. But that's probably because you don't know the general like I do. We've known each other since joining the military in our teens. Back then, the Seonghwa I knew would never bat an eyelash at any woman."

As you slowly looked up to meet his kind eyes, intrigued to learn more about your husband's past, he continued, "Those rumours about him being the cold-blooded general were not lies. He really was as merciless as they say. He still is, just not to you. When I saw him again for the first time after years that day, I couldn't believe the man in front of me was the same friend I once knew. He's different around you; he's different because of you."

"It's evident that you're special to him, that you mean something to him. He cares so much about you; do you realise that?"

Tears welled up in your eyes, and you hurriedly blinked them back. The thought of someone genuinely caring for you still seemed surreal despite the amount of care that had been shown to you since living here. However, you were starting to understand that he was right.

Hongjoong grinned, seeing the effectiveness of his words, "You're the first and only woman who can tame Park Seonghwa, so you are beyond worthy of my dresses."

Before you could even attempt to protest, he held up a hand, "And don't bother telling me I'm wrong because I'm never wrong."

You couldn't help but giggle at his sassy words, and he smiled sincerely at you, saying, "So don't you dare question whether you deserve these clothes. You're the only one who deserves them because these are made only for you, do you understand?"

This time, you nodded with a wide smile.

"I want you to wear my dresses proudly and show the world who you are: the great Lady Park, the only woman General Park wants as his wife. No one will dare disrespect or look down on you again."

Feeling as if he knew exactly what had been worrying you, you felt touched. He was right; you were not who you used to be. You had no reason to cower from your family, recalling their belittling assumptions about your survival in this marriage. Now was your chance to prove them wrong.

With newfound determination, you nodded firmly, "You're right, I will. Thank you, Hongjoong. You're a good friend; Seonghwa is lucky to have you."

He crossed his arms over his chest cheekily, "I sure am. That fool hasn't a clue how fortunate he is."

Mission accomplished.

Pumping his fists in victory, your husband silently cheered outside, brushing off the playful taunts from his friend. Just this once, he would forgive Kim Hongjoong.

"Are you ready, my dear?"

The general turned to you as your carriage came to a stop, marking your arrival at what you assumed to be the Jang estate, your former prison. With a resolute nod, you smiled up at him, "I am."

As you moved to exit the vehicle, your husband halted you. Cupping your face in his hands, he gazed reassuringly into your eyes, "Remember, whatever happens, I'm here with you. You're not alone from now on; I'll always be here to protect you."

"I know, Seonghwa. I believe in you."

His heart melted at those words, and he couldn't resist pressing a lingering kiss onto your forehead. You fluttered your eyes closed, holding onto his wrists, cherishing the warmth he was providing.

"Alright, let's go." Leaving one final peck on your cheek, he got out of the carriage and swiftly helped you down, his strong arm securely wrapped around your waist. Eunsook stood there, mouth agape, that was initially meant to be her responsibility but she realised her assistance was no longer needed at the moment.

Jongho grinned, nudging the elderly woman on the shoulder as they followed their master and mistress into the minister's estate, "Come on, we've got work to do."

Taking a deep breath, you surveyed the familiar surroundings that once made you feel small. Feeling a reassuring squeeze on your hand, you found comfort in your husband's presence.

Yes, he's here with you now.

Nothing bad will happen.

His grip on your hand tightened, and his warm smile, reserved only for you, vanished when a few of your father's servants nervously stumbled out, bowing deeply before both of you, "Good morning, General Park. Welcome to the Jang estate."

The brave front you had put on seemed to falter slightly as you realised the servants here remained the same, showing no acknowledgement despite you no longer being their prisoner. Seonghwa, glaring at the maids in front of him, growled in a low voice, "You've left out Lady Park. Will you not greet my wife?"

Gulping on behalf of the servants, you witnessed the return of the general's intimidating demeanour. Hongjoong was right; he was still terrifying, just not to you.

The maids bowed deeper, "B-but sir—"

"What is going on here?" That voice resonated across the courtyard, causing your heart to plummet to the lowest pit of your stomach. Perhaps you weren't ready to face them at all. Your father emerged from the main hall, wearing an expression that was far from pleased.

You pressed closer to your husband, and instinctively, he wrapped an arm around your back, pulling you close. The minister's eyebrow raised in surprise at your refined appearance; he nearly did not recognise you. You were even more stunning than on the day you left this place, seemingly given a complete makeover.

Aside from that, he realised the general had meant his words when he had spoken so highly of you during assembly. Witnessing the intimacy between the two of you, there was undeniable evidence of shared affection. Your father began to question whether marrying you to his enemy was a mistake in the first place.

Seonghwa smirked, "Ahh, Minister Jang, it seems your servants do not know proper manners. They did not greet my wife, and that, to me, is punishable."

The old man felt his eye twitch at the general's satisfied grin before responding, "Well, I'm their master, so I decide what is punishable, General Park."

"Right, well, I'm just looking out for you. Wouldn't want people to find out what rotten-mannered staff my father-in-law has in his estate, not knowing how to show respect to even the general's wife."

"You do realise that before she became your wife, she's my daughter first." Your father sneered, and you felt sick at that, to be called his daughter when you've never once been treated as such.

Remaining unfazed, your husband retorted, "All the more reasons for them to show respect to their eldest miss then, no?"

Jongho and Eunsook bowed their heads in an effort to hide their snickers at the minister's red face flushing in embarrassment. He should have known better than to think he could win the general in an argument, "R-right. What are you fools standing around for? Show Lady Park some bloody respect!"

The line of servants bowed all the way down pathetically, "Yes, master! Good morning, General Park and Lady Park! Welcome to the Jang estate!" They chanted loudly, enough to bring about the rest of your family, coming out to witness what all the fuss was about.

"Very well, let us head in then." With a bored expression, Seonghwa walked into the hall with you, moving right past your stepmother and stepsisters intentionally, paying them no mind as he helped you into a seat before settling down beside you.

All four of the women standing in the main hall were rooted to their spots, eyes bulging as they took in the sight of you and your husband. First of all, you were nearly unrecognisable. If they thought you looked pretty on the day you got married, you were now almost a hundred times more beautiful, though they would rather die than ever admit it out loud.

Beyond your enhanced appearance, they were more taken aback by the general's beauty. He was nothing like they had imagined; he must have been one of the most attractive men ever, or at least the most handsome one they had seen so far.

Suddenly, your stepsisters were even angrier than they were upon learning about your stupid grand wedding. They were now furious with their father for never having told them about how good-looking General Park truly was. If only they knew, they would have volunteered to marry him themselves.

But what if there was still hope for them?

What if they had a chance?

After all, you hadn't officially wed Seonghwa yet and were merely here to discuss plans for the upcoming ceremony. Perhaps, with enough effort, they could still win him over. If a peasant like you could seduce the general, why couldn't any of them? With this determination in mind, the three stepsisters promptly began adjusting their appearances as you all gathered around the main hall.

You didn't appreciate the way your stepsisters were eyeing your husband, although you understood their motives. Sensing your discomfort, Seonghwa moved closer to you in his seat, whispering in your ear, "Are you feeling alright, my dear?"

Nodding lightly, you looked up with a small smile, "I am, as long as you're with me," He couldn't resist smiling at your words as he gave you a gentle peck on the head, "Good."

That should be me!

The three stepsisters clenched their fists, their fury intensifying as they witnessed the handsome general being affectionate with you. It should have been them; the title of the general's wife was more befitting a noblewoman like them, not a rat like you. How dare you sit there in their place as if you deserved it?

In an attempt to break the silence, Jinah cleared her throat and made her move, "Have you been well, unnie? I missed you so much! Did you know how worried I was about you? You must have had such a hard time, especially after you adamantly refused to marry General Park."

Seonghwa raised a brow in amusement, while you remained quiet, unsure how to respond to such a blatant lie. Jinjoo scoffed at your lack of response, "Unnie! Will you really not answer Jinah at all? You've always been like that, so ungrateful when we care so much about you!"

"Really? My wife being ungrateful? That's wild. I cannot imagine her like that at all." Your husband chuckled, holding you close when he felt you begin to tremble.

Jinhee's fists shook with envy as she nodded pitifully, "Yes, that's because you haven't known her well enough, my lord. She can be so scary when she's mad, you know how the eldest usually are."

Minister Jang rubbed a tired hand over his head when he realised what his stepdaughters were trying to do. Of course, these foolish girls would easily be blinded by the general's appearance. Even his own wife, seated beside him, found it difficult to take her eyes off the gorgeous young man.

Jongho and Eunsook, positioned behind you and their master, were making every effort to contain the irritation they felt. The audacity of these women to feign innocence after what they've put you through all these years. They were once again thankful not to have any of these conniving foxes as their mistress.

Rubbing his thumbs over your hands, Seonghwa laughed sarcastically in disbelief, "I'm sorry, I just find that so hard to believe. Are you sure you're not all talking about yourselves?" In an instant, his smile dropped, and he sent your stepsisters a death stare as if daring them to continue spouting more ridiculous lies about you.

Left in stunned silence, they blinked nervously and avoided his eyes, unprepared for his questioning. It was clear that they hadn't planned their silly little act thoroughly.

Damn it, how did that worthless thing manage to gain his favour?

"That's enough." The minister declared firmly, not wanting his stepdaughters to continue embarrassing themselves. All he wanted was to get the general out of his house as soon as possible. Every moment that Seonghwa remained felt like a threat; your father was walking on eggshells around him.

Pushing himself off his seat, the old man addressed your husband, "You mentioned wanting to see the environment your wife grew up in, right? Let's proceed with that before we delve into discussions about your wedding arrangements. I don't have all day."

"Sure, can't wait." Seonghwa responded smugly, standing up with your hand securely in his. A sense of unease washed over you as you wondered what kind of deception your father would employ. Surely, they wouldn't be stupid enough to reveal your actual room to the general. Dread filled you, and you longed to return home.

Your real home, not this nightmare.

« Preview of Part 9 »

As you all followed the minister around the estate while he showed the general what was supposed to be your old room, Jongho exchanged a glance with the private investigator who was still posing as a staff member in the estate.

"This is unnie's room; she has the biggest and nicest one out of all of us. She's so lucky and doesn't even know it. I'm the youngest and I have the smallest room; I'd honestly be happy to have anything at all." Jinjoo said innocently, playing with a strand of hair as she batted her eyelashes at Seonghwa.

You stared blankly at the room supposedly designated as yours. It was merely a guest room rearranged with some of your stepsisters' belongings to create the illusion of long-term habitation. Sensing Jinah and Jinhee's intense gazes on you, you turned to find them glaring daggers at you as if daring you to speak up and disclose the truth to your husband.

If you voiced your denial, who would believe you? It was your entire family against you alone. Would there even be a point in trying?

Just as doubt started to creep in, Seonghwa wrapped an arm around you, reminding you of his support, "Is that true, my dear? Is this your room? It doesn't really seem to be your style at all."

Everyone held their breath, awaiting your response, but you remained silent, fixing your gaze on the familiar space where you spent your entire life, now masquerading as a storeroom.

"What is it that you're staring at so intently, hm? Let's go take a look."

Oh, crap.

Shit will go down in the next part, I assure you. Patience, my dearest readers, patience HAHA this part was focused more on setting the stage for the main event.😈

Also, I've created a mood board for this fic. If you haven't already checked it out, go take a look! I might consider making another one that depicts Seonghwa's estate if I'm able to find the right images.

As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

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The Way to His Heart [9]

Pairing: general!Seonghwa x wife!reader

AU: arranged marriage au (Joseon era)

Word Count: 4.2k

Summary: Life has been hell ever since your mother's passing many years ago. Despite being from a prominent family, you've never received the privileges associated with it. It only got worse with the arrival of your stepmother and her daughters. When the intimidating General Park was in search of a wife, your father seized the opportunity to dispose of you, simultaneously securing a connection with the powerful general—killing two birds with one stone.

Part 8 | Fic Masterlist | Part 10

Standing in front of the door to your former prison, all your insecurities came rushing back. Suddenly, your newfound identity seemed to evaporate, leaving you feeling like nothing more than a shell of your past self.

"What's wrong, my dear? Why do you keep staring at this storeroom, hm? You know you can tell me anything." Seonghwa asked in a gentle voice, sensing that you were far from okay. He cupped your cheek tenderly, urging you to meet his gaze.

Jongho and Eunsook stood anxiously behind you, waiting for you to reveal the truth to the general. Only then could they finally bring your family to justice for their misdeeds. The weight of everyone's expectations rested on your shoulders.

Please, mistress, just say it, and we will handle the rest.

No matter how hard your husband tried to capture your attention, all you could see was beyond his shoulder, where your family glowered at you. All the determination you had to confront your family diminished, and you were reminded of your true self.

Just a worthless, insignificant piece.

You felt undeserving of Seonghwa's love, too ashamed to confess that this pitiful excuse for a room was where you had spent your entire caged childhood. Would he still want you as his wife if he discovered the truth?

"Come on, my dear. Talk to me, please." The general leaned in, attempting to dominate your field of vision. He didn't like how you kept glancing nervously back at your family as if still afraid of what they could do to you.

Your husband's heart shattered as he gazed once more into your vacant, hopeless eyes. It felt as if he could never truly connect with you. Once again, he found himself lost, unable to reach you. It became clear that your biggest obstacle wasn't trusting him; it was trusting yourself. Despite all his efforts, your insecurities persisted.

Bringing you back to this place seemed like a colossal mistake, undoing all the progress you had made. The words Hongjoong had spoken to you were now pushed to the recesses of your mind, overshadowed by your demons.

Seonghwa's stomach sank when you averted your gaze, blinking your wet eyes with a shake of your head, "Nothing, it's nothing. I... I'm sorry, I don't know why I kept looking here; it's just an old storeroom, as you can see." Your family collectively sighed in relief, narrowly avoiding exposure. For once, they felt slightly thankful to you for not ratting them out.

Of course, it couldn't have been this easy.

Despite the internal frustration, the general flashed a reassuring smile down at you. His plan had crumbled, and you didn't speak up as he had hoped. The head maid and assistant couldn't conceal their disappointment at the missed opportunity.

Casting a glance at his assistant to silently acknowledge the failure of the plan, he squeezed your trembling hand, "It's alright, nothing to be sorry about. Well, if that is all, perhaps we can begin discussing the wedding arrangements then."

Minister Jang immediately brightened, "Of course, let us get on with it. I'm sure we have much to discuss."

With a subtle shake of his head, Jongho signalled to the private investigator that the plan wasn't unfolding as expected. Noticing the exchanged glances, your father raised an eyebrow, "Wooyoung, do you and the general's assistant know each other?"

Both froze momentarily, cursing inwardly at their lack of caution. The fake servant beamed innocently at the minister, "Oh yes, master! I thought he looked familiar; turns out we were from the same village!"

The assistant nodded along quickly with a wide smile, "Yes, what a small world."

Fortunately, the fabricated story seemed convincing, and your father nodded without suspicion, "Huh, what are the odds? Just don't let me catch you slacking off. If you want to catch up, do it after work."

Wooyoung grinned quickly, "Yes, master!" before bowing deeply. Glancing at the general for approval, he was relieved to see Seonghwa nodding lightly, silently expressing 'good job'. His heart raced, still finding it surreal that he was looking at his role model up close and being acknowledged.

Resettling into the main hall, your husband couldn't hide his concern for you. He maintained a firm grip on your hand, a constant reminder of his presence and an attempt to provide comfort despite your lack of reaction to anything. Eunsook, noting your distress, made a point to stay close behind you, silently assuring you of her support.

"Alright then, where should we begin?" Minister Jang clapped his hands together, eager to get it all over with as soon as possible.

Seated opposite you, your three sisters were still seething, their attention fixed on the general's unwavering touch on you. Refusing to concede defeat, they were determined to fight for Seonghwa, unwilling to witness you marrying their dream man in a grand wedding ceremony. He was too good for you.

She doesn't deserve him.

Before the two men could delve into any details, Jinhee, tired of her sisters always being a step ahead, seized the opportunity to speak up, "General Park, I believe I would make a better wife than unnie ever could. I urge you to change your mind and consider choosing me."

Jinah and Jinjoo scowled, feeling a sense of betrayal as they hadn't anticipated the sudden spiritedness from their middle sister. She had always been the calmest among the three. It appeared that the allure of the general was potent enough to pit them against each other for the first time.

The minister smacked a hand on his face in disbelief, growing tired of his stepdaughter's obnoxious behaviour. Just as he opened his mouth to reprimand her, the other two chimed in loudly, "No, I'd make a better wife!" before glaring at each other.

Pressing a kiss onto your knuckles to rile them up, your husband stared at the girls with an amused grin, "Really? Do you think you'd make a better wife? Why don't you each tell me why you think so? I'll consider it."

It was apparent that the general was merely toying with them, but the three were oblivious and engaged in a heated debate among themselves, striving to convince Seonghwa that each of them would make the ideal wife for him.

Meanwhile, you silently accepted your fate, believing that your husband was present to entertain the idea of replacing you with one of your stepsisters. If that's what he desired, who were you to object? You considered yourself fortunate to have been sent to him, and now that he had seen your sisters, perhaps he sought someone better than your useless self.

The general burst into a fit of vicious laughter, singling out the middle sister who promptly straightened up, "You," he pointed, "it seems like you have the most convincing argument. I suppose that makes you the most suitable for me, doesn't it?"

Jinhee vigorously nodded, "Yes, my lord!"

With a sly smile, he continued, "Very well, I'll consider marrying you, but on one condition that your father must agree to," Her eyes widened in excitement while her sisters clenched their fists in frustration, dissatisfied with her being chosen, "Anything! Just name it, and you shall have it!"

"If Minister Jang agrees to retire from his position and let me take over, then I guess I'll think about it."

Your father heaved a deep sigh, frowning at the foolish girl in irritation, "That's enough, Jinhee. Are you even hearing yourself? None of that will ever happen. I'm sure the general is only joking around."

Her stubbornness prevailed as she continued to press, "Father, this is for my happiness! If you loved me, you would agree to that!"

Even her own mother, finally sober enough, shook her head disapprovingly, "Stop it, Jinhee. Do you know what it would mean for the rest of us if your father were to retire?"

Having enjoyed the comedic display, Seonghwa chuckled darkly, "Your father's right; I was only playing with you. After all, I couldn't possibly marry you, even if he had agreed to that condition."

"Why is that?!" She questioned, still determined to have him for herself. She hated the sight of him cradling your hand; it should be her beside him. She had gotten so close to having him earlier that she refused to let the opportunity slip away so quickly.

For some reason, the minister couldn't shake off the ominous feeling he was getting from your husband's smugness. Something wasn't right; this felt oddly like a trap.

In a mock-innocent voice, the general answered, "Isn't it simple? Because you're not even Minister Jang's legitimate daughter; you do realise you're merely his stepdaughter, right?"

Your father and stepmother's eyes immediately widened, knowing exactly where this was going. Before they could do anything to stop it, Jinhee yelled out, "But I am father's real daughter!"

Gotcha, bitch.

Jongho and Eunsook did their best to suppress the growing grins on their faces, relieved that at least their master's plan B seemed to have worked out. During the assistant's time away from the estate, working with Wooyoung, they had managed to confirm the general's suspicions about the three being Minister Jang's actual daughters.

This revelation itself was enough to bring him down, as the three were born when your mother was still alive. And if they were, in fact, his, that would mean he had been disloyal to his wife and had fathered bastard children outside. This was more than enough to tarnish his reputation for good.

Rising abruptly from his seat, the minister cleared his throat loudly, "General Park, please don't take her words seriously. Clearly, she only said that out of desperation. The girl is still young and doesn't know when to stop; do not mind her. Come, let us take our discussion somewhere else."

"Save it, minister. If she isn't your daughter, where would she have gotten the confidence to voice that out loud? Don't make me laugh." Seonghwa retorted coldly.

Finally, you lifted your head to stare at the old man upon hearing the revelation. Could it be true? You didn't know if it was supposed to make you feel any better, but you used to question why your father had treated you so badly when you were his only real daughter. Now, it would make more sense, at least.

Scoffing, Minister Jang clenched his fists, "I would advise you to be careful with your words, general. After all, it wouldn't be too wise of you to slander your father-in-law and superior so carelessly like that. What would His Majesty think of you being unfilial and disrespectful to me?"

If your father thought that threat could save him, he was wrong; it seemed he was only digging himself a deeper grave.

The general peered amusingly at him through his lashes, "You know, it's really funny you should say that. Would it still be considered slander if I had evidence to back up my claims? Oh, minister, you should not have brought the King into this. He was already so disappointed in you when he learned of the truth about you and your dirty deeds throughout the years."

"Wh-what do you mean by that?" The minister stammered, visibly trembling in his spot, and his family could only sit back with terror in their eyes, not knowing what your husband had uncovered.

"Minister Jang, did you really think the King had allowed me to come here just to make wedding arrangements with you? I'd rather burn in hell than have you host my wedding, especially after what you had done to my wife in all the years she had been under your care. I'm only here for your confession, under His Majesty's orders."

A series of gasps rang across the hall as your stepmother and stepsisters froze in their seats, the realisation finally hitting them that they had been under scrutiny this whole time. It became apparent since the minister's suspicious behaviour at the assembly.

Little did everyone know that Seonghwa's investigative work had been funded by the King himself the entire time. The two had shared a deep conversation after the assembly; what initially started off as idle chatter regarding the general's new wife transitioned into a serious discussion as your husband revealed what he discovered about the minister thanks to your arrival.

Your eyes widened at Seonghwa's words, wondering if he had known all along about what had happened to you. Feeling your gaze on him, he turned to face you with a soft smile, "I told you I'd protect you."

Feeling your heart flutter and eyes tearing up with tears of relief, you finally squeezed his hand back, "Thank you, Seonghwa."

Cutting your moment short, your father shook his head in denial, "You're lying. Nice try, General Park. I'm not falling for your trick. If you were telling the truth, why would His Majesty have bothered to send you here when he could have just arrested me?"

Turning back to face the old man, your husband smirked, "Now, where would all the fun be in that? Of course, I didn't expect you to admit everything to me so easily. It was fun watching all of you panic in front of the so-called storeroom earlier. I hope you enjoyed the temporary relief, courtesy of my lovely wife. Someone, bring the minister a chair before we start recounting all the interesting things he's done so far."

Jongho was more than happy to help, "Yes, sir!" He promptly moved a chair to the centre of the hall where the minister stood before returning to his position behind his master.

Your stepmother and stepsisters remained glued to their seats, hearts filled with dread. Jinhee regretted her every action immediately, not that it made much difference. They were already doomed from the moment they delivered you to him.

"Will you not sit, Minister Jang?" Seonghwa teased, and when the old man glared at him, he shrugged, unbothered, "Suit yourself. Let us begin then."

The general stretched a waiting hand in his assistant's direction and waited as the younger man fished a few documents out from his pockets, "Here you go, sir."

"Alright, let's see, where should we start?"

With a devilish grin, your husband flipped through the pages, addressing the minister, "So, were you denying that these three are your biological daughters? Not to worry, I have just the thing to prove it. See, we have their birth certificates and the fake ones you forged right here. You bribed your physician quite a bit for these, huh? Well, it seems the amount you paid was not nearly enough since he spilt everything to us so easily."

The minister's wife pointed a shaky finger at the papers in Seonghwa's hands, "Th-that's not possible. How did you get your hands on those documents?"

"Ah, so you admit these are yours?" The general raised a brow, "I get it; it's hard not to when the only copies to exist were found in your private quarters, hm? I'll have precious Wooyoung to thank for these. Come here, boy. You should be so proud of yourself."

"Thank you, my lord! I'll work harder!"

In front of the minister and his family, the mole finally unveiled himself. All five of them could only gape at the new employee who had recently joined the estate. They praised him for his work and even thought of him as a hard worker. Suddenly, it all made sense why he always seemed too eager to help around. He had been snooping around for the enemy all along.

Your father pointed accusingly at the fake staff member of his estate, "Y-you traitor—"

"How can he be a traitor when he was never on your side to begin with? Let's not change the subject, alright? Now, let us conclude the number of crimes you've committed here; first, you've cheated on your wife and had not only one but three illegitimate children outside of your home. I must say, minister, you're setting a horrible example for the married men in all of Joseon." Seonghwa shook his head in disapproval.

"Next, you've bribed your physician to silence him and then get him to further commit the crime of forging official documents for you. I guess this could have been understandable if it had been a silly little commoner not knowing any better, but my goodness, you are our nation's Minister of Military Affairs! What would the people think of us if they knew their leaders were this unethical?"

"And the worst of it all, you kept my wife caged in that pathetic excuse of a room all her life. You all had a hand in her suffering and abused her endlessly, all for your own entertainment. And what had she done that was so wrong to deserve any of that? Just because she was born from the wife you did not choose and love?" The general spat, feeling his heart ache and anger rise.

It was your turn to rub a thumb softly over his skin to remind him that you were fine now; you were loved and cared for, all because of him. He tightened his hold on your hand, vowing to get you justice.

"Can any of you even call yourselves human?" He growled, glaring at your family. Your stepsisters trembled, avoiding his death stare, feeling like complete idiots, especially after their stupid little innocent act earlier. Why did they even believe for a second that they could have fooled him?

With a deep breath, Seonghwa put on a sarcastic smile, "And with all of that, it should be enough for you to be stripped of your title and for your entire family to be demoted from a noble house to commoners."

The old man's knees went weak, and he ended up plopping into the chair Jongho had placed behind him. Clenching his fists, he shook his head again, "No, you can't do this to us. You can't do this to me. I've dedicated my life to this job and this country. I have contributed so much—"

Smirking, the general cut him off, "Why? Are you unsatisfied with this conclusion? I expected no less from you, you ungrateful bastard. Fine, I guess we'll have no choice but to dive deeper and talk about your most severe crime then."

There's... more?

Furrowing your brows, you wondered what other horrible things your father could have possibly done. Everything that your husband had already listed seemed like a lot to you.

Your stepmother gasped loudly, clutching onto her chest as she took in the general's wicked grin, "He knows..."

Jinah frowned, grabbing her mother's arm in confusion, "What is it? What does he know? What else has father done?" The other two sisters stared at their parents, who looked scared for their lives.

"Yes, I do know, Lady Jang. Did you really think the two of you could keep your dirty little secret hidden forever? As if adultery and illegal document forgery weren't bad enough, you were both audacious enough to commit murder against an innocent person."

Minister Jang and his wife shared a horrified glance, realising that the veil of secrecy they had meticulously woven was now unravelling before them. The colour drained from their faces, and beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

The mistress of the Jang estate stammered in fear, "N-no, that's not true! You're making baseless accusations, General Park. We haven't committed any murder!"

The general remained unfazed, a cold stare fixed upon them, "Really? You haven't? Then tell me, why do the two of you seem so afraid? You weren't trembling with fear when you poisoned the first Lady Jang to death, and you certainly weren't afraid when you robbed my wife of her mother."

Staring at your father and stepmother in horror, a wave of disbelief crashed over you. The revelation hit like a tidal wave, leaving you stunned and paralysed. The people you thought were simply cruel for torturing you all your life had now revealed a more sinister truth – they were the reason you never knew your own mother.

The shock and betrayal etched across your face, your eyes locked onto theirs as the weight of their sins settled in. It wasn't just about the abuse and mistreatment; they had orchestrated a tragedy that deprived you of the one person who could have brought warmth and love into your life.

"And what evidence do you have to prove that?" The minister finally mustered the courage to challenge the accusations, still putting up a fight. His three daughters, nearly as shocked as you were by the revelation, couldn't fathom that their parents might have actually taken someone's life.

Seonghwa remained unyielding, maintaining his cold gaze, "Not to worry, I have it all right here." He gestured to the documents Wooyoung held, revealing a series of letters exchanged between the couple all those years ago detailing the best way to end someone's life and make it look like a natural death, as though they had succumbed to an ordinary illness.

"Isn't it an uncanny coincidence that the physician confessed to the first Lady Jang dying from mandrake poisoning, and simultaneously, there is an abundance of mandrake planted in your garden? Alongside these incriminating letters, everything aligns seamlessly. There's nothing you can say to undermine this evidence, minister. Would you care to explain your actions now?"

Minister Jang's face contorted with defiance and anger. He took a deep breath before finally admitting, "Fine, it's true. I did it; I killed that woman. But you have to understand; the first Lady Jang ruined my life. I never wanted to marry her in the first place. It was a political arrangement forced upon me to please her influential family. They held more power than I did at the time."

His eyes darted around, gauging the reactions of those present, especially his daughters, "I clawed my way up, working tirelessly to reach my position as Minister of Military Affairs. I didn't need her family anymore. So, I did her a favour – I ended her unhappy marriage and made room for the person I truly loved."

He looked at his current wife with a twisted sense of affection, completely ignoring the horrified expressions around him, "I had to make a choice for my own happiness. No one understands the sacrifices I've made for this family and for the sake of my love. It was the only way."

"If you hated my mother so much, why did you bother having me then?" You finally croaked, voice breaking as you choked back tears. Seonghwa pulled you close to him, never wanting you to go through any more pain alone.

Your father let out a scoff of displeasure, "I never wanted you. You were just another duty to please your mother's family. When she died, I refused to let any of them near you out of spite. You were a constant reminder of her, a spitting image that angered me every time I looked at you. That's why I hated you so much."

His admission hung heavily in the air, each word cutting through the silence like a knife. Your eyes, filled with sorrow, met his cold, callous gaze. Your husband tightened his hold on you, offering silent comfort as the painful truth unravelled.

"And there we have it, the confession His Majesty wanted. Royal Secretary Choi, did you manage to get all of that?" The general called out with a smirk.

To the minister's horror, the King's closest and most trusted aide emerged from the entrance, flanked by a team of royal guards, "I sure did, General Park. You've done well; we'll take it from here. His Majesty shall decide the Jang family's final sentencing."

« Preview of Part 10 »

As Eunsook followed her master's orders to assist you out of the hall and to the waiting carriage at once, your husband stayed behind to express gratitude to the dedicated private investigator.

"You've worked hard, Wooyoung. I assure you we will compensate you for your excellent performance. You didn't have to help us this far, but you did, and I appreciate it."

The younger man enthusiastically bowed, "It's my pleasure, sir! I'm a huge fan of yours; I think people don't appreciate you enough for defending our country! Those who think you are heartless are clearly mistaken. If only they'd seen you today. You are a wonderful husband, my lord. It's reassuring to know Lady Park has you."

Clearing his throat, the general looked away and fought the faint blush dusting his cheeks, "I'm glad you think so. I can only hope she thinks the same."

Wooyoung grinned, "I'm sure she does, my lord. I've seen how Lady Park looks at you; I can tell you mean a lot to her too," Seeing Jongho approaching to escort his master out, the informant bowed one final time, "It was an honour working for you, sir. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need my services again!"

Seonghwa nodded appreciatively, "I'll keep that in mind."

Just as he turned to leave, the royal secretary came up to him, "Before you go, General Park, His Majesty wishes to meet you and Lady Park soon to discuss your actual wedding arrangements."

Nodding lightly, the general replied, "Got it, I'll see you then."

"Oh, and one last thing; I know you've both been through a lot, but the worst is over. I wish you and your wife happiness."

"Thank you, San."

Y'all I'm not even gonna lie, this part literally gave me a whole ass headache LMFAO I hope this felt satisfying enough! Of course, we still don't know what consequences the evil family are about to suffer muahaha😈

Also, the second mood board depicting the general's estate is out! Go take a look if you haven't already!

As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

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