Chapter 10. I Don’t Want To Marry You (2)

Translator: Lili

What would the original Shin Sera have said?

“Because I felt like it.”

Cha Jaeheon let out a faint smile, as if he had anticipated such a reckless answer. But his cold eyes betrayed the opposite emotion.

Crossing one long leg over the other, he leaned back lazily and murmured in a bored tone,

“You were begging me to marry you like your life depended on it. And now, all of a sudden, you just feel like calling it off? Does this still seem like a joke to you?”

“When did I ever…?”

Sera reflexively started to argue but quickly shut her mouth. A vivid memory of Shin Sera clinging to Cha Jaeheon’s leg flashed through her mind.

‘What on earth was so great about this man that she had gone that far?’

Her face burned with humiliation as she replied,

“I must have lost my mind back then because I was greedy for marriage.”

“And now?”

There was no way she would regret losing a man who not only had eyes for another woman but would also, in the near future, turn her into a financial criminal.

Sera answered with unwavering certainty.

“No. Not anymore.”

Cha Jaeheon’s sharp gaze narrowed slightly. His open scrutiny was rude, but she refused to look away—backing down would feel like losing.

After a brief silence, he finally muttered,

“How long do you plan on playing these childish emotional games?”

“What?”

Cha Jaeheon leaned forward, decreasing the space between them. His cold eyes lazily swept across her face.

“Begging for attention like this—aren’t you tired of it?”

His tone was calm, yet the underlying mockery was blatant.

“If you’re trying to test my feelings, rest assured. The wedding will proceed as planned. But don’t misunderstand—that doesn’t mean I acknowledge you as my wife.”

“…”

“Let’s put an end to these pathetic games. I told you from the start, didn’t I? The only thing I expect from you is to live quietly, unnoticed. If you do that, I’ll go through with the marriage.”

Sera blinked slowly, at a loss for words.

No matter how much Shin Sera had pestered him… did she really deserve this kind of treatment?

Even if she had been infatuated with Cha Jaeheon in the original story, their engagement was, at its core, a strategic marriage. A mutually beneficial arrangement, based on calculations. Yet, he wasn’t even showing her the bare minimum of respect expected from a fiancé.

The reason he could act like this was simple—Cha Jaeheon didn’t see Shin Sera as his equal.

In the past, Han Jia had often been treated unfairly simply for being an orphan. People who became crueler toward the weak had always viewed her as someone who could be trampled on without consequence.

— You’re an orphan, aren’t you? You should be grateful for whatever treatment you get. Understand?

— Han Jia, he was just trying to be friendly. Why are you making a big deal out of it? Just keep quiet and let it go, alright?

— …

Was it because of those lingering emotions? For a brief moment, a surge of anger nearly overwhelmed her, but Sera barely managed to rein in her temper.

This was an insult directed at the original Shin Sera—it had nothing to do with her. And reacting emotionally would only put her at a disadvantage.

Besides, if she really tried, she could understand Cha Jaeheon’s stance. Shin Sera had repeatedly asked for a breakup, only to cling to him again shortly after. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to disregard her now.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t pissed, though.

“Listening to you, it almost sounds like you’re the one desperate to marry me. Of course, I know that’s not the case.”

Cha Jaeheon’s gaze narrowed at her casual remark. Smiling as if she had no hidden agenda, Sera continued,

“I understand why you don’t take me seriously. I’ve given you plenty of reasons not to. But this time, I mean it.”

“…”

“You’ve heard that I lost my memory, right? That I was sick for a while?”

For the briefest moment, a flicker of unease crossed Cha Jaeheon’s face. But it was fleeting—he quickly regained his impassive expression and remained silent, which was as good as an acknowledgment.

Sera had expected that. She tried her best to feign a wounded expression, though it wasn’t easy.

“I thought you’d at least ask if I was okay but now I understand. It doesn’t matter to you what happens to me. I accept that.”

“…”

“After nearly dying, I started wondering… Do we really need to force ourselves into a marriage that won’t make either of us happy? My memories are hazy, and my emotions seem to have faded with them. I don’t even like you anymore.”

“…”

“So, believe me this time—I don’t want to marry you.”

Sera carefully wove together a mix of lies and truth to create a convincing justification. If Shin Sera, who had been so obsessed with Cha Jaeheon, was suddenly demanding a breakup, the only reasonable explanation was that she could no longer endure his indifference and coldness.

Now, how would Cha Jaeheon respond?

Sera watched him closely, tension creeping into her gaze.