As soon as Valerie woke up, the mansion felt unusually quiet—almost reverent, as if the walls themselves understood the significance of the day. The housemaids helped her into her wedding dress, adjusting the delicate fabric with gentle hands. When they were finished, Valerie stepped into one of the empty rooms alone, needing a moment to breathe.
She stood by the tall window, her fingers lightly clasped in front of her as she gazed at the sky. The clouds were slowly parting, revealing streaks of sunlight that filtered through in soft beams. She inhaled deeply, letting the calm settle into her chest, and a soft smile curved her lips.
“I can’t believe this is it,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. “I’m marrying him.”
The words felt unreal and beautiful all at once. Eugene’s face flashed through her mind—the way he looked at her, the way he always stood beside her when the world felt cruel. Her heart warmed at the thought, but the feeling didn’t last long.
Her smile slowly faded. A faint frown formed as another thought crept in, unwelcome yet impossible to ignore. "Is it really over?" she wondered. "Or is this peace only temporary?"
Images of the past surfaced—danger, betrayal, the industry’s darkness, the threats that never truly disappeared. She swallowed, her fingers tightening slightly in the fabric of her dress.
Valerie closed her eyes for a brief moment and exhaled, steadying herself. “No,” she murmured, more firmly now. “I won’t let fear take this away from me.”
Opening her eyes again, she looked back at the sky, watching the sunlight break through the clouds completely. Her frown softened into quiet resolve. Whatever awaited her beyond this moment—uncertainty, danger, or sacrifice—she would face it with faith, courage, and love.
And with that, Valerie straightened her posture, ready to step forward into the next chapter of her life.
Surprisingly, out of nowhere, Valerie startled when the faint sound of piano keys echoed through the mansion.
Her breath hitched as the first notes drifted into the room—slow, deliberate, and impossibly familiar. She turned slightly toward the doorway, her heart pounding as the melody grew clearer with each passing second. It wasn’t loud or dramatic; it was gentle, almost reverent, as if whoever was playing didn’t want to disturb the moment.
“Who…?” she whispered, her voice catching.
She took a cautious step forward, the soft fabric of her dress brushing against the floor as she followed the sound down the corridor. The notes wrapped around her, steady and emotional, carrying something unspoken—comfort, longing, devotion.
When she reached the open doorway of the music room, she stopped.
Valerie froze when she realized the music wasn’t Eugene’s.
The piano keys continued—measured, controlled, carrying a heaviness that made her chest tighten. Slowly, she stepped closer to the doorway, the hem of her wedding dress whispering against the floor. When she looked inside the room, her breath caught.
The familiar high notes of “Here Comes the Bride” rang out—light, delicate, almost playful. He slowed near the end, letting the last note linger before fading into silence.
It was Jiyoo.
He sat at the piano with his head slightly bowed, fingers moving across the keys with restrained intensity. The melody wasn’t joyful—it was conflicted, aching, as if every note carried something he could never say out loud. He stopped abruptly when he sensed her presence.
The silence that followed was thick.
The moment his eyes landed on Valerie, something in his expression cracked. Shock. Pain. Regret. All layered beneath a forced calm.
“…I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said quietly while sitting in front of the piano. “I thought you were still resting.”
Valerie swallowed, her heart pounding. “I heard the music,” she replied softly. “I didn’t expect… you. How did you get in here?”
“I snuck here…” Jiyoo chuckled quietly, the sound low and almost nervous as he straightened from the piano bench. “Guess old habits die hard.”
Valerie blinked in surprise, then let out a small, breathy laugh. “You’re unbelievable,” she said softly, though there was no real scolding in her voice.
Jiyoo turned back to the piano and, without another word, let his fingers glide across the keys.
When he looked up at her, his expression had changed. The humor was gone, replaced by something raw and unguarded. Awe, sadness, pride—all of it sat plainly in his eyes as he took in the sight of her in her wedding dress.
Jiyoo’s gaze lingered on her dress for just a second too long. “You look…” He paused, then exhaled through his nose. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Valerie said, unsure what else to say. The room felt heavy with things left unsaid.
“Congratulations…” he said sincerely.
Valerie swallowed, her chest tightening. “Thanks…” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The room felt suspended in time, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. Jiyoo stood slowly, taking a step closer—not close enough to cross a line, but close enough that the weight of everything unsaid pressed heavily between them.
“You look happy,” he said, though his voice trembled just slightly.
“I am,” Valerie answered honestly. “And I hope… you are happy too.”
Jiyoo nodded, though it was clear he was fighting something within himself. “I will be,” he said with his voice beginning to quiver. “Seeing you like this… it reminds me that some things end the way they’re supposed to.”
Valerie’s eyes glistened. “Thank you for being here,” she said gently. “It means more than you know.”
The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable—it was heavy with shared history, unspoken feelings, and mutual understanding. No confessions were made, no promises exchanged. Yet the moment between them felt complete, intimate in its restraint.
He ran a hand through his hair, jaw tight. “I was just—clearing my head. Today’s a big day. For you.” His voice wavered slightly at the last word.
Valerie stepped closer, careful, gentle. “Jiyoo… are you okay?”
He let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “That’s a dangerous question.” Then, more softly, with the tears that he was holding in his eyes. “But don’t worry. This isn’t about me.”
She studied him, sensing the storm beneath his composure. “You don’t have to carry everything alone,” she said.
Jiyoo finally met her eyes, and for a moment, all the resentment, anger, and pain he’d been holding back seemed to flicker across his face, then vanish behind resolve.
“I know,” he said quietly. “That’s why I came here instead of saying something I’d regret.”
The piano behind him sat silent now, like a witness to emotions that would never be voiced. Jiyoo stepped aside, giving her space and breathed out, saying. “You deserve happiness. Whatever it costs.”
Valerie nodded as her eyes began to glisten and smiled warmly at him. “Thank you… for that.”
As she walked past him, the sunlight spilling in from the window framed her in white and gold. Jiyoo watched her go, hands clenched at his sides, knowing that the music he played moments ago was the closest he would ever come to confessing what he truly felt.
And when the door closed softly behind her, Jiyoo sat back down at the piano—this time, letting the silence speak for him.
Valerie didn’t say anything more. She offered Jiyoo one last look—soft, grateful, and full of quiet finality before turning away. With steady steps, she gracefully walked out of the room, the gentle sweep of her wedding dress trailing behind her like a closing chapter. The door shut softly, but the sound echoed louder than any words ever could.
Jiyoo remained still, his gaze fixed on the empty doorway. Only then did his composure finally break. His shoulders sagged as tears welled in his eyes, blurring the space where she had just been standing. He let out a shaky breath, his jaw tightening as regret washed over him—heavy, undeniable, and far too late.
Verse 1: “Never should've let you go,
Never found myself at home
Ever since that day that you walked right out the door
You were like my beating heart
That I, I can't control
Thinking back to the old times
When you kept me up late at night
We use to mess around
Laugh and play, fuss and fight…”
Jiyoo sank back onto the piano bench, one hand covering his eyes as a quiet tear slipped free. The lyrics felt merciless, narrating the very moment he was living, watching the woman he loved walk towards a future that no longer included him.
He didn’t chase her. He didn’t call her name.
Pre-Chorus: “I guess it's too late, I'm dancing this dance alone
This chapter's done, the story goes on…”
Because somewhere deep down, he knew this pain was the price of loving her too late—and loving her enough to finally let her go for good.
Chorus: “Baby, can't believe that you are not with me
'Cause you should be my lady
All I want is to set your heart free
But if you believe that you belong with him
Promise me, you won't let anyone hurt you
Remember, I will always be here for you
Even if it kills me to see you
In that wedding dress (dress, dress)
Oh, see you in that wedding dress (dress, dress)
See you in that wedding dress (dress, dress)
Oh, see you in that wedding dress, oh no…”
Valerie sat quietly inside the limo, her hands folded neatly in her lap as the vehicle glided through the streets. The soft interior lights reflected off the delicate fabric of her wedding dress, making it shimmer with every small movement. She took a slow, steady breath, her heart pounding—not with fear, but with the overwhelming reality of the moment.
“This is really happening,” she thought, pressing her fingers together to ground herself.
When the limo came to a gentle stop, the door opened, and one of Eugene’s uncles stepped forward. He offered her a warm, reassuring smile, extending his arm toward her.
“Are you ready, my dear?” he asked kindly.
Valerie nodded, her voice soft but steady. “Yes… I am.”
She took his arm, and together they walked toward the grand church entrance. The heavy wooden doors opened slowly, revealing the glowing altar bathed in golden light. As they proceeded down the aisle, the quiet murmur of guests faded into reverent silence.
With each step toward the altar, Valerie felt a calm settle over her. The echoes of the past—the pain, the fear, the uncertainty—fell away, replaced by faith, love, and resolve. Her gaze lifted, and there, waiting at the altar, was Eugene.
Their eyes met, and in that instant, everything else disappeared. Surrounded by sacred light and steady footsteps, Valerie continued forward, guided by Eugene’s uncle, her heart unwavering as she walked toward the promise of forever.
Eugene stood at the altar, hands clasped tightly in front of him, his breath catching the moment he saw Valerie appear at the end of the aisle. Time seemed to slow as she stepped into view, light pouring in behind her, her wedding dress flowing around her like something out of a dream.
His eyes widened, filled with pure awe. For a second, he forgot where he was—forgot the guests, the ceremony, everything. All he could see was her.
“Valerie…” he whispered under his breath, his voice breaking slightly.
Every step she took toward him made his chest tighten. He swallowed hard, blinking back emotion as his eyes traced the delicate details of her dress, the calm strength in her posture, the quiet courage in her expression.
“She’s real. She’s here. She’s choosing me,” he thought, overwhelmed.
A soft smile slowly spread across his face, one filled with gratitude, love, and disbelief. His shoulders relaxed just slightly, though his heart raced faster than ever.
In that sacred moment, Eugene felt it with absolute clarity—every struggle, every sacrifice, every fear had led to this.
As Valerie drew closer, his eyes glistened, and he breathed in deeply, grounding himself. Standing there at the altar, watching the woman he loved walk toward him, Eugene knew with certainty that this was the greatest moment of his life—and that he would spend the rest of it honoring the love they were about to seal.
Meanwhile, far from the warmth of the church, Jiyoo sat alone on the piano bench, the room wrapped in heavy silence. The keys lay untouched beneath his fingers, the melody he once played for her now nothing more than an echo in his mind.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn2FNYH4qb
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