Chapter 1: Prologue

“Let’s break up.”

“…What?”

Joo Hyun-woo calmly told his long-time crush that it was over.

After more than five years of an exhausting one-sided love, he was finally putting an end to it.

But the person hearing those words simply raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

There was clear irritation in his eyes.

Hyun-woo met that gaze with composure.

“Hyung, are you saying you want a divorce?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha….”

Lee Seung-hyuk, Hyun-woo’s husband on paper for the past five years, gave a short, incredulous laugh.

Then, with his face turning cold, Seung-hyuk nodded and said,

“Alright, it’s all my fault. I’ll fix everything you want me to. Will that be enough?”

“……”

“Hm?”

Seeing Seung-hyuk wave his hand dismissively, clearly annoyed, Hyun-woo felt certain there was no hope left.

He swallowed back a sigh that was about to escape.

For five years of marriage, it had always been like this.

Hyun-woo truly loved Seung-hyuk, another alpha like himself, but not once had he been happy.

They were a “display couple,” acting affectionate only when others were watching, and otherwise living like strangers in separate rooms.

To be honest, Hyun-woo regretted ever forcing that marriage.

‘A contaminant like me dared to covet the protagonist…’

With a self-mocking smile, Hyun-woo briefly recalled his past.

This world was the setting of a novel.

Hyun-woo had transmigrated into a BL novel his younger brother wrote.

And not just any character — he became Joo Hyun-woo, the villain who shared his real name.

He hadn’t read the whole story, but since his brother constantly spoiled the plot for him, he knew the general outline.

Joo Hyun-woo.

The protagonist Joo Hyun-jin’s half-brother and the main antagonist — a filthy obstacle standing in the way of the main couple.

At first, he’d been angry that his brother used his name for such a character, but his brother had his reasons.

Though Joo Hyun-woo’s personality was terrible, he was a flawless alpha — handsome, successful, and a rising executive at a major corporation.

And since he wasn’t related by blood to the protagonist, he didn’t suffer total ruin in the end.

As expected, my little brother really thought this through.

For the first time since transmigrating, Hyun-woo felt grateful to him.

If he simply lived quietly without acting like the scum in the original story, he could enjoy a brilliant life as a powerful corporate alpha.

But life never goes as planned.

Hyun-woo could still clearly remember the day he first met Seung-hyuk.

He’d been introduced by his half-brother, the protagonist Joo Hyun-jin.

And Seung-hyuk was exactly Hyun-woo’s ideal type — the man of his dreams.

Of all people, he had to fall for the protagonist’s fated partner.

Hyun-woo had desperately tried to suppress his feelings.

But inevitably, as they kept running into each other, his overflowing emotions became impossible to control.

‘I’m really sorry, Hyun-jin…’

By scheming and manipulating events, he’d paired Hyun-jin with another secondary love interest, while using his power to forcibly marry Seung-hyuk himself.

With his knowledge of the novel, Hyun-woo thought he could avoid ruin and still win the man he loved.

He’d believed that if he could just have Seung-hyuk, everything would be fine.

But he’d been wrong.

Only after five years did Hyun-woo realize how stupid that was.

‘I never meant to ruin their lives…’

What tormented him the most was the guilt that came crashing down afterward.

Living in an unhappy marriage with Seung-hyuk, Hyun-woo suffered from the weight of knowing he’d made both of them miserable out of selfish desire.

So, on their fifth wedding anniversary, he finally found the courage to say the words — “Let’s break up.”

“You don’t need to fix anything.

It’s all my fault.”

“…Hyung.”

“I’m really… sorry.

I should never have done that to you.

But now… I want to make things right.”

“……”

Hyun-woo spoke earnestly.

Sensing the seriousness in his tone, Seung-hyuk began to realize that this wasn’t just another moment of fleeting emotion — it was genuine.

There was a faint grinding of teeth.

Hyun-woo glanced at Seung-hyuk, whose expression was dark with anger, then lowered his head.

He couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes.

“Hyung, what kind of bullshit is that?

Do you even remember what you did to me, huh?”

“I forced you to marry me… even though you didn’t want to.

And with Hyun-jin, I…”

“Ha… Hyung.”

Seung-hyuk cut him off, slamming his hand down on the table.

The expensive dishes, untouched by a single fork, trembled and spilled off the plates.

Hyun-woo stared down at the mess, tense.

“f*ck, that was years ago!

And we’re still talking about it?

Hyun-jin and I are done — it’s over!

What, you want me to divorce you so I can go back to him?”

“If… that’s what you want…”

“Ha! Are you joking right now?

Why the hell would I leave a high-ranking executive from MoonSung Corp and go back to some broke barista?”

“…What?”

Startled, Hyun-woo’s head shot up.

He was at a loss for words at Seung-hyuk’s cruel tone.

“What are you saying?”

“What does it sound like?

Why would I throw away my successful, wealthy husband to go play coffee with that pathetic guy?”

“……”

Something was wrong.

A warning bell rang in Hyun-woo’s mind.

Since meeting him, Seung-hyuk had grown a bit sharper, sure — but he’d never spoken this way before.

He wasn’t someone who mocked others or looked down on them.

Seung-hyuk… was supposed to be the warm, gentle type — the only “sweet alpha” among a world of domineering ones.

That was what made him the novel’s main love interest — the sunshine-like protagonist.

But now, he sounded like a shallow, materialistic stranger.

It was all his fault.

He had turned Seung-hyuk into this.

Sitting there, dazed, Hyun-woo felt his chest tighten painfully and lowered his head again.

“I’m sorry.

Really… I’m sorry.

You can have as much alimony as you want.

I’ll even give you my shares in MoonSung.”

“What…? No, Hyung—”

“So let’s just… end this.”

“……!”

When Hyun-woo looked up, tears filled his eyes.

Seung-hyuk froze, as if struck dumb, unable to say anything.

Hyun-woo realized he’d said everything he needed to say.

“Then it’s decided.

You can keep living in this house.

I’ll go back to the family estate.”

“Wait, wait— Hyung!”

“Goodbye.

Take care.”

Hyun-woo grabbed his coat and quickly walked away.

The restaurant was an upscale place, with private rooms for discreet conversations.

As he stepped out, a neatly dressed waiter looked at him in surprise — no doubt wondering why he was leaving so soon after the food had been served.

Hyun-woo didn’t have the strength to explain.

He gave a faint, weary smile and kept walking.

Outside, the chilly wind brushed against his cheeks.

It was finally over.

Five years of marriage.

Five years of guilt and torment.

Now, if he just lived quietly and made amends, maybe someday… he’d be able to breathe again.

He looked up at the darkening sky for a moment, then continued walking.

“Hyung! Wait!”

“……”

Seung-hyuk’s voice called after him, rushing closer.

But Hyun-woo had nothing left to say.

He didn’t look back.

“Hyung! Hyun-woo hyung! Damn it!”

“……?”

Something about Seung-hyuk’s voice sounded… off.

Too desperate.

Before Hyun-woo could fully turn his head, a blinding light flashed beside him.

KWAANG!

A speeding truck crashed through the guardrail and barreled onto the sidewalk.

It struck Hyun-woo before he could even scream, hurling him far across the pavement.

“HYUNG!”

“…….”

Seung-hyuk’s anguished scream echoed faintly in his ears.

And then, everything went dark.