A little later—
Two crystal glasses clinked softly as they landed on the low table in Daniel's living room.
The deep amber of the whiskey shimmered under the warm light, casting elongated shadows across the surface.
Without a word, they each lifted their glass.
The first sip slid down their throats—slow and burning.
It was Jinwoo who finally broke the silence.
"…I asked her to marry me today."
"What?!"Daniel nearly slammed his glass down.
His brows shot up in disbelief.
"Are you out of your mind? You were serious? Wait—don't tell me she actually said yes?"
Jinwoo gave a helpless shrug, eyes lowered.
"…Would I be here if she had?"
Daniel stared at him for a moment, then leaned back with a heavy sigh.
"…Yeah.I figured. That's… a lot."
Jinwoo lifted his head quickly.
"Why? Why is it a lot? Other people—they fall in love, date, get married if it works out. Isn't that supposed to be normal?"
"It is. That 'normal' you're talking about…"
Daniel paused, letting out a short laugh.
"Doesn't always apply to people like us."
"What does that even mean?"
Daniel didn't answer right away.
He took another slow sip, then finally asked:
"After this morning…have you talked to her at all?"
"…No."
Jinwoo shook his head.
"She hasn't replied to my messages. No calls, either."
Daniel sighed and let his head fall forward, fatigue drawn over his face.
"God…You're a mess, huh. Not that I'm in any better shape."
He downed the rest of his glass in one go, rubbed his jaw, and said quietly:
"Alright. Then I'll just lay it out for you."
Jinwoo looked up, clearly hoping for something—anything.
"Why people like us don't get to just… fall in love, date, get married. Let's start there."
Daniel's voice was low. Heavy.
"Jinwoo. What if—one day—someone shows up and says they want to be by her side?"
He looked at Jinwoo directly.
"Could you handle it? The jealousy? The pressure?"
Jinwoo set his glass down and met his gaze. There was hesitation in his eyes.
"…I'd like to think I could. But… I guess I wouldn't know until it happens."
"Celeste is someone the world knows,"
Daniel continued.
"She travels all the time, lives under constant spotlight, and she'll get attention—doesn't matter from men, women, whoever."
He said it all without a flicker of emotion.
His voice was calm, but his words struck hard.
"Every time that happens…could you stay grounded? Not waver? Not doubt her? Could you really just brush it off and say, 'It's fine, it's fine,' every time?"
Jinwoo said nothing, only nodded. But the tremble in his fingers betrayed him.
Daniel gave a faint, bitter smile.
"Stay in this world long enough, you see all kinds of things."
He lifted his glass again, voice low.
"Couples who look picture-perfect in public, but behind closed doors—he's got three mistresses. And the wife knows. But she plays along, because that's just… how it is."
Jinwoo stared at him, speechless.
"Wait—stuff like that actually happens? That's not just some drama plotline?"
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Reality's worse. Dirtier. Crueler. You wouldn't know unless you've lived it."
He set his glass down with a dull tap.
"The second you tie yourself to her through marriage, 'you'—as a person—start to fade. You don't stay Jinwoo the actor. You become a part of the Langley Group."
"…I know that. And I'm prepared for it. It's not like being an actor is all that free either."
"…Good."
Daniel laughed under his breath, pressing his hand to his forehead.
"Then let's talk about the next thing—"