**Chapter 2: The Weight of Expectations**

The darkness of the night seemed to suffocate Esther, the weight of Jaekyung's disdain and her own uncertain future bearing down on her like a physical force. As she lay in bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was a stranger in a strange land, trapped in a life that wasn't of her own choosing. The next morning, Esther woke up to the sound of Jaekyung's voice, low and husky, as he barked orders at the staff. She quickly got dressed, her hands moving with a quiet efficiency as she made her way to the kitchen. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of Jaekyung's footsteps as he strode towards her. "Good morning," she said, trying to sound cheerful, but Jaekyung merely grunted in response, his eyes scanning her face before turning away. As they drove to his father's mansion, Esther couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had tried to research Jaekyung's family, to learn more about his background and the expectations that came with being part of it, but the information she had gathered only seemed to raise more questions. When they arrived at the mansion, Jaekyung's father greeted them with a stern expression, his eyes lingering on Esther before turning to his son. "So, you're bringing her here," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I suppose it's time she met the rest of the family." As they entered the grand foyer, Esther was struck by the sheer scale of the mansion. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and paintings that seemed to be worth a fortune hung on the walls, a testament to Jaekyung's status and influence in society. "Your wife-to-be," Jaekyung's father said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How quaint." Jaekyung's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with anger, but Esther merely smiled, trying to keep the peace. She had no intention of getting caught up in the tension between Jaekyung and his father. The rest of the day passed in a blur of introductions and polite smiles. Jaekyung's family was large and influential, and Esther felt like she was drowning in their expectations. She was Jaekyung's wife-to-be, but she had no idea what that meant, or what was expected of her. As they sat down to dinner, Jaekyung's mother, a statuesque woman with piercing green eyes, turned to Esther and asked, "So, tell me, what do you think of my son?" Esther hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Jaekyung's gaze was fixed on her, his eyes seeming to bore into her very soul. "He's...very talented," she said, trying to sound sincere. The woman raised an eyebrow. "Talented?" she repeated. "That's not exactly the word I would use to describe him." Jaekyung's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger, but Esther merely smiled, trying to keep the peace. She knew that she had to tread carefully, that one misstep could spell disaster for her. As the night drew to a close, Esther realized that she had a long way to go to navigate the complex web of Jaekyung's family and their expectations. She also knew that she had to find a way to connect with Jaekyung, to make him see her as more than just a nuisance or a burden. The rest of the evening passed in a blur of small talk and strained smiles. Esther tried her best to fit in, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was an outsider, a stranger in a strange land. As they drove back to their home, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her, and for Jaekyung. "You're not going to make it easy for me, are you?" Jaekyung asked, his voice low and husky. Esther shook her head, her heart racing. "I don't know what you mean," she said, trying to sound innocent. Jaekyung's eyes narrowed. "You know exactly what I mean," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "You're going to try to win me over, aren't you?" Esther hesitated, unsure of how to respond. But as she looked into Jaekyung's eyes, she saw something there, a flicker of uncertainty, of doubt. And she knew that she had to try, to make him see her, to make him care. As they pulled up to their home, Esther felt a sense of trepidation wash over her. She knew that she had a long way to go, that Jaekyung's disdain and anger were not going to be easily overcome. But she was determined to try, to make him see her, to make him care.