Chang Wook stared at Ha Eun in shock. She can't say she wasn't expecting that reaction. She just told him the worst parts of her childhood. Her strained relationship with her family, the reason she hates Woo Yeon and the water and practically the reason why she is who she is.
Chang Wook reached his hands out towards Ha Eun and wrapped her in his embrace. He didn't know she had lived such a difficult life.
"Chang Wook…" Ha Eun was surprised by his sudden action.
"I won't act like I understand what you've been through and I won't pity you because I know how much you hate being pitied. What I will do is hug you and promise you that I will never make you feel alone, I will never make you feel like you're not enough, I will always be on your side and the memories you have from now on will be full of happiness. I'll make sure of that" Chang Wook said that with such determination that Ha Eun quickly wrapped her arms around his waist and suddenly started to cry.
Chang Wook passed his hand through her hair as he let her cry "You've been holding in a lot, haven't you?" he asked. Ha Eun started to cry louder "It's okay. I'm here. I'll always be here"
Ha Eun doesn't know how long it was until her tears stopped, but when she was finally able to let go of Chang Wook, she noticed most of the stores where already closed and they were the only people on the beach.
She looked at Chang Wook who was staring at her. The look on his face wasn't one of judgment or pity, he just stared at her as if she was the only person in the world. His eyes, that stare, it made Ha Eun's heart stop for a second. She wondered if this was what it felt like to be loved by someone.
"Chang Wook" she said, "What are we?" Chang Wook looked at her confused. Ha Eun couldn't believe she just asked that. She just told him her backstory and cried in front of him. This is not the time to ask about their relationship status.
"Ha Eun, you idiot!" she yelled at herself.
Chang Wook stood up and reached his hand out to help her up "We're husband and wife" he said with a smile. He didn't want to impose his feeling onto her. He wasn't sure if she was ready to actually say she loved him and wanted a real relationship with him, so he will stick with remaining vague until Ha Eun is completely sure.
They remained holding hands until they reached the car to be driven back home. During the ride, Chang Wook decided to be a bit forward and held Ha Eun's hand. He didn't want to look at her so as not to make her feel flustered and make her think that he was teasing her, but that he indeed wanted to hold her hand.
Ha Eun looked at him surprised and felt as her face got red, but she didn't move her hand away. What she did was intertwine her fingers with his.
"I like you Chang Wook" Ha Eun said to herself "I really like you" she wasn't ready to tell him, but she could at least tell herself.
Chang Wook didn't look at her, he didn't want her to see him smiling like a fool. She didn't have to say she loves him, with that small gesture, she told him everything. She'll tell him she loves him eventually.
"I'll be patient" Chang Wook said. Ha Eun didn't understand what that meant "But don't expect my teasing to stop" He looked over at her and raised his eyebrows just a few inches. She quickly got flustered and tried to move her hand away from his, but he held onto it tightly.
He smiled at her red face. Then looked out the window "Just a while longer" he said in a whisper. Ha Eun looked towards him, eyes wide open. She then looked down and out of the window.
They both holding hands till they reached the house.
Completely ignoring that the driver was seeing everything. He found it weird, seeing the couple acting awkward as they held hands as if they just started dating, but he just thought they were still in their honeymoon phase.
"It's great to be young" he thought to himself.
…
The Chung residence.
Woo Yeon was in his room looking over some paperwork while drinking a glass of whiskey. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. It was his secretary.
"Tell me you found something" Woo Yeon said with an annoyed tone in his voice. Woo Yeon was desperately waiting for any news on Ha Eun and Chang Wook's relationship all day as he looked over the paperwork. If his secretary didn't find anything, he was going to fire him.
"Well, I didn't find much on their wedding, but Miss Ha Eun's husband…" the secretary couldn't finish his sentence as Woo Yeon stood up from the sofa and threw the glass at the wall, shattering it into pieces.
"Don't call him that!" Woo Yeon yelled, with a crazy look in his eyes, but then he passed his hand through his hair, and quickly composed himself. That scared his secretary. One never knew what was really going on in Master Woo Yeon's mind. As soon as you thought you had him figured out, he would do something unexpected.
"Yes" the secretary said "Mr. Kim Chang Wook is the only heir to Kim Industries"
Woo Yeon widened his eyes and looked at his secretary "That family-owned company that's managed to maintain itself isolated from all the other families?"
"Yes, that's correct" the secretary answered "His family is very well off. Their company has no signs of bankruptcy. If anything, the company is flourishing"
Woo Yeon glared at his secretary to shut his mouth "I thought my rival was just a commoner, but it looks like he's far more than that"
Woo Yeon sat back down "Keep digging into their relationship. I want something that can ruin them" Woo Yeon said. His secretary bowed and left the room.
As Woo Yeon sat on the sofa, he started to bite his nails again "I won't let him win" he said "Ha Eun is mine"