Present,
Seoul.
The next day Seyoung Lee invited the neighbours over for dinner but her butler told her that Mr. Seo had work, and Seyoung had instructed him to ask for Miss. Piérce especially but he regrettably informed her that she refused to come without her cousin.
Seyoung intended on reconciling with Luna and apologising to her. She had had a serious discussion with Joy regarding her and both came to an agreement that she was better than Ella. And Joy also conveyed that Haemin had told her how Luna was innocent and actually a saviour.
With a sigh Seyoung sat on the dinner table awaiting the others, she'd have to go over herself and apologise over tea after all.
Joy came and sat beside her, "Is Luna coming?"
Seyoung shook her head, "Jihoon Seo has work and Luna didn't want to come without him."
Joy had met with Luna at uni in the morning but only briefly, at the cafeteria. She had been impeccably distant and so.. off, that it was impossible to get through to her or even talk to her.
And to top it off, Haemin had skipped to spend time with Ella. It was painfully hard to have to break it to Luna.
Kijun joined them and Ella followed along with Haemin.
"Honey, Ella just gave me a solution to the problem," Said Kijun as he sat down, "Regarding the supply of facilities to our Chinese and Russian clientele which is effected by our diplomatic relations."
Ella grinned sweetly at him.
"She's very clever, she'll make an amazing business woman after she retires from her singing career." He added.
"Dad, who do you think helped with the transmit database that you gave me to sort out." Haemin said, proudly smiling at Ella.
"I bet," Kijun started, "After marriage, she will be more invested in the company, while Haemin will be busy delivering pies to employees on maternal leave." He burst into fits of laughter.
Haemin rolled his eyes with a smile, "It was one time, and I was just nine!"
Seyoung smiled, "He used to say that those woman were the real hard workers, bringing lives into the world and that we should take extra care of them."
Ella smiled briefly, "As I was saying earlier, even though Korea University has programs in other countries, you should also consider actually establishing propers universities there."
Kijun thought about this for a second, "Ill discuss it with the dean."
"You're the owner though, your tech company benefits the most through the interns from the engineering programs and such." Ella said, everyone else had started eating except her, "Why ask the dean, you're the one who's gonna have to sign on it later so why not think about it now."
Suddenly it was clear to Joy, why Ella stuck so ardently with Haemin when she clearly didnt love him.
She was a gold digger simply after Haemin because he was the sole heir of LK Cyber Tech. Joy hadn't thought of it before because Ella wasn't exactly poor herself, her family was the owner of a mega chain of departmental stores in America.
But then again, she was fourth in line. The youngest of four siblings, after three brothers. And if she married Haemin she'd be the owner of much more than even the largest share of the departmental stores.
Oh God, I have to stop her. Thought Joy.
So, she whipped out her phone and texted Luna,
'We're heading to the movies after dinner, please come along.'
Luna replied,
'Im busy.'
Joy texted her again anxiously,
'Please, its Frozen 2 and its not even that long, just one hour and fourty minutes. It starts at 8:15 and will end by 10, surely you can make the time.'
She didnt get a reply.
☾
Luna stared back into Leo's pleading eyes with a sigh. He was asking to be let out and the vet had instructed that he be kept in constantly to be domesticated.
He tried opening the door with his paws and she turned away before she could give in. He was just adding to her tension.
She went and stood against the kitchen counter. Jihoon was at work, so, she had no one to talk to, to distract her.
Earlier when Haemin had said that Ella used to be in a bad place and was beating herself up over a mistake she had made, it was probably about her not testifying in Luna's favor.
Luna scoffed, what good was regret when you had five years to correct a mistake and still didnt.
She wondered if Haemin knew what the mistake was. If he supported her despite knowing it then he wasnt nice, just plain ignorant.
Screwing her eyes shut, she sank down.
She needed her mp3. A little bit of Crystal Fighters or Haim would do her good.
Remembering that Haemin was going to the movies, she figured that she might be able to go and retrieve her mp3 behind his back.
So, regardless of her being in a furry baby pink onesie, she ran out of her house and went to his house. She entered, again using Yumi's name and walked up to his room.
"Luna?" Seyoung said from behind her and she froze.
Cursing under her breath she forced herself to turn around and not run away, "Im just here to retrieve something of mine, not to meet Haemin."
"He isnt at home anyway.. and of course you can go in and get it but first, please allow me to apologise, for my behaviour, it was vicious, relentless and so so cruel. Im truly sorry."
Luna was speechless.
"I was just trying to protect my son but I should've looked into what I was protecting him from first, and there was no danger in reality, Im so sorry."
Luna waved her hands in embarrassment, " No no I am the one who should apologise. I was so out of line. And truly I too am ashamed for my disrespect. Im sorry." Luna uttered meekly.
Seyoung abruptly pulled her in a hug, "Oh, you're most definitely not like your mother. You apologise."
Luna laughed, now that was a compliment.
Seyoung led her into Haemin's room, and after she turned on the light she left Luna to it.
Despite not wanting to and because of her task, Luna looked around and eyed the ruffled bed, the panties on the bed sill and an opened condom wrapper lying at her feet.
Haemin is a grown guy after all, what did you expect? Luna scolded herself over her weak heart.
She considered running out but she still walked in with twisted insides.
Over at his desk she noticed that except the bed everything else was perfectly organized. She checked the drawers but didn't find it there.
After just a second of looking she found the red mp3 under a page, connected to the laptop on the desk with its screen still open.
If he had not transferred new songs into the mp3 like he had promised, Haemin would insist on doing it later and that would mean she would have to face him and she couldn't do that.
So, she clicked and the screen lit up.
Her mp3 folder opened and sure enough he had transferred new songs and had also arranged them alphabetically. She groaned, she would have to memorize the new sequence.
She took out the lead and the window backed to the previous folder and she merely looked at it.
It was named 'Best Deed' and in it were a bunch of word files titled Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, and so on. Folding it down, she got up to leave.
Beside his desk was a shorter table, lined with clear plastic containers with labels on them like Chem 132, Architect 101, Sajinsul, Best Deed.
She eyed it with furrowed eyebrows and tilted her head. She could see the red pet adoption centre brochure that Haemin had given her inside it.
And keeping in mind the saying 'Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back' she picked up the container and opened it.
Sure enough it was the brochure, but it was stapled with more brochures for a psychiatrist clinic, some support group and baking school too.
She looked underneath and was appalled to find a printed news article with her picture from years ago on it, with a headline that read 'Thirteen Year Old Murders French Conglomerate'.
She threw it aside, she had already read it over countless times after her mother had slapped it in her face on her first and last visit to juvie.
But there was more, it seemed as if every article on Luna and her conviction was there in that box. Printouts and even cutouts from The Daily Telegraph from 2013 to the last one.
Articles about her family.
Articles about Changmin even. A chill went through her.
Best Deed?
Luna went back to the laptop.She opened it and without a second thought, clicked on 'Entry 1'.
'The first time that I saw her in Seoul, I didn't at all recognise her as the Piérce. She drew attention to herself because of her brazen appearance (unkempt hair, mismatched and badly fitted clothes) Also her bright suitcase.
She had come in front of my car! And to pick up something maybe. Quite reckless actions.
And when the driver had rammed into the fruits vendor to avoid her, she had run away despite the commotion she had caused. There were a few men after her and upon inquiring I found out about who she was.
The second time I saw her was at uni. And this time she just stood out as a foreigner and perhaps thats why everyone was hesitant in approaching her but she also didn't give any welcoming signs thanks to her listening in on her earphones. I expect it to be a social disability, probably because of her confinement.
When I DID approach her, she displayed such hostile and unreasonable behaviour. My best guess would be trust issues.'
Tears of confusion and frustration welled up in her eyes, she closed the file and randomly clicked another entry in a haste,
'Min Seo, the second wife of Changmin Seo. They were married during Luna Piérce's imprisonment so, Min had probably not met L.P before. She may not be very welcoming.
And upon facing discussion of her conviction, L.P had a panic attack, severe hyperventilation and perhaps hallucinations too, judging by her terrorised nervous breakdown in the bathroom.
She pushed away family support but clearly she is in dire need of familial love and desperately needs professional help.'
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Hi everyone :(
Im so apologetic for missing TWO deadlines!
And thats why I wrote a bigger chapter as an apology ❤️