Chereads / The Flower That Wilted Away / Chapter 24 - Anyone Can Be A Father

Chapter 24 - Anyone Can Be A Father

Choon Hee looked out the window and saw her fiancée searching for her along the sidewalk. She gathers her belongings and ran out through the two doors and called out to her fiancée.

"Honey!" She raised her hand in the air and waved with a genuine gaze.

He quickly recognized her voice throughout the crowd and reunited with her. He let out a huge sigh of relief to see that his pregnant fiancée was okay and in one piece. He couldn't imagine if something happened to her or the children. He loves them very dearly and would put his life on the line for them.

"Where were you? How come you weren't answering my calls?" He questioned and slowly loosen his embrace of his then their eyes met.

"I had to use the bathroom!" She answered immediately and her voice sounded a bit shaken. In was high pitched then she pressed her lips together. It was hard to stare him directly in the eyes without feeling an ounce of guilt. She's a terrible liar and wore her emotions on her sleeve.

"Did you do the vitamins?" He asked, with suspicion.

A handsome man in a blazer and trousers was sharp. He approached the couple and interrupted. He reached into his pocket and reveal a mobile phone. He spoke in his deep husky voice," You left your phone." He mentioned.

I wish I can die right now! This can't be happening right now

It was the father of her children standing right in front of her fiancée. Her heart raced and the sight of seeing the two together in the same place caused her stomach to turn and caused this terrible tension.

She spoke nervously," T-Thank you, Mister." When he placed the phone in her hands.

He clicked the Bluetooth to answer a call from his assistant and walked away from the crowd. It surprised her that he didn't mention anything. But why?

It saddens her to think about Dam-Bi's death and the betrayal of sleeping with her friend husband. That night cannot be forgotten nor erased with a simple thought, and it was driving her crazy. How is it possible that my first time I ended up pregnant? If I didn't catch my boyfriend with Si-Woo in the bathroom of the nightclub, then this would've never happened. It dwelled heavy on her mind.

Choon Hee loves her fiancée very much and believes in second changes. Sometimes her mind is filled with doubt, but she listens to her heart. Relationships goes through trails and the stronger ones prevails. It hasn't been a date set yet for the wedding but the two are hoping someone before the babies are born.

"Let's look at a few more houses I book appointment for a later showing."

The appointments were in different cities and far from the small village where the florist store. There were many decent houses but there was one that she absolutely fell in love with. It was over their budget, but Sung Min was accepted for a bank loan.

He signed the contract.

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They dined out at a fancy restaurant to celebrate the big step in each other lives. It was pleasant with nice conversation and laughter. Her fiancée stood up to pay for the bill then the phone vibrated in her pocket. She looked around, and over her shoulders nervously.

A new text messages

46 422 6434: You have until the end of the month to answer.

Choon Hee silent her phone when her fiancée returned. He drove them back to the florist to continue packing and hopefully move everything by tomorrow.

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She separated the plants and carefully handled them for the transfer. It was quite devasting the thought of leaving the memories behind.

31 days to reply. What should I do until then? Should I tell Sung Min?

She wanted to marry her fiancée, but it would destroy her reputation with people knowing it was another man's child. The rumors would circle around her nonstop and the publicity would tarnish her image.

She battles with so many emotions to share this information or not with the family that disowned her and was disappointed in herself.

Choon Hee comes from a small village where family is everything.

She places her hand on her stomach and felt the movements of her babies.

I will try and reason with your father.

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It was hard for her to muster the courage to tell her fiancée about the few encounters. Her heart raced thinking of his reaction.

He carried the boxes from the vehicle into the newly furnished house. She walked out of the room and approached him near the doorway," Sung Min." Those were the only words that she could mutter from her lips without her heart jumping out of her chest.

He loaded a few more boxes and stacked them against the wall then directed all his attention toward her. She hasn't called him by his real name in a while.

"It must be serious—Are you hungry? Are you craving something sweet? He questioned and waited for her random requests that would cost him to travel to five different stores.

"I met with the father of the children." She answered after the long pause of awkward silence.

He was rendered speechless and infuriate. Sung Min was unable to find the right words and tried to control his anger but the image of her laying in bed with another man.

"Where? When did you meet with him? How come you didn't inform me?" He demanded answers then recalled watching her leave a local café in the neighborhood earlier. He was furious and remembered that man in a blazer." You— That man!"

She immediately dropped down to her knees and begged forgiveness." I'm sorry, I was wrong! I don't know what I was thinking…

"Everyone could be a father, but it takes a real man to be a dad. I promised to be there for you every step and to love the children like my own…. Answer me. How is that fair? I decided to step up and still you're unwilling to sleep with me.

You are pregnant and yet you still haven't slept with me— I haven't told my parents about the pregnancy or the engagement. Why are you trying to complicate things?"

"He's still the biological father and deserved to be in his children's lives!" She blurted

and didn't realize how much her words were infuriating him until it reached a boiling point that neither of the two could recover from. He raised his hand and slapped her across the face.

It stung.

Did he just hit me?

She slowly touched her cheek and tears continued to drip from her chin. She couldn't believe that the lovingly fiancée of hers put his hands on her it was like he was a completely different person in the heat of the moment and that terrified her.

"Don't come near me!" She says frightened then took a few steps backwards until her back hit the wall behind her.

"Sweetheart, that w-was an a-accident I don't know what came over. I'm so sorry, Choon Hee! It won't happen again." He walked closer to her and forcefully hug her tightly. She struggles to escape from his grasp.

"I love you."

Just hearing those words caused her heart to melt all the remaining problems away from her thoughts. She cares for her fiancée so dearly and the two have already been through a lot already. She considers this another obstacle that they could overcome. She convinced herself that it was a terrible accident and that he didn't actually mean to hit her.

She has forgiven him for his actions and anything that he said that could've hurt her.

His apology sounds sincere enough

A new text messages

46 422 6434: Appointment?

Send 10:45 pm

Choon Hee turned her head to her fiancée to make sure that he was asleep. Her doubt and fear could not disappear and was afraid of what'll happen if he found out that she was texting the children's father. She lowers the brightness and volume.

She opened the message and replied: P'il Seong Clinc at 9:30 in the morning

Sent 11:05 pm

Seen 11:06 pm

[ S City]

The CEO of the company leaned forward in the chair reading the files with the message opened on his phone.

"I need documents about P'il Seong Clinic and search for the best ones in the country." He demanded from his assistant and then ended the call.

On his desk was a metal frame of his wedding. Dam-Bi was in a beautiful dress and he wore a black suit. His hand was around her waist and the two of their lips were touching. They were happy and in love.

His voice cracked as he held onto the frame, "What did you have to leave alone? Why did I mistake her for you that night? Droplets of tears hit the glass frame. "How could life be so cruel?"