Chanmi felt strange in the presence of her sister's fiancé. During dinner, she would run her eyes in all directions just to avoid looking at him. He had something disturbing about him, perhaps it was his bold appearance that made her unable to make eye contact with him?
The worst part, however, was that there were times when he even devoured her with his eyes. Did no one else notice this?
Jieun apparently didn't because she was busy squeezing his hand under the table and telling her family the story of how they met. It turned out that Chanmi's sister had sent her friends to jump in front of the hood of his sports car. They were so influenced by Jieun's command that even his warning that they would be smashed didn't help.
- At first, he pretended not to be interested in me. He played unavailable, but I knew it was just mischief on his part. He's the kind of character that doesn't like to hand everything on a platter right away. - The older sister stroked his chin, to which he smiled broadly.
He had a disarming smile, Chanmi had to admit.
- I was interested in the fact that you commanded the other girls, and they followed your orders. No doubt you have a commanding nature. I like that, Jieun said. - The mother smiled unequivocally at her daughter, confirming that she was still her favorite.
Chanmi was surprised. She didn't think her mother would approve of Jieun's behavior. She thought her older sister would rather be rebuked for it.
Jin sat silently at the table, all the while stirring red wine in his glass. He was present in body, while his spirit was probably standing somewhere next to Jisoo in the kitchen.
- Jungkook, and what does your family do? - It was a question the mother had to ask. Otherwise, this dinner would never have ended.
- My father owns a cosmetics company called "Flower Beauty". - Chanmi discreetly watched Jungkook and noticed the shadow of cynicism on his face as her mother corrected herself in her chair, clearly fascinated by his words. - He had been raising me alone for a dozen years because my mother died when I was a child.
- It's wonderful that my daughter met someone so amazing. "Flower Beauty is a respected brand all over the world."
Jungkook smiled, although it was more forced.
- My father puts all his heart into this company.
Jieun watched her fiancé with sparkling eyes. It was clear that she loved him beyond life. She could not see the world outside of him.
- Once you get to know him well, you will see how perfect he is. There's not a thing he won't do. He is a walking treasure. - She took his hand, glancing at her mother out of the corner of her eye. The woman no longer weighed the "American appearance" of her daughter's fiancé because the fact that he was the heir to "Flower Beauty" made an electrifying impression on her.
Chanmi finished her meal, hoping that this dinner would be over shortly. How uncomfortable she felt in the presence of this man was unimaginable.
- Mom, I hope you will assign one of the spare rooms to Jungkook. We are engaged to be married, I don't want him to live alone. His father stayed in America, he came here because of me, there is no one else in Korea.
- Jieun, I told you that I will stay in a hotel for now, and during that time I will find an apartment. My father has given me the responsibilities of the company in Korea. I have to stay here permanently, and I can't imagine that I should live in your family home - Jungkook replied pretentiously.
- I strongly refuse to let you live in a hotel. As long as you don't find anything, you will stay with us. Jieun's fiancé is in our family, and we have enough free rooms, so you can choose the one you feel most comfortable in - the siblings' mother decided.
Chanmi hasn't seen such a circus since one of the servants was caught by her mother in a rather intimate situation with the gardener.
- It's hard for me to object to your words - Jungkook replied softly, bowing his head.
The redhead jumped up in her chair and stuck a puzzled look at her sister's fiancé when she felt him squeeze her foot under the table.
- I'm sorry, I did it unintentionally - he announced to her, causing everyone to take an interest in them.
- What happened? - Jieun asked.
- I accidentally stepped on Chanmi's foot.
The look he directed in her direction confirmed that it was no accident. He did it on purpose.
*
After finishing her work, Jisoo headed to her room to rest, but was stopped by Jin right in front of the door. He grabbed her arm, preventing her from going inside.
- A few hours ago, you asked me to get out of the house, to disappear from your life. What do you want now? - asked the girl in a tired voice.
- Why is my sister so stubbornly defending you? What truth are you hiding from me, when she continually calls me a fool and tells me to look at my eyes?
The brunette lowered her face, but he forced her to look him in the eye.
- Please, just let it go. Hate me further, treat me like air, or take it out on me if it makes you happy.
He saw the pain in her eyes, the indifference on her face, as if she was already tired of something.
- Did you purposely pull away from me? Did you betray me so that I would hate you?
Her expression changed dramatically. Her wide-open eyes mirrored his face, as if she didn't believe what he had just said.
- Did Chanmi talk herself out of it?
- So my sister knows? - He looked to the side and smiled sourly. - That much is enough for me.
This time, she was the one who grabbed his hand when he wanted to leave. With panic in her eyes, she watched the back of his head, fearing that she would eventually learn the truth. She couldn't let that happen. Their relationship had to end.
- Don't fight to learn the truth, please, Jin said. - She closed her eyelids, and then he looked in her direction.
- Why? What happened if you want to push me away at all costs? What happened if you were willing to betray me, Jisoo?
Her heart broke into a million pieces every time he was near. She wanted to hug him, kiss him, and have him always for herself, but the thorns that separated them were too painful for her to break through, go through them, and cuddle her face into his chest. She promised herself that everything would be fine.
- I'm just scared - she said in a whisper, and tears ran down her cheeks. He watched her face with pained eyes and was already about to even hug her, but at the right moment, she pulled away.
- Why are you doing this to me? Why won't you explain to me what contributed to breaking my heart?
- There is no future for us together. And it's no longer about the fact that we both come from different worlds, and that your parents would never allow us to be together. It's just that I have reason to fear the relationship that brought us together.
- Jisoo...
The girl let go of his hand and, saying nothing more, entered the room. For a moment, she leaned with her back against the door, and then her breathing became heavier. Eventually, she couldn't stand it and burst out crying, cowering on the floor and cursing herself in her mind for being so weak.
*
Very late in the evening, Chanmi was taking a bath in the whirlpool tub, which was located in the bathroom on the second floor, where the bedrooms were located. She lay in the rose-filled water, looking up at the ceiling and thinking about tonight.
The unexpected return of her older sister came as a giant shock to the entire family, but bringing her fiancé with her, who was causing Chanmi anxiety, was a topic she couldn't stop thinking about.
He was the heir to "Flower Beauty." He had lived with his father in America for a dozen years, and now he had returned to Korea with her sister to take care of running the company right there.
Why was his behavior toward her so strange? In greeting her, he stroked her hand, she felt his intense gaze on her, and he even dared to press her foot under the table.
Was he the pick-up type? Did he play American Casanova, seducing all the girls, even if he had a fiancée?
The redhead furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what he meant.
Did she really catch his eye, or was he playing a game, having a laugh about it?
- Jieun has always been attracted to morons - she muttered under her breath as she got out of the bathtub. She stood on a fluffy rug and wrapped a red towel around her body. She walked over to the mirror and looked at her reflection. The girl untied her bun, her long hair fell in waves down her back, and she stared for a moment at her already cleansed face, which was unusually pale this day.
She propped herself up against the sink as her head unexpectedly spun. She took a deep breath and closed her eyelids.
As an anemic, she was often dizzy and not even the iron she ingested every morning helped.
- Get a grip on yourself. You have to start doing something with your life - she said to her reflection in the mirror. - You can't just be the daughter of a rich family.
After she changed into her pajamas, she left the bathroom and headed to her room. It was very late, and it was time to go to bed, although she had no duties tomorrow.
She grabbed the doorknob and crossed the threshold when someone covered her mouth with his hand and walked inside with her. She couldn't scream, couldn't free herself from the strong embrace, couldn't do anything.
She opened her eyes wider in horror as the perpetrator brought his face closer to her neck. He took a deep breath, then brushed his lips against her skin.
- I waited for this moment.... I waited until I could be alone with you - he whispered in her ear, then let her go.
Chanmi turned on the light in the room and, keeping a safe distance, pointed her finger at Jungkook.
- Currently, leave my room before I start screaming - she warned him.
He, however, smiled at her words, not caring.
- You won't do it, Chanmi. You are not the hysterical type. You don't like to cause a commotion.
At that moment, she was terrified to the point that her voice was stuck in her throat and she couldn't make a sound.
- What do you want from me? You are my sister's fiancé. It is at her place that you should be now.
- But I prefer to be at your place - he replied hurriedly, heading in her direction. She retreated backward and eventually slammed her calves on the bed. Jungkook grabbed her hand before she sank back onto the mattress. - Because you have more class in you, and I like women like that.
Again, he smiled at her in a way that made her look at him for a moment.
- If you think Jieun has no class, why did you get engaged to her? Why did you turn her head?
- Because that was the shortest way to find you, Cha-Cha.
Held by his hand, she stared at his face, trying to understand the situation she was in.
The only person who called her Cha-Cha was her best friend Chansung. The boy had disappeared ten years ago, but the man standing in front of her could in no way be him. He bore no resemblance to him at all. Nothing, and nothing at all.
In that case, who was Jungkook, and how did he know her? Who was Jieun's fiancé really, and what did he want from Chanmi?