Chapter 3
The soft morning light seeped through the lace curtains of Nadine's bedroom, casting delicate patterns onto the polished wooden floor. She stretched beneath the weight of the thick duvet, her eyes blinking against the golden glow. For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the silence, but the lingering heaviness from yesterday tugged at her thoughts. Deciding she needed a change of scenery, Nadine got up, determined to spend the day away from the house. After all, if she stayed, her mother would likely corner her with passive-aggressive comments or "helpful advice" about her appearance, her career, or her life in general.
Scrolling through her phone while sipping her morning coffee, Nadine stumbled across a post about a quaint book café in the heart of the city. The photos showed cozy corners lined with bookshelves, steaming cups of coffee, and a warm ambiance that seemed almost too perfect. It looked like exactly the kind of escape she needed. Without a second thought, she grabbed her coat, her favorite scarf, and her bag, letting Ahjussi know she'd be heading out on her own for the day.
The city streets were bustling, but Nadine found a strange comfort in the anonymity of the crowd. She slipped through the doors of the book café, the soft chime of a bell announcing her arrival. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint musk of old books, wrapping around her like a warm hug. The interior was even more charming than she'd imagined. Dark wooden shelves stretched up to the ceiling, packed with books of every genre. A few tables were scattered between the shelves, each adorned with small vases holding fresh flowers. The hum of quiet conversations and the occasional clink of cups created an atmosphere that felt worlds away from the stifling grandeur of her family's mansion. Nadine ordered a latte and found a seat near the back, where she could tuck herself away and get lost in a book. She ran her fingers along the spines of the novels she'd picked, the weight of her mother's whispers and yesterday's discomfort gradually lifting.
Hours passed in a blur, and Nadine became so engrossed in her reading that she didn't realize it was already 6 PM. Her stomach growled, a reminder that she hadn't had lunch—and now it was already time for dinner. Tidying up her things, she slipped her book into her bag and made her way to the exit, clutching her half-finished iced latte. Her phone buzzed in her hand as she dialed her driver, letting him know she'd take a taxi home instead of having him wait for her.
Distracted by her phone, she didn't notice the figure coming toward her until it was too late. "Ouch," she muttered, rubbing her forehead after colliding with someone. "Sorry," she said, instinctively reaching for a tissue, only to realize she'd spilled her iced latte all over the person's shirt. "Oh my God! I am sooo sorry, truly sorry!" Nadine gasped, flustered, scrambling through her bag for wipes.
"Nadine! This is unexpected!" The voice rang out, and Nadine froze. She blinked, barely able to process what was happening. Standing before her was Noah Lee, her fiancé. He was even taller than she remembered—around 6'3"—his frame towering over her despite Nadine being 5'6". His presence exuded quiet confidence, the kind that made people stop and take notice. His sharp features, framed by perfectly styled dark hair, gave him a cold, aloof demeanor. Yet, there was something magnetic about him that Nadine couldn't deny. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his, unsure of how to react.
"Noah," she said, surprised, her voice sounding more distant than she intended. Noah gave her a small smile, the corners of his mouth tugging up, but his eyes remained unreadable. "Well, this is unexpected." Nadine's mind spun. Of course, she knew she'd run into him eventually, but not today. She wasn't ready to face him, the very reason she'd come back home. "Yeah, truly unexpected," she added, trying to sound casual, though her insides felt like they were flipping. "I mean, I knew we'd meet someday, but—" She trailed off, her brain scrambling to process the situation. A nervous laugh escaped her as she stammered, "Well, sorry. I hope to see you someday. But… not this way..." She offered him some wipes, her hands shaking as she tried to act normal.
Noah took a moment before reaching for the wipes, a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "It's fine," he said, his voice calm despite the mess. There was a natural authority in the way he carried himself, a quiet confidence that seemed unshaken by the minor mishap. Nadine was almost too overwhelmed to respond. She couldn't get the words out right, her thoughts racing. This is Noah. The guy my parents want me to marry. The guy I've spent so many years avoiding, believing he hated me. And now here we are, standing face to face with iced coffee on his shirt.
As he wiped at the stain, Noah caught her gaze, his eyes lingering just a little longer than she expected. His expression was composed, almost calculating, as if he was trying to gauge her reaction. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" Nadine nodded awkwardly. "A year, I guess." Her voice felt too loud, as if everything about this moment was too heavy, too awkward.
She could feel the weight of their past hanging in the air, the unspoken tension that had always been between them, thanks to their families' expectations. Noah nodded as well, then glanced down at his shirt again. "Well, this was certainly not how I pictured our reunion." Nadine couldn't help but laugh weakly. "Me neither." Her stomach churned with a mixture of embarrassment and something she couldn't quite place. Was it relief? Could it really be that easy to talk to him? She cleared her throat, finally managing to gather herself.
"I should probably let you go… I'm sure you don't want to stand here and chat with someone who's spilled coffee on you." Noah paused for a moment before his smile softened, as if he was actually considering her words. "It's alright, Nadine. You don't need to leave on my account." His tone was light, almost teasing, but there was something else there—a flicker of warmth, perhaps?
Nadine felt a rush of conflicting emotions. This was Noah, the man she had barely spoken to beyond surface pleasantries, but somehow, in this unexpected moment, it felt different. Maybe it was the way he wasn't immediately making her feel like an inconvenience. Maybe it was the way his presence didn't feel as intimidating now as it had before. "I'll go first," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "but… I'm sorry again." Noah simply nodded, his expression unreadable but not unkind. As she turned to walk away, she felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe this wasn't going to be as difficult as she thought—maybe, just maybe, things could be different this time.