Six Months Later
"Director, there's still an hour and a half before your flight takes off. Would you like to head to the airport now, or...?"
"No rush." Blaine Jackson cut Annie off casually, his gaze flickering toward the staircase leading to the second floor. His brows furrowed slightly.
"Director, are you waiting for Chloe?" Annie asked knowingly.
Blaine shot her a glance and nodded. "Is she mad at me? Otherwise, why would she refuse to come down and see me off when she knows I'm leaving the country?" But if she was upset, what exactly was she upset about? Not long ago, she was so warm and affectionate toward him. How could she change so suddenly?
"Of course Chloe is mad at you," Annie answered without hesitation.
"Why?" He sounded genuinely puzzled. He couldn't recall having done anything to upset her.
"Director, I've noticed that you don't actually understand Chloe very well." Annie sighed.
"What do you mean?" He believed he knew her well enough. It was just that women's moods were unpredictable—impossible to figure out.
"You're heading back to your home country, right?"
"Yeah, my friend just had a baby, and I'm going back for the full-month celebration. You know that." Just the thought of finally meeting his friend's twin babies put him in an exceptionally good mood.
"Director, let me ask you something. Do you truly like Chloe?" Annie's tone was serious.
Blaine narrowed his eyes at her. "What does that have to do with her being upset? Isn't it a little late to be questioning whether I like her or not, considering we're already together?"
"Just answer me. Do you like her?" Annie pressed.
"Of course, I do. More than that—I'm crazy about her." But still—"I don't see your point."
Annie smiled. "Then, Director, have you ever considered marrying Chloe? Making her your wife?"
"Huh?" He blinked, caught off guard.
"If you truly love her and see a future together, why didn't you think about taking her with you on this trip?" Annie asked bluntly. "That's why she's mad. What woman wouldn't be? You claim to care about her, yet when you're going back to your home country, you don't even ask her to come along?"
"…So that's why she's upset?" It finally dawned on him.
"Director, women are sensitive. If you love her, this should've been obvious."
"Are you implying that I don't love her?"
"Are you asking me, or are you asking yourself?" Annie challenged boldly, and sure enough, he shot her an irritated glare.
"Of course, I'm asking you. But isn't this ridiculous? If I didn't love her, why would I let her cling to me?"
"You've explained that before. You said it's because she's your junior's younger sister, and you were just taking care of her." Annie responded smoothly.
"Annie, are you deliberately opposing me?" Blaine finally realized something was off.
"You misunderstand, Director. I'm just being honest. Chloe is a great girl, and Sophie really likes her. She even warned me—if you don't treat Chloe well, she's going to report you to the President and have him set up arranged dates for you."
"What?" He was dumbfounded. "How does Sophie know about Chloe and me? Wait—" He suddenly recalled how Chloe had mentioned that she knew a lot about him through his younger sister. That meant Sophie knowing about Chloe's feelings for him wasn't impossible.
"Director, in short—" Annie started, but then she noticed Chloe stepping out from the second-floor entrance, a suitcase in hand. She was coming straight toward them.
"Chloe? What are you—" Annie looked at the suitcase, confused.
Chloe shrugged and smiled faintly. "The flight's about to take off. I have to hurry."
"F-Flight?" Annie's eyes widened. "Where are you going?"
"South Korea." Chloe uttered the two words lightly.
"South Korea?" Not back home with Blaine?
"Chloe Lin, what are you up to? Who gave you permission to go to South Korea? What do you need to go there for?" Blaine finally snapped, his deep voice carrying a suppressed fury that echoed through the waiting lounge.
"Evan Lee invited me. He sent an email asking me to visit, so why not? You're leaving, and I have nothing to do here alone. Might as well go to Korea for a while." She glanced at her watch before turning to Annie. "Annie, I really have to go."
"Chloe Lin! Who gave you permission to go meet that guy?!" Damn it. That Evan Lee had no good intentions—he was obviously trying to take advantage of her. How could she be so clueless?
"Blaine Jackson, you're not my keeper. What gives you the right to control me?" Chloe's tone was icy.
"Are you an idiot? Our relationship is closer than most married couples, and you say I have no right to interfere?" Did she want him to drag her back and marry her on the spot?
"Really? We're that close? Funny, I don't feel it." He didn't even think to bring her along when he went back home. And he still had the nerve to say they were close?
---
Annie saw their argument was getting louder, drawing unwanted attention. She leaned in and whispered, "This is still a waiting lounge, even if there aren't many passengers right now. But people are starting to notice. Maybe you should continue this conversation somewhere more private."
"Annie, please give me my suitcase." Chloe glared at Blaine before reaching for her luggage.
"Chloe, don't do this. Just talk to the Director properly." Annie, sensing the tension, quickly grabbed the suitcase and walked off.
"Annie!" Chloe called after her, taking a few hurried steps before Blaine seized her wrist.
"Let me go! Your flight is leaving soon. If you don't hurry, you might miss it. And then you'll regret it so much you won't be able to sleep!" Her voice trembled slightly.
Since the moment he received that congratulatory call about his friend's baby, he had been counting the days until he had an excuse to return home. He claimed he was going to see the baby, but in reality? He just wanted to see *her*—the woman he had never been able to forget.
He was a liar. He had once told her he only saw Claire as a friend, or like his sister Sophie. But wasn't it obvious? The one he truly loved was Claire.
And she? She had been foolish enough to believe him.
If he still loved another woman, why should she force him to love her?
"Chloe Lin, what kind of nonsense are you pulling?" Blaine growled before dragging her toward the private lounge.
"Hey! Let go of me!" Chloe stomped her foot, struggling against his grip.
"If you don't let go, I'll bite you!" she threatened.
But Blaine ignored her and kept walking.
"Fine! You don't believe I'll bite you?" Chloe huffed before leaning in, ready to sink her teeth into his hand. But the moment her lips brushed his skin, she hesitated. Would it hurt him too much? Sophie had told her he had a low pain tolerance. If she actually bit him, would he be okay?
Before she could decide, Blaine's voice came from above her. "Weren't you going to bite me? Why'd you stop?"
Chloe looked up at him blankly and, without thinking, blurted, "I was afraid it would hurt you."
Blaine stared at her, his gaze unreadable. Then, after a brief pause, he smirked. "Who told you I was afraid of pain?"