Author's Note – A Late Letter from a Tired Heart 🥀
To my dear readers of Espionage of the Heart,
First—I'm sorry for the delay. It's been more than just days… it's been moments of silence, self-doubt, and this heaviness in my chest. You see, this author—me—couldn't write when her heart didn't feel seen, or when love felt distant, even from the story she created.
Sometimes, it's not laziness. It's the ache of feeling like your words fall into the void.
But your patience… your quiet presence… brought me back. And even if I'm still piecing myself together, I'm here.And I'm writing.
So here's a chapter. And behind it, a heart trying again. Not perfect, but real.
Thank you for staying.Thank you for reading.Even when I go quiet, I'm always thinking of the world we've built together—this chaotic, emotional, beautiful Espionage of the Heart.
With all the love I've still got left to give,Penola.S | @psole23.wordsWriting with a tired soul and a stubborn kind of hope.
(^///^)đź’śđź’•
Morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of the suite, painting everything in a soft, golden hue. In the living area, Andrea moved with quiet grace, her pajama-clad form stretching and kicking as she went through her morning warm-up routine. Her hair, loose and cascading around her shoulders, caught the light like strands of spun silk—each movement revealing the effortless beauty she carried even in the simplest moments.
From the adjoining bedroom, the faint sound of the bed creaking signaled Eunwoo's awakening. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and charcoal sweatpants, he emerged into the living area, his posture relaxed yet inherently commanding. Their eyes met across the room—hers still soft with sleep and endorphins, his sharper despite the early hour. He offered a brief nod.
"Good morning," he said, his voice low and carryÂing the weight of unspoken affection.
Andrea's tongue caught in her mouth—her training told her to remain composed, yet something in that quiet greeting made her heart flutter. Before she could respond, the doorbell chimed.
They exchanged a glance: Did you order something? Eunwoo shook his head, a faint curve at his lips as Andrea padded toward the door.
She opened it to reveal Kai, standing with a butler beside him who pushed a gleaming breakfast trolley laden with steaming buns, delicate pastries, and freshly brewed tea. Kai himself looked every bit the part of a young professional: a tailored light-gray blazer over a crisp shirt, dark chinos, and polished loafers. His hair was neatly combed, his small frame exuding self-assured warmth.
"Good morning, Beautiful Sister," Kai greeted, voice bright and earnest. He extended a silver platter holding a miniature strawberry tart. "I brought breakfast."
Andrea's eyes softened. "Good morning, baby boy." She accepted the plate with a smile that made Kai beam.
The butler stepped aside, and Kai ushered Andrea inside. "Sir, please take breakfast inside the ma'am's room," he instructed politely.
Eunwoo bowed his head in acknowledgment. "Good morning, Big Brother," Kai added, turning to Eunwoo with playful solemnity.
Eunwoo was about to respond with "Good morning, Mr. Kai," until the boy cut him off. "No old-fashioned titles, please. I'm 'King Brother' to you."
The corners of Eunwoo's mouth twitched. He allowed himself a small laugh. "All right, Champ."
Andrea watched them with affection and amusement as Kai hopped past her toward the plush seating. "I want to eat with you guys—can I?" he asked, sitting down as the butler poured tea into delicate porcelain cups.
"Of course," Andrea said, tucking the tart onto a small plate. "I love breakfast."
"I'll be right back," she said, stepping into her bedroom to shower and change for the day.
Once Andrea was gone, the suite fell into a comfortable hush. Kai leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity. "So, King Brother, how many days are you in China?"
Eunwoo set his tea down, the porcelain clinking softly. "Champ, we're leaving today—off to Brussels for the next phase of operations."
Kai's face fell into a pout that belied his usual composure. Suddenly, he looked every bit the twelve-year-old again, not the heir of an empire. "You're leaving so soon?" he asked, voice small. "But I thought you'd stay and help me settle in."
Eunwoo's expression softened. He reached out, ruffling Kai's hair—an action that made the boy cross his arms in protest. "Bro, don't mess my hair," Kai huffed in Mandarin, his voice a mixture of annoyance and adoration.
Eunwoo chuckled, tousling his own suit-trimmed hair in response. "I know you'll be fine, Champ. I'll come back to see you—and your sister, too."
Kai's eyes lit up. "But next time, not 'with my sister,' but 'with my wife,'" Eunwoo teased, delivering the line with perfect timing.
Kai's grin turned impish. "Then you'll be my brother-in-law—are you ready for that?" he challenged, bouncing on the edge of his seat.
Eunwoo leaned back, warm amusement in his dark eyes. "You really are the best wordsmith in the family," he said, pressing a gentle kiss to Kai's temple.
Kai beamed, puffing out his chest. "Of course I am. Now, let's eat!"
Moments later, Andrea reemerged in a fresh blouse and tailored trousers—poised, polished, ready for the day. She paused in the doorway, taking in the lively scene: Kai digging into his tart, Eunwoo pouring tea, the butler standing respectfully by.
"Breakfast smells wonderful," she said, her voice light but genuine.
Kai jumped up to greet her, offering a tart. "For you, Beautiful Sister."
Andrea chuckled, accepting it. The sweet bite warmed her spirits. Eunwoo watched her, expression gentle but unreadable.
Kai leaned forward conspiratorially. "Champ and I have been talking. We're going to plan your welcome party in Beijing."
Andrea blinked. "A welcome party?"
"Yes," Eunwoo said, joining them. "After Brussels, we'll be in Beijing. Champ wants to host something special."
Andrea reached for Eunwoo's hand, slipping her fingers into his. "That sounds perfect."
Eunwoo lifted her hand to his lips, planting a soft kiss on her knuckles. "Only the best for my partner."
Andrea's heart fluttered. In the quiet strength of that moment—amid empire and intrigue, future plans and family bonds—she realized that this whirlwind life, so far removed from her past, had found a new center: a fragile, precious unity between her, Kai, and the man she was learning to trust with all her secrets and all her tomorrows.
Kai finished his tart and hopped down. "Let's go, my sister and my big brother—Brussels awaits!"
Eunwoo and Andrea exchanged a shared smile and rose, the three of them stepping out into the morning light—bound by purpose, by promise, and by an unexpected, unbreakable family tie.
.______..______..______.đź“‘.______..______..______.
When the breakfast dishes were cleared and Kai scampered back to the private elevator, Andrea and Eunwoo found themselves alone in the suite once more. The hush of morning sunlight washed over the soft furnishings, turning every shadow into a quiet promise of the day ahead.
Eunwoo stood by the window, tapping a travel itinerary into his tablet. His profile, backlit by the rising sun, was both regal and wistful—chief executive one moment, reluctant guardian the next. Andrea watched him, the tender tension in his shoulders catching at her heart.
She slipped beside him, drawing her cardigan tighter around her shoulders. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice carrying across that small distance between them.
He nodded without looking away from the tablet. "Just… making sure everything is in order." His fingers paused on the screen, then flicked it shut. He set the device on the windowsill and turned to her. "You?"
Andrea followed his gaze out at the city skyline, the morning haze blurring the line between skyscraper and sky. "I'm… ready." She let the word hang between them, a quiet anchor in the swirl of departure.
He stepped closer, the soft click of his dress shoes on the marble floor echoing in the emptiness. "We leave in an hour."
Her breath caught. "I know."
He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear—the same gentle gesture that had comforted her the night before. "I'll be with you," he murmured, "every step of the way."
Andrea's eyes glistened, and she nodded, unspeaking the gratitude and something deeper she couldn't yet name.
The suite's front door swung open as the butler arrived, discreetly announcing that their car was downstairs. The black sedan gleamed in the courtyard, its surface reflecting the first rays of sunlight. Kai was already seated in the back, his small figure curled in a plush leather seat, headphones on, watching cartoons to pass the time.
Eunwoo held the rear door for Andrea, and she slipped in beside Kai, the engine purring to life as Eunwoo took the wheel. For a moment, they drove in silence, the city awakening around them—vendors setting up stalls, early commuters threading through traffic, birds wheeling overhead in perfect arcs.
Kai pressed a button on his headphones and turned the volume down. "Will you two really come back soon?" he asked, eyes wide behind the tinted glass.
Eunwoo glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Yes, Champ. We'll visit as soon as we can."
Andrea reached back, smoothing Kai's hair. "I promise."
Kai smiled and sat back, hugging his tablet. Andrea allowed herself a soft exhale.
At the private terminal of the international airport, their black sedan slowed to a stop. The pilot car service staff were waiting with name placards: one reading "Mr. King," the other "Ms. Yeldiz." Kai hopped out first, trotting to Eunwoo's side. Andrea followed, balancing her carry-on and slinging a small bag over her shoulder.
Eunwoo waved off the car, then turned to Kai. "Stay with Ms. Lin," he instructed the butler. "She'll escort you to the children's area."
Kai nodded and, after a brief hug for Andrea, ducked through the staff's side entrance.
Andrea stepped forward, her heels clicking on the polished floor as she and Eunwoo approached the sweeping departure gates. They paused before the check-in counter. Eunwoo placed his passport and ticket on the scanner, and Andrea followed suit.
As their documents were processed, the terminal's soft intercom music mingled with distant rolling suitcases and low murmurs of travelers. Andrea glanced at Eunwoo, whose expression was composed—yet she caught the faint line in his jaw that betrayed his reservations.
He must have sensed her gaze because he reached out, his thumb brushing the back of her hand. "Are you nervous?" he asked quietly.
She inhaled, meeting his eyes. "A little," she admitted. "But… I'll be okay."
He nodded, a small, proud smile tugging at his lips. "I know."
Their luggage was swiftly checked through, and boarding passes issued. Beyond the security checkpoint lay a lounge shaded by towering windows, where the plane waited on the tarmac.
Eunwoo held the glass barrier for her as they passed through. The scent of coffee and pastries drifted from the café kiosk behind them, but neither moved to indulge. Instead, they found seats by the window, side by side but not touching, each catching glimpses of the other's expression.
Andrea unzipped her bag and took out a small keepsake—a delicate silver locket she'd tucked away that morning. She flipped it open to a tiny photograph of Kai in his breakfast suit. Eunwoo's gaze flicked to the locket, then back to her face.
She closed it gently, tucking it back inside. "I want to remember this—our mornings here."
He turned in his seat to face her fully, the quiet hum of distant engines punctuating the hush. "Me too," he said softly. "And I'll be right beside you when we return."
She exhaled, feeling the tension ease. "Thank you."
He reached out, brushing a fingertip across her knuckles. "Always."
A final boarding call echoed through the terminal. Hand in hand, they rose and made their way to the gate. Kai, waiting with the butler, bounced in place at the sight of them. Eunwoo knelt to ruffle his hair.
"Ready for takeoff, Champ?"
Kai saluted, flashing a grin. "Ready, King Brother."
Andrea slipped into the aisle beside the butler, heart warmed by the affectionate exchange. Eunwoo took the seat across from her, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on her temple—and for one heartbeat, the world outside fell away.
The flight attendant guided them through the safety demonstration, straps and recitations blending into a drumbeat of routine. Andrea let her eyes close briefly, feeling Eunwoo's presence like a shield.
As the plane ascended, the city lights glimmered far below, turning into a ribbon of gold. Andrea reached for Eunwoo's hand, their fingers entwining.
"Until we land," he whispered.
"Until we land," she echoed.
And as the clouds embraced their journey skyward, the secrets of the night before folded into a new beginning—one carried on wings of trust, loyalty, and an unspoken promise that no matter where their paths took them, they would return to this fragile, precious something they had found in each other.