Chapter 18 * dramatic wife and kids*
Little Ga-eul was tidy in the living room with her arms crossed against her chest.
She's wearing her pink pajamas ready for bed but she look upset.
The entrance door opened and Mr Ji-hoon walked in looking tired but when he saw Ga-Eul,he stopped walking holding his breathe.
Angrily Ga Eul started to yell at him
" You never called! You never showed up! You never fulfill your promises! Father!!"
Mr Ji-hoon face fell hearing that. He felt sad hearing that.
" Princess,daddy is sorry. Father was carried away by work. I unexpectedly had a lot on my table so I forgot. I'm sorry"
Ga-Eul eyes watered immediately and started crying
" you always find excuses every time I ask you to go outting with me! You should have told me you wouldn't come! Why did you lie to me!"
Ga Eul screamed in anger and her cries grew louder attracting Mrs. Seo-yeon from the bedroom who rushed towards her and hugged her looking worried.
" What happened princess? Why are you crying?" She asked brushing her hair backward.
In tears Ga Eul explained.
" Mother, father promised to go outting with me today but he never called to pick me up! Today is Sunday and I wonder who go to work on Sunday. He promised me he will go outting with me but he didn't! He always find excuses every time."
Mrs. Seo-yeon cast her husband a disappointed look and shook her head.
" Don't cry princess. Mommy will go with you tomorrow. Okay?"
Ga Eul stopped crying immediately she heard that and focused on her mother only.
" Really? You will go outting with me tomorrow?"
" Yes. I will go with you. I promise. So don't cry. Okay?"
She said petting her and Ga Eul nodded then walked away from the living room.
Mrs. Seo-yeon then focused on her husband giving him an angry face.
" If you don't want to go why promised her Ji-hoon?" She asked glaring at him.
Mr. Ji-hoon sighed and looked at her.
" I really wanted to go with her but....I was stuck. We have a lot to handle tomorrow and I just went there to clear it up so it would be lesser for me tomorrow. I never meant to disappoint her honey ". He said looking sad.
Slowly, Mrs seo-yeon smiled and walked up to him and pat him on the shoulder.
" Alright. I get it. You must be tired" she said and hold his hand and started pulling him from the living room. " Let's wash you up and eat dinner. I don't want you fainting on me. You know I don't want to be single again so don't stress yourself too much,okay?"
" Ahh...you talk a lot. What do you mean you don't want to be single again? Wait..are you wishing---"..
" Nooo..that is not it. I was just saying ---"
" Honey!"
" Okay, okay...I am sorry. Don't be sad. But you look cute by the way so mmm....cry for me."
"Honey!!!"
Mrs. Seo-yeon laughter filled the air.
****
The kitchen was filled with the easy chatter of a morning well spent as Lucy scraped the last of her breakfast from the plate. Across the table, Seo Joon tapped his phone screen one final time.
"Uber's two minutes away," Seo Joon announced, sliding his phone into his pocket. "It's a white sedan. Plate ends in 4021.
The white car pulled up to the curb, and Seo Joon leaned down to the window, giving Lucy a small, encouraging nod. The boys waved like frantic fans as she climbed into the backseat, her backpack nearly as big as she was. As the car pulled away, Lucy peeked out the rear window until they were out of sight, then scrambled to find her phone.
She dialed her parents, swinging her legs back and forth. It rang twice before a very thick, groggy voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Mommy? Why do you sound so sleepy?" Lucy asked, her voice high and tiny. "Did you have a bad dream?"
"Lucy? Oh, honey..." Her mom let out a long, tired yawn. "It's okay, sweetie. It's just... it's one o'clock in the morning here in Europe. We were fast asleep."
Lucy's eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh! I forgot the world is round. I'm sorry for waking you up."
"It's alright, my big girl," her mom whispered. "I always want to hear from you. But tell me, how are you doing? Is it scary being over there all by yourself? We miss you so much."
Lucy gripped her phone tight, looking out at the tall buildings of Seoul. She didn't mention the breakfast or the boys who had just waved her goodbye; her parents thought she was staying in a much stricter, quieter place. "I'm being very brave, Mommy. I ate all my breakfast. Is your boss being mean? Are you and Daddy working too hard on your trip?"
"The boss is keeping us very busy, honey," her mom sighed softly. "Lots of boring grown-up meetings. It's a long three months for all of us, isn't it? We hate being so far away from our girl."
"It's okay," Lucy said, her voice wobbling just a little. "I'm big now. I can wait for you."
"You are so brave, Lucy. We are so proud of you. We'll be home before you know it."
The Uber slowed to a stop in front of the massive stone gates of ShinhwaHigh School. "I have to go, Mommy. I'm at school."
"Have a wonderful day, baby. We love you."
"Love you too!" Lucy hung up, took a deep breath, and hiked her bag onto her shoulders. She stepped out of the car and looked up at the towering school building, then began the long walk toward the entrance.
***
The mansion in Hannam-dong is all sharp glass and glowing neon, but the focus shifts to the massive, open-concept lounge overlooking the Han River.
Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows is a young woman in a sleek, silk slip dress that catches the city lights. She's effortless—hair perfectly tousled, holding a crystal glass of chilled tea. She moves with a quiet, magnetic energy across the heated marble, her reflection trailing behind her in the dark glass. She doesn't just live in the space; she dominates it, looking like a high-fashion editorial come to life against the backdrop of the Seoul skyline.
She was dialing her fiance line but instead of answering from him the answering machine speaks.
" Lee Dae is out of reach. Please drop your message"
The lady sighed in frustration and dropped her Samsung Galaxy phone in her bag.
" Where are you Lee Dae? I'm so lonely and worried about you"
She said and sighed again.
Just then a young boy kid approached her looking angry. He was poking his face so hard but it made him look so cute.
Paige left brow shot up.
"What happened?" She asked.
"How old am I?" The boy asked.
Paige looked confused for some seconds.
" Ten, climb to 11?"
" Then what is today's date?"
" October Eighteen"
" So how old am I now?"
Paige stared at him for a while trying to understand her little brother and then,it clicked. She rushed forward and hugged him.
" Ooh..oh. oh my goodness! Happy birthday Yi Jung. You are now a big boy of 11. Congratulations!"
Yi Jung smiled and said to her.
" You promised to take me to the amusement park. Can we go now?"
" Sure. But first let me go and change. You need to change too okay?"
" Okay!"
He said and ran away happily.
Paige sighed and made her way to her bedroom.
*****
Yi Jung and Paige climb down from the latest red Ferrari car which caught everyone's attention but no one cares approached because six huge bodyguards were guarding them.
They walked into the park and she bought ice cream for Yi Jung and Yi Jung tok it and went to play.
As he was playing he mistakely bumped into kid and the kid fell.
Scared he turn to see the person who was backing him.
" Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He asked showing concern.
The kid sitting up yelled at him
" What is your problem?! Are you blind?!" Ga Eul yelled in anger
" I am sor---" the words vanished from his mouth. His eyes wide when he saw Ga Eul. Ga Eul at the other hand who was angry suddenly calmed down when she saw Yi Jung.
" Hi" she greeted as she stood up.
" Hi" Yi Jung greeted too.
They both continue staring at each other until Yi Jung put his hands in his pockets.
" My name is Yi Jung . What is your name?"
" Ga Eul."
" Nice meeting you Ga Eul. And I'm sorry for--"
" You don't need to worry about that. You're forgiven. It's nice to meet you too"
Ga Eul interrupted him cutting him short.
Yu Jung smiled happily and asked " friends?"
Ga Eul smiled back and replied" friends ".
" Let's go ride in the horses" Yi Jung suggested and Ga Eul nodded in agreement.
" You might need an ice-cream later"
Yi Jung said to Ga Eul and she shrugged.
" All in" she said and they ran to the horses playground.
*****