Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 432: Mi-Cha.

A certain air hovered between the men as they returned to join the ladies in the sitting room where they’d both been talking and waiting. The air was so thick it was almost palpable.

Sena shuffled her gaze between them as they took their seats before settling it on her husband with concern when she registered the solemn look etched on his face. His countenance was strange, something she hadn’t quite seen before, and his eyes seemed lost and distant, especially as they darted towards Eun-sun.

“Honey, are you okay?” Sena asked with concern. Ki-Jun snapped back to reality, and his lips managed a faint smile.

“Yes, I am.” He awkwardly replied, but his smile slightly wavered as he caught Dan-Han’s eyes before glancing back at Eun-Sun.

Observing how tense and unsettled Eun-sun was as she uncomfortably shifted on her seat, giving the Ki-Jun’s awkward gaze stationed on her, Dan-Han shifted to her side and placed a hand on her stiff back. He leaned in and kissed her temple as his hand slowly ran through her back.

“Are you okay?” He whispered into her ear while Eun-sun shot him a disbelieving look perfectly tucked away from the eyes of others, but her annoyance tipped off when she caught the amused glint that flickered through Dan-Han’s eyes.

He must be enjoying this torture he was putting her through, wasn’t he? She was sure he was.

.....

Her muscles were taut, her mind had frailed out with myriad thoughts, and her head was beginning to spin. Eun-sun had no idea how Dan-Han could be so calm when he knew just how unsettled she was.

She tried not to shrivel away when he leaned closer one more time and kissed her temple again. “Just relax.” He hushed into her ears, and Eun-sun almost shot him a deathly glare. He had been saying that to her all day, and she was really losing it. Whatever tendril of sanity she had been holding on to since they arrived was slowly slipping out of her hand, and she wasn’t too far from yanking Dan-Han out and shaking some answers out of him.

Could there be a better time to hate Dan-Han other than now? She’d say now was a perfect time.

“So, how long will you both be staying for?” Ki-Jun inquired.

“Two weeks, at most. I still have to return to the company.” Dan-Han replied, making Eun-sun glance at him with shock surprise. Would they be staying for that long? What about work? Dan-Han was a workaholic, and he hadn’t been away from the company since she met him, until now.

And as if Ki-Jun had read her mind, he asked, “Isn’t that too long to keep the company without supervision? I’m sure your father will not be pleased to hear that.”

“Well, I deserve a vacation, and I wanted Eun-sun to have a change of environment. It would help her recovery.” He ran his hand down Eun-sun’s back, and she tensed up even more. Dan-Han has been too touchy since their arrival. Dan-Han, who had noticed her apprehensiveness, reluctantly let go of her to let her settle.

Sena smiled as she nodded affirmatively. “That’s good. You have to change your environment once in a while, and I’m sure Eun-sun will appreciate this place.” She said while Ki-Jun peered at the cast on Eun-sun’s leg.

He had prior asked, and Dan-Han had vaguely mentioned her being in an accident. Eun-sun had claimed to be fine and that Dan-Han was making a fuss over nothing serious.

“If she’s okay, you should have that cast removed. I’m sure it causes her discomfort.” Ki-Jun said, and all eyes darted towards Eun-sun’s leg. Eun-Sun stared at Dan-Han and eagerly waited for his reply.

He met her gaze and knowingly smiled. “I’ll take her to the hospital tomorrow. If she’s in the clear, I’ll consider it.” He said, and Eun-sun’s lips almost broke out into a smile.

Sena caught the glint in Eun-sun’s eyes at the news of her cast being removed, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

They were still talking when the living door was pushed open, and a tall, beautiful blonde strutted into the sitting room.

“Mom, dad.” She chirped as she hurried over towards Sena and Ki-Jun.

Eun-sun glanced at Dan-Han questioningly before staring back at the girl who leaned over the sofa where Sena and Ki-Jun were seated and fondly kissed their cheeks.

Sena regarded her with a fond smile as she beckoned her over. “Come, sweetheart. Look who’s here.” Sena pointed towards Dan-Han, and the girl followed her hand.

Her eyes widened when she saw Dan-Han seated on the couch.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” The girl gasped in shock surprise as she straightened herself and sauntered over to Dan-Han. “The great Lee himself. Finally, you visited!”

“Good afternoon to you too, Mi-Cha.” He greeted, his tone laced with sarcasm, but the girl didn’t mind as she stood before him.

Her eyes trailed towards Eun-sun, and her brows slightly knotted. The glint in her eyes suddenly dissipated. “Your girlfriend?” Mi-Cha asked, noticing how Dan-Han had his hand intertwined with Eun-sun’s.

Dan-Han glanced at Eun-sun and quickly made the introductions. “Babe, meet Mi-Cha, Aunt’s and Uncle’s daughter. Mi-Cha, meet my girlfriend, Eun-sun.” He said, and Eun-Sun politely smiled at her.

“Nice to meet you.” Eun-sun stretched out her hand to Mi-Cha, who slowly received it. Eun-sun didn’t miss the scrutinizing gaze the girl gave her, and she couldn’t gauge if her reaction were from seeing her face or from the fact that she was Dan-Han’s girlfriend.

“Nice to meet you too. Welcome to our home.” She said with a smile that hard pressed past her tight lips.

She looked at Dan-Han again before turning to face her parents.

“Why didn’t anybody tell me he was coming?”

“Well, he didn’t tell us either. Your father and I were so surprised to receive his call this morning. I wanted to call you, but I remembered you asked me not to.” Sena told her. Sena adjusted for Mi-Cha to sit between them before cupping her palm.

“You’re cold,” Sena observed with a look of concern. “Why do you always wear such little clothes? You should wear more clothes when going out.” Sena advised while Mi-Cha smiled at her.

She pressed a kiss on Sena’s face before hooking an arm around hers. Eun-sun silently watched their exchange, and she could tell that both mother and child had a great relationship.

Was she perhaps her sister? Eun-sun mused, but she scolded herself for thinking too far ahead. She still wasn’t sure if they were her family. But if they were, what would that mean?

Would her presence disrupt the harmony and stability they seem to have? Eun-sun wasn’t sure what the answer would be, but she was sure she didn’t want any of that.

The last thing she wanted was to disrupt what they had because of her selfishness.

She lacked full details about what was happening, but if these couples before her were truly her parents, it didn’t seem like they were missing a child. If at all, it seemed like they were completely happy.

Eun-sun felt a knot twist in her stomach and her hands tightly clamped together.

Relax, Eun-Sun; you don’t even have answers yet. You’re just having these thoughts all on your own. A voice whispered in her head, and she couldn’t help but agree.

She was the one overthinking. Things might not be as they seem to be. These people might not really be her family.

But seeing Sena’s face again, Eun-sun held back on that thought.

“Dad, are you okay?” Mi-Cha turned to her father and asked with concern when he seemed unusually distracted in thought, and Ki-Jun readily nodded. He softly smiled at her before turning to Dan-Han again.

“Where will you be staying till you leave?” He inquired.

“At a hotel. I made reservations before my arrival.”

“Why?” Sena asked with a frown. “You could have stayed here with us, you know? And I could have loved to spend some time with Eun-sun here. I would have told her all about your mischief as a kid. Ah! how troublesome you were, especially with that bored look you always carried around.” She laughed while Dan-Han chuckled.

“Well, I guess it was best to stay at the hotel. I don’t want her teasing me endlessly with it.”

Eun-sun, who had been listening to them in silence, spoke up. “I’ll convince him to bring him so I can hear about his little mischiefs.”

Dan-Han scoffed. “In your dreams.”

Eun-sun shot him a mock glare, but he only ruffled her hair and pulled her closer, making Eun-sun glare harden at him.

“Don’t worry, you’ll have enough time to hear all about my little mischief at the right time, not definitely today.” He told her while Sena watched with amused fondness.

“You both look great together.” She chirped excitedly, making Eun-sun slightly blush. She turned to her with a smile, but her smile froze when she caught Mi-Cha’s awkward gaze on her.