Chapter 39
Laurel POV
After Eric went upstairs, the house fell into a strange silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The kind that lingers after something has been said that cannot be taken back.
For a moment, no one spoke.
I looked around slowly, eyes moving from one face to another.
"Since when did I become a television?" I said dryly. "You all seem to be enjoying staring at me."
The tension broke slightly.
They looked away, returning to whatever they had been doing before, small movements, quiet distractions, anything to avoid addressing what had just happened.
Eun Woo walked toward me, calm as ever.
"You don't have to worry about work, ma," he said. "I can handle things for now."
I tilted my head slightly.
"And the project?"
"There's something we need to discuss," he replied. "We can go over it later."
I studied him for a second, then nodded.
He gave a small bow and moved toward the kitchen, where Lee Joon was already preparing something, sleeves rolled up, focused.
I leaned back slightly, letting my gaze drift across the room again.
Everyone was busy.
Everyone had something to do.
Lives. Responsibilities. Movement.
And here I was… still.
It felt wrong.
Uncomfortable.
Helpless.
I didn't like it.
Not being able to stand. Not being able to move. Not being able to do things myself.
It felt like being trapped inside my own body.
But arguing now would be pointless.
So I exhaled quietly.
Play along, laurel.
My eyes dropped to the IV drip beside me.
"When does this finish?" I asked.
"In three hours," SEO Hee replied casually, feeding me a piece of watermelon. "You need to stay hydrated."
I looked at the fruit, then at her.
"When was the last time you ate fruit?" she asked.
I thought for a second.
"Four years ago," I said. "The one Nicholas dad sent me in Canada."
Everything stopped.
Every single person in the room turned to look at me.
Like I had just confessed to something illegal.
"Really?" Kang Dae asked slowly.
I frowned slightly.
"What?"
Then I added, almost defensively,
"Seventy percent of people in the world don't eat fruit."
"Laurel," Kang Dae said flatly, "if people don't eat fruit, why are more people going into farming?"
"Because people eat," I replied simply.
He stared at me.
I looked away.
Nicholas walked over and sat beside me quietly. His gaze wasn't on me.
It was on the stairs.
On Eric's door.
"He's just upset," I said.
"You need rest," Nicholas replied calmly. "For you to faint, you must have seen the signs and ignored them."
I didn't answer.
I just turned my face away.
"Right now," he continued softly, "you're his entire world, Laurel. That must have been terrifying for him."
A small sound left me.
"Hmm."
Then I leaned back and closed my eyes.
Pretending to sleep.
Because sometimes silence is easier than admitting someone is right.
Later that evening, I made two calls.
The first was to Lee Joon.
"I need your help with a new project," I said.
The second was to Eun Woo.
By the time they both came back into the room, Lee Joon was already irritated.
"Why did you call me," he said, dropping into a seat. "Isn't your favorite person already here? Why involve me?"
I didn't react immediately.
Instead, I looked at him.
"I was wrong," I said calmly. "I should have called you earlier. I've just been busy."
Then, more deliberately
" it won't happen next time."
That did it.
It always did.
Lee Joon exhaled through his nose, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
"What do you need?" he asked.
"I need your help with a company I want to partner with."
He leaned back slightly, interested now.
"The company must be worth it if you're asking."
"It is."
"What's the name?"
"GTS Global Technology Standard."
There was a pause.
"Oh," he said. "That one."
"You know it?" I asked.
"Andrew owns it now."
I stilled slightly.
"Andrew…" I repeated. "I think I've heard that name before."
Lee Joon nodded.
"You have. We used to be friends. Him, Nicholas, Kang Dae… all of us."
Something clicked.
"Oh," I said. "I heard the name from Nicholas."
"The footballer in Russia?" he asked.
"Yes."
"He stepped down about a month ago," Lee Joon continued. "Took over the company."
I leaned back slightly.
"Do you think he's the right choice for me?"
Lee Joon smiled faintly.
"The better question is, are you the right choice for them?"
I didn't respond.
"They partner with companies once every ten years, Laurel," he added.
"I know."
Then I looked at him directly.
"I still need your help."
He studied me for a moment.
Then sighed.
"You're sick, Laurel."
"Yes," I said calmly. "Which is why Eun Woo will handle communication. He knows what to do."
Lee Joon glanced at Eun Woo.
Then stood.
"Fine. Let's go."
He turned.
"Come with me."
Eun Woo followed without hesitation.
As they walked out, I allowed myself a small breath of relief.
Timing mattered.
And Lee Joon hated being cornered.
The door had barely closed when Eric walked in.
He stopped when he saw me awake.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better," I replied.
Then, after a pause
"I'm sorry for how I spoke to you earlier. In front of everyone."
I didn't answer immediately.
he right beside the door.
Then
"Hmm," he said softly, looking away.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked.
"No," I said. "I can't be mad at you."
That part was true.
He stepped closer.
"I just wanted you to rest," he said, voice tightening slightly. "What am I supposed to do if something happens to you?"
His eyes filled again.
I frowned slightly.
"Why are you crying like a child?" I said. "You'll be eighteen in less than a week."
He didn't laugh.
That made me pause.
"Nothing will happen to me," I added, quieter this time. "Okay?"
He nodded.
Then leaned forward and hugged me.
I let him.
Slowly, I lifted a hand and rested it lightly on his back.
After a moment, he pulled away.
"I should thank Nicholas too," he said.
"Yes," I replied. "And you should make peace with him."
He looked at me.
"He's a good person," I continued. "The kind you keep around. He'll be useful one day."
There was a pause.
"Laurel," he said slowly, "is that why he's your friend?"
I nodded once.
"Why keep people who only take from you?" I continued. "It should be give and take."
I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Then said
"You're the exception."
He blinked.
"I mean," he added quietly, "I take from you too."
I leaned back slightly.
"True" I said. "You are an exception."