Chapter 36
The night was quiet, the kind of heavy stillness that made every little thought echo loudly in the mind. Paige rolled onto her back, staring blankly up at the ceiling of her dimly lit bedroom. She shifted, pulling her knees up and sitting cross-legged on the mattress, completely lost in her own thoughts.
Suddenly, the sharp, vibrating ring of her cell phone on the nightstand shattered the silence, pulling her back to reality.
She reached over and grabbed the phone. Glancing at the screen, she frowned at the *Unknown Caller ID* flashing in the dark. Hesitantly, she pressed accept and lifted the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" she answered tentatively.
"Hello... Sweetheart," a deep, incredibly familiar voice purred through the speaker. "How are you doing without me?"
Paige's heart did a massive leap in her chest. She bolted upright, her eyes widening in pure shock. *"Lee-Dae!"* she screamed, a massive smile instantly breaking across her face.
A rich, warm laugh rumbled on the other end of the line. "Paige... miss me?"
"I miss you? Is that even a question?" she scoffed playfully, falling back onto her pillows, clutching the phone tightly.
"Hmmm... Maybe."
"Well, if it is a question, then... *YES!*" Paige practically squealed, unable to contain her excitement. "I miss you so, so much, Lee-Dae!"
"I miss you more," Lee-Dae chuckled softly, his voice dropping into that smooth, affectionate tone she loved so much. "And I love you."
"I love you more," she shot back immediately, kicking her legs in the air like a giddy teenager. "So, where in the heavens are you?"
"Hmm... I'm going to California with the others tomorrow."
"But where are you *now*?" Paige pressed.
"Can't tell," Lee-Dae replied cryptically. "We are currently busy helping Kim-Jo find a wife."
Paige blinked, the excitement momentarily draining into utter confusion. "Huh? Find a wife for Kim-Jo?"
"Yeah."
"Okay..." Paige dragged out the word, highly skeptical of whatever ridiculous scheme the boys were up to. "So, have you found any?"
"Yeah," Lee-Dae said casually. "But she is a student."
Paige rolled her eyes, shaking her head at the ceiling. "Who cares if she is a student?"
"Wow," Lee-Dae laughed, clearly amused. "I like your motivation. Keep it up."
Paige couldn't help but smile proudly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
A comfortable, sweet silence settled between them for a brief moment before Paige bit her lower lip, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. "Umm... Sweetheart?"
"Hm?"
"How about a date with me after you come back?"
Lee-Dae sighed, a teasing edge to his voice. "Another date? Paige..."
"Pleaseee..." she begged, dragging out the word with her best puppy-dog tone.
"Paige... we have all the time in the world to be together."
"Do we?" Paige challenged, raising an eyebrow even though he couldn't see her. "Our wedding is in exactly two weeks."
"I know," Lee-Dae said, his voice instantly softening with genuine warmth. "I dare not forget that."
Paige's heart melted all over again. A soft, content smile graced her lips. "I love you, Lee-Dae. You are my heartkeeper."
"Alright," he chuckled, the affection dripping from every word. "I love you too. More than you expected."
"Oh, no," Paige argued playfully, refusing to back down. "I love you more than you think."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
"I'm not sure about that," Lee-Dae countered smoothly. "A man is supposed to love his woman more than she loves him..."
"No, no, no," Paige interrupted quickly, waving her free hand in the air. "That's not true. A woman loves more than the man."
"That's not true."
"It is true."
"It's not."
"It *is*."
"Mrs. Lee-Dae Paige."
Paige gasped, her entire body freezing. That was *not* Lee-Dae's voice.
"Please Google it and stop arguing," Kim-Jo's dry, highly exasperated voice suddenly echoed loudly through the phone.
Paige's eyes widened in sheer horror as she realized she had been on speakerphone this entire time.
"I am trying to get something off my brain. Okay?" Kim-Jo complained grumpily.
Recovering from her shock, Paige's embarrassment quickly flared into defensive annoyance. "Kim-Jo, what do *you* know about women loving?" she challenged.
"I only know that a woman's love for a man is exactly 88%, while a man's love is 100%," Kim-Jo stated with absolute, completely fabricated authority. "Hear?"
Paige scrunched up her face in utter confusion. "Huh? 88%?"
"Good night," Lee-Dae and Kim-Jo chorused together in perfect, annoying synchronization.
*Click.*
The line went dead.
Paige pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at the darkened screen in disbelief. "Hello? Hello?!"
She put the phone back to her ear, but instead of her fiancé or his annoying leader, the robotic, automated voice of the network operator chimed in her ear.
*"Sorry, the number you are calling is switched off."*
Paige dropped the phone onto her chest, her jaw hanging open. "Huh? Switched off? So unfair..."
She stared into the dim room for a few seconds, feeling a brief flash of annoyance. But as the echo of Lee-Dae's laugh replayed in her mind, the annoyance melted away. He was safe. He was with the boys, causing chaos as usual, and in just two weeks, she was going to marry him.
"I promise not to get worried when he calls," she whispered to the empty room. "Now, I am relieved."
Her smile widened, spreading from ear to ear, and she fell back against her mattress, grinning into the dark.
****
The sprawling master suite was a masterclass in quiet, untouchable elegance. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows wrapped around the far wall, offering a breathtaking, unobstructed view of the glittering Seoul skyline, though the heavy, silver-threaded silk drapes had already been half-drawn to invite the night in. Warm, amber light spilled from a tiered crystal chandelier above, casting a soft glow over the massive, custom-built mahogany bed that anchored the room, draped seamlessly in pristine Egyptian cotton and plush cashmere throws.
At the edge of the room, seated before a sleek marble vanity, Mrs. Kim carefully unclasped a heavy diamond necklace. She let out a heavy sigh, watching the stones catch the ambient light as they slipped from her collarbone into a velvet-lined box.
"Fine," she murmured softly to her reflection. "But at least, a call from him is enough to calm me down."
Behind her, perfectly framed in her vanity mirror, Mr. Kim sat resting against the tufted velvet headboard. He set his glowing tablet aside on the nightstand, let out a gentle sigh of his own, and opened his arms.
Mrs. Kim left the vanity and climbed into the massive bed, immediately resting her head against his shoulder. Mr. Kim wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and began to rhythmically, soothingly stroke her hair.
"Kim-Jo is okay wherever he is," Mr. Kim assured her, his voice a low, comforting rumble.
"Oh," Mrs. Kim said, suddenly lifting her head slightly as a new thought struck her. "That reminds me. What if Kim-Jo's bride becomes a poor girl from a very low background? What if her family is poor? Not our classic type... you know what I mean, right?"
Mr. Kim hummed thoughtfully, his fingers still gently carding through her hair. He stared out toward the half-drawn curtains for a moment before answering.
"I would have arranged a wife for him," Mr. Kim began slowly, his tone measured and sincere. "But it is better he finds a girl he loves, not the one he is forced to love. It is his choice to select. Not ours. Whether she comes from a poor background or a rich background, I don't care. As far as she is not after his wealth, I am okay."
Mrs. Kim's tense posture melted. A warm, genuine smile spread across her face as she shifted, resting her head comfortably on his lap. She looked up at him, her eyes shining with affection. "You are a good father, Mr. Kim."
Mr. Kim chuckled, a rich, happy sound. He reached down and playfully dragged a finger down the bridge of her nose, making her laugh out loud.
"All thanks to my most precious, lovely, and wonderful wife, Mrs. Kim," he replied.
Their shared, lighthearted laughter filled the elegant room, wrapping them in the warm, secure comfort of their decades together.
***
At exactly 7:00 AM the next morning, the peaceful atmosphere of the previous night was entirely forgotten. The morning was pure chaos.
Lucy burst out of her front door, her school uniform slightly rumpled, a heavy backpack slung over one shoulder, and a lunchbox securely gripped in her hand—stuffed with enough snacks and food to sustain her through three grueling days of exams. She sprinted to the curb, waving frantically until a taxi screeched to a halt. She threw herself into the backseat, and the driver sped off toward the university.
Not long after, the front door swung open again. Kim-Jo ran out of the house, his eyes scanning the empty street. In his hand, he held Lucy's forgotten student exam card. Realizing she was already gone, panic flashed across his face. He quickly flagged down a second taxi, diving inside and urging the driver to follow her route.
Across town, Lucy rushed into the bustling school compound. Her heart was pounding as she made a beeline for the main exam building, but two stern security guards stepped into her path, blocking the entrance.
"Where is your card, miss?" the first security guard asked, holding out a hand.
"Right here," Lucy breathed, swinging her backpack around. She unzipped the main compartment and began to dig through her notebooks and pens. But as her fingers hit the bottom of the empty front pocket, her blood ran cold. The memory hit her like a ton of bricks—she had left it sitting right on the dining table.
"Oh no!" Lucy gasped, clutching the sides of her head in panic. "What was I thinking?"
The second security guard gave her a tight, sympathetic smile. "You know that without your card, you won't be allowed to enter to write your exam."
A crowd of students loitering outside the building had already started to stare. Lucy's mind raced, completely consumed by confusion and dread. Her exam started at exactly 8:00 AM. If she took a taxi all the way back home, the school gates would be locked tight long before she returned. She aggressively scratched her head, her breathing growing shallow. She was going to fail before she even sat down.
"Lucy!"
A sweet, incredibly sexy, melodic voice cut through the dull roar of the student crowd. It was a voice that immediately commanded attention.
Lucy turned around, her tired, stressed face searching the crowd. Standing right at the main school gate was Kim-Jo.
He looked absolutely ethereal in an all-white ensemble—a crisp white hoodie, matching white joggers, and spotless white sneakers. To the surrounding students, he looked like a literal angel who had just descended from the sky. Whispers erupted instantly. Students, both boys and girls, froze in their tracks, looking completely shocked to see a very handsome "Kim-Jo look-alike" standing at their school. And of all people, he was there for Lucy.
Girls immediately began drooling over him. Some frantically fanned themselves, while others boldly whipped out their phones to take pictures of the gorgeous stranger.
Kim-Jo ignored all of them. He locked eyes with Lucy and triumphantly raised his hand high in the air, showing her the missing exam card.
Lucy let out a massive sigh of relief. The exhaustion vanished from her face, instantly replaced by a brilliant, bright smile. Seeing her smile, Kim-Jo broke into a jog, effortlessly cutting through the sea of staring students until he stopped right in front of her. He handed her the card.
"Jimmy, you are my hero!" Lucy cried out. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she threw her arms around him.
Kim-Jo started smiling, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her back firmly. They stood there, holding each other for a long minute, ignoring the chaotic whispers of the crowd. Finally, he pulled back gently.
"Write well, Lucy. Crack your brain and think twice before writing your answers on the sheet. Wish you success in your exam," he said softly.
"Thank you," she beamed.
"High five?" Kim-Jo raised his hand.
Lucy laughed and slapped her hand happily against his. She started to turn around to head into the building, but Kim-Jo suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her firmly back against his chest.
Before she could process what was happening, he leaned down and kissed her.
The entire courtyard erupted. Students gasped in collective, echoing shock. Somewhere in the crowd, a girl dramatically fainted into her friend's arms. The clatter of cell phones hitting the pavement rang out as stunned students dropped their devices.
Lucy was frozen in shock for a split second, her eyes wide, but the warmth of him grounded her. Closing her eyes, she kissed him back, completely ignoring the sound of jealous girls literally crying in the background.
Kim-Jo finally broke the kiss, lingering just long enough to press a sweet peck against her cheek.
"Love you, Lucy," he murmured.
"Love you too," Lucy replied, a dizzying smile taking over her face.
Kim-Jo smiled brightly. "Alright. Bye."
"Bye," she breathed.
Kim-Jo turned and started jogging toward the exit just as a pristine white Range Rover roared into the school compound. The back door swung open from the inside, held by Lee-Dae. Kim-Jo seamlessly jumped into the back seat.
In the driver's seat, Seo-Joon spotted Lucy standing at the doors. A wicked grin crossed his face, and he playfully blew her a dramatic kiss. Lucy laughed, reaching out to "catch" it in the air and pressing it to her cheek—a move that sent another wave of jealous girls swooning to the ground. In the back, Lee-Dae flashed her a giant thumbs-up and wiggled his eyebrows hilariously.
Lucy was still laughing as Seo-Joon revved the massive engine and sped the Range Rover out of the compound in a blur of white.
The second the car was out of sight, a deafening silence fell over the courtyard. Every single eye slowly turned to lock onto Lucy.
Feeling the crushing weight of a hundred glares, Lucy's survival instincts kicked in. She quickly spun around, shoved her exam card into the security guard's face, and bolted through the open doors, running for her life.
When she finally reached her classroom, she burst through the door, only to freeze. Every single student in the room was crowded around the large windows, having watched the entire spectacle outside. As she entered, they all slowly turned their heads to stare at her.
Refusing to show weakness, Lucy pasted a confident smile on her face, walked quickly to her desk, and sat down.
Almost immediately, four girls marched up to her desk. Without a word, they thrust their cell phones directly into Lucy's face. The screens were all lit up with crystal-clear photographic evidence: Lucy and Kim-Jo kissing, Seo-Joon blowing her a kiss, and Lee-Dae giving his goofy thumbs-up.
Lucy didn't panic. She just looked at the screens and smiled calmly.
The leader of the group, glaring down at her, crossed her arms. "Lucy..."