Chapter 19

Tae

The anger was simmering inside of me. The one time I needed that old bastard to behave, he couldn't do it. It was as if he were purposely trying to sabotage my relationship. No one would ever come between Nari and myself. Mr Choi was a pacifist but I was not. My future began with my family, my wife and our children. Once I reached Nari's home I could see the discomfort in her parent's mannerisms as they said their goodbyes. We were still in the car when Nari patted my leg.

"They will get over it. My parents aren't comfortable with confrontations," she said with a small smile.

"Unlike you, but you had a valid point. My father almost had an aneurysm," I said with a smile as I thought about his bulging veins.

"He is just a mean ol' bully. I pity your Mum," she said as her mirth died away. "I'm going to get a lecture when I go back home on Monday."

"I'll come over and eat you out to make you feel better," I said with a smirk before I started the car.

The thought of making her scream in her parent's house was tempting but too risky under the current climate. I would need to make do until I got her home. There was a delicate balance of keeping her satiated and slightly on edge. I hoped the next few weeks would go past incident-free until she signed our marriage registration. I didn't care about the religious ceremony.

Nari rubbed my thigh, and I glanced over at her. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, her eyes brimming with tears.

I quickly looked at the road before I glanced at her again.

"Why are you crying?" I asked genuinely confused and worried because we only had a few short weeks before the wedding.

She began to rub her nose and shook her head.

"I keep picturing you as a little boy and your father being…nasty to you," she said, hesitating before she continued. "Any spirit your mum might have had is gone. It makes me feel so sad."

I glanced back at the road and remained silent as I processed her words. I spent the month and a half tracking her daily routine, utilising her social media platforms to uncover her past, present and future aspirations. I missed how mature her soul was for her age. With each passing day, she became a vital part of my life. It was why I was so desperate for our wedding to happen as quickly as possible.

No one had ever called my Dad out for his poor behaviour since he usually hid his malicious side from society. Yet Nari saw past his grandiose outer layer into the dark depth of his soul. My father would either come home from work either happy or livid and we never knew which version we would get each day. She was right, any spirit my mother had left in her was beaten out of her.

"It's all in the past now, Aein," I said quietly, but the dark side of me wondered what I was capable of if Nari ever tried to leave me.

◆◆◆

When my office door burst open I was about to tear into whoever disturbed me until I saw Nari literally skip across my office. I flung my pen down and stood up.

"Didn't you have class today?"

"I did, but it was cancelled. Apparently, my professor has been arrested, but there is a rumour that he was in a car accident and he's in hospital. The faculty isn't saying a word," she said bursting with morbid excitement. "It couldn't have happened to a nicer person."

I hid my grin in her face as I hugged her. She nestled her head on me and put her arms around my waist.

"I'm going to the supermarket, then home to make us some dinner," she said but her words were muffled against my chest.

"Why?" I asked as I pulled back to see her face. "We usually order out."

"Exactly, I got some of my parent's favourite recipes," she said with a bright smile.

I paused at her words.

"Your Dad can cook?" I asked unable to help the disgruntled tone that came out.

Why was I always competing against her father?

"Why don't I come with you and you can show me?" I said as I let go of her to reach for my suit jacket.

"No, we can do that another day. I want to do this for you. You always do everything for me the least I can do is attempt to create a decent home-cooked meal," she said before she glanced at the clock on the wall. "You will be done in a few hours."

I'd rather be with her than in my office but I also needed to complete my bid for the final project before we got married.

She walked over and stood up on her tip-toes to kiss me. I placed my hand on her back and one tangled into her hair as I took over and kissed her thoroughly. My eyes closed as I tasted a hint of sweetness mixed in with mint. Her soft sigh as she melted into my body made my dick begin to harden and I delved deeper needing more.

I had two weeks left until I could fuck her exactly how we both wanted. Ever since meeting with my father, it had a positive effect on Nari. She was much more affectionate and open with me. If my father knew his cuntish behaviour benefitted me he would have another fit.

I pulled back slightly to see Nari's eyes were closed and I kissed her parted lips softly before reluctantly releasing her head. Her hands clutched my shirt and when she opened her eyes I smiled at the dark desire I saw in them. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were pink and puffy. I pried her hands away and reached for my phone.

"Jason will take you to get the groceries, and take you home," I said as she took the time to compose herself.

She opened her mouth and I narrowed my eyes on her until she closed her mouth and nodded.

It irked me that she refused to take any of my cards for payment, but since I had access to her bank account details I deposited some funds in there. I didn't see what the fuss was considering we only had two weeks left until we were married. She sighed and stuck her lower lip out.

"I suppose I will see you tonight," she said morosely.

"Baby, you were the one who convinced me to stay," I said, trying not to smile.

"I know, and I'm regretting it now. Thanks for the ride," she said half-heartedly.

I chuckled and began to shuffle her towards the door.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," I said before I slapped her ass.

"At least we have the weekend together," she said as I opened the door for her.

"I can't wait until you move in properly," I said before I kissed her cheek.

"Me too," she said with a smile and a wave as she walked past the receptionist.

I watched her until she was out of my sight. It was the first time she had come to my office of her own accord. My scheming and patience were finally paying off.

A little while later, Nari sent me a picture of a large daikon radish with the message ‘missing you' with a sad emoji face. I couldn't stop the chuckle because I'd thought of nothing but her for the past few months.

Me: I will be home soon. Make sure your ass is ready for me tonight.

Nari: You're killing me!!!

I put my phone down with a smile. I knew what she wanted, and a sick part of me loved having that power over her.

Yes, everything was coming together nicely.

◆◆◆

I'd just shut down my laptop and put my coat on when my father came into my office. My pleasant feelings about going home vanished instantly as my cold, stiff demeanour clicked into place.

"May I help you?"

His lips tightened in irritation. I studied him and realised how old and weak he was now in comparison to when I was a child.

"I came to speak to you," he said, jutting his head up.

"By all means, Father. Please, take a seat," I said with a fake smile.

"Don't be flippant with me, Tae," he snapped at me as he moved closer to my desk. He looked around my office for a moment before he sat down.

"I looked up your company accounts. You are doing well for yourself," he said with his usual devious look.

"It's public information. Why do you care?" I drawled, but I wondered when he would get to the point. From the clothes he wore, it was likely he had finished work.

"I don't want you to marry that girl. You have never shown an interest in marriage, but I know several well-to-do families you could consider for marriage. They are well connected here and in Korea."

"You do realise that it's 2024, right? I can marry whomever I want," I said as I leaned to sit on the edge of my desk.

"And waste a golden opportunity to marry into a wealthy family?" he snapped. "Don't be stupid."

"And what's in it for you? The gifts? The prestige?"

"I am only thinking about your long-term future."

There was something more to this so I sat and waited for him to spit it out.

"I promised a close friend of mine years back that you would check out his daughter. She is twenty-six years old and highly accomplished. She lives in Bundang."

Of course, it was an affluent area. I almost rolled my eyes.

"The only woman I will marry is Nari Choi," I said as I stood up.

"You ungrateful—"

"Shut the fuck up, old man and get out of my office," I said raising my voice over his before I leaned towards him. "You're lucky there are cameras around my office or I would savour giving you some payback," I said quietly. "Leave before I call security."

He sat and stared at me momentarily before the familiar, cruel look entered his eyes. "After everything I did for you, you snivelling little shit? You ran off like a coward."

I remained silent and watched his festering rage ooze out. He must have held onto that shit for years.

"At least I didn't need to build my success off the back of a woman's wealth like a little bitch."

He stood up, but he knew I would beat him up to a bloody pulp, so he turned around and walked out of my office. I texted my Mum to let her know what transpired so that her guard was up. No matter how much I begged her to leave, she wouldn't. Nari's parents still loved one another; from my observations, it was genuine. My father couldn't love anyone but himself.