Bittersweet ≈ Seonghwa [NEW!]

Puppet

I lay in bed every night thinking about that short moment I met Seonghwa.

It felt so wrong to think about him when I'm engaged to Taeyong.

But, Taeyong was never the man I wanted in the first place. Though I know being with him is what's keeping Seonghwa safe, I'll let it stay this way.

---

A few weeks later...

"It's official," Dad proudly smiled as he took the declaration form from me. "SME is now yours!"

I forced a smile, and got up from the desk in the study room. Without replying to him, I left.

Mom caught up to me, her hand on my shoulder, "Sweetie, you did a good thing for your father."

That made me stop in my tracks. I have been feeling so depressed and nothing fazes me anymore. Whether what I did was for my dad or not, it's not like anybody cares how I feel.

I took her hand off my shoulder and softly replied.

"He never did anything for me, yet I'm doing so much for him. Let me ask you something, mom."

With my gaze lowered to the floor, I clasped her hand tightly in mine.

"If you could put yourself in my shoes, how would you feel if your own mother made you do the exact same thing you did to me, for a man whom never respects you as a daughter?"

Mom sighed, "I never forced you."

I let her hand go, my voice barely above a whisper, "You put my lover's life on the line."

With my heels clicking, I left the mansion, meeting up with Taeyong, who was now my husband after we got married a week ago.

I crawled into the limousine, pulled on my seatbelt.

"You ok?" Taeyong asks, peering into my face.

"Let's just go, the italians are waiting," I replied turning my face to the window, hoping Taeyong doesn't see how pale I look.

I seem to have checked off every box on the list. I stayed with my parents. I got engaged. I trained to be the boss. I got married. I signed the contract and took over SME. The only reason why I'm still holding on and not running away, is because of Seonghwa.

I'm keeping him safe by staying away from him and doing everything dad wants me to do.

The whole day was just me signing off deals and watching the men in action when something was amiss.

I didn't even bat an eyelid when Taeyong shot a man who tried to hurt me.

As soon as we got back three days later...

At dinner...

"So, when will I get grandkids?" Dad smugly asked as if it weren't even a question.

Taeyong choked on his beef, making me have to pat his back.

Mom laughed, "Oh darling, don't pop the question so early. They just got married! Give them a break."

"Oh what break? Don't tell me you two didn't do it during your honeymoon in Maui. I spent so much on you to have a magical time."

Taeyong and I exchanged looks. It's true. We didn't do it. I wasn't ready and Taeyong, being someone who's sweet and considerate, told me that it was okay if I put it off.

But don't tell me now that this is another chore to check off my list.

Dad leaned forward on the dining table, "How long do I have to wait?"

I wiped my mouth with a napkin, "Keep waiting. It's not happening."

He slammed his fist on the table, making us jolt from our seats.

"They're watching him you know," he gravely said to me in a low, dark tone.

With a straight face, I nonchalantly asked, "Who?"

Dad cocked his head sideways, "You know who."

I glanced at mom who nervously took a bite out of her sirloin steak.

He's talking about Seonghwa.

Unbelievable. He still hasn't let him go? I did everything he asked! If he says they're watching him, does that mean, he's got a sniper on him? I squeezed my fist in hatred.

"If I do this for you, will you please just leave him alone once and for all?" my voice shook with anger as I turned to dad.

Dad leaned back in his chair, contemplating his decisions. His fingers dusting non-existent dust off his thumb. He was staring down at me from his seat, but I wasn't going to waver. I stood firm, at my seat, my hands on the table.

Seeing I wasn't going to back down, he rolled his eyes back.

"Fine. I promise I'll ask the men to stand down and leave him alone for the rest of his life."

"Do it now."

Dad groaned as he pulled out his phone, dialling a number.

"Jaemin, Doyoung, Yuta, stand down. This mission has been ceased. Return to base."

Yuta. I knew dad had a sniper on Seonghwa. My heart felt so hurt, all I could do was cry silently on the inside.

He hung up, giving me an 'are you satisfied now?' look.

I turned to Taeyong, "Let's go."

Taeyong stumbled up from his seat, following me from behind. He slipped his hand in mine as I led him upstairs.

"Where are we going?"

As soon as we reached the bedroom, I locked the door. Taeyong's ears grew red and his face blushed a light shade of pink as I unbuttoned my skirt.

"I'm sorry if this isn't how you imagine our first time to be."

Well-i will let you readers think about how the night would go on...