BOOK 1: The Heir Series; Choi Seungcheol

25; ALTERS

"Seungcheol, why don't you feed Taerin?" Ash suddenly suggested as they ate dinner.

After the short snack time, they didn't afford to leave due to the others' requests. It seems like they can't get over the fact that their ever snob and arrogant cousin is now married. Now, they're making them do things for them.

Taerin could only find all of this amusing. She grew up alone, with no siblings and even cousins. It has always been her, her Mom, and recently, her Aunt Dominique, that's why she's amused.

"Right! As if you're not married already." Says Dane this time.

"Agree. They can't even stare at each other!" Minhyuk seconded what his wife said.

She couldn't see any resemblance between him and Seungcheol. Minhyuk seemed too noisy for a man. She could understand Hyungwon for being Seungcheol's cousin because, for their entire conversation, she can hear short words from both of them as if they are talking monosyllabic way but Minhyuk is another thing. Hyungwon couldn't have chosen a better spouse. Yuri was just all he needed. Aside from her being all talkative, she's energetic and joyful. The saying "Opposites attract" worked well for them.

But she and Seungcheol defy that.

She glanced at Seungcheol beside her. Good thing that he keeps his cool well in dealing with his cousins - Minhyuk, Hyungwon, Wonho, Ash, and Kei. They are the sons and daughters of Seungcheol's mom's siblings. Just like them, they had their honeymoons here at Boa Manor. Eventually, they made space for them here and settled. But Seungcheol and she wouldn't take that same decision - at least not in the near future.

"So, I heard you two are high school sweethearts. Is it true?"

Her attention was riveted on what Yuri said. It's like a switch that gave her again the bitter moments. All of a sudden she felt the tension grow inside her body, holding her in a tight rope.

She never wanted to go back and talk about that particular chapter of her life. How have they gotten hold of that information anyway? Well, it's not like it's a secret or a forbidden tale. It was never really a secret.

"It seems not it." Say Jooheon while slyly observing them beside his wife, Jazz.

Suddenly she was reminded how big her insecurity issue had been and how people hated her because Seungcheol chose her. Oh, how those girls used to shove that into her face, telling her she doesn't deserve Seungcheol, that she was nothing and nobody.

But Seungcheol made her feel she was important in his life and she's all that mattered to him.

"..I can't hide from you."

Those were Seungcheol's words. But in the end, she found out he could. He actually hid from her for four years. Making her believe how important she was only to give her up and choose to walk away from her.

Fool love.

"I also heard that you came and ended up in a fixed marriage. If your high school sweethearts them why the fixed marriage?" Now it's Wonho.

These people can't catch the tension between her and Seungcheol. He may be just sitting still and silent but the force of his tension was reaching her field. She could feel it.

A spoonful of food reached Wonho's mouth as his wife, Kei shoved it to him. "You talk too much, babe Just eat."

A moment of silence.

"So, is it true?" Yuri then asked.

"Hon —" Hyungwon intervened but Seungcheol was saying something else.