Catch 22 - JJK (21+)

Chapter 39 - Underestimated

ARIA

My mother didn't drop f bombs often because it was 'unladylike', of course, but hearing her use that word, especially in that context, told me that playtime was officially over. She'd been attempting to play nice up to this point. Well, as nice as someone as evil as she was could possibly pull off. Since that wasn't working, I guess she'd decided to switch back to her usual tactic, being a controlling bitch. I'd wondered how long it would take for the real Seohyun to show up.

And there she was.

But that wasn't what made my heart begin to slam against my ribs in panic. It was the fact that my mom had just confirmed that she'd exercised her due diligence by digging up dirt on my soon-to-be-husband and possibly even his family. God only knew how deep she'd gone and how she planned to use any information she'd found. I wanted to drop a few f bombs of my own right now, but I refused to let her think I cared about her petty little threat because I didn't.

Without turning around to spare her a glance, I shot back, "You do whatever you feel you need to do with that information. I'll stop by the security desk on my way out and ask Mr. Han to make sure you find your way back down to the lobby."

Apparently, my mother hadn't gotten the rise out of me she'd been hoping for, so she quickly changed the subject to something she knew would. "You know? I was surprised your boy toy was smart enough to have an alarm system in that little hole-in-the-wall of his."

Although my hand was on the doorknob, and I'd been ready to walk out the door, her words hit me like a stun gun. For a moment, I felt paralyzed as what she'd said penetrated me. I could feel the heat engulfing my body, and the tears pricking the backs of my eyelids as I turned around.

"Ah... that got your attention, didn't it?" She taunted, still facing the windows.

I swallowed around the built up emotions in my throat and shook my head in utter disbelief, my eyes narrowed. "Wow... I underestimated how low you'll go to get what you want. I had a sneaking suspicion you had something to do with that, especially after you popped up out of the blue only a few days later. Shame on me for wanting to believe you were above doing something so despicable. And then to be bold enough to admit it."

She finally turned and crossed the room, stopping a few feet from me. I emptied my hands but stayed close to the door in case I needed to get away. I wasn't necessarily afraid she would get physical or anything. Violence wasn't usually her MO, but after what she'd just basically admitted to, I definitely didn't trust her or know what to expect from her at that point.

"I didn't intend on mentioning it unless I had to," she replied nonchalantly with a shrug of her shoulders. "I was hoping you'd agree to what I'd asked without me having to go there, but I knew you were too stubborn. That's why I made sure I had an insurance policy in place before I came. In case you needed a little... mmm...  convincing. I wanted to keep things cordial, but now you're pissing me off."

"Why? Because I'm refusing to comply with your bs demands? Because I'm standing up for myself and not allowing you to run my life anymore? Because I won't continue being your fucking doormat?"

I couldn't stop the tears now, which I hated because I knew she always viewed crying as a sign of weakness. I swiped angrily at my eyes, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeing one of them fall or to think for one second that she'd won. I was feeling far from weak right now. In fact, I was mad as hell that she'd used Jungkook and his business to get to me. It took everything in me not to smack her across her smug face for fucking with my man.

"Oh stop with the theatrics, Aria, and watch your language when you speak to me," she scolded with a flippant hand gesture as she stepped closer.  "I don't know what's gotten into you. That little boy has you acting more stupid than you normally do. You're lucky I didn't find out what was going on last year or I would have put an end to it the last time I was here. I was being lax, thinking you were just having fun. I didn't think you'd actually be dumb enough to fall in love with him.