BOOK 6: The Seventeen Heirs Series; Lee Jihoon (SEVENTEEN FANFIC)

5: CONCLAVE

Xu Minghao was right. The news spread like wildfire, and here I am now, making amends with the man I left at home. To the man I could've been married to if this all did not happen.

"And I thought that was all pretense, Ylina. But now, the whole world knows."

I sighed when I heard his voice on the other line. It's been almost a week since I arrived here in Seoul and met Jihoon Lee and some of his brothers.

"Is he treating you well?"

My eyes travelled to the door where the man in question is currently inside. He had not gone out after breakfast when he and his brothers decided to talk in private inside his office. "Ylina?"

"I'm sorry. Yes, I'm still here," I replied. Hearing his voice makes me miss the Manila hustle. "He's treating me well."

"He did not do anything to disrespect you, did he?" my former lover inquired from the other line. I don't like how this hurts—hearing his voice but not really seeing him. And now, the world knows about my marriage to another man. There is no room left for us or for our future.

"He's a man of respect. He knows how to treat his guests right." I slightly frowned. Well, maybe not on the first day we met. 

"You're not lying?"

I softly feigned a laugh. "Of course I am not. Why would I lie about that?"

I heard him sigh in defeat from the other line. "Alright then. For now, hang in there. I will get you out of that hell hole your father put you into. We still don't have a lead on where your twin sister is, but we are doing our best."

I closed my eyes and sighed heavily. I hope she's fine wherever she is but she has to return. She has to be here, not me.

"Ylina?"

"Still here." I'm so sorry that it had to be this way. We have to fall apart just to honor my father's wishes.

"I'll be going now. Your father needs me in your company," he said in a deep voice that made my heart ache.

"Oh, right, of course," I answered. "Please take care of yourself."

"You too, Ylina," he said longingly. "If I can squeeze it into my schedule, I'll visit you in Seoul.

"Hmm," I mumbled before the line went off.

"Lover?"

I nearly jumped from my place when I heard him speak behind me. My eyes moved in his direction. "Eavesdropping, I see."

"No." He answered as he moved from where he is and as he placed himself next to me, his eyes roaming around the city below us, like a king, overseeing his kingdom.

"So you're not eavesdropping, just purposely listening, then?" I asked him, now fully facing him.

"I am respectful enough not to disturb your conversation with your lover. That's that," he said, raising a brow at me.

"He's not that!" I snapped at him.

"What? Your lover?" he taunted.

"He is not!" I told him furiously. 

"Really, huh?" he asked in a mocking tone. Oh, how I'd want to push him from here down to the cold streets below us.

I took a deep breath before facing the huge glass window. I cannot let him ruin my day even more, as it has already been ruined the moment we made the headlines. "Can't we just converse like normal people do? Without trying to piss off each other?"

He shrugged casually. Now he's already wearing his business suit. I guess he's going to his office any time now. "I can do that. The question's on you. Can you?"

"So you're saying it's me who's always picking a fight?" I scoffed when I saw him smirk.

"Aren't I correct, though?"

I huffed and tried to stomp away from him when he called me again.

"Wait."

"What?" Twirling around to face him.

"Here," he said as he handed me a black card.

I frowned as I looked at it. "What will I do with this?"

"For your daily use, go shop or something. But for now, I think you need to shop," he casually said. "Don't worry about the cost. It's not something to be worried about."

"I can perfectly buy things using my own money, Mr. Lee," I said through gritted teeth.

"I am your fiancé and the whole world knows about that. I may be sometimes shit disrespectful but I was raised well by a wonder mother and a noble father and I follow customs well, princess. Besides, you have to shop when you can. You will be meeting the rest of the family this evening, including the rest of your soon-to-be sisters-in-law."

"I will what and when?!" I shrieked.

"You'll be meeting the rest of the Chois, tonight, over dinner." He gave me one of his infamous grins.

"What the hell?"

"Yeah, what the hell. Now, I'll go to the office first to settle some work, but I'll see you tonight for dinner." He moved towards me and instantly dipped his lips on my cheek, almost touching the corner of my lip.

Oh my god! Did he just kiss me?!

"LEE JIHOON!!" I shouted.

But he just walked his way out of his penthouse, with one hand waving at me.

Author's Note: This is a relatively short chapter but we are gearing up towards the climax~