Blessed-Cursed (#2 of Polaroid Love) 

Chapter 16: Unknown Number

You were inside your hotel room in Okayama, Japan, lying on the bed and reading a book. The party was in three days, so Sunghoon wanted to get to Japan earlier to finish setting up.

Since you were in a country you have never been in, you wanted to explore the wonders of Japan. Yet, no matter how often you asked, Sunghoon would refuse to let you go out.

"You're my celebrity girlfriend now; people will recognize you," Sunghoon had said. "Keep yourself safe for the sake of the baby."

You grumbled and complained, of course, but the CEO still said no.

So that's why you were sitting in your hotel room, lying on the bed and reading a book.

You feel like a delicate bird locked inside a cage. The key to unlock was Sunghoon, and you felt like he was watching your every move.

You placed your hand over your belly, rubbing it in circles. "I'm sorry that Mommy's so sad, Little One," you told the child inside your womb. "Once your daddy is back, everything will be normal again."

Your mind rewounded to when you and Sunghoon had arrived at the hotel. He had picked up the key card from the lobby, and you asked him where was yours as the two of you walked to the elevator.

"What do you mean?" the CEO chuckled. "We're sharing the same room with one bed."

Before you could argue, Sunghoon continued speaking.

"We need to look like a real couple to the public, so we need to stay in the same room," he replied.

When you tried to fall asleep at night, you felt Sunghoon's hand gently caress your stomach as he softly sang lullabies. You placed your hand over your mouth to keep from crying.

The door opened, jumping your mind to the present time as you quickly closed the book and set it on the nightstand. You walked to the front to see Sunghoon carrying a white garment bag in one hand and a smaller bag in his other.

"I got some stuff for you for the party," Sunghoon said, putting the items on the couch. He unzipped the garment bag first, which revealed a white dress.

"Try it on and come back out when it's one," he said, handing you the dress. You nodded and went back inside the bedroom, closing the door.

You stood in front of the mirror as you slipped on the dress. The dress was tight-fitting but comfortable, stopping above your knees. The sleeves of the dress were out, displaying your shoulders and neck. Your small pregnant stomach was hugged gently, not feeling too much pressure.

"Are you done yet?"

You turned around to see Sunghoon holding the last bag. How long was he standing there? Did he watch you change? You didn't even hear the man come inside.

You scowled, bombarding him with questions. "I was going to come back out of the room when I finished. Why did you come in? Did you see me change?"

"No, I walked in as you were zipping the dress up."

"So why didn't you wait?"

Sunghoon chuckled. "Because I couldn't wait to see how beautiful you looked."

You rolled your eyes. You weren't going to fall for that empty flattery.

Sunghoon dropped the bag on the floor and took out two boxes. One was a shoebox, and the other looked like a small jewelry box.

Sunghoon opened the small one first, showing a necklace with a small white diamond attached. He walked behind you, where you stood in front of the mirror still. He clasped the necklace around your neck and stared at your reflection.

"You look so gorgeous, Y/n," he whispered, leaning down with a bright grin.

Sunghoon then backed up and picked up the shoebox, handing it to you. "I have to go to the venue to continue setting up," he said. "You can open the shoebox when you want to. Take off the dress and necklace soon so they don't get dirty."

"Alright," you nodded.

Sunghoon leaned down and kissed you on the cheek. "See you tonight. And remember, don't go out."

"I know."

Once you heard the door close, you sat on the bed and opened the shoebox that Sunghoon gave you. It was simple white ballerina flats decorated with rhinestones along the edges.

You felt confused, not comprehending what to feel. You didn't know how to feel, knowing why you had to wear all this stuff. You have to lie to the world that you were engaged to Sunghoon and pregnant with his child.

Suddenly nauseous and uncomfortable, you slipped off the dress and necklace, changing into your pajamas. You weren't going anywhere else today, so what was the point of continuing to look nice?

You hung the garment bag back into the closet with the dress and necklace inside when you received a text message on your phone.

That was unusual. You barely had any contacts on your phone, so you didn't get a lot of messages. And the contacts you had never texted or called you after the latest announcement at the company party.

Curious, you picked up the phone and read the notification.

Unknown: I can help you bring Park Sunghoon down. He's destroyed me already.

"What?" you raised an eyebrow.

You: Who is this?

The unknown sender answered back instantly.

Unknown: Kang Sooji, the woman who sued Sunghoon.

"No, this can't be," you were bewildered now.

You: How did you get my number?

Unknown: I will tell you later, I promise. But Y/n, can you meet me at this place tomorrow?

Sooji sent the location of a coffee shop that was a ten-minute walk from the hotel.

You: It will be hard. Sunghoon is not letting me go outside.

Unknown: Please, Y/n? It is the only time I can help get Sunghoon away from you. You don't need to go through the same struggles I did in the future.

You swallowed. Would Sunghoon find out that you left the hotel to meet Sooji? What would be the consequences? There were warning flags raised, but you threw them aside.

You: Yes, I'll come tomorrow. What time should we meet?

It was a minute before Sooji replied again.

Unknown: What time does Sunghoon usually be out?

You thought for a second, then replied.

You: He has meetings with more people in Japan all day tomorrow. He'll leave early in the morning and come back late at night.

Unknown: Ok. How does 10 a.m. sound?

You: Works for me.

Unknown: Thank you so much Y/n. I'll see you tomorrow, and please make sure not to save my number. I don't want Sunghoon to find out you were texting me.

You: Will do.

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I think the next chapter is longer (don't know for sure tho, we'll see). And there's 4 more chapters left!!
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