" 𝐈𝐍𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒

𝟎𝟑 : 𝐃𝐑𝐔𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑

CEAZIA'S POV:
I slowly opened my eyes to the warm and gentle rays of sunshine caressing my face, and I sat up, feeling entirely content and rejuvenated from what had to be one of the best sleeps I had ever had. I got out of my bed, reaching for my towel, which I had left on top of my suitcase, and made my way towards the bathroom, which was conveniently connected to the bedroom.

As I stepped inside, my jaw immediately dropped in awe at the sheer size and elegance of the bathroom. It was designed to show a sense of grandeur and luxury, with gleaming marble floors and walls, and sparkling chrome fixtures. I couldn't help but look around in complete amazement, completely taken aback by the sheer beauty of the space.

After a few moments of taking in the beauty around me, I hung up my towel and entered the shower, enjoying the feeling of the warm water cascading down my body.

AFTER SHOWER:
As I stood in front of the mirror, I examined myself in my comfortable dark grey sweatpants and a matching dark grey oversized shirt. My black Skechers seemed to complete the look perfectly. I grabbed my phone and left the room, still in shock at the beauty of Sunwoo's house. My stomach rumbled as I searched for the kitchen, my thoughts filled with the enticing aroma of chocolate chip pancakes. Upon entering the kitchen, I found Sunwoo already cooking, focusing solely on the pan in front of him. "Good morning," he greeted me, not breaking his concentration. "Good morning," I replied, sitting at the island table. The anticipation grew as Sunwoo placed a plate of two fluffy chocolate chip pancakes, topped with a generous amount of whipped cream, in front of me, only a few minutes later.

"I don't know if I should accept your food," I told Sunwoo, studying his face for any sign of understanding. His expression twisted in confusion as he asked, "Why not?" I hesitated for a moment before responding. "Honestly, I don't know anything about you," I explained. "I don't know where the money came from to buy the food, and I don't even know if you're involved in any illegal activities, like drug dealing."

Sunwoo sat down at the island table with his plate of food. He chuckled softly while still looking puzzled. "Why do you think I'm a drug dealer?" he asked, clearly bemused by my earlier statement. I looked at him, taking in his sharp features and the way he carried himself. "I don't know," I replied, "you just give me drug dealer vibes. Like, how did you even afford this house?" I gestured around the luxurious living room. Sunwoo's eyes twinkled with amusement as he responded, "I have my connections." "See!" I exclaimed, "Even that statement is so suspicious!" Sunwoo laughed heartily, making me even more confused.

Sunwoo looked at me with my plate of pancakes, urging me to take a bite. "Just eat the food. I promise I didn't do anything to it," he said, his laughter faltering slightly, though he still wore a smile on his face. I hesitated, not sure if I could trust him. But after a moment, I relented and took a small bite. The first taste was surprisingly good, and my eyes widened in surprise. I tried to hide my reaction, not wanting to give Sunwoo the satisfaction of knowing that he had surprised me. "It's not bad," I said, trying to sound unimpressed, as I took another bite. The pancakes were fluffy and had just the right amount of sweetness. Sunwoo grinned triumphantly, pleased with himself for winning me over.

I continued to savor the delicious meal when suddenly, Sunwoo interrupted my thoughts. "I'm going out so you should stay in the house", he announced. "No. If you are going, I'm going with you. It's my first time being in L.A, I'm not gonna waste it by staying in the house." I replied, looking at him directly. Sunwoo was about to say something, but after a moment of hesitation, he nodded his head in agreement. He then stood up and cleared our plates. I rose from my chair and walked towards the front door, with Sunwoo following closely behind, his keys jingling in his hand.

As I stepped outside, the warmth of the sun on my skin felt refreshing. Sunwoo opened the car door for me, and I slipped into the passenger seat. He settled into the driver's seat, started the engine, and backed out of the driveway, glancing back at the house we had just left behind. "Where are we headed exactly?" I inquired, my eyes fixed on him, waiting for his response.

"We are going to a friend of mine. After, we could go anywhere you want to go." He told me as his eyes were fixated on the road. "What are we doing at your friend's place?" I asked curiously. "That is none of your business," he told me with a hint of irritation in his voice. I couldn't help but express my suspicion, "See, that's another reason why I suspect you're a drug dealer. It's fucking suspicious." Sunwoo chuckled as his deep voice resonated through the car, making me uneasy. "Hm, maybe I am," he replied with a sly smile.

I was taken aback by his response and immediately demanded, "If you are, please stop the car and let me out." Sunwoo's laughter filled the car, finding my reaction amusing. Still, I couldn't know if he was joking or not. As the laughter died down, I couldn't help but ask him again, "Can you promise me that you aren't a drug dealer?" Sunwoo looked back at me directly, with a warm smile on his face.

"I promise, I'm not a drug dealer," he replied reassuringly. "Fine." I tried to believe him, maintaining eye contact. When it was green light, Sunwoo continued driving, breaking eye contact. I looked outside as Sunwoo continued driving. "Excuse me, may I ask why you're in Los Angeles?" he inquired.

I let out a sigh before responding, "I came here to bring some money for my sister's wedding. I hoped to visit her, but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned." The memories of my failed attempts to get in touch with my sister flooded my mind, and I trailed off. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up," he murmured sympathetically. "It's alright, you're just curious," I replied, trying to brush off the sadness that lingered. I remained silent, lost in my thoughts.

KIM SOO-YUN'S POV:
"Crystal! Can you please bring another glass of wine?" I called out to my maid as I raised my glass, indicating that I had finished it. Crystal nodded, smiling politely, and disappeared into the kitchen. After a few minutes, she reappeared with a chilled white Chardonnay and a glass. She poured the wine into the glass and handed it to me. "Thank you, Crystal," I said, taking a sip of the Chardonnay. "Is Daeun still here?" I asked, curious to know if she was still around. Crystal nodded before pulling out her notepad and pen. She wrote on the notepad and showed it to me. 'Yes, she is here. She is talking to the chairman about the Jeguk High School,' read the message.

I nodded in acknowledgment and took another sip of the Chardonnay. Crystal put her notepad in her pocket and left the dining room to attend to her other duties. A few moments later, Daeun emerged from the chairman's room, looking directly at me. I felt a lump in my throat as she narrowed her eyes and then walked away without uttering a word. I let out a deep sigh, relieved that the tense moment had passed. I shook my head, trying to erase what had just happened. I stood up, my wine glass in one hand, and walked towards my bedroom. As I entered the room, I sat on the bed, placing my glass on the nightstand. I reached for my phone and dialed Sunwoo's number. After a few rings, he didn't pick up. "Come on, Sunwoo, pick up," I muttered under my breath.

I tried calling him once more, but it went straight to voicemail. I let out a sigh. "What is he up to?" I said out loud, more to myself than anyone else. As I lay in my bed, I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing in the US.

PAST (3 years ago)
I stood before Taehyung, my heart racing with fear and anger. "No! You can't send my child away without my permission. I won't let you!" I protested, my voice trembling with rage. Taehyung's face remained cold and unfeeling. "I do what I want," he replied, his eyes betraying no emotion as he looked down at me.

I couldn't believe what was happening. My child was being taken away from me, and I was powerless to stop it. Tears streamed down my face as I scoffed, "How could you do this? How could you banish your brother from Korea!"

Taehyung chuckled slightly, his lips curling into a taunting smile. "Brother?" he asked incredulously. "He isn't my brother. Just because my father is the same as his doesn't mean I would claim him. Just like I won't claim you. You are pathetic." His words stung like a thousand needles, piercing my heart and shattering my world.

"You aren't my mother, so stop fucking acting like it," he added, his voice cold and merciless. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone and broken on the ground.

But then, as if from nowhere, Crystal appeared before me, her warm embrace enveloping me as she pulled me up from the ground. She held me close, caressing my back as I sobbed uncontrollably, lost in a sea of pain and despair.
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