Instant Regrets Book II

Chapter 27

Jennie sat by the window of their luxurious Parisian hotel room, staring out at the glittering cityscape. The beauty of Paris, which had once felt so enchanting, now seemed distant and cold. Her thoughts were consumed by worry, the recent events playing over and over in her mind.

Since they had arrived in Paris, Hyeong had been struggling to adjust. The change in environment, the different air quality, and the stress of being in a new place had taken a toll on him. He had been irritable, unable to sleep, and Jennie had noticed the telltale signs of his asthma acting up. The wheezing, the shortness of breath—it was heart-wrenching for her to see her child in such a state.

Jennie couldn’t shake the image of Hyeong, restless and uncomfortable, from her mind. She knew that his asthma could be triggered by stress and unfamiliar surroundings, and the thought of him having an attack while they were so far from home terrified her.

Jiyong, sensing her distress, walked over and sat beside her, gently taking her hand. “Jennie, what’s wrong? You’ve been so quiet.”

Jennie took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Jiyong, we need to talk."

He sensed the seriousness in her voice and sat down beside her, taking her hand in his. "What's wrong, Jennie?"

"It's Hyeong," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "He's been struggling so much since we got here. He's not sleeping well, he's had headaches, and I'm really worried about his asthma. And now, with the migraines... I just can't shake the feeling that we need to go back home."

Jiyong's expression softened with concern. "I know it's been tough, but the doctors here are good, Jennie. They'll help him."

"I know," Jennie replied, her eyes filling with tears. "But it's not just about the medical care. He's out of his comfort zone, and it's making everything worse. I think we should go back to Korea. I know you have your business commitments and this trip was important, but Hyeong’s health comes first. I can’t stand the thought of him having an asthma attack here. We need to get him back to a familiar environment where he can feel safe.”

Jiyong sighed, his own thoughts conflicted. He didn't want to return to Seoul, where Lisa's presence loomed over him. But looking at Jennie, he saw the depth of her worry and love for their son. He couldn't ignore that.

"Okay, Jennie," he said softly, pulling her into a hug. "We'll go back to Korea. Hyeong's health is the most important thing right now."

Jennie held onto him tightly, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Thank you, Jiyong. I just want him to be okay."

"We'll make sure of it," he assured her. "We'll leave as soon as we can."

As they held each other, Jennie felt a mix of emotions. The decision to return to Korea was the right one for Hyeong, but she couldn't ignore the unease about what awaited them there. For now, though, her focus was on her son and making sure he had everything he needed to get better.

---

The next morning, the atmosphere in the hotel room was tense. Jennie was busy packing their belongings, moving swiftly around the room, making sure everything was in order for their return to Korea. Hyeong was quietly playing with his toys on the bed, his mood somewhat improved but still subdued.

Jiyong, on the other hand, was physically present but mentally distant. He sat by the window, staring out at the Paris skyline, his mind racing. He was consumed with paranoia and fear. The thought of returning to Korea, where Lisa was, filled him with dread. He couldn't let Jennie and Lisa cross paths, no matter what.

As Jennie folded clothes and zipped up suitcases, she noticed Jiyong's distant demeanor. She paused, looking at him with concern. "Jiyong, are you okay? You seem... off."

Jiyong snapped out of his thoughts, forcing a smile. "I'm fine, Jennie. Just thinking about all the things I need to catch up on once we're back."

Jennie nodded, though she wasn't entirely convinced. She walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know this trip didn't go as planned, but we made the right decision for Hyeong. Once we're back, everything will settle down."

Jiyong nodded absently, his thoughts still elsewhere. He couldn't shake the fear that once they were back in Seoul, the possibility of Jennie running into Lisa was too great. He had to come up with a plan to ensure their paths never crossed.

As Jennie continued packing, Jiyong's mind raced with various scenarios and strategies. He considered ways to manipulate their schedules, create distractions, and even fabricate business trips to keep Jennie away from places Lisa might be. He felt a surge of anger at the situation, at Lisa, and at the fragile peace that seemed so easily threatened.

Hyeong's soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "Daddy, are we going home now?"

Jiyong turned to his son, forcing another smile. "Yes, buddy. We're going home soon."

"Yehey! We're going home. I want to see Grandma and Grandpa, Mommy!" Hyeong exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

Jennie smiled warmly at her son's enthusiasm, finishing up with the last suitcase. She stood up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Everything's ready. We should head to the airport soon."

Jiyong nodded, standing up and walking over to help with the bags. As they prepared to leave the room, he made a silent vow to himself: he would do whatever it took to keep Jennie and Lisa apart. No matter what happened, he couldn't let their paths cross. The stakes were too high.

As they headed to the airport, Jiyong's paranoia and anger simmered beneath the surface. He was determined to protect his family, even if it meant going to extreme lengths. The journey back to Korea was filled with a heavy, unspoken tension, as Jiyong's mind churned with plans and schemes, all aimed at one single goal: preventing a reunion that could shatter everything he had worked so hard to build.