Marry the Billionaire's Daughter

8. The Night

"Reading this late?"

Chaeyoung looked up from her book to see Jisoo standing a few feet away, her figure silhouetted against the faint light from the mansion. She smiled, slightly surprised.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Happens to most of us." Jisoo says.

"I didn't expect to see you out here. You've been gone all day." Chaeyoung says lowering the book.

Jisoo walked over and sat down on the grass beside Chaeyoung, her movements graceful and unhurried. "I had work at my father's company and attend some meetings."

Chaeyoung nodded, closing her book. "I see. It sounds exhausting."

Jisoo glanced at her, curiosity in her eyes. "What about you? What did you do today?"

"I had tea with Jennie and wrote a letter to my mother," Chaeyoung replied. She hesitated, wondering if Jisoo knew anything about her background. Jennie had been understanding and curious, but she wasn’t sure about Jisoo.

Jisoo nodded, her expression unreadable. "Sounds like a peaceful day."

Chaeyoung noticed that Jisoo was dressed in comfortable pajamas rather than her usual elegant attire. She couldn't help but comment, "I'm not used to seeing you in anything but fancy clothing."

Jisoo laughed softly, a sound that seemed to lighten the night. "It's late, and everyone is asleep. I have a right to choose my pajamas, don't I?"

Chaeyoung smiled, feeling more at ease. "I suppose you do."

They sat together in the quiet night, the only sound the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. Chaeyoung leaned back against the tree, feeling a sense of calm she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Jisoo settled beside her, their shoulders nearly touching.

"So, what were you reading?" Jisoo asked, glancing at the book in Chaeyoung’s lap.

"Just a novel I found in the library," Chaeyoung replied. "It's a nice escape from reality."

Jisoo nodded, looking up at the sky. "Sometimes we all need that."

They fell into an easy conversation, talking about everything and nothing. Chaeyoung found herself opening up about her mother’s illness and her reasons for taking the job at the mansion. Jisoo listened quietly, her eyes reflecting a mix of empathy and something deeper that Chaeyoung couldn't quite decipher.

As the night wore on, Chaeyoung felt her eyelids growing heavy. She shifted slightly, her head coming to rest on Jisoo’s shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, feeling sleep tugging at her.

Jisoo glanced down at her, a soft smile playing on her lips. "It's okay. You can rest."

Chaeyoung's breathing slowed as she drifted off to sleep. Jisoo sat still, her gaze fixed on the horizon. After a few moments, she gently called Chaeyoung's name, but there was no response. She looked down to see Chaeyoung sound asleep, her face peaceful and relaxed.

For a brief moment, vulnerability flashed in Jisoo’s eyes. She watched Chaeyoung, feeling a strange mix of emotions that she couldn’t fully comprehend. She gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Chaeyoung’s face, her touch soft and careful.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, Jisoo’s expression hardened. She looked away, her gaze turning steely once more. She knew she had to maintain her composure, to keep the walls around her heart firmly in place.

But as she sat there with Chaeyoung resting against her, Jisoo couldn’t help but feel a small crack forming in those walls, a crack that she was scared of.

What is she doing to me?