( You're reading Book II )
When Jennie family discovered the truth about her relationship with a married woman, they were unable to accept it, and she brought shame upon them. To preserve the Kim family's reputation and status, her father made a dra...
Amanda stood on the balcony, her arms wrapped around herself as she gazed out at the darkening sky. The soft breeze ruffled her hair, but her expression was distant, lost in deep thought. Lisa watched her from the doorway, feeling the weight of the moment. She knew how hard this was for Amanda—how difficult it must be to watch her get pulled back into a part of her life she had tried to leave behind.
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Lisa walked over, standing next to her, but Amanda didn’t turn to face her. Instead, she kept her eyes on the horizon, her jaw tight with unspoken emotion. Lisa hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to start, but then she gently placed a hand on Amanda’s arm.
“Amanda,” she said softly, “I can see that this is weighing on you. I know this whole situation is... not easy. You’ve been dealing with so much, and I just—" Lisa’s voice caught for a second. “I want to thank you for being here. For standing by me, even when it’s hard. I know it can’t be easy seeing all this from my past come back.”
Amanda let out a slow breath, her posture still tense. She didn’t speak right away, but Lisa could feel the conflict in her, the weight of everything they hadn’t said.
“I knew this was going to be difficult when I agreed to stand by you,” Amanda finally said, her voice quiet but steady. “But seeing you with Jennie again, seeing how much history there is between you two... it’s harder than I thought it would be. It feels like I’m fighting ghosts sometimes, and I don’t know how to deal with that.”
Lisa’s heart clenched at Amanda’s words. She stepped closer, her voice filled with sincerity. “I understand how you feel. I don’t expect this to be easy for you. But Amanda, you need to know—what I had with Jennie, it’s in the past. What we have now, that’s my future. You and Lithan—you’re my present, my family. That hasn’t changed.”
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Amanda’s eyes flickered with emotion, and she finally turned to face Lisa. “I believe you, Lisa. I do. But it’s just... being in the middle of all this, knowing that you’re helping Jennie’s son—your son—it’s hard not to feel like an outsider.”
Lisa reached for her hands, holding them tightly. “You’re not an outsider. You’re my partner, Amanda. You’ve been with me through everything, and you’ve been my strength when I didn’t know if I could handle it all. I’m so grateful for you, for the way you’ve supported me through this. I don’t know how I would have done this without you.”
Amanda’s eyes softened, though the tension hadn’t fully left her expression. “I’m trying, Lisa. I’m really trying to be okay with all of this. I just... I need time to adjust. But I’ll be here, with you. I’m not going anywhere.”
Lisa nodded, relief washing over her. She pulled Amanda into a gentle embrace, holding her tightly. “We’ll get through this together,” she whispered. “I promise.”
Amanda rested her head on Lisa’s shoulder, the warmth of the embrace offering some comfort. Though the road ahead was still uncertain, and there were difficult emotions to navigate, in that moment, both of them knew that they weren’t alone in facing it. They would weather this storm together, no matter how hard it got.
The next morning,
The atmosphere in Dr. Lim's office was tense, thick with unspoken emotions and unresolved history. Jennie and Jiyong sat on one side of the room, Jiyong with his arms crossed and his expression stone cold, while Jennie was visibly nervous, her hands twisting anxiously in her lap. The weight of the situation pressed down on them both, but they exchanged no words, waiting for what was to come.
When the door opened, and Lisa stepped in with Amanda beside her, the room seemed to shift, as if the air had been sucked out for a brief moment. Jennie’s breath caught in her throat as she looked at Lisa, and Jiyong’s jaw visibly tightened. It had been years, but the unresolved tension between them still simmered beneath the surface.
Lisa's gaze met Jennie's for just a second before she looked away, her expression guarded. Amanda, sensing the tension, stayed close to Lisa but couldn't help but glance at Jennie. This was the woman who had haunted Lisa’s past—the same woman whose son was now at the center of this emotionally charged situation. For Amanda, this was the first time meeting Jennie, and it was impossible to ignore the swirl of emotions Lisa must be feeling.
Dr. Lim, oblivious to the storm brewing in the room, greeted them warmly. “Good morning, everyone. Thank you all for coming in today.”
The doctor’s voice was a calm contrast to the thick tension that filled the space. Her eyes flicked briefly to Lisa, and her surprise was clear. “Ms. Manoban, I presume?” Dr. Lim extended her hand toward Lisa, who shook it firmly, maintaining her composure.
“And you must be Dr. Amanda,” Dr. Lim said, her tone shifting to one of admiration. “It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve heard so much about your work—your achievements are remarkable.”
Amanda nodded, her face tight with a polite smile. “Thank you, Dr. Lim. I’m just here to support Lisa through this.”
The pleasantries quickly faded, leaving the group in an uncomfortable silence. Jiyong shifted in his seat, his eyes flicking between Lisa and Amanda with a hard, almost unreadable expression. His mind was a storm of frustration, bitterness, and something dangerously close to anger, but he kept his emotions in check—for now.
Jennie, on the other hand, couldn’t help but glance at Lisa. She had been preparing herself for this moment, but seeing Lisa walk into that room, after everything they’d been through, brought back a flood of emotions she wasn’t ready for. Her heart pounded as she whispered, “Thank you for coming, Lisa.”
Lisa nodded, her voice strained but steady. “I’m here for him.”
Jiyong’s eyes narrowed at Lisa’s words, but he stayed silent, his jaw clenched.
Dr. Lim cleared her throat, sensing the tension but moving forward with professionalism. “Alright, let’s get started. We’ll be conducting the HLA typing test today to see if Lisa is a suitable donor for Hyeong. It’s a crucial step in moving forward with the transplant process.”
The words "donor" and "transplant" hung in the air like a heavy weight. Everyone in the room knew the gravity of the situation, but it was the underlying history and emotions that made the atmosphere feel suffocating.
Amanda placed a hand on Lisa’s shoulder, her silent way of offering strength. "You're doing the right thing," she whispered, low enough for only Lisa to hear.
Lisa nodded again, but her thoughts were racing. She was here for her son, and no matter how complicated the past was, she couldn’t let that cloud her focus now.
Dr. Lim began explaining the next steps of the procedure, but it was clear that the emotional undercurrents in the room were far from settled. The tension between Lisa and Jiyong simmered, Amanda’s quiet yet protective presence beside Lisa didn’t go unnoticed, and Jennie’s gaze flicked between the people she cared for, all caught up in the turmoil of what lay ahead.
It was the beginning of something that could either save their son or bring even more chaos into their already fractured lives. And everyone in the room could feel it.
