Worlds Apart - Taekook - Book 2

Chapter 236 - Decide What You Want

Emi takes a sip from the glass of orange juice she'd freshly ordered after she'd woken up in the hotel suite alone. She'd gone to bed alone, too and had it not been for the note beside the bed, she wouldn't know whether her husband came home at all.

She'd had a lovely time with Jara when they ditched the shops for a trendy wine bar followed by a karaoke room, where the wine continued to flow. Emi didn't have a sister but it was what she imagined it would be like if she did. Emi's sister-in-laws were busy women and they got along well but it was a different relationship

Jara relayed texts from Kyong as the four men moved from the Signiel to a brewery just around the corner from the hotel. The two women didn't want to join them, they were having far too much fun on their own and Kyong had told Jara that the atmosphere was a little tense at times and the women were too merry and didn't want their mood dampened.

Emi told Han-Shik to stay out and have fun when he called her as she arrived back at the hotel and she was asleep not long after that.

Gone to the gym.
H x

She reads the note again and smiles at the kiss after her husband's initial. It was a subtle, possibly unconscious element but knowing Han-Shik, she doubted very much that it was habit so it meant a lot.

When Han-Shik returns, he asks her if she's okay and whether she's eaten breakfast before going for a shower. Emi orders room service and by the time Han-Shik is showered and dressed, the timing of the door chiming is impeccable.

"How was last night?" she asks once they've uncovered their breakfast and poured some coffee.

"It got better."

"Was it awkward to start with?"

Han-Shik puts the mug of coffee to his lips and blows gently as the steam swirls from the piping hot flat white. "Very. My brothers don't trust me and they've had to make the decision to believe me when I say that this whole situation isn't a set-up."

"They think Nuri is behind it?"

Han-Shik nods his head, "Uh-huh. It makes us all equal because I have to trust that they're telling me the truth."

"Do you believe them?"

His shoulders rise as Han-Shik shrugs, "I don't have a lot of choice, do I?"

"You do. You have a choice. I think you should question why you don't believe them? If it's because of something your mother told you then maybe those are the times you should try to believe them?"

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to have everything you've believed made out to be false? I've spent years believing that my little brother stole money from us then left. I saw the devastation on my mother's face and saw what I thought was a breakdown. I walked on eggshells for as long as I can remember until I found ways to cope which mostly involved staying out of the way."

"I understand that..." Emi starts to say as Han-Shik startles her by standing abruptly.

"No! You don't! How could you possibly understand?"

The petite Japanese woman gets to her feet and goes to her husband. She takes hold of Han-Shik's forearms that are crossed over his chest and is pleased when he allows her to move them so that she can stand in front of him, minus the arm barrier. She places her hands on his waist and looks up at him. "I can't relate to what you've been through but I am learning. I am starting to understand your viewpoint. I've also seen the many acts that Nuri displays so I can imagine what it was like for you."

Han-Shik relaxes his arms a little as they hang tensely at his sides. He reaches up with his right hand and tenderly pushes some of his wife's hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry..." he sighs, "... you are the one person in my corner... I shouldn't lash out."