SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)

My brother likes you, you know.

The morning after the gala, the Lee estate was blanketed in silence, save for the occasional rustling of snow-laden branches in the breeze.

Mr. Lee was in his study, nursing a cup of black coffee and going over some documents, his sharp gaze giving away no trace of the storm that had raged within him the previous night.

Kai entered quietly, his usual jovial demeanor tempered by something more serious.

“You have a visitor,” he said simply.

Mr. Lee looked up, his brow furrowing. “Who?”

Kai didn’t answer immediately, but a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “You’ll want to see this one for yourself.”

---

Minutes later, Mr. Lee stood in the grand foyer, his typically cold expression softening as his eyes landed on the petite figure standing by the door.

“Ji-hyun,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically warm.

The girl turned at the sound of his voice, her round, youthful face lighting up with a smile.

“Oppa!” she exclaimed, running to him and throwing her arms around his waist.

Mr. Lee stiffened for a brief moment before wrapping an arm around her shoulders, his gaze flickering to Kai, who stood watching from the corner, clearly amused.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” Mr. Lee said, his tone a mix of exasperation and fondness.

“I wanted to surprise you,” Ji-hyun replied, pulling back to look up at him.

“I just finished my exams, and I thought, what better place to spend winter break than with my favorite brother?”

“You only have one brother,” Mr. Lee reminded her, though there was a rare smile tugging at his lips.

---

No one in Mr. Lee’s life, aside from Kai, knew of Ji-hyun’s existence. She had been kept hidden for her own protection, a secret he guarded fiercely, especially from their father and stepbrothers, whose greed and ambition knew no bounds.

Kai had been privy to the truth for years. As children, he and Mr. Lee had shared an unshakable bond, forged in the shadows of a life few could comprehend.

Their powers—dark and unfathomable—were both a blessing and a curse, and they had vowed to protect Jihyun from the world that had shaped them.

“She’ll be safe here,” Kai said quietly, as if reading Mr. Lee’s thoughts.

“She’d better be,” Mr. Lee replied, his voice hardening. “If anyone finds out—”

“They won’t,” Kai assured him.

----

Later that day, Jihyun was introduced to the rest of the household. Sophia, who was in the kitchen helping Crystal prepare lunch, nearly dropped a tray of glasses when she saw the young girl.

“Who’s this?” Sophia asked, her curiosity evident.

“This is Ji-hyun,” Kai said smoothly, stepping in before Mr. Lee could respond. “She’s... a relative.”

Sophia raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. She crouched to Ji-hyun’s level, her kind smile immediately putting the girl at ease. “Hi, Ji-hyun. I’m Sophia.”

Ji-hyun studied her for a moment before smiling back. “You’re pretty,” she said.

Sophia laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “So are you.”

From the doorway, Mr. Lee watched the exchange silently, his eyes narrowing as he caught the subtle look of admiration on Jihyun’s face.

---

Word of Ji-hyun’s presence spread quickly, and it wasn’t long before Samantha approached Mr. Lee, her curiosity thinly veiled as concern.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had a sister?” she asked, her tone light but probing.

Mr. Lee’s expression remained impassive. “It wasn’t relevant.”

Samantha smiled tightly. “Well, now that she’s here, I’d love to spend some time with her. Get to know her better.”

“Don’t bother,” he said coldly.

Undeterred, Samantha made her move later that evening. She found Jihyun in the sitting room, flipping through a book.

“Ji-hyun, isn’t it?” Samantha said, her voice saccharine sweet. “I thought we could have tea together. You must be bored with all the adults around.”

Ji-hyun looked up, her expression unreadable. “I’m not bored,” she said simply.

Samantha’s smile faltered. “Well, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m practically family, after all.”

Ji-hyun tilted her head, her gaze sharp despite her youth. “You’re not very good at pretending.”

Samantha blinked, taken aback. “Excuse me?”

“You don’t really care about me,” Ji-hyun said, her tone matter-of-fact. “You just want to impress my brother.”

Before Samantha could respond, Ji-hyun closed her book and stood. “I like Sophia better. She’s real.”

---

That night, as snow fell softly outside, Jihyun found Sophia in the library, organizing books.

“Can I stay with you?” Jihyun asked, peeking around the door.

Sophia looked up, surprised. “Of course. Come in.”

Ji-hyun settled into a chair, watching as Sophia worked. “Why do you stay here?” she asked after a while.

Sophia paused, unsure how to answer. “It’s... complicated.”

Ji-hyun nodded, her gaze thoughtful.

“My brother likes you, you know.”

Sophia laughed nervously. “I don’t think so.”

“He does,” Jihyun insisted. “He just doesn’t know how to show it.”

Sophia’s heart fluttered despite herself. “What about you? Do you like it here?”

Jihyun shrugged. “It’s better now that you’re here.”

Sophia smiled, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar warmth.

---

In his study, Mr. Lee sat with Kai, the air between them heavy with unspoken tension.

“She’s drawn to Sophia,” Kai observed.

“She’s drawn to what’s safe,” Mr. Lee corrected, though his tone lacked conviction.

Kai leaned back, his gaze speculative. “And you? What are you drawn to?”

Mr. Lee didn’t answer, his eyes fixed on the flickering flames in the fireplace.

Kai smirked, his voice dipping low. “You can deny it all you want, but she’s already gotten under your skin.”

The room grew colder, the shadows deepening as Mr. Lee’s power rippled through the air.

“Be careful, Kai,” he warned, his voice deadly calm. “You’re treading on thin ice.”

Kai chuckled, unperturbed. “As always, my friend.”

The night stretched on, heavy with secrets and the unrelenting pull of emotions neither man dared to name.