The festive morning dawned with a fresh layer of snow glistening across the estate. The estate’s grandeur felt more alive than ever, with garlands and twinkling lights draped across the bannisters, wreaths on the doors, and the faint scent of cinnamon and pine filling the air.
For the first time in years, Mr. Lee had allowed Christmas decorations to be put up.
It was Ji-hyun’s doing—her excitement had infected even him. “For Mother,” she’d said softly when he initially hesitated, and he’d reluctantly agreed.
Sophia had been part of the decorating, her touch evident in the little handmade ornaments sprinkled throughout the house.
---
Sophia woke to the sound of laughter echoing through the hallways.
She quickly freshened up and dressed. It still surprise's her on the rapid growth of her hair, although it's virgin most times Crystal helps in straightening it sometimes.
She headed downstairs, only to find Ji-hyun dragging a reluctant Mr. Lee toward the grand Christmas tree in the sitting room.
“Oppa, you’re so stiff! Smile for once—it’s Christmas!” Ji-hyun scolded, hands on her hips.
Mr. Lee raised a brow, his usual icy demeanor intact. “I don’t see how smiling will make the day any different.”
“Maybe not,” Sophia interjected, stepping into the room, “but it might make your sister happy.”
Ji-hyun spun around, her face lighting up. “Sophia! You’re here! Come on—we need to open presents before breakfast!”
Sophia chuckled, allowing Ji-hyun to tug her toward the tree. Mr. Lee followed, his gaze lingering on Sophia for a moment longer than necessary.
As they unwrapped gifts, the room was filled with laughter—Ji-hyun’s excitement, Sophia’s soft giggles, and even Kai’s occasional snarky remarks as he passed through.
When Ji-hyun opened a small box from Mr. Lee, her eyes widened. It was a delicate silver bracelet, engraved with the words For the brightest star in my world.
“Oppa…” Ji-hyun whispered, tears welling in her eyes as she hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”
Mr. Lee’s expression softened as he returned her embrace. “Merry Christmas, Ji-hyun.”
Sophia watched the exchange, warmth blooming in her chest. It was the first time she’d seen him so vulnerable, so human.
After breakfast, Ji-hyun decided to build a snowman outside, dragging Crystal along for help. Sophia stayed behind to clean up the dishes, but Mr. Lee’s voice stopped her.
“Come with me,” he said simply.
Sophia hesitated but followed him outside. The air was crisp, their breaths forming clouds as they walked through the snow-dusted gardens.
Mr. Lee’s pace was unhurried, his hands tucked into the pockets of his long coat. For a while, they walked in silence, the crunch of snow beneath their boots the only sound.
“This place… it feels different today,” Sophia finally said, glancing around.
“It’s been lifeless for years,” he replied, his voice low. “Christmas stopped meaning anything after Mother died.”
Sophia looked at him, her heart aching at the rare vulnerability in his tone. “She would’ve wanted you to celebrate, to find joy again.”
He stopped walking and turned to her, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “And you think I’ve found it?”
Sophia’s breath caught under the intensity of his gaze. “Maybe… a little.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips, fleeting but genuine. “Perhaps.”
* I'm sure he did*
---
Christmas Dinner
The dining room was aglow with candlelight as the staff served a lavish feast. Ji-hyun had insisted on a traditional Christmas meal, and the table was overflowing with roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and every festive treat imaginable.
Ji-hyun had taken it upon herself to place Sophia next to Mr. Lee at the head of the table, much to Sophia’s embarrassment and Samantha’s visible annoyance.
As the meal progressed, Ji-hyun regaled everyone with stories from her boarding school in Seoul, her laughter infectious. Even Kai chimed in, teasing her mercilessly about her snowman-building skills earlier.
At one point, Ji-hyun nudged Sophia and whispered loudly,
“Don’t you think Oppa should smile more? He looks so handsome when he does.”
Sophia nearly choked on her wine, her cheeks flaming. “I… I wouldn’t know.”
Mr. Lee arched a brow at her, his expression unreadable but his lips twitching slightly as if holding back a smirk.
Samantha, meanwhile, forced a sugary smile. “Ji-hyun, don’t you think your brother looks handsome no matter what? Some people are just lucky that way.”
Sophia caught the subtle jab but ignored it, focusing instead on Ji-hyun, who was far too busy enjoying her Christmas pudding to notice.
---
After dinner, Ji-hyun and the others retired for the night, but Mr. Lee lingered by the large bay window in the sitting room, a glass of whiskey in his hand.
Sophia found him there when she came to check on the fire. “You’re not joining the others?”
“I needed a moment,” he said, not turning around.
She hesitated before stepping closer, the warmth of the fire contrasting with the cold outside. “For what it’s worth, today was… beautiful.”
He finally looked at her, his gaze softer than she’d ever seen it. “You made it so.”
Sophia blinked, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. “What?”
“You brought life back into this house,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “Into me.”
Her heart pounded as he stepped closer, the space between them shrinking. “Mr. Lee, I—”
“Didn’t I tell you to call me Lucius?” he interrupted, his tone almost scolding but layered with something deeper, something that sent a shiver through her.
Sophia froze, surprised. She’d heard that name only from Ji-hyun and in passing reference to his late mother.
He hated anyone else using it, but the way he said it now, the way his dark eyes bore into hers—it felt different.
“Lucius,” she said softly, testing the name on her tongue.
His breath hitched almost imperceptibly, and a flicker of something raw crossed his face. In her voice, it sounded perfect—dangerously perfect.
“Be careful with that name,” he murmured, stepping even closer until they were mere inches apart. “You don’t know what you’re doing to me.”
Her pulse raced, her voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe I do.”
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might lose control. But then he drew back, his expression guarded once more, though his eyes lingered on her with a heat that refused to fade.
“Merry Christmas, Sophia,” he said quietly, turning to leave.
As he walked away, Sophia stood frozen by the fire, her heart pounding as the sound of his name on her lips and the intensity of his gaze echoed in her mind.
---
Upstairs, Ji-hyun peeked out from her doorway, having witnessed the entire exchange. She smiled to herself, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, Oppa,” she whispered. “You’ll realize it soon enough.”
For the first time in years, Christmas at the Lee estate ended not in silence, but in warmth and quiet hope—two hearts beating just a little louder in the stillness of the winter night.
YOU ARE READING
SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)
Romance"Beyond Shadows" In a world where darkness reigns, a young orphan's dreams of becoming a veterinarian are shattered by her aunt's cruelty. But when she's drawn into the mysterious world of enigmatic Mr. Lee - a powerful figure rumored to be "more th...
