Worlds Apart - Taekook - Book 2

Chapter 260 - Where There's A Will...

'Awkward'

That was the most appropriate word to describe the atmosphere in the meeting room with its cream walls and maroon carpet.

'Tense'

That was another word that could appropriately describe the feeling in the room as they waited for the lawyer to join them.

The divide in the room was clear and the set-up quite formal. There were originally four chairs on each side facing each other and three chairs at the head of the horseshoe. No one knew who the third chair was for but they were hoping for no more surprises.

Nuri was still sniffling into her tissue and Jungkook was delighted that it wasn't his fault for once. Han-Shik was the culprit this time. He'd moved a chair from one side to the other which left his parents sitting on their own beside a vacant seat.

Han-Shik hadn't spoken a word since his parents walked into the room and his mother chose to act like it was a long lost relative show and throw herself at her sons. Thankfully for Kyong and Jungkook, she started with Han-Shik and after he rebuffed her efforts, she didn't attempt to make physical contact with her other two sons.

Tae watched in silence. His skin prickled and he had emotional flashbacks to that day at the Signiel when Nuri spat home truths at him, little did she know that they'd hit home. The CEO always wondered if she'd known? How had she known his deepest darkest fears or was he that much of an open book? Whatever the answers were, he was now sitting with his husband as a unit... Nuri hadn't got what she wanted back then and Tae hoped she wouldn't get what she wanted today, in terms of the boys.

Mr Jeon gave off 'unapproachable' vibes. His hair was slicked back, his trousers were pressed with a perfect crease down the centre of each leg. His long sleeve shirt was rolled up to the elbows and his loafers looked recently polished. Jungkook didn't recognise him. He didn't look like the man he remembered and for that he was glad.

Nuri was the only person who wanted a happy family reunion... or that's the act she was maintaining... who knew what was true?

Mr Jeon bowed respectfully to the boys but didn't say anything, even when prompted by Nuri who urged her sons to speak to their father and vice versa.

Ho-Joon also hadn't said anything apart from to inform them that the lawyer would be with them as soon as he could get there. He stood at the side of the room with a file under his arm and Kyong found some small amount of humour and familiarity in Ho-Joon's stance.

Emi was proud of her husband. She would have willingly sat on the other side with an empty chair between her and Mr Jeon but Han-Shik made sure they sat together. She squeezed his hand under the table and she hoped that he knew what she was trying to convey. Emi didn't feel quite so brave in front of Nuri, so she avoided eye contact. It wasn't that she was scared of her but she didn't want to be a target if she could help it. Her confidence diminished the more she got to know about Nuri and the deeper her feelings became for Han-Shik. Emi was wary of the woman that caused upset and hurt wherever she went.

"I thought that Jara and the boys would be here." Nuri says to Kyong from behind the white tissue held close to her nose.

"They're at home." Kyong states sharply. He has no idea why his mother would think that he would fly his wife and twi small sons out to Busan to sit in a stuffy meeting room.

"Busan is their home, Kyong." Nuri responds.

"No... Seoul is our home."

"How do Jara's parents feel about that?"

Jungkook and Han-Shik are ready to jump in if needed but deep down they both consider whether praying would get the lawyer there any faster?

Kyong knows now, that his mother doesn't like his wife and she definitely did not care for her two small Grandsons so he felt this act was pointless. "They see that their daughter has a job and a life in Seoul."