Ａ Ｌove Ｌike Ｗar

Prologue

SooJung looked between both her father and mother in confusion, their words echoing around her mind but not comprehending. It had to be a joke because there was no way what they were saying was in seriousness... Right?

"Well? Aren't you going to say something?" Her mother asked as the silence stretched. Licking her suddenly dry lips SooJung shook her head slowly and her mother heaved a sigh. "Were you not paying attention to anything we have just told you?"

Glancing around at the private room of the fancy restaurant her parents had brought her to, SooJung hoped for a distraction, anything to prevent her from continuing this conversation. But her parents were waiting for her answer, seeming as anxious as she was, so she had no choice but to speak.

"I... I understood most of it." SooJung spoke at last, her voice quiet. "About how dads newest business venture needed a lot of funding, so he's been forced to seek a loan from another man..."

Her mother made a tsking sound. "Stop mumbling, SooJung. You know I hate it when you mumb-"

"Not just any man." Her father interrupted. "He's a King."

"Figuratively speaking." Her mother added as she cut into her steak. "But that's his title within his, ah... Business."

SooJung knew how Mafia's were run, how their 'bosses' were thought of as Kings, their sons Princes and their daughters Princesses. They weren't official titles, of course, but to anyone addressing them they were real enough, otherwise you risked losing your life. They lived in their own world within this one and their reach even went beyond that of the police and depending how powerful they were - the Government itself. From what she could gather, the guy her Father had borrowed money off was a pretty big deal in the Mafia world, a King among Kings. The guy who sat on the throne above them all.

"Right." SooJung tried to recall where she was up to and made an effort to speak more clearer after a quick glare from her mother. "But this 'King' wanted something in return from you, a reassurance that you were certain your business would succeed." Her father nodded eagerly. "So... You..."

She couldn't bring herself to speak the next part aloud, because that was where things got sketchy for her, where the details became so confusing that she couldn't wrap her head around it. Her mother stared, her hands prompting SooJung to keep speaking whilst her Father averted his gaze, gnawing on his already chapped bottom lip as once again silence overcame them.

"... You offered him me." SooJung finished as none of her parents came to fill in the blank. But after she'd said the words out loud she waited, hoping - praying - they would do something, anything, to indicate this was all one big joke, a prank at her expense. But they didn't. "Oh god, you sold me!" She whispered in horror.

Her mother quickly began shaking her head furiously while her father remained silent, still refusing to look her way.

"That is not what your father did." Her mother spoke, her tone firm. "Think of this as an investment, SooJung. If your father's business goes well, you will cash in as well."

"And if it doesn't?"

Her mother flashed her Father a dark look and he shuffled uncomfortably. "It will."

"You sold me." SooJung repeated, her voice getting louder. "You traded me for a loan! You traded me - your own daughter - for some money for yet another business venture! How could you do this to me? Is that all I am to you? Collateral?"

"Lower your voice!" Her mother snapped, no longer trying to play it nice. "This is hardly as bad as you are making it out to be."

"How is this not bad, mother?" She demanded, her voice now at a suitable shouting level. "You've used me like some sort of merchandise to barter with!"

"Enough!" Her Father muttered, that one word alone causing SooJung to fall silent. "The deal has already been made, there is no use arguing over it."

"When?" SooJung asked quietly, once again subdued.

Her father always had had that effect on her. While her Mother was sharp and often dramatic in her scoldings, her Father was always quiet.

"One week." Her mother sniffed, smoothing over her dress. "We have decided to forgo an engagement party, since we weren't sure how you would behave if were to throw one." She gave SooJung a pointed look. "And by how you're over-reacting now it's a good job we didn't, I'd say! I told you she'd be like this!" She hissed to SooJung's Father.

SooJung stared down at her lap, forcing her tears to stay in place and not fall.

"Then I suppose I had better arrange for my stuff to be packed away." She said at last.

"Yes, I suppose you ought too." Her mother agreed, seeming surprised by SooJung's sudden acceptance before her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Though let me warn you now, SooJung; if you were planning on doing something foolish like running away or making a fuss then I suggest you forget about it. This man is not someone you want to trifle with, nor is he someone who will easily forgive you if you embarrass him by ruining this. He won't hesitate to kill you, your father - or just about anyone, do you understand?"

Finally SooJung's tears spilled over as her mothers words sunk in, dashing her plans of escape.

"Yes mother." She whispered in defeat.

Her mother nodded once, pleased. "Good. Now I suggest you hurry up and finish your food. We have a busy day ahead, planning the wedding."

SooJung winced. Wedding... Her wedding, and to a man she did not know! She didn't pretend to understand business dealings, but she did know if things went bad she would be on enemy lines, so SooJung's eyes it was torture being forced to marry a man she hadn't met, let alone fallen in love with. She didn't even know his name, nor what he looked like. For all she knew, he could be a thirty year old, fat balding man! Shuddering at the thought SooJung focused on eating her salad and ignored her mother as she spoke of dress fittings, flower arrangements and table seating plans, all while SooJung sat crying silently. It might be her wedding her mother was trying to discuss with her, but SooJung wasn't interested in the slightest.

As far as she was concerned, her mother was planning the worst day of SooJung's life - and she wanted nothing to do with it!