Love Contract / Mark Lee

Chapter 37

"My name is Areum. I'm the girl you gave birth to."

Maria and Areum stood in silence for a little while. A man walked over to the door.

"Honey who's at the door?" he asked. He stood there. Areum gazed at him, studying his facial features. How could she be his daughter when he looked nothing like him?

"Sara? You cut your hair?" He asked. Areum shook her head.

"She's not Sara." Maria whimpered. Her husband looked at her.

"Honey the kids are gonna need a ride to school. Unless you want to give Nick." He said, kissing her before walking out of the house with a briefcase.

"Why'd you come? You want money? A place to live? Food?" Maria asked. Areum stood there, surprised.

"N-no I don't need mon-" Maria reached into her pocket.

"Here. I'll write you a check for forty grand." She said. Areum pushed away her check book.

"I don't need your money. I probably have more money than you." She mumbled. Areum cleared her throat.

"I didn't come for money. I just figured out that my birth mom exists. A-and I came to talk to you. I have questions." She asked. Maria closed her door, stepping outside.

"You can't be here." She said. Areum furrowed her eyebrows.

"Why?"

"My family doesn't know you exist." She said. Areum looked at the car pulling out of the driveway.

"So he's not my father?" Areum asked. She shook her head. They stood in silence for a while.

"Look, I have to drop off my kids at school-"

"Please. I just want to know you. To know why you left me" She asked. Maria sighed.

"I don't owe you anything." She said. Areum felt her blood boil.

"Look, you might think you did the right thing to leave me in that hospital room. And I have to admit, I probably wouldn't have the life I have now if you didn't. B-but who were you doing it for? For my well being, or yours?" She asked. Maria grew silent.

"I'm asking for an hour of your time. After missing out 21 years, I think I deserve at least an hour." Areum pleaded. Maria sighed.

"I have a busy schedule." Maria said. Areum sighed. She grabbed a pen and a sticky note from her bag.

"I'm staying at the Marriott hotel twenty minutes from here. I'm only here for three more days. When you change your mind, come find me." She said, writing down her phone number. She handed her the sticky note before walking into Mark's rental car. She slammed the door.

"Uh. that was fast. Did we get the wrong house?" He asked. Areum shook her head, wiping the tear that ran down her cheek.

"No it's the right house. Just the wrong reaction."

~~~

Areum walked into the Starbucks, looking around for Maria. She had called Areum early in the morning to tell her that they could meet. Thankfully for her, Mark was awake and answered the phone call. That's where the story continues now.

"Areum, over here." Maria said. Areum sat down across from her. They sat in silence until Maria spoke up.

" you certainly have grown." She said. Areum nodded