Love Contract / Mark Lee

Chapter 52

Areum placed a stack of pancakes neatly on each person's plate, next to scrambled eggs and sausages. She heard stumbling footsteps run down the stairs.

"Um... Jonathan, did you finally learn how to cook?" A surprised voice yelled. Areum chuckled, turning to face the voice.

"Oh, Areum! Hey!" Maria said. Her husband and kids followed down the stairs.

"Oh hi everyone. I uh decided to make breakfast if you don't mind. I mean you told me to not be a guest and I just wanted to show you how thankful I am for you guys letting me stay here." She said.

"Um... you didn't really have to do that" Mia mumbled. Areum nodded, her shoulders dropping.

"Well, I uh-"

"Nonsense, Mia. It is a wonderful gesture. And no one really cooks here anyways" Mr. Freeman claimed. Areum chuckled.

"Uh well, dig in!" She said, gesturing at the table. Areum sat down next to Jonathan, avoiding the glare from Mia.

"Um... that's Sara's chair," Mia mumbled, causing Areum to look up.

"Um, what?" She mumbled.

"That is Sara's chair. She always sits there" Mia claimed. Areum looked around.

"Well, Sara isn't here," Jonathan said. Mia glared at her brother.

"Oh uh... well, I can um. I can move if you want."

"Areum it's fine. Mia, watch your manners."

"Why do I have to change my life when she is here!" She said. Areum sighed, getting a bit irritated.

"Um actually, I'm not really hungry... may I be excused?" Areum asked. Maria massaged her temples, nodding.

"Yes, of course."

Areum walked out of the dining room and up the stairs into her room. She sighed, picking up her phone, staring at Mark's phone number.

" I miss you" She mumbled, turning her phone off and tossing it to the other side of the room to avoid the temptation of calling him.

~~~

Areum slowly walked down the stairs quietly, hoping to avoid any contact with anyone. As she reached the door she heard a voice call out for her.

"Areum! Where are you heading to?" Maria asked. Areum sighed, slowly turning around.

"Uh well, I have a few finishing projects I need to work on. Finishing touches on sketches so that when I go to France for fashion week, I'll be prepared." She explained. Maria nodded.

"Oh well I have somewhere you can go. Mia!" She called. Areum felt her shoulders drop. Do not call the demon child, she thought to herself.

" Yeah!" She yelled, walking up to her mom.

"Uh Areum needs a quiet place to work so can you take her to the cafe up the street?" Maria asked. Areum looked down.

"I mean if it is just up the street I can go by myself." She said. Mia sighed.

"She's not gonna stop bothering me so you might as well just let me show you the way," Mia said, pointing at her mom. Areum and Mia both left, walking in silence. Once they got to the cafe, Mia turned around to leave.

"Oh wait!" Areum blurted, causing Mia to give her a confused look. Areum also confused herself as to why she called out.

"What?"