To Capture a Heart | Chaerji

15

"A-appa, eomma" Yeji muttered as her eyes widened

"Did I heard that correctly Yeji?" her mom asked and walked towards her

"W-which one?" Yeji asked nervously

"We know you're not deaf Yeji, is it true that you and Haeun are having sex behind Chaeryeong's back?" Mr. Hwang said and it made Yeji swallow the thick lump in her throat

"Yeji" Mr. Hwang said sternly. Seulgi wanted to interfere but she knew she would also get in trouble if she talked back to Mr. and Mrs. Hwang

"Y-yes" Yeji said while looking down at the floor. She suddenly felt a hard slap on her cheek which made the others gasp.

"What's wrong with you Yeji? we didn't raised you to be like that. We gave you everything you need, we always took care of you until now and that's how you treat others?" Mrs. Hwang asked as tears fall to her cheek

It was all quiet and no one was brave enough to utter a word.

"Sungkyung right?" Mr. Hwang asked and faced the woman

"Yes sir" Sungkyung said

"I think it's best if you take Chaeryeong with you two first. Me and my family need to settle some things privately" Mr. Hwang said and Sungkyung nodded

Jieun and Sungkying went up to Chaeryeong's room and help her to get some of her things. They went down and Chaeryeong was surprised to see Mr. and Mrs. Hwang.

"Hwang appa... Hwang eomma" Chaeryeong was confused but she got more confused when she saw Mrs. Hwang crying

"I'm sorry for the sudden situation Chaeryeongie but I think you should live with your aunts first in the meantime. We need to settle some things in the family" Mr. Hwang said

"Oh... B-but what about Yeji?" Chaeryeong asked and looked at the said girl who was looking down at the floor

"She'll be fine, you should go with your aunts and rest. Seulgi, do drive them to their place" Mr. Hwang said and Seulgi nodded

"We'll see you on the weekend okay? stay safe" Mr. Hwang said and hugged Chaeryeong gently

"I will Hwang appa, stay safe as well" Chaeryeong said and left with her aunts and Seulgi.

"Yubin, you may leave" Mr. Hwang said

"Yes sir" Yubin said and left to go to the maid's quarters

"Yeji, why are you like this? you weren't like this before" Mr. Hwang said

"You know why? because you let me marry her, she's ruining my life! you're giving me another responsibility that I don't even want!" Yeji said back

"We already talked about this Yeji, you said it was fine with you but why are you still doing this? why do you have to mingle with Haeun when you know that Chaeryeong is living with you?" Mrs. Hwang asked

"It's not like we had sex, we were out just to have a few drinks!" Yeji shouted

"Really? then what about the night of your wedding? didn't you and Haeun had sex while she was out talking to the guests? We didn't raised you like that Yeji, we know that you love Haeun and want to do private things with her but you have to make sure that Chaeryeong isn't involve. That young lady has been through a lot if only you knew" It was Mr. Hwang's turn once again to tell Yeji

"All of you keep telling me that, why can't you just tell me?!" Yeji yelled in frustration, good thing she was a little bit sober now

"Yeji, we just can't tell you, you have to know it from Chaeryeong herself" Mrs. Hwang reasoned

"This is why I can't understand why I need to keep an eye on her, why is she my responsibility?" Yeji asked

Mr. Hwang had no choice but to explain to Yeji everything

"Fine, Chaeryeong lost her mother when she was just six because her mother had cancer. Her father and her older sister died in a car crash but she was also with them. She was the only one who survived the accident so she was left with her step mother and step siblings. It was only recent when we found out that she was being mistreated and ordered around in her own father's house. She lost her whole family when she was just 11. When you were in that age, you were living well and not being ordered around. Think of how lucky you were Yeji, while you were living a beautiful childhood, Chaeryeong was suffering" Mr. Hwang said

"Then why did you let me marry her?" Yeji asked

"Her step family wanted her to leave their house. Since Mr. Lee's second wife knew about our family she requested it" Mr. Hwang said

"She demanded" Mrs. Hwang interrupted

"Why did you say yes?" Yeji asked curiously

"I was one of Mr. Lee's closes friends along the business. When I heard about his death, I was eager to help his youngest daughter; Chaeryeong in return of his help towards our family. Without him we wouldn't be even living a good life" Mr. Hwang said and sighed

"We were searching for Chaeryeong for years not until we found out that she was with her step family, your father hired someone to search for her" Mrs. Hwang said

Yeji kept mum after hearing all of those from her parents. She didn't knew how much Chaeryeong had suffered in almost half of her life until now.

"So please Yeji, even only for a year, show her that someone cares. She never felt the love of someone else for the years she had to live with her step mom and step siblings" Mrs. Hwang pleaded as she held Yeji's hands.

"Just a year?" Yeji asked and looked at her mother

"Yes, even just for a year and then we'll bring back everything to how it was okay?" Mrs. Hwang said

"Fine" Yeji said and her mother hugged her

Her parents then left after a few more minutes of talking about business and Yeji went up to her room. She took a shower and changed her clothes so that she could finally rest and sleep. As she was about to lay down, her phone buzzed

———

Seulgi
9:27 pm

yeji

what do you want?

just gonna tell you that
chaeryeong arrived at her
aunt's place now

also she was asking if you
were fine. she was afraid that
aunt and uncle scolded you
badly

tell her i'm okay

okay, also she says goodnight

you should make it up to
her tomorrow. try to go at
Mina's studio to see her

———

As she read the last message she put her phone down on the nightstand and then laid down the bed to finally sleep but in one thought in her mind.

"Just one year Yeji, one year...."