One Step Closer - PART 1

One Step Closer - 114💕

Only Hye-Jin didn't think something huge must have happened. She thought there were no secrets between her and Jaehyun. Her mate looked like a kicked puppy this morning and her heart ached to see him like that but her hurt was still overwhelming. She wasn't ready to even think of forgiving him just yet.

The restaurant manager greeted her and led her to the private room she always used. He stood obediently waiting for her command as she took a seat.

"I'm waiting for my son," she said. "Just bring me some water please."

"Sure, ma'am." The manager bowed before shutting the door behind him.

Hye-Jin blew out a breath, letting the ambience and the calming atmosphere soothe her before the upcoming storm. She had rehearsed the conversation several times in her head and could think of several ways this all could go wrong. Jimin was hot headed and had a temper. And as a mother, she was hurt. She hoped she would receive an explanation and her son would stop brushing her off as usual.

Honestly, she didn't know what to expect. But Jimin had promised he would give her the explanation she deserved to hear. And her son always kept his promises. She trusted him to keep his word.

A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth as worry seeped into her. She was an over thinker so it was no surprise she imagined all worse scenarios possible in her head. With a sigh, she sipped the water the manager brought just then.

She was rubbing her temples when she heard the door open again. Hye-Jin sat with her back facing the door, so she glanced over her shoulder to see if her son arrived but saw Myeon-suk, Sooyeon and A-Yeong entering instead.

What the hell are they doing here?

"Hye-Jin-ah, we saw you entering the restaurant. Thought we will say hello." A-Yeong grinned and the smile didn't reach her eyes as usual. Her pearls gleamed under the light and matched the color of her teeth, but the dark plum colored lipstick ruined the aesthetic in Hye-Jin's opinion. And yellow didn't suit her at all, but A-Yeong loved all shades of yellow and could be seen often in one or another piece of yellow clothing. Hye-Jin would never tell her that, though.

"Hello, A-Yeong-ah, it's been a while." Hye-Jin smiled, schooling her features. "Wasn't expecting you here."

"Oh, it was nothing. We were just meeting for our monthly 'elites only' dinner," Sooyeon stressed the word with a sneer Hye-Jin identified immediately.

An elite only dinner she wasn't invited to. That's too fast. Hye-Jin didn't let her emotions betray her. She wore that impassive mask she always wore. Every month the spouses of the elite families would meet for dinner. These dinners were only a formality to stay updated with all the latest gossip.

She didn't see their cars outside. Maybe she was too absent minded to notice sooner. She pursed her lips. If she had known, she wouldn't have asked Jimin to meet her here. The three circled around to come and stand in front of her.

"I was surprised to see that you weren't joining us," A-Yeong said. "Then Myeong-suk told us the reason why you wouldn't be comfortable joining us." She batted her lashes. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Hye-Jin-ah. That must be so hard on you." She faked sympathy, but Hye-Jin could see the glimpse of joy in her gaze.

A-Yeong sat first on the couch against the wall, motioning at the others to do the same.

Hye-Jin sat back, crossing her right leg over the left. "And what reason might it be, A-Yeong-ah?" She cocked her head to the side. "Why are you sorry for me?"

"Myeong-suk said your son picked a stray as his mate," A-Yeong said. "And we were just talking about how hard it must be on you that he would downgrade like that. I mean...I can't imagine my son even doing something like that." She chuckled. "Can you believe this? I thought Park Jimin had a taste even if he was doing that entire omega hopping for a while." She waved her manicured fingers dramatically, rolling her eyes in an exaggerated fashion.