The family gathering is in full swing at the Lee Mansion (household). The atmosphere is lively, filled with laughter and chatter as relatives and friends mingle. The garden is bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, the air filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.
Amid the merriment, Lee Joon, standing by the French doors that open to the garden, spots a familiar face, it's the woman he tried to forget - Mi Cha. She's standing alone, her gaze fixed on the montage playing on the screen across the lawn. The soft glow of the screen illuminates her face, casting her in a gentle light that makes her beauty stand out even more.
He's momentarily mesmerized, a pang of longing stirring within him. But he quickly grounds himself, the reality of his marital status serving as a cold reminder. Mi Cha is a woman from his past, a chapter he thought he had closed.
"Mi Cha-ssi?," he murmurs, his voice barely audible over the chatter of the party.
She turns at the sound of her name, her eyes meeting his. "Lee Joon-ssi?," she responds, her voice carrying a hint of surprise.
He takes a step towards her, his mind racing as he tries to make sense of her presence. "What are you doing here?" he asks, his tone more curious than accusatory.
She looks away, her gaze returning to the montage. "I'm here with someone I know, What are you doing here?" she responded back as she revert her gaze to Lee Joon, she asked about it, even though at the back of her head, she already knew that fact that Lee Joon might be Lee Yeol's older brother, her voice barely above a whisper.
A wave of vigilance washes over him, but he masks with another casual respond, "It's our family gathering, this is where I live...I~ I though you should know..". He is married, and Mi Cha is just another woman he spent time with in the past. Or at least, that's what he keeps telling himself. "...I know,.. I saw your family picture in the living room earlier,.." – She responded with a slight smile on her lips, knowing what Lee Joon meant on what he said.
Lee Joon then realised Mi Cha isn't innocent about this mater, still reeling from the surprise of seeing Mi Cha, he casually approaches her. His mind is a whirl of questions, the most pressing one being why actually she's at his family's gathering. His gaze is intense, a stark contrast to the jovial atmosphere of the party around them.
"I think you shouldn't be here, Mi Cha-ssi?" he asks again, his voice carrying a hard edge of defensiveness. It's not an accusation, but the implication is there, hanging heavy in the air between them.
Mi Cha, taken aback by his harsh tone, turns to face him. Her eyes meet his, a spark of defiance in her gaze. "I am here because I was invited, I came with Yeol-ssi,.. And do not worry too much, I will cause no harm towards you,.. I know my place now,.." she responds, her voice steady despite the tension.
Lee Joon frowns, confusion etched on his face. "Ahhh~ Yeol?" he repeats, his tone incredulous.
"Yes, with Yeol," Mi Cha finally admits, her voice barely above a whisper.
The name hangs in the air between them, a silent reminder of the complicated web they're all entangled in. The way she said Yeol's name, the slight awkwardness that builds up tension, it all points to one thing - there's something going on between her and his brother.
"Do you even know what this event is for, Mi Cha—ssi~ !?" Lee Joon suddenly raising his voice, his gaze piercing. "And you came with Yeol,.. Of all people?"
His words hang in the air, heavy with implication. It's then that the pieces fall into place for Lee Joon. Rina had mentioned a woman Yeol was sweet on during their phone conversation. As he looks at Mi Cha, the realization hits him - Mi Cha is the woman Rina was talking about, the woman Yeol is involved with, and a stark of jealousy somehow hits him.
"So, you just go with any man you meet?" Lee Joon sneers, his words dripping with scorn. "You didn't even realize that Yeol is engaged, did you? You're so naive, coming to this party without knowing that it's an engagement party for Yeol."
His words cut through her like a knife, each one a blow to her heart. Mi Cha feels her eyes well up with tears, the humiliation washing over her. She had come to the party thinking she was taking a step forward in her relationship with Yeol, only to find herself in the middle of a nightmare. The jovial atmosphere of the party seems a world away as she stands there, humiliated and heartbroken.
At the Dressing Room;
Meanwhile, upstairs in the dressing room, Yeol greets his mother and his sister, Mi Na. The room is filled with a sense of warmth and familiarity despite the underlying tension.
His mother, her eyes shining with relief and worry, reaches out to touch his face. "Yeol, Adeul~, you've had a hard time, haven't you?" she asks, her voice filled with concern. She mentions his father's anger and the hardships he must have faced while hiding.
Yeol nods, his gaze softening at his mother's words. "It was difficult, but I'm okay, Eommoni," he reassures her.
Mi Na, with her cute bratty attitude, crosses her arms over her chest. "You should have called me, Yeol," she scolds, her words filled with worry and relief. "I was so worried about you."
"I'm sorry my beautiful sister,.. I didn't want to worry you," Yeol apologizes, promising to make it up to her.
"I have something important to tell you," Yeol says, his words piquing his mother's curiosity. His tone is serious, a stark contrast to the light-hearted banter they were sharing moments ago.
The room falls silent, the tension palpable as they wait for Yeol to speak. The jovial atmosphere is replaced by a heavy silence, the anticipation building with each passing second.
At the Living Room;
With a promise to introduce Mi Cha, Yeol heads downstairs with his mother and Mi Na. Upon reaching the living room, he finds it bustling with guests but Mi Cha is nowhere to be found. The room is filled with chatter and laughter, but Yeol can't shake off the feeling of unease creeping up on him.
"Where is she?" his mother asks, her gaze scanning the room.
"I left her here," Yeol replies, his eyes darting around the room. "I'll go look for her. Please wait for a moment."
With a nod from his mother, Yeol heads towards the garden, the noise of the party fading behind him. The garden is bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere inside the house.
At the Courtyard;
As he steps into the garden, he's hit with a wave of anxiety. He can't shake off the feeling that something is wrong. His heart pounds in his chest as he scans the garden, his gaze finally landing on Mi Cha and Lee Joon.
His breath catches in his throat as he takes in the scene before him. Mi Cha's face is pale, her eyes welling up with tears while Lee Joon stands before her, his expression hard. The realization hits him like a punch to the gut - something is terribly wrong.
Yeol's heart pounds in his chest as he moves closer, the harsh words exchanged between Lee Joon and Mi Cha reaching his ears.
"So you just moved on from our past so quickly, Mi Cha-ssi?" Lee Joon's voice is filled with scorn. "And to my brother of all people?"
The words hang heavy in the air, a cruel reminder of a past Mi Cha had tried to leave behind.
Yeol feels a surge of anger at his brother's words. The realization that Lee Joon and Mi Cha had a past relationship hits him hard. He watches as Mi Cha stands there, tears streaming down her face, looking so small and vulnerable under Lee Joon's harsh gaze.
The garden, once filled with the soft glow of the fairy-lights, now feels cold and hostile. The laughter and chatter from the party inside the house seem a world away, drowned out by the harsh words and accusations thrown at Mi Cha.
Mi Cha doesn't respond to Lee Joon's accusations. Her face is pale, her eyes welling up with tears. She looks lost, hurt, and utterly humiliated.
Yeol's heart aches at the sight. He had never seen Mi Cha like this - so vulnerable, so broken. The jovial atmosphere of the party seems a world away as he stands there, his heart pounding in his chest, anger and worry coursing through his veins.
As Yeol steps into the garden, the tension is palpable. The jovial atmosphere of the party feels like a distant memory as he takes in the scene before him. Mi Cha, tears streaming down her face, and Lee Joon, his expression hard and unforgiving.
Before Yeol can intervene, Mi Cha's trauma triggers a panic attack. She clutches her chest, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Her eyes are wide with fear, her body trembling. Suddenly, she stumbles back, losing her balance and falling into the koi pond.
The sound of Mi Cha's splash cuts through the air, followed by a collective gasp from the nearby guests who had turned to see what the commotion was about.
Yeol's heart pounds in his chest as he realizes the danger Mi Cha is in. Despite the low water level in the pond, her fear of water could cause her to drown. Without a second thought, he rushes forward. He jumps into the pond after Mi Cha, to save her
He reaches her quickly, pulling her into his arms and towards the edge of the pond. "Mi Cha-ssi!" he calls out, his voice filled with worry. He helps her onto the grassy edge, his heart pounding in his chest.
Lee Joon watches the scene unfold, a look of concern flashing across his face. But he remains rooted to the spot, unable to move, his harsh words from moments ago still hanging in the air.
The party guests watch in stunned silence, the atmosphere heavy with shock and worry. The lively chatter and laughter from just moments ago seem like a distant memory as everyone's attention is now focused on the unfolding drama in the garden.
In the aftermath of Mi Cha's fall into the pond, the garden has fallen into a stunned silence. Yeol, soaked and breathing heavily, pulls Mi Cha to the edge of the pond. His heart is pounding in his chest, a mix of relief and concern washing over him as he ensures Mi Cha is safe.
"Are you okay, Mi Cha-ssi? Mi Cha~ talk to me,.." he asks while rubbing Mi Cha's shoulder who looks cold, his voice filled with worry. His gaze scans her face, looking for any signs of distress.
Across the garden, Lee Joon looking at Mi Cha full of worry, his face a mask of concern. He had stood frozen as Yeol jumped into the pond to save Mi Cha, his earlier harsh words echoing in his mind. He takes a step forward, as if to approach them, but then stops, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
Suddenly, Mi Na rushes over to them, her face pale. "What happened?" she asks, her voice shaking. She kneels down next to Mi Cha, offering her expensive blazer and draped it over the chilling Mi Cha.
Their mother follows, worry etched on her face. "Mi Cha, are you alright?" she asks, her voice filled with concern.
Just then, Chairman Lee arrives, his face falling as he takes in the scene. His gaze moves from Yeol and Mi Cha, soaked and shivering on the grass, to Lee Joon, standing a distance away, his expression hard to read. He doesn't say a word, but his disappointment is palpable, adding to the heavy atmosphere hanging over the garden.
He then whispered something to one of his men, and they obey accordingly.
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Original Fan-Fiction by BU
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