New Beginnings: Stories from Beauville

10. Hours Earlier

10

HOURS EARLIER

HAE-IN

“Is there a reason you need to go to America?” My stepmother sits across the table from me with a glass of wine in her hand.

“Yes, I’m going to check on some investments and a friend.”

My stepmother’s eyes widen at the mention of a friend. “I wasn’t aware you had friends in America.”

I swallow the food in my mouth, hoping it would derail further questions. She is always in my business. I’m not like Kai. A pushover, and a momma’s boy at that. He is always seeking the approval of father and my stepmother. Her main goal in life was to attempt to micro-manage mine.

“Honey, leave Hae-in alone.” My father sits at the head of the table, a glass of soju in his hand. My stepmother didn’t like him drinking liquor at the dinner table. She found it unrefined. This was the one night my entire family sat down for a meal. Well, almost the entire family. One person is missing. My sister and her fiancé sit next to my stepmother and next to me is my older brother and his messy fiancée. The only person I wanted to see at these gatherings is my grandmother. Grandmother is the only one out of everyone here at the table that has her head on straight.

“I invited, Katerina to visit with her family.”

I clear my throat and wipe my mouth with the crisp white napkin. My grandmother giggles and places a hand on my shoulder to lean into whisper, “Looks like she’s at it again.”

I nod in agreement.

“And that’s why you should check my schedule. You would have known I have no time to play host.”

My father’s wife glares in my direction but I don’t let it bother me.

“It’s time to settle down and start your family,” my brainwashed sister says with a smile on her face.

“Why? So, I can be happy like you?”

“Hae-in,” my stepmother hisses.

“What? You pushed your daughter into her marriage. Look at her. Does she look healthy to you? She hasn’t even walked down the aisle yet and she looks sickly and frail. Probably from all the stress you’ve put her under.”

My sister is a shell of herself. Once vibrant and full of fire. She was another person I was able to get along with when I first moved to this house.

“You have no right,” my stepmother complains.

My father doesn’t say a word, instead he takes a shot of his soju.

“Hyung,” Kai warns.

“What? You have something to say as well? Do you have the time to act like you know me now? You’re no one to scold me.” I lean over and kiss my grandmother on the cheek. “I’m leaving first. As usual, dinner is an experience and an act of patience. Father, Mother, siblings, good night.”

I stand and bow first to my father and then his wife before leaving. I call my manager and friend on the way to grab a taxi. My father’s wife always wanted to involve herself in my life. She’s not my mother. My mother was my father’s mistress. Someone who worked in my father’s company as a marketing director. She’d been fooled, and completely taken by my father. When he found out she’d given birth to me, instead of trying to make the situation better, he made it worse. My father treated me like he treated everything else. As a possession. Depending on who you spoke with it could be considered good treatment, but to me, he was neither present nor vocal about the things I did. But at times he did try and block his wife and her meddlesome ways. Being brought to this house by my father was more out of responsibility than it was out of parental concern or love. My siblings and I only share blood by way of my father. I have no intention of being saddled in a ridiculous arranged marriage. For now, I’d play nice but only because it suited my current situation. But after a while, all the talk of marriage and meeting the parents would be a thing of the past. I just needed to clear the way.

Being the second son to the chairman of one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Korea was not without its advantages. It provided me with the tools and necessary background to get into places I would have previously been denied. Even with my military background. My father’s company and his money were the perfect tool.

“You book my flight?”

“Yes, hyung. You’ll arrive in America tomorrow early evening.”

“Call the hotel and tell them to expect me.”

“I did, but what about the wrap-up party?”

“What about it?”

“You won’t be able to stay long.”

I finished filming what I hope is my last drama for a while.

“I’ll stay long enough.”

“Should I pick you up now?”

“No, I’ll catch a taxi to the event. Pick me up at the event and we can head straight to the airport from there.”

“All right.”

I’m excited to see India. I want to know her. My grandmother told me if I met a woman who captivated my attention not once but three chance meetings, it’s destiny. I’d run into her three times already. The first time had been at the airport, the second time because of a favor to Kai, and the third time when she was shopping in Hongdae. My gut told me everything pointed toward the beautiful woman whose eyes spoke of pain but still managed to radiate a light so bright, she glowed, and all other women paled in comparison. I was drawn in. Watching her struggle to communicate with the shop owner charmed the hell out of me. My heart did somersaults at the sound of her voice, and even though the sadness remained in her eyes, I was duty bound by some unknown force to see to her happiness. My only thought had been to make the beautiful woman sitting across from me at the shop smile, but on a permanent basis.

I should have told her then that Kai was my brother, but I didn’t think that it was the right time. But I must tell her now, before things progress further. What matters most is, I want India for myself. I want all her smiles, all her laughter, and her entire heart. No matter what, I’d make sure she understands I am someone she can depend on.

You’ll see her in less than twenty-four hours.

Excitement has me fidgety. Almost as if I drank way too many coffees. To me, it’s fate. Crossing paths is unavoidable. I take nothing for coincidence. My uncle invested in properties all over and bought a few hotels that I helped gather the investments for as well as invest in myself. One of them is right outside of Beauville. The town India Danvers is from. There is no way it’s a coincidence.

The flight to Louisiana isn’t as long as I thought it would be. The driver took me straight to the hotel. The sun hadn’t set yet. This wasn’t my first time in America, nor even my first time in Louisiana. I’d been to New Orleans a few times. But never to Beauville. I had plenty of time to shower and sleep before appearing in front of India.

But destiny had other ideas. In front of me, a car stops and out steps India with two men. One guided her inside, while the other took care of the valet. I watched, concerned. They were the same two men she’d traveled to Korea with. I knew of them from my brother, but from India she’d explained their relationship. Were they back together? Was I already too late? I watch as they make their way to the restaurant.

Guess I won’t be resting.

I step out of the car and make my way to the front desk while still watching where the three of them are being seated.

“Mr. Wook,” the receptionist at the front desk greets me.

“Hello. Have my things sent to my room? I’ll eat first.”

“Of course.”

I’m concerned. I want to get the atmosphere of the situation before I barge in on their conversation. I enter the restaurant and walk toward the trio. Was it rude of me to invite myself? Probably. I had no intention of backing down. I’m only a few feet away when one male asks her what she is thinking about. When she says my name my entire body warms, and my heart makes its first attempt at a solo performance. I try to control the overflowing feeling of happiness, but it doesn’t work. She’d said my name. My name.

No one else’s. Mine. That she was thinking of me is a good sign.

Even though she is with the men she’d been in a previous relationship with, I occupy the space in her head.

When the male asks why she’s thinking about me, I take the moment to make my presence known.

“Because I’m unforgettable.”