"Namjoon. Oppa won't allow me to marry you. He cannot even tolerate hearing your name and has threatened to end his relation with me if I keep insisting." Joy sobs in her hands. She is in such a dilemma. There are only two men in her life and she has to choose one- her oppa, Seokjin or Namjoon, the love of her life.

"I told you that it will not be possible.Yet you did not listen. I told you that your oppa will never accept our relationship. But now it is upto you." Namjoon lowers his coffee mug.

"Me? What do you mean?" Joy is confused.

Namjoon lets out a laugh,"What? Really? The thing I've been asking you for a month now. Let us elope."

"No! Namjoon! I can't! What will happen to Oppa?! What will he think?! He will be too hurt!! I cannot do that to him." She shakes her head repeatedly.

"Then you should not have fallen in love with me and made promises.Nevermind! At least, the first time, there were no promises." Namjoon proceeds to put on his sunglasses and leave.

"Namjoon! Namjoon! Please don't leave! I'm sorry! You know I can never hurt you intentionally!" She has quickly held his hand and pleaded. She has some idea about his first heartbreak. 

"Okay then. Let us get married! Your brother may be angry now but he'll forgive you. Besides, he has his own family to think about. Your marriage will not be his priority."

"Namjoon, I..." She gets interrupted by her a phone call. She checks the caller ID, "Oppa." She clears and answers, "Hello Oppa! I am outside with a friend..."

" I did not ask you who you are with. Why are you so eager to clarify?" Seokjin asks skeptically.

"Huh?! No. I mean...I...I am sorry. You said that I was not suppose to leave the house and yet I did. Actually, there was an emergency and I had to meet hi-her." She stammers.

"Well, I told you were not allowed to meet only Kim Namjoon. It is fine if you are visiting someone else. Anyway, I called to inform you about something very important."

"Yes, oppa. What is it?"

"Tomorrow, we are expecting some guests. Very old family friends. I want them to have a warm welcome."

"Oh, Okay! I shall help Irene unnie with the preparation and welcome them."

"Ummm...yes. But there is something more. Our guest is dad's close friend. He is visiting us with his family. He has only one son and their family-name is well renowned. His son had seen you somewhere in a party and really liked you. They also know about your birth. They are actually coming to meet you. If all things are in order then we'll get you two engaged soon."

Joy feels numb. Namjoon has heard their conversation. He sits there, shaking his head.

"I am telling you now so that you can get time to straighten up yourself. If the situation was different, I would not have let them visit without even asking you. But now, the sooner you get married to a nice boy and a good family, the better for everyone."

"Hmmm..." She can only force out this much.

"Oh! And your sister-in-law has booked an appointment to your usual beauty salon. She is already there and you have to join her now." He hates being so rude to her. But for her happiness, he has to be strict.

"So? 'Hmmm'? That's all you have to say?! Yeah?!" Namjoon's face is red. He is fuming, "You know what?! I. Am. Done. If you want to spend the rest of life with me then..." He puts a shopping bag on the table,"...wear this and come to the marriage registration office tomorrow at 11 a.m. Sharp. All formalities have been done. They just need our signatures to legalize our marriage."

He gets up to leave and turns around, "It's all up to you now. Tomorrow. 11 a.m."

Joy stays back for some more time and cries. She leaves for the beauty salon.

"Oh there you are Joy! Took you long enough." Irene remarks.

Joy just nods to everyone and sits on a chair.

Irene sighs in relaxation and looks at her, "Oh! You went to shop! No wonder you got late. Anyway, let's see what you have bought."

She takes the box out and opens,"Wow! Such a pretty dress! Did you get it after your oppa called you?! Nice! Suitable for the occasion as well.You are going to wear it tomorrow?" An expectant question. Irene seems to be very  relaxed. She must be elated with the news of her potential suitor.  

Joy takes the dress from her and runs her fingers on it,"Yes."

Joy sighs. So much for making decisions for herself! She feels so lonely. Though she is used to alienation all her life. It has been 2 days since she got "married" and now she is washing the dishes.

She misses Noel. The other servants are very awkward around her and do not want to indulge in any sort of conversation other than work related. She just want to share her feelings with someone.

She keeps the plates in their place and wipes the sink. At least she is good at cleaning utensils. Cleaning is fun though.

A tiny voice gains her attention,"Xcoos me...ken ya peelish wash these too?"

She turns to find an even tinier person. Bae Aera. Bae Jace's daughter who is named after her late mother.

"Ummm...sure." She takes the plate and glass from her.

Aera stands there the whole time and watches her like a hawk. After those are washed, she takes and inspects them closely. After being satisfied, she gives them back to Joy with a nod.

"Did you think I'll not be able to do it properly?" Joy asks bemused.

"I herd Uncy Joon tel-ling Josip dat you ken not wokk...aend ip you blok these Appa wud hev been veery aengry aend hit me more." She says.

Joy looks at the small 3 years old closely. Such a cute little child! She resembles her aunt and father more than her dead mother. She has zero experience with children so she has no idea how to approach.

"Oh? That's what they said about me?" She asks for the sake of it.

"Yesh. I vill go noww. Bye bye!" She runs out of the kitchen.

"No, wait! Stay..." Joy sighs. The little girl is not going anywhere. May be they will talk more soon.

She laughs to herself. She is anticipating a small child's wish to talk to her! Who would have thought?

She  had not seen her yesterday or the day before. But then again she was wallowing in her misery so much. She might not have paid attention if the mansion had been ablaze.

Last time she saw Aera when the child was a year old. Then she had no reason to visit the mansion. She had heard about Jace's atrocities, narrated to her sister-in-law by the servants. She felt sorry for Aera and the deceased uncle Bae. He was a good man.

"Poor child." She whispers to herself.

She takes out some paper and pen and begins to jot down. Though Noel has given her all the instructions about how to manage this household, she is still scared. She tries to make a list of the groceries which need to be bought soon. She may have shopped for clothes and accessories innumerable times before. But she has no idea what to buy for a home. She writes whatever she could remember from Noel and the other kitchen helps' listing. She takes the packet that Namjoon had given to her to spend for groceries and household expences. She gets into the car and hopes to do her duties well.