Alessandra leaned back on her seat as her mother spoke to Chanyeol, she was constantly checking on her phone. She had been texting Lucas, but her brother never sent a reply back.

“Ah, so you met because of the project?”

“Yes, Mrs. Wong, at first I was a little scared of her.” Chanyeol said jokingly, the elder nodded back, a smile was on her lips.

“Well, my daughter was never popular because of her personality.”

Alessa looked up from her plate, unamused.

Yes, sure, and she’s the friendliest person to ever walk in this planet.

Chanyeol chuckled heartily and nodded.

“I’m surprised my daughter decided not to tell us about you right away, I mean, I don’t have anything against you, mister Park, but,”

Mrs. Wong’s secretary looked on, he was shocked and at the same time in awe. He had never met someone who could survive both Wong women. Park Chanyeol was even joking around with the elder.

“This man is a gem. A national treasure.” He murmured to himself.

“This blew up in a scandal, I’m sure your parents are worried as well.” She finished, the server came back with a pot of tea. She set the cups before them, before Alessa could react, Chanyeol reached for her cup and set it aside.

“She wont be having any.” He spoke to the waitress; Mrs. Wong’s brows rose up in amusement.

“How old are you? You still wont drink tea.” She chided, Alessa pursed her lips.

“I’d rather not endanger my tongue, ma.”

“And, you don’t have to worry about those articles, Mrs. Wong.” Chanyeol added.

“I know, that’s very nice of you, Chanyeol-ah.” She said his name with a small smile, her secretary almost toppled over. Alessa shook her head and let out a mental scream.

“Can’t we just order food? I’m hungry. Aren’t we here to eat?” She spoke up, Chanyeol could sense the discomfort in her voice.

“They serve really good pasta here, you like that.” Chanyeol faced her, his brows furrowing. Alessa paused, he tilted his head at her. As if asking her what was wrong, she gave him a small smile and shook her head.

“Let’s order that then.” She nodded, Chanyeol’s smile returned and he reached over to give her hand a small squeeze.

“Hyung did all that? Amazing.” Lucas mused, Ahee looked up from her phone. Jaehyun and Jungwoo were with them. The four had decided to get lunch together and they had plans to head over to the library to study for their exams.

“I just heard from the office, he was so mad that all those came out. So, that happened.”

“But, who could behind all those? Claiming tha Alessa unnie did that before. Stealing another girl’s boyfriend.” Ahee said, Lucas’s brows rose.

“Noona doesn’t even look at men.” Jungwoo mused as he picked up a piece of kimbap.

“But people still believe that she’s the reason why Chanyeol hyung’s engagement fell through. What are they going to do about it?” Jaehyun looked at Lucas.

The younger male shrugged.

“I don’t know; I haven’t had the chance to ask her. She’s been busy.” Lucas replied, Ahee turned to him.

“Ya, aren’t you worried that this may have reached your parents already?” Jaehyun asked, then he paused. His eyes went to Ahee briefly, and the girl caught that.

“Your parents?” She asked him, Lucas puffed his cheeks and shook his head.

“It probably already has, but they never really interfered when it comes to Alessa jie’s decisiosn so…I doubt..they’ll~” His phone started to ring, his brows went up when he realized it was his sister’s Shanghai office.

“What is it?” He answered, Jungwoo leaned forward, curious.

“Young master, I wanted to inform you that your mother has just landed in Seoul this morning.”

Lucas paused, his forehead creased.

“Where is she? She hasn’t called me.”

“Right now, she’s having lunch with the vice president and her boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend? Who?” Lucas stood up, he was confused.

His mother was in the country, and yet his sister didn’t tell him anything.

Was this why she cancelled?

But why? They could have gone to lunch together.

“You didn’t know? It’s that man from Lotte Holdings. I thought you knew about this, young master.”

“I..I’ll call her. Thanks.” Lucas ended the call, he exhaled before turning away from their table.

“Something’s up. This isn’t like her.”

The Park elders glanced at each other as the girl before them started to speak.

“I don’t understand, everything was going so well.” Seolah said.

“I know, we apologize for this, dear. But, our son..he says he cannot do it.”

“Did he say why? I’ve been trying to reach him, but he never calls back.”

Mr. Park exhaled and shook his head.

“Think about this, Seolah-ya, if you two really push through with this wedding, then both of you would just end up being hurt, or worst, you might start hating each other.”

“You don’t understand, it’s probably that woman.” Seolah stated.

“What woman?” Mr. Park asked her.

“Ever since he started working with Alessa, things have gone haywire for us. You don’t know what she can do.”

“Seolah, don’t drag her into this. Miss Wong was in no way involved with all this. Chanyeol..he’s been thinking about this a lot. I spoke with Jaehyun.”

Seolah shook her head at them, she let tears roll down her cheeks.

“She already did the same thing to me, years ago.”

The couple grew quiet, they looked at the girl again. They couldn’t understand what she was trying to say.

“We were classmates, Alessa and I. And she did the same thing to me back then. Just like how she managed to charm Chanyeol oppa, she took my boyfriend from me.”

Mrs. Park grew stunned.

“So, I hope you wouldn’t put so much trust in her. She may hurt Chanyeol oppa more than this marriage can.”

Chanyeol watched as the Bentley rolled away from them, and then he turned to Alessa.

“That wasn’t so bad.” He said to her, Alessa let out a breath and shook her head.

“You…Wow. Thanks.” She murmured, Chanyeol’s brows went up.

“Look, Yeol, I mean it, thank you for today.” She bit on her lip, the male nodded back.

“It was nothing. I get to have a free meal.” He pointed out as they walked together.

“You don’t understand, my mom will tell my dad, then my father will tell my grandfather. And then we’re done for.”

“Is your grandfather that bad?” He asked her.

“No..It’s just..that makes us too official. And I don’t like that. That would be too much for you.”

“I don’t think it’s a big deal. Isn’t this what friends are for? We’re helping each other.” He said to her, Alessa felt his palm hover over the small of her back.

“Chanyeol, I used as a distraction.”

“I figured that out. But as to why,” He turned his head to her, a small curious grin was on his face.

Seriously.

I am so ed.

“Eomma was actually on her way to my office earlier, and Lucas and Ahee were both inside.” She started, Chanyeol nodded along.

“And I couldn’t let her see Ahee there.”

He paused, he turned to her again.

“She doesn’t like her?”

“No, she doesn’t approve of her, Chanyeol. I know you have an idea why.”

“Yeah.” He frowned, Alessa felt his palm press on her back slightly as a passerby almost brushed her shoulder.

“I don’t want Lucas and eomma to fight. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

“But, Lucas can talk to her. I mean, I know Ahee, she’s a good kid.” Chanyeol said as they reached his car, Alessa sighed, she stood in front of him.

And slowly shook her head as she unthinkingly leaned forward to fix his tie. Chanyeol paused, his dimple appearing as Alessa came close to him.

“You don’t know my mother, Yeol. It’s even a miracle that she seems to like you. Well, probably,” She said as she looked up to meet his gaze.

“You own Lotte Holdings, so, you get a free pass.”

“Okay, that’s my only redeeming quality?” Chanyeol blinked at her, frowning. Alessa laughed and he couldn’t help but smile back.

“No, you’re more than that, you giant.” She joked before sliding inside the car.

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