o30 || marry me
the pursuit of happiness"Alright. I'll see you after work. Love you."
Jaehyun hung up his phone as he entered the Imperial Hotel. There's a big meeting and he's required to come since his father is on a trip to Taipei. He sat down next to Jungwoo while the said guy sat next to Sicheng. From their boring faces everyone could see that the three of them don't seem too delighted in coming here.
"It looks like it's going to be boring," Jungwoo yawned as he twirled his pen.
"It's your first time here. And this is our fourth time. If someone should be bored, the person should be us," Jaehyun rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. So, Sicheng hyung. How's Lining doing?" Jungwoo turned to his right.
"She's doing well. Getting more active and still drinking milk like a boss."
"Soon she'll be eating porridge and you'll be wishing she'd keep drinking only milk," Jaehyun chuckled.
"Is Sungchan a picky eater?"
"Nah. He's a food monster. It's just that he's begun teething now so he got cranky a lot. Yerim is on a baking frenzy nowadays after finding recipes for teething cookies. But he shouldn't eat that much sweet stuffs so sometimes he had to suffice with toys."
"He must've been so cute. Shall we get together again sometime? I missed your kids. And we should introduce them to my daughter!"
"That sounds cool. But first, the meeting."
"Urgh, spoilsport!"
"Hyung, want some coffee?"
"Yeah sure. I'll just go and call Driver Han first since he will be picking up the kids," Jaehyun said to Jungwoo before stepping out of the meeting room to the rooftop.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Jaehyun asked firmly.
"I'm Lee Hyuk. General Manager for Sungjin Group Corporation. And oh, Kim Yerim's future husband. Nice to meet you," the guy smirked as he exhaled a puff of smoke.
"The last time I checked, I was the one who put a ring on her finger a few months ago. Who are you again?"
"I was the one who got her family's blessing. Don't you think I suited her more? Sweet, pretty, Yerim. Her body is to die for. Wonder what I would do on our first night together."
"It's your own fault anyway. Don't you think Yerim's too young to mother your bastard chil—"
"Ooh, feisty. All I know is you're an insecure lad who didn't have the guts to properly meet her family to marry her quickly. Admit it. I'm a much better fit. She will look great as a trophy wife standing next to me. She'd be perfect for me to show around."
"Shut. The. . Up."
"We're going to have a family meeting next week. Wait until I snatch her away from your weak little fists."
"I gotta go see Yerim's father."
"What the hell, hyung? What happened? Since when did you have a beef with the Sungjin Group's heir?" Jungwoo asked.
"Yerim will probably give me a beating for telling you guys, but basically her family is made up of money loving scumbags that treated her like . And they've been pining on her late grandfather's inheritance."
"And so?"
"They could only claim it after all the Kim's grandchildren are married. Yerim's the only unmarried one."
"But you're engaged to her. And I still don't know what Yerim having a ed-up family has got to do with the Sungjin Group's son?" Sicheng remarked confusedly.
"Her family thought that Yerim and I were taking too long. And now they're forcing her to go on an arranged marriage with that er."
"That's ridiculous!" Jungwoo complained.
"And bat crazy!" Sicheng added."
"Sure, sure. We'll be here. Call us if you need anything. Good luck and take care, Jaehyun," Sicheng patted his back sympathetically.
"Fighting, hyung!" Jungwoo gave his brother a short hug.
Jaehyun gave them a thankful nod before stepping out of the elevator.
He needs to fix this problem. Yerim will probably throw a fit if she knew he came to her father but that's the least of his worries now. He's got a girl to fight for.
"I'm sorry, sir. Have you made a prior appointment?"
Jaehyun groaned, "Please tell Mr. Kim that I'm Jung Jaehyun, her daughter's fiancée."
"Mr. Kim said you can come in now."
The man nodded shortly and Jaehyun stepped closer to his desk.
"Did Yerim tell you about the family meeting last weekend?"
"Yes, sir."
"I never knew you guys were engaged. Yerim only told me she had a relationship with you."
"We actually got engaged a few months ago, sir. Although Yerim and I just met again after many years, we were once really close friends and we knew each other well. And we're both ready to enter a serious relationship since we're already nearing our thirties."
"Yerim told us she's not getting married anytime soon. We assumed the two of you were still fooling around. Our family had agreed on marrying Yerim to the Lee's son. You came too late, kid."
Jaehyun balled his fists tightly and took a sharp breath.
"I'm sorry, sir, but Yerim and I love each other so much, I can't let that happen. Yerim has been unhappy for so long and I can't let her spend the rest of her life in misery. If you want a spring wedding next year, I'll make sure to send you the invitation soon. But please, let me marry Yerim. She didn't get to be loved for years, and I'm willing to devote my life to love her. She didn't deserve to be with Mr. Lee. I'm sorry if I appear impolite, but I just want the best for Yerim. Thank you so much sir. Have a good day."
Jaehyun deeply bowed, leaving no room for Mr. Kim to comment on before turning on his heels to leave the room.
Now he needs to see her.
Jaehyun drove as fast as he could to Yerim's workplace. His first instinct told him to go to the cafe and when he hastily entered the place, he was instantly welcomed by the dogs. He scanned the room and saw neither Yerim nor her kids inside.
"Yeah, where's Yerim?" He asked impatiently.
The waiter gulped, a bit shocked at the usually calm man’s brash response, before answering, "Ms. Kim stayed in her office aft—"
"Thank you!"
He burst in without knocking, shocking the people inside which consisted of Jeno who was sitting on the couch, Sungchan on his baby walker, and Yerim standing awkwardly between them.
"Yerim. Let's get married this spring. Please?"
"What?"
"Jeno? Can you keep an eye on Sungchan? Appa needs to talk to your eomma first, okay?"
"I met Lee Hyuk at the business meeting earlier."
"W-what?!"
"He told me your family and his will hold a meeting next week. They're really serious about marrying you off with him even though he knows you're in a relationship with me. And then he said several other inappropriate things. And so, I punched him," Jaehyun said as he hung his head.
"What? Oh, Jaehyun… Are you hurt?" Yerim asked as she examined his knuckles, noticing a purplish shade on his right one.
"No. But I might have busted his lips."
"Oh my god, Jae…."
"W-what else did you do, Jaehyun?"
"I visited your father in his office."
"Look, Yerim. He told me I was too late. He told me I was only fooling around with you! And then that bastard Lee Hyuk... He said he would make you a trophy wife he could parade around. He called my boys bastard children and you're unfit to be their mother. You think I can stay put after hearing those?" Jaehyun gripped her shoulders and spoke firmly. Yerim could hear the desperation in his voice that was slightly trembling.
"Yerim, I can't let you go. I love you too much. Ten years without you was awful. I can't let you out of my life. No."
"Oh my god, Jaehyun, I'm sorry," she buried her face in his chest immediately, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Marry me, Yerim. I can't let you live miserably with that bastard. Please, I'll make you happy. I can't promise that we won't fight in the future but I promise we'll make up after that. I will give you a wonderful family, I'll be a great husband. Please, just—"
Jaehyun momentarily closed his eyes, resting his forehead against her, keeping her close. God, he nearly lost his sanity today.
Yerim smiled softly, caressing his cheeks gently. She never thought there’d be a time like this in her life.
"I was so scared I'm gonna lose you to a cocky, dumb bastard that smokes like a train. God, I love you."
Yerim giggled, "I love you too, you idiot. Now, let's go back inside. Poor Jeno was so confused!"
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