Pacing back and forth is now becoming a habit as Irene runs her fingers through her hair, patiently waiting for the two older women inside the room of this small, old, and poorly lit tailor shop. The two Son ladies asked her to patiently wait, telling her that they would just get something—a surprise, rather—for Irene’s wedding.

For the Nth time, Irene willed herself to sit and calm down. The upcoming big event is making her feel anxious, so she decided to turn her attention to observing the details of this place. The shop, though old, clearly stands as a testament to craftsmanship and tradition. Its weathered facade hints at all the years of dedicated service it has provided to the community. The interior is adorned with a warm, rustic charm. Sunlight filters through the lace curtains, casting a soft glow on the polished wooden floors. The air carries the faint scent of fabric and the lingering aroma of aged leather.

It weirdly calmed her down a bit, but not for a long time. No matter what she did, all her mind could process was to flash her Seungwan’s warm smiles, make her remember Seungwan’s gentle kisses, and remind her of the growing feelings she has for the brunette, who’s also her ing secretary, by the way. 

Yes, the unplanned wedding schedule made her panic, but she also believes it’s for the best. The quicker they handle everything, the better. She could already imagine herself on a plane heading back to New York, ready to reclaim her position and resume her work responsibilities. While she and Seungwan haven't made any concrete plans yet for their arrangements upon returning to NY, Irene might be willing to let the brunette live with her for a couple of months, just to be safe in case the Tiffany agent continues to search for evidence that could lead to Seungwan’s imprisonment, and to her being deported to Seoul.

After that, Irene should kick Seungwan out, divorce her , and maybe fire her too. She could finally live in peace, and everything that has happened with her and Seungwan on this miserable island of Jeju would be just a history, a mere chapter in her past that should be laid to rest.

Now, that’s a doable plan. All she needs to do is stick to it and be firm with her resolve.

“I can’t believe this is happening!”, Halmi exclaimed with excitement as she came in with a long white fabric on her arms and Seung-ah towing behind her with the same excitement plastered on the woman’s face.

It’s what Irene expected. The wedding dress.

“Try this one, dear.”, The old woman handed Irene the dress and gently shoved her into a small curtained room where she could change.

“My grandmother made this dress all by herself, in this very shop, in 1900.”, Halmi said behind the curtain.

1900? So, this is like a century-old wedding gown??

“I’m just finishing up the buttons!”, she shouted back, just so the older woman could calm her excitement down a bit. 

“Honey, don’t worry much about the fit. Halmi is the best tailor on the island. We could definitely fix the measurement in no time.”, she heard Seung-ah say from the outside.

As Irene finished wearing the white gown, she immediately went out to show herself to the two elder Sons.

“Wow. This is beautiful.”, she muttered as she saw her reflection in the mirror in front. And Irene wasn’t lying. The gown, even though it’s old, embodies the timeless charm and sophistication of the old era. From the exquisite garment, intricate details, and high-end materials, this gown was clearly made by a very skilled artisan. 

Irene is overcome with mixed feelings as she experiences getting to wear this masterpiece.

The dress emphasizes grace and femininity as if anyone who’d wear this would look like a goddess of ethereal beauty. The neckline is high, a turtle neck, exuding a sense of modesty and refinement. The sleeves are long and fitted, flowing with lace that definitely contributes to the gown’s charm. Surely, the gown was a tad loose in certain areas, but the overall appearance of this piece of artwork is just so majestic.

"And you look absolutely stunning in it, dear," Halmi murmured as she carefully scanned Irene from head to toe, her eyes filled with admiration. "Oh my god. You look perfect!"

“It’s kinda loose in the chest part though.”, Irene pointed out.

“Don’t worry about that. It’s understandable because I’m a naturally chesty to begin with, and I happened to be pregnant with Seungwan’s dad when I wore this.”

Irene smiled at the elderly woman. Halmi must’ve been very pretty when she adorned this dress many years ago. Even in her old age, one can tell that Son Soonhee still exudes this regal aura and classic beauty. 

“In case you were wondering, I also wore this at my wedding, but it happened that it happened to fit me very well, so no alterations were needed.”, Seung-ah chuckled.

Irene looked at the woman with fondness. Seung-ah must’ve been quite a sight to see back in the day too. No wonder the great Son Sanghyun was captivated by this lady’s charm. How does Seungwan feel about belonging to a lineage of beauty?

“It was initially set aside for Seungwan. But then we were all surprised when she announced that she's engaged to a beautiful woman. I decided that it’s best for you to wear this for your wedding here, and if you’re planning to have a second wedding in the US, Seungwan could wear it there.”

“Well, let’s see if we can find your s. We need to adjust the fit on this part. I’m sure they’re in there somewhere, right?”, Halmi said with a gentle smile as she started pressing on Irene’s chest. The lady chief felt a bit awkward at first, but realized that if she wanted to look amazing in Seungwan’s eyes the next day, she should cooperate and ensure that every measurement was done accurately.

To look amazing in Seungwan’s eyes?? What the was that, Bae Joohyun?

“This is like an Easter’s egg hunt.”

Irene cannot help but chuckle at Halmi’s remarks. It is indeed like one cause the size of her chest were in no comparison with the elderly woman.

“Maybe they shrunk up in the cold Jeju air.”, she joked back and the three women's laughter filled the room.

This feels nice. It’s been a while since Irene has been comfortable enough to share genuine laughter with others.

As the laughter died down in a comfortable silence, Seung-ah cleared , as if she was preparing to say something.

“Irene dear, I was thinking, if you’d like, maybe we could visit you there in New York for the holidays this year.”, she said, her tone soft and loving. 

“Oh… That would be nice… Or maybe, we could come to you, too! I’m sure Seungwan would love to spend the holidays here with you, with all of us being together.”, Irene suggested, as though planning the holidays with her in-laws was the most natural thing in the world.

“Well, that… that sounds lovely.”, Seung-ah stopped her work of adjusting Irene’s gown at the back part and faced her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

Irene gently nodded and smiled. “It is. We could exchange gifts too.”

“Oh my… Honey, I would love that very much.”, Seung-ah looked at Irene with so much love, the woman got tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes.

“Oh dear…Someone’s getting emotional.”, Halmi said.

“I know…I’m sorry. It’s just… It’s very sweet of Irene.”, Seung-ah said, sniffing and wiping off the tears that threatened to fall. 

“Go make yourself a cup of tea. It will calm you down. I’ll finish this.”, Halmi gently rubbed the other woman’s shoulder. Seung-ah nodded and muttered an excuse before heading out for the door.

“Now,” the elder woman said, returning her attention back to Irene and the wedding dress, “let’s make this absolute perfection.”

Having made the necessary adjustments to the gowns using pins to fit Irene's measurements, the elderly lady placed a wooden stool before the mirror and motioned for Irene to take a seat.

“Just one special touch and you’re ready.”, Halmi remarked, as she proceeded to a large blue velvet box resting atop the antique coffee table. She opened it, and the box revealed a golden necklace featuring a rectangular blue sapphire stone as its pendant. Halmi placed the necklace around Irene’s neck, and both ladies gazed at their reflections in the mirror.

“It’s been in the family for more than 150 years.”

As the weight of the necklace settled around Irene’s neck, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. First, it was awe. The necklace's beauty was breathtaking, and Irene was captivated by its intricate design, the shimmer of its gem, and the historical weight it carried. The realization that she was wearing a piece of history, something that had been treasured for generations, left her feeling humbled and deeply appreciative.

However, amidst the admiration and awe, Irene is also feeling a sense of unworthiness. She couldn't shake the feeling that such a precious heirloom was meant for someone else, someone more deserving or with a greater connection to its history. Someone who Seungwan truly loves and someone who could love Seungwan the way she deserved to be loved. Not someone who blackmails their secretary for her own personal agenda. Impostor syndrome crept in, making Irene doubt whether she was the right person to wear such a significant piece of jewelry.

“Halmi… I-it’s beautiful… But I don’t really think–”

“Sshhh. I’m not finished.”, the old woman shushed her. “My great-great-grandfather gave it to my great-great-grandmother when they got married. They were quite controversial back in the day, you know. They both belonged to different tribes, and at that time, intertribal marriages were strictly prohibited. One should just marry from their own tribes, but in the rare event that someone wishes to marry from another tribe, it is mandatory to get approval from every member of the group. It almost broke them up.”, Halmi narrated.

The story intrigued Irene and so she asks, “Well… how did they stay together then?”

Halmi smiled at the lady chief and continued, “She was a lot like you. Tough. Wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. She was so good for him. Like how good you are for my granddaughter, Seungwan.”

Irene cannot help but give her an apologetic glance. One day, Irene will shatter this kind woman’s heart when the truth about her fake relationship with Seungwan comes to light. Irene also knows that it will bring her great sorrow too.

“I want you to have it.”

The nagging feeling of not being worthy seeps deeper into Irene’s skin. Aside from that, she’s starting to feel extremely guilty. What has she done? Why did she even start this mess? All for her position and her career, yes, but does this kind and beautiful family deserve this deception? No, they don’t. Irene could find another option to resolve her issues with the publication house but instead of finding an alternative and honest approach, she chose a very easy but a dirty way around, leaving her burdened by the weight of her choices and the consequences of her actions.

“Oh Halmi. I can’t… I can’t take this…”, she refused to take the necklace knowing all too well this is not meant for her.

“I don’t want to hear it, dear. Grandmothers love to pass down their stuff to their grandchildren. It brings us comfort, knowing that we'll remain a part of your lives even after we're no longer here."

Oh, the overwhelming wave of emotion that Irene felt when Halmi said those words. She feels the urge to break down at this very moment, to scream out all her feelings.  She wants to run away, to escape from this beautiful moment, because she’s afraid that she would ruin everything for good. And once the damage is done, there will be no way to mend it. 

She’s the worst. She’s vile. Seungwan was right. She’s a witch.

Even though she tried her best to restrain her emotions, the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes betray the truth: Irene feels overwhelmingly remorseful for everything she has done.

“Are you okay, my dear?”, Halmi asked, genuine concern evident in the old lady's eyes.

Irene cleared , a poor attempt to recover from the emotional turmoil she had experienced.

“I… Well… I… I just wanted to make sure there would be enough time to get all the sewing done.”, she lied. Another ing lie.

Halmi sighs and chuckles, relief comes back to her face. She gently rubs Irene’s back as if she was soothing Irene’s worries. “Don’t you worry about that. You’re gonna be beautiful. Seungwan would definitely love it. Okay?”

With a nod and a forced smile, Irene wondered if it was too late to cancel this fake marriage deal now.

—------------------------------------------------------------------

Wendy decided to patiently await Irene in the speedboat after the tiring dress-fitting session with Joy and Yeri. Resting under the clear blue sky, with the boat anchored in the small port and the gentle sea breeze filled with a hint of salt embracing her, it provided her a serene and relaxing experience.

It’s been a while since she had stopped and reconnected with nature. The bustling life in New York made it impossible for her to pause for a while and catch her breath. This gives her energy that she very much needed for tomorrow’s big event.

Closing her eyes, she relished the moment. Rewarding herself a quick nap wouldn’t be so bad, right? But as soon as her unconsciousness started to drift into the dreamland, the sound of shoes tip-tapping reached her ears, and she knew that her alluring devil of a boss is back.

Opening her eyes would bring her back to reality, and it’s way better seeing Joohyun in real life than any of the lady chief’s apparition in her dreams. Wendy smiled at this thought.

However, the tip-tapping sound transformed into a heavy stomping, catching the attention of the brunette who turned to face her s. To her surprise, Joohyun's brows were furrowed, and she had a remarkably serious expression on her face.

Maybe she’s just tired., Wendy thought.

“Hey.”, she called softly, trying to catch Joohyun’s attention who’s obviously doing her best to avoid her eyes. She didn’t get a response. She somehow expected it, given the look on the lady chief’s face.

Joohyun’s scowling face didn’t stop Wendy from assisting her on getting into the boat. She offered her hand, which the lady chief accepted, so that Joohyun could safely get in, considering the potential instability as the boat is sitting on a body of water. The only thing that kept the boat in place was the rope securing it to one of the dock’s wooden poles.

Once she made sure Joohyun had safely boarded, Wendy proceeded to untie the rope from the pole, so that they could finally leave and head home.

But then, as soon as Wendy released the knot, the boat swiftly accelerated, with Joohyun remaining expressionless as she controlled the vessel from behind the steering wheel.

What the ?! How did she even know how to dr—

“Hey!!! Woahhhh! What the hell?!!”, Wendy didn’t even have time to process her thoughts because she found herself yelling, desperately clutching the boat's windshield to secure herself in the passenger's seat. “Mind telling me what the hell’s going on??!”, she asked over the wind. Clearly, Joohyun Isn't just tired. There is more to it than that for the lady chief to act recklessly like this.

“I just needed to get away from everybody!!”, Joohyun surprisingly answered.

“What’s wrong?!!”

“Nothing!! Just stop talking, please!!”, they yelled at each other.

The loud sound of the boat’s motor, the splashing water, the forceful wind and Joohyun’s inexplicable behavior makes it hard for Wendy to understand what’s happening. For a brief moment, Wendy allows Joohyun some space, recognizing that there's something on her mind. However, she refuses to let Joohyun get lost in her thoughts while navigating the boat at a high speed without any clear direction.

“Would you mind telling me what’s happening now?”, she tried to be as gentle as possible but she was met with silence.

“Irene?!”

The lady chief just bit her lower lip but still refused to give her an answer.

"Bae Joohyun!" Wendy called out once more, her tone assertive but caring. They were both entangled in this situation, and whatever was troubling Joohyun seemed to be linked to the fabricated reality show they found themselves in. Wendy was determined not to leave her fiancée to face this difficult situation alone. They were in it together, and she wanted Joohyun to understand that they would work as a team to resolve this mess.

“I forgot, okay?!”, Joohyun finally gave in.

“You forgot what?!”

“I forgot what it was like to have a family!”

Oh… 

“I’ve been on my own since I was sixteen and I forgot what it felt like to have people love you, and make you breakfast, and say, “Hey! We’d love to come down for the holidays!” and I say, “Well, why don’t we come up and see you instead?”, and give you necklaces, and you have all that here, and you have Yeri, you have Joy and you definitely have Seulgi who still obviously cares for you and I’m… I’m screwing everything up!”

Oh, Joohyun. 

“You’re not screwing it up! I agreed to this, remember?!”

“Your family loves you! Do you even know that?!”

“I know that!”

“Oh, you know that?”

“Yes!”

“And you’re still willing to put them through this??!”

“They’re not gonna find out!”

“Well, how do you know they won’t find out?!”

“Because you said so yourself! Because you said so yourself! And I believe you!”

Wendy is completely baffled by the unexpected emotional outburst and why the hell the ever-so-composed Irene Bae is all over the place right now. The looming wedding tomorrow must have placed a significant amount of pressure on Joohyun, causing everything to finally sink in for her. But Wendy is here, and she’s not gonna let Joohyun face this situation alone. 

“I know! But what if your mother… Oh my god, oh my god, the thought of your mother finding out..." Joohyun releases her grip on the steering wheel and tugs at her hair in frustration using both hands.

Oh no. The steering wheel.

Wendy instinctively reacted, swiftly taking hold of the controls. The next thing she knew, they had already switched seats. Meanwhile, Joohyun appeared oblivious to the unfolding situation, lost in her murmurs about how her mother would be crushed upon discovering the fake relationship.

“Oh my god! What if Halmi finds out?!”

“The boat is ing moving! Can you please just stay still for a while?!!”

“If Halmi finds out, she’s gonna have a heart attack!!”

“Stop! It’s gonna be fine!”

“She’s gonna have a heart attack! We’ll gonna be ing kill her!! Oh my god!”

Joohhyun must’ve been completely consumed by her feelings and emotions because it seems like she’s not hearing any of the words Wendy was speaking.

“Will you calm down for a sec?! Let’s talk this through!”, she said, facing Irene for a brief moment.

With the boat in its top speed and they’re fast approaching a buoy ahead, Wendy has to take a sharp turn this instance because they’re gonna crash if she doesn’t do anything. 

“Hold on!”, she yelled to Joohyun over the gusting wind, maneuvering the boat away from the buoy in front.

It was a success, and now that they were safely out of danger, it was Wendy's opportunity to present her case.

“I don’t think that hijacking a boat is a proper way to express your frustration! We can always talk about it in a calm way! With a clear head!!”

Joohyun remained silent.

“Now… Oh great, now you decided to shut up?!”

Still no words came out from Joohyun. 

“Joohyun?”, she called, but as she turned, she found herself alone. With Joohyun nowhere insight, a wave of panic engulfed Wendy’s whole being.

“Joohyun!!”, she shouted at no one, her eyes frantically searching for the woman she just had realized she loves. “No no no no, this can’t be happening…”

“She doesn’t know how to swim… Oh god…” Despite her eyes beginning to well up with tears, she willed herself to maintain her composure and started a careful scan of the surroundings, searching for any sign of where Joohyun might have fallen.

“Seungwan!”, a faint voice crie