Chapter 3

When Yuri returned home, her father was at work while her mother had a group of friends over, playing cards. She walked passed the living room towards the staircase but was stopped.

“Yuri, where have you been?! I need you in here!” Her mother called out, standing up from the gambling ring, “I’m not feeling well, mom. Please let me go to my bedroom & rest.” She said, without turning to look at her mother & climbed up the stairs.

“Stubborn little creature.” Her mother muttered, underneath her breath, “Perhaps some other time, Mrs. Kim.” She smiled at the lady next to her & sat back down to continue the game.

She felt like a complete wreck. The depression, pain & loss was tearing her heart into fragments. For the second time in her life, she saw him again. The man whom she knew she fell in love with at the moment he took her into his embrace. He was the only person to show her she could be loved but unfortunately, it was all a game, something untruthful. What hurts the most was the fact that he didn’t even remember her.

Thinking only brought on a migraine. She decided to push the thought away & catch some sleep. After showering & changing into her callie stripe blue ralph lauren patmos boxer pj set, she crawled underneath the covers & dozed off.

Jaejoong arrived home, not sure how he’s feeling. He wanted to search for her but didn’t know where to begin. He wondered why she didn’t come to him when she found out she was pregnant. He would have gladly taken the responsibility. After all, it was his baby, ‘My baby.’ He thought, feeling a little proud, yet guilt-ridden.

As soon as he stepped through the door, he heard a very familiar female voice floated his way.

“Jaejoong, is that you?”

Jaejoong sighed, knowing exactly who this voice belonged to. It was his mother.

“Yes, it’s me, mother.” He entered the living room & kissed his mother on the cheek then positioned himself on the vacant spot next to her.

She turned to face her son & cupped his cheek in the palm of her hand. Everything about him resembled his father; making her eyes glittered in tears. How unfortunate he passed away five years ago due to cancer.

“How much do you need this time, mother?”

Instantly, she pulled her hands away & broke her gaze from his. She began twisting the handkerchief in her hands nervously with guilt written all over her face, “I...I.” She stammered, not knowing where to begin.

“One thousand? Eight thousand?” Jaejoong raised his thick brows. He knew his mother too well. The only time she ever came to him was when she needed money. Either to owe someone or to fulfil her crave of gambling. Mrs. Kim turned to faced her son but found it difficult to look him straight in the eye. She shook her head, “More.” She whispered.

“Exactly how much is more? Three grand?”

She shook her head & forced herself to look into her son’s eyes, “Five million dollars.”

“Five million dollars? How in the hell did you manage to lose that much?! Mother, you know that I don’t have five million dollars lying around everyday.” He almost shouted.

“B...But she wants the money by tomorrow.”

Jaejoong smirked, “Well, too bad. If she’s planning to get her money back, she has to play the waiting game.” “No, Jaejoong, you don’t understand. If I can’t get the money to her by tomorrow she will charge interest for every overdue day.”

“So, interest it will be because there’s no way in the world we can get the money to her in the time frame she’s given us.”

“It’s not what you are thinking, Jaejoong. I have agreed that...ah, the interest is you.”

Jaejoong laughed dryly, thinking it must be a joke.

“I’m serious, honey. I have agreed that you must marry her daughter if I can’t pay her back in time.”

Not a whisper of a word exited Jaejoong’s mouth. Instead, he just stood up & paced towards the window. He pushed his palm against the window frame & sunk his head forward.

“God, why? Why, mother?” He shot a fierce glare at his mother but the glare softened & tears filled his eyes. It was his mother, he knew he would be sent to hell if he didn’t help & his father in heaven would never forgive him, “Would it kill you so much if you didn’t gamble?”

Mrs. Kim held her son’s arm, “I’m sorry, dear. Please forgive me. You know it’s an addiction I can never overcome. It’s the only thing that takes my mind off of your father.” Tears began to trickle down her lightly makeup face.

He knew how miserable his mother was whe