05: Talk: Wedding Settlement

Verosha’s Mansion

When they arrived at Verosha’s mansion, Lium was totally stunned at how luxurious and huge her property was. It made him think about who was really the person that he was going to get married too soon. His thoughts have been cut off when Andy nudged his side and made a look before looking at Verosha.

“Oh, sorry. I’m just amazed at how big your mansion was…it reminds me of what we used to have.” Lium smiled in embarrassment since Verosha was standing by the door and giving him a cold look.

There was no response from her but she just nod and entered the mansion. Andy pushed Lium slightly as soon as he wished him luck and then he followed. Inside the mansion, Lium wanted to react the same way but Verosha kept walking toward some room and he had a hunch that it was her office. He was right.

“Have a seat.” Verosha told him while she grabbed something from the drawer of her desk.

“Thanks.” Lium said and sat on the couch comfortably.

“First of all, here’s the telegram your father sent to me earlier. I already knew something was wrong when I received it. But what I didn’t anticipate was the offer he gave me.” Verosha handed the telegram that Mr. Kim gave to her before they had a dinner meeting.

“He sold me.” Lium sighed heavily as he took the telegram.

“If you think that way, I’m not gonna comment.” Verosha took her seat across from Lium who was already scanning the telegram that was handwritten by his father.

“So aren’t you going to explain to me what my Dad can’t tell me?” he wondered before putting the telegram on the center table.

“He’s been on medication for very long years already. It happened soon after your mother died and an issue at your company that your mother loves. It took a toll on him and asked for my help.” 

“How long you knew my Dad? He’s older than you.” Lium asked with a confused expression.

“Your father and I met when I was making business deals with your mother and since then we started to get acquainted. I’ve been helping around your parents but something came up and a car crash hits your mother which led to a complication. She died and your father has to take over the company and you know the rest of it.” Verosha briefly answered that Lium took notice of.

“You explain short but direct. So the reason my Dad loses too much money and owes you big was that he was sick?” Lium directly guessed that made Verosha look intently at him before speaking.

“Yes and no. Yes, he was losing money because of his medication, and no because the only debt he had to pay before was for our security assistance that I’ve offered to my trusted business partners. But he just wanted to pay me back even though I said no. And knowing your father already, he’s persistent that’s why I just let him do what he wanted.” Verosha gave only an answer that she could give to him. She sensed something in how the way Lium talked which sounded like her.

“Because of his stubbornness. So, what’s the diagnosis on him that he didn’t let me know?” Lium seriously sighs before asking again.

“Severe, stage 4 lung cancer.” Verosha answered shortly.

“This is so fucked up…why he didn’t tell me everything I’m his only son…” he clicked his tongue in frustration while Verosha studied him carefully.

“They’re your parents. Their problem was not their child’s problem…” she just said but Lium immediately reacted.

“BULLSHIT!” He madly cursed.

“I know. We have the right to know because we’re family. But what is done is done, we have to deal with it.” Verosha coldly said as she partially recalled what happened with her parents that she doesn’t want to remember.

Then there was a knock and Ms. Choi entered the office with the coffee snacks that Verosha had requested before she leave the mansion earlier. Verosha and Lium thanked the old lady and when they were once again being left alone in the office, Lium speaks.

“Are you okay with me - I mean, marrying someone you don’t even know and even a payment to his debt?” Lium changed the subject and asked her curiously.

“I already said my deal and I don’t mind marrying his son. Don’t you want to marry me?” Verosha answered and then asked as well.

“What if I say I don’t want to marry you?” Lium countered in a cautious way as he took the coffee.

“Then you’ll be the first who’s rejecting the deal with me.” She just shrugged her shoulders as she sip from her coffee.

“And why is that?” he wondered.

“I’m Verosha Mondre that everyone wants to be either with me or kill me.” She answered honestly which made Lium nod because her name was totally well-known.

“Confident.” He only managed to say.

“So, what do think about our marriage?” Verosha changed the topic again and asked him.

“What choice do I have anyway…” Lium said as Verosha took it as an agreement.

“Then we’ll get married on Friday.” She decided that almost made Lium spill the coffee that he was drinking.

“That’s too soon.” He quickly reacted while wiping his mouth with a tissue.

“It already settle remember since your father sold you to me.” Verosha coldly teased him to see how he will react to that.

“Hey, don’t emphasize me being sold. I already hate the idea of being in an arranged marriage.” Lium glared at her. It secretly amused Verosha.

“We’ll get to know each other in the process.” Lium almost choke again when he heard those words from Verosha.

“Are you a marriage-material kind of person?” Lium wondered since he thought that they were going to get divorced later on.

“I respect marriage but if the marriage is already falling apart, I have to let it go and be civilized to my partner. Why you asked?” Verosha honestly answered before asking and taking a bite of her macaroon.

“I thought we’re going to get divorced after a couple of months or years…” he answered what he was truly thinking earlier. He was a little bit shy and tried to hide it.

“If that’s what you wish, I’ll give you that.” Verosha noticed but didn’t comment and just said those words with her usual cold tone that was getting into Lium.

“NO! I mean…I have nothing to lose anyway…” Lium immediately defended but quickly reasoned as he was trying to hide the fact that he was attracted even more to her.

“If you say so, Friday?” Verosha nodded and made sure that Lium was okay with their wedding on Friday already.

“Friday.” Lium agreed and sighed internally while finishing his coffee.

After their serious meeting, they talked a little and settle things about their wedding preparation before retiring for the night. Lium was about to leave the mansion but Verosha insisted on letting him take the guestroom for the night and that he could leave tomorrow after breakfast. He couldn’t say no and just let himself rest.

Guestroom

Lium was cool as he reached the guestroom with Ms. Choi's guidance. Then inside he did his night routine immediately in the bathroom. He just removed his top clothing and only leave his boxer before heading to bed since that’s how he sleeps comfortably.

“I’m getting married on Friday to the most wealthy and beautiful woman I ever laid my eyes on.” Lium was drying his face when the thought of Verosah suddenly came into his mind. He was smiling already.

“Argh! I’m supposed to be angry with this arranged marriage thing that my Dad made a deal of…but at the same time, I’m grateful…I’m marrying my crush!” He was blushing and grinning like an idiot as he just let his body drop on the comfy bed before rolling around the bed. He was squealing against the pillow that he was hugging.

“Fuck! I sounded like a lovesick girl. I’m a dude! I better sleep this off.” he realized what he was doing which caused him to blush in embarrassment before letting sleep took over him.

Verosha’s Master’s Bedroom

Verosha was removing her clothing like the usual routine until she suddenly recalled what they’d talked about at the office. She groaned and looked at herself in the vanity mirror.

“Seriously, Verosha! Why did I settle the wedding day on Friday?” she complained but she noticed in the reflection in the mirror that the corner of her lips was upward. 

She was smiling which made her look confused but the more she thinks about what made her smile, there it goes again, she was smiling. But she ignored it and just wear her lingerie before heading to bed.

“Am I that eager enough to get married that fast?” her mind drifted to a sudden question that popped into her mind. Then there goes her smiles again.

“But who cares…he’s cute and I bet he’ll be more handsome being around me.” Verosha smirked at her thoughts but mentally slapped realizing what she was just thinking there.

“Oh man…let me survive the teases of my men when they learned about this marriage…” then she sighed defeated as she recalled those men who were working for her.