Pay With Your Heart

"Can you move back to your parents' house?" Eun-sun carefully asked, making Dan-Han utterly surprised. Was this the favour she wanted to ask? He asked himself.

"Why? Did mother say something?" He asked without answering her question, his eyes curiously searching hers for her answer.

"No, she didn't say anything." She quickly replied, but Dan-Han didn't believe her as his gaze on her was sceptical, showing his disbelief.

"If she didn't, then why are you asking me to do that?" He asked confusedly. He didn't understand this sudden request of hers.

"I just thought it would be good to have you watch over her at a time like this. She needs you now more than ever." She explained, but Dan-Han's brows furrowed deeper as he observed her countenance. He noticed the way she avoided his gaze as she spoke. Now, that was strange!

Tilting his head sideways, he asked, "Is that all?" while Eun-sun slowly nodded her head affirmatively.

His gaze remained on her as they both stared at each other in silence. Eun-sun wished in her heart that he should readily agree and not ask any more questions. Knowing how observant Dan-Han was, she feared he might sense an air of unease around her, so she tried to stay calm and maintain a neutral look. Hiding the truth from Dan-Han was something she didn't want to do because she could imagine how terrible and angry he'd feel when he gets to know the truth, but she had already agreed to help Mrs Lee keep her secret, what else could she do?

This could be troublesome for her in the future, but she could do nothing; at least, that was what she thought.

She hoped Mrs Lee gets to tell him soon. Else she couldn't tell what might happen in the future because of this.

After several seconds of silence elapsed, Dan-Han turned to her and asked again, "Is there something you're not telling me?" He curiously inquired.

"Something like what?" She asked, feigning ignorance, her big round eyes innocently looking at him. Dan-Han kept mute as he intently stared at her with questions going through his mind. She was hiding something from him, he reasoned to himself. He didn't understand why she'd make such a request, but he felt she had a reason behind it, one he had no clue about, and he wasn't going to make her tell him.

He turned his gaze from her and returned his attention to the road. After another round of ear-piercing silence elapsed, he finally agreed, "Fine. I will." He said without turning to her.

Eun-sun's eyes lit up when she heard him, "Really?" she asked in a surprised tone.

"Yes." He nodded, making Eun-sun smile. She didn't think it would be that easy to convince him to agree with her request since she knew there was a tiff between mother and son, but then again, she knew the kind of man she had for a boyfriend. Despite his cold and aloof demeanour, he was a loving and caring man, one that loved his mother selflessly.

Dan-Han's lips curled up when he saw the smile that graced her lips. This was the side of her he had been longing to see for days. Seeing that relieved smile on her face made him happy, and at the same time, it made him curious. Curious to know what was going on in that head of hers. He had agreed to return to the Lee mansion not just because she asked him to but because it was also something he had considered back at the hospital. He didn't think he could trust his father to look after his mother very well and also had a hunch something was wrong with his mother, something other than what Jae-Hyun was telling him. Knowing how persuasive his mother could be, he was certain she had persuaded them to help her keep a secret one he was definitely going to unearth.

.....

The next few days slowly went by with less drama and fights. Mrs Lee finally got discharged from the hospital after Dan-Han kept her there longer than necessary, but the tiff between her and her husband remained. She could notice his effort to please her, but all those were in vain if he still couldn't accept the woman their son loved. She had spent her life doing right by him, loving him and standing by him, supporting him as a wife should, and now she believed it was time for him to do the same. To behave as a real father should.

"Honey, how long are you going to stay angry with me? I said I'm sorry. How else do you want me to show it to you?" He asked as he followed her while she cleared the table.

"Please." He earnestly pleaded as he held her arm. Mrs Lee stopped and stared at her husband, her eyes void of any emotion.

"If you really want my forgiveness, then you know what to do." She coldly said, prompting him to stare at her in disbelief. Was she really holding on to that?

"You mean by accepting that girl?" He queried.

"Yes, and handling that nutcase family, you've dragged into our space." She firmly stated.

"But honey-"

"You can forget about doing both because with or without your permission, Eun-sun will be the mother of your grandchildren, and as for the Choi's, you can consider them handled," Dan-Han spoke leisurely as he descended the stairs, his voice filled with displeasure towards his father. He was still very much angry with him. They both turned to him and asked simultaneously,

"Handled?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Dan-Han paused at the base of the stairs, his stern gaze fixed on his father, "You can listen to the news later on." He said with a bored look before staring at his mother. "Mother, let's go."

"Go where?" Father Lee asked confusedly.

"To see a nutritionist. It seems you still haven't noticed how emaciated your wife looks." He curtly replied. He glanced at his mother, who was now under his father's intense gaze, "Mother, let's go." He said again.

Mrs Lee nervously gazed at him before dropping off the plates she had in her hands. She picked up her purse and followed him out of the house.

Mrs Lee must admit that she has been pleased having Dan-Han with her these past few days. She couldn't be happier. He had been paying a lot of attention to her, he was always concerned for her, which made her believe that he must have forgiven her. This was what she truly wanted, to fix the relationship between them. But right now, she was really nervous and scared.

"Have you been able to do something about Eun-sun's parents?" Mrs Lee unexpectedly asked as soon as they stepped into the car. Dan-Han gave her a surprised look, his eyes silently asking, 'How did you know?'

"She told me." She explained. Dan-Han nodded in understanding. He had almost forgotten how close the two women in his life had become. But he really didn't expect Eun-sun to talk about it with his mom when she has been avoiding having that conversation with him.

"Nothing yet. But I'll do something about it." He replied.

"Whatever you have in mind, do it fast. That girl had received a lot of heartache in her lifetime" She told him while Dan-Han responded with a single nod.

She gasped when she remembered something, "The foundation's outreach will be commencing next week. I want to take Eun-sun with me, you should come too." She said but Dan-Han only gave a non committal grunt. Mrs Lee sighed when she realized that was all she was going to get. She looked outside the window but returned her attention to him again.

"What did you mean by you handled the Chois?" She asked, curiously staring and waiting for his reply.

"I gave them what they deserved."