Dan-Han badly wanted to tell Eun-sun that he wasnât just suspicious about who her parents were, but that he was almost certain of their identity. But despite how much he wanted to tell her, he knew he couldnât. And this wasnât because he was afraid he might be wrong, but rather because, knowing would put her in danger.
If the person who had given her to Song-Hee wanted to get rid of her as a child, then nothing was going to stop him now when he finds out about her existence. That alone was already an issue of concern in his mind.
Was he not concerned about her existence? Or was there a laid out plan that kept him at ease?
Dan-Han didnât know what to think of the situation. He must have deemed her a non-existent threat for him to have kept her alive, else heâd have had her handled all these years. This negligence or non-chalance, whichever it was, was favourable to him and must be what have kept Eun-sun alive for so long.
If the knowledge of Eun-sun looking for her parents got into the wrong ears, then sheâd definitely be in danger.
He picked up his phone and dialled A-Yeongâs number. âGood morning President Lee,â He heard her greet from the other side of the phone. He didnât miss the liveliness in her voice as she spoke. It was something that had been missing when he first spoke to her.
âGood morning, Ms Su. Please get ready. Iâll be picking you up in half an hour.â
.....
âWeâre going back to the orphanage?â She asked, anxiety and eagerness hovering in her voice.
âTo go sign the document.â Dan-Han told her.
âReally? So soon?â She asked, and Dan-Han clearly heard the excitement in her voice.
âYes.â He replied.
âSo I can-â
âGet ready Miss Su. Iâll be there in half an hour.â He cut in and disconnected the call before she could say something else. He put his phone down and turned towards the bathroom door when he saw Eun-sun walking out of the bathroom.
His eyes fell on the cast on her ankle and he deeply sighed. He has been careless with her once again.
This little bundle of temptation made him lose himself and forget about her health. He dropped the jacket he had been contemplating on wearing on the bed and sauntered over to her.
âYou look dashing, Mr Lee.â Eun-sun smiled at him as he walked towards her, her eyes taking in his gorgeous and pleasing sight. He was dressed a bit more casual than he usually was. Casual clothing wasnât a regular thing for him and she could count the number of times she has seen him wore them with her ten fingers, excepts if his night wears counted as one. But seeing him in his black khaki trouser, coffee brown turtled neck and white sneakers, Eun-sun felt he should dress this way every day, especially since his sturdy muscles were flexing through it. He was a sexy man in casual, not that he didnât look delicious in his formal wears.
Eun-sun cringed at her thoughts. Being with Dan-Han had made her shameless.
âYouâre looking at me like a pervert.â Dan-Han said with a haughty grin before scooping her into his arms and carring to the chair placed in front of the standing mirror.
He took the brush in her hand and slowly began to run it through her jet black hair.
âDo you want me to get you something on my way back?â He asked as he looked at her face through the mirror.
Eun-sun flicked open her eyes which has been drooping at the feel of his delicate hands on her hair. She loved the way his hand moved on her hair. She shook her head and said, âNo.â
âNot even, your favorite black bean noodles? Thereâs a nice spot for it here.â He told her and he chuckled when he observed the way she stuck her tongue against her cheek as she shamelessly thought about it.
Her brows raised as she looked up at him through the mirror. âCan we go together instead?â She asked before remembering he was stepping out and might not return anytime soon.
âI donât-â
âItâs okay.â She quickly cut in with a shake of her head. âI almost forgot youâll be busy. Just bring me a pack when youâre coming.â She said.
âI might be busy, but not too busy for you. Iâll make reservations and Iâll pick you up when Iâm done. Okay?â
âOkay.â Eun-sunâs lips curved up with a happy smile, while Dan-Han bent down and placed a kiss on her hair.
He looked at her leg one more time. âAre you really not in pain?â He inquisitively asked. âAnd donât lie to me.â He told her, knowing sheâd probably lie to get the cast off her leg.
Eun-sun looked at her leg and sighed as she wondered how best to describe the feeling in her leg. âIt does hurt, but not as much as you think.â She drew her brows together as she slowly flexed her leg, mentally assessing the pain.
âItâs mostly a mild pain, and I guess the pills are working quiet well. I just feel uncomfortable with the cast on my leg especially when I try to walk, other than that Iâm pretty much good. As you know, the wound on my stomach is gone, and my arm is healed too. Iâve been banged up way worse in the past, so a dislocated ankle isnât that big a deal. Youâre the one always making a fuss out of it.â She told him, making a good review of her pain, but she quickly regretted adding up the last sentence when she saw how his face suddenly darkened.
âAnd thatâs the part I really hate. I hate to imagine youâve experienced worse in the past, and I wasnât there.â He drawled out, his gaze locked on her through the mirror, and Eun-sun could see the unconcealed anger on his eyes.
She rose to her feet and turned to him, her hands going around his arms. âYouâre here now, and I know nothing can ever happen to me again.â
Dan-Han sighed as he simply put his arms around her and kissed her shoulder. âYouâll always be safe henceforth.â He said against her ear. But Eun-sun knew those werenât mere words, but life promises heâd keep.
âI know.â She told him, her arms tightly wrapping around him.
Dan-Han spent a bit more time with Eun-sun as he couldnât tear himself away from her. Being with her in a place far away from home sort of reeled in a feeling he didnât want to lose. He was always in need of her presence, but today was different. He was having a really hard time leaving her.
âYou should go, Dan-Han, youâre going to be late.â She told him for the third time since he placed her on his thighs and firmly hugged her against himself.
âI wonât be.â
âYou will.â She told him. She wasnât really keen on having him leave either, but she knew he had to.
âI donât want to leave you.â He murmured against her neck as he pecked her there.
âBut you have to, and Ni-Naâs here. Sheâll keep me busy as usual.â She told him, but Dan-Han wasnât convinced. Speaking about Ni-Na he wondered why she hasnât shown her face since morning. It was unlike her to stay away when she had the opportunity to make her ridiculous demands.
She could be a handful, but it was always an hearty experience meeting up with her endless demands. The girl was the only one who made good use of his money in the whole family.
He was certain she wasnât in the least worried about their stint last night, because Ni-Na would never be worried about something like that. Rather sheâd prance in here with a cheerful smile feigning ignorance and acting like she was the most filial child in the whole world.
He looked at his wristwatch. âWhy is that brat not here, yet?â He asked out while Eun-sun shrugged. She didnât know either.
âI guess sheâs scared. You looked pretty scary last night, like you were going to eat us alive.â
Dan-Han got her a mock glare and she giggled. âYou definitely werenât scary. You were handsome.â She shamelessly stressed while Dan-Han scoffed.
âYouâre really learning from that brat.â He told her before dialling Ni-Naâs number on his phone. He put it on speaker when Eun-sun tried pressing her ear against the phone to listen in.
âAre you still sleeping?â He asked the moment the call connected.
âNo.â Ni-Na hoarsely replied.
âSo?â
âAre you still mad? Did you forgive sister in-law already? If youâre just going to scold me, Iâm not coming.â She stubbornly declared.
âSince when have you been worried about being scolded? You always leave chaos at your wake.â Dan-Han told her matter of factly.
âI donât!â She refuted.
âGet yourself here, Lee Ni-Na.â
âI-â
âNow.â He ordered and disconnected the call, giving her no room to object.
Eun-sun narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the phone after the call ended. Something was strange about Ni-Naâs voice. She didnât sound as energetic as she used to be, and she believed Dan-Han when he said she wasnât one to be afraid of being scolded. She has proved how daring and reckless she could be last night.
Speaking about daring and reckless, Eun-sun suddenly remembered the guy that had harrassed them at the club. She prayed In-Ha doesnât say anything about it to Dan-Han. She spared him a glance as she thought what his reaction to that would be.
Hell, she didnât want to know.
Her gaze turned towards the door of the bedroom when she heard a knock and Dan-Han put her down and strolled towards the sitting room to get it.
She waited with a smile when she heard Ni-Na approaching step, but her smile wavered when she saw her face. Something was definitely off about her, or maybe it was the alcohol they had yesterday?
Dan-Han had offered her some hangover pills but she didnât need them, but it seems Ni-Na would.
She observed Dan-Hanâs intent gaze on Ni-Na as well. Of course, if she could notice then he also would notice.
âWhatâs wrong with you? Didnât sleep well?â Dan-Han asked as he gave Ni-Na a once over. His brows knotted with a frown.
She shook her head and sighed as she sauntered towards the bed where Eun-sun was sitting. âIâm good, just tired.â She said, but her tone wasnât convincing enough.
âDo you have a headache?â Eun-sun asked with concern, but Ni-Na shook her head. She looked at the pair of eyes staring at her and hissed.
âIâm not a baby. I just had alcohol, itâs nothing much to worry about.â She told them, not bothering about Dan-Hanâs reaction to that reminder. She raised a brow and peeked at him, but he was awkwardly silent.
Ni-Na didnât really want to deal with anything right now, especially not Dan-Hanâs scolding as she really wasnât in the mood for any of that. She just wanted to stay in bed and remind herself that last night was all a mistake. A mistake she hated herself for.
âIâm good.â She blurted out as if telling them she didnât want any more questions.
He intently studied her for a few minutes before reaching for a card inside his pocket which he tossed at her.
Ni-Naâs brows furrowed when she saw the card. She confusedly gazed at Dan-Han, her eyes asking him why he was giving her his credit card.
Dan-Han ignored her quizzical eyes. âJust one bag, else Iâll kill you.â He threatened with a cold drawl. Ni-Na who hadnât been fast enough to catch the card before it reached the floor, quickly picked it up and her eyes widened in shock surprise.
âAre you serious?â She almost asked with a squeal, making Dan-Han scoff at how her mood had suddenly changed at the sight of his card. And who was he kidding with the order of buying one bag? He knew that was an impossible fit, and his heart was already set on the ceaseless debit alert heâll be receiving later.
âDonât over do it, Ni-Na. Else you want to go back to school poor.â He warned, but she snorted.
âNever. Not when I have you as my money bag.â She chirped as she hopped towards him and tightly hugged him.
Eun-sun watched amusedly as Dan-Han lips twitched when he tried not to smile at Ni-Na. He sure did have a soft spot for her.
âBut why are giving me this? I thought you were going to scold me.â
Dan-Han raised a brow. âI still can. You can give me back my card.â He stretched out his hand, but Ni-Na moved away from him and stuck her tongue out at him.
âNo way!â She playfully wriggled her brows. She was receiving a lot of money today. The goddess of wealth have finally noticed her. Nothing was as great as having Dan-Hanâs card in her hands and she knew that was the dream of many people out and within the country.
âIâm taking sister In-law with me, right?â Of course, she was. Dan-Han wouldnât have given her his card if she wasnât involved. And indeed she was right, but not for the reason she thought.
.....
Eun-sun gazed at Dan-Han who also had his gaze fixed on her. His eyes trailed from her face till they rested on her leg for a good long minute before he sighed. âIâll have someone accompany you, but not more than two hours. No stairs. Strictly elevators. And no more than two shops, and definitely no napkins in the name of clothes. Do more than this Iâll be there to pick you up myself. Understand?â
âYes, your lordship!â
âYes, boss!â Ni-Na and Eun-sun echoed simultaneously. They both giggled at their synced responses while Dan-Han scoffed at them. He didnât want Eun-sun walking around with her leg, but if she said she was fine, then he didnât see the reason for restricting her anymore.
Itâs been weeks and he couldnât imagine how suffocated she must have felt. He has promised to always give her the best, make her smile and let her have all the moments and joy she has been deprived of in the past, and he was simply going to keep to his word.
He was going to make her happy, everyday of her life till she knew no other way.