Married To The Jeon

CHAPTER 19:-

We wander through the opulent, gilt splendor of the eighteenth century Palace of Versailles. Once a humble hunting lodge, it was transformed by the Roi Soleil into a magnificent, lavish seat of power, but even before the eighteenth century ended it saw the last of those absolute monarchs.

The most stunning room by far is the Hall of Mirrors. The early afternoon light floods through windows to the west, lighting up the mirrors that line the east wall and illuminating the gold leaf decor and the enormous crystal chandeliers. It's breathtaking.

"Interesting to see what becomes of a despotic megalomaniac who isolates himself in such splendor," I murmur to Jungkook as he stands at my side. He gazes down and cocks his head to one side, regarding me with humor.

"Your point, Mrs. Jeon?"

"Oh, merely an observation, Mr. Jeon." I wave my hand airily at the surroundings. Smirking, he follows me to the center of the room where I stand and gawk at the view - the spectacular gardens reflected in the looking glass and the spectacular Jeon Jungkook, my husband, reflected back at me, his gaze bright and bold.

"I would build this for you," he whispers. "Just to see the way the light burnishes your hair, right here, right now." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "You look like an angel." He kisses me just below my earlobe, takes my hand in his, and murmurs, "We despots do that for the women we love."

I flush at his compliment, smiling shyly, and follow him through the vast room.

"What are you thinking about?" Jungkook asks softly, taking a sip of his after-dinner coffee.

"Versailles."

"Ostentatious, wasn't it?" He grins. I glance around the more understated grandeur of the Fair Lady's dining room and purse my lips.

"This is hardly ostentatious," Jungkook says, a tad defensively.

"I know. It's lovely. The best honeymoon a girl could want."

"Really?" he says, genuinely surprised. And he smiles his shy smile.

"Of course it is."

"We've only got two more days. Is there anything you'd like to see? Anything you'd like to do?"

"Just be with you," I murmur. Rising from the table, he comes around and kisses me on the forehead.

"Well, can you do without me for about an hour? I need to check my e-mails, find out what's happening at home."

"Sure," I say brightly, trying to hide my disappointment that I'll be without him for an hour. Is it freaky that I want to be with him all the time? My subconscious presses her lips into a narrow, unattractive line and nods vigorously.

"Thank you for the camera," he murmurs and heads for the study.

Back in our cabin I decide to catch up on my correspondence and open my laptop. There are e-mails from my mom and from Rose, giving me the latest gossip from home and asking how the honeymoon is going. Well, great, until someone decided to burn down GEH Inc. . . . As I finish my response to my mom, an e-mail from Rose hits my inbox.

From: Rosenna Kavanagh
Subject: OMG!!!!

Lisa, just heard about the fire at Jungkook's office. Do you think it's arson?

K xox

Rose is online! I jump on to my newfound toy - Skype messaging -
and see that she's available. I quickly type a message.

Lisa: Hey are you there?

Rose: YES, Lisa! How are you? How's the honeymoon? Did you see my e-mail? Does Jungkook know about the fire?

Lisa: I'm good. Honeymoon's great. Yes, I saw your e-mail. Yes, Jungkook knows.

Rose: I thought he would. News is sketchy on what happened. And Jimin won't tell me anything. 

Lisa: Are you fishing for a story?

Rose: You know me too well.

Lisa: Jungkook hasn't told me much.

Rose: Jimin heard from Scarllet!

Oh no - I'm sure Jungkook doesn't want this broadcast all over Seattle. I try my patented distract-tenacious-Kavanagh technique.

Lisa: How are Jimin and Ethan?

Rose: Ethan has been accepted into the psych course at Seattle for his master's degree. Jimin is adorable.

Lisa: Way to go, Ethan.

Rose: How's our favorite ex-dom?

Lisa: Rose!

Rose: What?

Lisa: YOU KNOW WHAT!

Rose: K. Sorry

Lisa: He's fine. More than fine. 

Rose: Well, as long as you're happy, I'm happy.

Lisa: I'm blissfully happy.

Rose:  I have to run. Can we talk later?

Lisa: Not sure. See if I am online. Time zones suck!

Rose: They do. Love you, Lis.

Lisa: Love you, too. Laters. x

Rose: Laters. <3

Trust Rose to be on the trail of this story. I roll my eyes and shut Skype down before Jungkook sees the chat. He wouldn't appreciate the ex-Dom comment - and I'm not sure he's entirely ex . . . I sigh loudly. Rose knows everything, since our tipsy evening three weeks before the wedding when I finally succumbed to the Kavanagh inquisition. It was a relief to finally talk to someone. I glance at my watch. It's been about an hour since dinner, and I am missing my husband. I head back on deck to see if he's finished his work.

_____

I am in the Hall of Mirrors and Jungkook is standing beside me, smiling down at me with love and affection. You look like an angel. I beam back at him, but when I glance into the looking glass I'm standing on my own and the room is gray and drab. No! My head whips back to his face, to find his smile is sad and wistful. Reaching up, he tucks my hair behind my ear. Then he turns wordlessly and walks away slowly, the sound of his footsteps echoing off the mirrors as he paces the enormous room to the ornate double doors at the end . . . a man on his own, a man with no reflection . . . and I wake, gasping for air, as panic seizes me.

"Hey," he whispers from beside me in the darkness, his voice filled with concern.

Oh, he's here. He's safe. Relief courses through me.

"Oh, Jungkook," I mumble, trying to bring my pounding heartbeat under control. He wraps me in his arms, and it's only then that I realize I have tears streaming down my face.

"Lily, what is it?" He strokes my cheek, wiping away my tears, and I can hear his anguish.

"Nothing. A silly nightmare."

He kisses my forehead and my tearstained cheeks, comforting me.

"Just a bad dream, baby," he murmurs. "I've got you. I'll keep you safe."

Drinking in his scent, I curl around him, trying to ignore the loss and devastation I felt in my dream, and in that moment, I know that my deepest, darkest fear would be losing him.

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