At Odds (All Bets Are Off Sequel)

Chapter 19

Feeling so drained by her emotions, she asked Chaerin if she could pick up Haru at Kmag the next morning. She doesn't think that she had enough strength intact to have another go with Donghae again. Especially after that interview that Yoona did with one of the TV shows her mother is watching last night. She didn't want to but her eyes just couldn't seem to shy away from it. Yoona seems to become a lot more popular now as the host cited all her accomplishments and the charity she's been doing. Yoona just seems to smile shyly.

"You're living like a celebrity Miss Yoona," the host joked. "Well, that's the price to pay for being a social figure. And a very gorgeous one at that."

Yoona just laughed daintily at that. "Stop it."

"There's been a lot of intrigues in the internet about you and one about your wedding that is circulating that is cancelled and about your ex. The CEO of Fishy Ideas. Some say he was seen with you at a restaurant when you came back? Are you guys back together now because it would be like Brangelina."

Yoona chuckled as she waved her hand in dismissal. "Oh my god, no, that was just a friendly talk. He's my best friend since... you know, I was young. He was happy for me... for my wedding. And my wedding is still on, by the way."

"Well, I'm sure that any guy who would end up marrying you would be the luckiest of all."

Yoona chuckled again. "Thank you but... let's just talk about the foundation shall we?"

"Of course, of course," the host said as he laughed in embarrassment.

She felt like a stone is stuck in her throat making it hard to swallow so she just scooted next to Haru as he sleeps last night, comforted that out of every mistakes she had made, it resulted with one good decision.

She put all of her concentration at work after Chaerin picked Haru up and told her grandmother Lee is setting up a huge playhouse at the garden for Haru. She was at least thankful that Haru is loved by everyone. And she was thankful that Kwanghee had given her so much to do that it's taking her mind off her personal life. Maybe she could ask for more when he gets back. She hasn't heard from Kwanghee since yesterday and she hoped he was deliriously happy wherever he is while she sulk in here all by herself.

It was already past lunch when she finally saved the final draft of the presentation and sent it to Kwanghee's email stretching her neck from side to side. Her stomach's already growling and she was about to stand up when her phone rang. It was an unknown number. She hesitated before answering it, dreading who it might be this time. If this even relates to Donghae, she's going to turn off her phone all day!

"Yes?" She answered in a clipped tone.

"Dara, it's me, JoKwon. It's Kwanghee."

She arrived at the hotel room JoKwon is staying at minutes later with her brows creased in concern. JoKwon just told her to come quickly and the worried voice in his tone made her worry more. She pressed the doorbell and JoKwon opened it.

"What happened?" She asked when she saw the weary expression on his face. She stepped inside without waiting for him to answer and scanned the room for Kwanghee.

"He's in the room," JoKwon said and Dara immediately strode over to it. She found Kwanghee sitting on the floor with his head on his knee. And he was heaving as he cried violently. She immediately knelt down next to him and touched his arm.

"Kwanghee...," Dara said in a whisper.

Kwanghee lifted his tear-streaked face as he looked at Dara. The misery and dejection and panic are evident in his face. "Dara," he sobbed. "My father found out. He knows! He knows now!" His voice is so broken that Dara had a hard time understanding him. "That man... that congressman who saw us in the Philippines... he had me watched! He had us followed in Busan and then sent the pictures to my father! And to the media." His hand was shaking as he took his phone and showed her a news article in the internet with him and JoKwon. One was them holding hands and then the other was at the pool in a resort in the Philippines. He cried even more as he dropped the phone on the floor and cried on his knee, his shoulders shaking. Dara looked at JoKwon who was standing at the door looking like he was regretting coming to Korea and causing this turmoil in Kwanghee's life.