Author's Note:
Although this story is set at the same era as the Bridgerton and I do want my readers to imagine Koreans dress like the British in this story, I still want you to remember that this is in Korea, not England. Therefore, their surnames will still be Korean, not another English surnames. I also want them to use the terms unnie, Hyung and Appa, to remind readers the same thing.
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She needed a half an hour before she could sit up again. She reached for the card on the coffee table. It's a black card. Very thick and elegant. The writing was with silver ink.
On it was written, "Joseph Lee, Owner of Sunsuhan Company."
There was the address of his main office in Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Tokyo and Beijing.
It must be quite expensive to print such name cards.
Her eyes blurred with tears, as she smiled bitterly, "You really know how to make your revenge, renting our mansion like this."
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Eight years previously, when Grace was still eighteen years old, they met at a party, and fell madly in love. Three months after seeing each other, he had proposed, and she had accepted. But when he proposed for her hand to her father, Baron Kim rejected him harshly.
"You're just the son of a mere merchant who only has three small stores!!! You have very little money, no title and no achievements! How dare you even dream of proposing to a Baron's daughter!!!"
For the past three months, Grace had never thought of his status or situation at all. But after Joseph proposed formally, her sisters and Lady Eugene, the best friend of her late mother, Baroness Gillian, convinced her that it was a marriage with horrible prospects.
"You'll only degrade all of us!!!" Hilda had said.
"Unnie, you know that marriage is the only chance for us for a good future. You can't marry someone who has nothing!" Selena insisted back then.
"You deserve someone better, my Dear. Just wait. Someone with a better social status will come along and you'll understand that what we're saying now is only for your own good," Lady Eugene exclaimed.
And finally, it was her father's word that nailed the coffin.
"If you marry him, I'll disown you. No daughter of mine will marry a penniless merchant!"
"But Appa, he's not penniless! He's just–not rich!"
Her father stared at her incredulously, "Isn't it the same?"
She was speechless.
"I declare I will not speak to you until you break it off with that fellow!!!" her father had threatened.
So the next day, she broke off her engagement.
"I can handle the insults from your family, but not your weak resolve and heartless treatment! After everything we've promised each other, you dare to change your mind in just one night!!! You're the same like the rest of them! You are narrow-minded and blind to the fact that we could be happy together!!!"
She had cried back then, shocked that he could say those words to her, but didn't deny it, because she knew it was her own fault.
"I'm still young, Gracie. Watch me, I'll work until I become richer than your father!!! Once I achieve that, we'll see each other again, and you'll regret what you did today!!!"
With that, he left her life.
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She hadn't forgotten her first love. She broke his heart, but she was broken as well. She kept all his letters in a box, together with the petals of bouquets of flowers he gave, and the handkerchief he lent her one day when she became unwell due to the heat during their picnic.
She still read those letters over the years. There were many nights when she sat on her windowsill, looking at the moon, with tears in her eyes out of the loneliness and exhaustion she felt deep within her heart.
She ran her household alone. If he was with her, he'd share the burden. At least, he would listen to her.
Men she met after him never listened to her. She had tried. Oh God, she really had. She went to parties, had walks with some of the men her father approved, and none of them were even remotely smart, unlike him.
Her family was sure she'd find someone better, even Lady Eugene as well. But she never had.
She read the newspaper everyday, and was increasingly surprised because he appeared on the news from time to time with the success of his business with the neighboring countries.
Births, weddings and deaths of important people or anyone who wanted to announce it were often in the newspaper as well, on a special page. She had read that page everyday for 8 years, and hadn't found any news of his wedding.
Wasn't it odd? His fortune was increasing and he's unbelievably handsome. But why hadn't he married?
She didn't entertain the thought that he hadn't forgotten her. If he still wanted her, he had plenty of time over the years to reach out to her.
How cruel was it, that he returned into her life when her family was on the brink of bankruptcy? She was sure he's going to wield the sword of revenge into her heart.
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When Grace gave Baron Kim the contract of lease, he said, "Don't show it to me! You're breaking my heart!"
"Why are you so insensitive, Grace?" Hilda judged.
"Do you two realize that this was all because of you, and I'm the one who found the solution?"
"Please don't rub it on my face," her father said forlornly. "And who could afford renting this place?"
".......It's Joseph Lee."
"Wasn't he–" her father began, his face getting red, like he's going to have a heart attack.
Hilda, who was previously lying down on the sofa, suddenly got up. "That poor merchant? He wanted to rent this mansion for a year? Where on earth did he find the money???"
"Some people work and become successful, Unnie, unlike you, who does nothing all day."
"I'm not renting this place to that rascal! How dare he think I'd let him!" Baron Kim yelled.
"Fine, Appa can lose the mansion entirely to the creditors, then," Grace replied in a sweet, mocking tone.
"What if he couldn't pay the lease?"
"Our solicitor said he now has 50 stores in 3 countries, Appa. Once you sign this, he'll pay it."
"What if it's a scam?"
"Mr. Han will make sure he pays it first. Then we have one week to leave this house and go to our townhouse in Seoul."
"Ah, mwolla! You sign it! It hurts to lease one's house!"
Impatiently, Grace sat on the study and signed the leasing contract using his father's signature and stamp. She had learnt over the years how to copy Baron Kim's signature, because his father was basically too lazy to work and manage things on his own. And her copy was so identical with her father's that even the bank accepted it as genuine.
Without another word, after signing it, Grace handed the contract to Mr. Han.
"I'll hand this to him immediately, so he can pay the money."
"Wh–do you mean he's in town?"
"Yes. He's staying at the Grand Joseon Hotel."
She felt ill again all of a sudden. Nauseous and cold-sweating, she thanked Mr. Han for taking the leasing contract from her.
That evening, he returned to show her the signed contract.
"The money had been sent to your father's bank account, My Lady."
"That's a relief. I'll proceed to pay the bills tomorrow."
"Mr. Lee has a request, though, besides the family vacating the house in a week."
"Really? What's that?"
"He specifically asked to meet you tomorrow, Ma'am."
".......I must leave. Immediately. To–to Jeju. My sister Selena needs me. I'm afraid it's quite urgent."
"I thought you're going to settle the bills and prepare the house for Mr. Lee?"
"I'll settle the bills tomorrow morning, Mr. Han. Then I'll–give very detailed instructions to the servants. I'm afraid I must leave before noon."
"That's a pity that you couldn't meet him, Ma'am. He's a very good-looking gentleman. I heard he's looking for a wife."
"Is he?"
"Yes. He's the most invited man for parties and tea by the most notorious mothers in town. You know how they resemble hunters closing in on their prey when they meet an eligible bachelor. But in regards of Mr. Lee, I can't really blame them."
"Oh. That's really good for him. I must go to Seoul after I take care of my sister Selena. I might not even be able to meet Mr. Lee the entire year, Mr. Han, you know my family panics without me."
"I know that very well, My Lady. I just hope you'll give yourself some freedom and time to rest as well."
Grace smiled at that, and thanked Mr. Han for being very kind to her and her family.
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