But he was also there in ways that people were rarely there for her. When her grief became too much, he would sit with her in silence. When she questioned whether she deserved happiness, he would remind her that her worth was not something that needed to be earned. When people in his business circle made comments about her skin or her hair or her features, framing them as compliments—"You're pretty for an American" or "Your English is so impressive for someone from your background"—he would notice the way it made her flinch, and he would quietly remove
One evening, they attended a charity event for one of his hotels. A prominent businessman approached them, and after greeting Jin, he turned to Maya and said, "So this is the American girl. I must say, you are quite exotic. Very interesting choice for someone of Jin's standing."
