"I told you you had nothing to worry about, Princess." Taehyung was furious, not so much that Leah had indeed applied for full custody of Lily, but about how it affected Mina.
The summons had arrived the next day at Taehyung's office.
It was a coincidence that Taehyung was still there, as they were preparing a big presentation for a new project and working overtime. He had taken Mina and Lily with him because he had no plans to delay, and they both wanted to spend the day outside. He also wanted to show Mina her new job, something she naturally reacted to in her own shy way, blushing at his hints that Taehyung wanted her always at hand. And now, instead of having fun in a park, eating out and laughing, they were at home, Lily was sad in her room, and Mina was blaming herself and packing. Something Taehyung was trying to stop.
"Stop it, for God's sake!" he growled, his patience running out as he ate her clothes from the suitcase and put them back in her closet. He would have preferred to be in his, but she still refused to move into his room. "No, Taehyung, while I'm here, she will continue with the case." Mina argued, putting her things back in the suitcase. "She only wants money, Mina. Don't let her separate us." he pulled out her clothes again, dropping a few on the floor. "And you saw the reasons she gave. Our coexistence is really immoral!" Mina tried to get her clothes back, but found herself in his arms. "Princess, there's nothing immoral about living together! Lily adores you, and I ... Well, we'll just speed up my plans." he sighed, stroking her back soothingly, "I didn't mean to do that, but Leah didn't give me another choice. Wait here!" he ordered softly, and hurried out of her bedroom.
Mina stared after him, but dutifully stayed where she was. Taehyung returned just minutes later, and under her astonished gaze, he fell to one knee in front of her, handing her a small black velvet box. He opened it carefully and stared at her. "Princess, I know I'm probably pressuring you, but the truth is, I haven't been able to take my eyes off you for almost a year." he smiled. "You showed my daughter what motherly love and care is, proving many times how much you love her. You brought back my light, making me enjoy life again and healing wounds you didn't even know about." He took out the ring, grabbed her hand and put it on her ring finger. "Zhang Mina, I can't do another day without you and the happiness with which you illuminate this home." she swallowed nervously as he stroked the ring, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Marry me, Mine? " he whispered, looking at her intently, his eyes gleaming.
"Taehyung ..." Her voice trembled uncertainly, staring at the ring. He stood up quickly and hugged her, pressing her head to his chest. "I really thought I'd wait a few more months, but that's what I want, Princess." he kissed the top of her head. "I can't live without you, so don't kill me by refusing!" he knew her weaknesses, and as much as he didn't want to, he used them to keep her. He wouldn't let a bitch like Leah separate them. And if he knew that he had to manipulate Mina a little, so be it!
"Honey, I know this is more than you can handle right now, but I want you to know that Leah is not the reason I want to marry you." she sighed slightly, and he smiled, knowing he had won this battle. Stepping back slightly, he looked down at her and kissed her tenderly, uncertainly, her lips joining his. "Is that a 'yes'?" Taehyung whispered, raising her face to let her see that he was fully convinced of his actions. She nodded shyly, blushing and avoiding his gaze. "Princess!" he hugged her tightly, twirling her around as he kissed her face. Her laughter flowed into the room, she wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed in his lips.
"Let's go tell Lily!" he released her, took her hand, and dragged her after him. "Taehyung, wait ..." she almost ran after him, unable to walk at the pace of his long legs. He stormed into Lily's room, startling the child, who was sadly curled up on her bed.
With a wide smile, he pulled Mina and pressed her to sit on Lily's bed, himself kneeling in front of them both. The child stared at him in fright. He took their hands in his and smiled at her. "Lily, my sweet, you love Miss Mina, don't you?" he asked the startled child, and she nodded. "And what would you say if Miss Mina stayed with us forever and was your mother?" he continued, and Lily turned to Mina with wide eyes.
Mina's heart was pounding. Not wanting to press her, for God's sake, Taehyung literally threw her to the bottom of the ocean, letting the pressure crush her. Breathing fast and awaiting her verdict, she stared into the huge children's eyes. "Really? My real mother?" Lily asked softly, staring into her face, and Mina nodded with a slight "And she will never leave?" Lily turned to her father, stabbing an arrow right into his heart, knowing that she was asking about her birth mother, who had abandoned them. He looked at the picture of Leah on Lily's nightstand, she knew her mother only from her, and though Taehyung hated it, he couldn't deny that Lily had a right to know who her mother was.
Taehyung had chosen to tell her himself rather than find out from someone else and be hurt more than necessary. "That's right, sweetie." Taehyung assured her. Lily turned to Mina again. "Do you promise?" she asked, and Mina nodded, spreading her arms, and Lily threw herself into them with happy shouts, almost knocking her over on her back.
Taehyung watched the two with relief, his heart singing, illumined by the happiness on their faces. This is exactly what he wanted, what he dreamed of.
The tension had melted, and now Mina was smiling happily at his daughter, at their daughter, casting short, shining glances at him.