LOCATION: Basement1, Bhatt & Srinivasan, The Financial Law Firm, Myit. TIME: 12:15 PM

LEO: *Opening the envelope*  What did you make her sign this time?

Ha Joon stays still. His immediate concern is Ana, he looks at the back seat and is surprised. 

Ana is engrossed reading the papers in front of her as the junior lawyer looks on.

LEO: *Reading the paper in his hand*  Ate never signs anything without reading. *Looks up at Ha Joon*  Except the papers you hand her.

Ha Joon looks at his brother-in-law, lost for words.

 Leo stays quiet, trying to read Ha Joon's mind.

HA JOON: I won't hurt her.

Leo stays silent.

HA JOON: Not this time.

Leo opens the door, making Ha Joon step back and climbs out of the car. He slides the paper back in the envelope, and stays quiet for a long minute, staring at it.

LEO: *Looking up at Ha Joon*  You better be serious this time.

HA JOON: Trust me. I am.

LEO: Good then. I'll hold onto these papers.

HA JOON: Leo, no! *Moves forward to grab the envelope.*

Leo swiftly holds it behind him, away from Ha Joon's reach.

ANA: *From behind Leo*  Your turn. *Snatches the envelope from his hand.*

LEO: Ate! *Watches Ana hand the envelope to Ha Joon*  Ate, come on!

ANA: *To Leo*  Get in, your turn to sign.

Leo obediently gets in the car and plops himself in front of the folder.

ANA: Read through everything. Don't sign if you don't understand or don't agree. Got it?

LEO: *Head leaning over the papers*  I know the drill, Ate.

Ana keeps a watchful eye on Leo.

Ha Joon stares at Leo, who's reading through every line before signing each paper. 

His gaze shifts and finds Ana. A long breath of frustration flows out of his lungs – Ana. The blindly in love, naive Ana. This is why I didn't want to marry you.

FLASHBACK:

HA JOON'S POV:

3 Years 4 Months ago

LOCATION: Abeonim's study, Park residence, No.1, VM Road, Myit. Time: 9 PM.

I walk into the study and close the door behind me.

OMMONIM: What took you so long?

I head to Abeonim's desk and stand with my palms crossed and head down, the only posture I am expected to stand in.

ABEONIM: I told you to be here by 7 pm. It's 9.

My eyes don't move from the spot they have always stared at every time I 'm summoned to this ridiculously expensive study; the tiny scratch on the edge of the giant mahogany table. – You know why I was late, didn't secretary Soung's report tell you that already?

HA JOON: I'm sorry. I got carried away in my work. *Looking up at Abeonim with sincere eyes* What did you need me for?

ABEONIM: It's about your wedding.

I maintain my plain exterior, masking my amusement – What about it?

HA JOON: Yes, Abeonim.

ABEONIM: We have selected a girl for you. Your wedding is in a month.

My poker face breaks – What the fuck?

HA JOON: Abeonim, my life is hectic as it is in taking over the reins of Dae Hyun Corp. Why do you want to add more chaos to it?

ABEONIM: You are not working at the speed I want you to.

I hold the fiery breath inside me and feel the burn raging through my body. – Not working at the speed you want me to? From the day I started walking you have been training me to take over Dae Hyun Corp, forcing me to ace every exam and win every competition. I even graduated a year before my peers with my masters and at 22, I am working day and night to prove to the stake holders and employees that I will make a good CEO, but yeah sorry, I'm taking too long.

ABEONIM: My health is deteriorating fast. Before I die, I want you to take over Dae Hyun corp.

Abeonim's ill health, the reason for my parents' tyrannical grip over my education and grooming, has been a close guarded family secret for years.

HA JOON: That's why I'm at the office Abeonim-

ABEONIM: That's not enough. My brothers have already started leaking my health report to our biggest shareholders.

My jaw drops - Samchoons' actually went that far? Come to think of it, it's the best time for a coup. How did I miss that?

ABEONIM: Both my liver failure and your age and inexperience, are being proclaimed as the demise of my power and hold over Dae Hyun corp. We have to shut the rumors down before they have the numbers on their side.

I look at the scar on the table – What better way than increasing the stock prices through marriage to an influential heiress? *Giving out an invisible sigh* There's no walking out of this one. Not if I want to take over Dae Hyun Corp. anytime soon.

OMMONIM: Now go freshen up and be back in 10. Your future in-laws are on their way for dinner.

LOCATION: 2nd floor Corridor, Park residence.  Time: 9.45 PM.

I shove my phone into my blazer's inner pocket and head down the stairs, thinking of all the potential brides my parents could have scouted for me. 

The Korean community in Taung Minam is quite large, but the type of family and money my parents will willingly allow into the Park Family is small. And among them, someone having a daughter closer to my age is even smaller. Maybe it's someone from America or Europe. 

Whoever the hell it is, as long as she knows how to hold up her end of the bargain and leaves me alone, I will be fine with it.

As soon as the thought finishes a blunt pain erupts in my chest and I instinctively reach for my phone. I open Insta and tap on the last searched. The page with the picture of cherry blossom trees with the name Analyn Soriano glares painfully at me. 

I always knew my life was never mine and that every aspect of my life would be dictated by my parents, and I was fine with that. Judging by the ache in my chest, I don't think I am.

My hand traces her name on the screen – It's a private account, all her posts are unavailable to me. Somehow, this fact hurts the most today.

Ana Soriano, the girl who took my breath away the first time I saw her. The only girl I knew, who could match my ambition and dedication towards taking over the family business would have been an ideal partner.

My shoulders fall with a sigh – Snap the fuck out of your high school dreams, Ha Joon. Now's not the time to get soft.

I button down my maroon blazer and tug on the sleeves, smoothing the creases as I step off the last couple of stairs. – Get a fucking grip Ha Joon. Stop dreaming about Ana.

LOCATION: Dining room, Park residence. Time: 9.55 PM.

I hear the quiet chatter before I open the dining room door. I'm late, again.

I bow as I walk in, and the room goes silent. 

I make my way to Abeonim, seated at the head of the table - Never in the 22 years of my life have I seen him seated anywhere else - and bow.

I turn around and bow to Ommonim, seated on his left and to the guests, seated on the right.

OMMONIM: Mr. and Mrs. Soriano, this is our son Ha Joon.

Hearing the Soriano name, my heart leaps. My eyes darts across the table and finds the face that takes my breath away: Seated in the flesh, at the dining table, in the freaking Park residence, is the one and only Analyn Soriano. 

What the fuck? Am I hallucinating?