Chapter 23: Seo Yoojin
"Yura, darling, how lovely to see you," Seo Yoojin said, her voice dripping with false sweetness as she approached us.
Yura\'s expression hardened, and she tightened her grip on my hand. "What do you want, Seo Yoojin?" she asked, her tone cold and uninviting.
Seo Yoojin ignored Yura\'s hostility, her attention focused entirely on me. "And who is this?" she asked, her eyes raking over me appreciatively.
I felt uncomfortable under her scrutiny, but I tried to remain composed. "I\'m Jiyeon, Yura\'s wife," I replied, my voice steady despite the unease I felt.
Seo Yoojin\'s smile widened, and she stepped closer, invading my personal space. "Well, Jiyeon, it\'s a pleasure to meet you. I must say, Yura is a lucky woman to have such a beautiful alpha by her side," she said, her tone dripping with insincerity.
I resisted the urge to pull away from her, feeling Yura\'s hand tighten around mine in a silent warning. "Thank you, but we really must be going," I said, trying to end the conversation as quickly as possible.
But Seo Yoojin wasn\'t ready to let us go that easily. She reached out, her fingers trailing lightly down my arm. "I would love to get to know you better, Jiyeon. Perhaps we could have lunch together sometime?" she suggested, her tone suggestive.
I felt a surge of anger at her audacity, but before I could respond, Yura stepped in, her voice sharp. "I don\'t think that\'s a good idea, Seo Yoojin. Jiyeon and I are married, and we have no interest in spending time with someone who clearly has ulterior motives," she said, her tone icy.
Seo Yoojin\'s smile faltered, and she took a step back, her eyes flashing with anger. "You\'re making a big mistake, Yura. Jiyeon deserves someone better than you," she spat, her words laced with venom.
Yura\'s eyes blazed with fury, and she stepped forward, her body tense with anger. "You have no right to judge our relationship, Seo Yoojin. Jiyeon is my wife , and that\'s all that matters," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
The two of them stood there, glaring at each other, their animosity palpable. I felt torn between wanting to support Yura and wanting to diffuse the situation before it escalated further.
"Yura, let\'s go," I said, gently tugging on her hand, trying to pull her away from the confrontation.
Yura hesitated for a moment, her eyes locked with Seo Yoojin\'s. Then, with a resigned sigh, she nodded and allowed me to lead her away.
As we got into the car and drove away, I could feel the tension radiating off Yura. She was seething with anger, and I knew that it would take a while for her to calm down.
"I\'m sorry you had to deal with that, Jiyeon," Yura said, her voice tight with emotion. "Seo Yoojin has always been a thorn in my side."
I reached out, taking her hand in mine and giving it a comforting squeeze. "It\'s okay" I said, trying to reassure her.
After a few minutes of silence, we arrived in front of the manor. Yura had barely parked the car when her phone rang. I watched as she frowned, glancing at the screen before answering the call. Her expression grew more intense with each passing second as she spoke with the person on the other end, her anger evident. After a few moments, she hung up, her anger slowly giving way to a look of resignation.
"I\'m sorry, Jiyeon, but I can\'t stay with you. I have to go," she said, gently stroking my head.
I felt a pang of anxiety at her words. "No, please don\'t go," I pleaded, clinging to her arm. The thought of being without her filled me with a deep sense of emptiness. "I need you here with me."
Yura sighed, her expression softening with sympathy. "I know, Jiyeon. But I really have to take care of this. It\'s important," she explained, trying to soothe me.
"But I don\'t want you to go," I insisted, my voice taking on a childish whine as I held onto her even tighter.
Yura gently pried my hands from her arm, giving me a reassuring smile. "I\'ll be back as soon as I can. I promise," she said, opening the car door for me to step out.
Reluctantly, I climbed out of the car, my heart heavy with disappointment. As soon as I stepped out, several servants approached, ready to escort me into the manor. I watched helplessly as Yura drove away, her car disappearing down the long driveway.
The servants guided me into the manor, but my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Yura. I felt a growing sense of frustration and sadness. Once inside, I made my way up to my bedroom, ignoring the servants\' concerned looks.
In my room, I closed the door behind me and locked it. I needed to be alone. The emptiness I felt without Yura was overwhelming. I sat on the edge of my bed, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. I knew she had important things to take care of, but that didn\'t make it any easier.
Time passed slowly. The servants knocked on my door several times, offering me food and checking if I needed anything, but I refused to answer. I wasn\'t hungry. I didn\'t want anything except for Yura to come back.
I lay down on my bed, curling up into a ball. The silence of the room was deafening, and I couldn\'t help but feel abandoned. The ache in my chest grew stronger with each passing minute. I stared at the ceiling, replaying the events of the day in my mind, and wishing that Yura was here with me.
As the hours dragged on, the sky outside darkened, and still, I remained in my room, refusing to eat or see anyone. The servants continued to knock on my door, their concern evident in their voices, but I ignored them all. I couldn\'t bring myself to care about anything else.
It was late at night when I finally heard the sound of a car pulling up the driveway. My heart leapt with hope. Could it be Yura? I rushed to the window and peeked outside. Relief washed over me as I saw Yura stepping out of the car.
I quickly unlocked my door and ran downstairs. When I reached the entrance hall, Yura was just coming in. Her eyes met mine, and she opened her arms. Without hesitation, I ran to her, wrapping my arms around her tightly.
"I\'m back," she whispered, holding me close.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I buried my face in her shoulder. "I missed you so much," I mumbled, my voice trembling.
"I missed you too, Jiyeon. I\'m sorry I had to leave," she said, pulling back slightly to look at me. "But I\'m here now."
We stood there for a while, just holding each other. The emptiness I had felt all day began to fade, replaced by the comforting warmth of her presence. Eventually, Yura led me back upstairs to my room. She coaxed me to eat a little, and I finally complied, the knots in my stomach loosening with each bite.
As Yura held me close, the warmth of her body easing the lingering tension in my muscles, I felt a sense of calm begin to wash over me. The day had been a whirlwind of emotions, and I was grateful to have her back by my side. Just as I started to drift into the comforting embrace of sleep, a loud, insistent growl from my stomach shattered the tranquility.
I felt my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. "Sorry," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.
Yura chuckled softly, the sound a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. "It\'s okay, Jiyeon. It sounds like you\'re hungry," she said, her fingers tracing gentle patterns on my back.
I nodded reluctantly. Despite my earlier refusal to eat, my body was now making it painfully clear that it needed sustenance. Yura gently nudged me to sit up, her eyes filled with understanding and concern.
"Come on, let\'s get you something to eat," she said, her tone light and reassuring.
We made our way downstairs to the kitchen, the manor silent and still around us. The dim lighting cast long shadows on the walls, giving the place an almost eerie, otherworldly feel. Yura flicked on the lights, dispelling the gloom and filling the space with a warm, inviting glow.
"Why don\'t you sit at the table, and I\'ll whip up something quick for you," Yura suggested, her voice full of that soothing authority she always carried.
I obeyed, my earlier reluctance replaced by a growing sense of gratitude. Watching Yura move around the kitchen with ease and familiarity brought a small smile to my lips. Despite the lateness of the hour and the exhaustion etched into her features, she moved with a grace and confidence that never failed to captivate me.
Within moments, the enticing aroma of food began to fill the air. Yura hummed softly to herself as she cooked, her presence a calming balm to my restless spirit. I watched her, my heart swelling with affection and admiration.
"Here you go," Yura said, breaking my reverie as she placed a steaming bowl of soup in front of me. "It\'s not much, but it should help."
I looked up at her, my eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," I said softly, picking up the spoon and taking a tentative sip. The warmth of the soup spread through me, soothing the gnawing hunger and bringing a sense of comfort that was more than just physical.
Yura sat across from me, her eyes never leaving my face as I ate. There was a tenderness in her gaze that made my heart ache with love. Despite everything, she was here for me, always taking care of me.
As I finished the soup, I felt a renewed sense of calm and contentment. "That was perfect," I said, setting the spoon down and smiling at Yura. "Thank you."
She reached across the table, taking my hand in hers and squeezing it gently. "I\'m glad you liked it. Now, how about we try to get some sleep?" she suggested, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and affection.
I nodded, feeling the exhaustion from the day\'s events starting to catch up with me once more. Together, we made our way back upstairs to our bedroom. The bed looked inviting, the soft sheets promising a night of much-needed rest.
Yura helped me settle back under the covers, her touch gentle and reassuring. She lay down beside me, her presence a comforting weight next to mine. I felt her arms wrap around me, pulling me close, and I sighed in contentment.
"Goodnight, Jiyeon," she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.
"Goodnight, Yura," I murmured back, my eyes already drifting shut.
This time, sleep came easily. The sound of Yura\'s steady breathing beside me was a soothing lullaby, and I felt the last remnants of my anxiety melt away. . As I drifted off , in the darkness of the night, with Yura\'s arms around me, I finally found peace. The world outside ceased to matter, and for those precious hours, everything was perfect.