Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 369: Broken And Damaged

“Isn’t it mannerless of a married woman to be seen in a private room with an unmarried man, dressed like she’s in desperate need of a winter cuddle? Or is this the new dress code for a mating call?” Ni-Na’s eyes lowered to her protruding cleavages.

Ji-A’s hand subconsciously travelled to her chest, and Ni-Na couldn’t help but chuckle.

“He’s my-” Ji-A slurred.

“Yes, say it. He’s your-?” Ni-Na urged her. She tsked and shook her head when Ji-A failed to continue her words.

“I’ll help you. The word is step son. He’s your stepson, not your friend, or fiance. He’s your stepson and nothing more.”

“You-” Ji-A gritted. She hated being addressed as In-Ha’s mother-in-law.

“Mrs Kang, you might not care about what’s ever left of your reputation, and I doubt if there’s anything left of it. After all, the world knows you’re a pretty lady who loves gold and has searched for it in the pocket of both father and son. But for the sanity of us onlookers, please watch your attitude. Not all of us agree with this licentiousness and indecency. I should be looking up to you as an elder, but here you are making me talk rudely to you and I don’t like it. So, please do us a great service and behave like the married woman you are. Do you understand me?” She asked.

.....

“Mrs Kang?” Ni-Na called when Ji-A remained silent, but the turbulent storm in her eyes was clear to them.

She smiled and turned to In-Ha. “Your stepmom understands us. Next time when you visit her home, ensure to get some beauty product, it seems marriage comes with a lot of hardship, hmm?”

In-Ha didn’t know if he should laugh or cry, but he desperately wanted to laugh. He obediently nodded his head, and Ji-A’s face turned white with anger. He lowered his eyes to his wrist when he felt a small hand wrap around him and pull him out.

Seeing how stiff her shoulder was, and from how tight she was squeezing his wrist as she marched them out, he could tell she was angry. He willingly let himself get dragged out of the room and building till they got outside.

Ni-Na let go of his hand and turned to him. He was amused seeing her heave repeatedly to calm herself.

“You’re just as fierce as your sister-in-law to be.” He chuckled while Ni-Na blankly stared at him. She saw how the word sister-in-law made his lips twitch for a second.

“Are you still hung up on them?” She asked.

“Hung up on who?” He was confused.

“Hung up on those mountains that would have sandwiched your face, and sniff whatever life you have inside of you.”

It took a while for In-Ha to realize what she was referring to, and when he did, he cracked up. “Those mountains aren’t of interest to me anymore. I think my taste has improved.” He winked. “I think I like more busty women now.”

“It’s a given as that can be attributed to the less grey matter in your head, bro In-Ha. Maybe somewhere between those breasts, you have been cured of your intelligence. Tell me, do you get paid for the wrong choices you make in women, except sister In-law, of course? ” She cocked a brow at him.

“Little brat, believe me, I’m not turned on by my father’s properties.” He told her.

“Are you sure? Then why do I feel if I had waited a little longer I’d had found your head in a tangle of limbs, while you mindlessly drill for gold in your ex-fiancee and now stepmother, who’d be spread-eagled on a sofa.”

In-Ha chuckled. “Your mouth is too foul little girl, and your imagination too wild for a girl your age.”

“Well, blame you for the constant nightmare I suffer from seeing two lovers ferociously testing the integrity of my bed when I was nothing but a child. That sort of trauma doesn’t leave you the same.”

“You still remember that?” In-Ha asked with widened eyes, but a hint of smile made them sparkle. That had been an unfortunate incident where he had banged his classmate in her bed during one of their study sessions. The girls were all into Dan-Han, and he was well...too young. “I’m sorry. I was young then, but I’m better now.”

“Yeah, and the myriad of girls who had been blessed by you can attest to how ‘better’ you’ve become.”

“I’m still older than you, you know. You should talk to me with some respect and my sex life-”

“Shouldn’t at all be my problem, that I know, but shame on you for not being able to hide your debauchery from my face.” She retorted.

“Kiddo, why are you so angry?” He curiously inquired, making Ni-Na’s eyes glow with fury.

“I’m no longer your kiddo. I’m 21 years old.” She sternly told him. In-Ha obediently nodded when he saw she was really mad. Her eyes were just as cold as that brother of hers she loved so much, and he didn’t want to get scorched in her fire.

“You’d be a handful of trouble, young lady.”

“Better to be a handful of problems, than be a legendary humphing adult with too much baggage, and an impending STD.”

In-ha’s lips twitched with a smile. He had to admit he missed her wit and her sharp tongue.

“You were so much fun when you were young and innocent. How did you grow so fast?” He folded his arms and asked.

“Same way you grew a reputation of being a heartbreaker.” She fired back, making him laugh.

“I’ve changed, truly.” He swore.

“An anthem for damaged and broken souls. Really?” She cocked a brow at him. Nina was certain there was no changing for In-Ha. He was broken and damaged. He was into Eun-sun even when he knew she was his best friend. That’s how deep his brokenness ran.

“You’re terrible.” In-Ha smiled.

“Thank you, and before you say something else that’ll make me regret saving you from committing the biggest mistake of your life, I’ll take my leave.”

“But this conversation just got better.”

“Maybe to you, but I just got bored and it’s making me wary. I have some errands to run, senior brother In-Ha. See you later.” She said and waved as she trotted away.

Countless times she had told herself to keep away from In-Ha, the man was trouble and every inch of him reeked of it, but somehow she keeps bumping into him.