Pay With Your Heart

Mrs. Lee asked Eun-sun about work and her family and vaguely asked Dan-Han about work since she knew his response would be curt and succinct. She was used to his aloof attitude and by the way, tonight wasn't for him but her potential daughter-in-law....hehehe.

"Your father left a file on his desk for you. He asked me to inform you about it" Mrs. Lee said after they were done eating. Dan-Han nodded and excused himself.

He looked at Eun-sun as he walked away, and his lips curled up when he noticed how lovely and brightly she was smiling while talking to his mother. That was the brightest he had seen her smile. She liked his mother more than him, even though he met her first.

Mrs. Lee's eyes followed Dan-Han till he was out of sight. She stood up from her seat, smiled at Eun-sun, and beckoned on her to follow her, and Eun-Sun did.

She wanted to give Eun-sun a tour of the manor, and also get to talk to her before Dan-Han finishes up from the study.

Eun-sun was marveled by each part of the house Mrs. Lee took her. She couldn't begin to imagine the money and effort they had put in into making the house as grand as it was. The grandeur of the house was exquisite....it was picturesque. She thought she had been dazzled by Dan-Han's house, but this was another level.

"Auntie your house is beautiful," Eun-sun said in awe, making the woman smile.

"Thank you" She replied to Eun-sun's compliment as she led her to a big hallway that had a lot of family photographs framed on the wall. It was like their own walk-in gallery.

She stopped at the beginning of the hallway and looked at the wall decorated with family photographs. "And these are our memories," she said making Eun-sun's jaw drop. She had seen something similar to this during her visit to the museum back in high school but she didn't think someone could have something like this in their home.

Eun-sun walked ahead with slow and curious steps, her eyes darting at both sides of the walls as she looked at the pictures. Generational pictures were showing their descendants.

"Is that uncle?" Eun-sun inquisitively asked when she saw a picture of a stoic and domineering-looking man hanging on the wall. His features were similar to a certain someone she knew.

"Yes," Mrs. Lee replied as she walked beside Eun-sun. Eun-sun saw different pictures of the family, mostly of Dan-Han. It seemed like every moment of his life had been captured on these walls. They were pictures from his childhood till his college days. His facial expression on each picture was different from the other. There were some he had a smile etched on his face and Eun-sun couldn't believe she was looking at the same man she had been working with for a month now.

He looked different... lively... and handsome.

"That was Dan-Han when he went for his first charity outreach with me somewhere in Africa," Mrs. Lee said with a proud smile. A hint of pride and happiness can be heard in her voice as she spoke about each photograph and her charity work and Dan-Han's involvement in it.

Eun-sun looked at her and she observed the happy and yet sad look in her eyes. She understood how the woman was feeling, but she decided to stay mute and let her speak, while her eyes followed every picture she pointed to. She spoke about the kids and people she had encountered during her numerous outreaches. Eun-sun never knew Mrs. Lee was the founder of the biggest charity foundation in the country. She had always admired the person behind such great work but she never thought it was her.

Of course, only someone with a heart like Mrs. Lee would be able to do such great works and it made her wonder why of all people did it have to be her who got to have an early death sentence. It pained her heart.

"Dan-Han can be very cold headed you know. He always acts cold and aloof but he hasn't always been like this. He has a big heart and always intends to do good but his only problem is that he doesn't know how to show it, and might always do things the wrong way, but if you're close to him you'll get to see his true nature" She spoke softly, her smile not leaving her face.

Eun-sun looked at Mrs. Lee as she wondered why she was speaking about Dan-Han so keenly. She doubted if it was the same Lee Dan-Han who she knew that Mrs. Lee was currently talking about.

That man didn't look like he had a kind soul inside of him.

Mrs. Lee fully turned and looked at Eun-sun.

"Do you like my son?" Mrs. Lee finally dropped the bomb on Eun-sun that made her eyes go wide and her mouth slightly gaped.

Eun-sun eyes blinked rapidly as she stared at the woman.

Mrs. Lee chuckled when she saw her innocent look. She reached for Eun-sun's hand and held it in hers.

"You don't have to look so shocked" She smiled. "It's okay if you don't, I just wanted to ask. As a mother, I couldn't help but notice how he treated you earlier" She paused when she noticed how Eun-sun was suddenly looking uncomfortable. She sighed.

"Don't feel uncomfortable or pressured about my words. It just that I already like you and I feel like I know you already, and who wouldn't want the people they know and love to end up with each other?" She paused and chuckled again.

"I'm sounding weird right?" She asked smilingly. "Please don't mind me. I just want to say, if you think you can like Dan-Han or anyone else don't think too much about it. Let yourself be loved and love back. Because my dear, life is short and we should get the most out of it any way we can.

Don't let things slip away from you because you're burdened by the unnecessary things of life. Truobles and problems are constant in life but know they'll surely pass away but it's the people that we have in our life's at that time that will stay and help us get through them" She told her.

"I know I'm saying a lot now, well maybe it's because I'm getting closer to the end of my days and I want to see my loved ones happy that's why I keep giving lectures." She raised her hand and held Eun-sun's cheek in it, while Eun-sun placed her hand on it. She felt a weird kind of pain in her heart when she heard Mrs. Lee say those words. She didn't want her to die or say anything about dying. She didn't want that at all.

"I know you'll do great Eun-sun. And I wish when you begin to like someone, I pray you give my son a try. It is my earnest desire" She said with a smile as she looked into the pair of hazel eyes that were sadly staring at her.

"Mother what are you doing?" A voice spoke from behind them interrupting their moment.They turned to look at the cold man approaching with steady steps.

"Nothing just taking a tour" Mrs. Lee replied while Eun-sun looked from her to the man who was approaching them.

"You're done?" She inquired of him.

"Yes"

"Then why don't you show her those architectural works you made while you were younger. I heard Eun-sun has an eye for architecture" She said looking at Eun-sun who was looking at her dumbfoundedly. How did she know that? Eun-sun asked herself.

Dan-Han didn't need anyone to tell him how his mother knew about Eun-sun's interest in architecture. It was that silly secretary of his.

"Mother you should stop talking to my secretary," Dan-Han said as she walked past her and approached Eun-sun.

Mrs. Lee laughed when she heard him. "Why should I stop talking to him? It's not my fault he likes me more than his boss. I'm a very pretty lady" She said with a mischievous wink making Eun-sun smile lightly. This woman was unique, she concluded in her heart and she felt jealous of Dan-Han.

She wondered how she always smiled despite her problem.

"Mother" Dan-Han growled at her making her clucked at him.

"What a buzz kill" She hissed. "You don't know how to have fun. Eun-sun if he ever asks you, please reconsider and say no"

"Mother" Dan-Han snapped. His face suddenly turned dark. He couldn't believe his mother was about to ruin all his efforts. Mrs. Lee laughed out when she noticed their stunned expression. She shook her head amusedly.

"Eun-sun dear, let him show you around. I assure you you'll love his designs" She said before walking away.

With her son's character, he might never get a chance with her or with any other girl.

'What a headache' She hissed in her mind as she walked away.

....

Yayy...it's a new month. Happy new month.

I want to say a big thank you for all your love and support. I appreciate all your support for this story. Thank you.

Hope you have a great month ahead of you.

Also, kindly drop your thoughts and ideas about the story, as it would help me grow and develop the areas I might be lacking.

I hope to do better this morning month.

Thanks a lot.