BIDDING ON LOVE
It was a rainy Sunday morning, Junho found himself at his family estate for their monthly family lunch. The opulent dining room was a picture of elegance, with its long marble table, sparkling chandeliers, and fine china. Despite the grandeur, the atmosphere at lunch was anything but serene. Junho sat at one end of the table, his thoughts preoccupied with the recent events that involved Yoona Lim. He was vaguely aware of the murmur of conversation around him, but his focus was on the Salvation necklace and the new complications it had introduced into his life.
“Junho,” his older half-brother Seo Yul called out, breaking through his reverie. “Any updates on retrieving grandmother’s necklace?”
Junho looked up, meeting Seo Yul’s expectant gaze. Seo Yul, with his sharp features and confident demeanor, had always been the golden child, the one who could do no wrong. His success in business, his marriage to the sophisticated Saebyeok Jang, and their charming five-year-old twin sons, Nero and Dewon, only solidified his status as the favored son.
“I’m working on it,” Junho replied evenly, masking his irritation.
Seo Yul smirked, leaning back in his chair. “I hope this is something you can manage on your own. It would be disappointing if I had to step in and fix things for you, again.”
Junho clenched his jaw, refusing to rise to the bait. His mother, Yoonhee, a graceful woman with a kind face that had aged well, casted a worried glance between her sons. Her husband, Jeongjo, a stern man with a quiet presence, continued eating, seemingly indifferent to the tension.
“Junho knows the importance of the necklace,” Yoonhee interjected, her tone soothing but firm. “I’m sure he’s doing everything he can.”
Seo Yul ignored his mother, his focus remaining on Junho. “You do understand the gravity of the situation, don’t you?” he pressed. “This is a mess her ex-husband had put us through, but grandmother, bless her soul, stated in her will that all her assets can only be distributed amongst us when the heirloom is back in our family’s custody. Until then, everything is in limbo.”
“Of course, I understand,” Junho snapped, unable to keep his frustration in check. “I’m not an idiot, Seo Yul.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Seo Yul muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Junho’s face burned with anger and shame. Being the second son from a different father had always placed him in a complicated position within the family. Despite his accomplishments, he often felt like an outsider, constantly compared to Seo Yul and found lacking.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the table. Yoonhee reached out and placed a hand on Junho’s arm, her touch gentle and reassuring. “We believe in you, Junho. Just do your best.”
Junho managed a tight smile, grateful for his mother’s support. But the weight of expectation from the rest of the family was suffocating. He knew he had to succeed, not just for the sake of the inheritance but to prove to himself and everyone else that he was capable.
After lunch, Junho retreated to his study, needing some space to clear his mind. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and sank into the leather armchair, the rain drops pattering gently in the window. His thoughts drifted back to Yoona Lim and their intense meetings.
She had asked him to contact his father to locate a jewel for her gallery. It had been a bold request, one that touched on the most sensitive part of Junho’s past. His relationship with his father was strained, to say the least. Asking for his help was not an option Junho was willing to entertain, no matter the stakes.
And then there was the incident at the recent SM Foundation charity ball, where his phone became the latest casualty. Yoona Lim is proving to be an exceptionally tough nut to crack, each interaction with her more challenging and infuriating than the last.
Now, sitting alone in his study, Junho couldn’t help but wonder if there might be another way. Yoona had seen through his defenses, crossing him in a way no one else had. He respected her tenacity, even if it infuriated him. Perhaps there was another angle he could exploit, a different strategy to outmaneuver her.
Taking a deep breath, Junho opened his laptop and began researching Yoona Lim and her auction house in greater detail. He needed to understand her better, to anticipate her moves and counter them effectively. The game they were playing was high stakes, and Junho was determined to come out on top.
Junho took another sip of whiskey, the firelight casting flickering shadows around the room. This wasn’t just about the necklace anymore. It was about proving himself, about earning the respect he deserved, and about reclaiming his family’s legacy.
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