Read with BonusRead with Bonus

CHAPTER NINE

OLIVER

"I swear to you, Xavier, they were literally stopping women and asking about their genotype and family background. It was insane." Ethan said and took a long sigh.

"They were stopping women on the streets?" Xavier said.

"No, nimrod. In Hermes. You think the Kang women would marry their son to someone they met on the street?" Ethan said.

"Oh!"

"Wait till it is your turn, I'm going to join them to search for a wife for you." I sneered at Ethan.

"Oh, I'm in no rush. I know you are not getting married anytime soon. Searching for a wife for you doesn't allow them to think about me. I'm having tons of fun as a single man." Ethan said and laughed.

"Having your dick publicized is not called fun. It's callled embarrassment." I said.

"That is so not true. Do you know there are t-shirts with the picture of my dick imprinted on them? I call it popularity."

I sighed. Spending time with Ethan and Xavier wasn't exactly how I planned on spending my weekend. I'd rather be in my office trading stocks and occasionally monitoring my little monkey's activities though the cameras, than listening to my cousin talk about his dick.

Ethan is a certified playboy. I'm just a year older than him. We've lived together our entire life and have attended every school together since elementary. We met Xavier in middle school. All three of us have been inseparables since then.

Ethan and Xavier had came to my office and asked that we go to the cold sauna at the Valhalla club. Correction, Ethan was tired of Suzy and my mum dragging him around New York bride hunting for me. He called Xavier and they both came to drag me out of the office for some 'bro time'.

"So tell me all about this mystery girl. You employed her as your maid after she beat you at chess? Bro, that's some next level shit." Ethan said.

Ethan wanted to hear all about 'the mystery girl who could tame the devil'. I chuckled when I heard that nickname. If only he knew Dallas personally, he'll know she is actually 'the girl that could make the devil want to commit suicide'.

"I'm telling you, Ethan. Your cousin is officially pussy whipped." Xavier said and chuckled.

"I never thought I'd agree with you, Xavier, but you are so right. Our little moon pie is finally growing up. I'm so proud of you." Ethan said and pretended to get teary.

"Do not call me that." I groaned. Suzy invented the nickname. It consists of two of her favorite things, the moon and pie. She calls me that since I'm her favorite cousin. I'm thirty four but my aunt doesn't think I've outgrown the nickname.

"You love it." Ethan said and they both laughed.

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not pussy whipped. I can't even stand the girl. I just needed a maid and she was available. That's the whole story. Now will you please drop it?" I said harshly.

"I told you. Pussy whipped." Xavier said. Another round of laughter.

God, I'm associating with hyenas. They don't even act like they're in their thirties. High schoolers are much more well behaved than them.

I didn't know why I thought they would listen to me. Dallas was as desirable as a piece of mediocre art. The one you buy because the artist is your friend and you don't have the heart to tell them that their art is pathetic.

"Are you back in New York for good now?" I directed my question at Ethan.

Ever since we graduated college, Ethan never stays in one city for more than a month. He is actually the CEO of a very successful food company. Honestly, I don't know how his business survives to grow that big. He is not interested in marriage. Which makes very sure that Suzy and mum will have a very hard time finding him a bride.

"I don't know man. Maybe. Might have some fun with New York ladies for the meantime." He said.

“Or maybe you'd find love.” Xavier said. This time I was the one who snorted. Ethan bursted into a full blown laughter.

“You're thirty three, Xavier. And you're talking about love? Really?” I said.

“The cold is getting into his head.” Ethan said.

“Don't blame me, I'm the only one with a fiance here.” Xavier said.

Xavier was already pacing around the sauna. The temperature had dropped drastically from when we entered.

"Sit down. You're making me dizzy." I snarled at him.

"I can't. It's freezing in here. Can't you feel it?" He said, shivering as he spoke. Ethan had joined him in pacing around. They rubbed their palms together in desperate need for warmth.

I was the only one sitting calmly. I didn't feel anything. I stopped feeling anything after that day, twenty years ago. Heat, cold, spiciness. I can't feel them. I'm like a robot. Only I was programmed to show indifference towards the human race and not worship them like actual robots do.

Ethan and Xavier continued pacing around until the timer dinged. They half sprinted out of the sauna. I shook my head at their behavior.

.

.

.

“Oh my sweet moon pie, I've missed you so much.” Suzy said as she approached me, shopping bags hanging on both her arms. She spread her arms wide open, stood about two meters away from me and air kissed me. She knew better than to touch me.

She has been doing that since my dad died and I developed the allergy. As a teenage boy, It made me feel less strange that I couldn't touch people. But right now, it just feelsa weird.

“How has my moon pie been?” She asked.

“Don't call me that.” I said in a low but clipped tone. I didn't care if I sounded rude. They were used to my manner of talking anyway.

“Still very grumpy, I see.” Suzy said. She walked back to the living room and set her bags on the couch. She could have just left her bags in the car trunk. Why bring them in?

I was sitting across my mother. She was going through her phone and didn't even seem to notice her sister's chattering. Suzy went to sit beside my mother and they soon start to talk. I was having lunch with them. Ethan was supposed to join us but he dissapeared right after we left the sauna. Asshole.

I had no choice but to eat with them even though I didn't want to. The whole conversation is going to be about my marriage. It's the only thing we ever talk about in the family.

I cut my chicken breast a bit too hard, the knife screeching on the plate. Neither of them seems to notice me.

“Oh my god, is that Jenna Jang?” Suzy squealed. I had to cover my ears with how loudly she squealed.

“Yes. Isn't she such a beauty?” My mum said and gushed.

“Yes. She has grown to be a very beautiful young lady. I remember the last time I saw her, she was so little.” Suzy said.

I didn't know who the Jenna was. But judging from how they were speaking about her, she seems to be someone they knew personally.

“She is a very successful model too. Look at all these brands she models for. She is going to make a great daughter in law.” My mother said.

Never in my life did I think a day would come that my mother will call a model ‘successful’ or even consider them a potential bride for me. She usually refers to them as walking bone structure. This Jenna must be an alien.

“Oliver, do you remember Jenna? You used to play together when you were little.” My mother said and handed me the phone.

The girl doesn't even look a bit familiar. Pink lips. Perfectly shaped eyebrows. Straight and pointed nose. Long brown hair, not blond like my mother had always wanted. She seems to have had a few Botox here and there.

I was accessing my soon-to-be fiance's picture as if I was going through a contract.

“No, I don't. Who is she?” I handed her phone back to her.

“You should look closely. You might remember something.” Suzy said, snatching the phone from my mum and literally shoving it in my face.

“Jenna is the only daughter of Ron Jang. They were a very close friend of ours before we left Korea. You and Jenna grew up together.” She explained.

My family moved out of Korea before I was even ten. How do they expect me to remember her?

“Do you remember when she was born? Oliver stood by her cradle and stared at her all day. He called her his new baby sister. He said he couldn't wait for her to grow up. It was so cute.” Suzy said.

It doesn't sound like something I would say. If she were as important as they were implying I would remember her. The fact that I don't means she is not. I vaguely remember

I placed the phone on the table and continued with my food. I hadn't had the chance to talk to my little monkey all day and it is having a strange effect on me. I felt the sudden urge to stand up from this place and go see her.

Suzy's phone started ringing.

“Frank is calling. I have to take this.” She said and stood up from the table. Frank was her fiance.

As soon as Suzy left the table, my mother turned her whole attention to me.

“She is beautiful, isn't she?” She asked.

“She is.” I nodded.

“Your father and her father were close friends when he was alive. I'm sure he will be happy if you marry his best friend’s daughter.” She said.

“I'm sure he will.” I showed very less interest in her words.

She cleared her throat.

“I heard some rumours that you've been associating with a certain red haired girl.” She said and cringed her nose.

I don't know why, but that tiny action offended me. I've never been concerned about anything my mum does, but the way she referred to Dallas pissed me off a great deal. I didn't say anything to her.

“Some people said the both of you were quite…close during my birthday party. I would love to meet her if you are exclusive. I don't mind that she is… red.” She said trying and failing to smoothen her facial expression.

I'm sure she doesn't know that Dallas works for me now otherwise she would have never made that suggestion.

“We are not like that. You don't have to worry.” I said.

I could see the instant relief in her eyes.

“Great. So do you agree to give Jenna a chance?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay. I'll call her and tried to fix a meeting.” She said.

Her eyes lit with excitement that her four years of labor had finally come to an end. I was less enthusiastic about the bride.

But maybe if my father was alive, he would have also wanted for me to get married to his best friend's daughter. Maybe if I actually do this, I would finally fufil a wish of my father's. And also, make his wife happy by getting married. Maybe he would finally forgive me for killing him.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter