Suddenly, I'm Engaged

Ilgop

Secretary Moon walks towards Mr. Shin’s study room. He knocks on the door but no one responds so he asks one of the maids if Mr. Shin went somewhere but she said that he didn’t leave the room after she delivers him a cup of tea. Hearing those words alerted Mr. Moon and asks for the master key immediately. He saw Mr. Shin passed out on his chair so he immediately calls for the doctor.

Mr. Shin was diagnosed last year with Systolic Heart Failure wherein the left ventricle of his heart, which pumps most of the blood, has become weak. This may happen because it's gotten bigger. Since it is larger, the ventricle can't contract the way it should. Because of that, his heart doesn't pump with enough force to push blood throughout your body.

The doctor gave him some drip as Mr. Shin lies on his bed. Work-related stress makes his condition gets worse. The doctor advised Mr. Moon that it would be better if he’ll stop Mr. Shin from working or else this will not be the last time he’ll pass out. Fortunately, Mr. Moon found him immediately. What makes him worry is that what if no one finds him as he faints and they’ll find him too late? That thought scares Mr. Moon a lot because he respects and treats Mr. Shin like his real father.

After an hour or two, Mr. Shin finally wakes up. He was surprised to see himself lying on his bed and the drip on his arm. He tried to stand on his own but he feels too dizzy. Mr. Moon saw him awake and helped him to sit and put a pillow on his back. He asked what happened and Mr. Moon explains everything. As he hears the story, he has nothing to say but to sigh. It seems like he’s contemplating what to do.

“What were you thinking, sir?” Mr. Moon looked concerned.

“How’s Liam nowadays?” He murmured.

Liam is the only grandchild of Mr. Shin and the sole inheritor of his real estate company for over four decades in the business. His son, Liam’s father, died in a car accident when he was three years old so he raised Liam on his own. He filled Liam’s life with wealth and fatherly love but Liam left the mansion when he fell in love with Jane as Mr. Shin doesn’t agree with their relationship. At the young age of seventeen, Liam leaves the mansion and decided to stay in one of his apartments with Jane. Since that day, Liam never visits his grandfather and stands firmly for their relationship.

“He’s still living with Jane and continues studying while using his card.” Mr. Moon explained.

“I guess he had enough time playing with this game. It’s time to flip the table to wake him up with his fantasy. Call that girl and bring him here.” Mr. Shin instructed.

Mr. Moon follows his instruction and brought Jane into the mansion. It was the first time he went to Liam’s real house. She never thought Liam is wealthier more than she could imagine. As they arrived, two maids open the wooden antique door for them. The white marble flooring makes the hallway looks like a lobby of a five-star hotel. The hallway flows into a large, wide oak-wooden staircase that provides the main means of entering the entertainment area of the house to the private rooms on the second floor. She’s controlling herself from jaw-dropping but she fell in love with the interior. The dream house she could never have.

Mr. Moon leads her to Mr. Shin’s study room and sits on the couch as freshly squeezed juice and some macaroons were served. She took a sip as an old man in his wheelchair arrives and Mr. Moon bows on him. Then she realized it was Liam’s grandfather. She immediately stands and was about to greet her but he gestured his hand to stop her from doing so.

Mr. Moon stands right next to him and holds an envelope.

“Since I’m not feeling well and it seems you’re quite busy, I won’t waste both of our time. I heard you’ve been applying to different modeling agencies to reach for your dream.”

She was in awe to hear that statement. It felt like her private life was being monitored without her knowing.

“Y-yes, sir.” She managed to respond as she clenched her hand beside her lap.

“I’ll give you the wings to fly towards your dream.”

Jane smirked as if she knows what’s going to happen. Like any drama dating a man from a rich family, a poor girl like her would never deserve to be part of their family. The inner b*tch in her starts getting annoyed.

“I know you need Liam as he supports you for all your necessities as you pursue your dream. I’ll do that instead. I’ll help you to become a famous model that can even walk on a runway of a famous French Fashion house.” He offered.

Jane’s eyes wide-opened as she heard Mr. Shin’s offer. It’s like a free pass towards her dream, a once in a life time opportunity that she could never have. Staying beside Liam takes a lot of effort before she became a successful supermodel but Mr. Shin is offering her a ticket towards stardom. She’s torn between her dream and their relationship. She’s very much grateful to Liam for being kind, caring, and loving but her biggest dream is waving right in front of her.

“If I’ll take those wings, what should I give you in return?” She tried to ask, hoping that it was not what she’s thinking of.

“You’ll have to leave the country today and change your identity. A new life with a brighter future ahead.” Mr. Moon answered and gave her the envelope.

She clasps her hand as she hears those words. It means she can’t even say goodbye to Liam and even tell him how much she felt so grateful to have him in her life, especially at times that she was struggling. But for now, her dream is what she needs and wants. So she immediately agreed on it and signed the papers.

======

It’s been days since Liam couldn’t reach for Jane. Her phone is off and she didn’t go home for almost five days. He knows Jane would never ignore her call. She’ll send him a message when she’s busy but this time, he receives nothing. He tried to look for her on the different agencies where she works for part-time gigs but they said she didn’t visit for almost a week. Liam looked for her all over the place but failed to found her.

His phone rings so he immediately picked it up hoping it was Jane but a man’s voice is all he can hear on the other line. It’s Mr. Moon. He was told that he will pick him up after an hour and brings him to the mansion. Since the day he left the mansion, he was never asked or persuaded to go back home. He thought something’s going on with his grandfather so immediately agreed on it.

As soon as he enters Mr. Shin’s study, his heart aches to see him that way. Despite choosing Jane over his grandfather, he always wishes him good health and he will be forever grateful for raising him into who he is right now. He felt guilty as if his heart was being pinched as he looks at him sitting in his wheelchair. His eyes became teary. He felt like he was being punished for being selfish as Jane left her without any words and his grandfather, being in that condition. He asked Mr. Shin what happened and he said that he just has to take a rest for a few days. Lying to his grandson to stop him from worrying and changed the topic.

“I need you to do something for me.” Mr. Shin said. Liam nodded like a child as he immediately agreed on it without hearing any details.

“Okay. I’ll do it, whatever it may be if that could help you lessen your burden.” Liam responds.

He was instructed to go somewhere and Mr. Moon will handle all the details. He has to do some business meetings and business trips in his stead. But to avoid the rumors from spreading that Mr. Shin is in bad condition, which will cause their stocks from plummeting, he has to enroll as a student. That would be the best excuse for an eighteen-year-old guy like him going on that country. And that would be the escape from those boards of directors who wants to take over the company that Mr. Shin has been working hard for over the four decades.

“Alright. But once I’ve accomplished all the tasks you have for me, you have to grant me a wish for doing a great job.” He demanded.

“What could that be?” Mr. Shin became curious.

“I’ll tell you once I’m done doing a great job.”