CHAPTER 10

"She's beautiful, just like you told me."

Jumin watches as a woman with beautiful long hair strokes Elizabeth the 3rd's fur. Her back is to him and her clothes fit her perfectly, making him melt at the sight of her.

Because she was beautiful.

He didn't need to see her face to know. He just knew.

His heart reached out to her and he wanted nothing more but to have her in his arms, to feel her against him. To keep her safe.

As he called out to her, she turned and smiled at him.

That sad smile.

"MC, I've missed you."

"Jumin—"

She gasped and her eyes went wide. Jumin screamed her name as MC looked down and saw blood spreading across her chest, staining her dress.

"MC!"

Jumin leans back in his seat, drumming his fingers nervously against his thigh. It has been two days since he last saw Kim Hong Chul, who now goes by the name Kim Chul Soo. Two days since he asked Assistant Kang to dig up everything she could find on him.

Two days since he found out Chul Soo is engaged to a woman whose name the articles didn't mention.

Jumin guessed that Chul Soo paid the press not to publish her name but the paparazzi these days are too good and too persistent. So even though there are only five photos of the girl and in each one her face is blurred or obscured, Jumin instantly knew it was her the moment he saw her long brown hair.

MC.

She's here.

And she's alive.

Even Assistant Kang was stunned when she found the photos, saying the couple looked eerily similar to the young couple at the vineyard, from 70 years ago.

...they probably are the same couple. But Jumin didn't say it out loud. He never believed in reincarnation, but everything seemed like too much of a coincidence.

What if he's wrong though? What if everything is merely a coincidence and the reason he's deluded himself to believing this fantasy is because he still loves her?

But no, Jumin Han will not take chances. Not when it comes to her.

Not after that horrible dream.

He sighs, closing his eyes and pushing the image of the dream from his mind.

After the last phone call, MC had been a frequent visitor in his dreams and Jumin would always wake up with a familiar ache in his heart. If only he had saved her. If only he could have changed her destiny.

He can't help but take out his phone and pull out the photo of the woman —Chul Soo's fiancée. In the photo, her hand is covering her face and he can see her slender fingers and an image of her wide eyes and bruised face flashes in his mind.

Jumin's fingers tighten on his phone at the thought of Hong Chul laying his fingers on her.

But he takes a deep breath and regains his composure as the car rolls to a stop in front of C&R's five-star resort hotel, the venue of the company's Client Appreciation Night.

Staff wearing elegant masks rush to the side of his car just as his bodyguards block the photographers and media crew lining the entrance.

Of course —he almost forgot.

Reluctantly, he reaches for the simple yet expensive mask on the seat beside him and puts it on, tying the ribbon behind his head securely.

The theme of the party for that evening is a masquerade and even though Jumin didn't like themed events, he swallowed his irritation and put his clients' interests first, reminding himself that happy clients would most likely be more willing to give their money to his company.

The door opens and he steps out, the flashes from the cameras momentarily blinding him. His bodyguards usher him to the entrance of the hotel as Jumin blinks away the spots dancing in front of his eyes. He could never understand how Zen manages to stand this all the time without bodyguards to protect him.

As Jumin steps into his hotel, the staff immediately bow to him but he doesn't notice them, too busy mentally preparing himself for evening ahead. His heart hammered against his chest in nervousness. And excitement. Deep down, he hoped that everything will turn out the way he wants it to.

Jumin strides across the busy lobby and makes his way to the grand ballroom, ignoring the whispers and lingering looks the hotel guests are throwing his way. The young heir doesn't realize it, but his stylist did an excellent job with his outfit for the evening, including his mask. That's why, the moment he stepped out of the car, all eyes are on him.

Not that it mattered to Jumin.

He could hear the pulsing music from the ballroom from afar and he makes a mental note to ask Assistant Kang to invest in soundproofing the ballroom to avoid inconveniences with other guests.

The doors open and he steps into the room. Laughter and snippets of various conversations greet him, along with the rhythmic pounding of some pop song he briefly heard on the radio once. Guests don masks of different shapes and sizes and Jumin scans each of their faces, searching for that one person he most desperately hoped to see.

Would he recognize her when —if —they do get to see each other tonight?

Jaehee spots Mr. Han and rushes to his side, noting how her boss is sweeping the room with his gray eyes.

"Mr. Han."

Jumin turns to her and it takes him a moment longer to recognize her beneath the mask.

"Has he arrived yet?" Jumin asks immediately.

"Not yet. But he did confirm his attendance," she answers, glancing at the guest list in her hands. Kim Chul Soo's name is at the bottom of the list, a last-minute invite by Mr. Han.

Kim Chul Soo and guest.

Jaehee had a feeling she knows what Mr. Han is up to, but it just doesn't make sense. Why would he go through all that trouble to invite Kim Chul Soo to the party? Jaehee remembered how insistent Mr. Han was about inviting Kim Chul Soo and insisting that he bring a guest with him.

Then again, when she first met Mr. Kim, Jaehee felt a sense of de ja vu but she dismissed it. But when Mr. Han asked her to do research on them, she got goosebumps all over. Because she pulled up the photo of Kim Hong Chul and MC and Kim Chul Soo and his mystery fiancée and they looked the same.

Well, the mystery fiancée's face was covered, but Jaehee could've sworn she was looking at the same people but from different generations.

Mr. Han pulls her out of her thoughts as he makes his way towards the stage and delivers his usual welcoming speech. Jaehee stays close enough to the stage to see Mr. Han but also maintains her distance so she could give orders to the security team and the caterer without disturbing the other guests.

As Mr. Han is closing his speech and everyone in the crowd claps, the earpiece in Jaehee's ear comes alive.

"Ms. Kang?"

"Yes, what is it?" Jaehee says, excusing herself from the caterer.

"Mr. Kim Chul Soo and his guest are here."

Jaehee's eyes immediately go to Mr. Han, who's stepping off the stage.

"Very well. Thank you for informing me. Please escort them into the ballroom."

Jumin sees it in Assistant Kang's eyes even before she opens her mouth. His body tenses in anticipation and he fights the urge to search the room for her.

Please.

"Mr. Han," Assistant Kang tell him.

"Is she with him?"

Assistant Kang is about to reply when her gaze shifts —she looks behind Jumin and her eyes go wide and she goes pale. Jumin turns around—

—and all the air leaves his body.

He feels…he doesn't know how he feels. Jumin has never felt this way before. Like everything else melts into the background and all he can see is her.

MC.

Her long brown hair. Her bright hazel eyes behind her elegant mask. Her fair complexion. Her red lips.

And her sad smile.

"Jumin! Hey, thanks for the invite." Chul Soo says loudly, pulling Jumin back to reality. He turns his eyes to Chul Soo and forces himself to focus, to act normal.

Jumin reaches for Chul Soo's extended hand and shakes it, saying, "Of course. Technically your company is part of C&R now." Jumin turns to her and he notices that MC is already looking at him.

Her eyes are wide and she looks as surprised as he was just a few moments ago.

"Ah, let me introduce you to my fiancée," Chul Soo says, wrapping his arm around MC's shoulders. "This is MC. MC, this is Jumin Han, the CEO of C&R."

"What an honor it is to meet you, Mr. Han," MC says, bowing respectfully. Her voice.

God, her voice.

It's her.

If looks weren't enough, MC's voice proved to Jumin that this is the same woman he had spoken to in the vineyard.

Without thinking, Jumin steps forwards and grabs MC's hand. It's as if a jolt of electricity goes through him and he hears MC inhale sharply. Perhaps she felt it too?

She tenses as he raises her hand and Jumin leans down, planting a soft kiss on the back of her hand.

"Please, the honor is mine, MC." Jumin says, looking up and meeting her eyes.

A slight blush creeps into her cheeks but MC pulls her hand suddenly, clearing her throat as fear creeps into her eyes. Jumin straightens and looks at Chul Soo, whose smile tightens.

"You're very lucky to have such a beautiful fiancée, Chul Soo." Jumin comments. Jumin keeps his expression cool and calm, as though he did things like that all the time. Inside, his heart is fighting to burst out of his chest.

She's here. I can't believe she's here.

"Yeah," Chul Soo replies, pulling MC closer to him. "I'm really thankful she chose me."

Jumin picks up on the message behind his words: She's mine.

But he could see the uncomfortable look in MC's eyes. She's avoiding looking at him and pretends to adjust her mask as Chul Soo tightens his grip around her and the corporate heir gives them his most charming smile. "Well, I do hope you two enjoy the evening."

He turns and walks away, followed closely by Assistant Kang.

"That was quite unnecessary." Assistant Kang murmurs in a low voice.

Jumin remains silent, still a bit shocked at seeing MC, angry that Chul Soo is even breathing the same air as her and wondering if she's actually in-love with Chul Soo. If he's going to be honest with himself though, Jumin would confess that his heart is soaring with joy.

Because she's here. She came back.

For me?

But does she remember me…?

"Assistant Kang, assign one guard to MC. Tell him to keep an eye on her at all times. Ensure that no harm comes to her." Jumin tells the bewildered Jaehee.

"With all due respect, Mr. Han, Miss MC isn't—"

"Oh," Jumin says, interrupting Assistant Kang. "But make sure Chul Soo or MC doesn't get suspicious. I don't want them to start asking questions just yet."

"Mr. Han—"

"I know how this looks, Assistant Kang." Jumin tells her quietly. "I won't change my mind though."

Assistant Kang heaves a sigh as she walks off to talk to the security team. Jumin is then approached by his business partners, striking up conversations with him and he falls into the role of the gracious host and powerful CEO of C&R.

"…sure the project will be a success."

Jumin flashes the woman a smile and clinks his champagne glass with her. They take sips from their drinks and he momentarily turns his eyes away, missing the way the older woman is raking her eyes along his body. Scanning the large ballroom, he searches for a glimpse of her, a part of him wanting to pull her away from Chul Soo and make her remember him, the way he remembers their conversations from three years ago.

Of course, Jumin has to keep reminding himself that these are different people. The MC in this room with him isn't the MC he spoke with. But it's so hard, especially when she looks exactly the same.

Finally, he spots her excusing herself from a conversation Chul Soo is having with a group of men and women, heading towards the back of the room.

"Would you please excuse me," Jumin says to the woman in front of him, not bothering to turn in her direction. His feet move on their own accord, heading towards the back of the room, where the woman is standing, looking at the crowd in front of her through glassy eyes.

Jumin slows down his steps as he nears her, suddenly nervous. What is he supposed to say to her? He's used to closing business deals and charming other women with his words, but none of them mattered to him like MC does. For the first time, Jumin Han is at a loss for words.

As he settles into the spot beside her though, his worries vanish and he feels at peace. She turns when she senses his presence and she gives out a soft gasp as she looks up to meet his gaze.

"Mr. Han, what—"

"Please, call me Jumin."

MC's cheeks turn slightly pink. "Jumin." Then she gives him a smile and Jumin feels his heart skip a beat.

"What are you doing all the way here? Are you alright?" he asks, unable to help himself. He doesn't know if Chul Soo is similar to Hong Chul, but he can't stop worrying about MC. He chastises himself and reminds himself that they're not the same people from seven decades ago.

MC looks surprised by his question, her eyes widening slightly. "I —yes. I'm fine. Thank you for asking."

"Are you not enjoying yourself?" Jumin asks, trying to hold off on asking too many questions.

MC shakes her head, her eyes wide. "No no! I mean —I am. This is a wonderful party. I've never been to anything like this before." She adjusts the mask on her face and nervously tucks her hair behind her ear. "This seems magical." MC grins. "With the masks and everything, I mean. I've always wanted to go to a masquerade party."

Jumin unconsciously smiles, his heart swelling with joy at making her happy. MC sees his face and she turns red, misreading his expression.

"Oh! I'm so sorry for babbling on about this! I'm sure you have more important guests to talk to, please don't let me keep you." MC says quickly.

"There's nowhere I'd rather be than here with you, MC."

They stare at each other, both of them silent. A myriad of emotions flood through Jumin's body and everything pales in comparison to the woman standing before him. He's never felt more alive than he did at that moment.

The music changes into a soft ballad and Jumin steps closer to MC. He hears her breathing change but she doesn't stop looking at him. He offers his arm to her.

"May I have this dance?"

MC slips her hand around his arm, entranced. Who is this man? Why is he making me feel this way?

Jumin leads her to the dance floor and they stand in front of each other. He slips his arm around her, placing his hand on her lower back and holding her other hand in his. MC places a hand on his shoulder and then he sweeps her away on the dance floor. She forgot to tell him that she doesn't know how to dance; not that it mattered. Jumin Han leads her across the dance floor, making her feel as though she's floating. MC couldn't take her eyes off him.

Jumin pulls her closer, their faces close to each other. He's fairly certain she can hear his heart beating loudly against his chest but he doesn't care. He's already given his heart to the woman in his arms, even though she doesn't know it yet.

A whirlwind of emotions stir inside MC and she opens her mouth, shaking her head.

"Who are you, Jumin Han?" she whispers, searching his eyes. "Why…why do I feel like I'm supposed to know you?"

His steel gray eyes, his raven hair…she knows she's never seen him before. But his voice…

God, his voice.

Jumin inhales sharply, her words making him stop in his tracks. He doesn't release her and she doesn't pull away.

"MC, I—"

"May I cut in?"

Jumin could feel her tense in his arms as MC whips her head to the side. Her movement caused her turtleneck dress to loosen a bit and expose her neck to him.

Jumin freezes.

"Chul Soo," MC says. She takes a step back and Jumin reluctantly lets her go. He grits his teeth, forcing himself to remain calm.

"Hey buddy, do you know who you're—"

Chul Soo stops as he realizes the man behind the mask is Jumin Han.

"Whoa, Jumin, didn't recognize you there. I thought for a moment you were some vermin that's trying to steal my fiancée from me."

Jumin hears Chul Soo's voice and it takes all his willpower not to murder the man then and there. He catches the jab Chul Soo hides behind his words and turns his gaze to Hong Chul —no, Chul Soo —trying to keep his face devoid of any emotion. It used to be so easy for him to control his emotions. But when MC is concerned, he loses his self-control.

"Yes, I am." Jumin answers in his deep voice. "Of course, I hardly think that the word 'vermin' is fitting for the CEO of one of the world's largest companies."

Kim Chul Soo's eyes narrow and MC's eyes widen. Jumin lets out a light chuckle.

"I'm joking."

Chul Soo lets out a nervous laugh, slipping an arm around MC's shoulders. "Man, for a moment there I thought you were serious." Chul Soo looks at him and Jumin sees the spark of madness in the man's eyes. "I never joke about matters concerning MC though. I'll let this one slide, Jumin, but I just want you to know she's very important to me. And I'd appreciate it if you stayed away from my fiancée."

The tension between them is palpable and Jumin can see MC looking at him worriedly.

"Chul Soo, it's just one dance." MC says.

Jumin sees Chul Soo's jaw tensing as the other man looks at him.

"Yes well. I think we better go now." Chul Soo says.

"So soon? I urge you to stay and enjoy the evening." Jumin replies, not wanting to part from MC.

Chul Soo smirks. "Thanks, Jumin, but I have something I need to take care of anyway." He extends his hand and Jumin shakes it; he notices that Chul Soo's grip is tighter than it was earlier that evening. "I'll make sure my assistant sends over the documents tomorrow."

Jumin nods as they release each other's hands. "Of course. I look forward to working with you, Chul Soo."

"Me too, Jumin. Me too."

Jumin watches as they walk away, his fists clenched, his mind already working out his next move.

Because he can't leave MC to Chul Soo.

He understands now. He understands why fate led him to answer that phone call three years ago. Why he was destined to meet MC. It was fate. This is their fate.

The moment he saw the thin bruises around MC's neck, Jumin knew Chul Soo must have been Hong Chul. It feels like the heavens are being too harsh on MC, for making her suffer the same cruel fate as she did in her previous life.

But no —Jumin won't let that happen.

Not this time.

Chul Soo is in his world now.

And Jumin Han will do everything in his power to keep the past from repeating itself.

Hi guys! Sorry this update took a while but thank you so much for the support and reviews! If you enjoy my works, please check out my tumblr, reifromrfa, for headcanons and short fics 3 I would also appreciate a cup of coffee /whisperbinder? ^^ Thank you again!