Last chapter before the epilogue. Ga Eul says she will turn 20 that year in the story, I used the Korean age for that.

I hope you enjoy!

About half an hour after the two elder men had left the new couple, the two emerged from the bedroom and walked into the dining room where the two were waiting for them. Yi Jeong held her hand tightly in his as he led her to an unoccupied chair and pulled it out for her before sitting down on the chair to her right.

The two elder men looked up, Woo Bin's father with a knowing glint in his eyes and Kang Tae Jo looked worried. "What do you want to eat, dear?"

"Something light, please. I don't want to upset my stomach too much."

The mafioso nodded and stood up, "I'll tell them to bring you some fruits."

"Thank you." She called after him when he walked out of the dining room and turned to the old man sitting across from her, "Why are you here now, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Maybe it is better if I tell you the story all the way from the beginning, maybe you'll understand more." Her grandfather offered with a kind smile.

Yi Jeong nodded beside her, "That might be a good idea, sir."

The old businessman looked briefly at Ga Eul's new boyfriend before turning back to her, "I grew up in a poor family, South Korea was not established like it was now and many people were in the same position as my family and I. I was ambitious though and had plans of a large company, one that would allow me to rule and never fear like I did back then. I was ambitious but not dumb, I knew that it would be difficult as I had no experience in the field but I made it my life's mission to create the dream I'd had for years."

"Looks like it worked." Ga Eul muttered softly, thinking of what she'd learned in school about Hanhwa Corporations. One of the largest conglomerates in the world that continued growing every day. Where Shinwha was at large mainly in Asia, Hanhwa had big influences all over the world and continued to expand their limits with each day. Their capital was enormous as well, having quite the income from all of their fields they worked in. Telecommunications, Science, Technology, entertainment business to name a few.

"It did, not without sacrifice but I made it." He agreed, "I'd just started making a name for myself when I met her, your grandmother that is, and we fell in love. Everything happened quickly after that, we got engaged, married shortly thereafter and not even a year later, your uncle was born. He passed away when he was ten sadly, along with your grandmother in a car crash but he was an amazing kid. Full of life and wonder, ready to learn whatever I wanted to teach him because his biggest wish was to take over from me."

"I'm so sorry for your loss." It might have been a long time ago but pain like that never faded. She could only imagine what it felt like to lose both your children.

"Thank you, my dear." He smiled at her, tears gathering in his eyes but she could tell that he was doing everything he could to keep them in. "Three years before that accident though, your mother came into the world. She was my little princess and I doted on her, probably because she looked so much like her mother. When my wife died though, it was difficult to take care of her. I never cared for a child on my own, I always had my love by my side and now I had to take care of a little replica of hers? It hurt too much. I am ashamed to admit that after that accident, I didn't spend much time with your mother anymore."

"What happened, who took care of her then?"

"I hired a team of nannies, thinking it would be better for her if someone capable would take care of her. I emerged myself in the company and brought it to whole new levels, levels I'd never thought would be possible for a small company like mine at the time. I managed to get on both the Chinese and Japanese markets before breaking through in other Asian countries. Because of that, I spent a lot of time on the road and would go without seeing my daughter for weeks, sometimes months on end. It hurt me to do so but it was easier to run from her than to look her in the eyes and feel the pain of seeing my lost love in them. Looking back now, I know I have made many mistakes. Not taking care of her is my biggest mistake so far."

"That's terrible but I don't understand why she would leave you then." Ga Eul said, "I know you've made mistakes and it must have been terrible for her to grow up without a father but I don't think that her leaving would have been so different from her staying. From what you've told me, you were never around and it is no secret that you own two houses. One for yourself and one for your children, where no one lives right now. So why would she leave if she could have just stayed in the comfort you provided her? She wouldn't see you no matter what."

"Like I said earlier, your mother met your father. I don't know how or where they met but from the start, he was a terrible influence on her. She started drinking excessively, she started smoking and she dressed like a common slag. She would go out in public without protection and would even talk trash about the company or myself in public. She started spreading lies about us as well, anything to put us in a bad light. Whenever I talked to her about it, she said she'd stop for a certain price. Usually it was just money, some large sum she demanded but sometimes she'd request specific things, such as a certain car or her own house which is how the other house came to be. At that moment, I didn't know that she'd met your father and that he was using her. When I found out about him and learned he was the one to influence your mother like that, I tried talking to her and tried getting her to see reason but she wouldn't listen. I know she said that I gave her an ultimatum but I never did that. I just told her that I was worried about her and that I didn't want it to end badly for her. I explained to her that I believed it to be better for her if she distanced herself from him."

"That did not happen." Yi Jeong snorted.

The old billionare shook his head, "No, it did not. When I went to talk to her again the next day... she was gone. Her stuff, her photos, the cash she had lying around... all gone."

"She'd fled."

"Yes, I think that she might have already been pregnant with you but I am not sure. When were you born?"

"I was born on July 15th. I turn 20 this year." She said.

"Then she was already pregnant with you, I don't know whether or not she knew but when she ran, she was already expecting you." He sighed, "I tried looking for her but she was good at hiding. I never found her or knew of your existence until earlier when this man came to me and told me about you."

"She was good at hiding her ties to you and your company." The mafioso at the head of the table agreed, "I had to dig deep before I found something."

"What do you expect now?" Yi Jeong demanded.

"I expect nothing." Kang Tae Jo explained, "I do wish to see my granddaughter and get to know her but I don't expect anything. I know this is a big shock for her and a lot to take in so I won't force anything on her. However, you will always be welcome to stay with me. Right now, men are already at your mother's place to take your stuff and bring it somewhere safe, Song Li Bin recomended So Yi Jeong's studio because it is mostly empty and assured me he wouldn't mind."

"I don't." The F4 member agreed, "But she's not staying with you."

"Yi Jeong is right, I really appreciate the offer and I would love to get to know you. I do. I just don't think I would be comfortable living with a man I don't know but maybe we can start meeting up regularly and getting to know each other, you can even show me Hanhwa if you want."

"That sounds lovely. Maybe you and I could meet up for dinner this week, your boyfriend is always welcome of course." Her grandfather invited. "If you both want to come, you're more than welcome to. Song Li Bin has all my contact information so you can always call me."

"Thank you." Ga Eul and Yi Jeong both stood up when her grandfather did as well, "Do you have to leave already?"

"Yes, I will be paying your mother a visit and will be having a talk with her. Don't worry about her, she will not be in your life anymore after this. From now on, you are under my protection."

The trio walked to the door and watched Ga Eul's grandfather as he drove off. Song Li Bin made an excuse to go up to his office but made sure to invite them over for dinner. Yi Jeong quickly denied the invitation and told him that they had some work to do in their studio.

Their studio.

It felt surreal to Ga Eul to talk about it like that but she liked it. It was nice. Something of theirs, their own.

Together.

Yi Jeong wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple softly, "Lets get our stuff and get out of here. We can wait for your stuff in the studio and start settling you down."

"Sounds excellent."

"Are you ready for it?"

"For what?"

"Starting your new life?"

"With you beside me? I think I am."

"Good thing I am not going to leave you then." He said.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

THE END