Season's Greetings : Christmas Box Set

“You have so much explaining to do,” Ava says with a wide grin.

“Boyfriend?” Fiona squeals.

I nod, proud to hear her claim me properly for the first time.

“If you can deliver presents like this, I want a million dollars,” Ava says playfully.

A YEAR LATER

I hold Hart close as we leave the courtroom. Cameras flash, and reporters call out questions. Keeping our heads low, we wade through them to the black town car waiting for us. Samantha and Sang both got guilty verdicts—her attempted murder in the first-degree, and him in conspiracy to commit murder. The emails and texts between them made my blood boil. He’d known the end was coming, and he wanted to take the one thing from me I’d always miss, my heart. Justice is served, but it doesn’t take away the pain and anguish Hart went through as she recovered. He mental complications were far worse and trickier to heal than what was done to her body. She’d taken a while to get comfortable in crowds, and just being bumped into could trigger her fight or flight reflex. It was a tough time, but with plenty of patience, love, and counseling, we’d come out stronger.

Slipping inside, we both relax as the car pulls away from the curb.

“Finally, we can move on from this chapter in our lives,” she says, snuggling into my side.

“I feel the exact same way.” I’d been waiting for this day for plenty of reasons. “I arranged something special for us.”

“You didn’t know if they’d rule in our favor.”

“No, but I knew we needed to relax either way.” I peck her lips.

“Hmm.” She hums her approval and sucks on my tongue.

My cock stiffens and I pull away. Now isn’t the time. We pull in front of the white hotel with gray roofing I rented out for the weekend. The quaint boutique has stood the test of time and offers beautiful views, and old-world furnishings. Exiting the car, I lead her inside where the people most important are decorating the Christmas tree I had brought in.

“What is this?” she asks, stunned, as she covers her mouth.

“Surprise!” they all yell.

“I thought it was time we had our families all in the same place.” Seeing her hug my parents and my sister fulfills a wish. We’d done plenty of Skyping, but nothing beats one on one. The conversation flows as she chats with everyone. As things die down, she returns to me.

“Thank you.” She wraps her arms around my waist, and I kiss her temple. “There’s a special ornament on the tree to commemorate it.”

“Oh, a hunt?” She claps her hands together, and I nod. I swallow hard as she rushes over to the tree and begins to look. They’ve done a great job of filling it. Even I don’t know where her surprise is hidden. My palms begin to sweat as she continues to inspect the branches. Ava catches my eye and winks. Fiona gives me a covert thumbs-up and my sister beams. The pride in my parents’ gaze means a lot. For my culture, engagements are a more of a family thing. I couldn’t take this step without them present. Her father gives me a respectful nod. He looks good today, dressed sharply in a pair of black trousers and a short-sleeved, white button-down he’s a healthy weight and clear-eyed.

“Yoon?” Her voice shakes.

That’s my cue. I kneel down in front of her as she holds up the one-karat diamond shaped like a heart.

“Hartley, I love you more than I thought was possible. I can’t see my life without you in it. Will you marry me?”

“Yes.” She throws her arms around me, and I marvel at the way life has set our paths to intersect to bring me the love of my life.

Epilogue

Four years later

Hart

I balance Yeona on my hip as I oversee the displays being arranged in my very first physical store, Hart’s Treasure. It turns out Seoul was the perfect place to develop and launch my skincare line. Once Fiona graduated high school, we both decided to relocate to Korea with my husband. Part older brother, and father-figure, he helped us get through Dad’s bout with the bottle.

Sobriety is an off and on state for him. It tears me up to think about it, but we all have our demons to face. This is his, and it wasn’t the only time he’s faced it. We visit him multiple times a year and stay in close contact via Skype and phone calls.

“There are my favorite girls.” Yoon steps up behind me and kisses me on the cheek.

“Say hi, Daddy.” I wave Yeona’s tiny hand as she giggles happily. The ten-month-old is the center of our world. Fiona is perfecting her Korean while attending a college, taking gen education classes while she figures out what she wants to do. Life looks far different than I expected it to, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

The End