Before I can react, Lee grabs hold of my hand. She turns her back to Mr. Park and whispers, “The law is not on our side here.” She looks up at me with pleading eyes. “I’m eighteen. I cannot leave Korea without his consent.”
Fuck, that’s a big problem.
Not that we have time to discuss this right now, I still ask, “So if I cancel the contract with him before we get married, you have to come back to Korea?”
She nods and glances over her shoulder, which has me looking as well. Mr. Park comes toward us, and he doesn’t even bother to look at Lee.
Fuck, this is going to be hard. All I want to do is hit him until he’s lying half-dead in one of these beds.
“Mr. Cutler, I didn’t expect to see you here,” he says.
I take a deep breath, and when Lee tightens her hold on my hand, I force a smile to my lips. “I should’ve notified you, Chairman Park. My apologies.”
I glance at Lee. For you, I’ll give an Oscar-worthy performance today.
The doctor presses a button on one of the machines, which has Lee’s head snapping back to her mother.
“I’ve signed for them to switch off the machines,” Mr. Park says.
God, give me strength.
“I thought you were divorced?”
“Only separated.”
Fuck.
“Can we please have ten minutes so Lee can finish her farewell?”
“Of course.” He snaps something at the doctor, who leaves with the nurses.
“Thank you.” I turn to Lee and giving her hand a squeeze, I say, “I’ll wait outside with Chairman Park.”
She nods, and I can see it’s taking all her strength to keep her tears back in front of him.
Reluctantly, I let go of her hand, and I gesture for Mr. Park to walk first. As I leave Lee to say her final goodbye, my mind begins to race to find a legal loophole so I can keep Lee with me and tell this man to shove his investment up his ass.
Once we’re out in the hallway, I glance at the older woman who’s been waiting outside all this time, and I hope she understands when I gesture toward the inside of the room. She bows her head a couple of times, giving Mr. Park a wide berth as she rushes inside.
The corner of his mouth pulls up in a smirk as he says, “I was told you will only graduate in May.”
“Yes, sir.” If I graduate at this rate.
“That’s a pity. I was hoping we could speed up the deal. I have other business to take care of.”
“You want us to get married sooner?” I ask, thinking there might actually be a light at the end of this tunnel.
“Yes, if your father and Chairman Reyes agree, of course.”
“I’m sure they will,” I answer, knowing they will back me.
“Good. Well, my job here is done. Let me know when the date is set for the ceremony so we can sign the contract.”
“Will do.”
He looks at me as if he’s weighing my words before he turns to leave. I watch him talk to the doctor, and I know I can’t buy Lee any more time.
I rush back into the room and walking around the bed, I take hold of her shoulders and whisper, “Hug your mom. Tell her you love her.”
Her body begins to shake uncontrollably with silent sobs as she leans over her mother and hugging her she whispers, “Salanghaeyo Eomma… salanghaeyo.”
The moment the doctor walks into the room. I lean over Lee, and taking hold of her, I pull her away from the bed.
She lets out a heartbreaking scream which has me placing a hand under her knees and lifting her to my chest. I hold her close as I walk out of the room, not wanting her to see the moment they switch off the life support.
Lee wraps her arms around my neck and buries her face against me as she weeps. I keep walking until I finally find the exit and seeing a park across the street, I head toward it.
I sit down on the first bench I see, and keeping hold of Lee with my left arm, I dig my phone out with my right.
I dial Falcon’s number and close my eyes against the pain shredding my heart.
“Where are you?” Falcon answers, sounding worried.
“Outside the hospital. Her mother passed away. I’m not coming to the hotel tonight. I’m taking her to her house so she can grief in privacy.”
“Just keep in touch. I don’t like not knowing where you are in a foreign country.”
I nod even though he can’t see me. “I’ll text you the address once I have it.” I let out a sigh, then add, “Be careful. Mr. Park knows we’re here. I’ll bring you up to speed with everything when I see you tomorrow.”
“Just take care of yourself. Please, Lake,” Falcon says, an urgency in his voice I haven’t heard before.