“Where’s the contract I signed?” he asks with restrained anger lacing his words.
Lake gestures with his hand to the right of us. “It’s showtime, Mace.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I watch as Mason shreds a document with a huge smile on his face.
“You married my daughter and then withdraw from our deal,” Park Je-ha grinds the words out. “Do you think I will not retaliate?”
“Oh shit, my bad,” Lake chuckles. “I wasn’t aware you had a daughter.” Lake pulls away from me and steps closer to Je-ha. “Fathers don’t leave their daughters to raise themselves. Fathers don’t trade their daughters like cattle.” He takes another step closer, and I notice how his hands fist at his sides. “You killed her mother in front of her. You are not her fucking father. You’re nothing but a piece of shit who thinks his wealth gives him the power to abuse and to kill. I dare you to retaliate. I have three of the most powerful families in the United States standing behind me. Tell me, Je-ha… who do you have?”
Je-ha’s eyes dart to his mistress, and it makes Lake glance over his shoulder at her.
“Oh, right. It must be true what they say – shit attracts shit. I hope she was worth the fuck because she just cost you billions.”
Jo Yoon-ha rushes toward me from the aisles of chairs, “Ya! Michin Nyeon!”
I’m so glad I’m wearing flat shoes, and the dress isn’t heavy. I grab hold of the lace and stepping around the table, I see the surprise on her face when I begin to run toward her.
The running start gives me the momentum I need, and then I gather all the anger and shame she has inflicted on me, and I force it to flow through my body as I jump. The kick I deliver to her chest lifts her off the ground for a moment before she crashes into the chairs.
I was so focused on kicking her, I forgot about the rest of the move, and I fall with a hard thud. Lying on the floor, I stare up at the ceiling with a huge smile on my face.
Then Lake’s face appears in my line of sight, and grinning, he says, “That was badass.”
“I got carried away, but it was totally worth the fall,” I say as he helps me up.
Je-ha stalks toward us, and I step in front of Lake.
“You have brought shame to the family name!” he shouts at me in Korean.
“I have done no such thing,” I answer him in English, refusing to give him the respect of speaking to him with honorifics. “Your name never meant anything to me.” I step closer to him, “I renounce you, Park Je-ha.” I smile at him, this man who almost destroyed me, and it brings me great satisfaction as I say, “I renounce your name and family heritage.”
Rage burns from his eyes, but I don’t lower mine, not today, not ever again.
When he begins to raise his arm, I don’t think, but react. I remember my mother’s last moments as I grab hold of his arm with my left hand while slamming my palm up into his chin. I immediately let go of him and take a step back as he slumps to the ground.
“Now that’s what I call a knockout,” Mr. Reyes says from behind me. As he walks by us, mumbles, “Good. Good.”
Mr. Cutler places his hand on Lake’s shoulder, and whispers, “Remember what she just did to him when you decide to pick a fight.”
Lake reaches for my hand and pulls me to his side. “Should we go celebrate?” he asks as we step around Je-ha.Chapter 21LakeSitting at the reception at the country club after all the speeches have been made and people begin to eat, I pull Lee’s chair closer to mine.
Leaning in, I whisper, “Can I tell you a secret?”
She nods, and lifting her face, she whispers, “What?”
“I’ve never been this happy before.”
She smiles and presses a kiss to my cheek. “Me too.”
My eyes scan over the crowd, and then they stop on Clare. “I’ll be right back,” I say to Lee. “I just need to talk to someone quickly.”
“Okay.”
Getting up, I glance to where Falcon and Mason are sitting and making sure they’re not looking my way, I quickly walk to where Clare is talking to one of the other socialites.
Taking hold of her elbow, I smile when she looks at me. “Oh, Lake. I was giving you a moment with your bride before I came to congratulate you.”
“Thank you for being so considerate. Can we talk for a moment?” I ask, keeping my smile polite.
“Of course.”
I steer her around the corner and down the stairs. Tucking my left hand in my pocket, I pull out my phone and open the voice recording app. I press play before I slip it back inside my pocket.