Losing was Inevitable

Chapter Seventy

"I cannot risk it, Namdongsaeng; I cannot lose Rielle again."

A little later, Hwan Chul was on the phone, joining the chat with Hyun-Ki and Shin Dae. He was troubled and restless. They were talking in their language when Rielle entered the bedroom and placed her face affectionately on Hyun's back, embracing him and inviting him for breakfast. She heard Hwan's voice, put her face before Hyun's cell phone, and greeted him warmly like Shin Dae. Hwan returned his warm greetings to Rielle and felt guilty that they were not doing justice to her sincerity and love for Hyun-Ki. Rielle waved goodbye to Hwan and Shin Dae while pulling Hyun to come down for breakfast. Hyun kissed her forehead and told Rielle he would follow suit and finish his conversation with Hwan and Shin Dae.

"What are you going to do about this problem, Hyun?" Hwan asked, deeply troubled.

"Would it be better if you discuss this first with Rielle? She is your wife, Hyeong; she has all the right to know." Advised Hwan Chul.

"What are you saying, Hwan? Have we just started to make up and tell her about this? Do you think this will be easy for her to understand? I could not take that chance, Hwan; I can't!" Hyun-Ki disagreed, mixed with worry.

"But you said you doubt Ae-Ri's fidelity, and you are not even sure if that is yours, she's conceiving. So why not tell her about this and your doubt? She may have other thoughts you may consider to help you both face this together." Insisted Hwan.

"I cannot risk it, Namdongsaeng; I cannot lose Rielle again." Implied Hyun-Ki.

"You said that it had been months since Ae-Ri returned to Korea, and maybe your doubts have a bearing on it. You have to talk this over with Rielle, I beg you, Hyeong, or else it will put your relationship in turmoil again. You must be honest with Rielle, it might hurt her, of course, but if you face this together, things will turn out well; you need Rielle at this point, Hyun." Implored Hwan.

"I'm sorry, Hwan, I can't, I can't do this. What she doesn't know won't hurt her," Hyun stressed. Hwan Chul was worried about Hyun's closed mind, and so was Shin Dae.

"I don't know how long I can cover up for you, cousin. I have fears about this one. I go with Hwan's idea. Rielle loves you this much because you won't be back in each other's arms again if she loses her love for you; despite what happened in the past, she still forgave you because no matter what you do, if Rielle doesn't care about you anymore, you could have never won her heart, she could remain a total stranger to you. But look at both of you now; Rielle cares for you, Hyun. Could you not take for granted her trust in you? You can do this; learn to muster your courage and talk to her, open up as her husband!" persisted Shin Dae.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot. I must see Ae-Ri first and settle this on my own." Hyun insisted on his decision.

"I'll fly home tomorrow. And I'll tell Rielle that there's a problem back in Dad's Office that I have to resolve." Replied Hyun-Ki confidently.

The following morning, Rielle felt Hyun's restlessness while helping him arrange his clothes in the luggage.

"Was the problem too difficult and taxing that you feel restless and worrisome, Hyun?" observed Rielle.

"Well, just a little, but nothing I can't handle," Hyun winked at Rielle and replied. While Rielle was taking Hyun's coat from the hanger, a piece of paper fell from the coat's pocket. She picked it up, saw a picture of Ae-Ri she recognized, and recalled her with Shin Dae during the villa tour months back. She quickly slid the photo into her robe's pocket unnoticed and continued folding Hyun's clothes. A little later, the chauffeur carried Hyun's luggage out of their room.

"I'll be back soon, Sweetheart; give me three days, okay?" Hyun bid Rielle a kiss, and a very tight embrace, then left off.

Rielle remembered the photo from her pocket and saw that it was Ae-Ri indeed, and there were characters in the picture she could not read; looking at it, the image told her that she was pregnant. Rielle felt something off, her heart beating strangely while looking at Ae-Ri's photo and the Korean characters printed on it. She thought of encoding the characters, but who could help her, and why was it in Hyun's pocket? She knew this woman had a relationship with Shin Dae, but why was it in Hyun's suit pocket? What is the mystery behind this? She needs to find out.

Rielle decided to see Shin Dae first before going to work. She asked Hyun's secretary where the Office of the VP for Finance was, and the secretary told her it was just at the end of the hall. Curious, she looked at Hyun's secretary and asked.

"Hyun-Ki told me once that you're Korean, Mimi, right?" Rielle asked curiously, simultaneously looking at her ID card.

"Yes, I am Misses Rielle," Mimi answered confidently, and Rielle was hopeful.

She took a picture out of her bag and then asked again.

"You can read Korean characters, right, Mimi?" Rielle became more insistent. And as she was about to show the picture, Shin Dae got a glimpse of Rielle; he walked toward her.

"Rielle, what a surprise to see you here. Had Hyun-Ki asked you to sit in his Office while he was gone?" Shin Dae grinned.

"No, actually, it was you whom I came here for; I was asking Mimi where your Office and so here you are," Rielle chirped, then immediately asked him about the woman she was with months back. Shin Dae stammered off guard.

"Oh-uh- it was Ae-Ri, you're asking?" Shin Dae suddenly felt cold feet.

"Uh-hmm? How was she?" Rielle pried. Shin Dae felt hot about the question and looked straight into Rielle's eyes, suspicious of her question.

"Well, she's pregnant, Rielle, and---" Rielle abruptly continued his words. "Oh, pregnant, is she? How many months now, Shin?" asked Rielle.

"She's six months pregnant; why?" Shin Dae returned Rielle's question.

"Because I've been wondering why this picture was in Hyun's pocket," showing Ae-Ri's photo. "Oh, that!" nervous Shin Dae took it from her and was about to fold it, but Rielle took it back away from his grasp.

"I showed it to him, asking for his help. Since he's going home to fix a problem with his dad, I asked him to see her and do something for me since I cannot go there at once with the many things I have to accomplish in my Office." Explained Shin Dae.

"I see, so when are you going to see Ae-Ri then?" asked Rielle.

"Before she gives birth, I guess. That's why I asked Hyun to see her and find out the date she would give birth." Shin Dae said, feeling uneasy about Rielle's intrusiveness. "I see; well, that's all; I have to go now." Placing the picture back in her bag. Shin Dae can't say anything and eventually scratches his head. Rielle walked away to the elevator while Shin Dae walked straight to his Office. Seeing Shin Dae gone to his Office, Rielle quickly returned to Mimi and showed her the picture.

"Can you tell what these characters mean, please, Mimi? I promise you'll never get into trouble." Rielle promised. Though nervous about the complication of those words, Mimi started writing the translation on paper and handed it back to her. Rielle folded the form with the picture, thanked Mimi, and hurriedly left.

Rielle became busy the whole day with the clients, having set aside the picture of Ae-Ri from her mind for a while. But when home, feeling uneasy about the image, hesitant and edgy, she decided to read the translation; her eyes got wide, and she was so shocked!