Chapter 34
Lucy stepped out of the taxi, paid the driver, and turned to face the beautiful, towering building in front of her. The afternoon sun reflected off the massive glass doors, and the entrance was bustling with people going in and out, chatting animatedly. She smiled, feeling a rare sense of independence and peace, and began to walk toward the entrance.
But before she could even take five steps, she was suddenly jerked backward. A strong hand clamped tightly around her arm, pulling her off balance.
She gasped loudly in sudden fear, her heart leaping into her throat. She spun around, ready to scream or defend herself, but her fear instantly morphed into a deep, visceral frown when she recognized the face staring down at her.
"Cha Woo..." she breathed, her voice dripping with pure venom and disgust.
Cha Woo faked a polite, charming smile. He was wearing a stylish, boyish outfit—a designer jacket over a crisp shirt—that perfectly brought out his undeniable handsomeness. His hair was impeccably styled, making him look exactly like the wealthy, entitled brat he truly was.
"Hey, Lucy. How are you doing?" he asked, his tone dripping with a casual arrogance that made her skin crawl.
"How I am doing has absolutely nothing to do with you," Lucy answered sharply, yanking her arm out of his grip. "But if you must know, I have been doing much better, sweeter, and significantly more amazing without you dragging me down."
Cha Woo sighed heavily, faking a deeply hurt expression. He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Lucy, why are you yelling at me? I just asked a simple question. I meant no harm. There is no need to be so hostile."
"I wasn't yelling," Lucy replied coldly, standing her ground. "I was simply answering your question with the honesty you lack."
"I just want to apologize to you," Cha Woo said, his voice dropping into a softer, seemingly genuine tone. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings back then. I really am."
Lucy scoffed loudly and firmly folded her arms across her chest, creating a physical barrier between them. "Oh, please spare me those fake, rehearsed apologies, Cha Woo. You broke up with me without a single good reason. Instead of acting like a man, you called me a baby. You called me a witch who killed my own parents."
"I never meant that, Lucy! I was just angry—"
"You never meant what?!" Lucy interrupted, her voice rising now, her words slicing through the crisp air like a jagged blade. "Look here, Cha Woo, your manipulative lies won't work on me anymore. Neither will your fake handsomeness or your fake charm. You broke up with me simply because you weren't in a 'good mood,' and you left me completely alone in that dark, isolated room."
She took a step closer, her eyes blazing with unshed anger. "I almost got attacked by some random guys that night! Thanks to Jimmy, Sunny, and June who rescued me, I am perfectly fine today. If it wasn't for them, I don't even want to imagine what would have happened to me. So take your apologies and shove them."
She glared at him, refusing to back down. "I hope you are having fun with your new girlfriend. I hope she's giving you everything you want, because you will never get another second of my time."
"Lucy, please, just listen to me..." Cha Woo pleaded, stepping forward and reaching out to grab her shoulders.
*SMACK.*
Lucy didn't even think. She just swung. She slapped him across the face so hard the sharp sound echoed over the noise of the bustling street, sending a literal shockwave right through his system. Her palm stung with the impact, but the immense satisfaction washing over her completely numbed the pain.
Cha Woo stumbled back, clutching his reddening cheek, his eyes wide with absolute shock.
"Don't," Lucy hissed, her voice trembling with leftover adrenaline. "I repeat, *don't* you dare touch me ever again. I regret ever loving a devil like you."
Without waiting for his response, she turned on her heel and walked away, her head held high.
Behind her, the fake remorse on Cha Woo's face melted away. He dropped his hand from his cheek and chuckled darkly, watching her retreating figure.
"Those boys are giving you wings, right? They're making you feel so brave," he whispered to himself, a sinister smirk twisting his lips. "Don't worry, Lucy. I will make sure I clip every single one of those wings." He vowed silently, his eyes narrowing. "Enjoy your little love life while it lasts. Because when the time comes..."
He trailed off, leaving the dark threat unspoken in the air as he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
---
## A Sweet Surprise and Spoiled Brats
Later that evening, Lucy sat in the back of a taxi, watching the city lights blur past the window. The adrenaline from her encounter with Cha Woo had long faded, leaving her feeling physically drained and emotionally exhausted.
The taxi finally stopped in front of her house. She paid the fare, stepped out into the cool evening breeze, and opened the gate. She stepped inside, closed it securely, and made her way across the quiet compound.
Opening the front door, she walked into the house, shut the door behind her, and let out a heavy sigh, ready to collapse onto her bed.
But she stopped dead in her tracks.
The living room lights were dimmed, and the dining table had been completely transformed. It was beautifully set up with a fresh tablecloth, two polished wine glasses, and several covered dishes. The mouth-watering aroma of garlic, ginger, and roasted spices filled the entire house, making her stomach instantly rumble.
Hearing the door close, Kim Jo emerged from the kitchen. He was no longer wearing his stylish idol clothes but a simple t-shirt, looking a bit tired with his sleeves rolled up. However, the moment he looked up and saw Lucy's pale, unhappy expression, his welcoming smile vanished, replaced by deep, immediate concern.
"Lucy, you're back," he said gently, tossing a kitchen towel onto the counter and walking over to stop right beside her. "What's with that face? Do you mind telling me what happened?" he asked softly, wrapping his strong arms securely around her waist and pulling her close. The warmth of his embrace instantly made her feel safe.
"I met my ex," Lucy said sadly, resting her forehead against his chest.
Kim Jo's brow furrowed instantly, a protective darkness flashing in his eyes. "Did he touch you? Did he hurt you? Show me, Lucy. Are you hurt?" he asked frantically, pulling back slightly so his eyes could scan her face and arms for any signs of injury or struggle.
His genuine panic and overprotectiveness made a bubble of warmth burst in her chest, and Lucy couldn't help but let out a soft, genuine laugh. "No, no, Jimmy. I'm not hurt. I'm fine."
Kim Jo let out a massive sigh of relief, his tense shoulders dropping. He offered a small, reassuring smile. "So... what did he do when he met you?"
Lucy looked up at him, a mischievous smirk slowly forming on her lips. "I slapped him."
Kim Jo's eyes widened in sheer surprise. He blinked twice, processing the information. "You... wait, you slapped him?"
"Yes. Right across the face."
Kim Jo reached up and gently patted Lucy's cheek, his surprise morphing into a massive, proud grin. "You did great. I'm so proud of you. How about a kiss?"
"For what?" she teased.
"For slapping him, of course. It shows that you are no longer the naive 'baby' he thought you were. You stood up for yourself."
Lucy smiled warmly, leaning into his touch. "Thank you, Jimmy."
"For what?"
"For everything," she said, her voice turning soft and serious. "For you and your brothers loving me, taking care of me, making me happy. For teaching me new things and for saving me that night. For absolutely everything. I love you so much." She looked deep into his eyes, her heart swelling. "You are my favorite, Jimmy. I love you so much."
Kim Jo's expression softened, a look of pure adoration crossing his handsome face. "I love you too, Lucy," he replied softly.
Just as they leaned in, the sound of footsteps echoing on the staircase broke the silence.
Seo Joon and Lee Dae—who had clearly been lurking upstairs eavesdropping on the entire conversation—quietly tiptoed down the steps. They walked into the living room side-by-side, doing a slow, dramatic clap.
"There, there, there," they chorused together in perfect, annoying synchronization. "We are *so* emotional right now."
Lucy and Kim Jo quickly pulled apart and turned to look at them.
Without missing a beat, Seo Joon and Lee Dae dramatically turned to face each other and embraced tightly, fully mocking the romantic moment that had just happened.
"Oh, I love you, Lucy! I love you so much!" Lee Dae cried out, dramatically throwing his arms around Seo Joon's neck and swooning.
"I love you too, Jimmy! I love you *soo* much! You are my favorite!" Seo Joon wailed back, clinging to Lee Dae and pretending to wipe away tears.
Lucy threw her head back and burst into a fit of laughter. "Stop it!" she managed to say between giggles, watching the two grown, world-famous idol boys pull back, stare at her for a second, and then go right back to violently hugging each other.
"Spoiled brats!" Kim Jo yelled, his face flushing red with embarrassment. He grabbed a heavy throw pillow off the sofa and lunged forward, whacking Seo Joon squarely over the head with it.
"Help! Help me, Lucy!" Seo Joon cried out, dropping to his knees and still pretending to be Kim Jo in distress.
"I'm coming, baby!" Lee Dae shouted, hilariously portraying Lucy as he tried to jump in and save his "boyfriend" from the pillow attack.
But Lucy quickly caught on to the game. She grabbed a pillow of her own from the armchair and launched herself at Lee Dae, whacking him in the chest. "Bad cat! I'm going to kill you today!"
"No, no! Jimmy is going to kill me! Help me!" Seo Joon screamed amidst the chaos as Kim Jo chased him around the coffee table.
Once the chaotic living room wrestling match finally settled down, leaving all of them breathless and laughing, Kim Jo straightened his rumpled shirt and turned back to Lucy. "That was wonderful, Lucy. But I actually made you something."
He gently took her hand and led her toward the beautifully decorated dining table.
Watching from the sofa, Seo Joon and Lee Dae looked at each other, smiled mischievously, and instantly started fake crying again. The loud, dramatic sobbing made Lucy and Kim Jo turn around in exasperation.
"I can't breathe! The romance is too much!" Seo Joon cried out, wiping a fake tear from his cheek.
"I don't believe it, me too! My heart is bursting!" Lee Dae wailed, clutching his chest.
Kim Jo sighed heavily, rubbing his temples in defeat. "Alright, you idiots. Come and eat."
"Now you're talking!" Lee Dae yelled excitedly. He dropped the fake tears instantly, and he and Seo Joon scrambled off the floor, rushing over to the dining table like starved wolves.
Kim Jo stepped up to the table and proudly lifted the covers off the dishes, releasing a cloud of savory steam that made everyone gasp in surprise.
"What is this, Jimmy?" Lucy asked, her mouth instantly watering at the sight.
"Chicken and ginger fried rice, with a side of honey-glazed wings."
"Wait... you cooked this?" Lee Dae asked, staring at the perfectly plated food, completely stunned.
"Yes," Kim Jo answered proudly, puffing out his chest.
"All of this? By yourself?" Seo Joon asked, crossing his arms, just trying to annoy his leader.
"Yes, I did," Kim Jo replied, shooting him a lethal glare.
"Can I taste it?" Lucy asked eagerly, already reaching for a fork.
"Yes. I made it especially for you," Kim Jo said smoothly, his charming smile returning.
Without missing a single beat, Lee Dae and Seo Joon locked eyes across the table. They put their hands over their hearts, took a deep breath, and chorused together with perfect idol synchronization:
**"He made it for us! He made it for us!"** Lucy threw her head back and burst into uncontrollable laughter, the sound filling the house with warmth and burying the dark memory of Cha Woo far in the past.