The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée
Chapter 40: Golden Egg

Chapter 40: Golden Egg

Evan stood rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on the receding limousine. The sleek, black vehicle, a symbol of Noelle’s carefully constructed world, disappeared into the flow of traffic, leaving him alone in the increasingly empty mall. The echoes of Noelle’s parting words, sharp and dismissive, reverberated in his mind, fueling his frustration and anger.

He clenched his jaw, his hands balled into fists, his body trembling with a mixture of resentment and confusion. He couldn’t understand Noelle’s behavior, her coldness, her apparent indifference to his love. she seemed like a stranger, a distant, unreachable figure.

He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed Ma-ri’s number. He needed to talk to someone, to vent his frustration, to make sense of the chaos that had erupted in his life. Ma-ri, with her seemingly unwavering support and understanding, had always been a source of comfort, a refuge from the pressures of his family and the complexities of his relationship with Noelle.

The phone rang, and Ma-ri’s voice, usually bright and cheerful, answered with a strained, almost hesitant tone. "Evan?" she said, her voice barely audible.

"Ma-ri," Evan began, his voice thick with emotion, "I need to talk to you. Something... something happened with Noelle."

"Evan," Ma-ri interrupted, her voice laced with a hint of nervousness, "I... I don’t think we should talk right now."

Evan’s heart sank. "What? Why?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion.

"I... I just need some time," Ma-ri stammered, her voice trembling. "I need some space. We need to take a break."

"A break?" Evan echoed, his voice filled with disbelief. "What are you talking about? What happened?"

"It’s not you, Evan," Ma-ri said, her voice strained. "It’s just... complicated. I can’t explain right now. I’ll call you later."

Before Evan could protest, before he could demand an explanation, the line went dead. He stared at the phone, his eyes wide with shock, his mind reeling.

Ma-ri had hung up on him. She had just ended their relationship, without explanation, without warning.

He felt a surge of anger, a wave of frustration that threatened to overwhelm him. He had just been rejected by Noelle, and now, he was being abandoned by Ma-ri. He felt betrayed, alone, lost in a sea of confusion and uncertainty.

Ma-Ri’s abandonment did not even matter to him, what actually hurt was Noelle’s abandonment.

He slammed his phone into his pocket, his hands shaking with rage. He couldn’t understand what was happening. Everything was falling apart, his friendships, his relationships, his life. He felt like a pawn in a game he didn’t understand, a puppet being manipulated by unseen forces.

He started to pace, his footsteps echoing on the deserted mall floor. He needed to think, to figure out what was going on, to find a way to regain control of his life. It had gone so completely derailed that he could not begin to understand how to fix things.

His mind raced, he would never have believed that Noelle was capable of doing something like this. The only way to repair the situation was to destroy that marriage. He knew that he could convince her to get back with him, he just needed to make sure that there were no obstacles between them.

He stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing, his gaze fixed on the empty storefronts. He remembered his father’s words, his warnings about marrying Noelle, his insistence that she was a golden egg, the route to their family’s power. He remembered his father’s ambition, his ruthless determination to control everything, to eliminate any obstacle to his success.

If his father learned what had happened, Evan knew that he would be in big trouble.

*

Areum entered her private wing, her footsteps dragging slightly, a subtle limp betraying the discomfort she was feeling. The day had been long and stressful, filled with the emotional turmoil of her having to deal with Evan and having to put on the perfect persona of a pop star. She had plastered smiles on even though her body had been aching and in pain. She longed for the solitude of her room, a space where she could process the chaos swirling within her.

As she stepped into her sitting room, she stopped short, her eyes widening in surprise. Flynn sat comfortably on one of the plush armchairs, his posture relaxed, his gaze steady and observant. He had clearly been waiting for her, his presence an unexpected intrusion into her private space. He had been around her for almost a month and she was still not used to his presence.

"Flynn," she said, her voice laced with a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work or something?"

Flynn rose to his feet, his expression concerned. "You’re limping," he said, his voice gentle. "What happened?"

Areum hesitated, unsure how to respond. She didn’t want to reveal her discomfort, to appear weak or vulnerable. But Flynn’s gaze was unwavering, his concern genuine.

"It’s nothing," she said, her voice dismissive. "Just a... a slight strain."

Flynn’s brow furrowed. "It doesn’t look like nothing, you should not have gone to the mall but you are too headstrong." he said, his voice firm. "Sit down."

He gestured towards the nearby couch, his eyes fixed on her leg. Areum, despite her initial reluctance, found herself obeying his command. She sank into the soft cushions, her body aching with fatigue.

Flynn knelt before her, his gaze focused on her injured leg. "May I?" he asked, his voice soft.

Areum hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. She was not accustomed to such solicitousness, such gentle care. But Flynn’s eyes held a sincerity that disarmed her.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Flynn gently lifted her leg, his touch light and careful. He began to massage her calf, his fingers working with a practiced ease that surprised Areum. The tension in her muscles began to ease, the pain subsiding under his skillful touch.

As he worked, a comfortable silence settled between them. Areum watched him, her eyes fixed on his bent head, his focused expression. She felt a strange sense of calm, a sense of peace that she had not felt in a long time.

A wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. She was drawn to his gentle touch, his quiet strength, his unwavering focus on her comfort. Yet, she reminded herself that their relationship was a facade, a carefully constructed illusion. He was her fake husband, and nothing else.

She felt a stirring of something unfamiliar, a flicker of desire that she had never experienced before. She tried to suppress it, to remind herself of what was important, of the reality of their relationship. But the feeling persisted, growing stronger with each passing moment.

Flynn’s hands moved to her feet, his touch even lighter, even more soothing. He began to massage her soles, his fingers working with a gentle rhythm that sent shivers down her spine.

Areum closed her eyes, her body relaxing under his touch. She felt a warmth spreading through her, a sense of contentment that she hadn’t expected. She tried to ignore the growing attraction, to dismiss it as a fleeting moment of weakness. But the feeling was undeniable, a powerful force that threatened to overwhelm her.

As Flynn continued his silent ministrations, the door to the sitting room swung open, revealing Grandma Jia. Her presence, so unexpected, sent a jolt of surprise through Areum.

Grandma Jia’s eyes widened slightly as she took in the scene before her. Flynn knelt at Areum’s feet, his hands gently massaging her soles. Areum sat on the couch, her eyes closed, her expression relaxed.

A moment of silence hung in the air, thick with unspoken questions and unspoken emotions. Areum’s eyes fluttered open, her face flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and confusion. She quickly pulled her feet away from Flynn’s hands, her body tensing.

Flynn rose to his feet, his expression calm and composed. "Grandma Jia," he said, his voice respectful. "I was just... helping my wife. She was limping."

Grandma Jia’s gaze shifted from Flynn to Areum, her eyes taking in Noelle’s reddened cheeks. She saw only genuine concern on Flynn’s face and a hint of embarrassment on Areum’s.

"I see," she said, her voice neutral. "Thank you, Flynn. That was very thoughtful of you."

She turned to Areum , her expression softening. "Are you alright, dear?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Yes, Grandmother," Areum replied, her voice slightly strained. "Flynn helped me. I’m feeling much better now."

Grandma Jia nodded, her eyes lingering on Flynn for a moment longer before turning back to Areum. "Good," she said, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "I guess it is my fault for barging in on newly weds."

"I will just leave you both to do get back to whatever it is you were doing."

"Halmeoni, no." Areum protested. "It’s not what you..."

Her grandmother did not give her a chance as she closed the door on her words.