CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR




OLIVER


I turned to see mum walking towards us, while Suzy sat on the couch, her mouth slightly opened. She must be surprised seeing how Dallas tugged at my arm and I didn't run to the bathroom to throw up.

My mum didn't have the same surprised expression. She was clearly displeased by the scene before her.

“Mum!” I called, but she didn't give me any response.

My mother's eyes fixated on Dallas. Her eyes slowly went from displeasure, to disgust, then anger.

Dallas didn't seem to care about it as she greeted her with a bright smile on her face.

“Good day, Mrs Kang.”

My mother didn't acknowledge her greeting. But she didn't avert her gaze from her.

“I'll excuse the both of you.” Dallas said and headed for the stairs.

“You didn't tell me you were coming over.” I said as soon as Dallas was out of sight.

I walked to the couch and took a seat right across Suzy. Mum's angry steps followed me before she sat beside her sister.

“Do I need permission to visit my son now?” she cocked an eyebrow.

This was definitely going to lead into a pointless argument. I decided to stir the conversation towards a different path.

“How are you doing, mum, and Suzy?”

“I'm doing great. How are you– “ Suzy's phone dinged, interrupting her. She checked the screen and a frown settled between her eyes.

“Arghh! Jae-Suk just asked why she wasn't invited to my wedding. Did you invite her, Reg? You know I can't stand that woman.” She directed her question to my mum.

“She is family, Mo-eum, let it go.” Mum calling Suzy by her traditional name only means one thing, she is really pissed.

Suzy got the message and dropped the ‘Jae-Suk’ talk.

“You seem to have developed a cozy relationship with your maid.” She turned to me.

“Cozy? She touched him. That's equivalent to making out when it comes to Oliver Kang.” Suzy added and chuckled.

My mum pinned Suzy with a glare, before turning to face me.

“Whatever is going on between the two of you, I don't like it.” She added with a slight cringe of her nose.

Here we go. I let out a sigh.

“Dallas is just my employee. You have nothing to worry about.” My jaw flexed in annoyance. I don't like being questioned, and my mother knew that. She was probably too pissed to remember that.

“Really? Going out on dates? Getting hotdogs? I think I have plenty to worry about.” She said sharply.

That was when I noticed that the guard carrying the bags of hotdog was still standing a few meters away from me.

“‘Mia's’, that doesn't sound like a name of a five star restaurant. Did you buy that from the streets?” Suzy asked, her eyes widened in shock.

I ignored her and turned to the guard.
“Take it to the kitchen, nimrod.” I bit out. I wondered if all of my employees have that low IQ.

My mum sighed as the guard left.

“This isn't you, Oliver. You don't even like hotdog. And from a street vendor. Really?” Another slight cringe of her nose.

“What were you thinking hanging out with her and doing all that? You will be getting married to Jenna soon.”

It felt like I was in highschool being scolded by my mum for sneaking out to go to a school dance. I couldn't hide my irritation anymore.

“Is there a reason you came all the way here, or is it just to nag me about my maid?”

She sighed.

“I came to get your father's watch. His death anniversary is in a week.” She said in a solemn tone. Suzy patted her back slightly.

Every year during my dad's wedding anniversary, my mum takes some of his personal belongings to a shaman to bless.
My chest tightened and I clenched my fist hard as I remembered the date. I had been so consumed with getting cured that I actually forgot his death anniversary was in a week. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve to be happy. The guilt gripped me tightly. How could it have skipped my mind?

“Oliver?” My mum called in a soft voice jolting me out of my thoughts. I unclenched my fist and inhaled sharply.

“I'll go get it for you.”

I sprung up and walked hastily up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. I met Tabitha halfway to my room.

“Sir, I want to talk to you about -”

I strolled past her with no care about what she wanted to say. I could hear her scoff behind me. I walked into my room and straight to my closet. I opened the safe where I kept all of my father's jewelries.

My eyes darted to the silver bracelet. My heart stung as I remembered the memories behind it.

My father had flown to Seoul to get the bracelet for my mum on their anniversary. I had gone with him that day. It was one of the few times we traveled together.

He wanted to get the ‘his and her’ set but the ‘his’ was already sold. I could still remember the dissapointment on his face that day. I could still remember his exact words that day when I asked him why he was so dissapointed.

“The ‘his and her’ set always bring two soulmates together.”

I had merely chuckled at his words that day. There was no way a piece of jewelry would bring two people together. His face turned serious when he saw I didn't believe him.

“Oliver, I'm going to make sure I get the complete set for your mother.” He had said.

But he wasn't able to do it before I killed him. After his death, I vowed to fulfill all of his wishes, starting with the jewelry set. And I did.

It was the same bracelet Dallas tried to steal at my mom's birthday.

I missed Dad alot. Aside from carrying the guilt of being the cause of his death, I connected with him more than I did with my mother when he was alive.

I took a deep breath and shut my eyes tight. I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind. I grabbed the watch and shut the safe. I walked out of my room. As I approached the living room, I heard Suzy and my mum discussing.

“I'm just saying, you shouldn't have offered the girl money to leave here. I'm pretty sure Oliver wouldn't like that you're messing with his staff.” Suzy's voice came.

She did what?

I wanted to walk in and ask if what her sister just said was true, but I know she wouldn't admit it. I decided to stay and listen more.

Neither of them noticed that I was standing there, listening to them. Suzy had her back on me. But if my mum raised her head just a little bit, she would see me.

“What was I supposed to do? Don't you see how she acts with him? She touched him, Suz. Nobody has been able to touch him in decades, not even his own mother.”

“Yeah, they seem pretty close. And she is pretty too. If you ignore the bird nest on her head. A little make-up she would be as stunning as a pageant queen.” Suzy said and giggled.

I rolled my eyes. My aunt has a very bad habit of analyzing people's faces and recommending beauty products for them. It was a habit that she picked up after opening a beauty line which she abandoned a few months into the business.

“Oh, what if Oliver wants to marry her?” Suzy suddenly said.

My breath seized as I awaited my mother's response. Her eyes widened in shock that I thought her eyeballs were going to pop out. She lifted her head and our gazes locked.

She held my gaze and smiled.
“He wouldn't do that. My son knows his father would never agree to it if he was alive. Right Oliver?” She tilted her head slightly.

I hated it. I hated how she always brought up Dad's death to force me into doing her biddings. I hated it so much that I wanted to scream at her to stop doing that. To stop increasing the guilt in me. To let me be free. To let me be human.

But I didn't. Instead I swallowed hard and walked towards her. I dropped the watch beside her on the couch and dipped my hand into my pocket.

“I don't think Dad would love your new hobby of gaslighting, mom. He had always hated manipulative people.”

I turned and walked away without sparing either of them a glance.