Chapter 82 – Scarlet letter and blackmail

At 8 AM exactly, Hajin and Yeonha arrived.

Yeonha was dressed like a complete professional, wearing an H-line skirt with a proper black blazer over a white button-up shirt. Holding a laptop under one arm and wearing black heels, she looked just like the Chaebol heiress she was.

Meanwhile, Hajin was dressed for war. A black leather military-grade coat with countless pockets. Dual pistols holstered on his chest, dual sawed-off shotguns on his left and right, daggers all over his body, a ball and chain, pocket sand, a slingshot, senbon, shuriken... basically a full armory on his person.

When they stepped into the Yoo family estate, a heavy silence fell.

And not just heavy from emotion, but from clearly unasked questions.

Yeonha's calm demeanor shook a bit as she swept her gaze around the foyer and saw all the people gathered.

There was her mother and father, of course. But they weren't alone.

Members from the Essence of Strait that Yeonha would have considered aunts and uncles from how close they were to the family.

Nayun's father, as well as Nayun herself.

Then, off to the side, there was Rachel, Evandel, and Lee... who looked uncharacteristically exhausted.

Yeonha slowly blinked, buying a bit more time by turning her head and nodding it in greeting to the people she saw.

But as she did, she took in the situation.

Tables had been laid out for breakfast. A Western buffet style, with plates and silverware in boxes near heated aluminum trays.

Yeonha's father, Yoo Jinwoong, still looked furious. But it wasn't murderous at least.

Nayun's father, Chae Shinhyuk, was adjusting his glasses with clear amusement on his face.

Nayun had a similar expression.

Rachel... looked like she was pitying Yeonha.

Evandel was humming to herself and completely oblivious to the tension as she played with her plushies.

And Lee...

Seeing Hajin and Yeonha walk inside, he clapped his hands and said, "Great! The happy couple's here! Cover the exits! They aren't going anywhere!"

Wait. What?

Before Yeonha could react, the doors slammed shut behind her and Hajin, clicking with a remote lock. Then the gathered members of the Essence of Strait quickly filed out to block any exit vectors.

Hajin looked at Lee with a betrayed expression.

In response, Lee glanced at Evandel to make sure she wasn't look. Then he flipped Hajin off and mouthed, "Fuck you. You owe me."

It was definitely out of character for the usual happy-go-lucky friend of theirs...

But then Yeonha noticed her father's singed clothes. And how he looked a bit winded.

And she noticed how Lee also looked completely tired out.

'Ah. So that is why Father is not attempting to murder Hajin right now.'

Yeonha made a mental note to change Lee's contact from [My Lord and Savior Lee Shin] to [God Lee].

But after that, she nodded at her parents and said, "Mom. Dad." Yeonha wrapped her arm around Hajin's and said, "This is my husband, Kim Hajin. I chose him. And he chose me."

They were words that Yeonha carefully deliberated.

Her mother, Jin Yeojung, wouldn't accept 'love' since it was secondary to everything Yeonha had to lose.

Her father, Yoo Jinwoong, wouldn't accept 'love' either since he would think that Hajin had seduced her.

So Yeonha used words that showed it wasn't just emotion, but an action. Choice.

And it was true, too.

Silence filled the air. Everyone slowly turned to look at Hajin.

Hajin's brow immediately glistened with sweat. But he stayed calm. After gently removing Yeonha's arms, he stepped forward. Bowing his head towards Yeonha's dad, he said, "I apologize for the delayed introduction-"

Before he even finished his sentence, Yoo Jinwoong moved.

Crimson lightning flashed, rushing towards Hajin.

Yeonha's eyes widened and she held her hand out in concern.

But Hajin blurred and silver flashed against the crimson, bending it to the side and crashing against the polished tile floor, charring it.

After that...

Yoo Jinwoong laughed. "Fine. Fine! I guess he barely makes the cut. Darling?"

Jin Yeojung stared at Hajin's attire before saying, "Is your Gift related to projectile weapons?"

Hajin nodded. "Yes."

"No magic power cost?"

"Little if any."

"Force amplification?"

"Among other things."

Jin Yeojung gave a curt nod. "...His face is subpar, but the skills make up for it, I suppose. I'll just have to pray that my future grandchildren inherit Yeonha's looks."

Hajin slowly blinked. "What?"

Evandel gasped and said, "No! Uncle Haji coolest! Hansum!"

Rachel patted Evandel's head and said, "...You're very nice, Eva."

"H-Hey!" Hajin's ears immediately turned red. "What's that supposed to mean!?"

Nayun let out a teasing smile and said, "Well, muscles make up for a lot... and I guess Hajin could pull off the rugged gruff look if he grew a beard..."

"OI!"

Lee placed a hand on his chin and nodded. "True... Hajin would look pretty cool with a beard. But right now... 5/10 at best."

Evandel paused and copied her father, staring at Hajin with a serious look. "...Uncle Haji... seben!"

Rachel patted Evandel's head and said, "Seven, Eva. And that's kind of you."

With that cute declaration from Evandel, the tension in the room vanished, replaced by laughter instead.

Hajin let out a sigh of relief and stepped back, lacing his hand with Yeonha's.

Yeonha leaned against him, feeling exhausted with the sudden dip in tension, the adrenaline fading from her body.

And just as they were making their way forward to properly greet Yeonha's parents...

Evandel giggled and waved at Yeonha's belly. "Hi baby!"

Silence.

Yeonha felt her stomach immediately drop.

Hajin froze, sweat dripping from his forehead.

Lee groaned. "God fu-fudging dang it."

Evandel gasped. "Daddy! Fudge?!"

"...Here." Lee grumbled and handed Evandel a Hershey's chocolate square.

Evandel giggled and unwrapped it, oblivious to the bombshell that she had just dropped.

Yeonha let out a nervous laugh and said, "K-Kids and their imagin-"

Jin Yeojung crossed her arms and stared right into Yeonha's eyes. "Tell me you used protection."

Yeonha opened her mouth. She tried to get the words out. But faced with her mother's sharp gaze, she couldn't lie. So instead, she lowered her gaze and murmured, "...I wanted a baby...?"

"YOO YEONHA!"

The foyer, just calm a few seconds ago, burst out into chaos again.

But then Rachel calmly spoke and said, "If Yeonha is pregnant, you are causing her stress. Do you want her to miscarry?"

Silence filled the room.

And after that, Jin Yeojung let out a long suffering sigh. "...Tell me it was intentional at least, even if reckless?"

Yeonha's face felt like it was burning. Especially since she was admitting it to so many people around.

...But they were all family, essentially. And they'd all find out eventually. So...

Yeonha swallowed, ignoring how her throat felt like sandpaper. And then she quietly said, "...I chose to love Hajin. And I wanted proof. So yes."

More silence.

Everybody was quiet, not knowing what to say.

And then Evandel squirmed out of Rachel's hands and tottled over to hug Yeonha.

Yeonha didn't expect it, so she almost stumbled from the shock.

But Hajin steadied her.

And after that, Evandel pointedly ignored Yeonha, instead looking at her belly and said, "Hi baby! I, Eva! Queen! I be bestest Auntie! Kay? Grow big and strong! Then we play!"

Yeonha blinked. And when she processed what Evandel was saying, she felt a warmth spread throughout her body, wiping away the anxiety she had been feeling. After that, she hugged Evandel back and said, "I'm sure the baby will love to have a great auntie like you, Eva."

"Yeah! I bestestest Auntie! I give nom noms and story time and toys and majik and cool gifties!"

And with that pure and innocent statement from Evandel, the atmosphere finally settled on a cautious celebratory mood.

===

A few minutes later, both to shield Hajin and Yeonha from any more stress while also to give time for the adults to process, Nayun and Rachel stole Hajin and Yeonha, dragging them over to a table.

Like it was calculated, Nayun grabbed some apple juice and a plate of food for Hajin (mostly just sausage links cut in half). Meanwhile Rachel grabbed some orange juice and a plate of food for Yeonha (all fruits, veggies, and what a pregnant woman would need).

After that, Nayun sat down across from Hajin and Nayun, a wide smirk on her face. "Sooo. You absolutely fu-"

Rachel cleared her throat and then sat down next to Nayun.

Nayun rolled her eyes and said, "So you two absolutely banged, right?"

Hajin choked mid-sip of his apple juice. "Th-That's-" He glanced over at Yeonha.

Yeonha didn't hesitate or act shy. Instead, she nodded and said, "We did many things. Right, Husband?"

Hajin turned a bright red. "Y-Yeonha?! I mean, we did, but-"

Yeonha placed her hand on her belly and rolled her eyes. "This child did not make itself out of nothing."

Hajin turned a deeper shade of red and quickly went back to eating.

"Hoh~?" Nayun looked amused and said, "Is our Hajin shy now? Even after he gobbled our Yeonha up for three days straight?"

Hajin choked and quickly chugged his apple juice.

Nayun teased some more and said, "Oh, I bet you made Yeonha choke too~"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "So crass..."

"Oh come on, Rachel. Don't tell me you don't want to tease them too?"

"I do. But time and place. Also, it would set a bad example for Eva."

"Oh. True." Nayun nodded. "...But do you think Eva said that to troll them because she's like Lee? Or was she innocent?"

"...Fifty fifty."

"You're not even denying it now?"

Rachel sighed. "...Eva is, in more ways than one, also Lee's child..."

At that time, as if he was summoned, Lee slammed a tray of food down next to Hajin and said, "You owe me soooo much, Hajin."

Evandel copied Lee, slamming her own plate on the table... or she tried to.

It landed with a soft 'clink' and barely made the grapes and pancakes she had shake. Still, she stared at Hajin with a stern look and said, "Uncle Haji, big trouble!"

Hajin let out a helpless laugh. "...Yeah..."

Lee sat down on the side of the table next to Hajin.

The moment he did, Evandel squirmed onto her father's lap and started munching on her food. "Nom nom~ Nom!"

Yeonha smiled at that and subconsciously placed her hand over her belly.

Rachel noticed and reflexively did the same, a wistful look on her face.

Nayun noticed Rachel's reaction and raised an eyebrow.

Hajin noticed too and said nothing.

And as for Lee...

He looked at Hajin and said, "Okay. Since I fought your crazy Father-in-law long enough for his mood to go from murderous to just angry, give me the details. What the hell is a Devil Seed and how do we remove it?"

Hajin froze. "...What?"

"You heard me." Lee crossed his arms and said, "Nayun's brother. He has a demon in him, right? That's the only explanation for why he's still asleep. If not a demon, then 'something' is incubating him and keeping him unconscious. So, details Mister 'number one in theory.'"

Nayun slowly turned to look at Hajin. "...Hajin?"

Hajin started to sweat, feeling the gazes on him. "A-Ah. Well..."