Chapter 371: Christine in Chapter 101 (Mid) |
Christine, having escaped danger, hurriedly left the club.
Then, she spotted a familiar man looking around.
“Deacon Bishop?”
“Christine!”
Jeffrey’s face, as he approached running, showed a mix of concern and relief.
“I was looking for you. Where were you?”
“I was at a birthday party with some friends.”
“Were you in a club?”
“Yes...”
“Did you by any chance see a man who left the club just a moment ago?”
“A man?”
“He was an Asian, a head taller than me...”
Jeffrey looked puzzled.
Well, it was natural to be confused when suddenly asked to find an Asian man.
“Why are you looking for that man? Don’t tell me he did something bad to you...”
“No. Actually, he helped me.”
“Helped? What happened inside?”
With Jeffrey’s insistence, Christine had no choice but to tell him what happened in the club. Jeffrey’s eyes widened, filled with rage and a murderous glare. That expression, which Christine had never seen before, surprised her even more.
“Je, Jeffrey?”
“Where is that bastard who bothered you? Where?”
“He’s probably... still passed out in there.”
As soon as Jeffrey heard that, he tried to enter the club.
Christine stopped him by grabbing his wrist.
“Let it go. I don’t want to be in this place anymore. I don’t want more trouble.”
“But...”
“Let’s go home, Deacon. I’m fine.”
“...Alright. The priest is worried. Let’s go.”
That night, Christine went home with Jeffrey. She sent a message to her friends apologizing for leaving early.
————-
A few days passed after the incident.
“Who could he be? That man...”
The man who suddenly appeared to save her.
She still regretted not seeing his face.
“What good would it do to see his face? I couldn’t find him anyway.”
She only regretted not being able to thank him.
“I’d better focus on studying.”
Christine immersed herself back into her theology studies.
“Christine, the priest is calling you.”
“My father?”
Curious, Christine headed to her father’s office.
Knock, knock.
As she knocked on the door, a voice echoed from inside.
“Come in.”
Upon opening the door, she saw her father with his usual stern and solemn face. However, today his expression seemed even more rigid.
“Could there be something serious to talk about?” she wondered.
“Sit here.”
Christine sat down in front of her father.
“What did you call me for?”
“I heard what happened the other day. You almost had a bad experience.”
“Is he going to lecture me?” Christine wondered, adopting a repentant attitude. She indeed felt guilty.
“I won’t go to a club again.”
“Of course, you shouldn’t. The world is dangerous for the weak. Power means money.”
Why was he talking about money?
Then, her father dropped something unexpected.
“You’re a bit over twenty years old now, isn’t it time to think about marriage? So, when do you plan to get married?”
“Ma, marriage?”
“Is there a man in your life?”
A man?
Christine shook her head vigorously, denying the idea.
“Not at all.”
“Perfect. Then I’m going to arrange a meeting. I want you to meet him.”
“What?”
“I’m talking about an arranged marriage.”
Her father’s words hit her hard.
“Is, is this serious...?”
“Do you know the Ohsung Group? It’s a famous company in Korea.”
Of course, she knew. Even her phone was from that company.
“The other day, the eldest son of that family came to see me. He said he was looking for a fiancée and wanted to establish a connection with us. I showed him a picture of you, and without much thought, he decided to proceed. It seems he liked you a lot.”
Christine couldn’t respond. She was in shock.
An engagement? An arranged marriage? Photos? The Ohsung Group?
“Are you seriously saying you’re going to engage me in an arranged marriage? Father, are you serious?”
“When have you seen me joke? I’m serious.”
“But why...?”
“You don’t know, but our financial situation isn’t good.”
Running the church cost an unimaginable amount of money. Until now, they had survived thanks to donations and contributions.
“But that only covers the loan interest. Next year, we don’t know what will happen. We might have to close the church.”
Even though they had ten thousand parishioners, it didn’t mean Christine’s family was rich. In fact, they were on the brink of financial collapse.
That’s why her father had come up with this plan for an arranged marriage with a wealthy family.
“If you want to live a comfortable life, this is the only way.”
“So, are you going to sell me?”
“Don’t see it so negatively. It’s common in wealthy families. Most people would see it as an opportunity. Even if it’s abroad, it’s one of the richest families in the world. You’re getting the chance to become their daughter-in-law.”
Christine knew the Ohsung Group was one of the richest families in the world. But she had never desired or envied the rich. The title of “wealthy family” held no appeal to her.
Her father, Nathan, tried to convince her gently.
“I’m not going to force you. Your opinion is the most important. We can’t force anything in these times.”
“....”
“But, out of courtesy, you should at least meet him. Decide for yourself if he’s suitable for you. I’ll respect your decision.”
“If I meet him and don’t like him, can I cancel everything?”
“That’s right.”
Christine, sensing that a meeting had already been arranged, had no choice but to agree.
“Meeting him once won’t hurt...”
Although she wasn’t happy with the idea, she decided to accept.
After all, she could think of it as a blind date.
———————–
The meeting was quickly arranged.
They said that due to the man’s schedule, they had to meet the next day, so Christine hurried to prepare.
“I didn’t expect to meet him so soon. Is he already in the US?”
She did her makeup and put on a nice dress. After all, it was a date.
“They said he’s Asian, Korean?”
Although she had no connection to Korea, she didn’t have a bad impression of the country.
Maybe it was because the man who saved her at the club was also Asian.
“Well, let’s go.”
The date was set in an elegant restaurant, and Christine entered.
“I’m looking for someone named Ma Gyeong-rok.”
“Ah, Mr. Ma Gyeong-rok, you say? This way, please.”
An employee kindly led Christine to a table by the window, where she soon spotted a man.
“Hello, I’m Ma Gyeong-rok.”
Fluent English, a sharp but clean look, an impeccable suit. The first impression wasn’t bad overall.
However, his face felt familiar somehow. Where had she seen him before? Could it be...?
The Eastern man she saw the other day in the club? Though she recalled it, she couldn’t be sure if the man in front of her was the same one, as the club was so dark she couldn’t clearly see his features.
“I’m Christine Craig.”
“Yes, please, have a seat.”
Christine sat down.
“You speak English very well.”
“It’s essential for doing business with buyers.”
“Ah, are you learning about management in the group?”
“Yes, I like it.”
They exchanged a brief conversation as the food arrived. Ma Gyeong-rok cut the steak and drank wine very naturally.
‘He must have been to these kinds of luxury restaurants many times, being from a wealthy family.’
For Christine, who was there for the first time, it was challenging to follow his manners.
“You’re very quiet.”
“Sorry?”
“Aren’t you curious to know more about me?”
“Ah...”
Ma Gyeong-rok questioned her. She was so focused on cutting the steak that she hadn’t spoken much.
“Are you planning to take over the company in the future?”
“Yes. But first, I have to win the succession competition.”
“Succession competition?”
“I have two younger brothers. It’s not necessarily the eldest son who inherits the group.”
“Ah, you have siblings.”
Another pause in the conversation. Not that she cared much, but...
‘He doesn’t seem very talkative either.’
Looking at Ma Gyeong-rok, who kept eating silently, Christine thought he was a bit peculiar.
“Aren’t you curious to know more about me?”
“How many relationships have you had?”
“Sorry?”
A direct question. Though her face turned red, she still managed to answer.
“Um, none. I’ve never had one.”
“I see.”
“Is there nothing else you want to know...?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“......”
She didn’t understand. If he wasn’t curious, why did he arrange the date?
‘Didn’t he say he agreed just because of the photo? Then why?’
Or maybe he was in the same position as her, forced by his father to attend this date?
Thinking that way, she felt some empathy.
“If you have any doubts later, we can get to know each other more as we keep meeting, right?”
“Ah... yes, of course.”
The date continued like that, with more silence than conversation.
“I’ve paid the bill. Then, see you next time.”
Ma Gyeong-rok left as soon as they finished eating. The first impression wasn’t bad, but he had a peculiar style.
‘He didn’t seem to have any personal interest in me. As if he considered this date an extension of his work.’
The other’s indifferent attitude sparked her curiosity.
So she told her father:
“What do you think? Are you considering marrying him?”
“I’ll keep seeing him and then decide.”
She said she would meet him a few more times.
———————–
After that, Christine had several more meals with Ma Gyeong-rok.
“Hello, Ma Gyeong-rok.”
“Hello, Christine.”
“You’re a bit late today.”
“Yes, the flight was delayed a bit. I’m sorry.”
“Ah, no, don’t worry...”
The Ma Gyeong-rok she saw again wasn’t different from before. Always serious, without telling funny jokes, just cutting his steak mechanically and asking questions out of courtesy.
But Christine was a little surprised by him.
‘Every time we meet, does he fly more than 12 hours to come?’
Not for work, but just for a date? Does he really have no feelings for me?
‘There must be something he likes about me to go to such lengths.’
Thinking that way, she made a decision.
“About the engagement...”
“Yes.”
“I’ll accept it.”
Upon hearing that, Ma Gyeong-rok stopped his knife for a moment.
“I see.”
Seeing the knife move again, Christine decided to find out what this man really felt toward her.
——————-
A few days passed since Christine started dating Ma Gyeong-rok. Though, in reality, it couldn’t be called dating.
There was no physical contact or formal dates. Just some meals and conversations, that was their style.
She didn’t feel the need to rush any further.
‘I don’t understand. I can’t grasp this man’s feelings.’
Though she had asked several times frankly, Ma Gyeong-rok always responded vaguely.
-What does it matter? The important thing is that we’re engaged and getting to know each other.
That was his typical response, always.
‘I suppose he likes me, but he doesn’t show it at all.’
It seemed he really saw this relationship as an extension of his work.
Christine didn’t dislike Ma Gyeong-rok, but his lack of response and clarity about his intentions frustrated her.
‘If we keep going like this, we’ll eventually get along...’ Christine thought, unaware that an unexpected and momentous event was about to occur at the beginning of the new year.
***
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