Paul POV

"Oppa." Sam called for me from the hotel bedroom. "Can you bring me my lotion? My skin is not adjusting well to the water here. It's so dry."

"Yeah, give me a minute."

I smiled at my reflection while applying the fragrant Dior Sauvage aftershave to my face and neck now that I was fresh out of the shower.

After nearly 36 hours together, Sam and I were getting ready to go our separate ways for our respective schedules with family on this sunny afternoon in Toronto.

Though the trip started off tense between the two of us, Sam made an effort to make up for her lack of presence over the past few weeks.

We finished our midterms early and decided to head to Canada for Fall Break sooner than originally planned. Sam not only gifted me with my new favorite Rolex watch, but she also paid for the bi-level penthouse we had been staying in, in secret.

We spent the last day and a half enjoying the city skyline views through the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the penthouse walls, eating meals prepared by Toronto's top chefs, sipping on fine wine and aged bourbon, and of course partaking in various sexual activities throughout the elegant suite when we weren't just cuddling and embracing each other's company.

We had a blast, and it was a nice distraction from the reality we would have to face as soon as we stepped outside of this suite.

"Is this the lotion you wanted?" I asked as I exited the bathroom.

"Yup!" She chimed, standing up from the bed.

She was wearing a white silk robe, and though she claimed her skin felt dry it looked vibrant in the spacious sunlit bedroom.

"Thank you." She beamed, pecking my cheek as she took the lotion from my hold.

However, I wanted... No, I needed more.

I pulled her into my arms, her body colliding into my bare chests since the only thing covering my skin was the white towel wrapped around my waist.

"Oppa!" She giggled as our lips clashed.

"Just one more round." I pleaded through a devious smile.

"You said that last time, and the time before that too!"

I shrugged, well aware that I sounded like a broken record. But I didn't care.

I had missed Sam so much these past few weeks, and having her to myself like this reminded me why I fell for her in the first place.

In this penthouse, she wasn't acting like the infamous Samantha Lee everyone else knew her as - elegant, politically savvy, strategic, and cutthroat when necessary. These past few days together, she was just being the Sam only I have ever known - sweet, playful, adoring, and incredibly affectionate.

"Oppa, no!" She resisted against my lips, gently pushing me away. "We have to head out! Plus, you're the one with plans in less than an hour. Not me. Remember?"

I sighed. "Don't remind me."

Sam continued to laugh at me as she sat on the edge of the bed and began applying the lotion to her legs. I on the other hand walked over to my bag and started pulling out today's outfit.

"Did you decide on what you're going to do with your brother and sister this afternoon?" Sam asked.

"The only thing I am good for. I'm going to treat them to a shopping spree on Mink Mile. Keeps them happy and distracted, which means limited forced discussion while we fulfill the one request my mother has of us whenever I visit."

"It could be much worse you know." Sam tried. "Your situation is awkward but not awful. I've heard horror stories about how badly step siblings can treat each other."

"I'm sure I'd be living in one, if I wasn't the only reason they can afford to live so lavishly in Toronto."

"How much longer is your father going to keep sending your mother money though? Surely he'll cut the financial support off once you're done with law school?"

I scoffed as I slipped beige chinos over my black briefs.

"He stopped sending my mother money when I left Canada to go to SNU. I give her a chunk of my allowance every month to make sure she lives comfortably here."

"Wow, aren't you one doting son?" Sam teased. "You think you'll treat your wife just as well?"

"Are you kidding me? If I meet someone who is capable of getting me to commit to marriage, she'll have the world at her fingertips."

"Challenge accepted." Sam flirted, biting her bottom lip as she watched me put on a white cashmere v-neck.

"You sure about that? Last time I checked, you're still promised to someone else."

She sighed. "Oppa, how many times do I have to say it? Change is coming."

"I'll believe it when I see it. Actions speak louder than words, no?"

I looked to my reflection in the standing mirror and tucked the long-sleeve shirt into my pants as Sam approached me and hugged me from behind.

"Its not that simple, Ho-seok. You know what Yu-Jun is to my father. "

I observed my appearance in the mirror while that feeling of disappointment surfaced in my chests hearing her reiterate the same excuses she had been spouting for weeks.

"This isn't just a marriage arrangement. It's a merger of two businesses. You're well aware Yu-Jun is the next successor of Kang Entertainment and if we marry, both families will be the top shareholders of the biggest Asian owned entertainment companies in Canada and America. This merger would even makes us a fierce competitor in Korean Entertainment.

"Plus, I also told you I barely managed to convince my father to let me go to Harvard for law school. He was furious with my decision to delay the marriage three years even though my career decision would ultimately benefit both families."

"I know, I know. You've told me this over and over again." I groaned as I rolled my eyes. "Just like you tell me to be patient, and that change is coming yet here we are hiding away in a hotel room again. I'm doing my best, but this is embarrassing."

"Embarrassing? Why? No one knows about this, right?"

"Of course not." I quickly replied, glossing over my slip up. "But it's embarrassing to me. I'm belittling myself and being led on by an engaged woman every day."

"Ya oppa, that's not what I'm doing."

"You are though." I replied as I turned around to face Sam, only to realize I was falling into the trap Makayla warned me about. "You know what? No, maybe you're right actually. The more I think about it, you've always been honest with me. You keep prioritizing another man over me, and you even keep confirming there isn't a way for you to get out of this arrangement. I'm just being an idiot and ignoring everything that's right in my face."

"Ho-seok." She gaped, seeing the sudden seriousness in my gaze.

I then walked around her and began gathering my belongings as she followed closely behind.

"I don't know how this escalated so quickly but don't do this." She pleaded. "We just spent nearly two amazing days together. Why are you being like this?"

"Because I want more, Sam." I admitted, facing her again. "You're right. These past few days were amazing, but this isn't enough for me. I want you to myself like this, every day. I want to be with you openly. I want to shamelessly dote on you, pleasure you, and spoil you. Then I want to fall asleep beside you and do it all over again the next day, every single day."

"Oppa." She gasped, her lips parted as our eyes remained locked. "You know I want that too."

"Then do something about it."

"I'm trying."

I shook my head. "Not hard enough."

"What exactly are you asking of me right now?"

"Break off the engagement." I finally demanded, making her eyes widen. "If you're as serious about me as you say, end the engagement with Yu-Jun by the end of the Fall Break."

"Ho-seok, that's not reasonable."

"No, what's not reasonable is you expecting me to commit to you when you're not doing the same for me. I only gave this relationship another chance because you said things would be different this time, but they aren't at all. Everything is the same.

"We're still going by your rules, doing what you want at your pace. But I'm going to draw the line today. I'm not going down that path again with you. This time, I'm setting my foot down."

"Oppa." She begged, her face turning a light shade of red.

Frustrated, I went back to gathering my belongings and once I had everything secure in my Gucci leather duffle bag I started walking towards the door.

"Ho-seok, please!" Sam called for me, grabbing my arm. "Just give me time to think, okay?"

I paused, looking back to the nervous beauty.

"Like I said - You have until the end of this weekend to make your decision, Sam."

Flabbergasted, Sam fell silent as I turned around and walked out of the suite.

Admittedly, I was feeling a lot of different emotions right now.

One - Relieved that I finally said what I had been wanting to say for weeks.

Two - Nervous that despite what she's said, Sam would choose to abandon me again.

& Three - Satisfied that no matter how this plays out, I followed my heart and did right by me.

I made my way to the bottom floor of the hotel's garage, and took my place in the Range Rover I rented for the break before I drove towards Yorkville to meet my step siblings.

By time I parked, my stepsister messaged me to meet them at the subway stop just beside the famous strip that housed high-fashioned boutique shops and luxury goods.

"Paul!" The 15-year-old chimed as soon as she spotted me.

"Jenny!" I exclaimed, opening my arms as the teen rushed into them. I hugged her tightly, despite how aware I was of her two-faced attitude. "Wow, look at you!"

"I know, I'm pretty. Right?" She giggled, framing her impressive jawline with her hands.

"Very pretty, indeed." I complemented her, just to witness the more direct asshole that was my stepbrother. However, he was a bit more shocking to see now that he was as tall as me. "Andy, you've grown quite a bit too."

"No shit. You haven't been here in a year." He replied, earning an elbow nudge from our sister.

"Don't mind him, oppa." Jenny said to me. "You know, Andy. That's just his way of saying he's missed you!"

She forced that horrendous fake laughter of hers while Andy rolled his eyes and looked away from me.

"Should we get the day started?" I offered. "Everything is on me. Shop until your heart's content."

"I'm so excited!" Jenny squealed, locking arms with me. "Where should we start, oppa? I saw this really cute dress on the Chanel website. Should I try it on for you?"

"Sounds good." I replied, and just like that I got dragged along from store to store.

Andy was not as moved by my gesture as our sister was, so we both suffered while Jenny had the time of her life trying on and picking every designer outfit and accessory she wanted. Within the first hour, we had already spent thousands in Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dolce and Gabbana, and Armani.

The young teen even put us men to work, Andy and I carrying a dozen bags as we continued on with the spree to appease our sister's shopping habits.

By time we entered Tiffany I was beat, but I noticed Andy still hadn't picked out a single item.

"You like watches?" I asked now that Andy and I were alone. Jenny was being entertained and catered to by the jewelry store's sales associates.

"What?" Andy asked.

"Do you like watches?" I repeated myself. "Hermés has some of the best. Want to go there next? You haven't chosen anything for yourself yet."

"I'm good." He sneered, making me sigh.

"Andy, I'm trying here."

"You're trying? You think swiping your card once a year for my sister and I means you're entitled to a relationship with us or something?"

"Of course not."

"Why do you even come back here?" He continued. "You're about to be some genius lawyer. You must be smart. Surely you know how uncomfortable you make the entire family by now.

"Dad hates it when you visit, but he tolerates it since unfortunately he can't afford the lifestyle you and your cheating father provided mom before she met him."

"Watch it." I warned him, especially since my mother ended up in a relationship with his father a single week after my parents' divorce. "My father isn't perfect, just like yours isn't. I won't condone you badmouthing him. Especially when he's contributing the comfortable life you're living. How are you enjoying that private school you're going to? I heard you even made the varsity lacrosse team. Surely you know, that's not a cheap hobby by now."

"Fuck off." He snapped, just for him to take his own advice.

Andy stormed off, leaving me alone with Jenny's shopping bags, and I instantly regretted letting the 16-year-old get the better of me like that.

"Damnit, Ho-seok." I uttered to myself. "You're the older brother, do better."

Flustered, I set the shopping bags I had down and took a seat on an armchair in the store. I then looked to my phone in desperate need of a distraction where to my surprise, I found a better one than I was expecting.

"What is this?" I beamed, seeing a new text from Makayla. I clicked the link she provided, and couldn't help but chuckle seeing a request to play WORDLE with her. "You could just call me if you miss me, already."

I happily accepted her challenge and began guessing the word she chose for the first round, though I didn't need to use many attempts and it was the same for Makayla when it was her turn to guess. We both appeared to have a very extensive vocabulary and we went back and forth several times before I heard a familiar and unwelcomed voice call my name.

"Ahn Ho-seok, wow!" Kang Yu-Jun proceeded. "It is you! It's been a while!"

I stood up, and greeted Sam's fiancé with a firm handshake.

"How have you been?" I greeted.

"Amazing! Business is going good, I'm healthy, and my fiancée is pretty damn perfect. Beauty, brains, and the first lawyer of many to come in our family!" He bragged. "I heard you got into Harvard too. How is Boston treating you?"

"Good." I replied. "It's an adjustment, but so was Canada. Fortunately I have Johnny and Sam there to help me navigate Western culture."

"Good. Glad to hear you're adjusting well." He replied before that awkward tension appeared. "I'm not sure if Sam told you, but we decided on a date for the wedding last week."

I nodded. "She told me you were in town for those discussions. Congrats."

He smirked, that smug expression I was all too familiar with surfacing on his face. "Congrats? Are you being sincere right now?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Come on, Ahn Ho-seok. It's not a secret you two have a history."

"And..."

"And, just in case you need to be reminded she already chose me five years ago."

A dry chuckle slipped past my lips as I looked to the side and bit my tongue.

"What you're doing - Clinging to her like some desperate little puppy. It's sad." Kang Yu-Jun continued. "Doesn't Korea have a ton of prestigious law schools? Isn't that also where all your connections are? Why else would you move to Boston? You don't think it's obvious you chose Harvard with an ulterior motive to rekindle your relationship with Sam?"

"Alright, and if I did?" I replied, my direct response startling him. "Then what?"

"You're in for another disappointment, because it'll always be me." He stepped closer to me, making my blood boil. "She will always choose me, because I have something you don't."

"And that is?"

"Confidence." He grinned, making my heart sink. "Sam is not an ordinary woman. She can get and have anything and anyone she wants. You've always been a mere puppet to her, but what she's always wanted is a stable challenge - And that's exactly what I am to her no matter how many times she considers running away. She always comes back, just like I've trained her to."

I clenched my first, my jaw tense as I felt the blood rush to my face. I was both infuriated and humiliated, yet I couldn't bring myself to respond to him.

"Mr. Kang!" A woman enthused as she approached us, and based on her attire she appeared to be the manager of the Tiffany store. "The ring came in this morning! Your fiancée is going to love it! She's a lucky lady!"

"Thank you. She deserves the upgraded ring after five long years of engagement."

"Five years?" The woman gasped. "Tell me you have at least picked a date for this year! Most married couples don't even make it that long anymore."

Yu-Jun chuckled, looking directly at me as he responded to the woman.

"This summer. We set the date for August."

"Oh congratulations!" The woman chimed, guiding Yu-Jun to the jewelry display while I felt everything around my start to close in.

My heart weighed heavily on me, so much so I could barely move let alone breath.

"Oppa! What do you think about this jewelry set?" Jenny exclaimed, jumping in front of me as she showed off a diamond necklace and its matching earrings. "Oppa?"

I started rubbing my rising chests feeling shortness of breath, and my muscles became tense as my vision became impaired next.

"Oppa?" Jenny called for me again. "Oppa, are you okay?"

"Give me a minute." I replied, rushing past her before I stumbled outside of the store.

I then grabbed on to the railing of the glass barrier that saved me from falling to my doom in the massive shopping mall, and I took several deep breaths while I resisted the first panic attack I had experienced since the last time Sam deceived me.

"Looks like money can't buy you everything after all." I looked over my shoulder, to see Andy mocking me now. "Just leave already. No one wants you here."

I had no energy to persuade or argue with the angry teen. I let him walk away, while I continued to take deep breathes and brace myself for miserable Fall Break ahead of me.

____

Author's Note: O Canada, the land that's obviously not a pleasant home for Paul!

What are you thoughts about Paul's step siblings, and his interaction with Sam's fiancé so far? You'll be meeting Paul's mother and stepfather in Fall Break Part 2, which will be published tomorrow!

Please remember to vote and comment! Thank you for your support!

- Zelene