"Sit down. Don't be ridiculous, Seokjin," Kim Wonshik snapped at his son. They faced each other across his father's large, imposing desk. "You have to give up this American girl."

"I won't," Seokjin replied evenly. "I love her. I won't give her up. I want to marry her."

"You couldn't possibly marry her! We have already found a match for you." He paused. "The families have decided. You will marry Lee Youngsoon. She has already agreed, and the preparations are underway. She will be a perfect wife. We paid the top matchmaker to find her."

The handsome young man tried not to roll his eyes. "Father, you're not listening to me. I already have a girlfriend. I love her. In the United States, people don't have matchmakers find them their spouse."

"You are not an American," his father said, frowning.

"You sent me there to study and to learn modern American ways," the young man countered.

The older man slapped his hand on the desk. "To study and learn to help our business! I never said for you to become American! You are not! You are Korean, so I expect you to honor your father's wishes." He sighed and continued in a calmer voice. "Son, I don't want to be the type of father that orders your life. I had hoped you would want to do this for us and your family."

Seokjin finally sat down. "I understand, but I've been gone for so long that I don't feel I fit in here anymore. You sent me to the States when I was only 14. I've grown up in a very different environment."

Wonshik stared at his son for a moment and then shook his head. "That was probably a mistake. I should have thought about that a little more. I wanted you to be comfortable with the American culture and fluent in their language. But now I see that you seem to be struggling to adjust to your own culture and language."

The young man sighed. "I'm sorry. I never meant to upset you. It's just that...I have a life back home." He glanced at his father and noticed the older man's grimace. "You will always be my family, but I think that my home is now somewhere else. I'm sorry, Father."

The older man bowed his head for a moment then let out a long exhale. "I appreciate your honesty, Seokjin." He looked at his son. "I don't want to be cruel. Please wrap up whatever loose ends you have with this girl in America. You must be ready to get married in May. Your family is calling you back. We will have everything ready."

Seokjin blinked rapidly then shook his head. "I don't think you understand."

Wonshik held up a hand to stop him. "No, I do understand. But it is time for you to return home. You will need to take up your place here, and you need a proper Korean wife at your side. There is no other way. You will soon take over for me. Our clients expect us to adhere to our social customs. Our overseas clients also expect to see you are attuned to your culture. They may be American or British or whatever, but they don't want to see you pretending you are like them."

"No—"

"I'm older than you," his father interrupted him. "I know how the world is even if you think it has changed. In business, very few things change. I need you to do your part. You might think of yourself as American, but you are not. We are your family. You have a duty and a responsibility." He sighed. "Now, go. I have a lot of work to finish. I don't want to argue with you anymore."

The younger man rose to his feet shakily. He knew it was pointless to continue this conversation today. He would have to try again tomorrow. He half-turned before he remembered he must show respect. He gave a short bow in the direction of his father before exiting the room.

He closed the door and leaned against it with a loud sigh.

"Hyung."

Seokjin opened his eyes and saw Taehyung standing before him.

"What happened? You look terrible."

"Gee, thanks, Tae," the older man smiled.

"Oh, but you are still very handsome, hyung," the younger man said. "I can just tell that something bad happened."

Seokjin touched his cousin's shoulder affectionately. "Yes. Well. Father has decided what I must do. I disagreed with him, and he told me to leave his office."

Both men started walking in the direction of the large living room.

"Why did you disagree?" Taehyung asked softly in his deep tones.

Seokjin looked around the beautifully decorated room. Its understated lavishness seemed right out of a magazine. It was like a museum, but it wasn't his home. He wondered if Luisa was sitting on her couch watching TV, laughing at a comedy, or crying to a drama. That's where he wanted to be. Next to her. Home.

He dropped unceremoniously onto a plush sofa. "Tae, I have to find a way to make my parents understand. I don't want to live here. I want to go back to Dallas. I can't marry Lee Youngsoon."

"I agree," the younger man said and sat next to his cousin. "You can't marry Youngsoon."

"I know."

"No," Taehyung continued. "You can't marry Lee Youngsoon because..." He paused and glanced around the room as if to make sure no one was listening. "...because I love her."