Seokjin finally returned to Dallas. Oddly, Luisa wondered why he hadn't asked her to pick him up at the airport. Instead, he appeared at her apartment door without luggage, suggesting he had first stopped at his place.

From the moment he stepped inside, she sensed something was off. His strikingly handsome face bore an unmistakable weariness and sadness. But instead of addressing it, she couldn't help but propel herself toward him.

"Jin! My love!" She cupped his face in her hands, planting kisses on both cheeks before capturing his lips in a fervent kiss.

His arms encircled her tightly as he reciprocated the kiss with an intensity that spoke of longing and desperation.

She felt his body responding and drew back from the kiss. "My love, I'm so happy you're here! Let's go to my room, huh? I've missed you so much! I can feel that you missed me, too!" She smiled and led him to her bedroom by the hand.

Once in the room she pushed him toward the bed and extended her body over his, resuming her fevered kisses. "I've missed you so much! I love you so much! I can't believe you're home!"

She was like a woman possessed. She pulled his shirt from his waistband and whipped it over his head. She began to plant kisses on his neck, his collarbone, his chest, spurred on by his breathless moans. She trailed her lips down to his stomach while her hands battled with his pants.

Seokjin's hands covered hers. "Lu, baby, wait a sec. Let me...catch my breath."

She hopped off his body and stood before him. "I wish I could. You have no idea how much I want you!" She began removing her clothing until she was only in her underwear. She had worn her prettiest and sexiest set.

Seokjin gasped and moved to the edge of the bed, pulling her body between his legs. His face burrowed into her breasts. "Oh, God, Lu!"

"I'll let you do the honors," she murmured into his hair. She turned around giving him her back, lifting her hair up. "Go ahead. Unhook me. Do whatever you need to, my love. Quickly!"

Seokjin's hands moved to her bra clasp.The heat from his hands made her tremble in anticipation.

She whirled around, tossing the bra aside. "Now the rest," she panted.

When he hesitated, she grabbed his hands and cupped them over her breasts. "Jin, I can't wait."

"Lu, hold up a second," he said through gritted teeth. His hands squeezed her breasts causing her to moan out loud.

"We don't have to wait," she murmured. "We can go fast this first time. I'm ready." Her hand rubbed his hardness over his pants. "You're ready, too." She kissed his face. "Just take me," she whispered. "Take me hard and fast." She knew those words would send him over the edge. She moved his hand to the waistband of her panties and let out a sigh when he pushed them down roughly. She closed her eyes tightly in heightened anticipation.

After a few seconds, a chill washed over her. Jin's absence—no touch, no kiss—made her open her eyes, expecting to see him undressing.

Instead, he stared blankly into the distance, as if he couldn't bear to look at her.

"Sweetie, is something wrong?" Her voice nearly faltered, but it trailed off as she caught sight of tears streaming down his cheeks. "Oh my God! Jin, what's the matter?" She reached for his shoulders, concern flooding her. "My love, what's wrong? You're crying."

He nodded slowly, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. "Y-Yes. I mean, nothing's really wrong. I just... I haven't told you that... that..."

She held her breath, urging him gently, "Yes?"

He took a deep breath, his voice heavy with emotion. "Well, my father passed away last week."

"What?" she gasped, scrambling for a large pillow to shield her naked vulnerability. "Oh no... I'm so sorry, my love. I had no idea. How are you holding up? Is there anything I can do?"

He shook his head, his expression a mix of sorrow and resolve. "Thank you, but I'm managing, I suppose. It was a huge shock for me... for everyone. The company has faced some dark moments, but... I believe it will pull through." He took her hand gently, his grip a fragile reassurance. "The company will be fine, but I'm afraid I won't."

Luisa gently patted his hand. "I'm so sorry, Jin. I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you. I'm here for you, and I'll do whatever you need. I feel awful for attacking you earlier—I should have asked how you were first."

Seokjin sighed, his expression softening. "There's no need to feel embarrassed. But..." He glanced around the room, then stood up and brought her a robe. "Here. You're too much of a distraction right now, and I don't want to do something I'll regret."

Luisa slipped into the robe as quickly as she could, not sure why he would regret anything. "Thank you. I'm really sorry." She pulled him into a hug. "What can I do for you? Just tell me."

He shook his head, the weight of his emotions evident. "I don't know." His voice trembled, dangerously close to breaking.

She gently pushed him down onto the bed and curled up beside him. "I'm right here, my love. We don't have to talk if you don't want to. We can just be together. We don't have to have all the answers today."

He let out a deep sigh that caused her head to shift against his chest. "Some things have already been decided," he croaked, "but not by me."

Luisa tightened her embrace. "Oh, sweetie. I wish there was something I could do to help you."

"Nobody can help me," he replied, an unsettling quietness wrapping around his words.

Alarmed by the deep despondency in his voice, Luisa shifted away slightly to look into his pained eyes.

"We have to talk," he rasped.

Luisa felt a chill wash over her at the detached tone of his voice.

They talked—mostly he spoke, pouring out his thoughts like a man unburdening his soul. He recounted the details of his father's company and his reluctant role within it, a duty he never wished to shoulder. He discussed the state of the economy in Seoul, a topic that eluded her comprehension. Although she couldn't fully grasp the intricacies, she sensed its significance; it was clear he bore a heavy weight of responsibility.

At one point, he revealed his impending marriage, a revelation that felt overwhelming. It was hard to wrap her mind around; she could not tell whether it was a cultural difference or simply her own emotional denial. He explained that the survival of his company hinged on his marriage to Lee Youngsoon. The economic ripples caused by his father's death were poised to affect the entire nation, placing him in the impossible position of having to save the livelihoods of countless people.

"It will be a marriage in name only," Seokjin insisted, his voice trembling with urgency. "I know it doesn't make sense, but you have to believe me. I don't want this. My whole life is about to change, and all I can think about is how much I want you, how little I care about anything else. Why do I have to be the one to sacrifice everything?" He pulled her close, burying his face in the crook of her neck. His tears seeped into the collar of her robe, yet his cries showed no signs of letting up.

Luisa held him tightly, allowing him to pour out his anguish while her own eyes burned with unshed tears. She wanted to be strong for him, but a flicker of defiance ignited within her—a need to be strong for herself. While her heart ached for Jin, her sadness was eclipsed by a growing frustration. As the minutes passed, that desperate anger rapidly took hold, and she struggled to hold back her own tears.

Seokjin might have been wallowing in self-pity, but what was he really sacrificing? He would return to Seoul, go through with a marriage to a beautiful woman, run his company, and live a life of privilege. And then what?

What about her? She was the one left behind, bearing the weight of unvoiced sacrifices. Although she loved him deeply, she wouldn't remain a passive spectator in their relationship. She couldn't. His life was unfolding elsewhere, far from her reach. She had never wanted to be a burden to him. She didn't want him to go through life plagued by regrets and uncertainties beyond their control. Perhaps that was what he meant earlier about making choices he might regret. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if he would alter his plans if she simply asked. Would he abandon his responsibilities for her sake?

"Jin," she said suddenly, her voice breaking the silence. She propped herself up on one elbow.

"Hm?" He opened his eyes, turning his gaze toward her.

"I... I don't want to lose you."

His expression softened as he met her eyes. "You won't. I love you, Lu. You're the only woman I will ever love." He wrapped her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers, sealing his promise with a kiss. "We'll figure it out together. I won't let you go. Without you, I have nothing." He kissed her again, this time with an urgency that spoke of his desperation, as if trying to etch his love into her very soul.

Luisa melted into his body. She sighed when he undid her robe. His fingers began to roam over her body, finding all the spots that made her shiver. His lips soon followed the trail left by his fingers.

She gasped softly when he slipped his fingers inside her wet warmth, almost as if she had never felt them before. She craved him too much. She needed him too much. She loved him too much. And that was the problem.

She had given Jin control over her heart and mind long ago, and she would never be happy without him. She closed her eyes as he continued to bring pleasure to her body, her little gasps and moans spurring him on. She let him do what he pleased because it pleased her, too. But she already knew.

She knew she would have to let him go. Again. He had to fulfill his responsibilities. She had no right to demand that he stay with her; if he did, he would cease to be the man she loved, the man she admired. She couldn't bring herself to encourage him to abandon so many who depended on him. Even if he offered, she wouldn't accept it. He had made a promise to his father, his family, and his employees. The Seokjin she loved would never turn his back on others or the commitments he had made.

The mattress creaked as he pounded into her body harder and faster. His hand kept a tight grip on her breast, kneading it and pinching it. His mouth clamped over her other breast. She gasped louder as he sucked and bit her soft flesh. Her moaned words of love encouraged him to move even faster. She felt as if she were floating outside her body.

"Fuck, Lu! I love you so much," he grunted. He pulled one of her legs up and hooked it over his shoulder. The new angle allowed him to thrust even deeper, and she couldn't stop her loud cries of pleasure.

She dug her fingernails into his hips, feeling his muscles as they contracted and released. The mattress creaked louder. The headboard hit the wall. His frenzied thrusts didn't slow down. He moved one of his hands down between their bodies and rubbed her insistently. In that moment, she decided. She would ask him to stay with her. She would be selfish this one time.

"Oh, Jin! S-Stay...with me. Don't...leave...m-me." Her voice trembled with the intensity of his thrusts.

She felt as if her body was turning itself inside out. She cried out as her vision exploded into stars, and her body began clenching around his stiffness. With a growl, he pulled her other leg over his shoulder as well. Her orgasm almost stopped her breath and cut her off mid-scream.

She must've blacked out for a moment because, when she finally regained her senses, he was moaning incoherently, sloppily thrusting into her as he reached his own high. Her legs were limp on either side of him.

"I love you," he gasped as he fell on top of her. "I will never let you go. Never." He shifted half of his body off her to prevent from crushing her, but he reached his hand around the back of her head and pulled her face to his, claiming her mouth in a fervent kiss.

Luisa saw that he was dozing off even though his lips were still attached to hers. She moved her face away from his watching his eyelashes flutter and his eyes shut.

"You really love only me, Jin?" she whispered, not expecting a reply.

Seokjin curled himself around her body, his eyes still shut. "Ummm...yes," he murmured. He yawned and mumbled again in his sleep. After a few moments, he began to snore quietly.

Luisa, however, was wide awake. If she had not paid close attention, she would not have heard his whispered words that forever changed her world. Now, those barely audible words were replaying themselves on an endless loop in her brain:

"You really love only me, Jin?"

"Ummm...yes. The sex with Youngsoon meant nothing."