Chapter 38:

The midday sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a golden glow over the rolling Tuscan hills. Under the shade of a sprawling olive tree, a long rustic wooden table was set, draped with a simple white linen cloth. The breeze carried the earthy scent of the vineyard and the distant aroma of freshly baked bread.

Marco and Luca, ever the gracious hosts, had arranged a feast, one that celebrated the fruits of their labor in the most traditional way. The family gathered around, laughter and conversation mingling in the air as plates and bottles of wine were passed from hand to hand.

At the center of the table sat a large wooden board laden with freshly made Ricotta, still warm from the morning's work, drizzled with golden honey. Beside it, thin slices of Pecorino cheese were arranged in a perfect circle, accompanied by ribbons of prosciutto and plump figs bursting with sweetness.

Aaira, helping set the table, reached for a piece of the Pecorino. "This smells incredible," she murmured, placing it on her plate with delicate care. Then in her in law's and Sung-hoon.

"The cheese tastes even better when you make it yourself," Marco said with a knowing smile, pouring a deep red Tuscan wine into a few glasses. "Try it."

Ha-Joon, ever the eager eater, didn't need to be told twice. He took a generous bite of the Ricotta, sighing dramatically. "This is dangerous. I might never leave Italy now."

Scarlet chuckled, taking a small bite herself. The combination of the warm, creamy cheese with the honey was divine, melting on her tongue in perfect harmony. "It's perfect."

Ha-Neul sat opposite them, silent as he sipped his wine. He hadn't spoken much since the cheese-making session, but his eyes lingered too long on Scarlet and Ha-Joon, watching as Ha-Joon leaned closer to her and resting his head on her shoulder.

"My god, I'm in love with this place, Red." Scarlet laughed softly, shaking her head at whatever nonsense he was saying. Ha-Neul's grip tightened around his wine glass.

Just as the cheese board was being devoured, the kitchen doors swung open, and a few of Marco's farmhands emerged carrying steaming plates of homemade pasta, Marco's wife came too. The noodles were thick and rustic, coated in a rich tomato and basil sauce. Bowls of freshly shaved Parmesan followed, along with baskets of wood-fired bread, its crust golden and crisp.

Seung-Il, who had been skeptical about the entire farm experience, let out an impressed hum as he took a bite. "Alright, I take back every complaint I had about being here," he admitted. "This is the best pasta I've ever had."

Esme, sitting beside him, nudged him playfully. "I told you. Sometimes, the simplest things are the best."

Sung-Hoon, who had been eating mostly in silence, finally spoke. "It's good," he admitted, though his attention was divided between his plate and keeping an eye on Aimir, who was napping peacefully in Aaira's arms.

Luca, grinning, raised his wine glass. "To good food, good company, and the joy of making something with your own hands."

"To good food," Ha-Joon echoed, raising his own glass before turning to Scarlet. "And to my talented wife, who was much better at this than I was."

Scarlet rolled her eyes but clinked her glass against his. "You weren't so bad," she teased.

Ha-Neul swallowed thickly, pushing his plate away before quietly excusing himself from the table. As the afternoon stretched on, the air filled with the sounds of clinking glasses, shared laughter, and the comforting warmth of a meal made with love. But for one person, the weight of unspoken emotions made it hard to swallow.

***

The evening air in Tuscany carried the scent of fresh grapes and the faintest hint of lavender as the family made their way back to the mansion. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a sky brushed with shades of pink and orange.

As soon as they arrived, the older family members turned to the younger ones. "Go upstairs and freshen up," Ha-Joon's mother instructed. "Dinner will be ready soon."

Ha-Joon stretched lazily. "Finally, a proper meal. I need to get rid of all this cheese smell first."

Scarlet rolled her eyes, but she, too, was eager to wash away the long day. The moment they entered their room, Ha-Joon flopped onto the bed dramatically.

"Move," Scarlet ordered, pushing his legs aside.

"You're so mean to me," he groaned.

"You smell like farm animals," she teased, already pulling her clothes from the suitcase.

"Touché."

They both freshened up quickly. Scarlet changed into an elegant off-shoulder dress in a soft shade of wine red, her hair falling naturally down her back. Ha-Joon, now dressed in a crisp button-down and dark trousers, ran a hand through his damp hair before stepping out.

***

By the time they made their way downstairs, the scene was nothing short of breathtaking. Ha-Joon's mother and Ha-Neul's mother had arranged a dinner in the estate's vineyard. A long, beautifully decorated wooden table was set under the open sky, surrounded by rows of grapevines.

Flickering candles lined the table, casting a golden glow, while fairy lights hung between the trees, illuminating the entire area in a soft, dreamy radiance. A trio of musicians played soft Italian melodies in the background, the delicate strumming of the guitar blending seamlessly with the rustling leaves and occasional laughter of the family. Scarlet inhaled deeply, feeling the romance in the air.

"It looks... perfect," she whispered.

Ha-neul's father smiled warmly. "We wanted to give you all a night to remember."

"Definitely succeeding," Ha-Joon murmured, leading Scarlet toward their seats.

The dinner started with traditional Tuscan dishes, each plate more exquisite than the last. They were served Pappa al Pomodoro, a rich tomato and bread soup, followed by Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a thick, perfectly grilled T-bone steak that was a local specialty.

Bowls of pici pasta, handmade and coated in a luscious truffle sauce, made their way around the table, while the aroma of rosemary-infused roasted potatoes filled the air. Scarlet took a sip of her red wine, savoring the deep, aged flavor. "This is incredible," she said.

Ha-neul, who had joined them for dinner, grinned. "Chianti is one of the finest wines in Tuscany. You two should take a bottle home as a souvenir."

Ha-Joon, enjoying his steak, leaned in towards Scarlet. "Would that count as our 'honeymoon' memory?"

Scarlet smirked, stabbing a piece of pasta with her fork. "Only if you don't finish the entire bottle before we even leave."

The entire table was filled with conversation, laughter, and toasts. Even Seung-Il, who had been reluctant about the farm earlier, was enjoying himself, though he kept glancing at Esme to make sure she was comfortable.

As the night wore on, Ha-Joon's attention drifted solely to Scarlet. The candlelight reflected in her eyes, and the warmth of the wine made him bold. He reached across the table, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You look breathtaking tonight," he murmured, his voice softer than usual.

Scarlet paused mid-bite, slightly caught off guard. "Are you drunk?" she teased, trying to brush off the fluttering feeling in her chest.

Ha-Joon chuckled. "Not at all. Just... appreciating my 'wife.'"

Scarlet laughed, shaking her head. "You're..." she trailed off.

But for a moment, under the Tuscan sky, with music playing softly in the background and the scent of vineyards surrounding them. For that moment, they blended into the night, into each other's lives, as if they truly belonged.

***

The night was cool, the Tuscan air carrying the fresh scent of grapevines and distant olive groves. As Scarlet and Ha-Joon walked back to their room, the warmth of the candlelit dinner still lingered in the atmosphere.

Ha-Joon barely made it to the bed before collapsing onto it. "I am so full," he mumbled into the pillow, his voice muffled.

Scarlet chuckled. "You ate like you were in a competition."

He grunted in response, shifting onto his side. Within minutes, his breathing slowed, and he fell into a deep sleep. Scarlet, on the other hand, stayed awake for a while, scrolling through her phone and letting the events of the day settle in her mind. Just as she felt herself drifting off, the soft vibration of her phone startled her.

She squinted at the screen. Miss Christine. Frowning, she answered the call. "Christine?"

"Ma'am..." Christine's voice wavered. Scarlet immediately sat up.

"Christine, really? At this time?" she sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"I... I'm at Tuscany Airport," Christine sniffled. "Can you please pick me up?"

Scarlet's brows furrowed. "What? How are you here?"

"I'll explain later," Christine said quickly. "Please, ma'am... I... I have a problem. A big problem."

Scarlet's concern deepened. "What trouble?"

Christine hesitated before whispering, "I-I have someone with me... and it's complicated. Please just come fast."

Scarlet sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Alright, I'm coming."

She turned toward Ha-Joon, nudging his shoulder. "Ha-Joon... Ha-Joon, wake up."

Nothing. She shook him harder. "Joon, wake up, I need to go to the airport."

He only groaned and buried his face deeper into the pillow. Scarlet groaned in frustration before giving up. She grabbed her coat and quietly slipped out of the room, her mind racing with worry over Christine's unexpected arrival.

As she walked through the dimly lit hallway, she wasn't paying attention and suddenly bumped into a solid chest. A warm, familiar scent filled her senses, Ha-Neul. His hands instinctively held her shoulders steady as he looked down at her. "Are you going somewhere?"

Scarlet, still slightly startled, nodded. "Airport."

Ha-Neul frowned. "At this hour?"

She sighed. "There's an emergency. I have to pick someone up."

For a moment, he simply studied her. Then, with a short nod, he said, "Wait. I'll drive you."

Scarlet hesitated. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be in a car alone with Ha-Neul, but given the situation, and the fact that she had no other way to get there, she nodded. The black SUV cut through the quiet Tuscan roads, the headlights illuminating the winding path ahead. The silence between them was thick, but not unfamiliar.

Ha-Neul focused on the road, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel. Scarlet, arms crossed, kept glancing at her phone, waiting for any updates from Christine. After a few minutes, the silence felt suffocating. Scarlet sighed and reached for the radio. "Let's put on some music."

She turned the dial, and soft static filled the car before a familiar tune began playing.

"Boy, tell me, can you take my breath away?"
"Cruisin' down a heart-shaped highway..."

Scarlet stiffened. Ha-Neul's grip on the wheel tightened.

"Got you swervin' lane-to-lane, don't hit the brakes..."

The song, Harleys in Hawaii, was one she hadn't expected, and judging by Ha-Neul's rigid posture, he hadn't either. The sultry, teasing lyrics filled the space between them, weaving into the quiet tension.

"I'll be your baby, on a Sunday..."
"Oh, why don't we get out of town?"

Scarlet swallowed. The words felt like an unspoken challenge, pressing against something neither of them wanted to acknowledge. She dared a glance at Ha-Neul. His jaw was clenched, his eyes locked on the road ahead, but the way his fingers curled tighter around the wheel told her he was just as affected. The song continued for good 2 more minutes.

"You and I..."

She exhaled, shifting slightly. "Maybe... not the best song choice," she muttered, reaching to change it.

Before she could, Ha-Neul reached out and turned off the radio completely. Silence. She could hear her own heartbeat. The road stretched ahead, lined with endless vineyards under the silver glow of the moon. Tuscany at night was breathtaking, an untouched painting of rolling hills and rustic charm. But the beauty of the scenery did little to ease the weight between them.

Ha-Neul finally spoke, his voice low. "Who are you picking up?"

Scarlet tore her gaze from the vineyards. "My assistant, Christine. She just landed unexpectedly. She sounded... distressed."

He nodded but said nothing more.

Minutes passed, the only sound was the soft hum of the tires against the road.

Scarlet glanced at him again. "You... didn't ask why I didn't wake Ha-Joon to come with me."

Ha-Neul's lips curled slightly. "Would he have woken up?"

Scarlet chuckled, shaking her head. "No. He was dead to the world."

A ghost of a smirk crossed Ha-Neul's face before fading back into his usual unreadable expression. As they approached the airport, Scarlet exhaled. The drive had been tense, heavy, yet beneath it all, there was an unspoken understanding between them.

Ha-Neul pulled into the airport's pickup zone and parked. "I'll wait here."

Scarlet hesitated before nodding, stepping out into the cool night air. But as she walked toward the entrance, she couldn't shake the lingering weight of that drive. The way the lyrics had wrapped around them like a whisper of something unspoken. And the way Ha-Neul, despite everything, was still the one driving her to where she needed to be.

***

Scarlet walked into the airport, her eyes scanning the bustling arrivals section. It didn't take long to spot Christine, standing near a row of seats, arms wrapped around herself, looking slightly disheveled. As soon as Christine saw her, she rushed forward and threw her arms around Scarlet.

"Ma'am... I'm sorry," Christine murmured against her shoulder, her voice thick with emotion.

Scarlet, caught off guard, patted her back lightly. "Why?"

Christine hesitated before pulling back. "I... I thought you left Paris because of me," she admitted, her gaze flickering with guilt. "And you didn't come to the company because I said I was angry with you... I thought maybe... you were done with me." She bit her lip before whispering, "I missed you."

Scarlet chuckled, shaking her head. "Hey, are you crazy? No, it's not that. We were just having some family time."

Christine's face dropped slightly, her expression turning remorseful. "Oh... I'm really sorry, ma'am. I shouldn't have interrupted."

Before Scarlet could reassure her, a familiar voice cut through the moment. "Interrupted is an understatement."

Scarlet turned to see Thomas approaching, dressed sharply despite the late hour, his usual smug expression in place. Ha-Joon's assistant was always composed, always professional, except when Christine was involved.

Christine rolled her eyes dramatically. As scarlet asked. "Ugh, why are you here?"

Christine sighed, before replying. "He insisted on following me," she huffed, crossing her arms.

Thomas scoffed. "Like I had a choice. My boss is your boss's husband, and when you do reckless things, I have to make sure damage control is in place."

"Oh, please," Christine snapped. "I don't need your supervision. I handle things just fine without a pompous know-it-all hovering over me."

"Pompous?" Thomas smirked. "That's rich coming from someone who thinks she runs the company."

Scarlet sighed, massaging her temples as their bickering escalated. This was nothing new, Christine and Thomas had an ongoing rivalry, always arguing over who was more competent, who was the better assistant, who Ha-Joon trusted more.

"Enough," Scarlet said firmly. "Thomas, why did you come here?"

Christine hesitated before glancing at Thomas.

Thomas smirked. "Same reason as christine. For my boss."

Scarlet exhaled sharply. "Of course. Fine. Just follow me."

The drive back was quiet, the only sounds being the soft hum of the car's engine and the occasional sigh from Christine or Thomas. Scarlet sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed as she watched the scenery pass by. Ha-Neul remained focused on the road, not asking questions, which she was grateful for.

He wasn't one to pry unless necessary, and tonight, he seemed content with silence. Christine and Thomas, on the other hand, occasionally exchanged annoyed glances, but neither dared to speak. Scarlet glanced at Ha-Neul, who looked completely indifferent to the tension in the car.

At least someone was unaffected. When they finally arrived back at the estate, Scarlet stepped out, stretching slightly. "Come in," she said, leading them inside.

Once inside, Scarlet motioned toward the living room. "Take a seat. I'll make some coffee."

Christine and Thomas, still glaring at each other, sat down with as much distance between them as possible. Scarlet entered the kitchen, pulling out mugs as she started the coffee machine. Just as she was about to pour, a voice sounded from behind her.

"One more."

She turned slightly to see Ha-Neul leaning against the doorway, watching her. Scarlet merely nodded and added another mug. She didn't question why he wanted one, it wasn't like she could refuse anyway.

After a few minutes, she carried the tray back into the living room. She placed a mug in front of Christine, then Thomas, then Ha-Neul. Thomas raised a brow. "Boss serving assistants? That's new."

Christine smirked, blowing on her coffee. "Very lame."

Scarlet rolled her eyes, not bothering to entertain their antics. "Drink your coffee and don't push your luck."

The silence that followed was brief. Thomas took a sip and leaned back, glancing at Christine. "So, what exactly was so important that you needed Miss rogers , sorry sorry, Mrs. Wi to pick you up personally?"

Scarlet sighed, as she said. "Ma'am only. No need to address me as Mrs. Wi so soon."

Thomas only nodded as he moved towards christine and said. "You didn't tell me?"

Christine huffed. "None of your business."

"That means you did something reckless again," he muttered.

Christine glared. "Excuse me? You..."

Scarlet cleared her throat. "I don't care why you two are at each other's throats this time. Just drink your coffee and keep your voices down everyone is sleeping."

Christine mumbled something under her breath but obeyed. After they finished their coffee, Scarlet stood. "Come on, I'll show you both the guest rooms."

Christine eagerly stood, but Thomas took his time, stretching as if he were already regretting staying the night. Scarlet led them down the hall, stopping in front of a door. "Christine, you take this one."

Christine peeked inside, nodding in approval. "Nice."

Scarlet moved to the next room. "And Thomas, this is yours."

Thomas gave a small nod. "Acceptable."

Scarlet raised a brow. "Acceptable?"

"I have standards," he said with a small smirk.

Christine rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up and go to sleep."

Scarlet sighed. "Please don't argue at midnight."

Christine smirked. "No promises."

Thomas scoffed. "I wouldn't waste my time."

Scarlet, exhausted from the entire ordeal, turned toward her own room. "Good night, both of you. Try not to kill each other."

She didn't wait for a response before heading to her own room, shutting the door behind her. As she crawled into bed, she let out a tired sigh. Tomorrow, she'd deal with whatever new chaos Christine and Thomas had brought with them. Tonight, she just wanted to sleep.

***

Ha-Neul walked into his room, the warmth of the coffee mug still pressing against his palm. The house was quiet now, the only sound the faint chirping of crickets outside and the occasional rustle of wind through the vineyard. He set the mug down on a small table by the balcony door before stepping outside, inhaling the cool Tuscan air. The sky stretched above him in a vast sea of stars, their dim glow reflecting against the dark silhouette of the estate.

As he leaned against the railing, his eyes instinctively drifted toward the room directly across from him, Scarlet's. The balcony doors were slightly parted, the soft amber glow from the bedside lamp spilling into the night. He could see the remnants of flowers still sitting in a vase inside, their petals slightly wilted but still holding onto their beauty.

Then his gaze lowered, landing on the bed. Scarlet was asleep, her breathing soft and steady. Ha-Joon had shifted closer to her, his arm wrapping around her waist as he pulled her against him in his sleep. Scarlet didn't resist; she merely turned slightly, unconsciously fitting into his embrace. Ha-Neul's fingers curled against the iron railing. There was no sharp pang in his chest. No wave of anger or regret.

Nothing. Just... silence. Yet, without realizing it, something warm trailed down his cheek. He blinked, reaching up to touch his face. Tears. Ha-Neul let out a slow, measured breath. He wasn't even sure why they had fallen. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the weight of the night pressing against him in ways he didn't understand.

He exhaled sharply and sat down on the swing by the balcony, his hands clasped together as he stared at the floor. His coffee had gone cold on the table, forgotten. With his head lowered, he sniffed, but he didn't wipe his face. He let the tears sit there, cooling against his skin as the night stretched on.

He wasn't sure how long he stayed there, his mind drifting between the past and the present. He wasn't even thinking of anything specific, just... existing in the quiet, feeling the weight of something unspoken settle into his bones. Across from him, Scarlet remained still, wrapped in another man's arms. And Ha-Neul? He felt truly, unbearably alone.