Jin

I felt someone shaking me, but I didn't want to let Bella out of the warm circle of my arms.

"Hey, bro. Wake up."

That sounded like a man's voice. That wasn't Bella. I opened my eyes slowly. Bella wasn't next to me. I was hugging a pillow. I had been dreaming. I groaned and closed my eyes again.

"Leave me alone," I grumbled, disappointed, and plopped the pillow over my face.

"Seokjin, it's me." That was a female voice. I heard the click of the lamp being turned on.

I opened my eyes and squinted in the lamp light. It was Fiona.

I scowled. "What...do you want?" I asked.

"We need to talk."

I sighed. "Forget it! I'm not having sex with you, Fiona."

"Oh, my God! That's not why I'm here!" she exclaimed.

"Bro." That was Namjoon's voice.

I sat up slowly and stared at them. "So what do you want? Why are you here?" I looked at Namjoon accusingly. "Why did you bring her here?"

"Just listen to her, bro," he said. "You said there was no time, so this is our last shot. Please listen to her. Yoongi and I'll wait outside."

I hadn't even noticed that Yoongi had been reclining on the couch until he got to his feet. He must have been taking care of me. I watched both of them walk out and close the door behind them. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand.

"Jeez, Fiona, it's almost three in the morning. Couldn't this wait? I'm exhausted."

She let out a deep sigh and sat on the corner of the bed. "I'll be quick then. Namjoon told me that you're in a really bad state and--"

"And that's nobody's business but mine," I interrupted her harshly.

"And," she continued emphatically, "I think it's time that I was honest...with everyone but especially with myself. I know this marriage is a mistake. I can't pretend anymore. You and I would never work, and I'm sorry for everything that I've put you through. You didn't deserve it. I'm so sorry, Seokjin."

I shrugged. "So?" Her apologies meant nothing now.

She clasped her hands together on her lap. "So I will let you off the hook. I will be the one to call off the wedding. No one will blame you."

I felt my mouth fall open before I shook myself out of the shock. "Your father won't allow it. He won't care if you called it off. He'll come after me and my company, and I have already decided that I won't jeopardize KWI. Things are not as simple as you think, princess. Problems don't get solved just because you click your magic slippers and decide you want to be honest at last. What about your baby? What do you think is going to happen about that?"

She looked down. "I'm not sure yet, but I do know that I won't make you shoulder this burden. I had no right to destroy your life just because I was afraid to stand up to my father. I'm tired of taking orders. He never takes me into account. He just wants me to obey." She took a deep breath. "I have something that I can use to make sure he doesn't do anything to me or you."

I looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. "What do you mean?"

She turned her face toward me, and the shadows cast by the lamplight made her appear fearsome. "You needed proof about my father's wrongdoing. Long story short. I have proof that he bribed one of your father's officials to move money around illegally. He wanted your father to think that KWI was on the verge of bankruptcy so that he would accept his offer. The wedding was just insurance to keep you in line."

It took me a few minutes to process what she had just said.  KWI was not in financial trouble.  Gettis had manipulated the situation to make it appear so. "H-How did you find out? How long have you known?"

For the first time since before the party, she smiled. "I'm majoring in accounting. The minute I got a peek at the accounts, I knew something was wrong. I started digging around. I'm ashamed to say that I've known what he was up to for about a month. I'm sorry for not speaking up. I never thought things would go so wrong."

"A month?" I exclaimed. "Jesus, Fiona! Why didn't you speak up sooner? Why did you let all this happen? Have you any idea what I've been through? Why?"

She averted her eyes. "I was afraid of going up against my father. I wasn't sure how to do it. But, truthfully? I sort of became infatuated with you from the moment I saw your picture. I don't know what came over me. All my friends were so envious, and I got carried away like a schoolgirl. You're so handsome and elegant and well-spoken. Weird, I know."

"Ha. Not weird at all. I mean, look at me," I said with a serious expression.

"I forgot to mention arrogant," she said with a roll of her eyes. "But, yes, I was just like any other foolish girl thinking she's in love with you. I was actually in love with someone else--" She stopped abruptly and looked at me with trepidation.

I nodded. "That's okay. Do you still love him?"

She gave a little nod then looked at me again. "I mean, he's no Kim Seokjin, but I love him, and I've decided that I don't care what my father says. I will make my own choices. Which is why I've made you a copy of those accounting files I saw." She opened her small purse and pulled out a USB drive. "This is your insurance against my father's retaliation." She held it out to me. "Keep this safe in case he tries to do anything else."

I took it from her hand. "But he has committed criminal acts. There needs to be an investigation. I can't just--"

"He's my father," she interrupted me. "I still love him, and I won't send him to prison. I'm sorry. But we can use this information to ensure that he will leave us alone. I made a third copy which is now resting in a safety deposit box with strict instructions that it be sent to the appropriate authorities in the case of my disappearance or death. You should do the same. My father will have to see that he is defeated and that he cannot retaliate against us or the information on that USB will be used against him."

"How Machiavellian of you," I mumbled. "I can't figure out if you're Goneril or Cordelia. You love your father, yet you plot against him." She gave me a blank stare. "Sorry. I forgot. Accounting major. Okay then. Literary references aside, do you really think this will work?"

She nodded. "I will talk to my father first thing in the morning--which is in just a few hours. I already prepared a script for his speech to the guests. All you have to do is act shocked in front of everybody, and that will be that. You'll be free. You can go back to Isabella. I already sent her an email expressing my apologies. I hope that she'll understand."

At the mention of her name, I felt a lump in my throat. "Wh-What?"

Fiona inhaled. "I emailed her just about an hour ago, after I spoke with Namjoon. I tried to explain what happened, that none of this was your fault. I also made it clear that nothing happened between you and me. I confessed that I made it up. I really hope that it helps. I know how you feel about her."

I couldn't speak. Would Bella understand? Would she take me back? I'd spend the rest of my days groveling at her feet if she gave any indication that she wanted me back.

"Well, I better go," she said and got to her feet. "Jared...uh, is waiting for me. I have to tell him the new plans."

"That's his name?" I asked. "I lost out to a Jared?"

She smiled then shook her head. "Seriously, Seokjin, you could never lose out to anybody. You never wanted me, remember? I hope that you'll be happy with Bella. I really do. I'm so ashamed about how I acted with her. I hope she can forgive me. I hope you can forgive me, too." She held out her hand.

I stared at her for a few seconds before taking her hand. "Of course. And I wish you and Jared all the best. I am sorry if I made your life miserable. Thank you for...doing this." I got to my feet and scooped her up in a hug. "Thank you."