The Idol's Wife

Chapter 236 - Masquerade (3): The Dance

She was about to push him off but he whispered into her ears, "Dance with me for a while. Otherwise, I will order my hitman to shoot Song Tamlin. He's your person of interest tonight, isn't he?" 

He pointed at Song Tamlin and then to a server positioned upstairs, who was concealing a gun in his hands. The server looked their way and nodded. 

Mirae froze. She felt her skin crawl as Ash took her by the waist and led her to a dance. The other pairs around them were swaying romantically to the music but Mirae felt like throwing up. The very touch of this man disgusted her now. 

"You hate my touch now," he stated lazily. "Few months ago you couldn't keep your hands off me. Ah, times have changed." 

"What the hell do you want?" she gritted in disgust. 

"I just want to talk," he smirked. "Turn." 

He forced Mirae to twirl around before catching her by the waist again. Mirae tried to push him but he gripped her hand hard. She could have easily broken free and thrown him on the floor but his threat to shoot Song Tamlin kept her from doing so. 

Ash leaned in. Mirae squirmed as his voice reached her ears, "Disband Abyss. The President already knows your identity. It's only a matter of time before he personally comes to hunt you down." 

"Why are you working with him?" Mirae shot back. "He killed your-" 

"Parents?" he chuckled. "I know that very well." 

"But that doesn't matter to me," he went on as they slowly rotated on the dance floor. "All I want is what is rightfully mine." 

"So you would let innocents die?" she spat at him. Standing in front of her was the man she had once loved and protected. She was once willing to die for this person. She was even willing to kill for him. 

But now…she felt nothing. Not love nor hatred. She pitied him for the darkness he chose to live with. Her heart was not even affected by him. All she could think of was how KJ was a far superior person than him. 

"You hate me," Ash guessed. 

"I pity you," she corrected him. Unbeknownst to him, she made a T sign with her hands behind his back. A figure in the distance nodded and hurried off. 

"I pity you for being a lonely and hateful person," she went on. "I was stupid to fall for you once. But now I'm glad that you're gone."

Ash suddenly felt something cold pressing against his stomach. He looked down to see a gun. 

"Tell your men to back off," she threatened. "You see, if I kill you here, no one will bat an eye. Do remember, Song Tamlin owes me." 

Ash blinked at her in surprise before smirking at her. 

"Looks like your knight in shining armor is here," he said before starting to back away. Mirae quickly concealed the gun when she felt someone put a hand around her shoulder, holding it tightly. To her relief, it was KJ. 

"I think I'll take my wife back, Mr. Park," he said coldly. His steely gaze would have made anyone shiver in fear. 

Ash, however, was not affected by his threatening look. He did not reply but turned away. His work was done anyway. 

KJ pulled Mirae close to him. His earlier happiness was soured. If Somi had not informed him that Ash was forcing Mirae to dance with him, then she may have been harmed. 

"What did he want?" he demanded. 

"He was threatening me to disband Abyss," she scoffed. "Thank god Somi saw my signal. Otherwise, I would have shot him dead here. I don't want his filthy blood on my hands." 

KJ held her in a tight embrace as they slowly moved with the rhythm of the song. He lowered his head to whisper into her ears. Unconscious of her actions, Mirae rested on his chest, making herself comfortable. 

Somi was looking at them from afar while Hyun Jung was incredulous. 

"I have never seen him like that," he said in disbelief. "If I didn't know it was KJ, I'd have said he was an imposter." 

"I feel like a proud parent whose kids are all grown up," Somi sighed. She turned to Hyun Jung, her eyes brimming with hope. 

He immediately understood what she wanted. 

"No," he refused flatly. 

"Oh come on!" Somi insisted. "One dance." 

"No!" Hyun Jung said, trying to escape her clutches but Somi dragged him along with her to the dance floor. 

Meanwhile, Dasom and Eli were entangled in a war of words. 

"You don't have to return it," Dasom said. "It's a gift!" 

"It's too expensive!" Eli protested. "I can't take this. It's not right! People will talk." 

"So?" Dasom frowned. "I got this for you. Why do you feel so embarrassed?" 

"It's…it's not appropriate to give a girl stuff like this," she said. "Unless…" 

"Unless what?" 

"U-unless you're related to her," she stuttered. "Or…" 

"Or?" Dasom questioned. 

"Or…" she hesitated. 

"Or, you're dating her," Dasom finished for her. "But we've already slept together!" 

"Shush!" 

She tried to shut his mouth but Dasom held her wrists. 

"What's wrong in giving a gift to the girl I like?" he asked. His eyes were staring right at her with an intense passion which made Eli redden. 

"You're…you're younger than me," she said in a small tone. Dasom snickered. 

"So? We're a.d.u.l.ts anyway." 

"I don't know!" she blurted out. "I just…" 

"Go out with me," Dasom said boldly. "I like you and I know you're into me. Why not give our relationship a chance?" 

Eli was gaping at him. "I-I'll think about it," she claimed. 

She quickly stepped away from him and began to walk forward. Dasom frowned, confused at her action. 

Eli turned around, still red in the face. 

"Well, aren't you gonna dance with me?" she demanded. "You just confessed to me. You owe me a dance now!" 

Dasom flashed her a goofy smile before following her. 

…. 

"What a happy view," Junhyung commented as he observed the couples on the dance floor. He was wearing a black tux, exactly similar to KJ's. He even wore the exact same mask. 

A purple masked server came up to him. He carefully mixed a drug into the drink on the tray the server was carrying. 

"You know what to do," he instructed. "Give this to that woman." He pointed at Mirae, who was still dancing with KJ. The server nodded and scurried off. 

"The real party will start soon," he sneered.