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Page 7 of Give Me a Reason

Sandwiched between her father’s manspreading and Juliette’s Louboutin stilettos—which she refused to take off even though they were in their aunt’s home—Anne sat on the sofa with her hands folded on her lap and her legs pressed tightly together.

Auntie Sharon and Tessa comfortably shared the love seat across from them.

Sitting together like that, they looked like mother and daughter.

Her younger sister looked remarkably like their aunt with her full, round face, naturally wavy hair, and big Bambi eyes.

Tessa might be the picture of sweet innocence, but she also shared Auntie Sharon’s laser-sharp intelligence and equally sharp tongue.

Anne smiled affectionately at two of her favorite people.

They were a force to be reckoned with. Her aunt raised her eyebrows in question but readily returned her smile.

Auntie Sharon and her family lived in Rancho Palos Verdes, a city twenty miles south of Los Angeles, nestled among beautiful green hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Anne had always loved Auntie Sharon’s house, especially how sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room, which faced a serene backyard.

It made the house feel warm and welcoming, like it had thrown its arms wide, inviting you in for a hug.

But even the cheeriest décor couldn’t brighten up a room in the presence of her father’s marked disapproval.

According to Anne’s father, Rancho Palos Verdes was “poor adjacent” because of the smaller square footage of the houses and the dual-income status of the “working families” who lived there.

Of course, he lived in a multimillion-dollar home in the exclusive Lunada Bay neighborhood of Palos Verdes Estates, the sister city of Rancho Palos Verdes, with its sprawling mansions and stunning ocean views.

If he had his way, her father would never associate himself with his neighbors from the “Cinco,” the nickname for Rancho Palos Verdes given for their zip code, nine zero two seven five .

He didn’t consider them his equals even though he had almost lost their family home ten years ago.

If that impending bankruptcy had come to pass, it would have put him far below his neighbors’ socioeconomic status.

Even then, he would never have called himself a workingman.

He took great pride in never having worked a day in his life, living off the trust fund his parents had set up for him—money Anne’s immigrant grandparents had toiled day and night to earn by building a successful Korean restaurant group from the ground up.

The one time her father took an interest in the family business, he’d almost bankrupted it by overinvesting in some outrageous venture.

Anne was grateful her father had resumed idling his days away.

It was best for everyone that professional executives ran the business now.

Her grandparents were long gone, but their legacy would live on a while longer.

Thank God for that. She couldn’t imagine having to upend her life a second time to rescue her father from financial ruin.

She raised a startled hand to her throat as long-forgotten resentment and bitterness seared her insides like acid. She hadn’t gotten angry over her past in a long time, but seeing Frederick must have brought her old wounds closer to the surface.

Resenting her father wouldn’t do her any good. He wouldn’t even notice that she was upset, much less feel remorse for what he’d done… for what she’d had to sacrifice. She did what needed to be done. There was no use moping over it.

Anne took a calming breath, then glanced around the cozy living room.

Auntie Sharon’s lovely home in the Cinco didn’t have an ocean view, but it was much preferable to the cold luxury of her father’s house—a house that had been full of warmth and laughter when her mother was alive.

Anne sighed softly. Her father had only deigned to set foot in her aunt’s house because his curiosity about Coraline’s fiancé trumped his prejudices for this one evening.

“Please have some tea, Hyeongbu,” her aunt said, addressing Anne’s father as older brother-in-law .

“Jonathan . ” Her father crinkled his nose. “You know I don’t like to stand on ceremony, Sharon.”

It had more to do with his dislike of being called an older anything.

Her father, who insisted on being called Jonathan despite his legal name being Jongsoo, was a remarkably well-groomed and handsome man of sixty-five with a full head of salt-and-pepper hair even George Clooney would covet.

He knew that better than anyone else and kept an extraordinary number of mirrors in the house in case he forgot for even a second.

Auntie Sharon glanced out the window, pressing her lips together to hold back a grin. She had a long-running game to see how many times she could call Anne’s father hyeongbu before he left the room in a huff.

“You’re right. You would think I’d remember after thirty-eight years.” Her aunt somehow maintained a straight face, even when her father flinched at the mention of how long they’d known each other. “I’m sorry, Hyeongbu. Oh my goodness. There I go again. I mean, sorry, Jonathan.”

Tessa choked on her tea, and Auntie Sharon patted her back soothingly.

Anne tucked her chin to hide her smile. Oblivious to the unfolding scene, Juliette sniffed at her tea and took a dainty sip before heaving a dramatic sigh that went on for three seconds too long.

No one would believe her beautiful sister was anywhere near thirty-four years old, with her flawless porcelain skin and lush jet-black hair.

“Is anything the matter?” Anne asked obligingly.

“What’s taking them so long?” Juliette pouted her glossy pink lips. “I don’t want to be late for my sound bath.”

“They’ll be here soon.” Auntie Sharon picked up her phone and checked her messages. “Coraline texted ten minutes ago to say that they’ll be here in fifteen minutes, so that’s just five more minutes.”

“So her fiancé… Jack?” Her father crossed his long legs at the knees, and Anne folded in on herself, forcing herself to take up less space.

“Joe,” her aunt corrected.

“Yes, this Joe .” His mouth turned down at the corners as though Jack were a far superior name. “He’s a policeman?”

“No, Hyeongbu.” Her aunt managed to sound patient. “He’s a firefighter. A lieutenant, in fact.”

A firefighter? Anne tensed. No. It had to be a coincidence. How had she not heard of this before? She’d only been back for a couple of months and had been busy settling into her new place, but you would think someone would’ve brought up Joe’s profession before now.

“A lieutenant? Not a captain?” Her father drew back as though he were shocked. He excelled at minimizing the accomplishments of others.

“Being a lieutenant at twenty-six is quite an achievement,” Auntie Sharon said stiffly, her patience running out. She was pretty much immune to the man’s antics at this point, but she considered her children, including her soon-to-be son-in-law, off-limits.

“Wow. Only twenty-six and a lieutenant already?” Anne laid a gentle hand on her father’s arm.

She needed to run interference, not linger on her own worries.

Besides, she shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

What are the chances that Joe worked at the same fire department as Frederick?

“That’s very impressive. Isn’t it, Appa? ”

Her father made a noncommittal noise and reached for his teacup, effectively dislodging her hand. Anne ignored the familiar rush of hurt and humiliation the best she could. Those little slights never failed to wound her, but she had learned not to dwell on them.

He had never been particularly affectionate, but he became impossibly distant after his wife died, especially toward his middle daughter. Perhaps she reminded him too much of his late wife. At least he’d stopped insulting her aunt’s children for the time being. Anne should take that as a win.

The front door rattled, and Coraline announced, “We’re here.”

With happy smiles and exclamations, Anne, Tessa, and Auntie Sharon gathered around the entryway to welcome the beaming couple. And Bethany and Uncle Paul, with his round tummy and ready smile, hurried out of the kitchen to greet Coraline and Joe, leaving behind dinner preparations for a moment.

Much to Anne’s chagrin—but sadly, not to her surprise—Juliette and her father didn’t stir from the sofa. Coraline didn’t seem to notice their rudeness as she hugged Anne and Tessa in turn. Then she turned to the handsome man standing shyly at her side and linked her arm through his.

Coraline and her hourglass curves barely topped five feet, while Joe’s lanky figure towered over her at least a foot taller. Despite their height difference, they somehow complemented each other perfectly, her cousin’s creamy skin contrasting beautifully with her fiancé’s honey-toned complexion.

“This is Joe Alvarez, my fiancé.” Coraline blushed prettily as she introduced him, and he stared down at her with a dreamy smile. “This is Anne, my cousin. And you already know Tessa.”

“Too well,” Joe teased, and Tessa crinkled her nose at him with obvious affection. Then he turned to Anne and stuck out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Anne. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“It’s lovely meeting you as well. I can’t wait for us to chat and get to know each other better.” Anne shook his hand with a warm smile. “Imo, should we head to the living room so he can meet the rest of the family?”

“Of course.” Auntie Sharon huffed a small sigh before leading the way to the living room. To Anne’s relief, her father and her older sister deigned to rise to their feet. “Joe, this is my brother-in-law, Jonathan Lee, and my eldest niece, Juliette.”