Chapter 108 - Mother Dearest

I held her gaze giving her a polit smile and she signaled over to her husband and he moved closer as she whispered something in his ear.

My smile faltered a little as she kept staring obviously displeased with my presence, but I never once let go of her gaze.

"I think your mom hates me" I whispered into Shiwoo's ear still holding her gaze.

"No she doesn't. She just never expected me to bring someone home" he defended and I scoffed.

Even a blind guy can see that she doesn't like me, but she was his mother and son's are always so blind about their mother's wrongs.

She cleared her throat as she plastered on a big smile showcasing her perfectly straight and white teeth as she greeted her guest standing, "hello everyone and welcome to my party. We have an evening filled with fun activities so please make yourselves at home and enjoy."

A few cameras flashed as she smiled and waved and that was when I realized that there were some paparazzi present.

Of course, Chaebol's cant hold an event without reminding the public of how rich they were.

I have no doubt in my mind that her party wont be on the news as a trending topic.

I can already picture the headline, "Mrs. Kim, wife of CEO of Kim's Incorporated celebrates birthday today sparing no expense."

The dinner portion of the evening started soon after her welcome and the servers came and took a plates returning it with delicious foods.

I remembered my table manners and only ate when everyone at the table was served and I saw out of the corner of my eye Mrs. Kim staring at my every move.

I turned to Shiwoo who was busy loading his plate with food and whispered into his ear, "you're mom is staring into my soul. Make it stop."

"Relax it's fine. She just has never seen one of you up so close." he said with such ease and my mouth widened.

"Excuse me? One of me? What's that supposed to mean?" I was extremely offended by his words, but I have to admit, I wasn't that surprised.

As soon as I confronted him he realized his mistake and tried to apologies, "no that's not what I meant. No, I mean yes, but not in a bad way."

I was very upset at how he could casually make a racist remark just like that at the expense of defending his mother.

I had a right mind to just get my kids and leave, but I didn't want to be rude and give his mother another reason to hate me.

I ignored him for the rest of the dinner even when he tried to apologies by placing different kind of food items on my plate.

I had lost my appetite and didn't want not a single bite of their food for yes I have already accepted it, I was petty.

The dinner ended in chatter and laughs as they were all well acquainted with one another while I was there playing with my fingers when somebody tried to get my attention, "wait. Hold on. Is that?"

I heard the voice ask and I looked up from my fingers confused, "hello? Do I know you?"

He laughed and I rose a brow, "it's me from a few years back don't you remember?"

I tried racking my brain for a recollection, but my search turned out to be empty so I just shook my head no.

"Oh maybe I need to bend over and then you'll remember" he said bending over and I immediately remembered.

"Oh it's you!" I said excited that I finally remembered, but then I realized that I finally remembered, "oh it's you."

I folded my arms as he smiled at me and all the memories came rushing back.

"Yes it's me from the bridge at Han River. It's nice to see you again." he said outstretching his arm and I looked it hesitantly before I shook it.

"Umm excuse me Hyung (older brother/guy friend *can only be said by males*), but how do you know my Tally?" asked Shiwoo removing my hand from the guy's hand.

The guy gasped looking between us and he laughed, "no way. Little cuz is the one that got you pregnant? What a small world."

"What!?" I heard a voice say and we all whipped our heads to the direction seeing his mother fuming, "you and you. Office. Now!"

"You're dead" whispered Shiwoo to the guy before he held my hand pulling me towards where his mother and father went.

All eyes were on us and we entered the office closing the door to find Mrs. Kim glaring at us.

"Miss Carter" she called out.

"Yes ma'am?" I replied.

"Where are you from?" she flat out ask and I removed Shiwoo's hand from around my wrist as I stepped forward.

"Africa?" she asked when I didn't answer and I gave her a polit smile.

"No ma'am. I am from Jamaica."

She crinkled her nose as if she had got a whiff of a fowl odor, "so you are from an island? Why did you come to Korea?"

I kept my smile and manners as I answered her questions for I was taught at a very young age to respect my elders, "I came here for college and after college built my own Law firm ma'am."

"And where did you meet my son?" she asked when I was finished answering.

I felt as if I was back on school challenge quiz, but I answered never the less, "we met through a mutual connection, Miss Harin Kim."

I saw her took a deep breath before she sat on her chair as if she had just the news of the death of a dearly beloved relative, "so you're the one who broke off their engagement?"

So she was accusing me of breaking them up now so what's next, gold digging?

"I beg your pardon ma'am, but I can grantee you that it was not my intention nor did I know of their engagement. I can also assure you that your son has a mind and feelings of his own and all parties played a role in this circumstance and I will not sit here and take all the blame for something I didn't know about." I said defending myself and she seemed to not have liked that.

"Just admit it. You're here for money to try and sneak your way into a rich family, but I tell you this Miss Carter that whatever spell you have on my son you better remove it before I get even more involved.

Both men in the room were quiet and I looked over at Shiwoo who had his head down just like his dad.

I now see who run things around here.

"You see Mrs. Kim, I was taught from a very young age to respect my elders, but I do believe that it is necessary to break from that teachings sometimes. You first saw me today at your dinner table and right then and there you decided that you didn't like me because of what? My skin color? You and I are women of color just the same, but only that I am more pigmented than you. Now for you to stand here all high and mighty thinking that I am only here for money is quite funny to me. I have done my research on you Miss Kim for I always do my home work and what I have found is that you did come from a rich family, marrying into another and have never worked a day in your life. I have left my island home, more than halfway across the world working hard for scholarships to send myself to school then used all my of money to start a business that is now flourishing. I have never ending bookings and I have enough money for my kids and myself. So no thank you, we don't want your easy entitled money. We have our own and it is hard earned. I thank you for your hospitality, but we are leaving."

I was about to leave and open the door when the twins came barging in, "mommy mommy!"

They ran up to me and hugged my leg and I asked, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing" replied Adriel as she stared at Mrs. Kim and back at me doing her definition of whispering, "is that Mr. Sirs mother?"

"Yes baby. That's your father's mother." I replied looking at Mrs. Kim and her eyes slightly whitened.

I heard a clicking sound followed by a flash of light and I  looked through the door and saw a crowd staring at us.

"Well I-I didn't know that they were this old" she said sounding shocked.

"I am sorry that your son didn't keep you bloodline pure and that they are not the heir you wanted, but don't worry. We wont ask for child support or your love. We are quite fine. Let's go kids. Mommy will take you home and we can have slumber party okay?"

"Yayy!" they yelled and I held their hands as we exited the room.

"Tally wait" said Shiwoo running up to us trying to stop us.

"Why does your mom have something else to say." I snapped.

"I'm sorry. Can I take you guys home? It's late and dangerous" he asked and Adrian nodded so I sighed and gave in.

"Fine, but this doesn't fix anything." he nodded as he picked Adrian up and we left the building as his family gossiped.

It was quiet all the way home and I often found my self dozing off so I was grateful that he was driving, but I didn't let him know that.

He allowed his mom to be disrespectful to me and I was left to defend myself and my kids and I was not going to let him forget.