Longest update for the ending ^_^ Enjoy!!!

Chapter 30 Just Right

3 years later...

Looking around the ostentatious office, Jennie noticed the changes that were made since the last time she was here. The furniture was new and had a different arrangement. The walls looked brand new as well as the choice of art, from the paintings to the ornaments adorning every table in the room.

Chaerin has a penchant for getting rid of old stuff in favor of the modern, trendier things so it didn't really come as a surprise to Jennie when she entered the office to see things have changed.

The unwelcoming vibe of the place was still there though and she feels it but forced herself to ignore the eeriness, crediting her unease to the woman who once again summoned for her presence without telling her why and who was sitting in her high backed chair looking at her strangely.

Jennie wouldn't call it malicious, menacing or even an aggressive stare. Far from it. In fact, she'll be bold enough to say, Chaerin is looking at her like she's trying to see past her exterior, trying to see something she had previously overlooked. She was seated in her usual rigid posture but her eyes were soft and slightly in awe that it almost didn't go well with her expressionless face.

Weary...and sad was what came to mind as Jennie met her stepmother gaze squarely. The woman doesn't care for her and Jennie doesn't want to stay here longer than was necessary but she had to admit she was a little bit curious why her stepmother wasn't her usual stoic, evil self.

"Why did you want me here?" Jennie asked as she gracefully slid on the chair by her glass desk, monitoring her voice for signs of sarcasm. She didn't want to fight. At this stage in her life, especially today, she's much too happy to be fighting with anyone even her stepmother.

Instead of speaking, Chaerin relaxed her posture to pull out a large envelope from the drawer next to her and she slid it across the glass table. When Jennie made no move to touch the thick envelope, she said. "Open it."

Reluctantly, Jennie complied with a bit of nervousness letting her fingers glide over the smooth dark yellow paper and pulling out the documents inside the envelope. Her eyes quickly scanned the writing on what appears to be the first page of a legal paper. For a brief second her fevered opinion of the woman making her think she was slapping her again with another legal clause from her father's will which she had violated or failed to abide by but as she reached the end of the page, she realized it was nothing like that.

Jennie looked up and couldn't prevent herself from gaping at Chaerin who still looked indifferent. "Does this mean what I think it means?" Jennie did not bother hiding her shock.

"Yes," Chaerin replied after a curt nod and an intake of breath then she leaned back on her chair before continuing. "Your inheritance . . . it's yours. I'm giving it to you now. No more strings attached." Her tone was flat but it couldn't hide the obvious protest of her feelings. To Jennie's ears, it was like a rehearsed speech, something her stepmother was only forced to say.

"I've only been married for three years, Chaerin. The will says five," Jennie reminded the woman in front of her. Sensing the inner battle probably going inside Chaerin's head, Jennie wasn't stupid to fall for the woman's trap. With their history, it was looking like this is one. "I get my inheritance in two years."

"That already has my signature, Jennie. The reason why I asked you here is for you to sign it too so we can be over this legality," Chaerin explained with a tip-off of impatience straining her detached demeanor. "Then it's all yours."

Jennie tried to smooth her features into polite confusion and eyed her stepmother openly. She doesn't have the desire to stress herself emotionally nor physically and she still feels the blissful bubble around her that's preventing her from flaring up at the woman who's a master at manipulating people.

At close range, Jennie could easily see the taunt face which obviously was a result of surgery defined by a pointy chin, hollow cheeks and thin arched brows. Chaerin's emotionless face was pale despite the carefully applied make up and her eyes were surprisingly gloomy as it gazed into hers.

"Why?" Jennie insisted, not wanting to believe the sudden kindness and generosity had no motive behind it. She's convinced that Chaerin is scheming again. "Why the sudden—did something happen I don't know about?"

Chaerin negated it with a shake of the head. Then sighed wearily as she closed her eyes for a split second, giving Jennie the impression it's more than just physical exhaustion she feels and that explaining her reasons would completely drain her.

"You won, Jennie," Chaerin stated. "There's no point for me to hold on to your inheritance for two years more when I know you and Lisa plan on staying married beyond that. I don't have an ulterior motive behind this, believe it or not. I know when to stop playing a game and this is the time."

"I wasn't aware we had been playing a game," Jennie said with polite firmness, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned away from the table. "And what makes you think I will flat out believe anything you say? Please give me more credit than my father. I know you better than he did."

To Jennie's surprise, Chaerin chuckled softly and her grey eyes gained some smiling light in them as she kept her gaze on her. "He knows me too," she revealed as if the fact was something of an irony. "He gave me all these with the condition that I can't transfer or donate any money or property to any relative, friend, acquaintance or even a random person. He gave me a huge chunk of his asset so that I can live alone."

"I don't understand."

"If you didn't pass out the day of the reading of the will or bothered to read the will on your spare time, you'd have known this," Jennie's stepmother stressed. "I own everything he left me but only and only when I don't remarry or form any romantic relationship with another man, have a child either by birth or thru adoption. Otherwise, all these will be yours," she uttered dryly. "You can ask your father's lawyers. Unless I stay this way, alone and unable to be with the person I lov—want, I am merely an overseer to his estates until it can be transferred to you. So what's the point in letting you wait for your inheritance?"

Cloaked in astonishment and a small grain of mistrust at the information Chaerin had willingly spilled, Jennie was rendered speechless. Her mind was reeling. Instinctively she started assessing her feelings, digging deep inside herself to make some kind of rational sense of this. If her stepmother whom she had always thought as the kind of person who does things only when it is beneficial to her or will serve a greater purpose, currently looking haggard and dejected in front of her, could be believed, she realized with a pang of guilt that all these time the hatred she felt for her father was misplaced and unwarranted.

Her father did not betray her trust as she originally decided. Even while he was ill, Chaerin wasn't able to dupe him like she thought. In fact, it was the opposite. And instead of leaving her daughter at the mercy of his second wife, he cleverly reversed their situation by tying Chaerin to a life she doesn't want in exchange for the wealth that she was so eager to possess. And either way things goes, the Kim wealth will still be hers in the end . . . all of it.

I love you, Daddy. Her mind whispered from out of the blue as she sat in silence overwhelmed by the strong feelings that suddenly assailed her. I'm sorry for doubting you. She never stopped loving her father. It was just the pain and the shock of her arranged marriage brought on by his death overshadowed that love. She was forced to deal with the hurt by pushing that love aside and Chaerin was a cunning person who took advantage of it.

"Take it with you and go over it with your own lawyer, if you wish." Chaerin broke the silence gesturing to the papers.

Realizing she was being dismissed, Jennie shook her head to clear it and slowly gathered the documents while casting fleeting glances at Chaerin who already busied herself reading and signing the papers that were given by her secretary earlier.

"Stop looking at me!" Chaerin snapped, making Jennie draw back slightly at the sudden fire shooting from her eyes. "I hope you're happy now, knowing that whichever way I decide to go, in the end you'll still get everything your parents own."

There was anger, regret and self loathing in Chaerin's tone. But instead of retorting back at the woman like she would on any other day, Jennie felt nothing but pity for her. Maybe she could attribute it to her current condition and the happiness she feels for what the coming days holds for her and Lisa and their marriage—something that her stepmother will never get to experience.

"I am happy Chaerin," Jennie avowed quietly, taking the older woman by surprise since she was expecting no less than a biting response from Jennie. "But it's not because of the money. It was never about the money," she insisted unwaveringly looking straight into her stepmothers eyes to make her understand. "I only wanted something that had a connection to my parents and this was it." Jennie raised the envelope in hand. "It doesn't matter what I get. Even if they only left me a dog or a book or a letter, I'll be contented because it's from them." She paused and smiled at her stepmother who felt slightly unnerved by the serene smile. "I'm sorry you can't be with the person you love. I'm sorry you had to live a life you don't want—for a time I experienced first hand what that felt like—but in your case, Chaerin, there's no one to blame other than yourself and you know it. You didn't love my father when you married him and he must've felt it somehow."

"What difference would it have made if I did love him?" Chaerin asked then she answered her own question in the next breath. "Absolutely nothing!" There was no shame, denial or apology in her words. "He loved your mother with every bit of himself. When she died, his heart and whatever love he had to give to others died with her."

"I know," Jennie admitted remembering she also felt the change in her father after the tragic loss of her mother. It was painful knowing you can't depend on the one person you're counting on for comfort.

"Just go," Chaerin muttered with a hand gesture to the door then carelessly tossed her gold pen on top of the papers she was signing to massage her temple.

Envelope in hand and her bag slung over her shoulder, Jennie slid from her chair and stepped away from the table to head for the door. As she held the handle, a thought suddenly leapt to mind making her stop and turn back. "Chaerin?"

The older woman looked up and narrowed her eyes at her. Irritation evident in them probably because she was still in her office. But before she could open her mouth to make a snarky retort, Jennie quickly spilled her question.

"Why Lisa?"

"What?!"

"Why did you choose Lisa for me to marry?" The brunette clarified. It really doesn't matter now whatever Chaerin's reasons were for picking Lisa, but Jennie, out of curiosity, still wanted to know.

The stern line of her mouth relaxed and after a few seconds of silence, probably debating whether she should tell Jennie what she knew or not, Chaerin heaved a sigh and opted for the former. "I didn't. Your father did. In a separate letter addressed to me thru his lawyers to make sure I follow his wishes, he stated who he wanted for you. Ask your father in law and Patrick Manoban. Apparently, they were friends of his."

Jennie gave her a long uncertain glance. This had become a day of surprising revelations all in her favor and she wondered if there's anything else she doesn't know regarding her own father. But Chaerin did not say any more. She averted her gaze from her to the papers on the desk, putting an end to their conversation and subtly telling her to leave.

Taking the hint, without a parting word, Jennie opened the door and exited. Leaning against the wooden doors as they closed behind her, she paused for a brief moment before walking toward the waiting elevators to gather her thoughts and emotions.

As she stepped out of the building to the ride waiting for her, she felt a wonderful kind peace and the pain in her heart that was caused by her father's shortcomings as a parent was finally lifted. It doesn't matter what else she doesn't know about her father because whatever it was he planned, it was all to protect her. And for Jennie that's enough to fill the hollow part in her heart.

"What happened in there?" Seulgi, her designated driver for the day, piped in interrupting her silent musings after noticing the faraway look on her face. "Nothing bad, I hope."

Jennie shook her head as she clipped the seatbelt and smiled at the bear's worried face. "It wasn't. Don't worry."

"Jen, Lisa doesn't want you near your stepmother. She told me before she left for Thailand and you know this," Seulgi reminded with something akin to fright, looking to the side mirror as she moved the car. "She'll kill me if she finds out I let you coerce me into driving you here and really, Jen, I don't want a repeat of that quarrel you two had last year. That was—" Seulgi paused to ponder on an appropriate word to use. "That was one major blah."

"Blah? That's not even a word, Seulgi." Jennie rolled her eyes but kept a grin on her lips.

"So what? It was still blah! You know what, make that blah an ugh. You know why?" Seulgi asked giving Jennie a brief stern look and when she shook her head innocently, she said, "Because I was in the middle of it! I had nothing to do with whatever it was that you disagreed on but I was stuck with having to hear you stating your case in my left ear then telling me how my best friend can be an insensitive, arrogant, unreasonable prick sometimes—which is true, by the way—while Lisa was arguing her point in my right. Yet when you're both in the same room it's a silent war going on. You two drive me crazy!"

Jennie couldn't contain her bubble of laughter any longer. Seulgi's exasperated tone combined with the reminder of that fight which is already hazy in her memory as to what caused it made the sound escape from her lips.

"I'm sorry," the brunette amended on a laugh which made Seulgi smirk. "I don't even remember anymore what we fought about."

"The pair of you have your moments . . . most of the time though you're sickeningly sweet with each other."

"You and Rene have your moments too," Jennie teased knowing that Seulgi hated people insinuating there's more than just simple friendship going on between her and Irene.

Surprisingly, Seulgi merely snorted and shook her head. "Just don't tell Lisa about this."

"Seulgi!" Jennie breathed, laughing, realizing that the apprehension the bear-like woman was showing was more for her well being than for her encounter with Chaerin. "I wasn't planning on keeping this from Lisa. She'll find out sooner or later anyway. I'd rather she hear it from me than from someone else. Besides, even though the meeting with Chaerin was unexpected and strange, in a way it gave me good information and peace of mind. I'm glad I came."

"Okay, sure, tell her but do it when she's in a chipper mood like at her party tomorrow or—after you give her her birthday—sex. That way she won't have enough energy left to think or argue."

Jennie slapped her arm, making Seulgi wince on contact. "I am telling her."

"Great. I'm so dead."

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Lisa arrived that night, a little after ten, just as Jennie emerged from their bathroom, barefooted and wrapped in a towel too short to reach half her thighs. Her attention on drying her long curls, Jennie didn't see her husband smirking mischievously at her oblivious self.

It wasn't until the Thai woman drawled, "Babe, you make me think wicked and delicious thoughts.", that Jennie jumped in surprise and was finally alerted of the Thai's presence, casually seated on the bed, leaning back slightly with her arms angled as support and looking at the brunette with mesmerizing hazel eyes that swam with desire.

For a moment Jennie stood still, taking in the sight of her husband in her usual jeans, shirt and Marcoet with the Thai's trademark messy hair and that charming little smile showing on her lips every time her eyes are focused on her.

Jennie claims that smile and that intense look in her mesmerizing hazel orbs as hers. It's the smile and the stare that's reserved only for her. Lisa said so herself. And it never fails to make the brunette's heart flutter.

Jennie had thought long and hard how best to reveal the wonderful news to her husband. All day she thought of ways how to tell the latter but each time she discarded them, either it was too cheesy, too grand or too blunt. Thankfully, she was able to think of a way and Seulgi had been available to be her driver for the day without asking too many questions.

As of the now, no one knew save for her and one other person. She hasn't even told Irene, as much as she wants to. She wanted to cherish the knowledge on her own first then she wants Lisa to share with that knowledge before their family and friends get a wind of it.

Lisa raised a brow at the brunette, wondering why her wife was keeping her distance and seemed unsure how to approach her. Lisa wondered even more when Jennie gazed at the carpet for some minutes before reluctantly lifting her eyes again.

Jennie bit her lower lip to keep a giggle from escaping past her lips seeing Lisa's confusion. Normally, whenever Lisa is away for days, upon her return a very enthusiastic wife welcomes her. But not tonight. She wanted to tease the Thai woman a bit.

Make her wait. Make her wonder.

"You're early coming back," Jennie commented forcing a straight face.

Lisa frowned then, losing her relaxed pose on the bed to straighten her back and eye the brunette thoughtfully as if trying to visualize the inner workings of her wife's brain.

"I missed you too," Lisa said, standing. "And I think you should stop this and greet me properly."

Jennie nodded, doing her best not to speak even as she was bursting with happiness and excitement. She wants to just blurt it out and see her husband's reaction but it was better if she waited for tomorrow.

After all, it is Lisa's birthday and she couldn't think of a better present than the one she's trying very hard to contain.

Jennie took muted steps towards the Thai woman, her gaze seem to be fixed with fascination on the carpet of their room which irked Lisa a little bit. She wasn't even that absorbed when they first moved into the master's bedroom and she saw how enormous it really was and that the design worked well to compliment both their styles and was functional but cozy at the same time.

Lisa was about to ask if