38. CHAPTER 38
MOON
We showered, changed, and went back to the main house. The dining room smelled of galbitang and banchan. Warm light over the long table. Grandmother had already taken her seat at the head, Yuna bouncing beside her. Mother stood nearby.
“Halmeoni,” I said, bowing slightly before stepping forward. She pulled me in and kissed both my cheeks, her hands cupping my face.
“Oh, my Hyun-seo.” She looked Cillian up and down. “Very handsome. Though he looks like the sort of boy who’d convince you to come home covered in tattoos.”
She immediately grabbed my wrist, turning it over. “Show me.”
“No tattoos, Halmeoni,” I blurted.
She hummed, unconvinced, but her eyes twinkled. Then she waved Cillian over. “Come here, boy. I don’t bite.”
Cillian stepped forward with that easy, disarming smile. Grandmother pulled him into a firm hug and kissed both his cheeks.
“I’ve heard so much about you, son,” she said, studying his face. “You’d better be good to my Hyun-seo.”
Cillian’s smile deepened. “I plan to, Halmeoni.”
She looked between us, eyes sparkling with mischief, then winked at me. “I can see why you’re gay now. Very handsome trouble.”
My face burned like I’d been slapped.
“Oh my god.”
Distance. I need distance.
Cillian grabbed my wrist and pulled me back against his side, laughing under his breath.
“Don’t run, prince.”
My father entered then. Nathaniel Moon. He shook Cillian’s hand firmly, surprising me. He was behaving in front of Grandmother.
“Mr. Ashbourne,” he said. “Good to see you again.”
He pulled me into a brief hug. “How have you been, son? Good work on the Patronage Seat.” His mouth twitched faintly. “I heard you made quite an impression on the people who matter.”
“Thank you,” I said. “It was… a team effort.”
Father took a few steps toward the hallway, then stopped. “Cillian, a word. My study.”
My fingers locked around his hand before I could stop them.
Mother noticed. “Hyun-seo.” Her tone stayed perfectly calm. “Don’t start. Your father only wants to sort a few things out.”
“Now you’re both looking at me like I’m about to have him executed,” Father said, one brow lifting. “It’s a conversation.”
Cillian squeezed my hand. “I’m fine, Moonshine.”
I watched them disappear down the hall.
Grandmother squeezed my cheeks again. “Now tell me all about Evermourne. I want to hear everything.”
I forced a smile, but my pulse was already racing. What were they talking about in there?
Yuna took off.
I turned back to the table. Grandmother and Mother were both watching me expectantly.
I cleared my throat. “First year at Evermourne was… intense. But Sawyer’s doing well. Vivi too. They’re both thriving.”
Mother’s expression softened. “I’m so happy you two stayed friends. Even after the breakup.”
“Yeah, well—”
Grandmother cut in, waving her hand. “That was obviously just a cover relationship, dear. Moon is clearly involved with men.”
“Oh my god, Halmeoni. Can we please stop talking about me? Let’s hear from you instead.”
Yuna came running back in, designer shoes sparkling on her feet.
“Halmeoni, look!” She did a little spin. “Vivi got me these!”
Grandmother’s eyes widened. “Those are very pretty. Sparkly.”
Yuna beamed. “Yep! She’s my best friend.”
“She’s my best friend,” I muttered.
Yuna stuck her tongue out. “Mine.”
“And Sawyer too,” she added. “Is he still single?”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Even if he was, he wouldn’t date a fourteen-year-old. He’s twenty-two. Too old for you.”
Yuna tilted her head. “Oh yeah? How old is Cillian then?”
I paused. “I… don’t actually know.”
“You don’t know how old your boyfriend is?”
“I think he’s my age,” I said, suddenly unsure.
Edwin appeared in the doorway. “Dinner is ready. The chefs are bringing everything out now.”
He glanced down the hall. “I’ll get Nathaniel and Cillian.”
I jumped up. “I’ll get them.”
I wandered down the hallway, slowing once I was out of view. The study door was slightly ajar. Voices drifted out. I pressed against the wall and listened, heart hammering.
Father’s voice drifted out first. “…Removing him solved one problem. It created three others.”
“Ronan.”
“We’ll handle Ronan. But not until the ports are stable. One dead Carrick looks like retaliation. Two looks like war we can’t afford right now.”
“And the officials?”
“They’ll be reminded where their loyalties belong. Once they remember, you can deal with Ronan.”
“The official arrangements are rarely the important ones.” Father’s tone stayed measured. “Marry him if that’s what you want. But understand this, Ashbourne: if you become a liability to this family, I will remove the problem. And my son will never need to know it was me.”
“Put him in the middle again,” Cillian said, “and I won’t come to negotiate.”
Neither of them spoke.
Then Father spoke again, almost thoughtfully. “You have spine. Good. Keep doing that. Keep the consequences away from this house. Do that, and we’ll have no issue.”
Chairs scraped. They were standing up.
I backed away, counted to five, then approached with footsteps loud enough to announce me.
“Hey,” I said, keeping my voice even. “Edwin says dinner is ready.”
Nathaniel stepped out of the study first, adjusting his cuff. “Hyun. Good. I’ll see you at the table.” He headed down the hallway toward the dining room without another glance.
The second he was out of earshot, I closed the study door behind us. “What was that about?”
Cillian took both my hands, brought them to his mouth, and kissed my knuckles.
“Nothing for your pretty head to worry about.”
I searched his face. “Cillian, you don’t need to do what he asks of you. I’m choosing you either way.”
He stopped me with a thumb across my lips. “Your family’s been nothing but good to me. You, however, need to stop torturing yourself. Everything is fine.” He kissed my forehead. “Now let’s eat. I can’t wait to have Korean food. You know, my favorite is Korean.”
I smiled despite myself and scoffed. “That’s such a bad joke.”
He grinned, slid an arm around my waist, and pulled me against his side as we left the study.
Father had already decided the price of keeping me. Cillian was paying it. And I couldn't make either of them stop.
We sat down as the chefs brought out the food. Galbitang, banchan, grilled meats and rice. The table looked like a feast.
Father changed once we were all seated. His posture relaxed slightly. He looked at Cillian with fresh interest.
Father passed the galbitang to Cillian. “Do you fence? Or play any sports?”
Cillian took the bowl. “I fight. Boxing. Muay Thai. That sort of thing.”
Father nodded, almost approving. “Discipline matters. Structure.”
Mother smiled. “What about languages? You must speak a few, being Irish.”
“I speak Irish. English. Working on my Korean.”
I cut in before anyone else could speak. “Can we let him eat first?”
Father ignored me. “What are your plans after Evermourne?”
“Work for the family business,” Cillian said. “I’ll inherit it one day.”
Yuna perked up. “What does your family do?”
I winced. “Yuna, that’s—”
Father answered for him. “The Ashbournes have… diverse business interests.”
Grandmother’s eyes widened with understanding. “Ah. One of those families.” She looked at me, delighted. “Now I see why you find him so sexy, Hyun.”
Heat climbed my neck. “Stab me. Please. Right now. In the heart. Make it quick.”
Cillian grinned. “I’ll marry your grandmother after you’re dead then.”
Grandmother winked at him. “I’d consider it.”
“This is very wrong,” I muttered.
Mother laughed for Grandmother. Not for me.
Yuna tilted her head at Cillian. “Do Irish people actually eat beans for breakfast? And teach me a Gaelic swear word.”
Cillian smiled. “Beans? Sometimes. The swear word depends on how much trouble you want to get into.”
Mother turned to us. “So how did you two meet?”
“Saint Lucia,” Cillian said.
Mother’s chopsticks paused. “Moon never mentioned Saint Lucia.”
I froze. “I told you I was in Geneva. I lied.” I couldn’t look at her when I said it. “I went to Saint Lucia.”
Grandmother burst out laughing. “Saint Lucia? Finally. You’ve acted like a tired businessman since you were ten. It’s about time you made one irresponsible decision.”
Cillian couldn’t hold back a laugh. “I love your grandmother.”
Grandmother waved Mother off when she tried to interrupt. “Life is much shorter than your grandfather thought it was. Kiss the handsome Irishman and stop apologizing for it.”
I buried my face in my hands. “I miss Evermourne.”
Cillian reached over and pulled my hands away from my face. “Don’t cover up your pretty face.”
“Don’t call me pretty in front of the family,” I hissed.
Mother folded her napkin neatly. "You suit each other."
Yuna grinned. “I love Irish people. Best people on the planet. Really.”
Dinner drifted into easier conversation after that.
Yuna made Cillian promise to try every dessert in Seoul before he went home.
Grandmother declared Irish accents unfairly charming.
Mother wrote down the name of Cillian’s favorite stew after asking about his mother’s cooking.
Even Father spoke more than usual about travel, business, fencing. Never once about Evermourne.
After dinner, everyone moved into the sitting room.
Tea. Garden. Sunset. Grandmother fell asleep in her favorite chair.
Yuna played with the dogs, dragging Cillian along with delighted shrieks.
I watched Mother laugh at something Cillian said.
The same polished laugh she used at board dinners.
I couldn’t tell which version of her this was, the one that smiled for staff or the one who had gutted me outside.
Maybe I imagined the tension.
The next few days became a performance none of us acknowledged.
Mother always laughed loud enough for the staff to hear. Edwin decided Cillian wasn’t eating enough and made it his mission. Grandmother flirted shamelessly. Yuna adopted him within forty-eight hours.
The mansion looked exactly the same.
“Ready?”
We stepped into the large garage. Rows of pristine cars under soft lighting. Cool air.
“We can take my car,” I said. “Father bought it when I graduated Harvard. It's mostly been collecting dust." I handed Cillian the keys. “You can drive though. I hate driving.”
Cillian took the keys, grinning. “Works for me. Which one is yours?”
I pointed. “I think it’s a Porsche.”
Cillian walked over, eyes widening. “Baby, this is a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. A fucking predator.” He let out a low whistle. “God, I love your taste.”
“Father picked it.” I shrugged.
Cillian touched the top of the car, running his hand along the sleek lines. “Mmm. She’s gorgeous.”
Yuna came running with a bag of snacks and stuffed them in the car.
“Thanks, Yuna.”
She hugged me tight, then launched herself at Cillian even harder. “Oh, I wish I could come with you! Mom says I have to stay here.”
“Yeah. We’ll do something together when we get back.”
“Promise?”
“Yes. I promise.”
Cillian opened my door before walking around to the driver’s side.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He smiled.
“Somewhere that’s just ours.”
I looked back once. Mother waved. Yuna practically climbed the gate trying to wave harder. Father simply nodded. Then we drove away.