Forbidden Desire

As the sunlight streamed into the room, inviting me to embrace the day, I opened my eyes, only to be blinded by the brightness. I had a dull headache, and it took me a moment to take in my surroundings. I found myself in the hotel room, covered only by a sheet, feeling a weight on my back. I shifted reluctantly, sensing I hadn’t rested much last night, and from the flashes of memory, I realized I hadn’t slept at all. I tried to sit up and heard a familiar grumble. Looking back, I saw Jason still asleep, clinging to me, his handsome face making me smile.

I glanced around, noticing our clothes strewn across the floor, the bed in disarray as if we’d had a wrestling match on it, and an empty champagne bucket nearby. A smile crept onto my face as I recalled the previous night. After the lantern festival, we danced, waded into the sea fully clothed, drank more than I ever had, and returned to the room to make love as if there were no tomorrow. I tried to slip out of bed without waking Jason, but as I attempted to rise, he grumbled again, finally waking up.

“No! Stay here a little longer,” he mumbled, pulling me closer.

“Love, I need to use the bathroom.”

“No need, just use the bucket.”

I chuckled and hurried to the bathroom. After freshening up, I returned to bed to find Jason, though still lying down, scrolling through his phone, squinting against the intrusive daylight. I went to the window and drew the curtains, making the room more comfortable for him. Crawling back onto the bed, he set aside his phone to pull me close to his chest.

“Feeling okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“I don’t know, you drank half the island’s alcohol last night.”

I laughed as he intertwined our fingers, caressing mine.

“I was just happy,” I replied.

He gazed at me, a lazy smile on his lips.

“So was I, and still am…”

I smiled, kissing his lips and resting my head on his chest, savoring the moment. I’d never tire of being in his arms-it was a mixture of peace, calmness, and happiness, yet also stirred an excitement I’d never felt before. He stroked my back while I traced my fingers over his defined chest, hoping this happiness would become routine.

“What are you thinking?” he asked, still drowsy.

“That I wish it could always be like this.”

“Like what?”

“Just us in our little world.”

“If it’s up to me, it will always be like this.”

I smiled, lying against his chest, enjoying the quiet moment. A comfortable silence enveloped us, and I loved focusing on the external sounds, reminders that we were in a true paradise-the ocean waves, the birds’ songs-all relaxing me further. Before I knew it, I was dozing off in the arms of the man I love. When I woke from that light and pleasant sleep, Jason seemed to be awakening too, and I realized someone was knocking on the door.

After grasping that it wasn’t a dream, I quickly dressed and answered the door while Jason rushed to the bathroom. Upon opening it, I was greeted by an overwhelmingly sweet perfume, causing a slight nausea in my hungover stomach. The woman with long golden hair entered without permission, and I noticed she wore a red swimsuit with white flowers accentuating her ample bosom, paired with a green skirt with a long slit. She was quite stunning.

“Good morning!” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and I didn’t bother concealing my displeasure as I replied curtly.

“Good day, Scarlet.”

“Mr. Park had booked a boat tour of the Phi Phi Islands, and if he still intends to go, we should hurry.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll talk to him about it, though he seems a bit tired from last night, if you catch my drift.”

My response seemed to unsettle her, and she surveyed the room, taking in the mess we’d made. She seemed taken aback, and before she could say anything more, Jason entered the room, already dressed.

“Scarlet, what’s up?”

“The tour to Phi Phi Islands that you booked, Sir. We have only 40 minutes until departure, so I thought I’d remind you. Unless you’ve changed your mind.”

“No, I haven’t. We’ll head down for breakfast and then straight to the tour.”Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

She smiled broadly, adjusting her hair.

“Shall I wait for you to get ready to have breakfast and then set sail?”

Jason glanced at the blonde who was smiling broadly at him and responded somewhat sharply.

“I don’t think I made myself clear earlier, but I’ll do so now. You’re not coming. I booked this boat for myself and my wife. It wouldn’t have been a problem if you were a distinguished professional, but despite your attempts to make Jane uncomfortable, and even trying to turn her against me, which I’m fully aware of, unlike you, Jane knows how to behave and didn’t cause a scene with the nonsense you said to her on the jet.”

She was frozen, and I watched as Jason’s tone grew increasingly harsh. She tried to defend herself but was quickly cut off.

“That’s not true; she’s making things up.”

“No one told me. I heard everything, and as I warned you before, I won’t tolerate you disrespecting Jane, my wife. So now that our meeting is over, I suggest you return to Korea and submit your documents to HR because as of today, you no longer work for me.”

“But…”

“No more, Scarlet. No one will disrespect my wife.”

She stared at me, and I looked away. Despite the anger she had caused me, Jason’s abrupt dismissal bothered me a little. She had been working for him for quite some time, and they had even slept together, yet he discarded her as one might discard a piece of gum once it loses its flavor. Watching her leave like that made me wonder if someday it would be me in her place, discarded as if I meant nothing. She left, stomping her foot, and I sat on the bed, trying to process everything. He closed the door and took a deep breath, turning to face me, a crease of concern forming between his brows as I just stared, trying to process what I’d heard. He approached me, gently lifting my chin with his hands to make me look at him.

“What’s wrong?”

I shrugged, attempting a smile unsuccessfully.

“Are you really necessary?”

“What?”

“Was it really necessary to fire her?”

“Yes, she was trying to sabotage us. I thought you’d be happy. Isn’t that what we want? To be together without anyone interfering?”

He abandoned his earlier harsh tone, now regarding me with tenderness, carefully explaining everything as if dealing with a child.

“But you discarded her so easily…”

“I told you she meant nothing to me, remember?”

I nodded, but he didn’t seem satisfied.

“What’s bothering you?”

“I don’t know… How easily you dismissed her makes me wonder…”

“No…”

He stepped away from me, going to the balcony, and I noticed he was agitated. Leaning against the wall, he took a deep breath before speaking.

“I’m not having this conversation with you again.”

My chest seemed to freeze for a moment, and the fear that he might discard me as he did her crept in-after all, if he didn’t want to talk anymore, it meant he’d grown tired of me. I lowered my head, trying to apologize, but no sound seemed to leave my lips. Just when I thought he wouldn’t say anything more, he turned to me, breaking the silence.

“How many times do I have to tell you that with you, everything is different, for you to believe me?”

I looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes.

“No matter what I do or say, it seems like you don’t understand that I chose you to be my wife.”

He approached me, his hands reaching for my face, lifting it so I would meet his gaze.

“Just you! And if you thought I was cold, know that I’d do the same to anyone who tried to separate us.”

He leaned down until his lips brushed mine gently, and I melted, surrendering to the kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck as he pulled me to my feet.

“I can’t bear to be without you anymore, darling, and anyone who tries to separate us will have a problem with me.”

Every word he uttered made my body tremble, and we kissed intensely, reaffirming our feelings. After catching our breath, we dressed, and he joked.

“All aboard!”