Page 38 of From Paris to Seoul

Baekhyun.

Even with my eyes closed, I could still picture him, still hear his voice—like we were still walking beside the Seine.

I exhaled slowly and rested my hands behind my head. Is this just how things were going to be? Living my life with someone handpicked by my parents, all while secretly longing for the one who got away?

A soft knock at my door snapped me out of my thoughts.

And just like that, I knew.

My time had come.

It had to be my mother.

***

My mother isn’t the type to yell. She never has been. But I’ve feared her in a way that has nothing to do with volume. It’s the way she carries herself—cold, poised, and always in control.

“Seo-yeon,” she greeted me, her voice quiet but firm as she stepped into my room. She took her time, walking over to my desk and running a finger along its surface, as if inspecting for dust. A small, calculated gesture—but one that made it clear who held the power in this conversation.

“Did you have a good time in Paris?”

How was I supposed to answer that?

Running out of ideas, I simply nodded and braced myself for whatever was coming next. I realized I’d been holding my breath since she walked in.

She turned to face me, her expression stoic, unimpressed. “I assume you knew we didn’t appreciate your little trip. The one you took so suddenly, without warning—leaving behind your social obligations, your job, and your boyfriend.”

She stepped further into my room, arms crossed. “Tell me, what made you do that? Was there something… someone… in Paris you just had to see? Or were you simply bored with your life here? Why did you feel the need to run away like that?”

I gulped. This was escalating faster than I expected.

“Well…” I started, forcing a casual tone. “You were right. I was a little bored, so that’s why I flew to Paris.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Don’t you know we were all worried about you? I called you every day while you were there, but you never answered. Is sending a simple text too much to ask?”

She took a slow breath, as if reining in her frustration, then continued. “I reached out to everyone—Min-seok, Ji-a, your agency, even some of your friends I met at events—asking where you were. Do you realize how that made me look? A mother who doesn’t even know where her own daughter is?”

Ah. Of course. It wasn’t about me. It was about her reputation.

I exhaled quietly, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” I said carefully. “I just needed some time to think.”

“To think?” She arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And what exactly was so important that it required you to disappear to another country without a word?”

I hesitated.

If I told her the truth—that I left because I found out Min-seok cheated on me—she’d probably dismiss it, say it was impossible because he was such aniceandrespectableman.

If I told her I left because I wanted to quit acting and modeling, she’d chalk it up to some kind of mid-30s crisis and push me straight into the family business.

Either way, I’d lose.

I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. “I just… needed to get away for a bit. Away from work, from expectations, from everything.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Everything? Including Min-seok?”

There it was. The real test.

“Yeah. Including him.”

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