Page 18 of Sins (The Sins Trilogy 1)
“Wow.” I had no idea Yuna’s family felt that way about her musical talent. She’s one of the most gifted pianists I’ve ever met. My respect for her jumps a notch because she’s succeeding in spite of unsupportive parents. I don’t have to fight anyone to pursue music. As a matter of fact, Aunt Margot has been endlessly encouraging.
“Yeah. He wants to marry me off in a kind of corporate merger.”
“What?” I couldn’t have heard that right. A merger?
“Yeah. To cement a deal. You know, hook up with some heir to a suitable fortune.”
“Do people still do that? Isn’t that kind of…medieval?”
“Not in chaebol circles.”
I know the word. It means a Korean conglomerate. Still, I can’t decide if she’s kidding. As far as I know, her family’s filthy rich, and there’s no reason for them to marry her off in some financial transaction. She should marry for nothing less than true love.
“Please tell me you’re going to get Harry to visit you at Curtis,” Yuna says.
“Huh? Why?”
“So I can marry him.”
If I were drinking, I’d be spewing. Or choking. “You’ve never even met my cousin!”
She shrugs. “He’s cute, so he’ll do. Once I’m married, my parents will give up.”
“That’s crazy. Besides, there’s always divorce or annulment.”
“Ah, but divorcées aren’t as desirable as unmarried young women.”
Whoa.I stare at her, feeling like I’ve just traveled back in time. Like several centuries back.
“It has to be Harry. Middle sons are usually better than the youngest, but the youngest is still better than the oldest,” Yuna adds, oblivious to my shock.
“I’m sorry, what?” She’s speaking English, but I don’t understand a word she’s saying.
“I thought you knew this. Pay attention, because I’m about to tell you something every girl needs to know to find the perfect boyfriend and husband. The oldest in the family tends to be boring and serious. Oldest sons also marry to make the family happy, rather than doing what they want.”
“Edgar is a little dry, but I don’t think he’s going to let his parents marry him off in a merger,” I say, but Yuna isn’t listening.
“The youngest ones have very little sense of responsibility, unless they’re jealous of their older brothers.” She pauses. “Harry isn’t like that, is he?”
“Jealous of Edgar? Ha! No, nothing like that.”
“Good. Then he won’t try to outdo his older brother. The middles ones are the best—responsible, but also fun. Kind of a compromise.”
“I don’t know if Tony’s a compro—”
“Who?”
“Tony. The middle cousin. Or brother.”
Yuna gives an outraged cry. “You’ve been holding out on me! You never said there was a third one. The most perfect middle one.”
I puff out a breath, torn between wanting to shake her and wanting to hug her. She gets like this only when she’s frustrated, angry or just a tad panicked. “Tony is only twenty-one. He’s not marrying anybody. And he might have a girlfriend.” The second the words slip out, my mood plummets. I never considered the possibility he could be dating someone. But why not? He’s handsome, accomplished and smart. Girls must flock to him.
“Send me some pics anyway,” Yuna says decisively.
“Can’t.”
“Don’t be stingy.”
