Page 108

If the weather is this bad, I won’t be able to— A sharp knock interrupts my thoughts.

Before I can answer, the door swings open, and an older woman walks in carrying enough energy to exhaust me on sight.

My eyes narrow.

She strolls into the room and then gasps when she sees me. She mutters something in Korean. I’m fluent, but she speaks so quietly that I miss it. She looks genuinely surprised to find me here.

That makes two of us, lady.

Then she smiles. Not a polite smile like Minho’s. No. This is a full-blown, sunshine-and-rainbows smile. The Stevie kind. The kind that appears right before my best friend makes a terrible decision and my blood pressure skyrockets.

The tiny woman clasps her hands together, practically bouncing on her feet. “You’re pretty!”

I blink confused.

Why is she so excited about that?

I’m beginning to suspect I’ve wandered into a madhouse.

“Good morning?”

“Good morning!” she chirps in Korean before switching to English and crossing the room like we’ve known each other for years.

I watch her approach with the helpless fascination of someone witnessing a hurricane form.

I’m cold. Antisocial. My resting bitch face has sent grown men running and made my own sister cry on more than one occasion.

I give off very clear please leave me alone signals.

Most people understand them.

This woman apparently does not.

She stops beside the bed and looks down at me with grandmotherly affection.

“Oh, you’re even prettier up close. The moon has nothing on you, darling.”

I freeze.

The moon?

She nods, her smile widening. “Much prettier.”

I glance toward the door.

Perhaps I’m still asleep.

I close my eyes, then open them.

She’s still there.

Wonderful. I’m being ambushed by kindness, and I have absolutely no idea how to defend myself.

“My name is Mrs. Han,” she says, placing a hand over her chest. “I take care of my little Stephen.”

Little Stephen?

I stare at her.