Her Rebirth.

In the grand dining hall of the Song family, at the center was a round dining table where all the members of the Song family sat to eat. Amelia sat beside Kai, and across from them sat Song Ren and his wife Yoo Hwa. Song Yue, as the head of the house, sat at the head of the table.

The maids placed all sorts of dishes on the table.

"Ren. Hwa," Grandfather Song said, his voice smooth and firm. "Meet Amelia Cosgrove. Kai’s fiancée."

A beat passed. Yoo Hwa’s eyes flicked to the ring on Amelia’s finger, then back to her face, wearing a curt smile. "Fiancée already?" she mused. "My, things do move fast these days. I suppose patience isn’t a luxury everyone’s taught."

Song Ren gave a soft chuckle, sipping his wine. "Well, considering his... upbringing, one can’t expect Kai to follow tradition. He was raised in chaos, after all."

Kai was about to speak when Amelia held his hand, signaling him not to speak. Then she smiled very gently and said,

"Tradition, no doubt, is a good thing, Mr. Song. But character? That’s earned regardless of one’s upbringing. And if chaos raised Kai, then it also forged him into the man I chose. I dare say that’s something tradition alone could never do." She turned to Yoo Hwa, her gentle smile still in place. "You’re right," she said lightly. "Patience is a virtue but so is knowing what you want when you see it. Some people wait a lifetime and still choose wrong. I’d rather not waste time pretending indecision is wisdom."

Yoo Hwa’s face twitched, the corners of her mouth tightening as if tasting something sour.

Song Yue let out a quiet "hmm" of amusement as he reached for his tea, but Song Ren wasn’t done. In fact, seeing his father’s little laugh only made him annoyed.

"Correct me if I’m wrong, but I did hear some time ago that you were kicked from the Cosgroves. Perhaps we can attribute that to—"

"Enough," Song Yue said sternly. "Ren, it is quite a disgrace that you are squabbling with a lady half your age."

Song Ren’s eyes darkened slightly, then he turned to Amelia, offering a cool smile. "Sorry if, peradventure, it seemed that way. I was just curious about the woman my dear nephew fell in love with."

"No problem, Uncle, it was my fault as I misunderstood," she replied and turned to Kai, whose face was beaming with pride and happiness, his fingers gently caressing her hand.

Song Yue nodded his head. "Good that that has been resolved. Let’s eat."

He nodded again, a smile still on his lips but his heart, his heart was filled with bitterness and resentment. Toward Amelia. Toward Kai. And toward Song Yue.

Ever since he was a kid, though his father claimed to love him, it was obvious that he loved his sister, Song An, more. It was obvious he had higher hopes for her, she was the smarter one, the intelligent one, the good-looking one. And he... he was just average. A normal kid. He wasn’t a genius like his sister. No one praised him like they did his sister.

How could he not get resentful? How could he not hold bitterness toward this father of his, especially when he so badly wanted to give the position meant for him to his sister? And after she ran away and he stayed, he could see the reluctance in his father’s eyes to even declare him the heir.

Why?

He was the one who stayed behind, not her. He was the one who had been by his side all this while, when his precious daughter ran away. And when it just seemed like his father was about to give in, that was when Kai, Song An’s son, came and his father, without much thought, gave what was meant to be his to her child.

His love.

And it seemed that he might also give this child his inheritance along with it.

Life isn’t fair, is it?

So... it wouldn’t be his fault if he did it, right?...

---

Dinner had long ended, and the members of the Song family had retreated to their respective rooms in the mansion.

Kai led Amelia to his room. She glanced around and blinked in surprise. It was nearly identical to his room back home.

"It looks just like your room at home," she said.

Kai shrugged with a small grin. "Habit."

He walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out a fresh towel. "Let’s take a bath," he said with a casual smile, but the mischievous glint in his eyes made her heart skip. "...Together."

Well, his intentions were boldly written on his face.

Amelia nodded, and they stepped into the shower together. Once the warm water began to pour against their skin, Kai leaned down to kiss her neck, placing little red marks here and there. His fingers trailed down her spine but went no further. After a few long, teasing kisses, he pulled back and helped her rinse her hair, gently and unhurried.

After drying off and changing into soft cotton robes, they climbed into the king-sized bed. Amelia lay with her back to him and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. Why? Because she was waiting and anticipating his touch. But minutes passed, and he didn’t touch her. Didn’t even pull her closer.

With a small frown, she turned around slowly.

Kai was lying on his side, iPad in hand, and his brows were slightly furrowed as he swiped through something with intense focus.

She blinked. "What are you doing?"

He turned to her. "I thought you were asleep." Then his eyes filled with warmth. "Well, I was trying to figure out which gown will fit you more."

He turned the screen toward her. Displayed across it were several wedding dresses, each more beautiful than the last.

Her heart thudded once, then again.

"I—what...?"

"This one?" he asked, swiping left to another. "Or this one?"