Chapter 100: Valentine Special Chapter 6: Karen Loves Mr. Mark. She Loves Him Soooo Much! She’s Always Loved Him, Since She Was Little

Karen herself had slowly and relentlessly climbed up the ladder of wealth, until she now lived in a shiny, modern apartment in Beverly Hills with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city lights.

She sat on the cream-colored sofa, her legs tucked beneath her, staring at her phone screen. The previous messages from Benjamin glowed softly in the dim room.

“Long time, Mr. Mark.”

“Ah, Karen. No see. I had just abandoned you all huh?”

“It’s okay. You at least get in touch once every year.”

“That’s awful. I should do better. How is your mother and your siblings? And Alice, your daughter?”

“They’re all doing fine… What about you? Are you eating well?”

“I’m fine. I’ve never been better.”

“I see… But hey, won’t you come to see them sometime?”

“Work. It’s been taking too much of my time… And life.”

“Then work for me. I’ve told you, my company has been showing much progress lately, and it won’t be long before we are extremely wealthy.”

“C’mon, I can’t trouble you like that.”

“It’s no trouble at all… Or you don’t even want to have anything to do with me…?”

“Hey, that’s not it.”

“Then… Pay me a visit. Or should I visit?”

“No, no. I’ll come around. How does the 14th of next month sound? Still in Beverly hills, right?”

“Yeah, the 14th is perfect. You better show up, okay?! I have to do something now, so I’ll chat with you later. I love you.”

“Okay, bye.”

“Say it back!”

“Karen…”

“Say it…”

“I love you too.”

“Thanks. See you on the 14th.”

Karen set her phone down on the glass coffee table and pressed both hands to her mouth to muffle the small, excited squeak that escaped.

Her heart hammered so hard she felt it in her throat.

Ten years of careful messages, once-a-year calls, birthday cards sent to addresses she’d tracked down through mutual acquaintances. Ten whole years of waiting for him to come back to her.

Today was the day she would tell him about Alice too.

She had built something real in those ten years: the company she founded—a boutique wellness brand selling supplements, skincare, and, ironically, “mindful living” courses—had grown from a bedroom operation to a small empire.

The apartment she was currently in was proof: marble floors, white walls, minimalist furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows that turned the city into a glittering backdrop every night.

She could currently afford anything Alice needed; like private school, tutors, dance lessons, and vacations.

Benjamin wouldn’t have to worry about money at all. He wouldn’t have to worry about anything, in fact.

All he had to do was exist for her.

“Huh? Mom, hey! Hehehe!” Little Alice laughed as Karen danced with her, twirling her like a princess.

Alice was nine now; with bright eyes, dark hair, and that Benjamin’s tender smile, but having Karen’s stubborn chin.

She spun in her pink party dress, giggling as Karen lifted her off the floor and spun her in wide circles.

The living room smelled of fresh flowers and the vanilla cake cooling in the kitchen.

Silver and red balloons bobbed against the ceiling, and a long table was set with plates, streamers, and a banner that read “Happy Valentine,” in elegant script.

Karen had invited the whole family: her mother, her younger siblings, and even a few cousins who still lived close by.

It had to look like a real reunion. Because, if everyone was here, the moment she revealed that Benjamin was Alice’s father would feel inevitable, like family business.

He would find it harder to run away, and also no awkward escapes. Just a room full of people who would make him stay, at least for a little while so she could breathe the same oxygen as him again.

“Ah, Grandma’s here!” Alice ran to hug the aged, but still beautiful woman that walked in the front door.

The apartment door had opened with a soft click, and Mrs. Steven stepped inside, her coat draped over her shoulders, her silver-streaked hair pinned neatly, and her face lined with age but still carrying the gentle, Japanese beauty from the old farmhouse days.

She was carrying a small paper bag from the bakery downstairs.

“Ah, Alice. How are you today?” She patted the cute girl’s head.

After greeting her granddaughter, she walked towards Karen sitting on the couch.

“How are you feeling today?” She asked, pecking her cheek. “Is the company taking too much from you?”

“Not at all, mom. Every day is like a whole new world.” Karen smiles happily.

“My, aren’t you excited about this family reunion.” Her mother smiled back.

“Well, of course I’m happy… I haven’t seen Mr. Mark for years now, only online chats… I have something huge to tell him today too.”

She grabbed her mother’s hand and went serious. “Mom, I love him. I love him soooo much! I’ve always loved him, since I was little. And I want to give my life to Mr. Mark. That is the reason for my sleepless nights and overworked hours… I’m proposing to him toda—”

“Uhm… Karen…” Mrs. Steven interrupted her, as her face went sad and gloomy. “I knew about your infatuation with Benjamin… And about how you sometimes snuck into his room, and played dumb the next day.”

Karen instantly blushed and held her own cheeks in embarrassment. “Y-You knew? No way—”

“He’s dead, Karen.”

The world went pin-drop silent for a millisecond, but it returned again.

“Geez, Mom~!” Karen blushed harder, as something inside her soul shattered into a million pieces. “So you knew about us and kept quiet for so long?”

“He was found dead last week in his apartment, already rotting away.” Her mother continued, undeterred, “He possibly died around this time, last mont—”

“MOM!!” Karen’s eyes went wide in rage. “Y-You’re taking this fucking joke too far, and I don’t like it!”

“I’m sorry, honey. But I didn’t know how to tell you. Seeing that you still have him in such regard, I had to break it to you.” Mrs. Steven put a hand on her trembling daughter’s shoulder. “It turned out that he had cancer. He always had it, but he kept it away from us. He didn’t want to trouble… us with… Hey, Karen what’s wrong? Aren’t you trembling too much?”

Karen was practically vibrating like a beating speaker. Her eyes blown wide, and sweat rolling down her face as her breath grew ragged.

“Mom?” Alice asked, concerned. “Wh-what’s going on?”

“It’s nothing, dear~” Mrs. Steven immediately smiled at her granddaughter. “mommy is only shocked, that’s all. Hey, Karen, look; you’re scaring your daughter!”

Oh, but Karen wasn’t listening anymore, still trembling as if a dragon’s mouth was open to tear her apart any second, with her hands messing up her hair as she scratched her skull hard.

Inside her thoughts were pure madness:

Ben-chan? Dead?

Impossibleimpossibleimpossibleimpossiblethatcan’tbetruehecouldn’tpossiblydietoowhatdoIdonowBen-chanisdeadnoitmustbeamisunderstandingourlovetranscendsdeathehwhataboutourdaughtertheweddingourhoneymoonouranniversaryeverythingIplannedforthenextValentine’sDaycelebration……

Fuck… Mom never jokes about things like this… and Ben-chan seem like one who would hide an illness…

But Ben-chan, why? Why didn’t you tell me…?

Ben-chan is really dead? Is that really possible?

“Arrggghhh!!!” Karen suddenly broke out into a manic, fear-instilling scream, further frightening her mother and daughter. “NOOOO!! IT’S A LIE! PLEASE TELL ME IT’S A LIE! TELL ME IT’S A FUCKING NASTY PRANK! TELL ME IT’S ACTUALLY APRIL’S FOOL DAY AND NOT VALENTINE’S DAY TODAY!”

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