Chapter 1: Ten Years Later, a Different Outcome

A smiling Nam Dajeong walked into the airport holding the hand of her five-year-old daughter, Sumi. The little lady with the pig tails turned to her mother with a grin and said, "Omma, are we going to see Appa today?"

Dajeong squeezed her daughter's hand and nodded.

"Appa is finally back from his trip to Thailand."

"Omma looks so pretty today."

Dajeong smoothed her shoulder-length hair and thought back to her younger days, when her tresses hung down past her collar bone. Ever since she had become a mother she kept it short to suit her new lifestyle.

"Kumao," she whispered back as they made their way to the gate with three bodyguards around them. At length she looked up just in time to notice the crowd of reporters that had already gathered there, stirring a commotion.

"Chongri-nim! Prime Minister!" they shouted as a confident, stylish 46-year-old woman walked out of the concourse into their midst, flanked by her entourage.

"How would chongri-nim characterize her first overseas trip?" yelled a reporter.

"How does chongri-nim plan to address our trade imbalance with Thailand?" asked another journalist before the others all chimed in with their questions.

Suddenly Sumi's face brightened and she screamed, "Appa! Appa!"

In vain Dajeong tried to hold on, but her little girl broke free and ran toward Appa with her arms wide open.

"Appa!"

At that moment Kwon Yul strolled out with a very handsome 17-year-old Manse. Father and son were all smiles as camera flashes went off all around them.

"Chongri-nim! Was having your family there an advantage or a distraction?" yelled a reporter.

Seo Hyejoo gave a sideways glance before replying with a gracious smile.

"Of course it's an advantage. With their support, I can do anything."

Kwon Yul smiled when he noticed little Sumi a few yards away.

"There's Ajumma!" Manse exclaimed as he pointed out Nam Dajeong.

"Yes," Kwon Yul replied as he watched little Sumi run straight into her father's arms.

Dressed in a stylish navy wool coat, Kang Inho happily set down his briefcase to pick up his daughter and brave a few kisses from her.

"Appa, I've been good all week!" she declared as he stroked and smoothed down her hair with much affection.

As Dajeong greeted her family, Kwon Yul shifted his gaze to his wife, who was bowing and shaking hands with everyone.

"I will address more questions at the press conference tomorrow," announced Seo Chongri before she moved on gracefully through the crowd. Yul and Manse kept up beside her.

"See you tonight," said Hyejoo to Inho as she passed by him.

"We'll be there," replied Minister Kang.

For a moment Kwon Yul locked eyes with Nam Dajeong before she smiled and gave him a respectful nod.

"Welcome back, jeon (former) chongri-nim," she said.

"Thank you, Nam Dajeong-ssi," he said. After a curt nod he left, but Manse lingered behind.

" Ajumma, have you written any new books lately?" he asked.

Dajeong grinned as she gave him a big nod.

"Yes! As a matter of fact, I'm working on book number 19 of the Pastry Frog series. This one will feature a teenage boy who looks just like you!" replied Dajeong. Sometimes she still couldn't believe that Manse was so tall, or that Woori and Nara were both university students now.

"That's great! Can't wait to read it…"

"Kwon Manse!" his father yelled.

"Ajumma, Ajusshi, I have to go now, but will I see you tonight at the Official Residence?"

"Of course," said Dajeong.

"Then… Bye!" Manse waved as he ran to his dad.

Dajeong turned and asked Inho, "Don't you have to go with them, Minister Kang?"

Inho shook his head.

"I have the rest of the day off until our private celebration tonight."

"You do?" Dajeong was pleasantly surprised.

He held out his hand to her.

"Let's go home."

"Hold my hand, Appa!" demanded Sumi.

"Of course! Anything for my agasshi."

Inho gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he led her and Dajeong out of the airport.

#

Once they were home, Dajeong could barely contain the secret she had confirmed since the beginning of the week, but she knew well to tell her husband during a better time than now, even if it was so hard for her to hold it in as she stood by the bathroom door watching him.

"What's on your mind, Dajeong? Why are you staring at me with that silly school girl grin on your face?" he asked as he combed his hair.

"You look very handsome today, suho cheonsa (guardian angel)," said Dajeong, who called him by his favorite out of all her nicknames for him.

He turned to her, grinning from ear to ear.

"Is it because I've been gone for a few days that you are like this?"

Slowly, she drew closer to him.

"Maybe." she said in a coy tone of voice. "I have something to tell you…"

He leaned in toward her.

"What is it?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Oh… I don't know that I should tell you right now…" she teased, hoping to hold his interest for as long as possible.

He pulled her right into his arms with her head against his shoulder.

"Tell me, or I won't let you go."

"Guardian Angel!" she protested as she beat her helpless fists against his chest.

"If Dajeong doesn't tell me, I won't be such an angel anymore!" he declared with a devilish look on his face.

The more she struggled, the tighter his grip became. At the opportune moment he leaned in for a kiss.

"Appa! What are you doing with Omma!" accused Sumi as she appeared behind them.

Startled, Inho let go of Dajeong.

"Ah… Nothing, Sumi. What do you want?" he asked.

But the little girl stared at him suspiciously.

"Omma, was he going to…"

Dajeong coughed.

"What time is it? Ajumma Ruri will be here to babysit you tonight!" said Dajeong as she glanced at her watch.

"Yay!" said Sumi. "I like Ajumma!"

"Ruri?!" exclaimed Inho. "Big star Ruri is coming here to babysit our daughter? Just how did Dajeong manage that?"

"Ay… You know me. The other day when we were talking, she said she wanted to know what it was like to be a mom, so I told her she could babysit for us."

"Can we trust her?" asked Inho doubtfully.

"She's watched her nephews and nieces before, so it should be fine."

Dajeong said to Sumi, "Go get your room ready. You don't want her to see a messy room, do you?"

"Omma, it's not dirty but I'll clean it."

"Good girl."

Sumi ran to her room as Inho shook his head and laughed.

"Dajeong-ssi trusts people too much," he declared.

"And Minister Kang is too often suspicious of them," she retorted.

"Now, what exactly was the secret that you wanted to tell me?" he asked, his curiosity now fully aroused.

"Ah, patience is a virtue, so I'll tell you after the prime minister's celebration tonight."

"Nam Dajeong-ssi! Why do you always inflict such torture on me?!"

Dajeong opened her mouth to speak, then she shut it and turned around to leave.

"I have to get dressed now."

He dashed into the hallway to stop her.

"Tell me now."

Giggling, she gave him a big smooch on his cheek. In his moment of confusion she ducked underneath his arm and dashed down the hallway.

"Yah!" he yelled. "What is it?"

"I'll tell you later…" she said in her singsong voice as she tiptoed away.

He wondered what she had hanging over his head.

"Dajeong!" he cried.

But she sashayed down the hallway into their bedroom, whistling.