Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 200

Side Story 20: Forever with This Man

2024.02.16.

All preparations were complete.

Today, the President and First Lady of Lomerica, along with the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, were scheduled to visit Fantasia.

The department store had been buzzing with tension for days, and the employees were in a heightened state of excitement.

It wasn’t just the employees. Leah felt a strange fluttering in her heart.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on the reason, but it felt like something significant was about to happen. What was even stranger was that it wasn’t a sense of dread.

‘It must be because I’m on edge preparing for the event,’ Leah thought, trying her best to remain calm.

She approached the mirror to check her attire for the day.

She tried to dress befitting both Duchess Courtois and the CEO of Fantasia, but she always noticed what was lacking first. Just then, Terrun appeared in the mirror.

“Terrun!”

Leah turned and called out to him. As always, he looked impeccable.

“You look beautiful, my Grace.”

“Really?”

Leah asked, wiping her sweaty hands on her skirt.

“Do you know when you were most beautiful?”

“Huh?”

She was a little taken aback by the sudden question, but also curious.

“When you came to get a horse, with your dress torn and dirty, and your hair disheveled.”

Terrun recounted the story of that day in a gentle tone, as if reading from a fairy tale. At first, Leah didn’t quite understand, but then she smiled.

She couldn’t even remember what she was thinking when she ran to the village to get a horse.

All she had was the determination to bring the injured Terrun back to the duchy. In the end, it wasn’t about appearances.

“Let’s do well today, Terrun.”

Leah kissed Terrun’s hand, renewing her enthusiasm.

“Let’s.”

Just then, Tom’s hurried footsteps echoed.

“Madam President, Your Majesty and the Empress have arrived.”

“Okay, Tom.”

“Terrun, what about Killian and Ilena?”

“They’re practicing.”

“Phew!”

“I’ve been practicing how to hand over the flowers so naturally, as if they haven’t practiced at all.”

“You’re the most overbearing father in the world.”

Leah muttered to Terrun in a small voice, then informed Tom of several precautions.

She instructed him not to allow ordinary customers while the President and the Imperial Couple were visiting Fantasia, and to strengthen the surrounding security.

“The police are already surrounding the department store.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve also deployed my private soldiers, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Terrun reassured Leah.

In addition, the Imperial Guard would provide thorough protection to prepare for any possible security threats.

Finally, a red carpet was rolled out from the entrance of the department store to the first-floor lobby.

The surrounding area was decorated with flowers that were not too flashy, further enhancing the department store’s luxurious and sophisticated image.

Finally, the Imperial Couple arrived, and Terrun gave the four children bouquets of flowers and gave them one last practice.

“Prince Karl and Ilena will give flowers to the President, and Princess Killian and Bella will give flowers to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.”

“Ah! It’s complicated,” Bella said, scratching her head. Then Karl stuck out his tongue at his younger sister and shouted.

“You blockhead!”

“I’m not a blockhead! Mom! Brother called me a blockhead!”

“Hey! When did I call you a blockhead?”

Just as a commotion was about to break out, Killian quietly stepped forward.

“Your Highness, you were too harsh on your lovely sister.”

“Killian, you don’t know Bella; you don’t know how dense she can be.”

“I would be in so much trouble if I used those words in my house.”

“How would you be in trouble?”

“My father always said, ‘Ilena is a living fairy’.”

“Wow! Killian, you just say those cheesy things. No, do you even believe those words?”

Karl teased Killian with exaggerated actions as if he were vomiting.

“My sister, Ilena, is cute.”

“That’s……! It’s true, but.”

“Brother, stop it.”

Ilena looked surprised, as if she had heard something she couldn’t bear to hear. Only then did Karl stop teasing.

While the children were bickering, the outside became noisy.

The Imperial Couple, Terrun, and Leah stood in front of the main entrance of the department store to greet the President and First Lady of Lomerica.

Finally, a luxurious black car glided to a stop in front of the red carpet.

The Lomerican bodyguards came out first to check the surroundings, and then the car door opened.

“Wow!”

The crowd cheered, and the flags of Lubeck and Lomerica fluttered here and there.

So far, everything was proceeding as planned.

The door of the car that arrived next opened, and the Chairman of the Lomerica Chamber of Commerce appeared.

The moment they saw that person, several people couldn’t help but be shocked. Leah and Terrun were especially speechless.

‘Father?’

It was definitely her father, Richard Hamilton.

She thought it was strange that the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s name was not listed, but was it deliberately kept secret?

Terrun was just as surprised. He never dreamed he would meet Richard like this.

The Imperial Couple gracefully approached to greet the President and First Lady, and Terrun quickly regained his composure and led Leah.

“Leah, stay calm.”

“I……I will.”

Leah took Terrun’s hand and calmed her surprised heart.

According to the plan, the day she was supposed to meet Richard was two years later. But she never expected it to be brought forward so suddenly.

Even though she was embarrassed, she couldn’t show it on the outside, so Leah smiled brightly and did her best to welcome the guests.

After greeting the President and First Lady, she approached Richard and greeted him politely.

The children also properly delivered the bouquets of flowers as they had practiced. Richard especially couldn’t take his eyes off Ilena. Then Terrun opened his mouth.

“This is my and Grace’s daughter.”

“Oh! Is that so?”

Then Richard’s gaze stopped at Killian, who was over there.

He looked exactly like Terrun, so he could tell without being introduced.

Leah finally realized. What was the identity of the strange trembling she felt in the morning?

‘I was so excited to meet my father.’

* * *

The President and First Lady’s tour of the department store began in earnest. The Imperial Couple was in charge of guiding them.

Instead, Richard was guided by Terrun and Leah. But Richard only carefully observed every corner of the department store and didn’t say much.

It would be nice if he could give praise or criticism, but he only nodded occasionally.

Still, the first words he said when he saw the department store were a great compliment.

“You have created such a wonderful building on a vacant lot that was full of garbage.”

“It’s all thanks to Mr. Hamilton,” Terrun replied with humility. Then Terrun asked Richard and Leah for their understanding.

“Since you’re here, I need to discuss some things about the car [Terrun’s business]. I need time to prepare the documents. My wife, Grace, will continue to guide you through the department store.”

Anyone could see that Terrun was deliberately creating time for the two of them alone.

Leah wondered which part of Fantasia she should show Richard to best convey the identity of this place.

Then Wells came to mind.

“I’ll show you a newly opened store. Chairman, no…….”

She didn’t know what to call him.

She wanted to call him father, but he might not want that.

“Call me whatever you like, Duchess.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Richard used polite honorifics, so she couldn’t even think about it anymore. Leah erased her thoughts and took him to Wells.

She explained about the reason for opening Wells. It was only for a brief moment, but she saw a glint in Richard’s eyes when she entered Wells.

The panoramic view of the city at a glance through the large windows. The wonder was so beautiful that it could not be expressed in words.

Leah sat with Richard by the window and tasted some simple food.

Even then, Richard saved his words as if he were appreciating a work of art. Then, after a long time, he opened his mouth.

“Excellent. I thought it was amazing from the moment you said you were going to build a department store near the station. But the moment I saw Wells, I realized.”

“What……?”

“This is not a business to make money, but a paradise that stimulates people’s little pleasures.”

Leah was speechless at the greatest praise. She could barely hold back her tears.

Richard drank the remaining tea and stood up first, saying.

“It’s something that only my daughter could do. Leah Hamilton.”

“Father.”

“You are the only person in the world who can achieve such a miracle, Leah.”

“Hic……!”

The moment she covered her mouth with both hands in emotion, tears welled up in Leah’s eyes.

Richard was already moved and shedding tears.

When Sarah told her, she wanted to believe it emotionally, but she thought that such a thing did not exist in the world.

She was afraid that she would make the wrong decision again with a blurred reason.

She had forgotten about it for eight years. But after directly confirming what Leah had achieved, the worldview she had built up until now was turned upside down.

Her daughter’s touch was evident everywhere in the department store. It was time to admit that things that cannot be scientifically explained actually happen in the world.

“Well done!”

Richard’s wrinkled face was full of joy.

Terrun, who had gone to work, approached, and Richard changed his expression and said.

“I’ll look around the second floor, Leah.”

Richard turned around with a very satisfied expression. Then he patted Terrun on the shoulder and said.

“Thank you, Duke.”

“Yes?”

Terrun, who was bewildered without knowing why, realized the situation when he saw Leah with her eyes red.

That Richard and Leah had finally confirmed each other’s existence.

Terrun sent Richard away and approached Leah.

“You are a truly amazing woman.”

He praised her as if whispering.

“I could never have done it alone.”

Terrun led his wife, who was beautiful even when she was crying, to the window.

The two of them were looking at the city that was busy running today, but their emotions were different from usual.

“Just because we’ve done well so far doesn’t mean we won’t have any more hardships in the future. Every life has trials. But I promise you one thing.”

Terrun turned to Leah.

“Until the day I die, I will spend all my time with you. Even if everything I have disappears, I will give my life for you and the children…….”

“You will protect them?”

“I have to love them too.”

Leah looked at Terrun, the man she loved most in the world.

And she smiled brightly as she looked at her children running around carelessly in the distance. She had even regained her father, so she had no more regrets.

Now, all that was left was to live by giving the overflowing love and happiness to many people.

‘With this man.’

Thank you.