That day, everything felt like a blur to Hana, and the ground beneath her feet seemed to disappear. She spent the rest of the day in a daze, questioning the reality of her situation. She even looked at the large diamond ring on her finger and wondered, “Did I really say yes?”
Soon her phone was ringing nonstop. Living in a small town, news travels fast and rumors spread even faster. The story of a young woman marrying a fabulously wealthy older man became an irresistible piece of local gossip.
Within minutes, Hana’s phone was inundated with calls. Her friends were stunned and angry – they had never even heard of Haru. Who on earth is this man, and what does he want with someone so much older? They scolded her for keeping it a secret, and her best friend even confessed her disgust. “How could you fall in love with a man like that?!” she exclaimed, “Do you even think he’s attractive?” Hana already knew the answer and wanted to reveal the truth, but fear held her tongue.