Chapter 629: Lapses

After Deidra's stunt, Mina decided that she no longer wanted to walk around her neighborhood. She had missed being home, but only in her good memories of the place. Sadly, she had forgotten that there was also a lot of bad. She was never genuinely liked, and no matter how kind, sweet, or polite she was, there were still people who disliked her for one reason or another.

Ian followed Mina in silence, but he had many questions for the girl. She had no other siblings, so the woman in the community center must have been making things up, but based on Mina's reaction, there was some truth in the words. Cautiously, Ian pressed Mina for clarification, surprised when the woman sat underneath a tree and gestured for him to take a place beside her.

"I used to come here to study," she said, leaning her back against the bark as she gently stroked the grass. Ian could tell that Mina was deflecting, but he also knew that she would not have stopped if she did not intend to tell him the truth. He gave her the time he knew she needed, and she eventually opened up. "I already told you that I suffered from memory lapses when I was little." Ian angled his body to face the woman, drawing his knees up to rest on as he listened to her speak.

Mina told him that when she was six years old by life calendar standards, her parents found out that they were expecting. When she was able to save the money to visit the doctor, she was already far enough along to determine that the child was a boy. She told him that she remembered being excited and she remembered wanting to rub her mother's belly but being denied every time she asked.

"Sadie started to get curious about how we were born. My mother used to tell her this amazing story and one day, I asked her about me." Ian did not have to ask; he knew that Mina's story likely lacked 'charm.' "She told me that she and my father were worried since Sadie was young and needy, but because they hoped I was a boy, they kept me." Ian waited for an end, but there was none. That was what she had been told.

"What does that have to do with a brother?"

"I don't know President Lee; I really don't remember, but everyone said that I pushed my mother off of a step ladder as she was cleaning something. They said I acted out my anger for being labelled a mistake."

"What do you remember?" Ian asked, fearing that Mina may have been framed, just like she was falsely accused of breaking the arm of a boy her age.

"I remember being in my room reading a book Doctor Sancho gave me. The locks hadn't been installed, so I guess I could have, but I don't know why I would." Ian studied Mina's face and could see true confusion in the expression she wore. "I wanted a younger sibling. I kept telling myself that they would be born like me, and I wouldn't feel so alone."

"What happened after that?"

"My mother was in the hospital for a long time and my father didn't speak to me. Only Sadie stayed by my side and when my mother miscarried, the locks were put on my door." Ian listened as tears fell from Mina's eyes. "Later my mother had to have a follow-up procedure but something happened, and she was left unable to conceive. I don't even remember leaving my room." Mina whispered as she recalled the past.

Not knowing what else to do, Ian reached out a hand to rub Mina's back affectionately. He was almost positive that whatever had happened to her unborn brother and mother was by design. Part of him wanted to tell her that she was never subject to black outs, but he had seen her go into a blind fit of rage and could not rule out that she may have hurt her mother. However, he now had a better understanding of Mina's dedication toward the couple. She felt like she had to take the place of the son she believed she had stolen from them.

Sensing that Mina's mood had been ruined, Ian suggested for them to skip going to whatever shopping center she wanted to visit, but the woman dried her tears and stood, telling him that she had a debt to settle, and she wanted to take care of it while she was able to do so. Ian's head tilted as he studied the woman's face, and he found himself openly questioning her about the status of her savings account, which by his calculations, should be healthy and with her managing it, thriving.

"How is it so little? Where is the money I gave you?"

"Under my bed," Mina admitted. Ian felt himself relax slightly, but he was still put off by the woman's admission that her account held less than 10k.

"Why don't you allow me to buy your family's home?" Ian suggested, and for a second Mina looked at him like she wanted to agree. "You can pay me back in installments," he added, feeling as though offering to buy the house without a clause was a little too much for the woman to process.

"Let me think about it for a while. I have to see how much I owe the hospital before I make another investment into the property." Ian kept quiet. He had already paid David's bill in full, but he did not want Mina to feel obligated to pay him back. If she later decided she wanted to, he would allow it, but he would find a way to get the money back to her or to her parents, who clearly needed it.

"Have you tried asking them to move?" Ian felt the need to ask questions, because he felt as though Mina was killing herself over a dead piece of land.

"They won't. My mother spends a lot of time in Sadie's room. Moving is out of the question for her." Ian felt as though he now understood how Mina's uncle managed to continue robbing his adoptive brother. The man and his wife had an emotional attachment to the home; one they were willing to do anything to keep, including working themselves and their daughter to death.

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Ian sat on a bus with Mina, she felt cramped and uncomfortable, but when the woman pulled out a book and angled it in a way that they could both read, he forgot all about the annoying environment and found himself enjoying the time instead. Page after page, Ian found himself invested in the story they were reading and when the bus driver announced the stop, which was their destination, he felt annoyed that he had to get up.

Mina on the other hand, was excited. She folded the book and darted out of the bus leaving Ian to chase after her. He watched the woman breathe deeply as she surveyed her surroundings, and then she gestured for him to follow her into a store. Once inside, she dashed straight to the register, where a much older man was taking care of a customer. The man had been busy, but as soon as his patron was gone and his eyes laid on Mina, he took on an excited expression, moving around the register to embrace the girl as if she were his daughter.

"Little Mina," the man exclaimed. "I missed seeing that beautiful smile of yours. Are you back for good?" The man asked expectantly, but Mina shook her head.

"I'm just visiting, but I have something for you." From within her bag Mina produced a small pouch and Ian found himself grateful it had not come out from her chest, where she had a habit of keeping money. "It's the money I owe you."

"I can't accept this," the man said, shoving the money back at Mina. "I helped you because you deserved it, not for a return." Mina frowned, and Ian knew it was because she was not expecting the man to say no.

"Then… accept it and hold it for the next person who may need your help." The old man smiled and agreed to Mina's condition, chatting with her about life until he noticed Ian standing in the corner.

"Can I help you young man?"

"I'm with her," Ian said, walking closer to Mina, who smiled back at him.

"Husband?" the old man asked in an annoyed tone.

"No, no. He is my boss." The man did not seem to believe Mina's claim, but he did not comment on it and Ian made sure to keep his expression suggestive.

The pair chatted until they were interrupted by a customer in need of help, and Mina used the opportunity to politely excuse herself, promising to visit as soon as her work commitments were taken care of.

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Back on the bus with Mina, Ian was once again invested in the romance novel that he thought he would not enjoy. He had not read from the beginning, so every now and then, he had to ask Mina for clarification, which she gladly gave him. His heart began to burn as he read some of the things the male lead had said and done to the female lead, and he really wanted to stop reading, but could not. He needed to know what happened next.

It unexpectedly occurred to Ian that all of Mina's ideas of love and romance probably came from books she read for fun. He asked her about it, but she denied that being the case. She said that she had read only a few romance novels in her past, and most of her expectations from a relationship came from what she had seen between Sadie and Troy. Curious, Ian asked what about the relationship was significant to her, and Mina closed the book as if the question would take time to answer.

"They trusted one another fully. There were certain times when Sadie would become ill, and she would send Troy and I to get what she needed. He always made sure that I had the things I needed as well, and my sister used to find it endearing. She loved that he cared about me as much as she did."

"Was your sister ill?" Mina stifled a chuckle then turned red when she realized the man had not followed her meaning.

"President Lee, you have sisters," she replied. Ian raised a brow before understanding crossed his mind. It was something he should have picked on but since his nan took care of the household, he rarely had to consider such things, and he found himself wondering if Mina got ill during that time as well.

"I do, but it was nothing like Sadie. She would become unable to move and sometimes I would have to feed her." Ian searched his mind, and it was true that there were times when Mina would become dull and seem uncomfortable. Like a fool he had associated the behavior with her increased intake of sweets, but he was not realizing that it was a result of her body's natural function.

After alighting from the bus, Ian was in a foul mood. The male lead had begun to remind him of himself, and he disliked the man completely. He had not realized how much emotion he had invested into the story until a secondary male lead was introduced, and that man, while not perfect, was shaping up to be a decent rival. He thought about all the men chasing Mina, and he wondered if he even deserved a shot.

When they arrived at Mina's home, it was clear to Ian that there were many people inside. Mina too slowed in her pace, confused by the clear sound of people talking coming from her home.