“It’s been a while. Mother, Father.”

“Welcome, Ji Eun.”

“You came at the right time. Have a seat.”

Ji Eun’s appearance seemed sudden only to Joo and Do Hyun, as Young Ran and Jong Pil warmly welcomed her.

Do Hyun asked Ji Eun, who was busy greeting his family:

“Why are you here?”

“Oh my. Look at me. I forgot to tell you.”

Young Ran smiled softly and gestured for Ji Eun to come closer.

“I invited Ji Eun. I heard she came to Korea after a long time, so I wanted to see her.”

“Today was supposed to be a family meal.”

Ji Eun hesitated at the entrance of the restaurant, feeling a faint sense of displeasure.

Young Ran personally brought Ji Eun, who was neither here nor there, and seated her in an empty spot.

“Your father also said he wanted to see Ji Eun, so I invited her.”

“I hope I’m not intruding?”

“The more people to celebrate a birthday, the better. Right? Do Hyun?”

Young Ran gave Do Hyun a meaningful look with squinted eyes.

Joo knew why Do Hyun was reacting so sensitively.

Knowing that he cared about Ji Eun, this situation was not welcome for Do Hyun.

But today was Young Ran’s birthday. They couldn’t chase away Ji Eun, who had been personally invited by his mother.

“The food will get cold. Let’s eat.”

As Jong Pil picked up his spoon and took a sip of soup, everyone belatedly started eating.

Before taking even a few spoonfuls, Young Ran asked Ji Eun, who was sitting next to her, with eyes full of curiosity:

“Are your mother and father still in Canada?”

“They’re on a short trip to Guam now. They said they’ll stay in Korea for a month in spring.”

“That’s great. Honey, let’s go golfing together when Ji Eun’s parents come.”

Young Ran, excited like a child, placed her hand on Ji Eun’s arm.

“Ji Eun, do you still play golf?”

“Of course. It’s my only hobby.”

“Do Hyun, you should join us if you have time.”

“We’ll see.”

So that’s how cheerful she is when she’s happy.

Young Ran’s unaffected, gentle voice felt quite different from how she had addressed her, creating a sense of disconnect.

She wanted to lift her head, which had been fixed downward for a long time, but her neck was stiff and wouldn’t move.

As she silently scooped rice into her mouth, Young Ran asked Joo a question for the first time.

“Joo, do you know how to play golf?”

“Ah. No.”

As if she had already expected this, Young Ran barely lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Ji Eun, I heard you’ve already found a job. Where do you work and what do you do?”

“It’s a company near Do Hyun’s workplace, but it’s not that big. The job I was doing in England didn’t suit me, so when I came back to Korea this time, I switched to being a strategy consultant.”

“Ah, a strategy consultant. How long have you been preparing for that job?”

It was as if the family members, excluding Joo, were having a conversation at a different table.

She had felt this way before. Like that day when she went to the sushi restaurant with Ji Eun, Joo was detached from them.

Joo couldn’t shake off the gloomy feeling.

She felt pathetic for not being able to join in or change the subject, only keeping her mouth tightly shut.

Do Hyun’s hand overlapped Joo’s left hand, which had been counting the rice grains in her bowl.

As she lowered her gaze under the table, Do Hyun grasped Joo’s hand more firmly, conveying warmth.

As if waiting for Young Ran and Ji Eun’s conversation to end, Do Hyun spoke up.

“Father, I heard the Jeju Island sunset package event was successful. Did you receive the report?”

“Yes. The idea was excellent. The event held during sunset in Jeju Island allowed for active promotion on social media. We can proceed with it as a regular event from next month.”

“Joo suggested that event.”

Jong Pil, who had been unaware, gave an appreciative look.

“Joo, you should have told me earlier. I would have given you a hefty bonus.”

“If you were going to give a lot, maybe I should have mentioned it.”

“I’d give you plenty. Even now, if I had my wallet, I’d give you everything in it.”

Jong Pil bantered back at Joo’s joke.

Pretending to search his pockets, Jong Pil praised Do Hyun.

“Do Hyun, you made a good choice in marriage. It’s hard to find a partner as good as Joo.”

“I know I can’t find someone as good as Joo.”

Do Hyun knew too. That Joo was feeling alienated, becoming a lonely island.

As if to let her know she wasn’t alone on that island, Do Hyun was sending signals. That he was beside her. That he was watching over her.

Do Hyun’s comfort, sprinkled on the slightly sad and lonely feelings, was as precious and warm as a handful of warmth found in the middle of winter.

As lunch was wrapping up, housekeepers came in to clear the table.

On the neatly arranged table, a plate of prepared fruits was placed.

As the housekeeper quietly closed the dining room door and left, Ji Eun, as if she had been waiting, took out the prepared gifts.

“I prepared some gifts.”

“Why did you prepare so many?”

Young Ran exclaimed as the gift boxes that had been under the table now occupied the tabletop.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you all. I prepared gifts for Father, elder sister, and Juliet too.”

“For me too? What is it, what is it?”

Seung Hee’s eyes, which had looked like dried pollack eyes, now gleamed like freshly caught fish.

Ji Eun first handed the gift to the impatient Seung Hee.

“Elder sister, you wanted these shoes, right?”

Seung Hee hastily took out the box from the paper bag.

Opening the box lid, Seung Hee carefully held the shoes as if cradling a newborn baby.

“How did you know I was looking for these shoes?”

“I saw your social media. When I happened to be in Paris, there was exactly one pair in your size. I thought it was perfect timing, so I bought them.”

It was a product that was sold out not only in Korea but worldwide.

Occasionally, there were rumors of them being restocked in department stores, but purchasing them was like catching a star in the sky. But Ji Eun had personally caught that star, so Seung Hee couldn’t help but be happy.

“Wow. I’m going to brag about this to my friends.”

Seung Hee grabbed her phone and quickly left the dining room.

Pleased with the reaction, Ji Eun now handed a blue box to Jong Pil.

“It’s a tie from an Italian artisan my father knows. Please wear it when you have important occasions. It would make me very happy.”

“I’ll wear it well.”

“This is for you, Mother. It’s a teacup personally made by the potter Susan Royce. I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”

Young Ran was overwhelmed with emotion seeing the teacup carefully nestled in the white box. As if it was too precious to touch, she just looked at the teacup and whimpered.

“How can I use something so precious?”

“I’ll buy you another one, so use it comfortably.”

“Thank you, Ji Eun. I’ll use it well.”

Before Young Ran could finish her admiration, Ji Eun pushed a bright orange paper bag towards her.

“Mother, this is a collar and harness for Juliet. I saw it while browsing the department store and bought it because it was so cute. Please put it on Juliet.”

Juliet was an Afghan Hound breed with a pedigree certificate.

At first, Seung Hee had brought the puppy from a friend’s house when she was drunk, but now Young Ran was raising it with great care and affection.

Joo carefully lifted the yellow cloth bundle she had placed at her feet.

“Mother, this is something my mother prepared.”

“Lady Sa?”

Young Ran untied the knot of the bundle with inner expectation.

As one layer was peeled off, a large white container appeared.

‘What could it be in a side dish container?’

Young Ran slightly parted her lips as she opened the lid of the side dish container.

“It’s beef bone soup?”

“Yes. My mother made it herself. It seems she wanted to take care of you this time, as she hasn’t been able to pay attention to you lately.”

“She didn’t need to worry about such things, but she was thoughtful.”

Young Ran leaned forward and pulled Joo’s hand from across the table, enveloping it with both of her hands.

Caressing the back of Joo’s hand as if it were precious, Young Ran murmured gently.

“Joo, please tell Lady Sa that I received her sincerity well. Tell her I’m truly thankful and grateful. Okay?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Even if the words spoken while holding her hand might be empty, Joo liked hearing them.

Perhaps her mother’s tearful effort had washed away the bitterness she had been feeling, and she hoped that this moment, at least, was sincere.

As Young Ran removed her hand from caressing Joo, Jong Pil, who had finished his meal, pushed back his chair and stood up.

“I have to leave first due to work. The rest of you stay and enjoy yourselves a bit longer.”

“Honey, shall I bring some tea to your study?”

“That would be nice.”

As Jong Pil left the dining room first, Young Ran said to Do Hyun:

“Do Hyun, show Ji Eun around the garden and the glass greenhouse. Joo, can you help me?”

“Ah, yes, Mother.”

Before she could answer, Young Ran stood up, and Joo hurriedly left the dining room and entered the kitchen.

Young Ran, who had left the dining room, silently took teacups from the cabinet and brewed tea without a word.

Joo thought she would ask her to take the tea to Jong Pil, but Young Ran went up to the study on the second floor herself.

Standing in front of the study, Joo fixed her gaze on the garden visible through the wide window.

Do Hyun was walking towards the glass greenhouse in the garden, maintaining a proper distance from Ji Eun.

As her eyes followed the two, Young Ran silently approached and stood beside Joo.

Young Ran, who had been gazing at the two as if appreciating a work of art, opened her mouth.

“Since it’s my birthday, can I ask you for one favor?”

Even though Do Hyun was clearly in the garden, Young Ran still maintained her friendly attitude.

She was filled with hope that perhaps the beef bone soup made by Jung Hye had indeed melted Young Ran’s frozen heart.

Because of this, she was prepared to do her best to grant whatever Young Ran might ask at this moment.

“If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”

Young Ran, standing on her tiptoes towards Joo, said without the slightest change in expression:

“Divorce Do Hyun. That’s my first and last request.”