The nurse smiled warmly and reassured him.

“It’s not like that. Your father came earlier and asked to move you to a special room. He also made an appointment for a comprehensive checkup, so he’ll need to come back soon to give consent as your guardian. Didn’t you know?”

“My father? What do you mean?”

When Myung Hoon asked with a puzzled expression, the nurse became flustered instead.

“He looked just like Min Joon, isn’t he? A tall man wearing a navy suit.”

At the nurse’s description, the image of Tae Kyung flashed through Myung Hoon’s mind.

It seems he’ll have to get an explanation from Seo Ha.

He had never asked Seo Ha about Min Joon’s biological father before.

Even without him asking, Min Joon’s biological father must have been a wound for Seo Ha.

And there hadn’t been any major problems raising Min Joon without a father.

He didn’t want to force a connection with a cold-hearted father who had abandoned his child.

However, if Seo Ha and Min Joon’s father were trying to start over, that was a different matter.

He couldn’t let them start again without properly resolving the issues between them.

“Anyway, we need to move Min Joon’s room now.”

The nurse added as she led Min Joon out of the room.

Myung Hoon packed up their things and sent a text message to Seo Ha.

Meanwhile, Seo Ha had arrived home and was busy preparing sausage side dishes that Min Joon liked and braised tofu for Myung Hoon.

[Min Joon’s room has been moved. It’s Special Room 2. And the coding teacher came by.]

Seo Ha didn’t understand Myung Hoon’s words. There was no reason or means to move to a special room.

Seo Ha tried calling Myung Hoon, but he must have been busy and didn’t answer.

Just then, she received a call from Yoon Hee.

– Teacher Kim, how is Min Joon doing?

“Director. Thanks to your concern, Min Joon is fine. He’s still on medication for some lingering effects.”

– I see. Don’t worry about the kindergarten, just focus on Min Joon. And don’t worry about Min Joon’s hospital bills.

Seo Ha thought Yoon Hee was the one who had arranged for the move to the special room.

She felt a surge of gratitude. How could she ever repay all the kindness Yoon Hee had shown her?

“Um, while I’m very grateful for your concern, a special room is too much.”

– Special room?

“Didn’t you ask for him to be moved to a special room?”

– Me?

Yoon Hee seemed unaware, as if hearing this for the first time. Seo Ha was confused.

Then who had asked for the room to be changed?

Could it be Tae Kyung?

Seo Ha tried calling Tae Kyung, but only got a message saying he couldn’t be reached. She chewed her lip anxiously.

Seo Ha headed to the hospital with an uneasy look.

When she arrived, Myung Hoon and Min Joon were eating lunch.

“Mommy!”

“Yes, Min Joon. Mommy brought sausage side dishes. And dinosaur chicken nuggets.”

“Wow! Mom. The food here is really delicious!”

The hospital meals had also been upgraded from regular to premium. Seeing Min Joon smile so brightly, she couldn’t bring herself to change it back to regular meals.

Min Joon put one of the sausage side dishes Seo Ha had brought into his mouth and beamed.

“But Mom’s sausage side dishes are the best!”

“That’s right. Eat a lot. Mommy will make more for you. How’s your dizziness and headache?”

“It only hurts a little now.”

Seo Ha stroked Min Joon’s head.

Myung Hoon asked Min Joon in a gentle voice.

“Min Joon, Grandpa needs to talk to Mommy for a bit. Can you watch robot cartoons after you finish eating?”

“Yes, Grandpa. I can stay by myself.”

“Good. Our brave Min Joon. Mommy and Grandpa will be right outside the door, so call loudly if you need us.”

“Okay.”

Min Joon answered bravely. Seo Ha was led out of the room by Myung Hoon.

Myung Hoon sighed, uncharacteristically. After hesitating for a while, he spoke up.

“Seo Ha. Your father hasn’t asked until now, but I think I need to know now. About Min Joon’s biological father.”

Seo Ha’s voice trembled at Myung Hoon’s worried face.

“Dad… Did someone come claiming to be Min Joon’s father?”

“No, nothing like that. But Min Joon is growing up, and we can’t hide it forever, can we?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

Seo Ha avoided Myung Hoon’s eyes.

Was there any need to reveal the identity of someone who wasn’t meant to be in their lives again?

Seeing Seo Ha’s hesitation, Myung Hoon pressed on, unlike before.

How long had he watched his daughter raise a child alone, his heart aching?

Myung Hoon’s heart hurt seeing his daughter living a lonely life raising a child alone, mirroring his own fate.

He wished that even now, Seo Ha could meet someone she loved and not be lonely.

He hoped there would be someone Seo Ha could lean on if he ever had to leave her side.

That was a father’s heart.

“When is later? Are you trying to reconcile with the father?”

“Reconcile? We weren’t even married, how could we reconcile? It’s not like that.”

“That coding teacher, is he the father?”

“What?”

Seo Ha’s eyes shook violently as Myung Hoon hit the mark. She couldn’t answer, but Myung Hoon seemed to have already heard her response.

Only, how did they meet and part?

He worried that man might approach Seo Ha again and reopen healing wounds.

“I’ll tell you after I put Min Joon to sleep.”

“Alright. I understand.”

Myung Hoon patted Seo Ha’s shoulder and went into the room. Seo Ha leaned against the hospital wall and looked up.

The white ceiling seemed just like the ceiling of the hospital where she had given birth to Min Joon.

Her heart seemed to freeze whenever she thought of Tae Kyung’s cold gaze, as if it had pierced her heart.

Tae Kyung shouting at her that it wasn’t over yet. She was confused.

Would Min Joon ever resent her?

For erasing his father from his life.

That evening, Min Joon fell into a deep sleep.

Seo Ha and Myung Hoon sat side by side next to the sleeping Min Joon, looking at the child’s face with somber expressions.

Seo Ha was the first to speak.

“Dad. Why didn’t you ask until now?”

“I thought you’d tell me when the time was right. And it didn’t seem like the father was looking for you. I was afraid asking might hurt you.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier, Dad.”

“It’s okay. You must have had your reasons for not being able to talk about it.”

Myung Hoon smiled bitterly as he drank the beverage he was holding.

Seo Ha bit her lip hard and then let out a long sigh.

Now that Tae Kyung had found her, keeping quiet wouldn’t solve anything.

She might have to run away again at any time.

“Dad. That coding teacher. He is Min Joon’s father.”

Seo Ha pressed her fingernails into her fingers as she spoke.

“I thought so. Does he know Min Joon is his child?”

“No. He doesn’t know.”

“Then why did you break up?”

“His mother, she didn’t approve of Min Joon.”

Seo Ha could still hear Seung Ae’s words clearly.

‘The chairman said he couldn’t accept you or the child. The chairman told me directly.’

It was the price of forgetting that he and she were from different worlds.

Myung Hoon wasn’t particularly surprised.

“I see. So that’s what happened. Seo Ha.”

Myung Hoon called Seo Ha in a low voice. Seo Ha couldn’t lift her head and kept her gaze fixed on her fingernails.

Myung Hoon put his arm around Seo Ha’s shoulders.

“You did well. You didn’t do anything wrong, and neither did Min Joon. I’m proud of you for protecting Min Joon so well.”

At Myung Hoon’s comforting words, tears fell from Seo Ha’s eyes.

Everyone may not have said it, but the looks Seo Ha received as an unwed mother weren’t always warm.

Many told her to abandon the child rather than protect it.

For Seo Ha’s sake. Don’t let the child hold you back in life.

All the sorrow burst out at Myung Hoon’s words. She was fortunate to have people who comforted her for enduring day by day, gritting her teeth.

[This is the timeline separator]

Tae Kyung was tapping his index finger on the desk. Kyu Won, who had entered the CEO’s office, frowned.

“What’s wrong now?”

“Hmm.”

“Say something. It’s frustrating.”

Kyu Won flopped onto the sofa and complained. Tae Kyung didn’t take his eyes off the monitor.

“Did you look at the expansion program this time? There was a bug so I patched it, but what do you think? We’re getting requests to include it in elementary after-school care or after-school programs.”

“Hmm.”

“Hey! Han Tae Kyung! Are you even listening to me?”

Kyu Won shouted at Tae Kyung. Kyu Won thumped his own chest.

Tae Kyung didn’t even blink.

It was Kyu Won who was getting frustrated seeing the indifferent Tae Kyung.

Tae Kyung’s heart was already flying to Min Joon and Seo Ha in Yangpyeong, beyond his control.

He didn’t want to see Min Seop coming in and out, staying by Seo Ha’s side in the general ward.

Just imagining it made his blood boil. That’s why he moved her to a special room without even asking for Seo Ha’s consent.

He had no intention of letting Seo Ha go easily or ending things.

“As expected, it’s annoying.”

Kyu Won glared at Tae Kyung’s muttering. Seeing him unable to concentrate unlike his usual self, he thought the relationship with Seo Ha must be serious.

“What’s annoying?”

“Huh? I’m not talking to you.”

Kyu Won asked again as Tae Kyung tried to brush off his question.

“Is it related to Seo Ha? Aren’t you and Seo Ha just nothing?”

“No comment.”

“Either end things clearly with Yoo Na or start something with Seo Ha. Yoo Na came to the company on the day you went to Yangpyeong for the lesson.”

“Yoo Na? To the company?”

Tae Kyung’s voice suddenly rose. He had a bad feeling about Yoo Na coming.

“Yeah. It was the day you were at the hospital because of Min Joon. Yoo Na kept asking why you went to Yangpyeong, and it felt off.”

Kyu Won shuddered at the memory and continued.

“Well, I told her you just came to see her, but then I got a message from you saying you’d be back in Seoul late that evening, so I told her and she just left.”

Tae Kyung’s eyes grew fierce. He was bothered that Jin Yoo Na had asked about the Yangpyeong business trip.

Before, she never inquired about where he went on business trips.

Tae Kyung was displeased. He was already annoyed at her pushing for marriage, and now why was she bringing up Seo Ha again?

In fact, they weren’t in any kind of relationship, but it irritated him that she seemed to be acting on her own because he hadn’t said anything.

“You didn’t mention Seo Ha, did you?”

“No, not that. But you shouldn’t act like this if you’re thinking of Seo Ha. Make a clear decision. You’re giving Yoo Na false hope. Or end things with Yoo Na.”

Tae Kyung felt annoyed for no reason. He was displeased at being entangled with Yoo Na when his heart was only for Seo Ha.

“What do you know?”

“That’s right. I don’t know why you broke up with Seo Ha. But I’m frustrated seeing you chasing after Seo Ha, clinging to a relationship that ended 5 years ago.”

Kyu Won started speaking in a relaxed posture, but he sat up straight and gave sincere advice. Tae Kyung pretended not to listen and just stared at the monitor. However, Kyu Won’s sharp observation stung.

“Moreover, given that you’re publicly known to be engaged to Yoo Na, how do you think it looks to others when you’re seen with Seo Ha?”

“It’s just a rumor. I don’t care.”

Tae Kyung spoke petulantly like a sulking child.

But Tae Kyung felt like he’d been hit on the head by Kyu Won’s next question.

“You might not care. But what about Seo Ha?”