“Do you think so? Are you regretting it now?”

Hyun Young stared at her teacup with a complex expression, unable to answer Yoon Hee’s question.

Yoon Hee smiled faintly at Hyun Young and advised her.

“Don’t think too complicated. Don’t be bound by a relationship that’s not meant to be.”

“Is that so.”

“How can humans change a relationship predestined by heaven?”

Yoon Hee gently chided Hyun Young.

“I feel sorry. For Mr. Kim, for the child, and for Tae Kyung. Don’t you pity Tae Kyung who can’t recognize his own child right in front of him? And what about Min Joon who can’t recognize his own father standing before him?”

“Min Joon…”

Hyun Young’s heart felt like it was being stabbed repeatedly with a knife.

The things Hyun Young worried about most were finally happening to her beloved child Tae Kyung because of her.

“But it’s not an easy matter.”

“True. I’m saying this because you’re trying to solve a difficult problem in a difficult way.”

Yoon Hee clicked her tongue, unlike her usual relaxed and gentle demeanor.

The two drank their tea in silence. The clamorous sounds of children outside faded, and Hyun Young stood up.

“I think it’s better if I wait outside rather than here. If Seo Ha finds out you and I are relatives, she might feel uncomfortable working here.”

“Right. You thought well. Don’t push Mr. Kim too hard. She’s someone I care about.”

“…Alright. Tell Seo Ha I’ll be waiting nearby.”

Hyun Young felt a bitterness in her mouth.

“How much better it would have been if it wasn’t this kind of relationship. If only she had been an orphan, I would have accepted her long ago…”

Hyun Young stared blankly at the kindergarten from a nearby cafe.

Not long after, she saw Seo Ha approaching the cafe.

The freshness of her college days from 5 years ago had turned into maturity.

Still, Seo Ha’s kind and graceful eyes that Hyun Young remembered remained the same.

“What should I do about the sin of this old woman who must separate you two?”

Hyun Young sighed. But she quickly composed her expression and maintained a poker face.

Seo Ha, who entered the cafe, had an evident look of tension on her face.

“Welcome. I’m Tae Kyung’s mother.”

“Hello? I’m Kim Seo Ha. I heard you were looking for me.”

Seo Ha greeted politely. Hyun Young nodded and continued calmly.

“Please sit down. Would you like something cool to drink?”

“It’s alright. I need to go back soon.”

“Then, is lemonade okay?”

Hyun Young ordered the drink regardless of Seo Ha’s refusal.

Then she elegantly and calmly picked up her tea.

“Tae Kyung, he came looking for you?”

“Yes…”

Seo Ha looked at Hyun Young with tense eyes.

“Ms. Kim. Han Tae Kyung’s mother wants to see you, is that alright?”

Yoon Hee looked at Seo Ha over her glasses. Seo Ha tightly gripped her slightly trembling hands.

Seo Ha was extremely nervous even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.

‘What if she finds out about Min Joon? What if she asks for the child?’

Seo Ha’s mind was in turmoil.

“Han’s mother said she’d wait at a cafe near the kindergarten, so go now.”

“…Yes.”

Seo Ha was very reluctant, but she couldn’t avoid Hyun Young, Min Joon’s paternal grandmother, indefinitely.

Along with fear, she also wanted to know why Hyun Young was looking for her.

“Then, I’ll be back shortly.”

“Alright.”

With Yoon Hee’s permission, Seo Ha headed towards the cafe near the kindergarten with heavy steps.

She spotted Hyun Young sitting by the window. A feeling of all the blood draining from her body washed over her.

Taking a deep breath, she entered the cafe and stood in front of Hyun Young.

“Hello? I’m Kim Seo Ha. I heard you were looking for me.”

Seo Ha struggled to hide the trembling in her voice.

The two sat in silence for a while with lemonade in front of them.

Hyun Young was the first to speak.

“I don’t hate you, Seo Ha.”

“Pardon?”

“However, I don’t want you to be with Tae Kyung either.”

“Ah… I see…”

Seo Ha hadn’t expected Hyun Young to accept her, but she was still hurt by her words.

Even when they were dating before, no one thought that the ordinary Seo Ha would end up marrying Tae Kyung, a chaebol heir.

Moreover, now that rumors were rampant about Tae Kyung becoming the son-in-law of Congressman Jin Chul Wook, a presidential candidate, Seo Ha understood Hyun Young’s feelings.

Still, it hurt.

“I know. That Tae Kyung oppa is marrying Jin Yoo Na…”

“I’m glad you know.”

Seo Ha’s chest ached even as she spoke of Tae Kyung’s marriage with her own lips. Her throat tightened, and she bit the inside of her lip hard.

Although she had pushed Tae Kyung away, actually saying his marriage out loud made her realize she would have to live as someone completely unrelated to him.

She thought that now Tae Kyung could never become Min Joon’s father.

Hyun Young cut Seo Ha off once more.

“So, I’d like you not to meet with Tae Kyung.”

“…”

“I’ll make sure I don’t meet you again for something like this. I hope you’ll speak to Tae Kyung and make him give up.”

“…Yes.”

Seo Ha felt like she was about to cry and barely squeezed out a response.

Hyun Young knew this but pretended not to notice. She stood up indifferently.

“I’ll leave first.”

“Yes… Goodbye.”

Hyun Young nodded and left the cafe without looking back.

As soon as Hyun Young left, tears dropped from Seo Ha’s eyes.

She covered her face with both hands while standing.

She didn’t know why her heart ached so much.

She should have been grateful that Hyun Young didn’t mention Min Joon, but Seo Ha felt like her heart was being torn apart.

Although Tae Kyung had come to her house uninvited, the lunch they had shared at the same table was still vivid in her mind, and she could still see Tae Kyung placing side dishes on her plate.

Because Tae Kyung was someone who had occupied a corner of her heart with just one gentle gesture, even when he spoke harsh words, Seo Ha knew she had to steel her heart even more.

However, Seo Ha stood still and cried for a long time.

Hyun Young, who had left the cafe and seen Seo Ha crying through the window, also wore a gloomy expression.

Seo Ha’s home was filled with cold air when she opened the front door.

Seo Ha quickly checked the boiler and turned it on again, but it showed no signs of working.

“Mom, I’m cold.”

“Okay, Min Joon. Mom will turn on the boiler, so wait a moment.”

Seo Ha frantically tried to fiddle with the boiler, but to no avail.

She hurriedly called the boiler company’s service center.

− Yes, customer. I’m sorry, but we’re backed up with requests right now. The technician says it’s not possible today, but can come in two days. Should I schedule it for you anyway?

“Yes. Please make it as soon as possible. I have a young child at home.”

− Yes, customer. It’s been scheduled, and the technician will call before visiting.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Seo Ha hung up and sighed.

Min Joon was shivering, wrapping his clothes tightly around himself. Soon, Myung Hoon would arrive too, and they couldn’t stay in this freezing house.

Even if they could endure with electric blankets, they couldn’t wash with cold water.

Seo Ha urgently turned on the electric blanket and searched for a heater to turn on.

“Min Joon. Are you cold? Come here under the blanket with your coat on. It’ll be warm soon.”

Seo Ha started boiling water to bathe Min Joon.

Her mind was anxious, and things weren’t going as planned. Min Joon started to have a runny nose.

Despite turning on the electric blanket and heater, the overall air in the house was cold, making their noses sting.

The sound of the door lock opening was heard.

Sensing Myung Hoon entering, Seo Ha shouted.

“Dad! The boiler is broken. It’ll take some time to fix…”

As Seo Ha went to the entrance, she saw Myung Hoon and Tae Kyung standing in front of the door.

Since learning that Myung Hoon worked as a security guard in his villa, Tae Kyung often brought snacks to the security office or bought things needed for the office.

At first, Myung Hoon felt burdened, but he didn’t dislike the friendly Tae Kyung.

Before they knew it, the two had become quite close. Today, knowing that Tae Kyung wasn’t eating properly, Myung Hoon wanted to feed him home-cooked meals and brought him along.

“The boiler is broken?”

When Myung Hoon asked again, Seo Ha stiffened her expression and kept her mouth shut.

She recalled her conversation with Hyun Young earlier that day.

There was no point in Tae Kyung, who was soon to marry Yoo Na, coming and going here.

“Tae Kyung oppa, why are you here? Please leave immediately.”

“When did the boiler break down? Are you okay?”

Ignoring Seo Ha’s sharp reaction, Tae Kyung first inquired about her well-being. Worried about Seo Ha in the house air that was hardly different from the outside weather.

Just then, Min Joon came out to the living room upon hearing Tae Kyung’s voice.

“Grandpa! Teacher!”

“Oh my, our puppy. How are you managing in this cold? What should we do, it’s so cold outside too. Seo Ha, when is the repair technician coming?”

“…”

Seo Ha kept her mouth shut at Myung Hoon’s question, not entirely pleased with Tae Kyung getting closer when he should be distancing himself from her.

Myung Hoon scolded Seo Ha.

“Hey, I’m asking when the repair technician is coming. Min Joon might catch a cold again at this rate.”

“Grandpa, my nose is running.”

He points to his nose with his finger while sniffling. Tae Kyung frowned.

“Father, Min Joon. Let’s go to my house.”

“To your house, teacher?”

“Yes. I have many rooms. Stay until the boiler is fixed.”

“Oh no, Han. We can go to a motel.”

“Father, no. It’s dangerous to go to a motel. You’ll be uncomfortable. I live alone so there are many empty rooms. And I’ll be in Seoul for a while, so please stay at my house.”

Tae Kyung strode in and tried to pack Min Joon’s clothes. Seo Ha grabbed Tae Kyung’s hand.

“Don’t do this. Stop meddling and go back. I don’t want to be involved with you at all.”

Tae Kyung scoffed at Seo Ha’s cold words, paying no heed.

“Kim Seo Ha. This isn’t for you. It’s for Min Joon. If you don’t want to come, you don’t have to. But I’m taking Min Joon and father to my house.”

“Why do you keep interfering in our lives?”

Tae Kyung approached Seo Ha and brought his face close to her ear.

Seo Ha’s breath caught at Tae Kyung’s hot breath.

Tae Kyung spoke in a low voice, barely audible, while checking on Min Joon.

“I told you before. I’ll be the one to end this. If you really want to end things with me, it’s better to follow what I do. Don’t make me say harsh things in front of the child anymore. I’ll bring you to my house one way or another. At least while I’m around, I can’t let you and Min Joon be in danger.”

Seo Ha felt goosebumps all over her body from Tae Kyung’s scent and breath. It was a scent and breath she had buried deep in her memories. She became afraid of being swept away by past emotions.

Longing and memories etched in her body rushed in like a storm. Once they were hers alone, but now they would belong to another woman.

Seo Ha clenched her small hands until they turned white.

Myung Hoon added a word while looking at Seo Ha.

“Seo Ha. For Min Joon’s sake, even if it’s uncomfortable, let’s go to Han’s house. A motel won’t be good for Min Joon.”

At Myung Hoon’s words, Seo Ha released the tension in her body.

Right now, Seo Ha had no other options. She couldn’t take Min Joon to a motel, nor could they endure in this freezing house.

It wasn’t feasible to stay at a sauna for several days with a five-year-old child and an elderly father until the boiler was fixed in winter.

Although reluctant, Seo Ha nodded, thinking it was for Min Joon and Myung Hoon’s sake.

“Alright. But only until the boiler is fixed.”

“Of course.”

At that moment, a smile spread across Tae Kyung’s lips.