Seo Ha tightly grasped Tae Kyung’s sleeve. Tae Kyung firmly embraced Seo Ha, who did not resist.

He had finally held her in his arms again.

For the past 5 years, he could not forget her no matter how hard he tried.

The warm, soft touch of Seo Ha evoked memories of the past for Tae Kyung.

“Don’t run away. No matter what happens. I will protect you. You, Min Joon, and Father.”

Tae Kyung’s voice was sorrowful. Even after all that sharpness, Seo Ha was ultimately the place he would return to.

Tae Kyung cupped Seo Ha’s cheeks in his hands.

“Your cheeks are frozen. Let’s talk in the car. I have something to tell you.”

Tae Kyung took Seo Ha to the car, almost embracing her.

Seo Ha obediently followed him. Tae Kyung and Seo Ha sat side by side in the car.

Inside the car, the piano music Seo Ha liked was playing, and the warm heater breeze made the air hot.

Tae Kyung spoke first.

“I met with a reporter today for an interview. I should have consulted you before the interview, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”

“An interview?”

“Yes. It’s my fault. I should have ended my relationship with Jin Yoo Na earlier and made things clear.”

“…Did I get in the way between the two of you?”

At Seo Ha’s question, Tae Kyung let out a laugh as if he found it absurd.

“Get in the way? What do you mean? Jin Yoo Na got between you and me and interfered.”

“You and senior Yoo Na were engaged 5 years ago, weren’t you? There were already rumors… And, the photo.”

“It seems there was some talk among the adults, like a political marriage. But I never agreed to such a marriage or engagement. You were the only one for me.”

“But senior Yoo Na was going around saying she would marry you.”

“I should have stopped that. I’m sorry. It’s my fault. But what photo are you talking about?”

Seo Ha wanted to believe Tae Kyung, but how should she understand the nature of the photo that she still couldn’t erase?

What should she do about the sense of betrayal she felt then?

Seo Ha hesitated, wanting Tae Kyung but held back by the unhealed wound.

“The, photo of you and senior Jin Yoo Na together at a hotel.”

“That photo went to you?”

“I received it directly from senior Jin Yoo Na.”

Tae Kyung rested his forehead on the steering wheel. And he let out a deep sigh.

Tae Kyung knew well what photo it might be. After all, Tae Kyung had received that photo too.

He never imagined that Jin Yoo Na would even send that photo to Seo Ha to separate the two of them.

Tae Kyung explained carefully and earnestly, trying to convey his sincerity to Seo Ha somehow.

“Actually, this may sound like an excuse. But nothing happened with Jin Yoo Na. I was also momentarily fooled by that photo.”

Seo Ha pressed her lips tightly together. She turned her head to look out the car window. She thought she had forgotten, but she couldn’t forget.

“About what happened then. I’ll explain everything. So look at me. Turn your head towards me.”

“…”

“Alright. Just listen to what I have to say.”

Tae Kyung no longer insisted that Seo Ha look at him and continued speaking calmly.

“When you suddenly disappeared, I called you several times. Then in a phone call that finally connected, I heard an unfamiliar man’s voice. When I asked who it was, he said he was in a close relationship with you, an extramarital affair. I couldn’t believe it, so I tried calling you again after that, but you never answered.”

Tae Kyung still felt like a sharp knife was stabbing his heart when he thought of that time.

He bit his lower lip hard without realizing it, tasting the iron of blood. It felt like that sense of despair was rushing back.

“Around that time, I was constantly drunk. That day too, I was drunk at Jung Hoo’s bar. I met Yoo Na there. I had drunk to the point where my memory was hazy. When I came to my senses, Jin Yoo Na had left an absurd note and disappeared. And she sent me that photo too, probably the same one you received.”

Tae Kyung gulped down the bottled water in the car as if his throat was parched.

As Seo Ha quietly watched him, Tae Kyung continued speaking.

“Yoo Na said she had slept with me. At first, I thought I didn’t care about anyone but you, that whatever happens, happens. I had no reason to live. But something felt off.”

Tae Kyung furrowed his brow as he forcibly recounted a difficult story. These were memories that were by no means pleasant for him either.

“No matter how drunk I was, I wouldn’t do that with just anyone. The more I pieced together the fragmented memories that came back, the more certain I became that nothing had happened. And the pregnancy test photo and ultrasound photo that Jin Yoo Na sent claiming she was pregnant were fake too. They were photos circulating on the internet. Jin Yoo Na had never been pregnant, but she used that to blackmail me.”

Tae Kyung blamed himself with a heavy expression, as if it was painful to think of what happened then.

“Looking back now, I was so stupid and foolish. If I could, I’d like to beat my past self to death.”

“Elder brother…”

“It really makes my blood boil. At no one but my own foolish self. I should have searched for you more actively. I shouldn’t have believed the words of a man whose identity I didn’t even know. I shouldn’t have accepted the words of Yoo Na who tried to connect with me through shallow means. I’m sorry. I was so foolish.”

Tae Kyung’s eyes were filled with regret. It was a look that made even the observer’s heart ache.

Seo Ha could believe it. His words. That he had only thought of her.

Thinking of how Tae Kyung must have suffered no less than herself, Seo Ha’s heart ached too.

“I’m sorry for disappearing without a word.”

“You must have had your reasons too. If I had known you were pregnant, I wouldn’t have let you disappear alone. I would have kept you by my side somehow, and I wouldn’t have let you give birth to the child alone. You must have had a hard time too. I’m sorry.”

Seo Ha choked up at Tae Kyung’s words, reminded of when she was pregnant with Min Joon.

She had to go to the hospital alone in secret. Sitting alone in the hospital corridor waiting for her appointment, how envious she was of the couples who came together. She had to swallow her tears until her neck ached.

She had to go through labor alone, ride the ambulance to the hospital and give birth to the child. Although Myung Hoon was by her side, having a child without the father was sad and pitiful. Tears welled up at the memory of that time.

“Then, why are there still rumors of engagement even now, 5 years later?”

“That’s not my will. Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook wants to create a connection with the HY Group. Through Jin Yoo Na and me.”

Seo Ha let out a small sigh.

As expected, were Tae Kyung and herself people of different worlds?

The world of chaebols and upper class where marriage and love are separate issues, where marriage is just a contract.

Could she handle someone like him?

“So, I’m trying to cut that off. That’s why I called a reporter for an interview today. To say that Jin Yoo Na and I are nothing to each other, and that you’re the only one. That you are my woman.”

At Tae Kyung’s words ‘my woman’ spoken with all his might, Seo Ha lowered her head.

Unable to bear the oncoming storm of emotions, tears streamed down her face.

“And, I said Min Joon is my child. It doesn’t matter who Min Joon’s biological father is. I consider Min Joon my child, and I’ll raise him as my son. I’ll be with you no matter what happens.”

Seo Ha felt a heavy pain in her throat as if something was stuck there at Tae Kyung’s words that he would raise Min Joon as his own son.

Could she hate Tae Kyung who said he would raise her child as his own even without knowing it was his?

Could there be a father who cared for Min Joon more than him?

“Sob.”

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. It’s all my fault. Even if I apologize a million times, my mistakes due to my foolishness won’t disappear, but I’ll spend the rest of my days, my whole life making it up to you. Please let me stay by your side.”

Tae Kyung was truly staking everything and clinging to Seo Ha.

Tae Kyung carefully took Seo Ha’s hand and pleaded.

Tae Kyung’s thumb wiped away the tears flowing down her white cheeks.

Seo Ha realized that she indeed could not leave Tae Kyung.

If she ran away from this person again, would she be able to not regret it?

No matter how many times she asked herself, the answer was that she would regret it.

For Min Joon’s sake and her own, Tae Kyung was ultimately the place to return to.

She didn’t want to show her son Min Joon the image of a mother who only runs away.

After crying for a while, Seo Ha finally met Tae Kyung’s eyes.

Tae Kyung gently stroked Seo Ha’s cheek and softly kissed her eyes.

“How can you be pretty even when crying.”

“Pfft. When did you only say mean things to me.”

“I’ve committed a mortal sin. Really. Should I kneel and beg for forgiveness?”

Seo Ha lightly hit Tae Kyung’s chest with her small fist, not to hurt him.

“Ouch ouch, hit me as much as you want if it makes you feel better.”

“Oh my!”

Seo Ha rolled her eyes prettily. His large, warm hands cupped Seo Ha’s small head. He rubbed his cheek against her crown and hugged her tightly.

She felt her heart flutter at the familiar sound of his steadily beating heart in Tae Kyung’s chest.

Back in Tae Kyung’s embrace after going round and round.

Why were there so many people trying to stop them, and why would there be more? She sighed.

Jin Yoo Na and Seung Ae, Hyun Young aside, who could that mysterious man be?

It was all incomprehensible. She had never once answered Tae Kyung’s call, nor were there any missed calls from Tae Kyung. What on earth had happened?

“Um, elder brother.”

“Yes?”

“But who could that man be who said he was in an affair with me?”

“Is there anyone you can think of?”

“Not at all. I never received a call from you, so I rather thought you had abandoned me.”

At Seo Ha’s words, Tae Kyung was startled and looked down at Seo Ha in his arms.

“Me? You’re my owner, how could I do that?”

“Because you didn’t contact me either when I didn’t contact you. And I received that photo too.”

“Wow, I feel quite wronged? But, that man. I think I know. I heard that voice recently too.”

“What?”

Seo Ha’s eyes widened at Tae Kyung’s words. Tae Kyung’s expression became serious and worried.

“Choi Hyung Jin. It was his voice.”

“What did you say?”

“It seems that guy answered my call instead and did something. Like blocking the phone number as spam.”

Seo Ha’s eyes trembled with fear. How far would Choi Hyung Jin’s actions go?

How was such a thing possible?

Tae Kyung’s complexion worsened as he looked at her.

“Did I bring up something I shouldn’t have?”

“No, no. Just, that it was that person. I’m worried.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you and Min Joon even if I have to give my life.”

Tae Kyung slowly stroked Seo Ha’s hair.

Grateful for such a Tae Kyung, Seo Ha wrapped her stiff arms around Tae Kyung’s waist and hugged him.

Tae Kyung flinched for a moment.

“This is dangerous. I’m barely holding back.”

“I never told you to hold back, did I?”

When Seo Ha spoke with mischievous eyes, a spark flickered in Tae Kyung’s eyes.

“Can you handle those words?”

“The Han Tae Kyung I know is not someone who falls for such provocation.”

“For any other woman I might not, but for Kim Seo Ha’s provocation, I’ll fall for it anytime.”

Seo Ha’s face turned bright red, noticeable even in the darkness.

As Seo Ha’s flushed face was transmitted to Tae Kyung, Tae Kyung smiled broadly.

She was lovely beyond compare.

Tae Kyung carefully broached the subject.

“Seo Ha. How about coming to Seoul with me?”

“As a matter of fact, I was planning to return to Seoul.”