For Se Ra, it was news to her that Yi Hyun had a woman.

“Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand something? How could Yi Hyun be seeing a woman? You know those rumors about him being a playboy are false. That cold-hearted guy, what woman…”

“No. It seems… There is someone. A woman… he loves…”

Yu Ha painfully uttered the word ‘love’. Se Ra’s expression hardened at her sorrowful look.

Love? A woman he loves…? Is that even a word that exists in Kim Yi Hyun’s life?

“What makes you think that?”

“He told me directly before. That he has a woman he’ll marry… That’s why he won’t get engaged to me. I thought he was just trying to get rid of me then, but after the accident, at the hospital, elder brother Ji Won…”

“Ji Won? Why him?”

“I overheard him talking to himself. That elder brother Yi Hyun was in love, going around grinning, saying the world is beautiful… sob…”

Tears finally fell from Yu Ha’s eyes. Se Ra shook her head with a troubled expression.

“For Yi Hyun to go that far… It’s hard to imagine, but if this is all true, how can we stop it? Honestly, you two haven’t even had an engagement ceremony yet. From Yi Hyun’s perspective, there’s nothing wrong.”

“We will get engaged! His leg has fully healed!”

“Well… With Yi Hyun’s personality, if an engagement ceremony is forced without his consent, would he even show up? You know him too.”

“I do. I know him best in the world. I’ve lived only looking at him for 12 years. That personality… I can’t not know it.”

“Sigh… What to do.”

Love, no matter how ardent and desperate, cannot be achieved through one-sided feelings.

At least in the world they were born and raised in, there was some talk of marriage with Yu Ha for strategic business reasons and benefits.

However, if Yi Hyun had said such things himself, business interests or pressure from his mother, Chairwoman Jang In Hwa, would be of no use. That’s the kind of man Kim Yi Hyun was.

“So, what do you want to do?”

“I can’t give up on him. I’d rather die! Help me, elder sister. Find out who that woman is… I’ll meet her myself. I’ll get on my knees and beg. Please…”

Se Ra let out a deep sigh at the sight of Yu Ha sitting in front of her, tears falling.

“Alright, I’ll try to find out, so stop crying and go get some rest. Okay?”

“I’m sorry, elder sister. But besides you, there’s no one I can talk to or who will help me. Even Mother is too busy to see me lately, and keeps postponing setting a date for the engagement ceremony… sob…”

Yu Ha’s crying grew louder and more pitiful.

“Oh dear… Why did you have to fall for such an inconsiderate jerk…”

“Ma’am, Yun Ji woke up and is crying.”

“Oh my! I understand. I’ll be right there. I’m sorry, Yu Ha. I’ll definitely look into it, so go home for today. Okay?”

“Yes, I will. sob…”

Yu Ha slowly got up, gave a small nod to Se Ra, and then left the house.

Wiping away her flowing tears with the back of her hand, malice gathered in her eyes. It was quite different from the sad expression she had shown Se Ra earlier.

“Just wait until I find out who dared to covet elder brother Yi Hyun. I absolutely won’t let them off easy!”

That evening, waiting for Il Jun who had left work on time was Se Ra with an unusually cold expression.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Does Yi Hyun have a woman?”

It was a completely unexpected question. However, Il Jun nodded in affirmation without much surprise.

“What? You all knew but only I didn’t? From what I hear, it seems even Ji Won knows. Why am I the only one left out? Explain yourself.”

“It’s a bit complicated.”

“Explain it clearly so I can understand, Mr. Kim Il Jun.”

At Se Ra’s cold and businesslike voice, Il Jun let out a small sigh and sat down in front of her.

“First of all, it’s true that there is a woman. And right now, Mother has gone to meet Chairman Jin of Han Gyeong Finance. The engagement between Yi Hyun and Jin Yu Ha that was planned will officially be called off.”

Se Ra’s eyes widened.

“Are you saying Mother has approved of that woman?”

“Yes. She approved.”

Se Ra exhaled in disbelief.

“If In Hwa approved, at least she’s not a gold digger or ill-mannered. That’s a relief, but on the other hand, I’m worried about Yu Ha.”

“What does she do? Is it a family I know?”

“…You do know. Very well, in fact.”

“Who is it?”

“Lee Ha Jun.”

“Lee… Ha Jun? My former secretary Lee Ha Jun?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my goodness!! That Kim Yi Hyun! How dare he seduce a woman from my company?”

“That’s not it. They met before that. Then they met again at your office.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me? Wait, don’t tell me Lee Ha Jun’s disappearance was because of Yi Hyun? Is that it?”

“I’ll explain everything.”

“Make sure I understand.”

“At first, Mother naturally opposed. She went to see her and told her to break up, and Lee Ha Jun complied. Then when Yi Hyun found out Lee Ha Jun was gone and was acting out, he got into the car accident…”

“Oh my…!”

Se Ra covered her mouth. She had never imagined that the unsettling story behind Yi Hyun’s traffic accident would involve a woman, let alone Lee Ha Jun.

“The biggest reason we didn’t tell you was because you’re close with Jin Yu Ha. There were also business entanglements, so instead of breaking off the engagement, we just postponed the ceremony while keeping Yi Hyun’s woman a secret. Plus, as you know, we didn’t even know where Lee Ha Jun was.”

When Il Jun finished speaking, Se Ra let out a long sigh.

“This is unbelievable. So, where is Yi Hyun now? Don’t tell me he’s with Lee Ha Jun?”

“Yes. We found her. And,”

Il Jun took out his phone from his pocket. He selected a photo that showed Yun Woo’s face best and slid the phone in front of Se Ra.

“She had a child. Lee Ha Jun did.”

“Oh my goodness!!”

Se Ra snatched the phone and looked at Yun Woo’s photo. The newborn was clearly as small as her own daughter Yun Ji.

“He was born a day later than Yun Ji. Lee Ha Jun gave birth… alone. It’s a boy and looks just like Yi Hyun, doesn’t he?”

“He really does…”

Se Ra was truly dumbfounded. She had been completely unaware of everything happening right under her nose.

“There’s not a single person in this world I can trust. Not only my secretaries, but friends of over ten years, juniors, and even my own husband all conspired to keep only me in the dark.”

“It’s not like that. You know that.”

“Well, I feel hurt regardless.”

“Yi Hyun had a really hard time after the accident. Lee Ha Jun had disappeared and he didn’t know where she was, while he was injured and bedridden… That’s when I first heard the full story about Lee Ha Jun. And I was planning to tell you after we found her.”

“Even if Yi Hyun was like that, you should have at least given me a hint! I’m sleeping in Yun Ji’s room starting tonight, just so you know!”

Before Il Jun could stop her, Se Ra jumped up and went upstairs to the second floor. Soon after, the live-in babysitter came down.

“The madam said she’ll put Yun Ji to sleep tonight.”

“Yes, I’ll be sleeping in Yun Ji’s room too. You can rest. I’ll call if anything happens.”

“Alright.”

The babysitter went back upstairs to her room. Il Jun let out a deep sigh and loosened his tie as he entered the bathroom.

He had to clean up thoroughly before he could enter Yun Ji’s room.

To Ha Jun, the current situation felt just like a dream. Yi Hyun perfectly playing the role of a loving husband, their son Yun Woo who was precious beyond words, and Bok Seon who embraced and cared for them endlessly like a real mother.

The warm and ordinary family she had always yearned for in her dreams. A family overflowing with love.

That’s why a happy smile never left Ha Jun’s face.

Today too, Yi Hyun took charge of bathing Yun Woo, and with clumsy hands succeeded in changing the baby’s diaper and dressing him all by himself. And though awkwardly, he even managed to swaddle the baby.

Seeming to enjoy his father’s caring touch, Yun Woo closed his eyes and smiled slightly before letting out a long yawn.

“I’ll be perfect at this after a couple more tries.”

Ha Jun just sat beside them, smiling as she watched Yi Hyun and Yun Woo.

“Why are you looking at us like that?”

“Because I’m so happy.”

Yi Hyun smiled back at Ha Jun who was smiling prettily.

“I told you I’d do everything for you. Everything you want.”

“I know. I really feel like I have everything now.”

“Not yet.”

“What else is there?”

“A sibling for Yun Woo?”

“Ah…”

Ha Jun’s face instantly turned bright red.

“You’re so naughty. What were you imagining to blush like that?”

“…I wasn’t.”

Ha Jun’s head dipped even lower. This made her slender neckline stand out even more, also tinged pink.

Gulp, Yi Hyun’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.

“Ha… This is driving me crazy. Ha Jun, shall we just kiss?”

“…”

Unable to say anything, Ha Jun tilted her head sideways. Yi Hyun reached out and gently lifted her chin.

Between her half-parted red lips, her perfectly white and even teeth sparkled like jewels.

Moving his body, Yi Hyun drew close to Ha Jun and carefully captured her lips.

Their hot breaths comfortably enveloped each other.

Before they knew it, Ha Jun’s slender body was snugly held in Yi Hyun’s arms. Yi Hyun desperately savored her sweet scent.

A greater desire began to rise like wildfire, urging him on, but Yi Hyun forcefully pushed it down.

Rather, the deep and intense kiss gradually became lighter, eventually turning into gentle pecks that alternately tickled Ha Jun’s lips, both cheeks, forehead, and the bridge of her nose like feathers.

It didn’t have to be a deeper, more intense act between a man and woman. At this moment, the two were perfectly in sync and completely united, feeling a love more fulfilling than ever before.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”