A gentle classical music fills the air inside.

Seol Ah raised her eyes and looked around the space. Of all places, it had to be here.

It was a cafe she and Seung Jun used to frequent. Though small, every item was imbued with the owner’s sincerity, and the music, carefully selected by the owner, was pleasing to the ear.

After their phone call that night, there was no contact from Seung Jun until past 1 AM. It was just one line.

– This Saturday, 1 PM, Café Moonlight.

Did he choose this place simply because it came to mind, or was there another reason?

Seol Ah checked the time.

1:05 PM. She had purposely arrived thirty minutes early, so she had been waiting for thirty-five minutes.

The sound of the café door opening was heard.

With steady footsteps, a man’s silhouette approached. Seol Ah stood up from her seat.

“Sit down.”

Seung Jun straightened his slightly disheveled tie and sat down in front of Seol Ah.

“I have matchmaking meetings every weekend.”

Seol Ah’s eyes rose. Seung Jun turned his head sideways and crossed one leg.

More than the fact that he was going on matchmaking meetings, she was curious why he was telling her this.

“How did you get my number?”

At Seung Jun’s question, Seol Ah only moved her lower jaw. Why wouldn’t she know? It’s the same as it was 7 years ago.

More surprising than finding his number was the fact that Seol Ah still remembered Seung Jun’s number by heart. It was a number she hadn’t had to dial since then.

“Never mind that, what’s your business?”

Seung Jun said with furrowed brows to the silent Seol Ah.

“I, I have a favor to ask.”

With her hands politely clasped in front, she took a deep breath and looked at him.

“A favor, is it.”

Seung Jun tilted his head slightly as he repeated her words.

It was as expected. She had sought him out because of the JK Foods evaluation.

When did she slap him? Now that she needs something, it’s a favor.

“Ten minutes.”

His expression was cold.

“That should be more than enough time to say what you need to say.”

Seol Ah nodded.

“Before I ask the favor, I’d like to apologize first.”

One corner of Seung Jun’s lips curled up.

“For that day, for recklessly striking the Vice Chairman, I sincerely apologize.”

Seol Ah stood up from her seat.

Seung Jun stared blankly at her as she bowed politely.

“If legal procedures need to be taken, I will comply. And if you wish to exact personal revenge, I will bear it.”

Seol Ah spoke with trembling lips, as if reciting from memory.

Seung Jun watched her with furrowed brows.

“So, what’s the next favor?”

“Pardon?”

“To look favorably on JK Foods’ evaluation? Or is there something else?”

Seol Ah, who had straightened up, blinked her eyes.

He already knew everything.

Is that why his attitude was so rough? As if daring her to try it.

“I’m not asking for favorable treatment. I just hope for a fair evaluation.”

Seol Ah spoke with a desperate tone, her hands clasped together.

“We’ve prepared diligently. All our employees have given their best. And our food products are delicious. They’re quite popular by word of mouth too.”

Seung Jun stood up from his seat.

“Then you should compete with your skills. Calling out a busy person to this place, what kind of half-hearted apology is this?”

Seol Ah’s brows furrowed.

Half-hearted apology?

The emotions she had tried so hard to suppress were starting to crumble.

“Was my apology not to your liking? Should I get down on my knees?”

As Seol Ah bent her body as if really about to kneel, Seung Jun looked at her with surprised eyes and grabbed her shoulders.

“Didn’t I tell you not to do this just anywhere?”

Seol Ah raised her head.

Secretaries were in a position to take abuse on behalf of others, to be the target of all venting. When Seol Ah was in full service, she had been scolded for unjust reasons.

It was because the other party had misunderstood the appointment time. Seung Jun wasn’t there at that time, and the visitor who came to the office unleashed their rage on Seol Ah.

Towards the other party who was shouting at her to kneel and apologize, Seol Ah really did so. But at that moment, Seung Jun entered.

Seol Ah had never seen Seung Jun so angry before. After driving out the visitor, Seung Jun scolded Seol Ah until she was in tears.

– Don’t bow just anywhere. Not if you don’t want to smear shit on my face.

He was pointing out her attitude as a secretary. It was a reasonable statement, so Seol Ah apologized again with tears.

She felt a bit hurt. He could have said he didn’t like seeing his woman bow to others. But that wasn’t his personality, so Seol Ah swallowed her hurt feelings.

– I can’t tolerate my woman doing that.

But then Seung Jun said that, as if he had read Seol Ah’s mind.

When Seol Ah looked up in surprise, Seung Jun had unexpectedly come close.

His hand gently caressed Seol Ah’s cheek, wiping away her tears.

There were no warm words of comfort, but that alone felt like compensation for everything to Seol Ah.

But now those words were useless. She was no longer his secretary, nor his lover. Whether she bowed her head or not was of no concern to him.

“My apology is sincere. I don’t think it deserves to be dismissed as half-hearted.”

Seol Ah said, standing up straight.

She was no longer his lover, but now she was Yu Min’s mother. As a mother, she needed to face him more confidently and with dignity.

“I just hope that my company won’t suffer because of my mistake. That’s the only thing I’m asking for here.”

At least Yoon Jin’s contract extension shouldn’t be affected because of me.

Seung Jun silently looked at Seol Ah.

With his eyes lowered, he slowly opened his mouth.

“A sincere apology is not what you’re doing now.”

The voice she used to hear when called to be scolded during her time as a secretary. A low and solemn voice, yet with a somewhat frightening aura.

“An apology made out of necessity, fearing disadvantages if not made, is not a true apology.”

Seol Ah’s eyes rose.

So that’s how it was.

An apology out of necessity. An apology made just to try and change the situation. Such an apology couldn’t possibly be sincere.

“Then what should I do?”

Tears welled up in Seol Ah’s eyes.

“In a situation where the company might suffer disadvantages because of me, I can’t just sit idly by.”

“You need to think.”

Seung Jun continued, meeting Seol Ah’s eyes steadily.

“Whether the person who will become the group’s chairman is the kind of petty man who would remember such a small thing and disadvantage a company.”

Seol Ah’s eyes sparkled.

“Then.”

“You were by my side for years, and you don’t know this? I’m not the kind of person who has time to worry about such trivial matters.”

Anyway, it meant he wouldn’t act according to Seol Ah’s predictions.

Seol Ah bowed her head.

“Thank you.”

“And.”

Seung Jun continued, looking at her.

“Then was that apology… just out of necessity? Without any sincerity at all?”

Wondering what this was about, Seol Ah bit her lip.

“You said I ruined my son by raising him, that you were the main culprit in alienating my son. Are you saying that’s right? Are you admitting it?”

Seol Ah’s eyes widened.

He was asking if regretting and apologizing for slapping him meant she was acknowledging those words.

“Violence is wrong for any reason. That’s why I apologized. I do not accept your words, Vice Chairman.”

Seung Jun looked at her speaking firmly and then turned his head.

“I see.”

Seol Ah looked at his profile with tense eyes.

He wouldn’t say he’s going to take Yu Min away again, would he?

She had already been thinking about moving somewhere else. But such things don’t happen quickly, and with his abilities, he would probably find her right away no matter where she ran.

The reason she wasn’t caught 7 years ago was because he didn’t know she had a son. Now that he knows, he’s the kind of person who would follow to the ends of the earth.

Running away might even provoke him more.

“Well, I’m busy so I’ll go first.”

Fortunately, Seung Jun didn’t say anything more about Yu Min and turned around.

Even after hearing the café door close, Seol Ah stood there for a while, drained of energy.

How much she had trembled. Every word and gesture of his felt like it was choking her.

Her mind was tired and dazed, as if she had experienced all the emotions of a year in just one day.

‘Then, will he just let me raise Yu Min?’

Judging by the fact that he didn’t bring it up, did he accept her strongly expressed refusal?

As she was thinking, Seol Ah furrowed her brows.

Seung Jun said he was going on matchmaking meetings.

If he goes on matchmaking meetings, he’ll probably get married.

‘After he gets married.’

At that moment, Seol Ah covered her mouth with her hand in a startling realization.

Perhaps the reason he hasn’t made a move on Yu Min yet is because it’s difficult to reveal having a child in his current situation. But things will change once he’s married.

No matter his age, once he’s married, having a child wouldn’t be seen as a flaw.

That would be the time he could take Yu Min away.

‘No, Yu Min… He absolutely can’t touch him.’

Seol Ah rushed out of the café, but Seung Jun’s whereabouts were nowhere to be found.

*

“Good luck, uncle!”

At that time, Yu Min was in the middle of executing a certain plan with Jin Cheol.

The name of the plan: ‘Dad-Making Project!’

At first, Jin Cheol refused Yu Min’s proposal, saying he couldn’t do it. But the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a good opportunity.

‘That’s right, Yu Min is on my side too. And I’ll soon get a good job.’

Recently, he had submitted an application to JK Foods and even taken the written test. They said they would contact the interview candidates soon, so he was waiting.

JK Foods was known for good employee benefits. Getting in would be a load off his mind.

“Ah, I’m so nervous. Will it be okay?”

“Of course, you look totally awesome.”

Yu Min gave a thumbs up to Jin Cheol in his suit.

“Let’s hurry, mom said she’s coming.”

Yu Min looked at his phone and quickly ushered Jin Cheol inside. A moment later, Seol Ah approached Yu Min.

“Why are you out here alone? Where’s Uncle Jin Cheol?”

Just then, Jin Cheol slowly walked out wearing a suit and holding a bouquet of flowers.

Seol Ah looked at Jin Cheol with surprised eyes.

“Ah, are you going on a date or something?”

At Seol Ah’s question, Jin Cheol scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed face.

“Ah, well, yes.”

“I see. Does the landlady know? Congratulations.”

Seol Ah smiled brightly.

“Ah, yes.”

Watching Jin Cheol just scratching the back of his head, Yu Min punched his arm lightly.

“Ah, Uncle!”

“Why are you doing that? You shouldn’t hit your uncle.”

Seol Ah wrapped her hands around Yu Min’s hand.

“No, that’s not it, Mom, Uncle, why aren’t you saying anything!”

This time, Yu Min pounded his own chest.

“What?”

At Seol Ah’s question, Jin Cheol bowed his head slightly.

“It’s nothing. I’ll be going, Uncle.”

As Jin Cheol turned and walked away, Yu Min let out a deep sigh. Seol Ah just tilted her head, looking back and forth between Yu Min and Jin Cheol.