Jae Kyung frowned, knowing the owner of the voice calling his name.

Yeon Ga Jin.

That rascal from Hwang Construction. The guy who tires out Do Won Group with cleaning up after his every mishap.

Jae Kyung pretended not to hear, not even giving Ga Jin a glance. At that moment, the elevator opened and Jae Kyung’s gaze locked onto a woman springing out like a coiled spring.

A woman impossible to ignore even if he tried.

Seeing her run without hesitation towards Ga Jin, it felt like a hot flame was rising within Jae Kyung.

CEO Han Bo Mi. Last time she fled at the sight of Yeon Ga Jin’s yellow sports car, but today she’s running madly as if meeting a long-lost loved one… What’s going on?

Jae Kyung felt upset, as if he’d been used in their love game.

No, is this something to be so angry about?

Jae Kyung was bewildered by the emotion stirring within him since last night.

Hidden behind people, only their faces were visible. Jae Kyung was bothered by their conversation.

As if he were jealous.

“Jae Kyung.”

Sung Yeon Hee blocked Jae Kyung’s view along with her bodyguards.

“Do Jae Kyung.”

Jae Kyung frowned for a moment.

“Yes, Mother.”

He felt the urge to confirm Bo Mi’s relationship with Ga Jin, but Yeon Hee took priority now.

‘Mr. Won Il.’

The reason this bothers him so much is because of her teary eyes when she looked at Jae Kyung.

“Jae Kyung. Your grandmother wants to see you for a moment. Do you have time now?”

“I’ll go right away.”

CEO Han Bo Mi. A woman he’d never see again once work is done anyway…

Don’t mind her.

She’s just the CEO of a partner company. His usually razor-sharp mental boundaries blur only in front of that woman.

The sensation of her in his arms last night still tingles his palms as if stuck there.

Even if it was an unavoidable situation, Jae Kyung felt no hesitation in holding her. To even feel a sense of longing, he must be out of his mind.

Get a grip, Do Jae Kyung.

Jae Kyung composed his expression. As if he hadn’t seen anything. As if he felt nothing.

[This is the timeline separator]

They say a mother can recognize her child just by the back of their head.

Bo Mi didn’t know she had such an ability. Bo Mi spotted Ga Jin the moment the elevator doors opened. Or more accurately, Yeo Reum dangling from Ga Jin’s arm caught her eye.

Yeo Reum!

Bo Mi ran towards Ga Jin as if blind to everything else around her.

That the person with Yeo Reum was Ga Jin no longer mattered.

When Bo Mi ran towards him, Ga Jin welcomed her with an expression as if in a dream. His earlier thoughts of teasing Jae Kyung became irrelevant.

Ga Jin spread one arm, preparing to embrace Bo Mi.

So you finally recognize your elder brother’s true worth.

Ga Jin smiled contentedly.

“Yeo Reum!”

“Mom!”

Yeo Reum called out to Bo Mi, wriggling his hands. At Yeo Reum’s voice, Bo Mi finally felt like she could breathe.

“Yeo Reum! Where on earth did you go alone… I was worried.”

“I got lost…”

Yeo Reum stretched out his arms with a tearful face.

“Waaah. Mom. I was scared.”

Bo Mi snatched Yeo Reum from Ga Jin’s dazed arms and hugged him tightly.

“It’s okay now. Mom’s here.”

Ga Jin quickly grabbed Yeo Reum’s legs as they slipped from his arms.

Wait! What’s going on here?

Ga Jin looked back and forth between Yeo Reum and Bo Mi with surprised eyes.

Mo…m?

Did he just say mom?

Han Bo Mi is a mom?

Ga Jin wore a dumbfounded expression at this unbelievable truth.

Six years ago when Bo Mi disappeared, Ga Jin was exiled to an overseas construction site.

There had been an uproar when it was discovered he had accepted bribes from subcontractors in Korea to approve substandard materials.

Madam Hwang had begged and pleaded with Min Jun to get lenient treatment, which resulted in the overseas construction site assignment. It was two years ago when he returned after his 4-year exile ended.

To think Han Bo Mi had a child. Why does Han Bo Mi’s son call Do Jae Kyung dad?

“Hey! Is this your kid?”

Ga Jin couldn’t understand the current situation.

When did Do Jae Kyung and Han Bo Mi become that kind of relationship!

There’s no connection between them at all. Then whose child is this?

His face is Do Jae Kyung’s, but his mom is Han Bo Mi.

Ga Jin stared intently at Bo Mi.

Though she looked somewhat disheveled from rushing out, Bo Mi still looked pretty to Ga Jin as she glared at him with pursed lips while holding the child.

Ha. Which bastard stole her from me?

“Elder brother Ga Jin. Let go of the child’s leg.”

“Mister, I want to go to my mom.”

Bo Mi finally noticed the situation of Ga Jin being with her child. Yeon Ga Jin. Recalling the insufferable Yeon siblings who had tormented her since childhood made her skin crawl.

“Answer me. Han Bo Mi. Is this your kid?”

Ga Jin demanded, still gripping Yeo Reum’s chubby calf.

“He’s my child.”

“Who… Who’s the father?”

“…”

Bo Mi kept her mouth shut at the unnecessary question. She knew Ga Jin’s persistent and twisted personality well. Not wanting to give Ga Jin any opening by revealing the child had no father, she tried to ignore him.

“Hey. I’m not letting go until you answer.”

“It’s someone you don’t need to know about, elder brother.”

“Are you married?”

Ga Jin’s voice trembled as he asked. If she was married, it wouldn’t be to Do Jae Kyung. His mind was in turmoil at this suddenly learned fact.

“Uh…”

Though they couldn’t legally marry, Bo Mi and Won Il had held their own wedding ceremony.

“Who the hell is it? Huh? You said you had no plans to marry!”

“I don’t know why you were with my child, but thank you for protecting him. I came from work, so I’ll see you next time.”

“Hey! How could you do this to me?”

Bo Mi wore a fierce expression as she removed Ga Jin’s hand.

“Elder brother Ga Jin. Did you forget CEO Hwang Min Jun told you not to hover around me?”

“Ha! How many years ago was that?”

“Some things don’t disappear just because time has passed. Anyway, thanks for finding our child. Let me know if you need separate compensation.”

“Hey! Hey! Han Bo Mi.”

Ga Jin grabbed Bo Mi as she tried to turn away.

“Give me your contact info before you go.”

Bo Mi glared at Ga Jin and said coldly.

“I’ll let Yeon Ga Young know. Satisfied?”

Yeo Reum, who had been burying his face in his mother’s shoulder leaving tear and snot stains, raised his head to look at Ga Jin.

“Mister, but what about our dad?”

“Do Jae Kyung was just over there earlier.”

Bo Mi turned in surprise at Ga Jin’s words. She looked around to see if anyone had heard.

“What are you talking about? Why would Director Do Jae Kyung be here?”

“Your kid was saying Director Do Jae Kyung is his dad.”

There’s no way Yeo Reum would know Do Jae Kyung… Saying Do Jae Kyung is dad. What on earth is going on?

“Yeo Reum, where did you hear the name Do Jae Kyung?”

“Mom’s company name. Do Won Group’s Director Do Jae Kyung, right? I said it 100 times so Yeo Reum wouldn’t forget.”

Yeo Reum raised his head slightly from Bo Mi’s shoulder and said with a proud face.

“What is this about?”

Bo Mi couldn’t understand Yeo Reum’s words. It seems he misunderstood the company name, but where did he pick up the name Director Do Jae Kyung?

“Hey. You definitely said Director Do Jae Kyung is dad!”

As Ga Jin tried to grab the back of Yeo Reum’s neck in indignation, Bo Mi glared as she moved away.

“Ah, this is driving me crazy. Who’s the kid’s dad?”

“I don’t know.”

Yeo Reum shook his head and buried it in Bo Mi’s shoulder again.

“It’s not him. Don’t say things like that anywhere else.”

“It can’t be. Do Jae Kyung isn’t married.”

Ga Jin was relieved to confirm from Bo Mi that her partner wasn’t Jae Kyung. If it had been another woman, this would have been a good opportunity to find Jae Kyung’s weakness, but with Bo Mi it was different.

Rather than lose Bo Mi, whom he had just met again, to Jae Kyung, it was better that she was married to another man.

“But… Why does the kid look exactly like Do Jae Kyung?”

“… My husband…”

Bo Mi started to say her husband looked identical to Do Jae Kyung, but not wanting to give Ga Jin any information, she shut her mouth.

“Ha… I met Director Do Jae Kyung for the first time during this project, so don’t make any strange misunderstandings.”

“I’m just asking. Introduce me to your husband. We’re like family who lived together.”

Bo Mi pretended not to hear Ga Jin’s words and started walking with Yeo Reum in her arms. She needed to meet Mi Rae, who must be worried.

“Hey! Han Bo Mi!”

Ga Jin called out, but instead of Bo Mi answering, Yeo Reum waved at Ga Jin.

Ga Jin unconsciously waved back, and Yeo Reum smiled brightly.

The kid’s pretty cute, must take after Han Bo Mi.

Ga Jin’s lips curled up too.

Han Bo Mi said she had a husband, but then why doesn’t the kid know his own dad?

Clumsy. She clearly doesn’t have a husband.

“Is she an unwed mother? Did she divorce before having the kid? If the kid doesn’t even know his dad’s name properly, it means he’s never met him. Which bastard played with her and abandoned her? Damn, I should’ve asked more.”

Ga Jin regretted not questioning her properly because he was too shocked.

If there’s no husband, doesn’t that mean I still have a chance?

Ga Jin walked towards his car, laughing out loud as if in a good mood.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Unni! I’m sorry. I’ve committed a mortal sin!”

Mi Rae had never resented her sensitive stomach so much. Mi Rae, who had been wailing loudly while hugging Yeo Reum, seemed to come to her senses and apologized deeply to Bo Mi.

“Yeo Reum! Didn’t auntie tell you to wait and not go anywhere alone?”

“I’m sorry.”

Yeo Reum put his hands above his navel and bowed deeply at the waist.

Mi Rae hugged Yeo Reum again and sobbed, swaying side to side.

“Waaah. Yeo Reum. You can’t leave auntie’s side!”

“Auntie. Yeo Reum did wrong. So don’t cry.”

Yeo Reum buried his face as he patted Mi Rae’s back with his small hand.

“Yeo Reum. Why did you go out alone?”

“Mom’s workplace was on TV. So… I thought Mom would be happy if I found it by myself.”

He had imagined the ending where Bo Mi would hug him saying ‘Our Yeo Reum has grown up!’

“Yeo Reum…”

“I missed you so much, Mom. I’m sorry.”

Large tears welled up in Yeo Reum’s big eyes again. Bo Mi’s eyes stung with heat and her throat choked up too.

Just having him back in her arms, she didn’t even have the energy to scold Yeo Reum. But as a mother, she had to say this clearly.

Bo Mi held Yeo Reum’s shoulders and looked him in the eye with a serious and stern expression.

“Han Yeo Reum. When you go somewhere, you must tell an adult and go together. If you had gotten lost today, you might never have been able to meet Mom again.”

“At Grandma’s house it was okay to go out alone…”

“Yeo Reum.”

Bo Mi felt troubled, feeling it was all her fault. If she were in an environment where she could be with Yeo Reum, she would have taught him these things better…

“I’m sorry.”

“… Unni. Didn’t you come out while working? Are you okay?”

Mi Rae looked at her watch, worried about Bo Mi.

“Ha. I want to be with Yeo Reum, but I have an important task left now…”

“Mom. Have a good day at work. I’ll listen well to Aunt Mi Rae.”

“Mom will work and come back, so wait with Aunt Mi Rae. I’ll buy delicious chicken for dinner. Okay?”

“Wow! Chicken.”

Yeo Reum nodded with a bright smile, as if he had never cried.

“Unni. Yeo Reum and I will guard the house well, so don’t worry and go. I really won’t make a mistake this time.”

“Okay, I’m counting on you.”

Bo Mi’s steps were heavy as she left the two behind, still worried.

She recalled bumping into Ga Young while rushing out frantically at the news of Yeo Reum’s disappearance. She had a feeling the rest of the day would not be peaceful.

“CEO Han Bo Mi! We need to talk.”

Returning to the office, Ga Young was waiting with fire in her eyes.