“Mom. Is this Mom’s friend?”

“No. Mom’s friend.”

“The mister also said he’s not a friend……”

It seems they really fought a lot. Yeo Reum’s expression became gloomy.

I wish Mom and Dad got along well……

“We’re not friends, but we’re going to become closer than friends.”

Jae Kyung stood next to Bo Mi and bent down to meet Yeo Reum’s gaze.

“If you’re closer than friends, does that mean you’re very close?”

“We’ll become the closest.”

“Director!”

As Bo Mi reached out to cover Jae Kyung’s mouth, he grabbed her hand. Yeo Reum raised his hand happily. It’s fortunate they’re holding hands and becoming the closest.

Bo Mi shook off Jae Kyung’s hand, her face turning bright red.

“It seems Yeo Reum wants us to get along well.”

“Director!”

Bo Mi fidgeted with the back of her hand where Jae Kyung had touched, wondering if she should get angry or not. Yeo Reum was staring at Bo Mi with big eyes.

Not wanting to show a bad side in front of the child, Bo Mi swallowed the words she wanted to say to Jae Kyung.

“Elder sister!”

Mi Rae called out to Bo Mi as she opened the convenience store door with a refreshed face, freed from pain.

“Mi Rae. Did you leave the child alone again?”

“No. Your friend said he’d watch him. I really had to go……”

Mi Rae lowered her eyes, making the most pitiful expression possible.

“What if it wasn’t my friend……”

“I properly got his business card, and Yeo Reum seemed to know him.”

“Yeo Reum?”

Had he met Do Jae Kyung before? Or was it some misunderstanding?

“It’s not aunt’s fault. I said I didn’t want to eat ice cream in the bathroom so I wouldn’t go with her. The mister said he’d stay with me……”

Yeo Reum desperately defended Mi Rae while hugging her legs.

“Haa….. Mi Rae, be really careful. I might cut off your allowance.”

“Okay….. Elder sister. I’ll really be careful next time. I’ll take Yeo Reum to the bathroom no matter what he eats.”

“Ugh…… No.”

Yeo Reum covered his nose with his finger and shook his head.

“Yeo Reum. Please save your aunt. Okay?”

Next time I should carry some antidiarrheal medicine…… Mi Rae sighed as she rubbed her stomach.

“Phew….. So aunt. Did you feel better?”

“Yes, yes. Thanks to Yeo Reum, I feel much lighter now.”

Mi Rae hugged Yeo Reum tightly and rubbed her cheek against him. Yeo Reum giggled as if ticklish. Bo Mi noticed Jae Kyung’s gaze directed at her and thought she should send the two of them away. She couldn’t let Jae Kyung into her life.

“Thank you for staying with the child. I apologize for earlier. I was flustered.”

Bo Mi apologized to Jae Kyung as she greeted him. Sitting on a cheap plastic chair under the parasol of the neighborhood convenience store, Jae Kyung looked so out of place that she couldn’t have imagined it was him just from his back view.

“Director, what brings you here?”

“I had something to check.”

“Is it work-related?”

“No. Rather……”

Jae Kyung approached Bo Mi and gazed at her with gentle eyes. Bo Mi pressed her lips together, trying to hide her agitation.

“I should come see the person I want to see.”

Bo Mi was startled by Jae Kyung’s words and looked around. Mi Rae was gulping down cola, and Yeo Reum was crouched under the table as if looking for something.

They probably didn’t hear…..

“I came because I wanted to see you, Bo Mi.”

“Why me?”

‘To me, Bo Mi, you look like a woman.’

Why was that phrase coming to mind now? More than that, she was bothered by how close Jae Kyung was. Bo Mi avoided his gaze and met Mi Rae’s eyes.

With sparkling eyes, Mi Rae’s lips seemed to be saying “Daebak!”

I was wrong. It seems Mi Rae has already misunderstood….. Sending this man away quickly was the best Bo Mi could do.

“Um….. I should go back soon because of the child. I don’t know why you came, but please go back.”

“I’m sorry for coming suddenly.”

Bo Mi felt guilty at Jae Kyung’s apology. Was I too harsh?

No, Han Bo Mi. You need to be tough. She thought she was swayed by the man because his face resembled Paradise. Do Jae Kyung, a man with a personality so different from Won, kept bothering her.

He was squeezing into the small crevices of her heart, erasing Won’s existence.

Even though he wasn’t Won, whenever she stood before him, that flutter from back then kept reviving.

This can’t happen, a red alert was ringing in Bo Mi’s head.

“If it’s work-related, I’ll listen at the company.”

“It’s a personal matter.”

“If it’s personal, all the more…. I have no reason to see you outside of work, Director.”

“That’s too much. To someone who waited because they wanted to see you.”

“What!”

Bo Mi’s heart seemed to make a thump sound, enchanted by just one word.

“Wasn’t I your lover, Bo Mi?”

Bo Mi’s face turned bright red.

‘You are my lover…..’

Bo Mi exhaled deeply and curled the corners of her lips.

“I told you it was a misunderstanding. Please don’t talk about that anymore.”

“I was quite……”

Bo Mi’s short hair swayed in the night breeze, tickling her reddening skin.

“Excited by those words.”

This might mean nothing to him….. Bo Mi fidgeted and avoided Jae Kyung’s gaze. Her heartbeat grew louder, as if agreeing with Jae Kyung’s words.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry. After playing with someone’s feelings.”

“It’s not like that!”

Bo Mi shook her head in denial.

“I was grateful that day. I’ll repay you for your help.”

“Alright. Then.”

“Pardon?”

“Consider it repaying the favor, give me some time.”

This man seemed to know no giving up.

“I’m sorry. My family is waiting today, so I’ll be going.”

Bo Mi gripped her bag tightly and turned around.

“Mi Rae, Yeo Reum. Let’s go home.”

“Yeo Reum.”

As soon as Bo Mi finished speaking, Jae Kyung called out to Yeo Reum. Jae Kyung’s voice calling Yeo Reum sounded like a gentle breeze rising.

‘My spring.’

Paradise’s voice echoed in Bo Mi’s heart.

“Mister. What is it?”

“Is it okay if I talk with your mom for a moment?”

“Of course. Please talk a lot, you two. I’ll take Yeo Reum with me.”

Mi Rae cut in while watching Bo Mi’s reaction. He’s so handsome, and looking at his clothes, he seems quite rich….. Look at that watch. If it’s genuine, isn’t it worth tens of millions of won?

Moreover, his face resembles Paradise quite a bit, which was clearly Bo Mi’s type. If she’s hesitating because of Yeo Reum, this little sister should definitely give a push.

“Mi Rae!”

“Elder sister! You can’t just send a guest away. Have a good time, you two.”

Thanks to Jae Kyung, she had safely used the bathroom, so he had already scored high points with her.

“Mister. I…… Give me a card like you gave aunt too.”

“Card?”

As Yeo Reum drew a rectangle with his finger, Jae Kyung smiled and took out a business card.

“Doo Woon Groo-up Doo Jae Kyung.”

Yeo Reum read haltingly, pointing with his finger, and smiled brightly.

“Good. I’ll entrust mom to you with peace of mind.”

He bowed his head slightly and waved to Bo Mi.

“Then mom, see you later!”

“Uh…. Uh…. Yeo Reum. I’ll be right there.”

Are they really both just leaving like this?

Bo Mi stood there with a bewildered expression, awkwardly waving to Yeo Reum.

“Aunt….. That mister. I think he’s our dad.”

Yeo Reum whispered, holding Mi Rae’s hand tightly.

“Huh?”

Mi Rae thought Jae Kyung resembled Paradise too, but to think Yeo Reum would mistake him to this extent.

Mi Rae was in middle school when Paradise was alive. She had met him when Paradise stayed at Winter’s house, but Mi Rae only remembered him as a handsome brother-in-law.

But Paradise was dead.

‘It was an accident. How scary it was….. When we arrived at the hospital, his real family was already there saying he was missing.’

‘Oh. Then did mom hear his real name too? Shouldn’t you tell elder sister?’

‘Oh my….. It’s a severed relationship now. What if they think we deliberately hid a missing person? Besides, he’s already dead, what good would it do to find out now?’

Winter said coldly as she got up from her seat.

‘Don’t you talk nonsense either. Paradise is dead.’

Paradise Village didn’t even have a clinic within a 30-40 minute drive. When Bo Mi became pregnant, Paradise and Bo Mi would stay in Garam City for check-ups.

Winter was against Bo Mi marrying a man who seemed to have nothing but a decent appearance, but she couldn’t do anything about Bo Mi who was already pregnant. Moreover, as Paradise diligently helped with housework, Winter seemed to be gradually accepting him.

The two got along well enough to go to Seoul together. Paradise died in an accident on that trip to Seoul. It was a fact that Mi Rae had confirmed herself to her mother Winter.

There’s no way he could be alive. Do Jae Kyung was just someone who looked similar.

If he had been her brother-in-law, he wouldn’t act like a stranger to her sister and Yeo Reum.

“Yeo Reum’s dad is in heaven. It’s someone else.”

“Aunt……”

Yeo Reum made a serious expression and beckoned with his hand to come closer. Mi Rae bent down to meet Yeo Reum’s eye level.

“This is a secret….. The mister lives up there.”

Yeo Reum pointed his finger at the dark sky. Mi Rae blankly looked up at the sky where even the moon wasn’t visible.

Really? Could he be a ghost or something? What nonsense am I thinking…..

“Yeah…. It would be nice if our Yeo Reum got a dad.”

A real, living dad. Mi Rae muttered while hugging Yeo Reum tightly. Compared to her brother-in-law whose identity was unknown and couldn’t even register their marriage, Do Jae Kyung seemed to have a proper social status. That man seemed like he would protect and look after the naive Bo Mi who was easily deceived and had no interest outside of work.

It would be nice if our elder sister could find a decent partner too….. Like Do Won Group’s Director Do Jae Kyung.

Mi Rae and Yeo Reum swung their tightly held hands as they entered the apartment entrance.

The walking path in the park in front of the apartment was quite busy with people jogging late at night and walking their dogs. The early summer night breeze pleasantly caressed between the two people.

Bo Mi wasn’t entirely comfortable with this situation. She had intended to send him away, but now she was walking in the park with Do Jae Kyung, which felt extremely awkward.

The moment she saw young couples kissing on benches, Bo Mi couldn’t find a place to rest her eyes. When her gaze landed on Jae Kyung’s tightly closed lips, she lowered her head as if embarrassed.

Why isn’t he saying anything? This is so awkward…..

“Um….. If you have nothing to say, I’ll go back.”

“Do you dislike being with me that much?”

“…… It’s uncomfortable.”

Jae Kyung found Bo Mi’s answer bitter. Usually, he didn’t hold back words he wanted to say, but now it wasn’t easy to say a word to Bo Mi. It felt suffocating, as if his throat was blocked.

“It seems word went around at the company today that you have a child.”

“…… As you saw, that’s true. The Narae Creative employees knew, and I had no intention of hiding it.”

Bo Mi had expected Jae Kyung would find out since Ga Young had spoken in front of the employees.

Bo Mi had never voluntarily talked about it, but she had never once been ashamed of Yeo Reum’s existence because she was a single mother.

“Who is the child’s father?”

Bo Mi stopped in her tracks, seemingly flustered by Jae Kyung’s direct question.