“Han Bo Mi. Don’t be mistaken. Do you think your uncle is so incompetent that he can’t proceed with what he was planning to do because of the success or failure of your marriage?”

Ga Jin’s words were cruel but true. Yet somehow they sounded like comfort.

“…. But Lady Hwang…”

“Uncle didn’t know about it.”

“What…?”

Could it be that Lady Hwang had lied? Bo Mi felt like the back of her head was ringing.

“By the way, I have something I want to ask you too…”

Ga Jin opened his mouth after confirming that Yeo Reum was distracted by the toy.

“Han Bo Mi. Is Do Jae Kyung really the child’s father?”

Ga Jin was dying of curiosity.

Do Jae Kyung’s child. A child who looks exactly like Do Jae Kyung. Do Jae Kyung who calls himself the child’s father.

If it really was Do Jae Kyung’s child, it would be a scandal that would make Lee Hae Young and Sung Yeon Hee, the two formidable women of Do Won Group, grab him by the neck.

“From what I heard about the kid’s age, Do Jae Kyung was in a vegetative state due to an accident when the kid was conceived…”

Ga Jin stopped mid-sentence and covered his mouth. Huh? Could it be? Is that it?

“Did you perhaps do artificial insemination or something like that because you were worried Do Jae Kyung might die?”

Chairman Do Jun Seok’s family had few descendants for generations. Chairman Do Jun Seok himself was the only son for four generations, and he had almost no relatives except on his mother’s side. Moreover, his wife Lee Hae Young had reached the point where she could not have children after repeated miscarriages.

It was at such a time that Do Won Il, Do Jae Kyung’s father, was born to Chairman Do Jun Seok’s mistress. Do Jae Kyung was Do Won Il’s only child.

He was, in a sense, the only bloodline of the precious Do family.

So wouldn’t they have considered preserving Do Jae Kyung’s genes when he became a vegetative patient?

Ah! That’s too far. Ga Jin snapped out of his imagination and looked down at Bo Mi, who was staring at him with an incredulous face.

“Ha… What nonsense.”

“Right. This can’t be. You and Do Jae Kyung? Sung Yeon Hee wouldn’t leave the kid alone.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a family with few descendants. Even if they don’t accept you, wouldn’t they try to take the child away completely?”

“That won’t happen.”

“No, if it’s true, I’m advising you to be careful not to get caught.”

“Director Do Jae Kyung… is not the child’s father.”

Bo Mi felt relieved that Nak Won was not Jae Kyung.

“I thought so.”

Ga Jin exhaled deeply as if relieved.

“Damn. Do Jae Kyung, that fraud. He’s so full of himself he even lies well. I almost fell for it.”

“The child’s father…”

Bo Mi exhaled a long breath, as if expelling something oppressive from her chest.

“He’s dead.”

“Huh? Uh… uh…”

Ga Jin repeated only “uh” unable to continue his words.

Damn. I shouldn’t have asked and made the atmosphere gloomy. Ga Jin blamed his uncontrollable curiosity.

He hated this kind of thing. It was exactly like this when he first met Bo Mi.

‘Where are your mom and dad? Why did you come to our house?’

‘They passed away.’

The word death coming from the lips of a doll-like beautiful girl was so frightening and sad. The young Ga Jin, not knowing how to avoid the awkward atmosphere, only spat out harsh words.

‘Ha. So you’re an orphan. You must have nowhere to go. From now on, if you don’t listen to me, I’ll kick you out.’

Ga Jin frowned as he recalled his younger self. No matter how much he spoke his mind, such harsh words didn’t come out now that he was an adult.

“Um… So. Ah! Kid, what did you choose? Let’s go pay with uncle!”

Ga Jin ran to Yeo Reum’s side as if escaping.

“What the… He’s the one who asked…”

Bo Mi sighed, stroking the back of her neck. Well, I’m grateful he didn’t ask more.

Yeo Reum was swinging the Gigatron robot’s Mega Sword. That looks dangerous…

Bo Mi moved her feet, intending to snatch it away before Ga Jin paid for it.

She should go take away the Mega Sword and make him choose a picture book instead. As she turned her body, she bumped into a bag.

“Ah. I’m sorry.”

As Bo Mi reached out her hand to check the other person’s condition, she felt a man’s gaze gently grabbing her fingertips. Why? Even though there were so many people passing by…

It felt as if only the two of them existed in this moment.

Do Jae Kyung… Seeing that he was safe, Bo Mi was more than glad.

Perhaps that’s why she didn’t want to push away the warmth touching her hand.

“I’m sorry. Because of me…”

Bo Mi apologized, lowering her head. Her bobbed hair cascaded down.

“If you wanted to get married, you should have told me.”

Jae Kyung tucked her flowing hair behind her ear, as if disappointed that he couldn’t see her face.

A hot sensation brushed Bo Mi’s ear.

“That…”

“Dating, should I have skipped all these steps and proposed?”

“Director Do Jae Kyung!”

It felt like she should say something, but nothing came out except his name.

“I wondered where you were going all dressed up so prettily.”

Bo Mi just moved her lips, unable to continue speaking.

“Only to be making marriage plans with some other guy instead of me.”

Bo Mi took a small breath, inhaling quietly.

“… It doesn’t matter, does it?”

“I’m Yeo Reum’s father, how can it not matter?”

“I’m sorry.”

Bo Mi didn’t have the courage to look at Jae Kyung directly.

“I’ll make sure there are no such misunderstandings with Yeo Reum in the future.”

Jae Kyung’s long fingers, which had overlapped Bo Mi’s hand, tickled between Bo Mi’s fingers as they dug in.

“If you’re going to get married, do it with me.”

“What?”

It felt as if something was flowing through her palm, stirring up Bo Mi.

“What are you saying right now?”

“I’ll be Yeo Reum’s father, so if you want to get married, have a blind date with me and do it with me.”

His dark eyes, full of Bo Mi, shone poignantly. It was clear enough that he wasn’t trying to tease Bo Mi.

How can this person so boldly say he likes me?

Am I too weak for constantly being shaken by him who confronts me so honestly?

The warm breath touching the back of her hand reached her heart and tingled.

She shouldn’t be happy about him saying to do everything with him… She almost wanted to answer yes without even realizing it.

“Director. Thank you for today. As I said before, don’t worry about me or Yeo Reum.”

“Are you rejecting me again?”

Jae Kyung smiled bitterly with a regretful expression.

“… I’m sorry.”

“Tell me. You didn’t really come here intending to marry that man, did you?”

“…”

Bo Mi bit her lip as if hesitating to answer.

“I owe a lot to CEO Hwang Min Jun. So I wanted to be of help to him…”

“You’re loyal, Ms. Han Bo Mi.”

“…”

“So you were thinking of marrying that man for such a reason?”

“… I was planning to refuse.”

Bo Mi, recalling the fact that she had received help from Jae Kyung, couldn’t answer harshly anymore.

“That person is Assemblyman Shim’s son, are you okay, Jae Kyung? If he really sues you for what happened earlier…”

Bo Mi shuddered slightly, recalling the terrifying scene from earlier. She was upset that Jae Kyung might suffer because of her.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course I’m worried. It’s not right if you get in trouble because of me…”

“I don’t mind.”

Jae Kyung smiled faintly as he released his hand that had overlapped Bo Mi’s.

“Then I’ll have to meddle more in the future.”

Bo Mi’s eyes widened.

“Ah… No. That’s not what I meant. I hope we don’t interfere with each other beyond our work relationship.”

This man, if even a small gap appears, he comes in without letting you breathe and makes a mess of everything. The place he passes through becomes so full of Do Jae Kyung that it becomes burdensome to push him away.

“Please. It’s too burdensome and difficult for me.”

A man who looks exactly like the man she loved.

Falling in love with Jae Kyung would be an act of guilt towards both Nak Won and Jae Kyung.

She couldn’t hurt or be hurt anymore. Moreover, Bo Mi hadn’t forgotten whose daughter she was.

“Why am I a burden to you and why can’t it be me?”

“Jae Kyung, you can meet someone else good even if it’s not me.”

“You’re cruel, Ms. Han Bo Mi.”

As Jae Kyung’s eyes drooped as if hurt, Bo Mi’s heart ached too. It was an expression that really didn’t suit the always confident Do Jae Kyung.

Every time Jae Kyung crashed into her with all his might, it became harder and harder to refuse. Even knowing he wasn’t Nak Won, it was difficult to stop her heart from flowing towards Jae Kyung.

Even Han Bo Mi, who was dull about anything other than development work, wasn’t stupid enough to not understand her own feelings properly.

That’s why she had to refuse even more.

For fear that this feeling might deepen and she might end up clinging to him. Because it might be Bo Mi again who faces the pain of being left alone at the end of love.

“Daddy! Mommy!”

Yeo Reum was running vigorously towards the two of them, holding the Mega Sword.

My precious Yeo Reum that Nak Won left behind. Yes. Mom only needs Yeo Reum.

She repeated to herself that she could pretend the feeling like a spring sprout breaking through the frozen winter ground inside her didn’t exist.

[This is the timeline separator]

While the beta version of the application was in full development, Bo Mi and Su Young were also busy preparing for the presentation. The Paradisus Project augmented reality team was scheduled to present on the metaverse application of the large-scale Hwang Do Resort and Do Won Outlet newly built in Nasan City at the expo.

It was also promoting Hwang Do Resort and Do Won Outlet, and it was a good chance for Narae Creative to showcase their technological capabilities.

“I should be doing this kind of presentation… I want to show off my new clothes too.”

Ga Young said in a voice full of discontent as she flipped through the presentation slides.

By unanimous vote of the team members, CEO Han Bo Mi became the presenter. Ga Young was originally excluded due to her low understanding of augmented reality, but she even put it to a vote, saying who else would present if she, the team leader, didn’t.

“Ugh… Really, nothing works out because of that wench.”

Mom was scolded so much by uncle that she said she would stay out of Bo Mi’s affairs for a while and just prepare for the engagement. Ga Jin oppa somehow wasn’t as enthusiastic about tormenting Han Bo Mi as before.

Ga Young was irritated by this situation where her collaborators were leaving one by one.

The only fortunate thing was the relationship between Han Bo Mi and Do Jae Kyung these days.

According to the informants planted around, there seemed to be no significant contact between them outside of work. The two who don’t even make eye contact in the company, looking more awkward than before.

Do Jae Kyung must have gotten tired of Han Bo Mi too.

It’s just like suddenly craving street tteokbokki after eating only Grade 1 Korean beef steak.

Soon, Do Jae Kyung will only look at Yeon Ga Young. To make that happen, she needs to go to the presentation.

Ga Young thought that presenting at the expo was the way to stand out more than Bo Mi.

Bo Mi sighed as she looked at the content that came into the company messenger.

[Please bring the Nasan City Paradisus Project presentation materials directly to the Director’s office, CEO Han Bo Mi.]

Her heart sank at the message from the Director’s office.

After meeting up with Ga Jin and Yeo Reum in the hotel lobby that day, she couldn’t talk to Jae Kyung anymore.

After parting in an awkward atmosphere, she was afraid to meet Jae Kyung at the company.

Bo Mi couldn’t speak to him because Jae Kyung’s attitude at the company was unprecedentedly cold.

When did he shake a person’s mind so much, saying he liked Bo Mi…

She was inexplicably disappointed by his attitude of being nothing more or less than a company representative, as Bo Mi had asked.

She wasn’t comfortable even at home. This was because Yeo Reum was angry with Bo Mi in his own way.