“I’ll explain.”

Bo Mi was desperate not to be misunderstood by Jae Kyung.

“Mi Rae called Su Young, and it seems Ga Jin accidentally met Yeo Reum and invited him. So…”

“So?”

Jae Kyung didn’t dislike seeing Bo Mi, who always drew a cold line, flustered and trying to explain.

“The only person I invited was you, Jae Kyung.”

“I was jealous.”

Jae Kyung gently curved his eyes as he looked at Bo Mi’s white nape, which was turning redder.

“… Your jealousy is a bit…”

Bo Mi lightly licked the corner of her lips. Jae Kyung swallowed, unable to take his eyes off Bo Mi.

“I think I’m happy about it.”

Jae Kyung’s heart began to beat rapidly. Did he hear that right?

“Bo Mi.”

Jae Kyung lowered his head and moved closer to Bo Mi.

“I kept my promise, so you keep yours too.”

As Jae Kyung’s breath reached her ear, Bo Mi felt her heartbeat grow louder.

A hand suddenly thrust through the hot air blossoming between Jae Kyung and Bo Mi.

“Too close! Way too close.”

“Elder brother Ga Jin.”

Ga Jin’s hand, which had wedged between the two, moved up and down vigorously.

“Do Jae Kyung. What about Yeon Ga Young? Why are you here?”

Ga Jin deliberately brought up Ga Young, as if trying to wake Bo Mi to reality. Jae Kyung tried to follow Bo Mi’s quickened pace while watching her expression.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Ga Jin pulled on Jae Kyung’s arm.

“I’m about to become your elder brother-in-law. I need to hear why you’re here flirting with another woman instead of my sister.”

“How vulgar.”

Jae Kyung glared at Ga Jin as he shook off his arm. The siblings are equally persistent.

Jae Kyung worried that the improved atmosphere might have been ruined because of Ga Jin.

From Bo Mi’s perspective, a man with ongoing marriage talks would be unpleasant.

Even if it was a marriage necessary for the Do Won Group, Jae Kyung had no intention of proceeding with the marriage to Yeon Ga Young. That’s why he felt righteous in front of Bo Mi.

On the other hand, Yeon Ga Young was acting as Jae Kyung’s fiancée both inside and outside the company to somehow make the marriage happen.

The engagement wasn’t progressing not only because of Jae Kyung’s uncooperative attitude, but also because Sung Yeon Hee didn’t approve of Ga Young as Jae Kyung’s match.

Although she had lived with the sole purpose of making her son the successor to avenge the world after her husband’s death, Ga Young was too inadequate as Jae Kyung’s partner.

“If you mean your sister, she’s probably on a garden tour with Kim the butler and the chairman’s residence.”

“Wow… You cold bastard. You ended up ostracizing that cute girl who only cares about you? You’re something else.”

Ga Jin sarcastically guarded Bo Mi, preventing Jae Kyung from approaching her.

Annoying guy.

Jae Kyung had been avoiding Lee Hae Young’s persistent invitations to breakfast for days. When Hae Young’s people invaded his house at dawn, he had no choice but to follow along.

In the dining room of Chairman Do Jun Seok’s mansion, Lee Hae Young, Madam Hwang, Yeon Ga Young, and his mother Sung Yeon Hee were waiting. Thinking of Bo Mi, Jae Kyung felt bitter throughout breakfast.

‘I have a schedule, so I’ll be leaving now.’

As Jae Kyung, who had barely eaten, stood up saying he had business to attend to, Hae Young stopped him.

‘Since Ga Young wants a tour of the mansion, you should guide her, Jae Kyung.’

‘Elder brother Jae Kyung. We’ve never spent proper time together. We should get very close before the wedding.’

Ga Young tried to link arms with Jae Kyung while speaking nasally, but Jae Kyung stepped back.

He frowned, feeling a headache coming from the strong perfume smell.

‘The child is shy too. Our Jae Kyung has never caused trouble with women. He’s quite inexperienced in that area.’

Hae Young said to Madam Hwang with a smile.

‘Oh my. They look so good together, reliable and well-matched.’

Breaking the adults’ pleased conversation, Jae Kyung received his jacket from the maid.

‘I apologize. I have an important appointment, so I’ll be leaving now.’

‘Do Jae Kyung. We’ve finally made time for a family meal, cancel your urgent business. It’s not difficult to give a tour of the mansion, is it?’

Hae Young glared at Jae Kyung with sharp eyes while wiping her mouth with a napkin.

‘It’s been over 20 years since I lived in this mansion, so I don’t remember it well.’

‘Do Jae Kyung!’

Hae Young’s forehead throbbed at the words criticizing her for driving out Sung Yeon Hee and Do Jae Kyung after Do Won Il’s death.

‘Grandmother. If you want to live long, don’t get angry in the morning. I’ll be going now.’

‘Elder brother Jae Kyung. Don’t go.’

‘Please ask Butler Kim for the mansion tour.’

‘Do Jae Kyung. Stop right there!’

Hae Young angrily called out to stop Jae Kyung, but he ignored her and left the dining room.

‘Elder brother Jae Kyung. Your important appointment today isn’t acting as Han Bo Mi’s child’s father, is it?’

Ga Young ran out into the hallway and questioned Jae Kyung accusingly. On the evening of the expo, she had witnessed Jae Kyung and Bo Mi together in an empty booth after the clean-up was finished.

She was appalled to see that fox-like Han Bo Mi asking someone else’s fiancé to play the role of her child’s father. She couldn’t believe Jae Kyung was going to do it again.

She knew Bo Mi was shameless, but to think she’d use even a child to do all sorts of things.

‘I’ll tell mother everything.’

Jae Kyung turned his back on Ga Young’s desperate cry.

Jae Kyung shuddered at the mere thought of Ga Young’s face.

Ga Jin swallowed his disappointment at Jae Kyung’s expression of disgust just from mentioning Ga Young’s name. Yeon Ga Young, you seem far off.

“Move.”

As Jae Kyung tried to push past Ga Jin and walk away, Ga Jin grabbed Jae Kyung’s shoulder.

“How are you going to get married if you treat your fiancée like that? Ugh.”

Jae Kyung elbowed Ga Jin in the stomach and broke free.

“Yeon Ga Jin. I’m not engaged to your sister.”

Jae Kyung made his stance clear.

“You think that’s up to you? You’re not some naive kid.”

Ga Jin straightened up, rubbing his stomach where he had been hit. How unseemly in front of Bo Mi.

“I’ll make it happen.”

Jae Kyung left Ga Jin behind and strode towards Bo Mi.

“Bo Mi.”

Bo Mi swallowed and turned around, quickly caught up by Jae Kyung despite her fast pace.

Ha. Damn it. There’s already something between them. Yeon Ga Young, you’re done for.

Ga Jin sighed deeply as he watched Bo Mi quietly comply even though her wrist was grabbed.

Cheerful music played along with an announcement.

“Hello, Mureung Daycare friends and families. We’re glad to hold the Happy Day with Daddy event with you all under the clear autumn sky where the heat has subsided. Next up are the adorable Peach Class friends.”

Ta-da-da-dan!

The Peach Class children lined up and walked out, dancing to the music.

“The little one’s doing well!”

Ga Jin called out to Yeo Reum in a loud voice. Yeo Reum raised his fingers slightly with a smile.

Bo Mi’s eyes welled up with tears, her heart swelling as she watched Yeo Reum dancing enthusiastically to the music.

Nak Won. Our Yeo Reum has grown so much.

She habitually started to speak to Nak Won, but became confused by Jae Kyung’s presence beside her.

She felt sorry for thinking of Nak Won while Jae Kyung was next to her. When she had called him to stand in for Nak Won, Bo Mi had her own resolve.

Unlike Nak Won who hesitated to start a relationship, Jae Kyung was unrestrained in expressing his feelings from the day he showed interest in Bo Mi. He cruelly shook Bo Mi, who tried to push him away, lifting her up and putting her down.

He knocked on Bo Mi’s heart, trapped in a hard shell and afraid to open up to emotions, again and again.

She had to admit it. Nak Won was no longer in this world.

As her feelings for Jae Kyung became clearer, Nak Won’s presence faded.

Bo Mi’s once solid walls were gradually crumbling.

‘Unnie, if you’re not thinking of remarrying because you’re worried about Yeo Reum anyway, it’s okay to just date. You’re still so young and pretty.’

Mi Rae had said that once.

Just dating… She had no greed to think that she, a single mother, and Jae Kyung, a chaebol heir, could work out.

She just wanted to cherish this feeling now.

The biggest obstacle to accepting Jae Kyung now wasn’t Nak Won, but Bo Mi’s mother, Han Ga Eul. If it was just dating, could she hide her mother’s existence from Jae Kyung?

Bo Mi glanced at Jae Kyung.

His dark eyes on his handsome face were shining towards Yeo Reum.

Yeo Reum looked this way and smiled, his dimples deeply etched.

Bo Mi’s heart swelled, wishing she could preserve this scene forever.

The children started spinning in a circle. Min Hyung, standing next to Yeo Reum, bumped into him, tilting his large body. Yeo Reum, smaller than his peers, staggered.

“Ah shit! That! Fatty!”

Ga Jin shouted, jumping up from his seat. Jae Kyung and Su Young also stood up.

Bo Mi pulled Ga Jin and Jae Kyung down, shaking her head.

“Sit down. The music isn’t over yet.”

“Hey! Aren’t you angry as a mother? That fat kid to our little one!”

Jae Kyung and Su Young sat down at Bo Mi’s restraint.

“But Yeo Reum isn’t crying. He’s still okay.”

Yeo Reum, who had stumbled and fallen, was already up and dancing bravely.

Yeo Reum…

Though his reddened knees were concerning, there seemed to be no major injury, so Bo Mi let out a sigh of relief.

She wanted to praise him for bravely enduring well and dancing to the end more splendidly than anyone. Bo Mi clapped harder than anyone else, swallowing her urge to cry.

As the children’s dance ended, they exited circling the playground. Yeo Reum waved his hand, smiling with his cheeks puffed out. At the children’s waiting area, the teacher was seen examining Yeo Reum’s injury and calling Min Hyung to apologize.

So it was that child.

The one who teased and bullied our Yeo Reum for not having a father… He had bumped into Yeo Reum several times during the dance and even pulled on Yeo Reum’s clothes while exiting, interfering. Bo Mi glared at the child.

“After the Melon Class dance ends, there will be a guardian participation game. Guardians who wish to participate, please gather in front of the stage.”

The three men, who had been eyeing each other, jumped up.

“Wait. I think you’re both mistaken…”

Jae Kyung cleared his throat as he stepped forward first.

“I’m Yeo Reum’s dad today.”

“You seem full of yourself because Han Bo Mi called you, but I’m the dad Yeo Reum chose.”

Ga Jin lifted his chin as if it was obvious he would participate.

I can’t not go out after buying new sneakers for today. Ga Jin proudly showed off his purple sneakers and stretched his arms as if warming up.

Bo Mi. Watch this big brother’s greatness.

“Director. It would be trouble if you get hurt, so rest. Naturally, I who have spent the longest time with Yeo Reum am most suitable for the father role.”

Su Young didn’t want to lose his chance to shine to Jae Kyung after coming this far. He had built his body through exercise, sacrificing his dawn sleep every day. He thought there would be a day to show off in front of Bo Mi, and that day was today.

Bo Mi’s head throbbed painfully, wondering which of the three men she should choose.

“Su Young…”

Why are you like this too?