The voice that dropped from Yeonhui’s mouth was firmer than usual.

“It seems like you’re trying to take away our daughter just because she’s pregnant, but I can’t allow that!”

Why don’t you understand that marrying the person you love is laying the stepping stone to happiness?

Nevertheless, the reason Jo Yeonhui pulled out the opposition card was her daughter’s dream that she had worked hard to build until now. For just a moment, Eom So Yeon’s hesitation in answering was very noticeable to her mother’s eyes.

Just by looking at her eyes, she could tell how much her daughter trusted and loved Tae Seo Jun. But the fact that she hesitated meant one thing.

She wanted to be recognized as an actress on her own, without riding on Tae Seo Jun’s unparalleled fame and image, but if she rushed into marriage, she would have to give up that part, so that must have been her concern.

From the moment of marriage, she would have to live absorbed into a large shadow, and while it couldn’t be helped if she was okay with it, Yeonhui, worried about her daughter’s future, presented an appropriate blueprint for everyone.

“Tae Seo Jun has already succeeded as an actor, but So Yeon is just starting to bloom, isn’t she? I think she needs to strengthen the path she’s on now more than marriage. So, I’d like to say that I’m against getting married right away.”

Tears welled up again in So Yeon’s reddened eyes, choked up by her mother’s words that had pierced her heart exactly.

“Since she was young, she’s been thoughtful and knows well what’s more important and precious. That’s why the child came before my dream. So I hope you’ll give So Yeon at least enough time to establish herself as an actress.”

“You have a point.”

After hearing this, Yeo Jin, feeling somewhat ashamed for only thinking of Seo Jun and Hyun Woo and not considering Eom So Yeon’s future, carefully opened her mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be better for the women to discuss this kind of thing? In that sense, may I speak with Mrs. Jo separately?”

As Yeo Jin quietly stood up from the sofa, asking everyone’s understanding, Yeonhui also agreed with Mrs. Cha’s intention and asked Professor Eom to take care of the rest of the people.

“Ah, of course. Then, dear, please take care of the chairman and the kids.”

.

.

.

The two ladies entered the guest room where Chairman Tae and his wife were staying and sat down in chairs at the tea table next to the bed.

“We were short-sighted, Mrs. Jo.”

“Not at all. If I were in your position, Mrs. Cha, I’m sure I wouldn’t have thought of it either. That’s why I took the liberty of mentioning it.”

“How about we do this? Since we have Hyun Woo, and the two of them seem to get along well, let’s have the three of them live together for now, and hold a proper formal wedding ceremony later.”

“That’s exactly what I meant. As expected, you understand well, Mrs. Cha.”

Perhaps because of the children who would soon be married, Yeo Jin and Yeonhui exchanged detailed stories about their children in an increasingly affectionate tone.

And it was just before leaving that room.

“You must have gone through so much taking care of Hyun Woo all this time. For these few days here, I’ve been so ashamed just thinking about it that I didn’t know where to put myself. So, as a gesture of my apologetic feelings and to mark becoming in-laws, I prepared this, though I’m not sure how you’ll feel about it.”

What Yeo Jin placed on the table was a pendant watch necklace that was not only expensive but also difficult to obtain due to its high rarity.

“Oh my, this is…!”

Yeonhui’s eyes couldn’t help but widen at the heart-shaped pendant studded with sparkling jewels, making it beautifully dazzling.

“Time has many meanings, doesn’t it? It’s fair to everyone, you could say. And as time ticks by, aren’t we all living the same time? Past, present, and future too. I hear that Mrs. Jo’s hobby is collecting watches, so I’d like it if you could give me one of your less expensive ones. I’ll keep it as a token of sharing our children.”

Yeo Jin’s words meant to exchange even the time they had spent raising their children with love as parents.

“So you prepared this precious thing for me?”

My goodness, how could her thoughtfulness be so deep…

“Oh my, I do have something that would suit Mrs. Cha perfectly. I’m not sure if you’ll like it, but I’ll bring it right away, so please wait a moment.”

More moved by Yeo Jin’s heartfelt attitude than the jewel-studded watch, Yeonhui hurriedly went to her bedroom and brought back a pendant watch similar to the one she had received. It was a precious item where the red of rubies and the green of peridots harmonized in a uniquely elegant way.

“Since what you gave me is so valuable, I’m not sure if it’s alright for me to give you this.”

“No, for you to give me such a precious thing… I really like it, Mrs. Jo.”

With their relationship growing even closer, Yeo Jin and Yeonhui left the room and began to coordinate an appropriate time for the wedding with the people in the reception room.

What they all unanimously agreed on was next autumn. Exactly one year from now. Instead, they would hurriedly register the marriage and hold an engagement ceremony in secret, with the engagement venue to be arranged at the Els Stella Hotel in Seoul, and everyone agreed to attend and joyfully enjoy that auspicious occasion.

In other words, it was now a promise to form an in-law relationship between the families, centering on Hyun Woo, rather than just Seo Jun and So Yeon’s issue.

Although the order was reversed, Hyun Woo, who had always been a concern, now had a wonderful father, and their daughter, who had to take responsibility for the child alone, now had someone to rely on, even if just a little. Eun Hyeok and Yeonhui were satisfied with just that, and a heavy expression lingered on their faces for a long time.

Moreover, Eun Hyeok couldn’t help but smile warmly as he discreetly observed Seo Jun’s behavior of not taking his eyes off So Yeon. He was secretly pleased that the thief who seemed to be stealing his precious daughter was so likable.

The reception room where conversations between the two families had taken place was now a sea of tears. Yeo Jin and Yeonhui kept dabbing at the tears that kept welling up with their handkerchiefs, and the corners of Tae Seok Ho and Eom Eun Hyeok’s eyes were also moist with tears.

Ah, what to do about this drooping atmosphere.

“Everyone, please calm down a bit, and let’s all have a meal together.”

“Oh my, look at me.”

As Professor Eom brightened the gloomy atmosphere with a lively voice, Yeonhui, as if she had never cried, instructed the servant to prepare lunch with a clear face.

What Yeonhui realized as she took in Seo Jun and So Yeon, who were still sticking close together, was that if nothing else, Eom So Yeon had inherited her weakness for handsome men. Above all, even the fact that she was helpless against a man she had fallen for.

Just like my daughter, she’s completely fallen, fallen! Huh…

So Yeon showed Seo Jun around various parts of the house.

She was so excited, smiling brightly while holding his large hand tightly.

Seo Jun, willingly being led along as she guided him, also couldn’t wipe the charming smile off his lips.

“Seo Jun, you can use this room.”

After touring the house, So Yeon finally led Seo Jun upstairs to the second floor and showed him to the room where he would stay.

“I don’t like it. I’m going to share a room with Eom So Yeon.”

“I think I can solve that for you, just wait a moment.”

Leaving Seo Jun in that room, So Yeon quickly entered her own bedroom right next door and knocked on the inner door, not the one she had entered through.

Knock, knock, knock.

As soon as the door opened, a handsome man that the word ‘handsome’ couldn’t do justice to appeared before So Yeon’s eyes. At the same time, Seo Jun also saw the most lovable woman in the world deeply embedded in his dark eyes.

“Oh my, this nice thing was here?”

“It’s perfect for playing hide and seek, isn’t it?”

It had been less than a minute since they had briefly separated after being together continuously. Yet, both of their hearts were pounding madly, neither one able to say who started first.

“Whenever I had no work, or couldn’t be active due to injury, I came to Canada. I played a lot of hide and seek with Hyun Woo in this room.”

“Then, now you should play with me instead of Hyun Woo, right?”

“Shouldn’t you be the one playing with me, oppa?”

“Why should I do that?”

As Seo Jun raised one eyebrow roundly and asked with a light laugh, So Yeon stepped lightly into his space, smiling brightly with clear eyes like a young girl.

“Because you’re much older than me… ah!”

Seo Jun’s movement was lightning fast, not about to let that pretty sight pass by. He wrapped his arms around So Yeon’s waist and pushed her against the wall next to the door, lowering his head as their lips met.

It happened in the blink of an eye, leaving no time to react, but she seemed to have wanted it too, as she willingly welcomed the touch on her lips. As their quickened breaths crossed back and forth incessantly, Seo Jun gazed at her transparent, small face with half-closed eyes.

“I played with you, now it’s Eom So Yeon’s turn to try.”

“Again?”

The kiss just now was already making her heart flutter unbearably, and he wanted more. So Yeon said, fluttering her long, lush eyelashes.

“What’s wrong with that? I’m going to be your husband soon.”

“But the adults are downstairs?”

“I don’t care about that. If I want to and can do it, I’ll do it anywhere.”

“What if I run away?”

“You think I’d let that happen?”

Seo Jun’s arms tightened around So Yeon’s waist.

It meant that Eom So Yeon was undoubtedly his.

After Seo Jun’s lips met So Yeon’s again, greedily savoring them for a while, So Yeon slipped out from under his armpit as if escaping and crossed over to her own room.

As So Yeon took out her phone from her bag, Seo Jun raised an eyebrow quizzically. He was asking who she was calling.

“To Do Soon. I told her to contact me if things went well.”

While answering, So Yeon pressed the call button and spoke to Do Soon, who answered immediately.

“Were you sleeping?”

-How could I sleep? I can’t sleep even if I wanted to.

“Why? Did something happen?”

-No, just… How about you? Did the talk go well?

“Yes. Very well.”

Thinking she heard another person’s voice through the phone, So Yeon tilted her head slightly and continued.

“Above all, Seo Jun’s parents really like Hyun Woo.”

-Wow! That’s really fortunate… Oh!

“What’s wrong?”

This time she heard it clearly. A man’s voice saying ‘Come here’ and Do Soon’s hushed voice saying ‘Shh! Be quiet.’

“Are you… with the CEO right now?”

-Yes.

“I, I see. Anyway, I’ll tell you the details about things here when I get back to Korea.”

-Okay. Finish your work well and come back.

“Mm-hmm.”

So Yeon ended the call with a grin, tactfully.

“I guess I interrupted your intimate time by calling unnecessarily.”

“Looks like things are going well on that side too.”

Seo Jun, who had roughly caught on to what was being said, also chuckled like So Yeon.

Hyun Woo suddenly hid his body.

“Eek…!”

It was because he saw his mom and a tall man strolling in the garden as soon as he returned from kindergarten.

Usually, he would have run straight to his mom and hugged her, but this time was a bit strange. Hyun Woo hid behind a pillar supporting the porch, peeking out with just his eyes to spy on his mom’s direction.

At this time, Jessica, who approached from behind, whispered into Hyun Woo’s ear as he curled his small body into a ball.

“Why isn’t Hyun Woo going to his mom?”

“Shh! The Devil!”

“The Devil?”

“Yes, king of the devil!”

Hyun Woo seemed to only know Seo Jun as the devil king he had seen in dramas.

The nanny in her early 30s had blue eyes and blonde hair. However, Jessica, whose maternal grandmother was Korean, spoke Korean quite well despite her awkward pronunciation.

She chuckled and said, “Aha, Devil King Gi Cheon Ryul?”

“Yes!”

Hyun Woo, who answered briefly, wrinkled his nose bridge.

“Mom is in danger!”

“Really?”

His expression as he spoke in a hushed voice was more serious than ever. It seemed he was anxious because he needed to save his mom from the devil king, but had no particular way to do so. That serious look was so cute it made you want to bite him, but of course, that wasn’t possible.

Jessica called out loudly towards So Yeon and Seo Jun.

“Hey! Hyun Woo is here!”

“Eek! I’ve been caught!”

Pitter-patter, Hyun Woo started running away hard with steps like tiny feet, and Seo Jun, with his tall height and unusually long legs, caught up to the child in one breath and swiftly lifted Hyun Woo up as if throwing him high into the sky.

“Kyaa!”

The child, suddenly floating in the air, wriggled and flailed before finally clinging tightly to Seo Jun’s neck.

“Why are you running away?”

“Hing, Hyun Woo saw on TV. Mister, you’re the scary devil king, aren’t you?”

“Do I still look like a devil king?”

Seo Jun, who had lowered Hyun Woo to his chest and adjusted his hold, smiled with his straight lips. Even to the child’s eyes, the handsome man’s smile looked more like an angel than a devil king.

“Then who are you, mister?”

“Me?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Dad.”

“D-Dad?”

“Yes. Your dad.”

“Hyun Woo’s… dad?”

“Yes. I’m Hyun Woo’s dad.”

“…”

Hyun Woo stared intently at Seo Jun’s face for a while. And at some point, his serious expression gradually brightened.

Soon, as the child smiled brightly, Seo Jun also smiled even bigger, just like Hyun Woo.

Similar faces were smiling at each other.

It was the first meeting between father and son.