“From our observations, every time a woman in her 40s or 50s passed by, you looked closely. It wasn’t the look of someone searching, but rather of someone recalling someone of that age.”

“…….”

“Whenever you looked at food, you’d fall into deep thought. Then, when another woman of that age range passed by, you’d again lose yourself in thoughts.”

Then, he made a gesture as if cooking with his hands. Suddenly realizing his own action, he quietly picked up a fork and knife and began cutting the steak.

“How would you know whether I’m reminiscing about someone? Couldn’t I simply be pondering a recipe?”

“I’ve had similar moments myself.”

Ra Jin could understand William’s feelings better than anyone.

“I was adopted at the age of nine.”

Upon hearing the unexpected revelation, William’s eyes widened momentarily but then reverted to their original size. Everyone has their own stories.

“I see.”

“When I saw passersby, I’d think, ‘Could that person be my mother, or my father?'”

“You don’t remember their faces?”

“No. I was abandoned right after birth and raised in an orphanage.”

When she was young, she would closely observe men and women in their 20s to 40s.

That person’s eyes look like mine.

That person has a nose similar to mine.

Ah, there’s someone with lips like mine.

Then, when someone she was keenly observing approached, young Ra Jin’s heart would beat faster.

She had seen such scenes in dramas before.
Separated in their childhood, a mother and daughter who lived their lives as strangers, by chance went to the same bathhouse. There, they noticed a mark in the same spot on their bodies, leading them to recognize each other. They thus embraced each other tightly, shedding tears of joy.

There was a book she once read that mentioned the same. Blood ties naturally pull people together.

However, people who might have thought of her as their child didn’t even give a glance to Ra Jin, simply passing her by.

No one ever met Ra Jin’s eyes or embraced her with teary eyes.

Not even once, by anyone.

Her gradually diminishing hope eventually hit rock bottom.

And she realized: such miraculous reunions don’t happen in real life.

From that moment on, she stopped nurturing any expectations or fantasies.

“My eyes back then looked very similar to yours.”

As Ra Jin calmly narrated her story, a deep-seated old wound was clearly visible at the bottom of her heart.

William could see that.

“If I said something inappropriate, I sincerely apologize.”

Seeing William’s hardened expression, Ra Jin bowed her head.

Oh dear, she might have crossed a line.

‘Did he get upset? What should I do if he abruptly leaves?’

Should she hold him back? Or wait for his anger to subside and offer an alternative?

As she was immersed in these thoughts, a light laughter echoed from above.

Lifting her head, she saw William smiling faintly.

“Weren’t you upset?”

As she carefully asked, William waved his hand dismissively.

“I was just surprised because it’s been a while since I’ve met someone who bares their soul so openly.”

“Ah… I thought you wouldn’t engage if I wasn’t genuine.”

“You were right in thinking that. You’re quite observant.”

William took a liking to Ra Jin.

Her clear eyes reminiscent of a nanny, her forthrightness in looking straight into the eyes of whomever she was conversing with, and her acute sense of when to show sincerity.

“I have parents, but they divorced when I was very young.”

“…….”
“My father started a new family in another country, and since then, I haven’t seen him. Due to her business, I’ve seen my mother’s face, at most, three times a year during our shared meals. Even during those times, she’d rush out if she got a phone call. Essentially, I’ve seen her face as little as my father’s.”

It was extremely rare for William to share such personal matters.

Ra Jin sat upright, attentively listening to his words.

“Most of my days were spent with a Korean nanny. When we were together, we conversed in Korean and cooked together. The nanny was, in place of my parents, no, she was even more. The memories from that time are my most precious treasures.”

Thinking of his nanny, William’s eyes momentarily reddened.

“Oh, look at this. Showing such a side of myself to someone I’ve just met.”

Wiping away a tear with his finger, William washed his face.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’ve shown an embarrassing side.”

“Embarrassing? That’s not like you.”

Correcting his misinterpretation delicately to prevent him from feeling awkward was something Jae Heon often did, making William chuckle briefly.

“I apologize, but what did you say your name was?”

“It’s Sarajin.”

“Sarajin…”

Her name also resembled his nanny’s.

Seeing him converse in Korean with the nanny, his mother was displeased, and a few days later, the nanny disappeared.

Without a word, without leaving anything behind, she vanished completely.

As a child, all he could do was cry, and as an adult, even after trying countless methods, he couldn’t find his nanny.

“Somewhere, I hope to let the nanny, or at least her children, taste the food I’ve made. I want to tell them that thanks to her, I was happy, that I was able to grow up well, and that I’m immensely grateful.”

After ending the call, Jae Heon looked out of the large window.

If he tilted his body slightly to the left, he could see the main gate.

From a distance, he noticed a black sedan approaching.

“…To see that guy here.”