“……But I should have said it.”

“I couldn’t imagine how much pain you were in. I am also sad and in pain like this, but what about you? How could I dare to say that I understand your pain?”

Arin burst into louder sobs at Jaehyuk’s words.

“The responsibility for our child leaving this world lies with me. I should have protected, but I couldn’t protect you or our child. That’s why I couldn’t say anything. I was too sorry, too sorry for you and our child… So I ran away. I was cowardly. I couldn’t say sorry. I’m really sorry. I’m sorry for making you suffer alone.”

Arin’s shoulders slumped. Jaehyuk was crying.

Even seeing it with her own eyes, Arin couldn’t believe that he was crying.

“Arin, if you had resented me, not yourself, I hoped it would make you a little more comfortable. I was wrong in thinking that. I’m sorry. Arin.”

Jaehyuk lifted his head to meet Arin’s eyes.

“……. ”

Unconsciously, Arin reached out and wiped away Jaehyuk’s tears.

“Fool.”

“…I know.”

Jaehyuk smiled faintly.

“If you cry and then laugh, you’ll grow horns on your butt.”

“It’s okay if it’s because of you, Arin.”

Arin had to admit it.

‘Even if it’s a contract, if I had no intention of going back to Oppa, I wouldn’t have accepted Oppa’s proposal.’

If there was no trace of feeling for Jaehyuk, whether he inherited the company or not wouldn’t have mattered.

Whether the company was Jaehyuk’s life or whatever.

‘I couldn’t let go of Oppa.’

She pretended to forget, but Choi Arin still harbored feelings for Ban Jaehyuk. It was just that she didn’t want to admit the fact that she still couldn’t completely let him go.

Arin, knowing that she wasn’t loved, knowing that it was hard, couldn’t empty his place.

“I will hate you.”

At Arin’s words, Jaehyuk nodded slightly.

“I will torment you.”

“…Okay. Do that.”

Jaehyuk nodded as if resigned to Arin’s words.

“Arin, if you want to, do it. Do whatever you want.”

“Don’t just say it. I’ll torment you.”

With a blurry smile, Jaehyuk nodded in agreement with Arin’s words. He swallowed the words he couldn’t spit out behind.

Large pupils quickly filled with tears. Jaehyuk couldn’t control his crumbling heart.

“So……”

Arin couldn’t continue her words, only nibbling on her trembling lips.

“So, stay by my side for the rest of your life, next to me and our child.”

Arin held Jaehyuk’s cheeks tightly as she spoke.

Jaehyuk’s heart sank.

It was the words he had hoped for, waited for, and wanted so much.

Jaehyuk couldn’t believe it.

‘Am I dreaming right now, Arin? Will the words you’re saying disappear when I wake up?’

Is it because the sin committed is too great?
In response to the long-awaited words, the first thought that crossed Jaehyuk’s mind was fear.

‘Maybe all of this is just a fantasy I created.’

It could be a dream created by Jaehyuk himself…

“Arin.”

Jaehyuk wanted to confirm that this situation was real. He reached out his right hand and gently touched Arin’s cheek.

The warmth he felt in his hand was too realistic.

“Arin…”

Arin buried her face in Jaehyuk’s cheek. Tears fell from her large eyes. As she wiped her face on his palm, Jaehyuk could finally feel that all of this was real.

Jaehyuk wiped away her tears. The moisture on his fingertips was also vivid.

“……”

Jaehyuk choked up.

He only needed to say one word… The situation he had longed for so desperately had come, but Jaehyuk couldn’t speak due to overwhelming emotions.

He bit his lower lip tightly. Although her face kept blurring, Jaehyuk made a strenuous effort to look straight at Arin.

“I will make amends.”

Jaehyuk reached out his left hand as well, holding Arin’s cheeks with both hands. The warmth he felt in his palms made his eyes wet.

Things he didn’t know when she was by his side started to become visible only after she left. Every time he checked her empty spot where she always lay, tears welled up.

Every time he saw lovers holding hands and walking, he had to regret bitterly.

‘Arin, what you wanted wasn’t something special…’

Jaehyuk regretted not going on a simple date with Arin. Even though he missed her so much, he couldn’t see her. He didn’t have the right.

‘Even when I see you suffering alone where I’m not…’

Jaehyuk thought that the only thing Ban Jaehyuk could do for Arin was to forget her. But even so, he couldn’t do it.

He couldn’t completely embrace and let go of Arin’s side.

“Arin.”

Jaehyuk’s broken voice flowed through the dry lips.

“I may not be able to repay the wrongs I’ve done to our child who became a star, but… I’ll do as you say.”

Arin, frowning, burst into tears. Hot tears flowed down over her hand.

Jaehyuk reached out his hand more, wrapped Arin’s nape, and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“I won’t hurt you. I’ll make sure you’re not alone in pain anymore.”

“……”

“I won’t lie to you, and I won’t do anything you don’t want. For the rest of my life… I’ll live for you.”

Arin tightly embraced Jaehyuk and buried her face in his shoulder.

“I love you, Arin…”