Jaehyuk had watched over Arin since she was a child. Therefore, he knew how much she liked and followed Kyungsuk, even though she didn’t give her love. He knew better than anyone that family had a special meaning for Arin.

‘But how can I tell you that everyone except you knew that you weren’t their biological daughter…’

Jaehyuk bit the inside of his cheek hard.

‘I’m afraid that you, who have already been hurt enough, will suffer more.’

One day when he was a middle school student, Jaehyuk learned that Arin was not the biological daughter. Unaware of his presence, Mrs. Jung and Kyungsuk were having a conversation in the room.

[You blatantly discriminate against her. What will you do if she finds out she’s not your biological daughter?] [Arin won’t ever think like that. Don’t you see how she’s affectionate towards me no matter how cruel I am? Madam, don’t worry about that.]

Arin isn’t their biological daughter?

Then who are Arin’s parents?

Jaehyuk was shocked.

He ran out of the house as if fleeing.

[Where are you going, brother? I’ve been hiding this for you. Here, eat.]

Arin blocked his way, holding out a strawberry-flavored candy.

Jaehyuk’s heart ached. Arin’s innocent face, unaware of anything, stabbed at his heart.

Compassion was added to the affection he had for Arin as a sister, and at some point, it turned into love.

‘You couldn’t even imagine.’

It seemed Arin still didn’t know she wasn’t their biological daughter.

The words Arin had hurled at Kyungsuk earlier flooded Jaehyuk’s mind.

[If you didn’t acknowledge me as family, you shouldn’t have used that person.] [Did you arrange this marriage for this? Did you ignore my words about divorce? When I insisted on divorce, did you contact that person without me knowing?] [Mother, do you love me?]

Overwhelmed with self-loathing, Jaehyuk bit his lower lip.

Thinking it might be the last time, his eyes grew hot.

The truth he had hidden to avoid hurting Arin eventually bound Jaehyuk and ended up hurting her more.

He succeeded in hiding the cruel truth but ended up being hated terribly.

Do you regret it?

Contradictory emotions swirled in Jaehyuk’s heart.

Jaehyuk thought it was better to be hated by her than to hurt her with the terrible hatred directed at him.

‘I did the right thing. I protected Arin’s heart… It’s better for her to hate me… I did well.’

But all this rationalization by Jaehyuk was a misconception.

Mrs. Jung had tricked Jaehyuk into the scheme to encourage the divorce. Arin thought the cards and hospital bills Kyungsuk received all came from Jaehyuk.

It was clear that Jaehyuk had no excuse and had played into her hands.

‘I didn’t expect to be trapped like this. I should have watched my mother more closely.’

Jaehyuk regretted his complacent response, knowing that Mrs. Jung would stop at nothing to separate him from Arin.

Still, maybe… since she had loved him for a long time, he hoped she might waver once more.

“I know it’s too late. But can you give me just one more chance?”

Despite knowing it was shameless and too late to reach her, Jaehyuk still held onto the last hope.

“Do you know what I hate the most? Realizing the value of someone only after they’ve left.”

Arin’s lips quivered.
“Why should I? Couldn’t you have been good to me when I was there? Can’t you imagine how hard it was to leave, how hard it was to decide to leave someone I loved?”

“It’s useless now, but my feelings for you were sincere. I realized too late, just like you said.”

Unable to meet Arin’s eyes, Jaehyuk bowed his head.

“It might sound like an excuse, but I didn’t know things would turn out like this… I didn’t know my feelings would hurt you so much. Even though I said I wanted to win you back, my emotions were always the priority. I thought I was doing it for you, but in the end, it was just for my own peace of mind.”

Jaehyuk tried to hide his trembling voice.

“I’m sorry. Really. I’m sorry for making it hard, for hurting you. I shook you up cowardly. And…….”

“Ban Jaehyuk. We are already over…….”

At Arin’s words, Jaehyuk’s heart sank.

“So saying sorry now is useless in our relationship.”

Arin’s firm gaze left Jaehyuk speechless.

The Arin who couldn’t hide her confused emotions while looking at Jaehyuk was no more.

‘You’ve really decided to end this relationship sincerely.’

It was too late to say it was all a misunderstanding.

Jaehyuk knew.

One thing for sure, all he could do now was to comply with her wishes.

The reason Mrs. Jung went to Arin, the reason Kyungsuk came to him, was all because he and Arin were still legally married.

‘Let’s accept that I can’t forcefully hold onto this any longer. Ban Jaehyuk.’

He felt empty. As if there was nothing where his heart used to be, as if he couldn’t feel anything.

Despite his unwilling heart, he wanted to let her go a little in this possibly last moment.

These feelings he would have to bear alone from now on… he had to keep them without her ever noticing.

Unspoken words whirled in Jaehyuk’s mouth. He clenched his fist tightly.

He had ruined this relationship himself.