(After a few days)
[Friday / 4:00 PM]
"Here.… wear this one."
Bora handed a neatly folded hanbok top to Haneul.
Haneul took it carefully from her hands.
The moment he touched the fabric, excitement spread across his face.
His cheeks flushed pink, and he couldn't stop the small smile forming on his lips.
Bora helped him slip his arms through the sleeves and adjusted the collar gently.
She watched him quietly.
Haneul was clearly happy.
His eyes sparkled as he looked down at the clothes, then at himself in the mirror.
"Yaa…. look at your belly,"
Bora said with a teasing smile.
"It's gotten bigger, Haneul-ah."
Haneul looked down at himself and laughed softly.
"It's because of the baby."
His cheeks turned even redder as he said it.
Bora chuckled.
"Yes, I can see that. Let's just hope this one turns out peaceful not like Haru.
That child is full of fire."
Haneul smiled at her reflection in the mirror.
"Haru isn't that bad"
Bora crossed her arms playfully.
"Yes, yes. A very obedient child,"
She said dramatically.
"But only when her umma calms her down."
Haneul didn't reply.
He was too busy admiring himself in the mirror.
His hand gently rested over the fabric of the dress as he looked at it with quiet satisfaction.
Bora watched him silently.
He looked happy almost innocent in the way he admired the clothes.
Inside, she didn't know what to say.
This had all been their plan.
Long ago, Bora had secretly ordered these hanbok sets and several feminine omega dresses for Haneul.
They had planned everything together.
It started the day Mrs. Kim unexpectedly visited the villa.
The moment Haneul saw her, fear and determination had appeared in his eyes at the same time.
From that day on, they made a plan.
If Mrs. Kim refused to accept him
Haneul would meet her under a different identity.
A female omega.
He would do it for Taekyun.
And for Haru.
But now…..
Everything had changed.
Mrs. Kim was no longer simply someone who disapproved.
She had begun planning things that were far more dangerous.
Things that showed she no longer cared about anyone.
Not even her own children.
Haneul finished changing again.
This time he wore a long red dress.
It was simple but elegant.
The fabric fell softly around him, and even though Haneul had short hair and a masculine frame, the dress suited him strangely well.
He almost looked like a delicate doll.
"Could you close the zip?"
Haneul said while struggling with the zipper behind his back.
But Bora didn't answer.
She was staring at him, lost in her thoughts.
"Bora?"
No response.
"Bora."
She suddenly blinked.
"Oh, yes..... huh?"
Haneul walked a little closer.
"Could you zip it up for me?"
He turned slightly, showing his back.
Bora stepped forward and slowly pulled the zipper up.
When she finished, Haneul turned around and showed her the dress.
"How is it?"
Bora smiled softly.
"It suits you."
Haneul looked uncertain.
"Is it really good?"
"Yes,"
Bora said.
"It really does."
Then he looked at her more carefully.
"Are you okay?"
Bora paused.
"Yes why?
What should happen to me?"
She replied lightly.
"I'm totally fine."
Haneul nodded slowly.
"I'm glad I got to see these,"
He said quietly.
"I thought you wouldn't let me open the packages."
Bora sat down on the couch, folding her hands together.
"It's not that"
She hesitated.
"Earlier, it was different."
Haneul turned toward her.
"What do you mean?"
She sighed
"Before, it was okay if you met Mrs. Kim like this. That was our plan."
She looked at him seriously.
"But now….. I don't think you should."
Haneul's expression shifted slightly.
"Is something wrong?"
Bora shook her head slowly.
"Haneul I know we planned this together.
But now my heart isn't agreeing with it."
Haneul sat down on the edge of the bed, his expression slightly disappointed.
"But this was the only way I could meet Taekyun's mother."
Bora looked at him.
"That was before,"
she said softly.
"Now everything has changed.
Sir already accepted you."
"You don't need to make anyone else accept you."
She looked at his stomach gently.
"And the most important thing you're pregnant now."
"You don't need to show yourself to her under a fake identity."
Haneul pouted slightly and sat quietly.
"She won't accept me,"
He murmured.
"You said it yourself.
They don't accept male omegas.
Why would they accept me now?"
Bora sighed.
"I know they won't,"
She admitted.
"But you don't need their acceptance."
"You have Taekyun sir."
"You have Haru."
"And you have this baby."
Then she smiled gently.
"And you have me too."
"That's enough."
Haneul lowered his gaze.
"But I don't want Taekyun to hide me from everyone,"
He said quietly.
"I don't want him to live with the fear that his mother might find out about me any moment."
Bora looked at him carefully.
"Haneul, do you really think sir is hiding you because he's afraid?"
Haneul slowly nodded.
Bora shook her head.
"It's not like that."
"Sir isn't afraid. He's protecting you."
"He already chose you."
"And after everything that has happened in his life even if his mother opposed it, he wouldn't leave you."
Her voice softened.
"Even if you were a female omega, he would still stand against them if he had to."
Just then,
Knock.... Knock.
Both of them looked toward the door.
Bora stood up.
"Wait a minute!"
She called out.
She glanced back at Haneul.
"For now, change back and be yourself,"
She said quickly.
"Let me see who it is first."
"Sir will be coming soon anyway."
She walked toward the door and opened it.
"Yes, what is it?"
She asked, thinking it was one of the house staff.
Then she stopped.
Because the person standing outside wasn't a staff member.
Taekyun was standing outside the door.
His expression was calm, unreadable.
The moment Bora saw him, it felt as if her soul nearly left her body.
"S-Sir.… sir"
She bowed quickly in panic.
"I'm sorry, sir.
I didn't know it was you. I apologize."
Taekyun gave a small nod, acknowledging her apology.
"Haneul is inside?"
Bora straightened herself.
"Oh..... yes"
Then suddenly she remembered.
The room was still full of those clothes.
And Haneul hadn't changed yet.
Panic flashed across her face.
She quickly stepped forward, blocking the entrance slightly.
"Sir, he's not inside."
Taekyun looked at her.
"Outside?"
Bora nodded quickly.
"Yes, he's changing his clothes."
Taekyun studied her quietly.
"Is everything okay?"
Bora felt her heart drop.
She had already messed everything up
There was no way to fix it now.
She stepped aside slowly and bowed her head.
"He's inside, sir."
Taekyun watched her for a moment longer.
Then he walked inside the room.
Inside the bathroom, Haneul stood frozen.
His heart began beating rapidly the moment he heard Taekyun's voice outside.
But there was a problem.
He couldn't open the zipper at the back of the dress.
He tried again and again, twisting his arms behind him, but it wouldn't move.
His breathing grew uneven.
He covered his mouth with his fingers, trying to stay quiet.
His stomach tightened slightly.
Outside in the bedroom, the bed was still covered with clothes.
A hanbok and several other dresses.
Bora stepped inside behind Taekyun.
"Where is he?"
Taekyun asked calmly.
"He'll be in the bathroom,"
Bora replied.
Taekyun walked toward the bathroom door.
Something felt slightly wrong.
The way Bora was acting
And the fact that Haneul wasn't in the room.
He raised his hand and knocked.
"Are you inside?"
From inside the bathroom came Haneul's voice.
"Yes, I'm here. Wait a moment."
Taekyun nodded slightly
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes….. yes, I'm fine."
Bora let out a silent breath of relief.
She thought that meant Haneul had already changed.
Without wasting time, she rushed toward the bed.
Her eyes landed on the dresses.
She quickly started gathering them and stuffing them into a box.
Her hands moved fast.
Taekyun turned and looked at her.
"What are these for?"
Bora froze for a moment.
Sweat had already formed on her forehead.
"Oh…. these are my dresses, sir,"
she said quickly.
"I wanted to show them to Haneul."
"I was asking his opinion on them."
She closed the box hurriedly and looked up at him.
Taekyun nodded lightly.
Just then his phone began ringing.
He took it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen.
"I'll change first,"
He said.
Then he added calmly,
"Tell Haneul we're going out for dinner tonight."
Bora blinked.
"Huh?"
Her mouth opened in surprise.
"Out for dinner?"
Taekyun looked at her again.
Bora immediately composed herself.
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir."
Taekyun continued,
"And Haru as well. Get her ready."
Bora nodded quickly.
"Yes, sir. She's taking a nap right now.
I'll wake her up."
Taekyun nodded once more.
Then he stepped out of the room and walked toward his own room.
Behind him, Bora stood frozen for a second.
Haneul slowly stepped out of the bathroom.
His cheeks were still flushed.
Bora turned toward him.
"You didn't change yet?"
Her eyes widened immediately.
For a moment, her heart almost stopped. She had truly thought Haneul had already changed before Taekyun came in.
"Haneul!"
Haneul looked at her helplessly.
"I couldn't reach the zipper."
He pointed toward his back.
Bora walked over quickly.
"Ahhh…...
what am I supposed to do with you?"
she muttered.
"You're going to get me scolded along with yourself one day."
She pulled the zipper down quickly.
"Here. Now change."
"And give me this dress.
I'm going to give it away.
You're not going to see these again."
Haneul immediately looked at her.
"Bora, no... please!"
He clasped his hands dramatically.
"You're my good big sister, aren't you?"
Bora sighed.
"Haneul, we don't need them anymore."
"Now go and get ready.
Sir said we're going out for dinner."
Haneul nodded quickly.
"Okay, I will. But don't throw them away."
"Go,"
Bora said firmly.
She picked up the box of dresses.
Just then a staff member appeared at the door.
"Bora, Haru is awake.
She's calling for Haneul."
"He's changing,"
Bora replied.
"I'll go look after her.
You tell Mina to prepare her milkshake."
"Yes."
The staff member left.
Bora placed the box of dresses on the bed for a moment and walked out toward Haru's room.
A little later, Haneul finished changing and stepped out.
"Here,"
he said, holding the red dress.
But Bora wasn't there anymore.
"Oh"
He smiled to himself.
He opened the box again.
Carefully, he took out one of the hanbok sets and placed it inside his cupboard.
"I like this one,"
he murmured.
"I'll wear it later."
"She won't let me keep it otherwise."
He gently placed the remaining dresses back into the box and closed it.
Just then
The door opened.
Haru walked in, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
Haneul turned toward her.
"Oh, you're awake?"
Bora walked in behind her.
"She woke up in a bad mood again,"
Bora said.
Haru shot Bora a small annoyed glance before walking straight toward Haneul.
She wrapped her arms around him.
Haneul bent down slightly, about to lift her
"Hey!"
Bora quickly stopped him.
"She's heavy. Don't carry her."
Haru looked at Bora.
Then she slowly turned back to Haneul.
Without saying anything, she walked over to the bed and laid down on her stomach.
Haneul looked at Bora.
Bora raised her eyebrows.
"I'll take this box first."
"You look after her."
With that, she picked up the box and walked out.
Haneul walked over to the bed and sat beside Haru.
He gently straightened her hair.
"Haru….. Haru-ah, look at me."
"But I didn't even say anything.
Why are you angry with me?"
Haru turned slightly and rested her head on Haneul's lap.
Haneul smiled softly.
"Your birthday is coming soon, right?"
"What would you like to do?"
Haru suddenly sat up.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and said excitedly,
"Amusam...ment.... palk."
Haneul blinked.
"Huh?"
"What is that?
A toy?"
Haru shook her head quickly.
She jumped down from the bed and looked at him expectantly.
"You want me to come?"
She nodded.
Haneul stood up and followed her.
She led him toward her small bookshelf in her room.
"What are you showing me, Haru?"
She opened one of her picture books and pulled out a photo.
It was a picture of an amusement park.
Haneul stared at it.
"Haru, you want to go there?"
Haru nodded enthusiastically.
"But it looks dangerous there,"
Haneul murmured.
At that moment, a staff member entered with Haru's milkshake.
She placed it beside Haru.
Haneul looked up.
"I have a question."
The staff member nodded.
"Yes?"
"Has Haru ever been to an amusement park before?"
The staff member thought for a moment.
"Yes. She went last year with Bora."
Haneul looked at Haru.
Then back at the staff.
"And Taekyun?"
The staff shook her head.
"No. Sir was on a business trip at that time."
"Haru wasn't listening to anyone, so Lihan and Bora took her out."
Haneul nodded slowly.
"Oh"
The staff continued,
"But she got sick afterward.
When sir returned, he was very angry."
Haneul rolled his eyes slightly.
Exactly what I expected.
"Oh, okay,"
he said.
The staff nodded and left the room.
Haneul turned back toward Haru.
"See?"
"Your appa won't let us go."
Haru's expression immediately fell.
Her face looked completely disappointed.
Haneul sighed.
"Okay, okay I'll talk to him."
"But don't make that face."
"Drink this first and get ready."
"Appa said we're going out for dinner."
Haru looked up.
"Dinner?"
"Yes,"
Haneul smiled.
"Dinner."
A week had passed since the case had finally been resolved.
For the first time in years, Taekyun felt a kind of peace he had almost forgotten existed.
It wasn't a perfect ending.
Nothing about the truth they uncovered could ever be called good.
Too many lives had been destroyed for it to feel like victory.
But still something inside his chest had loosened.
For years, his heart had carried a tight knot of anger, doubt, and guilt.
Now, at least a small part of that knot had begun to relax.
He knew everything was far from settled.
Yet the one truth that had reached him the deepest was this:
Jiwon had not been guilty.
That knowledge alone made his breathing feel lighter.
The media had exposed everything.
Every detail of the case had spread across the country.
News channels and articles had dissected the story from every possible angle.
For the first time in a long while, Mr. Kim had also stepped forward publicly.
His appearance before the media surprised many people.
For years, doubts and suspicions had quietly followed him because of his influence in the business world.
But after his involvement in reopening the case and allowing the truth to surface, many of those doubts slowly disappeared.
Meanwhile, the legal consequences continued to unfold.
Jung In had appeared in court to handle the aftermath of his son's crimes.
Everything that had belonged to Jung Suk was being investigated and seized.
A major branch of Neopharm in the United States, which had been privately controlled by Jung Suk, now faced serious criminal charges and financial scrutiny.
At the same time, authorities had also uncovered evidence linking Jung Hyun to the illegal drug supply.
He had allegedly provided the powerful substances that Jung Suk later used.
An international investigation had already begun.
Slowly, the long chain of corruption was beginning to collapse.
Everything was finally moving toward its end.
But despite all of this, one question still lingered heavily in Taekyun's mind.
How was he going to explain Jiwon to Haneul?
He had spent the entire week thinking about it.
Again and again.
Every night, the same thoughts returned to him.
But no matter how much he considered it, he could not find the right words.
There were too many things tangled in that truth.
Too many memories.
Too many regrets.
In the end, he reached only one conclusion.
Instead of searching for perfect explanations, he would simply do what mattered most now.
He would take care of Haneul.
Completely.
Not just as someone living in his house.
Not just as Haru's priority.
But as someone far more important than that.
Because this home was no longer the same as before.
It was no longer just him, Haneul, and Haru.
Soon…..
There would be four of them.
His thoughts drifted unconsciously to Haneul again.
Ever since discovering the pregnancy, something inside Taekyun had begun to change.
At first it had only been a surprise,happiness.
But with each passing day, another feeling quietly grew.
Every time he saw Haneul.
Every time he noticed the way he protected his stomach unconsciously.
Taekyun felt his heart flutter in a way he couldn't easily explain.
And with each passing day
He found himself wanting to be closer to Haneul.
Closer than before.
Closer than he had ever allowed himself to be