Soo-jin sat on the bed with her head lowered, while Ah-rin stared straight into her soul, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
After her outburst downstairs, silence had swallowed the house. Without another word, Ah-rin had brought Soo-jin to the room, telling everyone she needed to talk to her.
Now, she sighed in frustration.
"Now will you say something?" Ah-rin snapped coldly. "You were so brave downstairs—what happened now? Why are you suddenly quiet?"
"Why are you angry with me?!" Soo-jin shot back. "I was only helping them realize their mistake. What they did to you in the past—and what they're still doing—is wrong!"
Soo-jin was genuinely confused. She only wanted them to understand how cruelly they had treated Ah-rin. So why was Ah-rin angry? Shouldn't she be relieved… even grateful?
"Did I ask you to do that?" Ah-rin retorted. "Did they realize anything? No, right?" Her voice trembled despite her control. "Today was supposed to be your and oppa's happiest day. Why did you have to ruin it by saying all that nonsense, eonni?"
Ah-rin clenched her fists. Yes, she wanted them to realize their mistakes—but not like this. Not at the cost of her brother and sister-in-law's happiness.
"Ah-rin!" Soo-jin cried. "Five years ago, that day was supposed to be your happiest day too! And what did they do to you then?!"
Soo-jin still couldn't see what was tearing Ah-rin apart from the inside.
"That's a different matter, eonni," Ah-rin said firmly. "That's my fight. Don't destroy your relationship and happiness for me."
She took a shaky breath.
"It would hurt me more than anything they did five years ago."
She swallowed hard before continuing.
"After mom and me, if there's any woman in oppa's heart and life, it's you, eonni. Don't hurt him because of me. I won't be able to take it."
She begged her sister-in-law desperately.
"You still care about him, don't you?" Soo-jin asked softly.
Ah-rin let out a sad chuckle.
"How could I not?" she whispered. "He's my only oppa—my role model. Maybe I'm no longer his little princess, but he's still my prince. Standing firm through every storm to protect the people he loves." Her voice cracked. "If you ask me where I found the courage to protect my babies against the whole world—it was because of him, eonni. So how could I ever stop caring?"
Her words broke Soo-jin's heart along with someone standing outside the door silently. Tears streamed down Ah-rin's face.
Soo-jin watched helplessly. Both siblings were drowning in pain, yet wore calm masks for the world. No one truly saw them. She wanted to help—but didn't know how.
After a while, Ah-rin steadied herself somehow. She wiped her tears and spoke gently.
"Talk to oppa. I know he'll understand." She forced a small smile. "Don't ruin your married life, eonni. You're lucky to have a husband like him—and he's lucky to have you too. Stay happy."
Her voice softened.
"Don't let anyone ruin your happiness… not even me."
She hugged Soo-jin tightly, unaware that someone had heard everything from outside the room.
A shadow slipped away from the doorframe, unnoticed.
Meanwhile, downstairs…
Boo-hyun was sitting lifelessly. Mr. Kim was breathing heavily in anger. Suddenly, they heard the calling bell.
A maid went to open the door, and a handsome figure entered with a bouquet of flowers and a gentle smile.
Mr. Kim calmed down—or pretended to—upon seeing him. Bohyuk still showed no reaction, staring at the floor.
The man looked at him, confused by his friend's broken state. Before he could approach Boo-hyun, footsteps echoed from upstairs.
They looked up to see Ah-rin coming down, followed by Soo-jin. Ah-rin stumbled on the last step when she saw the man. Nervousness flickered in her eyes before turning into anger.
"What's he doing here??" Ah-rin asked with her cold voice.
"This is my house, and I can invite anyone I want." Mr. Kim growled at her.
"Oh yes, yes. Sure. Anyone but your daughter! Oops… I forgot—she is already dead." Ah-rin said with a mocking tone which triggered Mr. Kim even more.
"Ah-rin, look, I know you are angry with me. But don't spoil the dinner. It's a special day for dad." Joon-woo tried to soothe the air between them.
"Dad!! Oh, great!! By the way, Mr. Joon freaking Woo, I am talking to Mr. Kim. So kindly don't interrupt in between us."
Suddenly, they heard a gasp. Two little kids stood there. Noah's mouth was wide open in shock while he covered Naomi's ears so that she won't hear their mom cursing someone.
Joon-woo's eyes fell on them. His eyes softened seeing them.
"They are my children, aren't they, Ah-rin?" Joon-woo asked looking at her.
Ah-rin gulped. This wasn't planned. She still wasn't ready to let him know about them yet.
"Is he really our dad, mom!!"
Noah and Naomi asked almost at the same time with hope in their doe eyes.
Noah and Naomi's wide, hopeful eyes pierced through Ah-rin's heart. She hadn't wanted any of this. She hadn't been ready to reveal the truth—not to Joon-woo, not to anyone.
Her chest tightened. The room felt smaller, heavier, as the reality of the moment pressed down on her. She wanted to run, to escape—anywhere, anywhere but here.
And yet, she couldn't.
The children's innocent voices echoed in her mind, their question lingering like a hammer against her ribs.
"Is he really our dad, Mom?!"
Ah-rin swallowed hard, her hands trembling at her sides. All the careful plans, all the moments she had tried to control, had slipped through her fingers. She was exposed, and there was no turning back.
She looked at Joon-woo, his expression softening as he watched the children, and then at the kids themselves, bright and hopeful. Her heart ached.
"How could I face him now? I wasn't ready for this!"
To Be Continued ...