After dinner, Joon-woo and Ah-rin stepped outside, the cold night air pressing heavily between them.
"Ah-rin… please tell me," Joon-woo pleaded, his voice breaking. "They're my children, right?"
"I—" The words lodged in her throat. Ah-rin lowered her gaze, unable to face his eyes.
"You know, I can do a DNA test if I want," he said quickly, desperation seeping into every syllable. "But I don't want that. I need to hear it from you. Please…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm begging you."
She drew a shaky breath and finally looked at him.
"Yes," she said softly. "They are ours."
The restraint he had been holding onto finally shattered. Tears slipped down Joon-woo's face—silent, unguarded, long overdue. His body shook as if the world had tilted back into place.
Relief slammed into him like a tidal wave, mixing with years of fear, regret, and longing. He grabbed her hands, pressing them to his chest, and the tears he had held back for so long finally poured out, hot and unfiltered, leaving him raw and trembling in the cold night.
As Joon-woo finally let go of the weight he'd carried for so long, Ah-rin pulled her coat tighter around herself, staring into the quiet night. Somewhere far away, life was moving on—chaotic, unpredictable, and ready to test others in ways she could not yet imagine.
Even as relief softened her chest, a shadow of fear lingered. Now that the truth was out, she knew the world beyond these walls was not gentle—and her heart tightened at the thought of what might come next. Could she protect what mattered most?
The night was quiet around them, but the weight of their truths lingered. Ah-rin felt a mix of relief and fear—the knowledge that their secret was no longer hidden, and the future could change in an instant.
Flashback
Joon-woo and Ah-rin lay sprawled on their bed, doing nothing in particular, simply enjoying each other's presence.
"Joonie," Ah-rin said playfully, turning to him, "tell me—what do you want in the future? A boy or a girl?"
"I don't mind either," Joon-woo replied honestly. "But if I had to choose, I'd want a cute little princess… just like you."
Ah-rin scoffed softly. "Then I want a handsome and smart prince—just like my husband."
A slow smirk curved Joon-woo's lips. "Then why don't we have both?"
"Huh?" Ah-rin blinked, caught off guard. She hadn't expected that.
"Let's have twins," he said again, this time deliberately.
"Aish! Shameless man!" Ah-rin hid her flushed face behind her hands, blushing furiously as his laughter filled the room.
The intensity of that night still lingered in Ah-rin's chest as she adjusted her coat again and looked up at the dark sky. Life had its moments of chaos and unpredictability—but elsewhere, another kind of storm was quietly unfolding.
While Joon-woo and Ah-rin wrestled with their truths under the night sky, elsewhere, a different kind of game was quietly beginning—one full of smiles, challenges, and hidden intentions.
Hours later, as night gave way to a bustling morning elsewhere, a different kind of chaos was waiting at the airport.
Seoul International Airport
"Heya Maddie, what's up?" Boo-hyun suddenly appeared behind Maggie, wrapping his arm playfully around her shoulders.
"Same question," Maggie said, nudging him off, her mind already racing. Why does he always do this? It's like he enjoys pushing buttons…
"I'm here to sing," she added, rolling her eyes at his grin.
"And I'm here to dance," Boo-hyun shot back, smirking.
"Maggie-shii?"
A cheerful voice interrupted. Someone called her name from a distance, and Maggie turned. The man approached quickly and extended his hand for a friendly handshake.
"I'm Mr. Jeon Boo-hyun's new assistant, Evan Park."
"Mind your hand," Boo-hyun barked, yanking Maggie's shoulder from his arm.
"You are…?" Evan asked, uncertain.
"Dad sent you to work for me, but you're asking who I am?" Boo-hyun scoffed, his tone sharp but eyes flicking toward Maggie, betraying a tiny spark of possessiveness.
"Chill, bro. I'm here to help you, not to work for you," Evan said calmly.
"Same thing," Boo-hyun shot back, flashing a smug look.
His jaw tightened as he watched Maggie laugh at Evan's joke, as if it were the funniest thing she'd ever heard.
"Ignore him, please. Let's go," Maggie intervened. Why does he care so much with whom I shake my hand? she wondered, feeling a flicker of frustration—and maybe something else—stir inside her.
"Ah-rin already prepared an apartment next to ours for you. You'll be staying there while you're in South Korea."
"That's great! I can see such a beautiful face every day then! What a blessing!" Evan said, winking at her. Maggie's cheeks flushed; she didn't know whether to roll her eyes or secretly smile.
The three of them started toward the car, laughing as Boo-hyun fumed behind them.
Maggie and Evan seemed like long-lost friends reunited, leaving Boo-hyun visibly irritated—but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
A flicker of unease passed through him as he watched Evan casually charm her—this wasn't just playful banter; it was a challenge he couldn't ignore.
"I'm not letting anyone steal her attention that easily, " he thought.
When they reached the car, Evan sat inside, and Maggie moved to take the passenger seat—but Boo-hyun blocked her and plopped down instead.
"What is this behavior, Boo-hyun?" Maggie asked, exasperated.
"What? I'm coming with you guys," he said, shrugging as if it were perfectly normal. It feels… good, sitting beside her. Maybe too good, he admitted quietly to himself.
"And where's your own car, sir?" Maggie folded her arms, waiting for a reasonable answer.
"Oh, that? Uh… I came with a friend's car. Their driver left after dropping us here, so I figured I'd come with you," he said awkwardly.
Maggie didn't need to think twice—she knew he was lying. But she couldn't figure out why, and she also knew Boo-hyun would never admit the truth on his own. He's impossible, but I kind of love it… she thought with a mixture of irritation and fondness.
"You are impossible," she muttered, shaking her head, and sat beside him.
Boo-hyun grinned secretly, hiding it before anyone could notice. What he didn't know is, Evan had already noticed it. He smirked quietly to himself, already sensing the game had begun.
"It's going to be a fun game with you, Mr. Jeon Boo-hyun," Evan murmured under his breath.
To Be Continued…