An anonymous number flashed on her phone, the message burning across the screen like a warning:
"Go to the Royal Plaza. Your husband is with another woman!"
Seo Ah-rin jolted upright, gasping for air. Her chest heaved violently, and her heart thumped so hard it threatened to escape. Slowly, she forced her breathing into a steady rhythm, willing herself to calm down.
A soft noise outside the room caught her attention. Someone was trying to open the door. A small, wry smile tugged at her lips—this wasn't her first encounter with this kind of mischief.
A faint click, then the door creaked open. Without a second hesitation, she pulled the covers over her head and pretended to be asleep, letting the intruders have their fun for a few moments.
A sliver of morning light spilled into the room, illuminating the playful intruders. A little boy in striped pajamas tiptoed in first, his tiny feet barely making a sound on the carpet. His twin sister followed closely, holding the hem of her nightgown with both hands, eyes gleaming with mischief.
They paused beside the bed, sunlight catching the tousled strands of their hair. The boy planted his small hands on his hips, chest puffed out like a miniature adult, and whispered conspiratorially to his sister:
"Mumma is still asleep like a baby… She should be the one waking us, not the other way around!"
He let out a dramatic sigh, tilting his head back as if he'd just solved the world's biggest problem. His sister giggled finding his dramatic reaction funny, covering her mouth to stifle the sound, and the tiny echo made the room feel warm and alive in the cold morning.
"Shh… don't wake Mumma," she whispered, crouching low, eyes darting to Ah-rin's form.
"Shh? I am being quiet!" he protested. "If she wakes before we're ready, it's your fault!"
The twins exchanged mischievous glances, hands brushing the soft quilt as they shuffled closer. A small toy car rolled beneath the bed unnoticed, and the boy accidentally stepped on it. A tiny squeak made them both freeze, holding their breath, and then they burst into whispered laughter.
Seo Ah-rin couldn't resist. In an instant, she pulled the covers off and scooped both of her children onto the bed.
"What were you whispering about, hmm? Mumma is sleeping like a baby,hmm?"
She mimicked her son's tiny voice and began tickling them mercilessly. Laughter erupted—pure, unrestrained, and infectious. Tiny feet kicked, hands flailed, and squeals echoed off the walls.
"Mumma! Stop!" the boy gasped between giggles.
"Not until you tell me the secret!" Ah-rin teased, wiggling the twins in her arms.
Ah-rin sank back on the bed, catching her breath as her children clung to her. Their laughter was like sunlight breaking through a storm. For a fleeting moment, all worries, all shadows of the past melted away, replaced by warmth, love, and innocence.
----
Halfway across the world, in a sleek office in Seoul, a man sat staring at a photograph. The picture—a frozen moment of laughter and love—stabbed him like a knife.
"Why did it have to be us, honey? Why would you do this to us? Was my love ever not enough? Wasn't I enough for us?"
Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, but he blinked them back stubbornly. His fingers traced the frame's edge, curling slightly as if holding onto the memory itself. He leaned back in his chair, jaw tight, eyes distant, imagining her smile, her laugh—the life they might have had.
A sharp knock on the office door broke the spell. Hastily, he tucked the photo away, smoothing his jacket, composing himself.
"Come in," he called, voice cold, controlled and distanced.
The door opened, and Yoo Ri-na stepped in, bright, confident, and precise, carrying files in her hand.
"Good morning, Joonie."
Kim Joon-woo's frown deepened.
"How many times must I tell you, Ri-na? Don't call me Joonie! I hate it. Can't you understand a simple sentence?"
Ri-na sighed, shoulders drooping in frustration, yet a faint smirk played on her lips.
"Five years, Joonie. Five long years. It's not a short period. She's gone already. Maybe... Maybe even married. Why are you still stuck on her?"
He exhaled slowly, jaw tight. Arguing with her was pointless—she knew him too well. Yet he didn't want to lose Ri-na, his only anchor in a storm of empty achievements, his only best friend.
"Tell me," he said finally, softer, almost pleading, "why are you here?"
Ri-na tilted her head, reading between his words. She placed the files on his desk.
"These need your signature."
Joon-woo nodded absentmindedly, thoughts drifting.
"Keep them here." he pointed towards his desk.
"By the way… did they contact Ms. Sapphire yet?"
"Not yet. But they're trying their best," Ri-na replied.
He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, fingers tapping impatiently.
"Push harder. Call her yourself if necessary. This deal depends on her. Without it, our company won't reach the next level."
Ri-na glanced at his eyes—dreamy, intense yet haunted. That sharp determination still drew her in. Despite his wealth, fame, and power, the woman he loved was gone. He had climbed the ladder, but the cost was immense.
After a few more minutes of business talk, Ri-na left. Joon-woo exhaled, leaning back in his chair, rubbing his temples. His mind raced with memories of Ah-rin, regrets, and endless "what-ifs."
"Where are you, amore?" he whispered, voice lost in the empty room.
Meanwhile, in a bustling corporate maze in the U.S., Seo Ah-rin walked into her office, confidence in every step. She settled at her desk, adjusting her blazer, flipping through the files, but her hands trembled slightly. The morning dream pressed in, leaving a cold knot in her stomach silently.
She pressed her palms to the desk, taking a deep breath to steady herself. The phone rang. Mr. Jeon, the CEO, requested her presence. She knocked lightly and entered upon hearing his usual:
"Come in."
"Mr. Jeon, you called me?" she asked, calm and professional.
"How many times should I tell you to call me uncle… or father?" he said, pouting like a child denied chocolate.
Ah-rin chuckled, quickly composing herself under his mock stern gaze.
"Alright… Did you take your heart medicine this morning, uncle?" He gulped nervously and gave her an awkward smile. Ah-rin just shok her head already guessing the answer. She handed him the pills, watching his gaze drop like a child about to be scolded.
He gulped obediently, mumbling a quick thanks. Then, gesturing to the chair, he invited her to sit.
"So… how are my grandchildren?"
"They're doing well, uncle."
"And my daughter?"
"She's well too, uncle," she said, forcing a smile.
"Really?" he asked, curiosity in his eyes.
"Yes," she replied, nodding.
"Good… Ah-rin, I know this might shock you. But just to let you know, if it weren't urgent, I wouldn't ask this."
She tilted her head, sensing something was wrong.
"What is it, uncle? Is everything alright? Did that brat cause trouble again?"
He shook his head, faint smile tugging at his lips.
"No… this is different. You… you need to return to South Korea soon. It's urgent."
Her chair scraped the floor as she nearly fell back in shock.
"What…?"
Mr. Jeon leaned forward, tone sharp now.
"Sit. Listen carefully and try to understand dear. This is really important."
Ah-rin gripped the chair edge, knees weak, breath shallow. Every word landed like an ice in her chest. Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to absorb the news.
When she finally stepped out, her legs wobbled. She pressed her palms against the doorframe to stay upright.
Her face drained of color, a shiver running down her spine. A hand gently rested on her shoulder, and she flinched, heart pounding.
She looked up—and froze.
There he was—someone she hadn't expected to see so soon, someone who could change everything all over again.
To be continued…