At Kang-Hyuk’s words, Kyung-Hye turned her head to gaze at the snow piled high outside the window for a long while before turning back to Na-Eun. Her tone remained chillingly calm.
“Since Minho likes Teacher Han so much, I thought it would be wonderful if you could become our Minho’s mother….”
Na-Eun’s eyes widened, her body locking in place as if frozen. A sharp, stinging pain pierced her heart, leaving her dizzy. Beside her, Kang-Hyuk let out a dry, jagged laugh and shifted his posture. He glared at Kyung-Hye, his expression a volatile mix of surprise and mounting displeasure.
“Mother. You really do put people in an impossible position. I am Minho’s father. The woman who becomes Minho’s mother will also be my wife; is it truly appropriate for you to speak like that?”
Kyung-Hye raised an eyebrow at his reaction, then took another sip of tea with cold indifference, as if his protest were a foregone conclusion.
“Did I say anything I shouldn’t have? Teacher Han is not lacking in any regard, and neither are you. I suggested it because I believe she would be an incomparable mother to Minho.”
Kang-Hyuk inhaled sharply. A heavy, suffocating silence descended upon the room. Na-Eun struggled to steady her frantic heartbeat.
“Please, do not speak so carelessly, even if it is just a passing comment.”
Kang-Hyuk’s voice was firm, his eyes clouded with a complex, murky emotion.
“Fine. It was merely a passing comment. Did you feel uncomfortable, Teacher Han?”
Kyung-Hye asked in a much softer voice. Her gaze remained sharp, but a flicker of genuine curiosity was evident.
Na-Eun forced a smile and answered with caution.
“I was taken aback, certainly. Though, I wouldn’t say I felt uncomfortable.”
Kyung-Hye raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded.
“Teacher Han is very honest. Most people would have said otherwise.”
Na-Eun let out a small breath, meeting Kyung-Hye’s gaze.
“Because it is the truth. I was surprised.”
Kyung-Hye offered a cryptic smile, her lips twitching just once.
“Right. That is true; one should be honest. I believe that is what I like about you, Teacher Han.”
“Thank you. If you are finished, may I be excused?”
At that, Kang-Hyuk stood up. Just as it seemed he was merely seeing her to the door, he followed Na-Eun out into the hallway and kept pace with her.
“Could we talk while we head to The Annex?”
Na-Eun nodded.
“Yes. Please, go ahead.”
“Our Minho—he doesn’t say he hates his father, does he?”
“Minho doesn’t say things like that. In fact, he rarely talks about his father at all.”
“I see.”
Watching Kang-Hyuk fall silent, as if he had run out of words, Na-Eun spoke gently.
“You’re very worried about Minho, aren’t you? You even sacrificed going abroad because of your concern, and that is why you are staying here.”
Kang-Hyuk did not answer.
He was a beloved son. And yet, he was also the one who had inflicted an indelible wound upon that very child. It might not be this way in every divorced household, but he was in agony. He felt a quiet gratitude toward this woman who understood his weaknesses, and his heart wavered at the thought of her showering Minho with the love he himself could not provide.
It was then that a heavy sound echoed from behind.
“What are the two of you doing here?”
Choi Kang-Woo’s voice was low, laced with a sharp, cutting edge. He frowned, looking at them standing amidst the snow-dusted trees in the garden. Na-Eun sensed his gaze, caught her breath, and greeted him quickly.
“Welcome, Chairman Choi.”
Kang-Woo shifted his gaze from Na-Eun to Kang-Hyuk. Deep wariness simmered in his eyes.
“Why is Teacher Han Na-Eun out here?”
Na-Eun tried to maintain a calm expression, though her pulse hammered uncomfortably against her ribs. She offered a cautious smile.
“Yes. They asked me to stop by the Main Building for a moment.”
Kang-Woo narrowed his eyes, staring his older brother down. Kang-Hyuk stood straight, ignoring the hostility. A cold wind gusted through the garden, causing the branches to tremble and shed light dustings of snow.
“When did you arrive, Hyung?”
Kang-Woo’s words were stiff and detached.
Kang-Hyuk shrugged, his expression indifferent.
“I’ve arrived. I’m planning to stay in the Main Building starting today.”
Kang-Woo’s eyes flickered. He muttered under his breath.
“Is that so? If you clash with Minho, he’s only going to cry again.”
Kang-Hyuk remained unmoved, his voice level.
“I won’t be clashing with Minho. I’ll be working from the Main Building and heading out for meetings. I have more than enough work to handle online.”
The strange, static tension between the two brothers stifled Na-Eun. Fearing the atmosphere might shatter, she opened her mouth to intervene, but Kang-Woo’s expression was set in stone, his gaze fixed on Kang-Hyuk as if trying to pierce through his heart.
Kang-Hyuk finally looked away from his younger brother and nodded toward Na-Eun.
“I will go inside first. Please take good care of our Minho.”
“Yes. Please, go ahead.”
As Kang-Hyuk disappeared into the Main Building, only Kang-Woo and Na-Eun remained in the garden.
“Why were you two alone?”
“Pardon?”
Na-Eun hadn’t even realized how solitary their moment had been.
“I was just on my way out after my meeting, and we briefly discussed Minho.”
“I’m sure you were. But seeing you standing with anyone other than me makes me feel quite unpleasant.”
Na-Eun tilted her head.
“Anyone else? He is Minho’s father.”
“Everyone but me is ‘someone else.’ There is no guarantee that the woman I fell in love with at first sight won’t look just as enchanting in my brother’s eyes.”
Na-Eun laughed at his bluntness.
“No way.”
They stood in the garden, bathed in the sharp, cold evening air. The moonlight shimmered softly over the piled snow, and a heavy silence hung between them. Kang-Woo shoved his hands into his pockets, stepped closer, and searched her face. From afar, the lights of the Christmas tree twinkled, casting a soft glow over their silhouettes.
Na-Eun looked around, subtly tense. Aware of his unwavering gaze, she averted her eyes, but Kang-Woo only watched her, a small, peculiar smile touching his lips.
“Are you really telling me you fell for me at first sight?”
When Na-Eun asked, Kang-Woo nodded firmly.
“Yes. Shall I tell you in detail?”
His voice was laced with a playful, dangerous warmth.
Na-Eun chuckled and shook her head.
“No. It’s just… I don’t think I’m the kind of person someone would fall for at first sight.”
Kang-Woo frowned slightly, his tone turning serious.
“Why would you think that?”
Na-Eun didn’t answer. She fell silent, watching the snow settle on a small tree. Her breath drifted into the cold air like a ghost.
“Have you not dated anyone until now?”
Kang-Woo’s voice was soft, insistent. Na-Eun hesitated before letting out a small, self-deprecating laugh.
“I got a job right after graduation. You know where I work, right? A kindergarten. And I became a mother at a young age. Working as a teacher while raising a child is not an easy feat. Because of that, I’ve barely had the chance to date.”
It wasn’t just ‘barely’; she had never dated a soul. But she felt that if she admitted Choi Kang-Woo was her first love at her age, it would sound too pathetic. So, she kept it vague. Kang-Woo chuckled.
“I see.”
He didn’t dig into the sensitive areas. He didn’t ask how she had given birth to Jiho or who the father was.
To him, she was a clean slate. He didn’t know the circumstances behind Jiho being her son, but he wanted to respect her life as it stood.
The garden shone under the moon, the snow glittering on the branches. Na-Eun searched his face for sincerity. Kang-Woo’s eyes were brimming with confidence, yet a faint, anxious tremor underscored them.
“Don’t stay alone with my brother again. I hate it.”
His voice was low, absolute.
Na-Eun smiled playfully.
“You’re full of jealousy.”
Kang-Woo nodded immediately, answering with total conviction.
“That’s right. I’m a petty man who gets jealous and holds a grudge for a very long time. Just keep in mind: your boyfriend is incredibly possessive.”
Na-Eun turned away, shaking her head in disbelief. His unabashed honesty was both adorable and absurd. She sighed, her words trailing off.
“Honestly. How can you be so confident about being petty and jealous?”
Kang-Woo nodded smoothly, his hands still tucked in his pockets.
“I have every right to be. Isn’t it natural to be obsessed with one’s own woman? Love is possessiveness and exclusivity. I can do anything for your growth, Na-Eun. But I will not allow others into your space. I despise even having them near you.”
Thanku 😍🥰😘