While Minhee and Danjung were preparing tea, Minhyuk cautiously spoke to Yeonju, who was sitting comfortably on the sofa.

“Um... Mother, there’s something I want to ask you.”

He was careful not to spoil his mother’s unusually cheerful mood, but there was something he definitely needed to ask today.

“Don’t hesitate and ask.”

“When I had the accident, were there many people who came to visit me in the hospital? I’d like to know if there was an adult man who checked on my condition right after the surgery.”

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

Yeonju looked at Minhyuk with uneasy eyes, wondering why he was asking such an unexpected question on this good day.

And soon, she frowned, thinking about a past she didn’t want to recall.

But Yeonju realized that her son wouldn’t bring up such a story without a reason, so she searched her old memories.

“I was so out of my mind back then. That’s why your father asked the hotel staff to refrain from visiting. If someone checked on you right after the surgery, they must have been a close relative.”

“I understand.”

A close relative... so he had to acknowledge it after all?

The day before the wedding, Minhyuk remembered the voice that had urged him to die while Danjung was practicing driving.

The person who had told the young life, struggling between life and death with broken limbs, to die rather than live as a cripple was none other than his own uncle, Seongho.

He didn’t want to believe it, but he had no choice but to trust his suspicions.

“Are you still having nightmares?”

Yeonju looked worried and reached out to take Minhyuk’s hand.

She immediately felt a pang in her heart, remembering her young son suffering from nightmares and sweating profusely.

“No, Mother. Don’t worry. I just asked to try and get over those nightmares now.”

“Alright, I understand. I believe you will overcome it.”

The weak child had grown into a dependable man, and now he was the strong head of a household.

“Are you a good driver, Miss?”

Danjung, who was preparing refreshments, seized the opportunity to talk to Minhee while they were alone.

She thought it would be good to get along with her sister-in-law.

Of course, she wasn’t unaware that Minhee didn’t like her, but she felt she should at least make an effort.

“Well, I’m not bad.”

“Then, would you teach me how to drive?”

“Why would I? I’m not that free.”

Minhee rejected Danjung, who was trying to act friendly, and clearly drew a line.

It was a kind of warning telling her not to approach anymore because she didn’t want to get along with her.

“Ah... you’re busy. What kind of work do you do, Miss?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“......”

“I’m an actress. I haven’t made it big yet, though.”

Seeing Danjung’s flustered face, Minhee reluctantly told her, feeling like she had been too harsh.

But in fact, she didn’t want to talk about it because no one recognized her, and no one acknowledged her.

“I knew it! I thought so.”

“What?”

“With your beauty, Miss, what else would you do if not be an actress? You’re so cool.”

“Cool, my foot... No one recognizes me.”

Minhee, feeling good about Danjung’s compliment, unknowingly twitched her face.

“Then you just have to make them recognize you.”

“Hoo~ it’s not that easy. I keep failing auditions.”

Minhee, who had dreamed of being an actress for a long time, wanted to succeed through her own efforts.

So, she kept the fact that her mother was a fairly famous actress and that she was the daughter of a wealthy family a secret.

But she kept failing auditions and was worried that she might not have the talent.

“It’s just that you haven’t met the right role for you yet, Miss. If you keep working hard, you’ll definitely succeed.”

Danjung’s words were sincere.

Of course, she was also trying to make a good impression on her sister-in-law, but her beauty was definitely top-actress material.

“Do you really think so?”

Minhee had never had anyone believe in her before.

Even her mother only saw it as a pastime... and suddenly, she had received sincere encouragement.

“Ah! I just had a good idea.”

“What is it?”

“These days, it’s the age of self-promotion. How about you try making vlogs, Miss? First, get your face known, and then prove your skills.”

“Are you telling me to make *Tube videos now?”

“Of course. It’s such a waste to limit this beauty to just Korea. And instead of filming ordinary vlogs, how about trying to create a concept? Like acting.”

“Then, Sister, please help me. I’ll teach you how to drive too.”

Minhee’s face lit up with joy at Danjung’s brilliant idea.

Why hadn’t she thought of just bringing over her *stagram followers until now?

Minhee thought her brother had married a surprisingly sharp woman.

“Okay.”

Danjung, who usually enjoyed watching *Tube, thought it would be fun and decided to actively help Minhee.

And she thought she should take this opportunity to improve her relationship with Minhee.

***

“How can I help you?”

“Please stop this man from taking our Hayeon.”

At Jinhee’s reply, Jiwook grabbed Taejoon’s hand, which was holding Hayeon’s arm with a rather strong grip, and pulled it away.

“I’m taking my own child, what’s it to you!”

“I’m, I’m the next-door neighbor!”

“Seriously... hey! You look like a bachelor who hasn’t even gotten married yet, don’t get involved with a married woman you don’t even know and ruin your life. Just go home.”

Taejoon, who had been flustered, felt relieved at Jiwook’s reply and tried to coax him into going back inside.

From what he could see, the two didn’t seem to be dating yet, and Jiwook, who had quite a strong grip, didn’t seem like someone he could take on.

As Jiwook’s face darkened at Taejoon’s words, Jinhee suddenly became scared that he might go back home.

It was because Jiwook was the only one who could protect her now.

But what about Hayeon? Who would protect Hayeon?

Trembling with fear, Jinhee steeled her heart with the thought of protecting Hayeon.

“Oppa, you should be the one to go back and not ruin your life. Did you forget that you signed the divorce papers, giving me custody and agreeing to send 500,000 won in child support every month? If you keep showing up and causing trouble like this, I won’t stand by.”

“You won’t stand by?”

“I’m going to file a restraining order with the court.”

“What? Park Jinhee, how can you do this? We loved each other for a whole seven years. What about the person you loved for seven years?”

Taejoon shamelessly brought up love and criticized Jinhee.

“Then what about you, Oppa? You fell for another woman and abandoned your wife and daughter. If you’re a human being, shouldn’t you have some conscience!”

“That’s why I’m begging you like this, Jinhee. I won’t do it again. I was out of my mind for a moment. From now on, I’ll come to my senses and live only for you and Hayeon. It’s true, I can even swear. Or should I write you a pledge?”

Taejoon firmly believed that Jinhee would come back to him.

They had fought many times before, but they had always reconciled in the end, and their love had only grown stronger.

‘Ha! He’s really shameless.’

Jiwook, who was watching the scene, could only let out a hollow laugh.

Being just the next-door neighbor, Jiwook couldn’t do anything for Jinhee, but he wanted to give her courage so she wouldn’t go back to such trash.

So, he held Jinhee’s hand tightly, meaning she wasn’t alone and should be strong.

“?”

Surprised by Jiwook’s touch, Jinhee turned her head to look at his face.

He was just a neighbor she didn’t know well... but strangely, Jinhee felt strength from his comfort.

“What, what are you!”

Taejoon looked back and forth between Jiwook and Jinhee, who were holding hands, and trembled as he looked at their tightly clasped hands.

“Please stop. It’s quite unsightly to watch from the side.”

Jiwook, who was no longer just the next-door neighbor, said a word to Taejoon.

At that, Jiwook’s uncomfortable feelings also eased a bit.

“What! I was going to end this nicely.”

As Taejoon huffed and tried to grab Jiwook by the collar, Jinhee took out her phone from her pocket and called the police.

“Hello, police station? My ex-husband has come and is causing trouble. Yes, this is * * * officetel in Sillim-dong.”

“Hey! Park Jinhee!”

“Just a moment. Are you going back?”

Jinhee briefly stopped her call with the police and glared at Taejoon with sharp eyes.

Then, Taejoon took a step back from Jiwook.

Her eyes no longer seemed to hold any love for him, nor any desire to try again.

“My ex-husband says he’ll leave. Ah, okay. Thank you. Goodbye.”

As Jinhee hung up the phone with the police, who said they would come to check later, Taejoon, sensing their final goodbye, began to sob.

“Sob sob, Jinhee-ya, is this really the end for us?”

“I don’t have any lingering feelings for you anymore, Oppa. I’m going to live well on my own, so you should also live well as Hayeon’s father, without bringing her shame.”

Jinhee was sincere. As of today, it was truly the end with her husband.

“Sob sob sob. I won’t come looking for you anymore. Sob, please raise our Hayeon well... I’m sorry for everything.”

Taejoon decided to let her go with the last bit of conscience he had left.

He had pushed her away so heartlessly, so it was unreasonable to ask her to take him back now.

“If you want to see Hayeon, make an appointment in advance. Don’t just show up unannounced like this.”

“Okay, I’ll see our Hayeon a few times a year... Live well. Sob.”

Taejoon wiped away his tears, looking at Hayeon, whom he couldn’t reach, and Jinhee holding another man’s hand.

Why is it that people only realize the value of something after they lose it...?

He regretted cheating and walked away from Jinhee.

As Taejoon walked away with a lonely look, Jinhee looked at Jiwook, who was holding her hand.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”

Jiwook, feeling Jinhee’s gaze, finally realized he was still holding her hand.

“No, it’s okay. Thanks to you, I was able to find courage. Thank you.”

As Jinhee gave a lonely smile, Jiwook slowly let go of her hand, which he had been holding tightly.

But strangely, Jiwook felt a regretful feeling of wanting to hold her hand a little longer.

“Then please go in safely. Thank you for today.”

Just as Jinhee was about to open the door and go inside, Jiwook hurriedly called out to her.

“Um, Jinhee-ssi? You are Jinhee-ssi, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Would you like to have a glass of wine?”

“Wine?”

“I have the leftover spaghetti, and I also received a new bottle of wine as a gift at home. How about it?”

“But because of Hayeon...”

“Ah, Hayeon. Then how about we just have one glass of wine and eat the spaghetti together?”

Jiwook didn’t want to leave Jinhee alone like this.

He was worried she might cry, and he also wanted to get to know her a little better.

“......Okay.”

As Jinhee, who had hesitated for a moment, replied, Jiwook raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.

“Then I’ll bring the wine and spaghetti over in a bit.”

“Yes, I understand.”

As Jiwook quickly went back into his house, Jinhee smiled softly and looked at Hayeon, who had already fallen into a sound sleep.

“It’s because Mommy doesn’t want to eat spaghetti alone.”