An uncomfortable silence drifted through the phone.

Seol Won attempted to resume her explanation, or more accurately, her persuasion.

Contrary to her concerns, Jae Yun readily agreed with her words.

[Ah, that’s probably for the best, right? Okay, got it. Don’t worry too much, Seol Won. I’ll lightly gloss it over with the parents.]

“……I’m sorry.”

[Sorry? Why apologize? I saw Woo Ju following Mr. Chae Ha quite well last time. Have a pleasant time, the three of you.]

“……Yes.”

His tone, calm yet concealing disappointment, made Seol Won uneasy.

Their relationship was bound by mutual gratitude.

She was well aware of Jae Yun’s special feelings for her within that bond.

However, regretfully, such feelings couldn’t evolve into love, which Jae Yun undoubtedly knew too.

Realizing that giving false hope was worse, Seol Won decided to draw a clear line quickly.

Jae Yun was a solid, kind man, a rarity these days.

Deserving someone truly wonderful, not someone like her, already with a husband and child.

After ending the call, Seol Won stared contemplatively at her phone’s calendar.

August. Her birthday, and the day she planned to return to the island with her mother’s will.

What was once a meaningful, heated summer, now felt different, likely due to one man’s influence.

“Excuse me, Mr. Chae Ha?”

“Yes? What is it?”

That evening, as soon as Chae Ha returned home, Seol Won hurried to greet him at the entrance.

Inspired, she intended to arrange plans in advance.

Checking the calendar, she noted her birthday fell on a weekday; if they were to dine out, Chae Ha couldn’t work late.

Usually, after she and Woo Ju moved in, Chae Ha would leave work early, but there was no certainty.

“So… is there any important task at work this Thursday?”

“Work? Important task?”

Chae Ha tilted his head, puzzled.

Realizing her question was vague, Seol Won refined it.

“Not early… I mean, can you come home at the usual time?”

“Hmm.”

Instead of replying, Chae Ha stroked his chin, his gaze seemingly scrutinizing Seol Won.

Just as she was about to urge an answer, his direct gaze shifted past her.

Suddenly, cheerful footsteps sounded, and Woo Ju leaped into Chae Ha’s arms.

“Big Daddy!”

“My little one. If you greet me so enthusiastically, Big Daddy might die of happiness.”

“Eh? Big Daddy dies? Why die when happy?”

“Too much happiness can do that.”

As Chae Ha said this while deeply gazing at Seol Won, she lost her intended words, blushing deeply.

More importantly…

‘Does he not know about my birthday?’

This fleeting thought pricked at Seol Won’s heart.

She hadn’t thought he would remember, as they’d never celebrated together before.

Previously, she spent her birthdays overwhelmed by chores and sleeping alone.

What was once acceptable now felt significantly disappointing.

No, it was extremely upsetting.

Seol Won glared at Chae Ha’s back as he carried Woo Ju upstairs.

If he truly didn’t know, she had to inform him.

She had rejected Jae Yun’s parents’ invitation precisely to spend time with him.

Fortunately, it was only Monday.

There was still some time before her birthday.

Enough time to make Chae Ha aware of the crucial fact of his wife’s birthday.
Hadn’t Seol Won declined Jae Yun’s parents’ invitation just to spend time with him?

Luckily, it was still Monday.

There was still some time left until her birthday.

Time to make Kwon Chae Ha realize the significant fact of his wife’s birthday.

Unfortunately, Seol Won’s plan didn’t go as smoothly as she had hoped.

Every time she tried to bring up the topic, she felt too embarrassed to start the conversation.

Just as she was about to speak, Woo Ju would come running to his Big Daddy, taking him away.

The perfect timing of their interruptions made her suspicious if they had planned it.

They needed to discuss whether to reserve a fancy restaurant or cook a delicious meal at home, but time was relentlessly slipping away.

Although it was unlike her, Seol Won was becoming increasingly anxious.

[Star Icon]

Seol Won strongly agreed with the saying that it’s hard to change one’s innate nature.

She ended up facing Thursday without having broached the subject with Chae Ha.

To add to her dismay, Chae Ha sent a message saying, ‘I’m busy today, please pick up Woo Ju,’ deepening her frustration.

Just her luck, on her birthday, he seemed bound to work late.

It was an unavoidable situation.

After all, Kwon Chae Ha was the vice president of Chae Un Group, and it was obvious that he had mountains of work more pressing than his wife’s birthday.

“Excuse me? Woo Ju went home?”

Arriving at the daycare, Seol Won encountered a bewildering situation.

“Yes, Big Daddy just picked him up a while ago. They left in a car, didn’t you hear?”

“Ah…….”

“He seemed really busy, must have forgotten~.”

The considerate teacher from the Rabbit Class subtly tried to console her.

But it was to no avail.

The inescapable disappointment was surging in Seol Won’s heart.

Even with his busy schedule, it felt empty that he reversed his own words to take Woo Ju.