The cafe, bustling since early morning, finally regained a tranquil atmosphere just before lunchtime.
After dealing with the rush of customers on the way to work, Sol, whose face had turned slightly pale, turned her gaze to the window. Then, she shook her head slightly.
If she had sent Siwoo off to school, she would have gone home. She couldn’t understand why she was sitting in someone else’s cafe like a woman with a story since the morning. It made onlookers feel awkward.
A small glass bottle filled with water sparkled in the sunlight. Above it, a crimson cosmos flower swayed its petals as Sol’s vacant gaze stared endlessly.
Dajeong had no way to dispel her gloomy mood. It was because of the unexpected apology from the trio.
Siwoo had been teased for not having a dad. The more she thought about it, the more the lingering sadness turned into a murky pool in her chest.
While she had considered that her child might face such teasing as they grew up, when it actually happened, she found it difficult to express those feelings.
Anyway, Dajeong couldn’t help but inquire in detail about the incident with Siwoo due to concern about the scars Siwoo might have received.
Carefully asking, Siwoo seemed to realize it belatedly. She appeared greatly embarrassed, likely because she had already coolly accepted Yerim’s apology and the secret was no longer a secret.
In any case, Siwoo confessed everything willingly.
But perhaps it was fortunate. If Siwoo had been deeply hurt by the teasing about not having a dad, it would have been worrisome. However, Siwoo seemed to have forgotten almost all the emotions she might have felt at that time.
Surprisingly, the conversation shifted focus to something else. The excited tone of the discussion, which seemed to have been held back for a long time, was centered around ‘Tiger Uncle’ and ‘Cool Dad.’
“Tiger Uncle says, um… Dad was good at studying and sports. Um… Also, he was tall and handsome, so he was very popular with women. So, when Siwoo grows up, she’ll be cooler than Dad!”
It seemed like she was boasting quite a bit in front of the child. Of course, there was no expectation that the man would know the virtue of humility.
Anyway, it was a relief that Siwoo’s attention was diverted from what happened. On the other hand, there was a discomfort in one corner of Dajeong’s heart.
“Siwoo, but Siwoo’s dad would have been sad too. Unable to say that he’s her dad in that situation.”
Dajeong was relieved that Sol had taken care of Siwoo’s young heart so that she wouldn’t get hurt. At the same time, a corner of her heart felt uneasy.
“Siwoo is Siwoo, but Siwoo’s dad was probably sad too. Unable to say that he’s her dad in that situation.”
Sol seemed to read the unspoken thoughts that Dajeong couldn’t express and spoke on her behalf.
‘I want to tell Yu Siwoo that I’m her dad.’
Only now did Dajeong understand the unexpected words from Jung-hyuk that day.
She wondered how it would have been if it had started from the beginning. Would Siwoo have experienced the pain, and would that person’s heart have been hurt?
Siwoo didn’t have a dad. It had been like that from the beginning. Since it was assumed that there would be no chance to meet him again, it was only natural.
However, not now. Siwoo had a dad, and Cha Junghyuk was Siwoo’s dad.
In truth, it wasn’t easy to determine what was the right choice. Siwoo had been raised as her own child from birth. Accepting and acknowledging something that wasn’t there from the beginning was not an easy task.
But on the other hand.
Suddenly, the face of him who carried a pained Siwoo into the emergency room came to mind. When Siwoo was in pain and crying, she felt fortunate that the person by her side was none other than her dad.
However, was it really right to block all the other rights that could be enjoyed as a dad for the sake of her humble beliefs?
Is it really okay like this? Am I not forcing one-sided sacrifices on Siwoo and myself for the sake of my peace of mind?
No, is it necessary to weigh all those things on the same scale just because I decided on being single in the first place?
Dajeong still couldn’t know what the answer was.
“Above all, do I even have the right to decide those things?”
As Dajeong mumbled in distress, Sol’s sigh deepened.
“Hey, just think about it easily. In times like this, we should learn from American kids. They even go to the baseball field holding hands with their new dads and stepdads. How harmonious and open-minded is that?”
“That’s an American story. And just because it’s America, does everything work that way?”
Dajeong retorted. Then, the man who was steadfastly protecting Sol’s side inserted a comment as if squeezing it in.
“These days, even Korea’s perception has changed. With the increasing divorce rate, societal awareness naturally has to change. Just wait for ten years. There will be a day in Korea when divorced ex-wives and remarried wives celebrate as sisters.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
