Seokmin stood at the beach, the warm sunlight casting a golden glow over the scene as he discussed the finer points of the photoshoot with Mingyu.

Areum and Haneul were a short distance away, their laughter and chatter carrying on the breeze as they waited for Hwayoung to arrive.

But Seokmin's attention was only half-focused on the conversation. His gaze wandered, drifting across the beach until it landed on a figure emerging from the distance.

His heart skipped a beat as he caught sight of Hwayoung, her long hair blowing in the wind, her smile radiant as she walked towards the group.

Seokmin's breath caught in his throat, his chest tightening as if a vice had been applied. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, his senses reeling from the sudden impact of her presence.

His heart was racing, pounding in his chest like a drum, as he struggled to maintain a semblance of calm. Mingyu's voice faded into the background, becoming a distant hum as Seokmin's entire focus narrowed to the woman walking towards him.

Hwayoung's arrival was like a whispered promise, her presence announced by the gentle rustle of the wind as she walked towards the group.

The light blue off-shoulder dress she wore seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, hugging her curves with a subtle sensuality that left Seokmin's breath caught in his throat.

Her wet hair was pulled to one side of her shoulder, a few stray strands framing her face like a delicate watercolor painting.

As their eyes met, Seokmin felt a swarm of butterflies erupting in his stomach, their wings beating in a frantic rhythm that left him feeling lightheaded and disoriented.

Areum, sensing Hwayoung's arrival, let out a squeal of excitement, her little legs pumping furiously as she ran towards her with an uncontainable enthusiasm.

She leaned down, her smile warm and inviting, as she pecked Areum's forehead with a gentle affection.

"Tell bye to Dad," she said, her voice husky and sweet. "We'll be leaving now." Her eyes flickered up, meeting Seokmin's gaze for a fleeting instant, before she turned to follow Areum, leaving Seokmin feeling lost and bereft, like a ship without anchor or rudder.

Areum's eyes sparkled with excitement as she nodded vigorously, her ponytail bouncing with each movement.

She took off in a sprint, her little legs pumping furiously as she ran back to her father. Seokmin's hands rose, palms outward, in a gentle gesture for her to slow down.

He kneeled down, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled, and pressed a soft kiss to Areum's forehead.

His fingers brushed through her hair, a tender gesture that spoke volumes about the depth of his love for his daughter. "Be careful, okay?" he whispered, his voice low and husky. "And... don't trouble Hwayoung."

Seokmin's gaze drifted up, his eyes meeting Hwayoung's for a fleeting instant, before returning to Areum's upturned face. Areum's nod was enthusiastic, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Okay, Dad! Bye!!" she exclaimed, her voice rising to a squeak of delight. She planted a sloppy kiss on Seokmin's cheek, her arms wrapping around his neck in a tight hug.

"Bye..." Seokmin's voice was soft, his smile warm, as he hugged Areum back. Areum pulled away, her face alight with excitement, and took off in a skip, her little backpack bouncing with each step.

She jumped up and down, her ponytail bobbing wildly, as she reached Hwayoung's side, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

As Hwayoung's eyes met Seokmin's, they shared a fleeting, yet profound, moment of understanding.

A silent nod passed between them, a gesture that spoke volumes about the unspoken emotions and unresolved tension that hung in the air like a challenge.

As Hwayoung turned to leave, Seokmin found himself rooted to the spot, unable to tear his gaze away from her retreating figure. His eyes seemed to be drawn to her, as if by an unseen force, his gaze drinking in the sight of her slender back, the gentle sway of her hips, and the soft cascade of her hair.

And then, as if sensing his gaze, Hwayoung looked over her shoulder, her eyes meeting Seokmin's in a flash of mutual awareness. The air seemed to vibrate with tension, the moment stretching out like a live wire, humming with electricity.

Mingyu's nudge broke the spell, his elbow digging gently into Seokmin's ribs. "Min, focus!?" he asked, his voice low.

Seokmin blinked, his gaze releasing Hwayoung's as he turned to Mingyu, a faint flush rising to his cheeks.

Meanwhile...

The atmosphere in the grand dining room was tense, the air thick with unspoken expectations. Wonwoo's friends and family were seated around the sprawling table, their faces a mixture of curiosity and concern.

At the head of the table, Wonwoo's eyes narrowed, his gaze pinning Kim Heejin with an unnerving intensity.

"Where is she?" he asked, his voice low and even, but laced with a subtle menace. The words seemed to drop like a stone into a still pond, sending ripples of unease through the assembled group.

Heejin's eyes flickered, her gaze darting nervously around the table before returning to Wonwoo's unyielding stare.

Heejin's voice was laced with a forced casualness, her words dripping with a subtle nervousness. "Wonwoo, you know how marriages work, right?" she said, her smile faltering for a fraction of a second, a tiny tremble in her lips that she quickly suppressed.

"I think she just started to get cold feet," Heejin continued, her tone light, but her eyes betraying a hint of unease. "She said beaches calm her down."

The words sounded rehearsed, a carefully crafted excuse that Heejin hoped would placate Wonwoo's growing impatience.

Heejin's gaze darted around the table, her eyes locking onto Wonwoo's for a fleeting instant before she looked away, her voice taking on a slightly desperate tone.

"But if I don't allow her, she said she'd ask her father... and I don't want that," she said, her head shaking in a jerky motion, as if the mere thought of involving Hwayoung's father was enough to fill her with dread.

Wonwoo's gaze drifted away, his eyes clouding over as he took a deep, measured breath. The tension in his body was palpable, his jaw clenched in a tight, controlled line.

For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, his mind racing with the implications of Heejin's words.

And then, with a sudden, fluid motion, Wonwoo pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. His deep voice commanded attention, his words drawing every eye at the table to his imposing figure.

"Well, my dear friends and family..." he began, his tone low and deliberate, "I've got some good news and some bad news."

The room fell silent, the air thickening with anticipation as Wonwoo's gaze swept the table, his eyes locking onto the faces of his loved ones.

His pause was deliberate, his gaze sweeping the table to ensure he had everyone's undivided attention.

"The bad news is..." he began, his voice measured, "Hwayoung won't be joining us today." The words dropped like a stone, causing a ripple of surprise and curiosity to spread around the table.

Wonwoo's expression remained enigmatic, his eyes glinting with a hint of something more. He let the silence hang for a moment, building anticipation before he continued.

"But the good news is..."

As Seokmin entered the room, his gaze fell upon the peaceful scene before him. Areum was sprawled across Hwayoung's bed, her tiny chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. Hwayoung sat beside her, a soft smile on her face as she gazed down at the sleeping child.

His voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke Areum's name, but Hwayoung's response was immediate. "She's asleep," she said, her voice equally soft, as if fearful of disturbing the child's slumber.

"I'll take her", he crossed the room, his movements economical and precise. He gently scooped up Areum, cradling her in his arms as he settled her head onto his shoulder.

Hwayoung watched, her eyes never leaving Seokmin's face, as he stood there, his daughter nestled in his arms.

"Why?" Hwayoung's question was barely audible, her voice a mere whisper of curiosity. She seemed to be asking not just about Seokmin's actions, but about the emotions that drove him, the feelings that lingered beneath the surface.

Hwayoung's eyes widened in surprise as Seokmin turned to leave, Areum still nestled in his arms. "Let her sleep here!" she exclaimed, a hint of protest creeping into her voice. Her brow furrowed, a faint frown marring her features.

Haneul, sensing the sudden tension, looked up from her phone, her eyes darting between Hwayoung and Seokmin. "C'mon! It's just one day!" she chimed in, her tone light and conciliatory.

But Seokmin remained resolute, his expression unyielding. "I'm sorry, I insist," he said, his voice firm but polite. He turned to leave, adding, "Don't mind," as if to dismiss any further argument.

Hwayoung's frown deepened, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Seokmin walk away. She hesitated for a moment, then followed behind him, her movements quiet and deliberate. The air seemed to vibrate with unspoken questions, the silence between them thick with unresolved tension.

Haneul trailed behind, sensing the escalating tension between Hwayoung and Seokmin. She kept a discreet distance, allowing them a semblance of privacy as they stepped outside.

Hwayoung's patience finally snapped, her frustration boiling over like a pent-up storm. "Why do you have to be so adamant about this!?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in exasperation.

"What will happen over one night!!?" she pressed on, her words tumbling out in a passionate plea, hoping to persuade Seokmin to change his mind.

Seokmin's response was low and measured, his eyes darting to Areum's sleeping form as he spoke. "You're here today," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Tomorrow, you won't." The words hung in the air, heavy with implication, as if Seokmin was reminding Hwayoung of the impermanence of their situation, the fragile nature of their relationship.

Seokmin's gaze locked onto Hwayoung's, his eyes burning with a quiet intensity. "What if she gets habituated?" he asked, his voice low and even, but laced with a hint of concern.

Hwayoung's eyes flashed with emotion, her voice trembling as she spoke. "So, you'll take her away this harshly!?" she exclaimed, her words dripping with hurt and accusation.

Her eyes welled up with tears, her face pale with emotion, as if Seokmin's decision had struck her with the force of a physical blow.

The pain and vulnerability etched on her face made Seokmin's expression falter, his eyes betraying a flicker of uncertainty.

For an instant, Seokmin's eyes betrayed a glimmer of regret, a flicker of uncertainty that seemed to dance across his face. But it was swiftly extinguished, replaced by a mask of determination.

Hwayoung's words tumbled out in a passionate torrent, her voice rising with conviction. "Do you know how happy she was today?" she asked, her eyes shining with tears.

"You don't know a girl's needs!" she exclaimed, her voice cracking with emotion. "She needs a feminine touch! She needs female parenting!"

Seokmin's face darkened, his jaw clenched in a tight line. His eyes flashed with a sudden anger, his voice snapping like a whip.

Seokmin's voice was low and menacing, his words dripping with venom as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

"Buying a few accessories and clothes is not parenting!" he exclaimed, his frustration boiling over like a simmering cauldron.

He took a step closer, his eyes blazing with anger, his words spat out like a challenge. "And I'm not in a position to hear it from you!" The hurt and betrayal etched on his face was palpable, his pain and frustration culminating in a devastating blow. "Your vacation is over, right? So please, leave us!"

Hwayoung's eyes flashed with pain and hurt, but she stood tall, her face pale and shaken. She attempted to speak, to defend herself, but her throat was tight, her words caught in a silent gasp.

She stood frozen, her eyes locked on Seokmin's retreating back, as he turned and walked away, Areum sleeping peacefully in his arms.

Mingyu watched the exchange, his expression a mixture of concern and discomfort. He followed Seokmin, supervising as he tucked Areum into bed, the silence between them thick with unspoken tension.

As Seokmin smoothed the covers over Areum's sleeping form, his eyes met Mingyu's, a flicker of emotion crossing his face before he turned and walked away, leaving Mingyu to wonder what had just transpired.

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