Seokmin and Mingyu burst into the resort, their feet pounding the pavement in unison as they frantically scanned the crowds for a glimpse of Areum's tiny form and Pluto's distinctive fur.

The air was alive with the hum of chatter and the sweet scent of flowers, but Seokmin's senses were on high alert, his eyes scouring every inch of the landscape for his daughter.

"You go this side," Seokmin instructed Mingyu, his voice low and urgent, before he veered off in the opposite direction, his long strides eating up the distance.

The sound of his own voice calling out Areum's name echoed through the air, a heartfelt plea that seemed to hang suspended in the hopes that she would hear and respond. "Areum!" he shouted, his voice carrying above the din of the wedding preparations.

Meanwhile, Jungkook's eyes narrowed as he watched Seokmin's approach, his instincts on high alert. Assuming that Seokmin was there to cause trouble, Jungkook swiftly intervened, his movements fluid and purposeful as he intercepted Seokmin.

A hint of warning lingered in his eyes, a silent message that Seokmin was not welcome there. He didn't want him to ruin his brother's wedding.

Jungkook's voice was laced with a hint of curiosity, his eyes sparkling with a knowing glint. "Hi, Searching for someone?" he asked, his tone innocent, but his gaze betraying a deeper understanding.

Seokmin's response was distracted, his eyes scanning the crowds with a growing sense of urgency. "Yeah... Hwayoung... my daughter," he trailed off, his voice fading into the background as his gaze continued to roam.

Jungkook's expression shifted, a hint of surprise flickering across his face before he nodded and gestured for Seokmin to follow him. "Hwayoung? Then come this way," he said, leading the way to Seokmin.

Meanwhile, Areum's eyes darted around the crowded spaces, her small face set in a determined expression as she clutched Pluto's leash tightly.

She wove through the groups of people, her gaze scanning every room, every corner, every hidden nook. And then, suddenly, her eyes landed on Hwayoung, sitting alone in a room, her eyes glazed over in a distant stare.

Areum's lips parted, her breath catching in her throat as she prepared to call out to Hwayoung.

But before she could utter a sound, Mingyu's voice echoed through the air, his words indistinct, but his tone unmistakable - a mix of urgency and worry that sent Areum's heart racing.

Mingyu's voice cut through the air, his eyes locking onto Areum's as he called out her name.

"Areum!" he exclaimed, his tone a mix of relief and reprimand. Areum's gaze met his, her eyes sparkling with a hint of defiance as Mingyu hastened towards her.

"Where have you been, Areum?" Mingyu demanded, his voice rising in urgency. "Dad's waiting for you, let's go!" he said, his words tumbling out in a rush as he reached for Areum's hand.

But Areum was resolute, her small frame squaring off against Mingyu's as she stood her ground. "Uncle, I've got to talk to Hwayoung, just two minutes!" she pleaded, her eyes flashing with determination.

She turned to make her way towards Hwayoung, but her path was abruptly blocked by Heejin's imposing figure.

Mingyu's muttered oath was a soft, exasperated sound as he quickened his pace, pushing past the crowds with a sense of growing urgency. He finally reached Areum's side, his breathing slightly labored as he intervened in the unfolding scene.

Heejin's voice was calm, but firm, as she gently but firmly instructed Areum to wait in the adjacent room for a few minutes. "Please, Areum, just wait for a little while," she said, her eyes soft with a hint of apology.

Areum's face fell, her eyes clouding over with disappointment, but she reluctantly nodded, allowing Mingyu to escort her to the nearby room.

Heejin's voice trembled with a mix of anger and accusation, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "He promised that he would never turn up in our lives again," she exclaimed, her words dripping with venom.

"Is that why he sent you and his daughter?" The question hung in the air, a challenge that seemed to dare Mingyu to deny the truth.

Mingyu's expression remained calm, his tone measured as he sought to defuse the tension. "You're worrying unnecessarily, Ma'am," he said, his words chosen with care.

"We're here just to take the child away." The statement was meant to be reassuring, but Heejin's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as she searched for any hidden motive.

Heejin's voice rose, her words spilling out in a rush of emotion. "It was my daughter who survived that accident," she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the room.

"Not his wife!" The revelation hung in the air, a bombshell that seemed to shake the very foundations of the conversation.

Areum's tiny brows furrowed, her eyes clouding over with confusion as she listened to the heated exchange. Her small ears had picked up the words, and her mind was racing to make sense of the adult conversation.

The names, the accident, the wife – it was all so bewildering, yet somehow, it seemed to be connected to her own life.

Mingyu's hands rose in a placating gesture, his voice low and urgent as he pleaded with Heejin to keep her voice down.

"No, no, Ma'am, please speak softly... she doesn't know anything," he whispered, his eyes darting nervously towards Areum, who was watching the exchange with growing unease.

Heejin's voice, however, only grew louder, her words tumbling out in a passionate torrent of accusation and concern. "Did she come this far without knowing anything?" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with indignation.

"Did they meet her without planning?" The questions hung in the air, a challenge that seemed to imply a deeper conspiracy.

Mingyu's face twisted in a mixture of frustration and anxiety as Heejin's voice continued to rise. "Can Hwayoung bear the news that her child won't live long enough?" she exclaimed, the words cutting through the air like a knife.

Mingyu's eyes closed, his fingers rubbing his temples as if to ward off a growing headache. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation ahead.

Heejin, however, didn't spare him a glance, her attention focused solely on Areum as she strode towards the young girl.

"I don't know what your dad has told you," she began, her voice low and measured, but with an undercurrent of emotion that seemed to vibrate through every word. "But let me tell you..."

Mingyu's eyes snapped wide with alarm as he realized Heejin was no longer standing before him.

He spun around, his gaze frantically scanning the room until it landed on Heejin, who was now standing beside Areum, her words hanging in the air like a cruel blade.

"Ma'am!!" Mingyu yelled, his voice echoing through the room as he lunged forward, desperate to intervene. But Heejin's words continued to flow, a relentless torrent of pain and heartache.

"Hwayoung forgot that you are her daughter," Heejin said, her face a mask of stern resolve, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"You can forget that she is your mother too." The words were a brutal blow, a harsh reminder of the fractured bonds between Areum and her mother.

Areum's small body shuddered, her eyes welling up with tears as she listened to Heejin's words. The tears spilled down her cheeks, a heartbreaking cascade of sorrow as she sniffled and struggled to breathe.

Mingyu's face contorted in anguish, his eyes pleading with Heejin to stop, to spare Areum the pain of her words. But Heejin's expression remained unyielding, her gaze fixed on Areum with a mix of sadness and determination.

As Seokmin trailed behind Jungkook to the backyard, his brow furrowed in confusion. The lush greenery and vibrant flowers seemed to mock him, their beauty a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within.

He scanned the area, his eyes searching for a glimpse of Hwayoung's elegant form or Areum's tiny frame, but they were nowhere to be found.

Seokmin's expression turned incredulous as he realized Jungkook's intentions. He attempted to reason with him, his voice calm and measured. "I think there's been a misunderstanding," he began, but Jungkook's anger was a force to be reckoned with.

Without warning, Jungkook's fist connected with Seokmin's face, the impact sending a jolt of pain through his jaw. Seokmin's lower lip burst, a trickle of blood oozing from the wound as he stumbled backward.

Despite the shock and pain, Seokmin refused to retaliate, his eyes locked onto Jungkook's as he tried to reason with him once more.

"Listen to me," Seokmin said, his voice steady, despite the throbbing pain in his lip. "You don't understand the situation. Let me explain..." But Jungkook's expression remained unyielding, his eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness that seemed to dare Seokmin to come closer.

Jungkook's fists flew again, connecting with Seokmin's face and stomach with a sickening crunch.

Seokmin's body crumpled, his knees buckling under the onslaught of pain. He doubled over, gasping for breath, as Jungkook raised his fist for another blow.

But before Jungkook could strike again, a deep, commanding voice cut through the air, freezing him in his tracks.

"Jungkook! Leave this place," Wonwoo growled, his tone low and menacing, like a warning rumble of thunder.

Jungkook's face twisted in a snarl, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Hyung, do you even know what he did!?" he exclaimed, his voice rising in indignation.

But Wonwoo's expression remained unyielding, his eyes flashing with a stern warning.

"I said leave!!" Wonwoo thundered, his voice echoing through the backyard. The command was unmistakable, brooking no argument. Jungkook's face darkened, but he knew better than to cross Wonwoo.

With a final, venomous glance at Seokmin, he turned and stormed off, leaving the two men alone in the tense, aftermath silence.

Wonwoo's long strides closed the distance between them, his hands reaching out to grasp Seokmin's arms and gently lift him to his feet.

Seokmin's eyes met Wonwoo's, a flicker of surprise dancing across his face as he took in the other man's imposing figure.

"Seokmin, right?" Wonwoo asked, his deep voice low and smooth, like a gentle breeze on a summer's day. Seokmin nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to place Wonwoo's face.

"I know you," Wonwoo said, his gaze fixing intently on Seokmin's. The words hung in the air, a hint of a deeper connection lingering beneath the surface. Wonwoo's eyes seemed to bore into Seokmin's very soul, as if searching for something hidden.

"I'm sorry about my brother," Wonwoo said, his voice tinged with a hint of apology. "He's a bit..." Wonwoo's words trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished, but the implication clear. Jungkook's temper was a force to be reckoned with.

Wonwoo's expression turned serious, his eyes locking onto Seokmin's with a sense of gravity. "I'm Dr. Jeon Wonwoo," he said, his voice low and measured. "And I'm the one who's marrying your ex-wife."

The words dropped like a bombshell, the impact of which was impossible to ignore. Seokmin coughed a little as he stood up, his eyes fixed on Wonwoo's calm face.

"I don't mind if your arrival is a coincidence," Wonwoo said, his voice even and measured. "But if it's planned, then we might have a problem." His eyes seemed to bore into Seokmin's soul, as if daring him to reveal his true intentions.

Seokmin's expression remained neutral, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he took in Wonwoo's words. He turned to walk away, but suddenly halted and spun back around.

"She has suffered enough because of you," Seokmin said, his voice low and even, but with a hint of underlying emotion. "I suggest you leave." His jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a fierce intensity as he gazed at Wonwoo.

The air was heavy with tension as the two men locked eyes, the silence between them palpable and oppressive. Wonwoo left the scene leaving Seokmin alone in his own thoughts.

The soft whisper of Areum's voice was like a lifeline, pulling Seokmin back from the brink of emotional collapse. "Dad..." she said, her tiny voice trembling with uncertainty.

Seokmin's face twisted in a mixture of pain and vulnerability as he hastily wiped away the blood from his lips. He turned to Areum, his gaze sharp and searching, yet his eyes betraying the depth of his emotional turmoil.

"Where did you go, Areum?" he asked, his tone steady and even, but his voice barely concealing the anguish that threatened to consume him. The words hung in the air, a desperate plea for understanding and connection.

Seokmin's voice cracked as he continued, the emotions he'd been trying to keep in check finally beginning to spill over. "Do you know what happened to me?" he exclaimed, the pain and frustration boiling over.

"You left once because I didn't tell you your Mom's story. Now you're leaving in search of Hwayoung." The words tumbled out in a rush of anguish, Seokmin's voice wavering as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Seokmin's voice trembled, his words barely above a whisper as he poured out his heart.

"Do you even remember that I'm here?"

He asked, the pain and vulnerability etched on his face like an open wound.

The question hung in the air, a desperate plea for acknowledgment, for reassurance that he still mattered to the little girl who had once been the center of his universe.

Seokmin's eyes welled up with tears as he continued, his voice cracking with emotion.

"Did you never feel like waiting for Dad?"

The words were a raw expression of his deepest fears, his pain, and his hurt. He felt like he was losing his daughter, like she was slipping away from him, and he didn't know how to stop it.

Seokmin took a deep, shuddering breath, his chest heaving with the effort to control his emotions. He looked away, his eyes scanning the horizon as he struggled to compose himself.

His hands came to rest on his hips, his fingers curling into fists as he muttered under his breath, the words barely audible, but the anguish behind them palpable.

His muttered words were a heart-wrenching expression of his deepest sorrow. "Where did I go so wrong?" he whispered, the pain and self-doubt etched on his face like a cruel scar.

He took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to blink away the tears that threatened to consume him. As he faced Areum again, his voice cracked with emotion.

"Is my love not enough, Areum?"

The words were a desperate plea, a father's cry for connection and understanding.

Seokmin's tears flowed freely, streaming down his cheeks as he looked away, trying to compose himself.

He wiped his eyes, his hands shaking with the effort to hold back his emotions. But it was too late; Areum had already seen his vulnerability.

In a burst of speed, Areum ran towards him, her tiny arms opening wide as she flung herself into his embrace.

His eyes welled up with tears again as he kneeled down, pulling Areum close as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.

"I won't leave you again, Dad," Areum promised, her voice cracking with emotion. Seokmin's heart swelled with love and gratitude as he held his daughter close.

"It's okay," he whispered, trying to reassure her. "Just take me with you next time." He forced a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood, but his eyes still shone with unshed tears.

Seokmin's voice was muffled against Areum's hair as he asked, "You said you wanted to ask Hwayoung something, right? Did you?" He didn't pull away from the hug, holding his daughter close as she shook her head in response.

Seokmin's frown deepened. "Why?" he asked, his concern growing. Areum's voice was barely audible, but the words sent a shiver down Seokmin's spine.

"65 roses. Mom will cry, Dad..." she whispered, her tears flowing down her cheeks as she hugged him tighter. Seokmin's eyes widened in shock, his mind reeling with the implications.

Seokmin's gaze snapped to Mingyu, who was standing a short distance away, his eyes brimming with tears. "Mingyu?" He asked, his voice low and questioning.

Mingyu's face crumpled, his tears spilling over as he spoke. "I...I'm sorry, Min. Mrs. Kim revealed it all...I couldn't stop her..." His words trailed off, overcome by emotion.

Mingyu looked away, hastily wiping his tears as he struggled to compose himself. He took a deep breath, trying to stay strong for his best friend, but his eyes betrayed his sorrow.

Seokmin's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together in a fierce, silent snarl.

His eyes flashed with a fierce, burning intensity, the flames of anger. His face twisted, his features contorted in a mixture of pain and rage, as he struggled to contain the emotions that threatened to consume him.

The secret he had kept hidden for so long was now out, and Seokmin knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

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