Hwayoung's reverie was shattered by the unmistakable sound of Pluto's excited bark. She lifted her head, a smile spreading across her face as she caught sight of the energetic dog. "Pluto!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with delight.

Without hesitation, Hwayoung followed Pluto out of her room, the dog leading her on a merry chase through the house and out into the backyard.

As they emerged into the bright sunlight, Hwayoung's eyes landed on the trio gathered before her. Her gaze locked onto Seokmin and Areum, and her smile widened, illuminating her entire face.

With a joyful cry, Hwayoung sprinted towards them, her feet pounding the grass. She came to a stop in front of Seokmin, her eyes shining with happiness as she gazed up at him.

The air was electric with tension, but Hwayoung's presence seemed to dissipate the darkness, bringing a sense of warmth and light to the gathering.

Hwayoung's eyes sparkled with hope as she gazed up at Seokmin, her voice barely above a whisper. "You came for me, right?" she asked, her words laced with vulnerability.

Seokmin's expression remained unreadable, but Hwayoung's determination didn't waver. She took a step closer, her eyes locked onto his. "You really like me a lot, right?" she pressed, her voice trembling with emotion.

The air was heavy with anticipation as Hwayoung's words hung in the balance. She took a deep breath, her eyes burning with conviction.

"Just say you like me," she whispered, her voice cracking with desperation. "I'll leave everything behind and come with you." The words were a promise, a pledge to abandon all reason and caution for the sake of love.

But Seokmin's response was a slap in the face, a harsh rejection that made Hwayoung flinch. "Aren't you ashamed!" he exclaimed, his voice thundering through the air like a judgment. The words were a brutal rebuke, a scathing condemnation that left Hwayoung reeling.

Seokmin's words cut deep, his tone dripping with disdain as he stared into Hwayoung's eyes. "You've decided to come with a stranger like me when you're getting married in a few hours," he said, his voice laced with incredulity.

"What kind of character are you?" he exclaimed, the question hanging in the air like a challenge.

Seokmin's words were laced with venom, his tone dripping with disdain as he spat out the accusation. "I don't know why you imagined yourself as Hana," he said, his voice heavy with scorn,

"but you both are same in one aspect." He paused, his eyes flashing with anger.

"You both tend to run away from your problems!" he exclaimed, the words exploding from his lips like a curse.

The accusation hung in the air, a toxic cloud of recrimination that seemed to suffocate Hwayoung. Seokmin's face twisted in disgust, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that made Hwayoung recoil.

As the words left his lips, he felt a pang of regret, his heart heavy with the weight of his deception.

In all honesty, he didn't mean to hurt Hwayoung, didn't mean to make her feel so small and insignificant. But he had to push her away, had to create distance between them, no matter how much it pained him.

Hwayoung's face contorted in pain, her eyes welling up with tears as she felt the sting of Seokmin's words. "You're insulting me for confessing my love," she whispered, her voice trembling with hurt.

The accusation was a palpable thing, a living, breathing entity that seemed to pulsate with emotion.

Hwayoung's gaze darted to Areum, her eyes locking onto the little girl's innocent face. "Areum!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in indignation.

"Did you just hear what your dad said?" she asked, her words dripping with hurt and betrayal. She took a step towards Areum, her arms opening wide as if seeking comfort and validation from the little girl.

Hwayoung's gaze fell upon Areum, her eyes searching for answers. But Areum's head remained bowed, her tiny face hidden from view. Undeterred, Hwayoung kneeled down, her hands reaching out to grasp Areum's small fingers.

"Areum, you tell me," Hwayoung whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Didn't you imagine me as your mom?" The question hung in the air, a fragile, hopeful thing.

Areum's voice was barely audible, but the words cut deep. "I did," she said, her tiny shoulders shrugging. "But you're not my real mother..." The sentence trailed off, leaving Hwayoung feeling shattered.

Hwayoung's hands fell away from Areum's, her fingers releasing their gentle grip. She felt as though she'd been punched in the gut, her heart heavy with sorrow.

She had imagined that Areum liked her, that their bond was real. But now, it seemed she was just a poor substitute for the mother Areum truly longed for.

Mingyu's gentle tug on Pluto's leash broke the spell, and he began to walk away, followed by Seokmin, who scooped up Areum in his arms.

As they disappeared into the distance, Seokmin cast one final, lingering glance at Hwayoung, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions.

The look was a fleeting moment of connection, a brief acknowledgment of the emotional turmoil that had just unfolded.

Hwayoung remained frozen, her feet rooted to the spot as she watched them walk away. It wasn't until they vanished from view that she seemed to come back to life, her body slowly crumbling under the weight of her emotions.

She stumbled over to a nearby bench, her legs trembling beneath her. Collapsing onto the wooden slats, she buried her face in her hands, her body wracked with sobs.

Tears streamed down her face, choking her, as she struggled to catch her breath. The sound of her own despair was almost deafening, a cacophony of heartbreak that seemed to echo through every cell of her being.

Seokmin's gaze locked onto Heejin, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him. She was sitting at a table, laughing and chatting with someone, completely carefree.

Seokmin's anger simmered just below the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment.

Without a word, he handed Areum over to Mingyu, his movements swift and decisive. "Wait in the car," he instructed, his voice low and even. Mingyu nodded, his eyes flicking to Heejin before he turned and walked away, Areum resting her head on his shoulder.

As soon as they were out of sight, Seokmin strode towards Heejin, his long legs eating up the distance.

His sleeves were rolled up, his muscles tensed and ready for a fight. Heejin's eyes flicked up, a look of surprise crossing her face as Seokmin reached her table.

In one swift motion, Seokmin flipped the table over, the sound of shattering glass and scraping wood filling the air. Heejin's eyes went wide as Seokmin loomed over her, his eyes blazing with anger, his intensity palpable.

The air seemed to vibrate with his fury, the very atmosphere charged with his rage.

The table's contents crashed to the floor, a chaotic tangle of shattered dishes and scattered plates. Seokmin didn't flinch, his focus solely on Heejin.

One of the men at the table attempted to intervene, but Seokmin's glare sent him scurrying backward, his eyes wide with fear.

Seokmin yanked a chair from a nearby table and slammed it down in front of Heejin, his movements fluid and menacing.

He leaned forward, his legs spread wide, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "Deal with me, I can bear it," he growled, his voice low and deadly.

But his expression turned glacial as he continued, his words dripping with venom. "But dealing with Areum..." He slowly shook his head, his jaw clenched in rage.

"You revealed the secret I hid from my daughter. Should I reveal it to yours?" The question hung in the air, a thinly veiled threat that sent a shiver down Heejin's spine.

Seokmin's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he rose from his seat, his movements deliberate and controlled.

His fists were clenched, his body coiled and ready to strike, as if daring Heejin to make another move. The air was heavy with tension, the silence between them oppressive and foreboding.

Seokmin's departure was marked by an unsettling silence, the only sound the quiet murmur of hushed conversations from the surrounding tables.

His eyes locked onto Wonwoo, who stood at the periphery, a deep frown etched on his face.

With a quiet sigh, Wonwoo turned and made his way to the backyard, his footsteps soft on the grass. As he rounded the corner, he spotted Hwayoung seated on a bench, her slender shoulders shaking with each sob.

Her face was buried in her hands, her body wracked with the intensity of her emotions.
Wonwoo's heart went out to her, but he knew better than to intrude on her private moment of grief.

Instead, he stood back, giving her the space she needed to process her emotions.

The car's engine hummed smoothly as Mingyu navigated the winding roads, Pluto sitting sentinel beside him. In the backseat, Seokmin cradled Areum in his arms, his fingers gently stroking her hair as he whispered soft reassurances.

The atmosphere was tranquil, a sense of calm washing over them after the tumultuous events earlier.

But without warning, Areum's body went limp, her head lolling to one side as she slipped into unconsciousness.

Seokmin's eyes snapped wide with alarm, his grip on Areum tightening as he frantically called out her name. "Areum! Areum!!"

Mingyu's head whipped around, his eyes locking onto the distressing scene unfolding behind him. With a muttered curse, he slammed on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt as he spun around to face the backseat.

Seokmin's face was etched with panic, his fingers flying across Areum's cheeks as he desperately tried to rouse her.

But Areum remained unresponsive, her tiny body inert in Seokmin's arms. Mingyu's expression turned grim, his eyes locking onto Seokmin's as he barked out a single word: "Hospital!"

With a squeal of tires, the car surged forward, Mingyu expertly navigating the roads as he sped towards the nearest medical facility.

Seokmin's heart was racing, his mind consumed by a single, terrifying thought:

What if he lost Areum?

The possibility sent a chill coursing through his veins, his arms tightening around her fragile form as he prayed for her safety.

As they screeched to a halt outside the hospital, Seokmin leapt from the car, Areum clutched tightly in his arms, and sprinted towards the emergency entrance.

The doctors whisked Areum away, leaving Seokmin standing alone outside the hospital room. He pressed his hands against the glass door, his fingers splayed wide as he gazed longingly at the sterile space beyond.

His eyes closed, and his lips moved in a silent prayer, his heart pouring out a desperate plea for Areum's recovery.

Mingyu's voice was a low hum in the background, his words indistinguishable as he spoke to Byunghan and Dr. Joshua Hong on the phone.

The minutes ticked by, each one an eternity for Seokmin, who remained frozen in place, his eyes fixed on the door.

It wasn't until Byunghan and Dr. Joshua Hong arrived, their faces etched with concern, that Seokmin's stoic facade began to crumble.

Byunghan's eyes widened as he took in Seokmin's appearance, his face streaked with tears, his shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs.

Seokmin's body was racked with emotion, his chest heaving as he struggled to contain the anguish that threatened to consume him.

Byunghan's expression softened, his eyes filling with compassion as he approached Seokmin. He placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, his touch a comforting presence in the midst of chaos.

Byunghan's tires screeched as he sped towards the beach, his heart racing with every passing moment. He knew he was running late, that Hwayoung's wedding was already underway.

As he burst onto the sun-kissed shore, he was met with the serene sight of Hwayoung walking down a petal-strewn aisle, the turquoise ocean stretching out behind her.

The warm sunlight danced across her slender figure, draped in a breathtaking white wedding gown that seemed to shimmer in the bright light.

But despite the idyllic setting, Byunghan's eyes were drawn to the evident sadness etched on Hwayoung's face.

Her eyes seemed to hold a deep sorrow, a haunting melancholy that belied the joyous occasion. Byunghan's heart ached as he took in the sight, his guilt and regret threatening to overwhelm him.

"Hwayoung!" he called out, his voice carrying on the sea breeze. Hwayoung's gaze flicked towards him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in his disheveled appearance.

Byunghan hastened to her side, his eyes scanning the elegant beachside setup and the gathered guests. "So, you're getting married?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and trepidation.

Hwayoung's expression turned wry, her lips curling into a bitter smile. "You finally got the time?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she continued her slow procession down the aisle.

Byunghan's face twisted in a mixture of guilt and defensiveness. "I had an important work commitment," he began, but Hwayoung's interruption cut him off.

"What's more important than your own daughter's wedding, Dad!?" she exclaimed, her brows furrowing in indignation.

The ceremony around them seemed to fade into the background, the tension between Byunghan and Hwayoung crackling like a live wire.

Byunghan's eyes bore into Hwayoung's, his gaze piercing as he asked the question that had been lingering in the air. "You like Seokmin, right? Then why are you marrying Wonwoo?"

Heejin, who stood a few feet away from them,  deepened her frown, her eyes narrowing as she tried to decipher his intentions.

"He doesn't like me," she whispered, her voice cracking as she looked away, tears brimming in her eyes. "I thought at least his daughter would like me... but she was worse than him."

A humorless chuckle escaped her lips, her gaze drifting to the ground as she continued. "He insulted me for confessing my love, Dad. He compared me to his wife. Said that we're similar."

Byunghan's expression remained neutral, but a small, unnoticeable smile played on his lips. "He was right, wasn't he?" he asked, his voice low and even. Her eyes snapped back to his, her face contorting in anguish.

"Right?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "Don't I ever fight?! When did I ever give up, Dad?!" Her fingers tightened around the bouquet, her knuckles white with tension. His gaze never wavered, his eyes locked on hers as he delivered the verbal blow.

"Now. Not when he said so, but when you stopped fighting for your love," he said, his words dripping with a quiet intensity. "What else can I do, Dad?" Hwayoung asked, her voice laced with desperation.

Byunghan's expression turned determined, his eyes burning with an inner fire. "Prove him that you're not like her. Show that you'll not run away from your problems."

His voice was a gentle urging, a call to arms. "His daughter is admitted in the ICU. She's battling death and may not make it."

Hwayoung's eyes widened, her face pale as she heard her mother's voice calling out in the background. Byunghan's gaze never left Hwayoung's face, his eyes boring into hers as he posed the question that would change everything.

"Will you stand with him and fight, or will you give up like his wife?" The decision hung in the balance, the outcome far from certain.

"Hwayoung, everyone's waiting," Heejin called out again, her voice tinged with a hint of impatience. But Hwayoung's gaze remained fixed on her father, her eyes pleading with him to intervene, to rescue her from this suffocating situation.

Heejin's footsteps echoed through the air as she walked closer to them, her hand reaching out to grab Hwayoung's. "You can chat with your Dad later. We're running out of time," she said, her voice firm but gentle, as she attempted to pull Hwayoung away.

But Hwayoung's feet seemed rooted to the spot, her body refusing to budge even an inch. Byunghan's gaze never left his daughter's face, his eyes shining with a deep understanding. "It's your call," he shrugged, his voice nonchalant, but his eyes betraying a deep conviction that Hwayoung would fight for her love.

Wonwoo's eyes narrowed as he noticed Hwayoung's hesitation, his long strides eating up the distance between them. "What happened?" he asked, his voice low and gentle, but with an undercurrent of coldness.

Hwayoung's eyes darted towards him, her voice tumbling out in a hurried rush. "Wonwoo, I have to go." But before she could take another step, her mother's voice rang out, her words sharp with dismay.

Wonwoo's hand rose, his palm facing outward, as he motioned for her mother to calm down, to stop. His eyes never left Hwayoung's face, his gaze boring into hers. "Is it Seokmin?" he asked, his voice low and even, but with a hint of accusation.

Hwayoung's eyes widened, her face pale as she took a step back. "Do you know Seokmin?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Wonwoo's eyes flashed with anger, his jaw clenched in frustration.

"Do you even know Seokmin?!" he exclaimed, his deep voice resonating through the air. Hwayoung's eyes dropped, her gaze fixed on the ground as Wonwoo's words washed over her.

But then he spoke again, his voice dripping with disdain. "Fine. You can leave if you don't want this marriage. But he isn't the right one for you." Hwayoung's eyes snapped back up, her face set in a determined expression.

"How can you say that?" she muttered, her voice laced with defiance. Wonwoo's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, his voice rising in intensity. "You don't know how much his wife suffered because of him!"

Hwayoung's face paled, her eyes wide with shock, but then a sudden wave of protectiveness washed over her. "He suffered a lot too," she said, her voice firm, as she felt an overwhelming need to defend Seokmin.

Wonwoo's face twisted in disgust. "She wanted a divorce, Hwayoung!" he exclaimed, his voice rising. Hwayoung's eyes dropped, her brain recoiling in horror as she struggled to process his words.

But then she shook her head, her gaze snapping back up to meet Wonwoo's. "No, she didn't," she muttered, her voice firm, but her eyes betraying a deep uncertainty.

Wonwoo's face darkened, his jaw clenched in anger. "Yes, she did!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing through the air. Hwayoung's eyes seemed to glaze over, her face pale as she stumbled backward, her world spinning out of control.

But then she spoke, her voice a low whisper. "She must not have." "Yes she did!! She did ask for a divorce!!" Wonwoo's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he took a step closer to her.

"I didnt ask for it!!" Hwayoung yelled, her voice shattering the air, as she met Wonwoo's gaze, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity.

The silence that followed was oppressive, the air