The restaurant was quiet except for the low hum of conversation and the soft clinking of glasses. Tae-hyun walked in, tall and sharp in a dark suit, his presence turning heads without effort. A few waitresses paused mid-step, whispering behind their hands. Some girls at a nearby table blushed when his gaze flicked briefly their way.
He didn't notice. Or maybe he did — but he never showed it.
A host guided him down the hall to one of the private rooms. The door slid open, and a voice instantly burst out — bright, excited.
"Father!"
A girl in a red dress — elegant but youthful — rushed toward him. Her hair was pinned up neatly, her lips painted the same shade of red as her dress. Tae-hyun froze for a second, then his expression softened, just slightly. He opened his arms, hugging her.
"Julia," he murmured, smiling faintly. "You've grown."
She pulled back, grinning. "I'm twenty-three now, Father. Not a kid anymore."
