{KOREAN-ENGLISH}
Lee Seo Jun sighed heavily, gripping the steering wheel as he sped through the city. Every call he made to Joon So Min went unanswered. He couldn't reach her or anyone.
When he finally arrived at her home, he was met with chaos.
A hostile crowd had gathered, screaming, flashing cameras, and throwing eggs and stones at her front door. Disgust twisted in his chest. Thankfully, his bodyguards, already following behind, quickly moved in and pushed the crowd back.
He jumped out of the car just as two familiar faces appeared,Lee Min Jun and Lee Yun Jun.
"They're inside," Min Jun informed him. "Hye Sua just called."
Seo Jun nodded and hurried to the door. He knocked twice just as Hye Sua had instructed and waited.
The door creaked open. Inside, the house was quiet, the air heavy with emotion. Joon So Min sat on the couch, staring into space, her face blank.
"So Min," he breathed, rushing to her side.
She looked up, dazed. As soon as she recognized him, she broke down, burying herself in his embrace.
"I... I didn't do anything wrong," she cried, her voice trembling.
"I know," he whispered, kissing her forehead gently. "Don't listen to them. None of it matters."
"Brother," Lee Yun Jun spoke, tense. "Everyone's against her. It's not safe for her or her family."
Seo Jun nodded grimly. His mind was already racing.
"We'll get to the root of this," he said, eyes darkening. "But for now, we fly them out. Immediately."
"The jet is ready," Lee Min Jun confirmed.
So Min looked up at him, tears still in her eyes. "Will we be safe?"
"You will," he promised, holding her tightly again.
He turned to Choi Hura. "Mother, I'll make sure nothing happens to any of you."
She looked at him, eyes firm. "Will I see you again?"
"Yes," he said with a faint smile. "Once everything is settled in Korea, we'll decide together whether we return here, or start fresh in the States."
And just like that, Joon So Min, Choi Hura, and young Dae were flown out of Korea on Lee Seo Jun's private jet.
⸻
"Faster, we're almost there!" Hye Sua urged, tapping her foot as Lee Min Jun buttoned up his shirt.
In the car, her excitement was impossible to hide. It had been five years since Joon So Min left Korea. She'd stayed abroad after opening her own fashion school and didn't want to leave her students behind.
Distance had strained her relationship with Lee Seo Jun until, eventually, they broke up. He couldn't leave his company. She couldn't leave her life abroad. It ended quietly with unspoken regret.
Now, Hye Sua and Min Jun lived together. They had waited for this day.
"We're here," Min Jun announced as they pulled into the airport.
Hye Sua leapt from the car, bouquet in hand. She spotted the arriving passengers and scanned the crowd.
Then—there she was.
Joon So Min emerged, dressed in a simple coat over jeans and a top, her luggage in hand. Choi Hura and Dae followed close behind. Dae had grown taller, more mature, but his grin was the same.
"So Min!" Hye Sua shouted, rushing forward and hugging her tightly.
"I missed you," she grinned, squeezing her.
"I missed you too," So Min laughed softly. She bowed politely to Lee Min Jun, who greeted her with a smile.
"How have you been?" he asked warmly.
"I'm doing alright," she replied, nodding.
He took Choi Hura's bag from her.
"I missed you a lot, Mother," he said with a smile.
"I missed all of you too. The people over there always confused and never understood our language!" Choi Hura joked as they all laughed.
"Let's go home."
⸻
Later that night, Hye Sua turned to Lee Min Jun with a worried look.
"Should I tell her?"
"She's finally back," he said carefully. "But... will she be able to bear the truth?"
"She deserves to know what happened."
They didn't realize Joon So Min had stepped into the hallway.
"What happened?" she asked, brows raised.
Hye Sua slowly approached her.
"So Min..."
"Tell me," she said more firmly.
Hye Sua exhaled. "After your breakup, when the media leaked the contract... An Nari helped Seo Jun clean up the damage."
"So?" So Min frowned.
"She stayed close. And now... they're engaged."
Silence.
Joon So Min stared at her, lips parted slightly. Then she gave a quiet, painful smile.
"It's good," she said softly. "He went back to her. She's better for him."
She turned without another word and walked away.
"Come and eat, everyone," she called from the kitchen.
Lee Min Jun and Hye Sua exchanged a look. Hye Sua sighed. So Min was clearly hurting... but as always, she hid it behind a smile.
⸻
"Are you really not going to call Seo Jun?" Choi Hura asked her suddenly at the dinner table.
The whole room fell silent.
"No, Mother. Why should I?" So Min said calmly, not looking up from her food.
"Because I want him to join us for dinner tomorrow."
So Min froze.
"But Mother," she said quickly, "we're not together anymore."
"I know," Choi Hura said gently. "But he's still like a son to me. We're all family now. Min Jun and Hye Sua will be married soon,and I want us all together again."
"I'll tell him," Lee Min Jun offered quickly, trying to save the mood.
"No need," Choi Hura said with a firm smile. "I'll call him myself."
So Min said nothing. She simply stared down at her food, her heart tightening in silence.