“Mom, why did we move?”

Dahyeon asked curiously.

How should she explain it so her daughter can understand? Ina wondered for a moment as she looked at her daughter’s face.

“That house was much nicer.”

The words slipped out with the innocent honesty of a child. Even to Dahyeon, that house must have seemed much nicer than their current home. She didn’t even have her own room here; she had to share with Ina. There was no pretty pink princess bed or desk like there had been before, either.

Ina stroked her daughter’s hair and forced a faint smile.

“That house was just a place Mommy’s friend lent us for a while. From now on, we’ll live here.”

“There’s no bed either.”

“Mom will work hard and buy Dahyeon a bed too, okay?”

Reluctantly, Dahyeon nodded and hugged the doll she had brought with her.

Taeyun had bought it when decorating Dahyeon’s room. Ina told her to leave it behind, but when Dahyeon said she really wanted it, Ina had no choice but to let her take it with her.

Perhaps because she had often slept with it, Dahyeon carried the doll around the house the entire time, clutching it tightly.

Just then, Ina’s phone vibrated briefly.

As she picked it up to read the message, Dahyeon suddenly leaned closer, peering at the screen.

“Mom, who is it?”

“Oh, it’s just Mom’s friend.”

Stammering slightly, Ina quickly moved the phone out of sight.

[Let’s meet tomorrow. I need to talk to you. I’ll wait in front of your house.]

It was a message from Taeyun.

Dahyeon still couldn’t read Korean yet, but Ina’s face showed a flicker of embarrassment, as if she had been caught.

“Mom has friends too?”

“…Of course.”

Since there had been no one Ina met while raising Dahyeon—neither in Tongyeong nor in Seoul—it wasn’t strange for the child to think that way.

After pondering for a moment, Dahyeon looked at her with bright, sparkling eyes.

“That man?”

“Hm?”

“The man who came to the daycare—is he your friend?”

She seemed to be talking about Taeyun. Aside from Jinho, Ina had only met Taeyun, so Dahyeon must have assumed that he was her friend because they had eaten together.

“What’s Mom’s friend’s name?”

For some reason, Dahyeon had been asking about names a lot recently. It was probably just curiosity, but because Ina felt guilty, she found herself getting flustered every time.

Ina parted her lips, hesitating before finally speaking.

“Do you remember when he said he’d tell you next time?”

“Ah.”

As the vague memory of Taeyun’s words surfaced and Ina brushed the question aside, Dahyeon seemed to understand.

“That man was scary.”

“…But?”

“I think he’s a nice man.”

When she heard that single sentence, Ina felt a dull ache spread through her chest.

Was it instinct, the pull of shared blood?

Or was Dahyeon simply drawn to the kindness that Taeyun had shown her?

Either way, Dahyeon’s words made her heart ache.

“Mom, I’m sleepy.”

“Let’s go to sleep. Mom will tuck you in.”

Ina lay down beside Dahyeon.

Her daughter had chattered endlessly before drifting off to sleep, but soon enough, soft, steady breaths escaped her lips.

If Taeyun knew, then the mother, who loved her son dearly, might find out the truth soon as well.

Just imagining it made Ina’s heart pound unevenly with anxiety.

Like a buried trauma suddenly rising to the surface, memories of fleeing to Tongyeong to escape the men the woman had sent after her flooded her mind.

She had struggled so hard to keep everything hidden.

Now, she had no idea what would happen next. Her thoughts tangled and spiraled until it felt as though her head might burst from the turmoil.

Ina lay there, staring at her sleeping daughter’s face for a long time, unable to close her eyes.

***

“These are Madam’s movements and the Chief Secretary’s route.”

Youngmin handed Taeyun the document envelope he had brought with him.

Taeyun had been resting on the sofa in his office for a moment, but reached out to take it.

A sick younger sibling. A struggling family. Even Namhee’s employment.

Taeyun had been deeply displeased with Youngmin and hadn’t wanted to see his face for a long time. However, upon considering that Youngmin might have had his own reasons, Taeyun decided to give him one more chance.

After all, Youngmin had said that he had started investigating Ina as soon as he arrived in Korea.

The fact that he had faithfully remained by Taeyun’s side the entire time, assisting him without complaint, proved his sincerity.

For this reason, Taeyun ordered him to investigate the activities of Namhee and the former Chief Secretary.

“So they even went to… Tongyeong.”

As Taeyun scanned the documents, his dark eyes narrowed.

It was Jeon, the former Chief Secretary and Namhee’s right-hand man, who had taken Ina to hospital.

After losing her, he had even chased her all the way to Tongyeong.

The sheer persistence of it was chilling. Taeyun’s jaw tightened sharply.

“Yes, it seems he stayed there for about six months while reporting back. It has been confirmed that, after Ms Yoon Ina disappeared, Chief Secretary Jeon remained in Tongyeong for approximately six months.”

“Before that, he went there with my mother.”

“That’s correct.”

The thought of Ina struggling alone caused Taeyun’s chest to feel like it was collapsing.

She must have been pregnant back then.

Yet the documents offered no explanation as to why Namhee, who was both suspicious and obsessively controlling, had eventually abandoned her suspicions.

To avoid her mother’s watchful gaze, Ina had changed her name and delayed registering her daughter’s birth.

How desperate must she have been?

Taeyun could almost understand the woman who had gone to such lengths to hide her child.

Taeyun’s gaze sank heavily.

Tap. Tap.

His index finger tapped the documents in a slow, steady rhythm.

How could he have…?

“Just clear my entire schedule today.”

Taeyun stood up immediately. His steps were decisive as he left the office. Youngmin followed behind him.

***

“Who is—”

Yeongja froze when she opened the door.

A man she recognized was standing in front of it. She had seen him a few times before.

He was neatly dressed in a navy suit and carried himself with formal composure. Beside him stood another man, who appeared to be his secretary.

“….”

Yeongja stared straight at his face, her expression turning cold.

Without saying a single word, she tried to shut the door again. But Taeyun caught the door before it could close.

“Hello.”

“I’ve got nothing to say to you. Leave.”

The sharp words rang in his ears.

Taeyun hadn’t expected this to be easy, but Yeongja’s reaction was colder than he had imagined. Still, he steeled himself.

“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“I told you I’ve got nothing to say. Go.”

“…Please.”

Taeyun’s voice was earnest.

Without looking at him, Yeongja turned halfway away and presented him with her back.

However, as Taeyun was holding the door, she was unable to close it.

After several failed attempts, Yeongja finally looked up sharply.

“What nerve do you have coming here?”

“….”

At those words, Taeyun’s eyes trembled.

He had assumed she only recognized him from seeing him a few times. But the scolding tone in her voice made him certain.

Yeongja knew something.

“I came here knowing that Dahyeon… is my daughter.”

At his low voice, Yeongja flinched in surprise.

“Please tell me what happened to Ina.”

Taeyun spoke with desperate sincerity.

Seeing the genuine expression on his face, Yeongja sighed heavily, her face clouded with worry.

***

“Executive Director, are you alright?”

As Taeyun stepped out of Yeongja’s house, his body swayed violently.

Youngmin, who had been waiting outside, quickly rushed forward. But Taeyun raised a hand toward him while bracing himself against the wall.

“Ha…”

Taeyun’s face twisted in anguish.

The truth he had just discovered was devastating.

He had suspected that something terrible had happened to her, but he had never imagined that it would be this severe.

It felt as though someone was tearing his heart apart.

The pain was unbearable.

He hit his left chest with his fist and shut his eyes tightly.

Seeing his superior in such a state, Youngmin could only bow his head in shame.

‘How could something like this have happened…’

The image of Ina came to his mind—how she had stood firmly before him all this time, hiding everything.

His chest felt like it was being torn apart.

“Pathetic. You’re just as pitiful now as you were back then.”

Without knowing anything, he had driven a nail straight into Ina’s heart.

To you, who ran away to save your daughter.

“If you came here to offer your body, then behave yourself. Don’t ruin my mood.”

The words he had once thrown at her pierced his heart like blades.

“Haah…”

It felt as if someone were strangling him. He could barely breathe.

Compared to what Ina had endured, the pain he himself had suffered was nothing.

What she had gone through was far more shocking than anything he had imagined.

And only now had he learned the truth.

‘How am I supposed to atone for this sin?’

“Executive Director!”

Taeyun, who had barely managed to remain standing, finally collapsed to the ground.

His face was filled with utter despair.