Chapter 2. Hidden Crises (2)

I shook my head, unable to wipe away my tears but feeling ashamed for letting him see how he affected me.

SiJoon approached slowly and took Noram from my arms without saying anything. He sat on the coffee table right in front of me and gave Noram the remaining bottle.

"He was hungry, wasn't he?" he said, touching our son's little belly, watching him open his eyes upon hearing his voice.

My heart breaks as I watch them.

"I brought this for you," he reaches for the bouquet, handing it to me. "I'm sorry about today."

I set the bouquet aside, seeing Nabi let go of the bottle. Then I place her over my shoulder, supporting her to burp.

"I didn't mean to act that way," I speak. "But it's not easy to forget what happened, SiJoon."

"I promised you that I wouldn't betray you anymore, and you have my word," he said. "Miss Kang was indeed bothering me, but I wasn't giving her the freedom to continue."

"And how could I know if it was true, SiJoon?" I asked.

"Because I love you, my love," he said, tilting his head to the side, looking at me. "I love our family, I wouldn't want to lose any of it for one night."

I lowered my gaze, hearing Nabi's soft burp and unable to hold back a laugh. SiJoon also smiled and supported the hand holding Noram's bottle, freeing his other hand to touch me gently.

"Will you forgive me?" he asked.

I looked at him, feeling my heart race. I nodded in agreement, seeing him smile.

I stood up, placing Nabi, who was already asleep, in the double stroller right next to me.

"Can you stay with them?" I asked. "I haven't even taken a shower yet."

"That's fine," SiJoon smiled again, nodding.

I picked up the flowers from the couch and walked with all of them in my arms. The calm scent brought me peace for a few moments, but not enough to forget what surrounded me.

I washed my hair, feeling the foam spread across my head, and with my eyes closed, I remembered how SiJoon had promised and said the same things when he cheated on me during one of his business trips.

I tried to push that away, not allowing myself to sink into that pit once again.

It was in the past, I had already forgiven him, even though the scars and the pain still remained within me.

As the days went by, SiJoon still seemed uncomfortable every time he came to see me at the publishing house and saw Jun-myeon there.

He was coming frequently, and there were even rumors in the hallways that it was because of me, but I knew it wasn't true.

However, on one of those occasions, SiJoon had asked to leave early, and I was still suspicious of his secretary, so knowing that his destination might not be our home, I decided to follow him.

"What are you doing?" Jun-myeon stopped by my side in the parking lot as I sneaked away from him to get a view of SiJoon. "Are you suspicious of him?"

"Shh!" I requested when I saw the same woman who had been fired as SiJoon's secretary a few days ago approaching the car.

"Is he cheating on you?" Jun-myeon asked, crouching down like I did.

"Of course he is," I spoke, hurt. "You know what, screw it."

I decided to walk towards SiJoon's car, and before I could reach it, I saw him rushing out, making the woman act in the same way.

"SooJin, I..."

I didn't let him finish speaking. I quickly followed him and gave him a single, precise slap on his face.

SiJoon put his hand over it, looking at me in shock.

"Feel free to live with your dirt."

I removed the ring, returning it to his hand, and quickly walked away from there.

"SooJin!"

It wasn't SiJoon who followed me and called desperately, it was Jun-myeon.

I wiped the tears streaming down my face and was stopped by him forcefully.

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"Why? You saw, Jun-myeon, he was cheating on me again!"

"You don't know if it's true, SooJin. You didn't even ask."

"It's not necessary," I said, wiping away the tears and looking around to try and find my car.

"What's wrong?" Jun-myeon asked.

"I need to get out of here," I said, dazed, still searching for my car but unable to find it. "Damn it!" I exclaimed, frustrated.

"Come with me."

Jun-myeon touched my wrist and dragged me through the parking lot. I didn't allow myself to look at SiJoon one more time. I simply sat in the passenger seat when Jun-myeon gave me passage and waited for him to leave as quickly as possible.

And when he did, I finally allowed myself to break down in loud sobs, cursing myself for believing it all over again.

"Hey, calm down," Jun-myeon said.

I shook my head, covering my eyes with my hands, taking deep breaths as I felt my chest ache.

Jun-myeon parked in a random parking lot, waiting for me to finish crying.

"I'm sorry for this," I said, wiping my eyes, noticing that new tears were falling.

"There's no need to apologize, SooJin," he said calmly, stroking my back.

"I dedicated myself so much, Jun-myeon, and he betrays me like this? In the parking lot of our workplace?"

"SooJin, calm down. I know SiJoon's reputation. He doesn't seem like someone who cheats like that."

"He has cheated before, Jun-myeon, so he can do it again."

"And when was that? Was it after you had already built a life together? With a family?"

I shook my head, looking down.

"No... But that doesn't matter, betrayal is betrayal! SiJoon cheated on me right from the beginning, what would stop him from doing it now?"

"The family you've built. SooJin, I know you... You're not impulsive like this."

"I've changed, Jun-myeon. People grow and change. You knew me when I was fifteen, now I'm almost thirty."

"But I don't believe your heart has changed, SooJin. You've always been kind and understanding. Please, give him another chance."

"No," I said, breaking down in tears again, feeling myself weaken.

Jun-myeon quickly hugged me and comforted me, and I couldn't resist leaning on his shoulder, seeking his support.

"Please, SooJin, calm down," he pleaded.

I sniffled, taking my time to let go. Feeling him caress my back, giving me support.

"Damn it."

Suddenly, I heard Jun-myeon's complaint and lifted my gaze. His frightened and surprised expression made me look to the side, behind whatever it was that left him like that.

And I saw it.

I saw two of the paparazzi who I knew were like vultures, crouching behind trees, photographing the two of us.

"I'll go there," he said, but I stopped him, holding his arm firmly.

"No. You're a public figure, Jun-myeon, and so am I. This will give them engagement and news."

"But they're taking pictures of both of us!" he explained, still looking at them. "This is wrong."

"It's their job. Come on, let's get out of here quickly."

"I'm sorry for this, SooJin, I had no idea they would be here."

I nodded, wiping my cheeks and putting on the sunglasses I always carry in my pocket.

Jun-myeon was quick to drive away, taking me straight to my house.

"Do you want me to come in?" he asked.

"No," I smiled softly. "The nanny is here, so I won't be alone..."

"You have my number, call me if you need anything. I'll come right away."