I need an alt ending for scented poison huhuhu jaehyun wolfing out was real hot thoo
Scented Poison: Final Act
Pairing. Jaehyun x reader x Jaemin
Synopsis. After a moment of infidelity with Jaemin, your once-stable life begins to crumble. Now, with a baby growing inside you, everything feels uncertain, especially the baby's paternity. Is it Jaemin’s baby or Jaehyun’s baby. As tensions rise you're forced to confront the consequences of your choices and decide: will you fight to rebuild your relationship with Jaehyun?
Word count. 11k
Masterlist. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Last Part
No one told you that your life would be different after your cheating scandal was exposed. You had lost your best friend and even your husband. No one told you that your life would be a living hell after that. Aside from Jaehyun and Heara, word got out about your infidelity and scandalous behavior. You had lost your status, value and were labelled as a cheater. Friends had distanced themselves from you in order not to be associated with a woman who stepped out on her husband. No one told you that nothing would be the same again. You gave it some months to cool down, put all your effort to getting back to the way things were. But unfortunately for you, nothing would ever be the same again.
At first, you thought Jaehyun had forgiven you. He’d come home from work… kiss you on the cheek and… gift you something. You noticed the pattern every night he’d come home, even though it was late, he always came home. And you tried to lean into it, hoping to reconcile… However, that’s all he did. He’d barely say anything to you. Just open the door, kiss your check and hold up a box of jewelry of any kind from expensive brands, just for you. You’d take the gift, thank him, but he’d walk away – not even acknowledging you. He’d shut the door to his study and you wouldn’t see him again, the cycle continued endlessly. The way Jaehyun would mute down when he was in the house was almost scary. To you, it's like he wanted to forgive you, but the mere sight of you reminded him why he didn’t want to talk to you. He’d give you gifts that were different, but he hardly said a thing... You didn’t like it. Your relationship with Jaehyun took a nose dive and was bleeding out uncontrollably to the point where redemption was uncertain, but you didn’t give up.
Even though your relationship with Jaehyun was unstable… as long as he didn’t ask for a divorce, you tried hard to mend the relationship.
And tonight is no different. Three months after the scandal, and you’re still awake – giving all your best effort to make him acknowledge you. It’s 11 p.m., he looks tired, but as soon as he’s in the house and shuts the door behind him, you’re getting up from the couch, with a warm smile.
“Jae,” You’re super tired, but still consistent in greeting him. Hoping that this time, fingers crossed, he’ll talk to you. “How are you? How was work?”
Nothing. Silence as usual. His tired eyes barely even glance at you as he holds his hand out… the gift is different this time. A bouquet of red roses.
“Wow, this is beautiful,” You acknowledge the flowers dearly as you take them in your hands. “I’ll put them in the water.” You look up to his face, only to have him avoiding your eyes. Trying not to get emotional from the lack of contact you just smile and appreciate his gift… That’s until you see it.
The hickey on his neck.
Your smile fades slowly, your eyes swiftly move to his eyes, which are still down and away from yours. You calmly balance from one foot to the other… You expect him to leave, yet he doesn’t move like usual, simply staring down. The hickey on his neck can’t be mistaken for something else. Teeth marks… and the longer you look, the more you see. Lipstick on his neck, dried lipstick of course also on his shirt. Your heart sinks in your chest, trembling lips causes you to clear your throat as you look down trying not to blink the already forming tears.
He’s standing in front of you longer than usual tonight. As if he wants you to see the lip prints… Trying not to get distracted, you ask him if he’s hungry.
“Who’s it for?”
“Hm?” You’re sidetracked by the question as you look away from his hickey. “Pardon?”
“Who’s it for?” He asks again the same question. “Me or him?”
Protectively, you move your hand over your stomach. You’re quiet as he scoffs and moves past you. You turn around quietly watching him walk up the stairs and disappear. The hand over your small belly bump of 3 months starts moving around as you sigh.
After the scandal, Jaehyun changed. Your business tanked due to a lack of new content, while his soared. People love drama, and once news broke that you cheated, they devoured it. Though his brand took some heat, Jaehyun stayed focused. He never spoke about the betrayal, but the scandal and his bold new perfume line brought him major attention.
He launched a fragrance under the edgy name Scented Poison, starting with His Smell—a scent thick with lust, smoky lingerie, and the bittersweet aroma of cheating. It wasn’t just perfume—it was atmosphere. The public loved it. Ads for the fragrance even reenacted your affair, turning your scandal into his spotlight.
The ad’s haunting catchphrase became iconic: “Scented Poison, I still smell him on you.”
Then came the second scent: Dirty Sheets. It was sultry, mysterious, and radiated heat—quickly becoming a fan favorite. This release marked a turning point for Jaehyun. He transformed from a strict businessman into a seductive corporate icon. Slicked-back hair, flawless skin—he embraced his looks and used them to his advantage.
Fans were obsessed. Some bought the perfumes for his charm, others for the scandalous story behind them. Even those who hated the drama couldn’t resist the hype. It became a twisted thrill—lusting after a married man and watching his wife unravel in public.
For Heara, Jaemin’s wife, the newly praised collection was bitter. When she found out that Jaemin cheated on her with you, she wanted nothing to do with you ever again. She cut all ties, broke all relations to you and only minded her own business. It’s not after 3 months of living without you and giving birth to her first child, a baby girl, had she slowly started to feel bad for you. The first time she felt bad, was when she was still pregnant, she had visited Jaemin at work with a visitors pass, and spent some time with him during his break time. But then she watched this skimpily dressed lady stride into Jaemin’s office telling him that his boss needed him. Haera followed only to be shocked when she saw Jaehyun and the… secretary share a kiss.
Instantly and by habit she wanted to call you to inform you. Yet when remembering the state of your friendship with her, she asked Jaemin instead. Jaemin… “I don’t really care what happens in that woman’s life. Anyway, don’t you think you should be getting home to Ari? I don’t trust that nanny alone with my Babygirl for too long,”. To say the least, Jaemin was irrefutably adamant never to speak about you again. Heara just recalls how cold Jaemin got whenever she’d mention you. Jaemin really didn’t want to speak of you just because of everything that manifested. Besides he was now a dad, to his precious daughter, even if he didn’t love Heara, he couldn’t fail his daughter.
But honestly even without Heara bringing you up, there are times when Jaemin thinks of you...
Not when he accidently walks in on Jaehyun and the new secretary, not even when he's in the elevator alone with the secretary – who always tries fixing up her clothes from the buttons Jaehyun ruined. No.
He thinks of you when he's looking down at his baby girl. The tiny baby is his, even though he still doesn't love the mother as much, the tiny baby is his responsibility and he can't imagine a life with the mother, but he can imagine it with his daughter. It's in those days where he thinks of you… you would be a mother he wouldn't mind imagining the rest of his life with. But it's not like he would mention that out loud. Not to Haera, not to his daughter and not even to himself. Because as soon as the thought would come, he'd linger on it for a few minutes before he focused back on his present daughter.
Similar to you. You think of Jaemin a lot when you're lonely. He used to shower you with attention. And you hate that now everything has gone skew. Not only did you lose a good friendship but you lost your virtue and title of faithful wife. Everyone in your friend group and half the world knew you as a cheater.
You rub your belly a little as you go up the steps thinking about the gender of the baby… and whether he or she will be welcomed in this house. You slept with both Jaehyun and Jaemin separately weeks before your found out you were pregnant, so it’s hard to tell who’s baby you’re carrying.
All you know, is that you’re 3 months pregnant, in a horrible relationship with your husband, and any chance from now you might get divorced. There’s a limit to what one can take, and you were willing to try for Jaehyun… no matter how long it’d take. But seeing that hickey tonight, you’re reminded of all the other times he’d come home with a different smell on him. You could smell her, but you didn’t want to make it a big deal…
Sleeping on your bed without Jaehyun you try to calm yourself down as you rub and speak to your baby. “I don’t care who you belong to,” You whisper and sniff back. “I’m sorry that I’ve made it difficult for you. I just hope you can forgive me, and love me when you come out,”
Every night you speak to your baby, hoping that he or she will forgive you for hurting so many people.
The next night you don't bother waiting for Jaehyun, when it's reach 8pm sharp you get to bed. Holding onto your stomach you shut your eyes by the little movement of your unborn child. Enjoying as you feel so connected to your new unborn baby you don't hear the walking figure entering the room.
"You're cuddling it. Do you know who it's for?"
You jolt when hearing Jaehyun. You turn and sit up seeing Jaehyun by the door quietly with his hands in his pocket. You're left speechless and don't know what to say. Jaehyun enters the room and heads into the bathroom... He comes out later with his night clothes and gets on the bed… for the first time. Which is shocking. You're a bit shocked by his behavior and just watch him. Looking up at you from the bed, you make out so many looks of anguish behind his eyes.
"You should be sleeping."
"Oh." Is all you say. You strangely and awkwardly forget how to lay in bed to sleep. You don't know where to turn. To the side where he's not there or to him where his eyes are just on you. So feeling the internal conflict you rest on your back looking at the ceiling... Ignoring his gnawing eyes. You lightly jolt when feeling his legs come over yours, you quickly peek at him looking away when seeing his dead cold eyes still on you. You open your legs giving his leg space to wrap around you like before. You face him but don't look at him. You shift your posture so that it's facing him so that your legs can intertwine with his. You're hesitant when your legs embrace him like old times... Afraid that he might reject you, but he doesn't. So you look at him.
The vulnerable gaze from your eyes pour over his own nonchalant dead eyes. "You're still so beautiful." He comments, his eyes going over your features. He wants to say more but his lips stop. Your eyes are on him, taking in his features.
"You're home early tonight,"
"I got you roses," He clears his throat. "I also reserved a spot at an incredible restaurant. I saw that you haven't gone back to work, so I was hoping we could both go out. A date,"
"Really?" You don't hold back as you speak. "Does this mean you forgive me and you're done... cheating on me?" You gulp, watching his strong composure fall into discomfort. "It's okay Jae. I did the same to you and I know I deserve it-"
"You don't deserve it," he gently speaks making you quiet. He sighs out getting closer on the bed, you also move close but he shakes his head. "I... cheated on you." he puts the emphasis on the cheating. "I'm sorry." Even though he's saying that sincerely, a part of him tests out your reaction.
As expected you look calm, as if it's normal. It hurts him when you don't look affected. "It's okay-"
"For hell's sake it's not." He untangles his legs from yours getting off the bed. He turns on the light and looks down at you on the bed. "You cheated because I wasn't there to fulfil your needs. I cheated with the intentions to hurt you. But you're not hurt. You're just... sad. Lonely and cradling onto that-. You're clearly okay with all of this because you think you deserve this. I cheated because I'm so pathetic. You're pregnant. Un-bothered. How could I do this to you? I said for better and for worse, but in the one moment to prove that I'll be there for you at the for better and worse situation- there I was out there, being with another person. I haven't been the best husband. Must be why you went to him in the first place." He bites his lip and shuts his eyes, and can't help to ask. "Have you... made contact with him recently?"
"No." Because you know exactly who he's talking about. You don’t even want to bring Jaemin into this conversation. "Jaehyun, I don't know how much you want me to say it, but I'll say it as many times as you want me to. I'm sorry. I know I can't take anything back, but I promise you - that guy- he meant nothing. I was... stupid, I shouldn't have been so foolish. I'm sorry Jae. I'm sorry. I love you and I'm so so sorry." The tears behind your eyes have Jaehyun melting.
"Can I hug you?" he asks quietly.
"Yes please,"
The moment is sweetly filled with rekindle-ment and allows you to appreciate reuniting with your husband. You've always been sincere and Jaehyun feels thankful for the hug as it just makes him feel close and connected to you again. From everything he has, he makes sure that you feel it within that hug. You're breathless in this moment, too overwhelmed with happiness and joy to speak. This is all you've wanted. Craving his touch all the way to his kind eyes assuring you all over again.
It's in this hug where you feel redemption and tell yourself that you'll never ever cheat again. “Abort the baby.”
You halt from his hold and touch and find yourself moving back and away from him. "Abort…" You whisper. You pull away from his arms like they’ve burned you. “What did you just say?” Your voice is barely a whisper, but the air in the room suddenly becomes too heavy to breathe.
Jaehyun doesn’t flinch. “You should abort that baby.”
You stare at him, blinking, trying to process what he just said. “Why would you even say that?-” You pause, clutching your belly instinctively. “You just- you said you forgive me.”
He rubs a hand down his face, jaw clenched. “I do. I do. But I can't... I can't look at you every day getting bigger with that- that baby and not see everything I lost the moment you... the moment you slept with him. It could be his-”
“Jaehyun, I can't do tha-!” You snap, standing up. “It could be yours!”
“And what if it is?” Jaehyun fires back, stepping toward you. “That doesn’t change what it represents. This baby is a scar. Every time I look at it, I’ll remember that I wasn’t enough for you and that's the reason you stepped out. I don't want that type of reminder. That someone else got what should’ve only been mine. You're not even feeling shame to carry it? Y/n.”
You try to breathe through the growing panic in your chest. “You think I don’t already carry that 'shame' every day? I can't even step out of this house without getting funny looks from our own secretary guard- my friends don't want to be associated with me because of what I did- you're fucking advertisements ridicule me and mock me- 'I can still him on you' - in all that shame I put myself through, in all the shame you put me through, I've got comfort in this baby. ” You shout, tears spilling out of your eyes. “You think I haven’t looked in the mirror and hated myself? I know I broke us, Jae. But this baby… it’s all I have left. This is my reminder too that everything I need is in this house and now out there-”
He scoffs. “So what now you're going to try and say you're lonely without this baby? You have me- Don’t get sentimental.”
“Yes, I’m lonely! Everyone left. You left- even while you were still here. Heara won’t speak to me. My friends pretend I don’t exist. The internet wants me to vanish. And every night, I sit in this house that used to be our home and wonder if I’ll ever feel home again.”
You cover your mouth to muffle the sob, but the tears are free now.
“But this baby... it's moving in me- it makes me feel home. I feel like I can love you again knowing that we've gone through this and you still love me Jae.”
Jaehyun turns away from you, pacing, fisting his hands in his hair. “It’s not about love,” he growls. “It’s about the fact that I can’t rebuild anything with you if it is always here, crying in our hallway, sitting in the highchair that should’ve been filled with our child, calling me something I don’t even want to hear. That baby isn’t a fresh start—it’s the bloodied end of everything we had.”
You cross your arms over your chest, trying to hold yourself together. “So what, Jae? You’d rather I erase it? Pretend it didn’t happen? And just remove it? Doesn't that even hurt you a bit?”
He doesn’t answer.
You take a step toward him, voice trembling but strong. “Okay. I get it. This child is just a wound to you. A reminder of what I did. But to me… this baby is a second chance. It didn’t ask to be here, Jae. It didn’t betray you- I did. So punish me, hate me, but don’t condemn this baby just because it was born from a moment you can’t forgive.”
He looks at you, pain seeping from every inch of his posture, but his voice is cold. “I never said I hated you.”
“You don’t have to.” Your voice is soft, empty. “I feel it every time you come home late. Every time you give me something expensive instead of a conversation. Every time you look at me like I’m a stranger trespassing in your life.”
The silence stretches again.
“I’m keeping the baby,” You say finally, wiping your face. “Whether it’s yours or his, it’s mine too.”
Jaehyun doesn’t move.
You look at him, and for the first time in a long time, you stop begging him to stay. The following nights are no different, you don’t wait up for him, you go straight to bed. You don’t even cook or leave things in the microwave, you eat and wash your dish and go to sleep. You try not to think of Jaehyun, by now it’s very clear to you, that Jaehyun… wants to leave you, if you don’t leave the baby.
And so you prepare yourself for that.
-
“Hey!” You hear over the phone, being surprised by the enthusiasm from Heara. “How are you babes?”
You’re too stunned to speak, you don’t even know what to say. So you mutter out a tiny. “Been better.”
“Oh, that’s… great. Uhm, I just called…” Heara sounds awkward and even nervous. You don’t say anything… the last time you ‘spoke to her’ – she slapped your face and told you she wanted nothing to do with you ever again. So to receive her call, doesn’t even have you wanting to mend anything with her. Reason being, because Heara… was your best friend and you betrayed her. Even though you hoped the friendship would be the same as before, you know for a fact that Heara will always rub it in your face. In fact, you’re not blaming her, but she’s the reason you even got on the cheating train – because she filled your head with everything wrong in your marriage. “So, my baby girl Ari is turning 4 months this Wednesday and I was hoping to invite you for the little gathering… are you interested?”
Your lips feel dry, but nonetheless you shake your head. “It sounds lovely, but I don’t think that would be a good idea. I’ll just pass on it. Thanks. And happy 4 months in advance.” You’re about to cut the call, but she’s quick to speak.
“Okay, sorry I lied.” Heara’s voice cracks just a little. “Babes… it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I miss you... and I just want us to talk like old times, and I... I forgive you. And… I’m just worried for you.”
You sit in silence, stunned, your phone pressed too tightly to your ear.
Heara continues quickly, “I slapped you, I told you I never wanted to see you again, I meant every word in that moment. But…” She pauses. “People say things when they’re bleeding. And you know me, I'll say things just to hurt you but I don't really mean it. I've never wanted to hurt you. Please Y/n.”
You swallow hard, guilt crawling up your throat like bile.
“Please? Jaemin won't be home, and I just want it to be us. Like old times, but now with my little bundle of joy, please?”
“I betrayed you. I know if I were you, I'd never want to see me too,” You finally whisper, your voice tight and small.
“I know.” Her honesty stings, but it’s gentle. “You did. And I hated you for it. I hated how easily you wrecked something that I took advantage of. But now I cherish everything, and I don't take things for granted. And you know who taught me that? You did. You've never taken anything for granted, and I'm just the bad person who filled up your head when I should've been helping you to stay faithful. Babes please. You've always been there for me, and I love you, and friends fight all the time, please just come, and we can talk,”
You cover your face with your hand, already crying, though you don’t want to admit it.
“I kept telling myself not to call you,” She continues, her voice softening further. “I thought I’d feel better cutting you out. But I don’t. I miss you. Not the version that hurt me. I miss my friend.”
There’s a beat of silence before she speaks again, more timid this time.
“So… will you come? Nothing dramatic. Just Ari, me, some cake, and you.”
You look down at your lap, your hand subconsciously brushing over your stomach. The ache in your chest is heavy, not just from guilt, but from how much you miss being loved by someone.
“I don’t deserve to see you or her,” You murmur.
“Yeah, but she deserves to know what forgiveness looks like.. And I just want to set a good example for her from an early age.”
That hits you and you chuckle slightly, sniffing back the tears. “Since when did you become so wise?”
“Since I gave birth,” You can hear her proud smile.
You wipe your tears away quietly, drawing in a shaky breath. “Okay… I’ll come.”
“Really?” Heara’s voice lights up with cautious hope.
“Yes,” You nod to yourself. “I want to see you. I want to… make things right, if I still can.”
A soft laugh escapes her. “Okay, babes. Wednesday. Just us. No drama. Just cake and maybe some healing. Come by early when she's not cranky,”
And for the first time in months, you end a call with something that feels dangerously close to peace. But you know it's too good to be true. Because once you tell her about your own pregnancy, this conversation will probably mean nothing again.
-
Wednesday
You dressed up for this occasion. Hearing that the baby is a baby girl, you dress in a lovely pink dress, a dress that doesn’t reveal your own baby bump. The plan is to tell Heara that you're pregnant… and that you’re unsure whether the baby is Jaehyun’s or Jaemin’s. The outcome could be rejection. Or, in the rare case, Heara might become the one who stands beside you, even for a paternity test
So as you walk up to Heara’s home, your thoughts spin all over the place as you think of what this house symbolized for you. You had your first affair in this house with Jaemin while Heara was sleeping… You try to kick those thoughts out of your mind, but you get to nervous, especially when you think of how Jaemin could also be in the house… it’s been so long since you last saw him…
You knock on the door and wait, anxiously. What if Jaemin opens the door instead?
The door swings open and for a second, you brace yourself—shoulders tight, breath caught. But then you see her. Heara.
She’s glowing, somehow. Messy bun, cozy sweater, faint circles under her eyes that only new mothers wear proudly. But she’s smiling. “There you are,” She says, happy, with a breathy kind of relief. “Come in, babes.” Her warmth catches you off guard. Not fake. Not forced. Just… real. That’s Heara.
You step inside carefully, nervous still.
Heara eyes you for a moment and tilts her head. “You’ve put on some weight.” The words land awkwardly, making you feel self-conscious, but she laughs before you can react. “Don’t worry, it looks good. Full face. Glowy skin. Are you hiding a new man or just enjoying carbs again?” She tries to redeem but inwardly sighs when brining up the fact that you’re a cheater subtly. “Kidding.”
You chuckle, but your fingers instinctively brush your stomach. Hidden, but not for long.
Then, she gestures to the floor just beyond the hallway.
“Well welcome. Oh you bought a gift?” Heara smiles taking the box from your hand. Heara smiles and looks behind her. “I know she’s too young to appreciate things, but I’ll always remind her that a special aunty gave her these. Thank you.” Heara is fully committed to renewing the friendship. “There she is,” She whispers proudly.
On a soft play mat, surrounded by plush animals and a rotating mobile that plays gentle music, her baby girl lies on her back, gurgling at the ceiling like the world is telling her a secret. Four months old. Big eyes. Chubby cheeks. Little fists moving with dramatic purpose.
You freeze at the doorway.
“Come on,” Heara says gently. “She doesn’t bite.”
You get closer, and kneel down slowly, letting yourself look at her. The baby turns her head and locks eyes with you for a brief second and smiles. Something inside you breaks. Jaehyun who's wanted a child, suddenly doesn't want a child because of what you've done.
“She’s… so tiny and cute,” You whisper.
Heara hums with pride, lowering beside you. “She’s a lot. Exhausting, noisy, constantly leaking something. But she’s... she's mine. My little seed.” Her voice softens. “Want to hold her?”
You nod before your fear can stop you.
The baby settles into your arms without protest, warm and heavy and real. She smells like baby lotion and milk and something soft you can’t name. Your chest tightens. You rock her gently, eyes stinging. She looks up at you, blinking slowly.
Will yours look like this? Will he or she be this innocent? Will yours smile at you… even after everything you’ve done? Will yours even feel happy being in a house where his or her mummy and daddy don't see eye to eye?
You internally smack yourself on the head realizing how you've ruined your family before it could even start.
You don’t realize you’ve started to cry a little, until Heara quietly places a tissue in your lap and turns away pretending not to notice. She wonders why you're crying, but she tries to be gentle with you. You mutter a tiny thanks and place the baby on the floor.
“I’ve been... I know I haven't spoken to you, but I've been keeping up with your life,” Heara says later as you sit on the couch, after you’ve calmed down, the baby now nestled back in her bouncer. “With everything.”
You say nothing. Just stare at the white walls. The framed photo of Heara, Jaemin, and their daughter, Ari, smiling like the world hadn’t fallen apart.
“You don't deserve all that heat and hate,” she says quietly. “Not like that. Jaehyun can actually be a scumbag, those ads blatantly expose you without even having any words. His team went too far. The media people went too far. People are cruel when they’re bored. And you… you are already hurting. And it's been months, but nobody wants to give it a rest. Like get over it.”
"Can you... just talk about something else?"
"Oh." Is all she says... before diverting her attention. She doesn’t mention what you did. She doesn’t say Jaemin’s name. Not once. She doesn’t bring up your marriage, or Jaehyun’s perfume campaign, or the thousands of comments that dragged you through the dirt. Instead she settles on talking about every other thing that doesn't revolve around the scandal.
Going on to asking you, your favorite tea is now. And talks about how her baby likes music, specifically the sound of her daddy. She talks about breastfeeding, sleep training, and how motherhood sometimes makes her feel like she’s a superwoman. You just nod, sip tea, and listen. And she lets you. At some point you just expect her to throw out the words “I told you so.” like the old Heara would do- but she's new and improved, as if she's always been a saint all her life. Motherhood can really change someone. Later, you help her in the kitchen. The two of you moving in a quiet rhythm, old habits never really die. You allow yourself to smile and feel comfortable, although you're just afraid to overdo your welcome... after all you still have to drop the news to her.
You place snacks on pastel plates, carry juice boxes with cartoon animals, and laugh when Heara swears because she forgot the damn baby in the living room. She tells you to go to the baby’s room. You walk into the baby’s room with a tray of food and freeze. You almost drop the tray.
Because this room… it didn’t always smell like lotion and lullabies. You remember the old bed, the silence of the house, the guilt clinging to your skin like sweat. You remember Jaemin’s lips, his breath, his voice low and dangerous. This used to be ‘that’ room. Your feet feel heavy.
You place the tray on the tiny table by the window. The sunlight coming through makes everything look so… gentle. Clean. As if the past had never happened.
Heara walks in behind you. Sees the way your hand lingers on the edge of the changing table. The way Heara has soo many questions that she holds in isn't healthy. But she doesn't want to scare you.
So she says nothing. Instead, she smiles and places the baby down. “I painted it yellow the week after she was born, it used to be pink. I think she likes it more than I do.”
You nod again, but the memory burns. You glance at the crib. The stuffed bunny. The soft, folded baby blankets. All these signs of innocence now layered over the ghosts of your own actions. You wonder how... Jaemin sees this room now. You’re surrounded by reminders. You swallow the truth that’s lodged in your throat.
You want to tell her. You want to say: ‘I’m pregnant. I don’t know if it’s your husband’s. I’m sorry.’
But you don’t.
Not yet. Instead, you just say. “She does seem like a yellow and happy child, I can her rubbing off on you greatly.”
Heara’s eyes soften as she glances down at her daughter. “I’m the lucky one.”
The two of you sit in silence for a while, listening to the soft cooing sounds of the baby in her bouncer. The room, though small, feels thick with unspoken words. Heara rocks slightly in the chair, her eyes on her daughter—yours fixed on the floor, your hands trembling in your lap.
You don’t know how to say it. But it’s time.
“Heara…” Your voice cracks before it even fully forms. She turns to look at you, softly, patiently.
You breathe in, brace yourself, and stare straight ahead, unable to meet her eyes.
“I’m… pregnant.”
The air changes.
You hear a long pause. Not from shock, but from restraint. Like she’s trying to gauge what this is supposed to mean. You continue, forcing the words out before your courage fails again.
“I found out about two months ago. I’m about three months along.”
There’s silence. Your hand protectively goes to your stomach… Her eyes widen.
Then finally, she asks, very carefully. “Does Jaehyun know?”
You nod.
“Is it his?” Is her next question.
That’s when you look up.
“I don’t know.”
Her lips part slightly. You see her trying to form words, to stay calm, to do anything but lash out the way she did the last time. Her expression flickers hurt, confusion, but not anger. Not yet.
You don’t give her time to guess. “I... Jaehyun and I slept together, but I slept with Jaemin last. But it could be for Jaehyun since... it's been a while since I've been carrying this baby. I didn’t try to get pregnant but I just found out that I was pill-less the last couple of intercourses-” You stop yourself.
Heara doesn’t move.
Her eyes drop to your stomach, just briefly, and when she speaks, her voice is tight. “You don’t know whose baby you’re carrying.”
You can’t speak. You nod.
You feel the weight of shame crawl back into your chest. Not because she’s yelling. She isn’t. But because she isn’t.
“I just want to let you know,” You whisper.
There’s a sudden sound.
The front door opens with a soft creak downstairs, followed by a familiar, playful voice.
Jaemin's voice echoed through the house, a stark contrast to the heavy silence that had settled between you and Heara. "Ariiiii," he cooed in that unmistakable baby tone, his footsteps light but purposeful as he ascended the stairs. “Ari Ari.” Jaemin’s voice calls in that ridiculous baby tone, full of love and joy and clueless comfort and the baby Ari is eating it up, jolly in her bouncer, squealing excitedly. “Where’s my little monster? Daddy’s here!”
Your heart stops.
Heara’s gaze sharpens in an instant. Not at you, but at the realization of what’s coming next. She stands, suddenly stiff, her jaw tight.
You barely have time to breathe before footsteps hit the stairs. Fast. Light. He’s in a good mood.
You stand up, frozen, helpless.
The bedroom door swings open with a soft push.
And there he is.
Jaemin.
Grinning wide, bouquet of daisies in one hand, his laptop bag in the other, tie loose around his neck. He stops in his tracks the second his eyes land on you.
The smile falls from his face.
The daisies hit the floor.
No one speaks.
The baby giggles from her bouncer, completely unaware.
Jaemin stares at you like he’s seeing a ghost. Like you are the unfinished chapter he never wanted to read again.
You can see it in his eyes: guilt, confusion, a flash of something softer… and then, guarded detachment.
He shifts his gaze to Heara, whose arms are crossed tightly over her chest.
She doesn't say a word.
And neither do you.
His eyes turn to Heara. “May I?” He asks.
She nods tightly and Jaemin simply moves forward to the baby, his arm reaching out to scoop up the giggling baby from her playmat. She squeals with delight, her tiny arms reaching for him, and he responds with a soft chuckle, cradling her effortlessly. “Hey baby girl,” He kisses her cheeks.
Without acknowledging your presence, Jaemin picks up the daises, and straightens up, offering a brief, unreadable glance in your direction before turning to leave the room. The door clickes shut behind him, and the room falls into a suffocating silence.
Heara breaks the silence, her voice low but steady. "Are you considering keeping the baby?"
You nod your head, the motion small but resolute. "Yes."
"Why?" Her question hangs in the air, heavy with unspoken judgment.
You open your mouth to respond but find no words. The truth is, in front of Heara, you can’t tell her the real reason why you want to keep the child… it’ll sound selfish in her ears. The decision felt like a blur, a haze of emotions and circumstances that you couldn't untangle.
Heara's gaze softens, but there is a flicker of something else, disappointment, perhaps. She exhales sharply, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You know, Jaehyun's been seeing someone else. Kissing her all over his office- I dare even say having sex there too." She says in an attempt to hurt you.
The words hit you like a physical blow. You nod, the admission tasting bitter on your tongue. "I know."
Her eyes search yours, as if looking for a crack in your composure. "And you're still... okay?"
You nod again. “I deserve it, don’t I?”
The conversation dwindles down, leaving an uncomfortable silence. You both move mechanically, eating, clink of utensils and the sound of music playing from downstairs- the only sounds breaking the stillness.
You ate in silence, the food tasteless, the weight of the situation pressing down on you. Every bite feels forced, and you just want to leave.
“Thank you for the meal, and inviting me over…” You stand up. “I think, I’m just gonna go.”
Heara's voice stops you. "Don't tell Jaemin. He doesn't need to know. He's already happy with his baby girl."
You pause, the words sinking in. You nod, a silent agreement to her request. “Heara, I don’t plan on speaking to him ever again. You have my word.” You mumble.
You leave the room, carefully and quietly walking downstairs. You can hear the baby, Ari. She gurgles with laughter. Her tiny fingers tug at his shirt, and he smiles at her , wide and warm. But the moment his eyes catch your figure… he looks away. Ignoring you. Jaemin, with the baby in his arms, dances to the beat of the cartoon with her, kissing her cheeks. Despite the baby giggling and dancing along, Jaemin can’t help his wondering eyes and halted movements. He watches you leave, his gaze lingering as you close the door behind you.
Heara walks down the stairs moments later and notices the quiet shift in Jaemin’s demeanour. He switches off the music, turning to some light cartoon episode. He zones out and stares at the tv, bouncing Ari gently on his knee as she coos playing with her plastic flowers
Heara folds her arms, curious and slightly tense. “You’re not even curious why she was here?”
Jaemin doesn’t look up. “I don’t care. Did you see what I bought Ari?” he says, lifting a tiny daisy-print onesie with matching booties from a gift bag nearby.
But Heara isn’t amused. Her voice tightens. “When last did you sleep with her?”
That pulls a reaction. Jaemin freezes, but it’s just for a second, before he slowly looks up at her, brows low, a frown forming. “I’m not going to answer that. I haven’t even spoken to her because I’m not-”
Heara cuts him off, rolling her eyes. “I know. You’re not interested in her anymore. I know all of that. But Jaemin….” Heara sits down besides him on the couch. “She’s pregnant.”
The words crash into the room like a glass shattering. Ari lets out a soft squeal, unaware of the tension that her parents are in. Jaemin’s eyes widen. His grip on the baby doesn’t change, but something in his expression hardens. “It’s not mine.”
Heara raises a brow, tilting her head. “Well you can’t be sure because she doesn’t know who it’s for. Apparently she fooled around with both you and Jaehyun. So there’s a chance the baby is yours.”
The silence that follows is brief but telling. Jaemin exhales sharply, jaw tightening. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Of course you don’t,” Heara mutters under her breath, standing up and walking over to tidy the scattered toys. “Because that’s what you always do. You don't want to talk about anything anymore. Pretend like you’re done and dusted with her, but you still think about her. And flinch every time I bring you back to reality. As if I hurt you.”
“I’m not flinching,” Jaemin replies through clenched teeth. “I’m trying to move on. With my daughter. With you. That chapter’s closed. Isn't that better for everyone?”
“Better for everyone? You can't be serious.” she snaps.
“It's you who's not serious. I’m trying to move on, let it go, focus on you. But you keep clinging to that past. Trying to bring her up and then acting as though I care about her. Just look at you obsessing over her. Just don't forgot that I'm not the one who brought her back into the house. I'm not the one who opened up a new chapter in her life, you did. I thought you said you’re done with her? But clearly you want a fight. And I’m not interested in getting involved or fighting with you. That baby is not mine. That's the end of my involvement with this matter.”
The room goes still again, the only sound coming from Ari’s little giggles as she plays with her flowers.
Jaemin shakes his head and looks down at his daughter, brushing his hand gently over her fine baby hair. Heara sees this and feels the subtle ease come over her. It’s a good thing that Jaemin didn’t care about you anymore.
So after a few days she tries to call you again, however you don’t pick up at all. Heara figured that you’d avoid her calls, and so she took courage and decided to visit you one afternoon. To her surprise the guards informed her that you had left and that Jaehyun and you were getting a divorce. And after what felt like a whole month of trying to get a hold of you – she finally did. But the encounter is not what she was expecting.
“Hey, I’ve been trying to reach for weeks now.”
“Why?” You sharply ask. Your tone sets a cold atmosphere to form and for the first time in forever, it causes Heara to be speechless. After a whole minute of waiting for Heara to speak and she doesn’t you firmly state the position you are with her. “Heara, it’s clear to me that we’ll never be friends the same way again. So I ask you, kindly, please stop trying to call me. I won’t answer you.”
“But-”
And the call drops just like that, surprising Heara. She looks at her phone with confusion and discomfort, not knowing if she should really accept the fact that she won’t be friends anymore with you… While Heara was struggling to come to terms with her lost connection, Jaehyun was beginning to realize that the absence of the woman he loved was not just a matter of her leaving; it was the unraveling of everything he thought he knew. Jaehyun also found himself in a similar boat, when one day he returned home, but you weren’t there in the house. At first he thought little of it, until day after day you weren’t in the house. He purposely worked from home one day to see if you’d show up, but you never showed face. He got worried and nervous about where you might be, until his security guard confirmed that you had packed up some of your things and left.
That had Jaehyun really upset, he tried to call you multiple of times during the day and night, but you never picked up. Not even once. Weeks passed and he hadn’t heard a word from you, it made him really stressed. Because just the thought of divorce, hurt him. He knows he didn’t want the baby, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want you. He still loved you with his whole heart… and hoped you could come to your senses to start afresh with him. Not with him and a baby. So as he goes to work one day, and Jaemin steps into his office for a progress update report… Jaehyun to ask about you.
“Alright I’ll check with the flowering factory, and see how many batches have been grinded and get back to you.” Jaemin clamps the paperwork in his hand, before getting up.
“Hold on, Jaemin.”
Jaemin looks up, eyes eager. “Yes sir,”
“Uh, this is a bit random, and not work related.” Jaehyun halts, looking outside of his view before facing Jaemin again. “Have you recently seen Y/n, by any chance?”
Jaemin’s eyes harden in a split second, and Jaehyun notices the shift in his demeanor. It’s as if the mention of her name has ignited something darker. ‘With all due respect, sir, I’m not interested in discussing your wife.’ Jaehyun feels the coldness, but he can’t ignore the look in Jaemin’s eyes he hasn’t seen before
Jaehyun stares out the window, the city skyline before him blurred in the distance. His mind races through thoughts, none of them clear or grounded. It’s been days since you left, and he hasn’t heard a word. Not one message, not one call. His frustration mounts with each passing hour. He grips the edge of his desk, feeling the familiar ache of confusion sink deeper into his chest.
Where the hell are you?
The question gnaws at him, more so than it should. His hands tremble slightly as he clenches his phone, his thumb hovering over the call button, hesitating. He runs through the possibilities in his head. You could be anywhere... maybe you're with someone else. His stomach tightens at the thought, the image of you with another man, laughing, holding hands—it sends a jolt of panic through him. Was all of this just a lie? Had you been cheating on him again, like before?
No, no... that’s not it. He pushes the thought away with frustration, taking a deep breath. The worst case—the only case he can’t bear—is that you want a divorce. The idea gnaws at his insides.
His phone vibrates again, the screen lighting up with another failed attempt to reach you. He stares at the screen for a moment longer before slamming it down on the desk. His hand runs through his hair, his eyes wild with desperation. He won’t stop until he knows where you are.
“Sir, are you alri—”
“Eunha, get the hell out of my office.” Jaehyun’s voice sounds deeper through the silence like ice shattering, a sharp contrast to the way it used to sound when he called her name. His words are sharp, and they hang in the air, suffocating everything else in the room. His eyes that used to be filled with lust, now only reflect a bitter kind of scorn.
Eunha stumbles. The sultry smile that once adorned her lips fade, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. She’d been in his life long enough to understand his moods, to read the silent signals of when to keep playing the part, but this? This shift is abrupt. Cold. As though something inside him has snapped.
She takes a step forward, trying to hide the hurt she feels, but Jaehyun isn’t having it. He doesn’t even flinch as his gaze hardens.
“I said leave. In fact, you’re fired.”
The words hang heavy in the air. She had been his escape, his distraction from his wife… Her lips tremble for a moment, and she steps closer, trying to rub his back. “Baby you don't really mean that-”
“Yes I do,” Jaehyun cuts her off, his voice low and venomous, “Leave.” He stands up, towering over her now, the full weight of his presence filling the office. “I don’t want you to call me baby anymore.”
The words stung harder than any slap could. Eunha’s body tightens, the sting of humiliation pulsing through her chest. She glares up at him, her voice dripping with venom. “But you said I'll always be your baby, and that I bring peace to you. If I leave you, I'll expose you, because, you weren’t complaining when you were fucking me, were you?”
The accusation lands like a heavy blow, the words hanging in the air. Jaehyun feels a knot in his stomach twist.
“You want to expose what we did?” he challenges, his voice even, too even. “Go ahead. Do it. I don’t care anymore. Just get out.” He takes a step closer, his eyes cold. “Just leave.”
Eunha stands there for a moment, the tension crackling between them. A mixture of disbelief, hurt, and anger flickers in her gaze. “You’re a bastard.”
Her voice is thick with resentment, and with that, she steps back, the anger boiling beneath her skin. But before she can leave, she slaps him. The slap echoes through the room. Jaehyun doesn’t even flinch, he stands still, his face a mask of cold indifference. He doesn’t deserve to react, to give her the satisfaction of seeing any weakness.
“If you’re satisfied now,” Jaehyun says, his voice low and distant, “Then leave. But if you want to continue with this pathetic charade, then I’ll call security.”
Eunha’s gaze holds his for a split second, no tears, no anger. “Your wife is going to leave you. And when she does, I'll be expecting your call.”
A few days later…
You wake up to the sound of birds chirping outside the window, sunlight filtering in through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Blinking awake, you feel disoriented from the restless nights you've spent here at your mother’s house.
Your mom’s house. The place where everything used to feel simple. Safe.
You stretch, the weight of everything that’s happened settling back into your bones, but there’s a sense of numbness…. almost peaceful. Your phone on the nightstand vibrates, drawing your attention, but you’re not in the mood to check it. Not yet.
Your mom enters the room, a soft smile on her face as she holds a cup of tea in her hands. “Good morning, sweetheart. You feeling alright?” She asks gently, sitting beside you on the bed.
You offer a tired but genuine smile. “Yeah. Better. Just… tired.”
Your mother sets the tea down on the nightstand and picks up your phone. “I got a couple of calls for you. Heara’s been trying to reach you again, and… so has Jaehyun. The usual.”
You feel a flicker of something… regret? Guilt? But it passes quickly. You close your eyes for a moment, focusing on the sound of your mother’s voice. “I don’t want to talk to them.”
Your mother’s expression softens. “I understand. But, darling, you can’t avoid them forever. Okay, maybe Heara you can avoid her, but Jaehyun? Sweety you married this man, and left my house a long time ago because you said you loved him – sickness and health, and pain and what not. You made all those vows remember? If you love him… if you still love him… you should at least talk things through. Come to an agreement with him, anything to save your marriage. Don’t let this be the end.”
You feel the ache in your chest at the mention of Jaehyun’s name. Your mother’s words… only stir the exhaustion you’ve been carrying for so long. You open your eyes and shake your head gently. “I don’t have the energy to restore the marriage anymore. I’ve realized my mistake, Mom. And I’ve come to terms with it. I can’t change the past, and I’m not going to try. And all these city people can look at me any how. But I don't care anymore. I cheated. He cheated because of me. He doesn’t want the baby. But I want the baby, and that's where our other problems start.” Your voice cracks slightly, but you steady yourself, forcing the emotion back down. “I need space… from him. From everything. Just… for a moment.”
Your mother watches you carefully, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “Sweety… I want you to know that I didn’t raise you to be a cheater. I raised you to be a strong girl. Take as much time as you need, but I need you to get back up. If not for Jaehyun, then for yourself.”
You nod. “I know, Mom. I know.”
Just as the silence settles between you, your phone vibrates again on the nightstand. You glance at it, already knowing who it is, but your curiosity wins over your hesitation. You pick it up, but freeze when you see the name on the screen. Aside from Jaehyun or Heara… you see…
Jaemin.
For a brief second, you wonder why you haven’t deleted his number…. but quickly dismiss the thought. You stare at the call, wanting to ignore it. After all, it’s just Jaemin. You don’t know what will happen if you let him in your mind again. You don’t want to cause Jaehyun anymore pain. You don’t need to deal with Jaemin right now, not with everything that’s happening.
You decide not to answer. You press the "decline" button, but a second later, a message from Jaemin pings through.
Jaemin: Your husband is looking for you. And so is my wife... I know you're avoiding them. Perhaps you're just trying to get space. But, Y/n... you've got everyone worried.
You frown as you read the text, your fingers trembling slightly as you hold the phone in your hand. For a moment, you wonder if you should respond. Should you give Jaemin something… anything- to relay a message to them to let them know you're okay?
But just... his text continues, leaving an open-ended trail. The last part is almost like a plea, though he doesn’t say it outright.
Jaemin: Are you really pregnant with my baby?
You feel a stir of something you can’t quite name. Maybe it’s guilt. Maybe it’s fear. But in the end, you do nothing. You set the phone down on the bed, pushing it out of your sight, your heart heavy.
The text, however, lingers in your thoughts. Even Jaemin, of all people, wants you to face what’s coming.
But how can you? You don’t dwell on the feelings any longer, as your personalized ringtone for the doctor sounds through the house. Your heart hammers in your chest… finally.
“Yes Doctor?” You answer your phone.
“The paternity test results have arrived. Would you like me to email them to you or?”
“No, I would like to receive them in person.” You respond. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
-
You sit stiffly in the cushioned chair, your fingers clenched tightly together on your lap. The doctor's office smells sterile, like hand sanitizer and cotton pads. Your mother sits beside you, her hand on yours for comfort, though you haven’t said much today.
The doctor enters with a calm smile and a file in hand.
"Mrs Jung," She calls gently, "The results came back from the paternity test. With the DNA swabs collected from both you and Jaehyun, we were able to collect and compare the results in the lab."
“So what were the results?” You nod, bracing yourself. “Jaehyun is the father right?”
The doctor opens the folder and flips a page. “Jaehyun is the biological father. Confirmed.”
Time slows.
Your heart skips, your breath catches… Jaehyun. Relief washes over you in a wave, but it collides violently with guilt. Your chest tightens.
You nod slowly, thanking the doctor with a quiet voice.
“She’s healthy, by the way,” the doctor adds. “All the additional tests came back normal. You’re cleared to go home.”
You offer a polite smile, though your thoughts are already miles away. You return home with your mother, your mother makes food while you're packing quietly. Folding a few pieces of clothing. Tucking the envelope with the test results into your bag. Your mother watches you from the doorway.
“You’re really going back?” She asks softly. “Already?”
You pause smiling a little while nodding. “Stop lying, you've been begging me to leave since I got here." She laughs but holds you tighter. And you smile at her. "But you're right. It's time to face the music. If it doesn’t work out… I’ll come back, so don't get too happy to be alone again.”
She walks over and cups your face in her hands like you're still her little girl. “Being alone is also good, but I'll let you know that love is hard and if your father were still alive - I'd do it all over again. Sometimes it hurts more than it heals. But if there’s even a small piece of your heart that believes this is worth saving, go for it. I raised a strong girl.”
You nod again, eyes misty.
After a quiet supper, you hug your mother tightly, holding onto her a little longer than usual. Saying goodbye isn’t easy.
Despite all the wealth you shared with Jaehyun, your mother never asked for much. Anytime you offered her money or suggested buying her a new place, she would smile, shake her head, and politely decline. She was always grateful, but she preferred her simple life. No luxury, no spotlight. Just her, her child, and the memory of a husband who quietly stepped away from it all.
That was enough for her. And it always made you love her more.
So as you step away from her warmth and prepare to return to the complicated world of Jaehyun… a world where second and third chances are hard-earned, you brace yourself.
The drive back to the city is long. You watch the last light of the sunset vanish behind distant hills, the sky darkening with thick clouds. When you finally wind up the mountain road and arrive at the house you once called home, it feels heavier than ever.
This is it.
You step inside slowly, the door clicking shut behind you. The house is dim, calm, almost unchanged, but it feels heavier. Your presence stirs something in the air.
Suddenly, you hear rapid footsteps from upstairs. Jaehyun appears at the top of the staircase, heart practically pounding out of his chest when he sees you.
He doesn’t speak, just stares, his eyes wide, chest rising and falling. There’s so much in his expression: hope, hesitation, longing, fear.
You meet his gaze, and your hand trembles slightly as you reach into your bag. You pull out the white envelope and hold it up, your voice barely above a whisper. “The baby is yours.”
Jaehyun blinks, stunned. But you’re not done. Your throat tightens, your heart shatters with every word that follows.
“And I’ve thought a lot... about what I want to do. If you… if you don’t want the baby… I’ll be fine. I’ll remove it.” You swallow a choke. “Anything to keep us together. I want to start again with you, if you want to. But if you don't want, then... I understand and I'll walk out this door. But Jaehyun, Jae, I want you to know that I love you, and I’m sorry-”
The tears fall faster than you can wipe them away.
Jaehyun doesn’t say anything. He walks to you with longing in his steps.
He closes the distance in seconds, wrapping his arms around you so tightly it steals your breath. His head buries into the side of your neck, and you feel his lips press there softly.
“Stop saying that, I'm the one who's sorry, for better or worse right?” He whispers. “I want you to come back, I fired my secretary, I don't intend to step out again or leave you alone, I discontinued the campaigns that showcased and humiliated you publicly, and we can- we can just get ourselves checked in for therapy sessions, or do some new friends seeking- I'm willing to restore your image again, I tarnished it badly and I'm sorry. Please don't leave, I need you to come back, and I’ll work hard to be a better husband.”
He leans back, cupping your face in his warm palms.
“If this baby is ours… then I want it. I want this child. I want you. I want to start again. Please.”
Your smile grows, yet you still cry faintly, nodding. “I’ll also step up,” You whisper. “I made that decision to not hurt you again. Not to associate myself with Heara or her husband again. You're my focus, and so this family we're starting. Please forgive me Jae,”
He leans in again, kissing your forehead, then your lips, softly, gently, like he’s afraid you’ll vanish again. “I forgive you.”
You smile and bury yourself in his embrace again.
-
At home, Jaemin holds his daughter gently in his arms, slowly pacing around her room. She's already asleep, but he keeps her close, holding her tighter as thoughts race through his mind. He reminds himself why he can’t afford to be reckless, why he needs to stay grounded. Deep down, he knows Y/n isn’t carrying his child. Their fling ended long before she revealed her pregnancy. Still, he lets himself drift into daydreams…. maybe in another world, they ended up together and he's truly happy.
As the smile gets on his face unconsciously, he feels the heartbeat of his daughter and his mind snaps back.
Or maybe they do end up together, but he's still miserable.
He lets out a quiet sigh and pats little Ari’s back.
He shouldn't be thinking about you at all. You are Jaehyun's wife and.... you're just someone who offered him comfort, who believed in him when he was at his lowest. Jaemin sighs, he wonders why he can’t bring himself to think badly about you… you were perfect in his eyes. But that’s exactly why thinking of you now feels wrong. Especially after everything that’s happened.
He’s still with the company, even after the fallout from the scandalous product launch. Despite burned bridges with investors, he stayed. Jaehyun became his senior boss, and due to Taeyong pulling out his shares, and Jaemin investing his club into Jaehyun's company, Jaemin was promoted again. That gave him a front-row seat to how Jaehyun treated this affair fallout…. he watched Jaehyun’s affair with the secretary raise, and all he could think about was that he needed to wake up from the delusions he had.
It hit him hard. He destroyed something good in Jaehyun, and tainted you. He regretted it deeply. That’s why he keeps his distance, never speaking about you, never interfering- hopefully that mess will fix itself. He's sorry, but he can't ever say that to you or Jaehyun, just because of how complicated things will get. He knows he’s the one who ruined your relationship.
“Jaemin?”
He flinchs slightly at the touch on his shoulder. Turning around, he sees Heara, his wife. He offers a tight smile. “Yeah? Sorry,"
"You were just zoning out as usual. Thinking of Y/n." Heara comments.
Jaemin clutches his jaw but says nothing to that. "She’s asleep.” He walks over to Ari’s crib and gently lays her down, brushing a finger over her tiny hand. “Goodnight, my baby girl.”
Heara stands in silence, watching him. Another moment. Another quiet act of love between Jaemin and their daughter.
It's taken a long, messy road to reach this point. A point where Jaemin no longer snaps or argues unless it involves Ari. He's become distant in many ways, yet deeply present in others. Cold toward Heara, but warm with their daughter. Despite his detachment, he makes a genuine effort to be a supportive partner, in his own way. And when Heara lashes out, he absorbs it, saying little, offering less.
She knows why.
She knows it all traces back to the affair.
She still remembers the night everything turned for the worst... your birthday at night after they returned home. She doesn't remember exactly what triggered it... but it started something. They’d been fighting again.... but this night frustration boiled over into blame.
“You act like Jaehyun’s some villain for spoiling her,” Jaemin said bitterly. “But maybe he just knows how to treat her right in the way that she loves.”
Heara rolled her eyes, arms crossed. “And you think you're what? Loving me in your own way? You sit around acting like you're some martyr, but you're just pathetic. You're not even half the man Jaehyun is. You don't do shit Jaemin.”
That was the last straw.
“I’ve had it,” Jaemin said sharply, swinging his legs off the bed. He stormed to the wardrobe and started pulling clothes off the hangers.
“What the hell are you doing?” Heara snapped. “You can't just walk away every time you can’t take the heat. You think running off proves anything? No it just shows how weak you are, how worthless you are. Real men aren't like this-”
Jaemin’s jaw clenched as he folded a shirt. “If I’m so worthless to you, then replacing me should be easy.” He didn’t look at her when he said it: “I’m leaving you.”
The words hit like a slap. Heara stared at him, stunned. “You’re not serious,” she said, stepping closer, the smirk fading off her face, seeing how serious he was.
“I am.” His voice was low, resolute. “You tear me down every chance you get. I provide for you, I try, really I try. but nothing’s ever enough for you. I can’t keep doing this to myself or mental health. I’m done with all of this. Now I know why Haechan left, you're the one who held him back from his full potential.”
“You’re not leaving,” she said, reaching for his suitcase, anger growing. She unzipped it and started pulling the clothes back out, her hands trembling. “You don’t get to walk away just because things get hard.”
Jaemin grabbed her wrist—not hard, but firm. “Stop. I mean it, Heara. I’m done pretending this marriage means something when all we do is fight. I'm done fighting.”
“You agreed to marry me, Jaemin!”
“And if I knew it’d be like this-” he snapped, “I never would’ve! Fuck! I should’ve married your best friend. At least she treats me like a person. She respects me. She cares for me. She's not like you. You're not half the woman she is.”
Her expression cracked. “What did you just say?”
Jaemin stared back, eyes filled with anger and grief. “I love her. And I'm tired of hiding it. I love your best friend, and I don't care if she's married. I'm leaving you, and I'm going to her-”
“I’m pregnant, Jaemin.” Her voice broke slightly. “I’m carrying your child.”
“You've spent weeks calling that baby a mistake, a burden- so now what do you expect me to feel? Joy?” he said, voice hard. “No. I'm leaving. This life isn't it. There's better for me out there. You manipulated me into marrying you, you trapped me in my own weakness, and I was foolish to think you ever loved me. Now you act like I owe you my life, but fuck you Heara. Fuck you.”
She stepped in front of him, shaking her head. “If you leave, I swear—”
“I don’t care.” His voice rose, sharp and final. “I’m leaving. And there's nothing you can say to keep me here. Even if she won't accept my love, or divorce her husband for me, I'm still leaving. I don't want any part of this farce of a relationship anymore You're draining Heara. Goddamn. I gave you everything! I dedicated myself to you and you played me for the fool I was.”
“You're fucking pathetic. Did you sleep with Y/n or what? You keep looking up to her like she's a goddess or pinnacle of what it means to be a woman.”
He paused at the door.
“She is. From the first moment I slept with her, I got a taste of heaven, of what it's like to be in a proper relationship. Ironic right.” he said flatly.
Heara's eyes widened in disbelief. What did he just say? “You... slept... with her?”
“Every time I did it, I enjoyed it.”
She slapped him, her heart heavy and breathing rigid. She couldn’t believe what she heard. Jaemin was never the type to lie, so hearing those words Heara knows it’s true. “You slept- you slept with her? Jaemin.” Heara was boiling with tears and anger. She watched Jaemin walk past her, walking along the sidewalk… leaving her even though she kept hitting him and pushing him. “Get back here you coward! Get back here- Okay fine you want to leave! Leave!” Consumed by rage and heartbreak once Jaemin got in his own car and drove away, Heara didn’t think twice when she grabbed her car keys, jumped into her car, and drove—blinded by emotion, guided only by anger. It was late. The streets were quiet. She didn’t care.
She pulled up in front of your house, barely registering Jaehyun leaving as she stormed up to your door. And then without warning, without words she slapped you. Hard.
“I’m pregnant!” she screamed. “And you slept with my husband!”
You had been crying, pleading with Jaehyun, begging him to stay. But she didn't care. She stopped you and hit you again. You fell on the ground crying. And then, suddenly, Heara’s stomach twisted in pain. She heard a car pull up and then Jaemin's voice- but it was already too late as her world spun, and everything went dark.
She fainted.
What happened next, she never fully knew. She never had the courage to ask. Her next clear memory was lying in a hospital bed. She couldn’t hear anything, just the strange, distant buzz of voices. But when she opened her eyes, Jaemin was there. Stiff. Quiet. Not angry, not relieved, just... there. Like he didn’t want to be. She never knew if Jaemin got to speak to you, or not.
He got the doctor. The doctor returned, calm but serious. The only words she made out; Stress. Elevated blood pressure. Not safe for a pregnant woman. She was lucky. She needed rest, peace, and no more outbursts like that.
After being discharged, neither she nor Jaemin said a word. Not in the car ride home. Not that night. Not for weeks. He went to work early in the morning, came back in the afternoon hours, checked on her, then went to his late night club where he worked.
His things were back in the closet. Just like that- like he had never left. But he didn’t talk to her the same. Didn’t talk... didn't joke, didn’t argue. He simply… functioned. He made her meals. Went to every prenatal appointment. Monitored her health like it was his only job. And Heara, despite the silence, felt something warm bloom in her chest. A part of her still loved him.
Even if he no longer loved her.
She didn’t bring it up. She accepted the quiet. And she knew not to provoke him anymore.
And then, the baby was born.
For the first time in months, she saw Jaemin smile. Truly smile. But not at her. All of it, his joy, his light, his love… was for their daughter.
He held the baby like she was everything. And Heara watched, realizing just how much had changed. His heart was there, but not with her. She’d lost that a long time ago, and they'd never talked about it… never healed from it.
So Even now, as Jaemin quietly walks past her in the hallway, she feels the sting and emptiness all over again. The ache. The regret. And the fallout still fresh in her mind. That memory haunts her.
So tonight, as they lay in bed in the dark, she does something she hasn't done in a long time. She turns to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her voices soft. “I know you don't love me, but I love you Jaemin. You’re the best husband ever,” She whispers.
Jaemin doesn’t respond right away.
He just lies there, still. The silence stretches between them, tense and fragile, like a thread pulled too tight.
Heara loosens her grip, her hand now resting gently against his back. She expects him to stay quiet- to pretend he’s asleep, like he’s done before. But then, softly, he speaks.
“I don't.”
She frowns. “You don't what?”
“I’m not the best husband,” He says. “And... you're right. I still think about her... I still love her, Y/n.”
The words settle in the dark like a bruise forming on her skin. Heara doesn’t move.
“I'm tired of talking about her, but you don't get tired of this... so I'll be honest with you,” He continues. “I told myself it was just... comfort sex. Something that felt good when life didn't. But I lied to myself, it's love I love her.”
Heara closes her eyes, removing her hand from his back.
“But not in the way I love Ari,” He mutters. “I didn’t have to earn her love, she just loves me because I'm her father. But Y/n... I didn’t have to prove anything. She just… made me feel real, like I'm a man.”
Heara’s voice is quiet, but sharp. “How many times do you want to hear me say I'm sorry for putting you down? I've changed Jae. I'm not that old Heara anymore. Let me guess, after seeing Y/n again today, you thought of leaving me again.”
“I did,” He admits, and that surprises Heara. Makes her a bit angry, but she allows herself to listen. “Part of me really thinks... that I deserve her, but after everything I put them through, I can't bare to face them. I ruined them.”
There’s a heavy pause, then Heara speaks. “I'm also to blame for that."
“I know,” Jaemin murmurs. “But it serves us nothing to think about that.”
The silence between them shifts. The atmosphere isn’t angry this time.
Heara exhales, a tired breath she’s been holding for months. “Thanks for opening up.”
They lie still, side by side. No anger. No touching. There’s no apology. No promise to try again. Just silence. Just the understanding that whatever this is… it's okay for now.
And in that stillness, the only thing keeping them together is the child…
“But that doesn’t mean, I’m leaving you. Or Ari,”
Heara scoffs out. “Of course you wouldn’t leave Ari, you’re basically her mother.”
Jaemin lets out a small, tired smile. They don’t say anything else. The silence wraps around them again… almost comforting. Not quite peace, not quite war. She turns his head to face him, and initiates the kiss. It's empty for Jaemin, but if Heara wanted this, he just followed and went along with it.
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I hope this ending is better - and sweeter :)
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