Koo was only twenty, but the kind of beauty she carried could stop men in their tracks. Her skin was pale and soft like porcelain, her lips naturally pink and plush, her body full in all the right places. A tiny waist, a flat stomach, breasts too big for the skimpy tops she liked to wear, and an ass that swayed temptingly when she walked. She never wore those clothes to provoke anyone—Koo simply felt free and comfortable in them. Poor thing didn’t realize that every man who looked at her was filled with hunger.

She should have been living a life of admiration and love, but instead, she was trapped. Her boyfriend was abusive—words sharp like knives, hands rough when anger boiled. Koo stayed only because she had nowhere to go, no money of her own, and because of her baby girl, Aera. Aera was just four months old, soft and chubby with her mother’s delicate features. Koo would look at her and smile through the tears, whispering promises of protection.

But one night, everything shattered. Koo overheard him on the phone.

“Yeah… I’ll get rid of the baby soon. Sell it probably. The Girlfriend? She’s worth money. Men will pay good for a pretty thing like her.”

Koo’s blood froze. Her breath hitched. She covered her mouth to stop a scream. He was going to sell her baby. Her baby.

Koo’s body moved before her mind caught up. Heart pounding, she scooped Aera from the crib, wrapping her in a thin blanket. She didn’t even think about money, clothes, or food. She only knew one thing—they had to escape.

That late night, she slipped out while he was still drinking, the rain crashing down around her. Her tiny dress clung to her body, plastered against her breasts and thighs. She didn’t care. She ran barefoot down the road, the cold stabbing her skin.

“Shhh, baby, shhh,” she whispered, pressing frantic kisses on Aera’s wet forehead. Tears blurred her eyes. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, my love… Mama won’t let them take you.”

She didn’t know where she was going. She didn’t know how long she ran. Her legs burned, her chest ached, and Aera’s small cries mixed with the thunder above. At last, her strength broke, and Koo stumbled, sinking onto the wet ground. She hugged Aera close, sobbing into the rain.

And then—through the blur of night—she saw it. A massive mansion, standing proud and lit in the storm. The gates were slightly open.

Koo staggered forward, clutching Aera to her chest. The gravel crunched beneath her bare feet until she reached the front door. Weak fists pounded against the wood.

The door opened.

And there he was.

Kim Taehyung. Twenty-eight, tall, broad-shouldered, dark hair falling over his forehead. His eyes—sharp, deep, and beautiful—locked onto her. At first, confusion flickered across his face. And then, his breath caught.

The girl standing at his door was drenched, trembling, a baby pressed to her chest. Her tiny dress had gone see-through, the thin straps slipping off her shoulders. Rainwater traced down her cleavage, the outline of her breasts so clear that for a sinful moment Tae forgot to breathe.

He snapped back to reality when she spoke, her voice broken and pleading.

“My… my name is Koo. This is my baby, Aera. Please, sir—please let us stay here for one night. I beg you…” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed. “We have nowhere else to go.”

Tae’s chest tightened. He didn’t even think twice. He stepped aside and opened the door wide.

“Come in.”

Koo stumbled in, clutching Aera tighter. Tae closed the door and grabbed towels, handing one to her and gently wrapping the baby in another. He noticed then—no bag, no extra clothes, nothing. She had run away with nothing but her child.

“You can dry yourselves first,” Tae said softly, his eyes never leaving her face. “I’ll be right back.”

Before Koo could ask, Tae slipped out into the storm. He got into his sleek black car, his mind racing, and drove straight to a late-night mall.

He didn’t even understand why he was doing this—but he couldn’t stop himself. He filled carts with baby clothes, napkins, bottles, formula, blankets, everything a child could need. Then, almost without thinking, he picked up clothes for Koo too. Small, tight, skimpy pieces that looked like what she wore—because for some reason, he wanted to see her in them.

On the drive back, Tae gripped the wheel tightly. His head told him this was reckless. His heart told him she was in danger. His body… well, it was still haunted by the image of her drenched, trembling, and so heartbreakingly beautiful.

When he reached home, he carried the bags inside. And there she was—Koo, sitting on his couch, hair still wet, eyes swollen from crying, rocking her baby gently. The sight nearly killed him.

And he knew. This night was going to change everything.