Tae’s car tires hissed against the wet gravel as he returned to his mansion. The rain was still pouring, but all he thought about was the girl waiting inside. He parked and grabbed the many shopping bags, carrying them into the house.

Koo looked up from the couch the moment he walked in. She had been rocking Aera to sleep, her cheeks still streaked with dried tears. When her eyes fell on the bags in his hands, she blinked, stunned.

“There are… so many,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Tae set them down on the table, the plastic handles cutting into his hands from the weight. “Just some necessities,” he said casually, though his heart beat faster at her wide-eyed expression.

Koo’s lips parted, and her eyes grew glassy. She looked down at her baby, then back up at him. “No one… no one has ever done something like this for me. Thank you… sir.” Her voice cracked on the last word.

Tae cleared his throat, almost uncomfortable with how much her gratitude touched him. “It’s nothing. Let me show you to a room—you can change and settle the baby. I’ll prepare something for you to eat.”

She nodded quickly, clutching the bags like treasures. “Thank you.”

He led her upstairs to a spacious guest room. The bed was neatly made, the curtains pulled against the storm outside. Koo walked in timidly, looking around as though she’d stepped into another world.

“I’ll let you dry off and change,” Tae said softly. “Take your time.”

Koo bowed her head in gratitude. Once the door closed behind him, she sank onto the bed, trembling. She carefully opened the bags and gasped softly. Every item was expensive—baby formula, bottles, blankets softer than anything she had touched before, and tiny clothes so pretty that tears welled in her eyes again.

With gentle hands, she undressed Aera, wiped her down with a soft towel, and slipped her into one of the new baby onesies. Aera giggled in her tiny way, her chubby arms waving happily.

“Do you like it, my love?” Koo whispered, kissing her forehead. “You’ve never had anything this nice, hmm? He’s so kind… so kind…”

Once the baby was changed and asleep, Koo looked at the remaining bags. Clothes for her. She pulled out a short, soft dress—tiny straps, hugging her figure. Exactly her style. She bit her lip, confused. How had he known?

Shaking her head, she changed into it, towel-dried her hair, and stepped out of the room.

When she came downstairs, Tae was in the kitchen, slicing vegetables, sleeves rolled up, the lines of his muscles flexing. He turned his head—and froze.

Koo walked toward him, barefoot, the small dress clinging to her curves. Her hair damp, her cheeks still flushed, her eyes wide and innocent. She looked like temptation made flesh—and yet she had no idea.

Tae’s chest tightened. For a heartbeat, he couldn’t move, couldn’t think.

Koo, oblivious, smiled softly. “Thank you… for everything.”

He swallowed hard. “Sit,” he said, forcing his voice steady. “Food’s almost ready.”

She nodded and took a seat at the dining table. He served her a warm plate—pasta with sauce, a side of bread, simple but filling. She bowed her head again before eating, her gratitude shining in every gesture.

“This is so good,” she said between bites. “I can’t remember the last time I ate something like this.”

Tae watched her, his fork idle in his hand. He didn’t know what it was about her—maybe the way she ate like she hadn’t had a proper meal in days, maybe the way her lips brushed the fork with every bite, maybe the way her eyes softened whenever she thought of her baby upstairs.

There was something he couldn’t name, something tugging at him, something dangerous.

When she finished, she immediately stood up. “I’ll clean the dishes,” she said quickly, gathering the plates.

Tae reached out, catching her wrist gently. “No, I’ll do it.”

She shook her head. “Please, let me. You’ve already done so much.” Her tone left no room for argument. She went to the sink, rolling her dress up a little to keep it from getting wet, her soft hips swaying as she scrubbed the dishes. Tae sat back on the couch, eyes drawn to her against his will.

When she finished, she dried her hands and hesitated. He patted the couch beside him.

“Sit.”

Koo obeyed, perching softly beside him, her fingers twisting together nervously.

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Tae turned to her, his gaze gentle.

“What happened?” he asked quietly.

Koo’s lips trembled. She looked down, then up into his eyes, her tears threatening again.

And slowly—brokenly—she began to tell him her story.