The Other Woman (HAESOO)[18+]

Like Before

In the lead-up to the company visit scheduled for the upcoming week, Haein found himself consumed with preparations. Meanwhile, Jicheol and his team were putting the finishing touches on the final milestone, eager to present it to Haein. The success of their negotiation was paramount, as failure would result in a decrease in market share without a strong partner company as a client.

Furthermore, securing the deal with the emerging Nacor Health Company could potentially open doors for Haein to engage with other international companies. His aspirations to expand his business to the western market made it crucial for him to finalize the agreement with Nacor.

With just a week remaining before Nacor's CFO was set to visit his company, Haein couldn't deny feeling a nervous anticipation. Despite the jitters, he held onto a sense of confidence, believing wholeheartedly that he would be able to pull it off.

At around seven in the evening, Haein was preoccupied with assisting his son in getting into the bathtub, as the young boy had recently sustained a minor bone fracture. Jeonghun had injured the long bone of his leg, specifically the tibia, during a taekwondo match just a week prior. Since the injury was still fresh, Jeonghun was experiencing lingering pain. Haein carefully lifted his son from the wheelchair and gently lowered him into the bathtub.

"Son, I'm going to elevate your injured leg for just a minute, okay? Hang in there," Haein reassured his son. Jeonghun winced in pain as his father carefully lifted his casted leg and wrapped a plastic bag around it. With that done, Haein turned on the faucet to start filling the bathtub with warm water.

"Are you alright in there?" Haein inquired, noticing the somber expression in Jeonghun's eyes. Jeonghun quickly turned his gaze towards his father and offered a slight nod in response.

"Yes, Appa," Jeonghun replied in a tone devoid of emotion. Haein let out a heavy sigh, feeling a pang of concern as he observed Jeonghun's increasingly distant demeanor towards him. In the past, Jeonghun would respond to him with enthusiasm, but in recent weeks, his son had become more reserved in his interactions.

This shift in behavior was not only directed at Haein but also extended to interactions with his mother, which struck Haein as peculiar. Turning his attention back to the task at hand, Haein promptly shut off the faucet upon seeing that the water had reached the desired level.

"Alright, let's get you cleaned up!" Haein exclaimed, a warm smile gracing his face. Jeonghun observed as his father dispensed some shower gel into his hands, spreading it carefully over his body. With a gentle touch, Haein then used a washcloth to cleanse Jeonghun's back, shoulders, arms, neck, stomach, and beyond.

"Close your eyes, I'll shampoo your hair now," Haein instructed. Jeonghun complied, shutting his eyes without hesitation. Haein smiled at his son's swift response and proceeded to massage shampoo into Jeonghun's hair. Afterward, Haein fetched a small bucket, filled it with water, and carefully poured it over Jeonghun's head, thoroughly rinsing his body.

"All done!" Haein declared, his eyes warm with a smile. Jeonghun responded with a slight smile as he dried his eyes. Haein couldn't help but notice his son's demeanor and, mustering up courage, he decided to ask about what was happening with him.

"Angel boy, what's wrong?" Haein asked with concern, gently caressing his son's head. Jeonghun's eyes remained fixed on his father's, silently conveying his thoughts.

"Nothing," Jeonghun replied. Haein let out a small sigh.

"You know I get really worried when I see you feeling down or lacking motivation. I understand that this injury may have left you frustrated or upset about missing your taekwondo lessons, but I'm confident that you'll be able to catch up once you're back on your feet," Haein expressed, his eyes filled with reassurance. Jeonghun glanced down and let out a quick sigh, surprising Haein.