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Do-Yeong walked out of Ye-Sol's room, carrying his luggage and tucking her pink bunny under his arm. He picked up another bag that was waiting in the living room and headed toward the front door, where the nanny stood, watching him awkwardly as he handed the luggage and the stuffed bunny to the driver.
"Are you going on a business trip, sir?" she asked, just as his phone started buzzing.
"One moment," he replied, pulling out his phone and seeing his mother's name on the screen along with twelve missed calls. He sighed, declined the call, and then turned off his phone, slipping it back into his pocket.
"Thank you for taking care of my daughter," Do-Yeong told the nanny with a polite nod. "We no longer need your help."
With that, he walked out, leaving the nanny standing there in stunned confusion.
Elsewhere, Eun-Ji was sitting with Ye-Sol and her younger daughter, Joo-Won, trying to keep the atmosphere light. She watched Ye-Sol closely, noticing the girl's distant, sad expression. Getting up, she knelt to Ye-Sol's level and gently held onto her small hands.
"Ye-Sol, honey, are you okay?" she asked softly, feeling a pang of regret for asking a question she already knew the answer to. Ye-Sol simply shrugged in response.
"Your dad will be here soon, okay?" Eun-Ji reassured her, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. She stood up, but before returning to Joo-Won, she saw Do-Yeong approaching.
Their eyes met, and she gave him a small nod, hoping he would understand how much Ye-Sol needed him.
"Ye-Sol!" Do-Yeong called gently. The girl didn't respond until he called her name a third time, finally catching her attention.
He gave her a warm smile. "Come here, give me a hug!"
Eun-Ji's heart swelled as Ye-Sol's face crumpled, her attempt to hold back tears breaking down entirely. "Daddy!" she cried, running to him. He knelt to embrace her, lifting her up and holding her close as she wrapped her arms around his neck, sniffling.
"Daddy, I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Do-Yeong's heart broke at her words, and he gently patted her back. "My princess, you have nothing to be sorry for," he told her softly. "Nothing that's happening right now is because of you. This isn't your fault. Do you understand me?"
She nodded, still clinging to him as he continued to comfort her. Eun-Ji approached them, signaling to Joo-Won that she would be right back. She joined them, rubbing Ye-Sol's back with gentle reassurance.
"Ye-Sol, honey," she said softly, "none of this drama is your fault. It's the people causing the drama who are to blame, not you. You can forgive them if you want, but don't let them take advantage of you."
Eun-Ji gave Ye-Sol a supportive smile, a reminder of advice she herself had once needed. She looked over at Joo-Won, then turned back to Do-Yeong and Ye-Sol. "I should go and let you two have some time together." She bowed her head, offering Do-Yeong a reassuring smile before she went to gather Joo-Won's things.
Do-Yeong watched her as she helped Joo-Won pack up. A quiet conflict played across his face—he wanted her to stay, to be a part of their lives, but he wasn't sure how the children or Eun-Ji herself would feel about that.
As Eun-Ji buckled Joo-Won into her car seat, she noticed Do-Yeong approaching her with Ye-Sol still in his arms.
"Eun-Ji," he called softly. "Mind if I put Ye-Sol in the car so we can talk for a second?"
She nodded, watching as he gently placed Ye-Sol in the back of his car and turned on some quiet classical music before closing the door. He turned back to Eun-Ji, taking a deep breath.
"You remember the UK trip we talked about?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, watching him curiously.
"I took your advice about us going there with the girls. I'm making it happen."
She smiled, though her face softened with a hint of worry. "That's wonderful. I'll have to talk to I-Seul about it, but I know it'll be good for them."
He took her hand, and she gave him a warm smile. "But we also need to talk to the girls about... us," she continued. "They might be surprised—or maybe even a bit unsure—but I hope it goes well."
"Stop worrying so much," he reassured her with a gentle squeeze of her hand.
Eun-Ji nodded, though she still felt a bit uncertain. She noticed a few soccer moms watching them, whispering and exchanging knowing glances. She rolled her eyes. "Soccer moms," she muttered.
"One day, you'll be a soccer mom too," he teased.
She swatted his chest playfully. "Yah! What are you saying?"
He chuckled. "Well, you should get packing, and I've got a few things to wrap up."
She nodded, giving him a quick peck on the corner of his lips before slipping into her car. As she buckled up, she reminded herself of something she needed to discuss with Jeon Jae-Jun later that day, feeling a strange sense of anticipation as she drove away.
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