Affection's Facade

As time goes on

Author's present pov

The weight of the leather-bound document pressed heavily on So-yeon's hands, its cold insignia — their wedding emblem — emblazoned on the cover. She scoffed in annoyance. His demeanor annoying her, his anger evident.

The house had been slowly getting empty as Tae-hyung walked around telling movers where to go.

"I'm not signing this, Tae-hyung," she whispered, her voice barely holding together.

He shot her a steely gaze, as he looked at his wrist for the time. "Then don't. Do you think I created that evidence just for your eyes? If I have to, I'll play it in court. I'll dig up every dark corner to ensure you and your family can't lay a finger on Hae-mi. Not after what you've done."

She visibly recoiled, the implications of his words stinging more than any slap. "You wouldn't dare...," she began, her voice shaking.

Tae-hyung cut her off, "Don't test me, So-yeon. I will embarrass you."

He said as So-yeon looked out the window at the large truck that stood outside, as it had for the past few days, just collecting items in their house.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, desperation evident in her voice.

Tae-hyung's eyes held a mixture of pain and resolution. "I stayed for Hae-mi and to do what I needed to get custody." He said directing house aid around to move his stuff to the car.

" Make sure her clothes are in her suitcase." He said to another one of the house aids.

" This is sick, there must be something else. You're not telling me anything!"

" Ask your family."

" I don't know what you're saying if you say nothing Tae-Hyung!"

"You knew enough, So-yeon. Yet you did nothing to stop it. I'm not leaving her here with you. If you try, I will havoc a storm so large you will regret the day you met me." He said.

Her face went pale, realizing the depth of his conviction. "Tae-hyung, we can fix this, work through it—"

He cut her off sharply, "Don't you care move any closer."

Her eyes glistened with tears. "She's my daughter!"

At this, Tae-hyung gestured to one of the house aids who had been standing quietly by the doorway. "Please bring Hae-mi to me."

As the aid disappeared to fetch their daughter, Tae-hyung locked eyes with So-yeon, "She may be our daughter, but I won't let her be a pawn in your family's twisted games. She deserves some stability. You can't provide that so I will."

As they spoke, Hae-mi shifted in his embrace. Her fingers tightened around her toy rabbit, her face buried deep into his chest to block out the world.

"Appa, where are we going?" she murmured, her voice muffled against his coat. Her eyes still slightly sleepy from the early morning uprooting.

"We're taking a small trip, sweetheart, we are going to go see halemoni," Tae-hyung reassured her, his voice soft.

So-yeon's eyes widened. "You will not take my daughter to your family's home."

He met her gaze. "I gave you two weeks, So-yeon. Two weeks to move back to your mother's place. But if you refuse to leave, then I will."

Hae-mi's head lifted, her eyes clouded with confusion. "Eomma?"