BL REBIRTH: You Were Mine (MPREG)

Chapter 17

UNEDITED

Chapter 17

PAST

Central Park, on a weekday morning, was a serene oasis once the bustling crowd had departed for their workplaces. However, the peace of this idyllic setting was quickly disturbed by affluent parents who, instead of attending to their Childcare responsibilities, decided to spend their mornings in the park. They paraded their children and displayed their opulence among friends with the help of attentive nannies.

Jae Soo quietly sat on a weathered park bench amid opulence, watching his sleeping child with tender eyes. A pacifier dangled precariously from his baby's pouty lips, which continued to suckle even in the realm of dreams.

A group of elegantly dressed women and gers had congregated beneath the park's grandest tree, gathered around a lavishly adorned table. Their origins lay in well-to-do households, and their apparent disdain for Jae Soo was palpable. Their laughter rang out like crystal, and their eyes seemed to carry an unspoken mockery.

"Have you all heard about the astonishing impact poverty can have on individuals? It can drive them to the point of desperation," exclaimed woman A, her companions joining in with a chorus of empathetic laughter.

"Is that so?" Jae Soo's Ger Neighbor inquired with exaggerated interest, casting a sidelong glance in Jae Soo's direction.

"Absolutely," woman A continued, her voice dripping with feigned concern. "It's truly heartbreaking. Just imagine the lengths some people will go to for a mere scrap of comfort."

Jae Soo shifted slightly on the bench, feeling the weight of their scorn. He adjusted the blanket around his baby, his movements tender and deliberate. The subtle gesture was his silent shield against their disdain.

"Well," said another woman, her tone conspiratorial, "there's always the charity events. It's the least we can do, right?"

More laughter followed, a melodious, practiced sound that grated on Jae Soo's nerves. He focused on his baby's peaceful face, trying to block out their voices. His thoughts drifted to simpler times, to the comforting presence of his mother, and the small, tight-knit community he had left behind.

"Charity indeed," the Ger neighbor snickered. "It's almost like we're doing them a favor just by acknowledging their existence."

The group erupted in laughter again, their mirth echoing through the park. Jae Soo experienced a brief moment of rage, but it quickly vanished in the face of greater resolve.

Jae Soo let out a quiet sigh, his attention returning to his suddenly restless child. He made an effort to tune out the pointed barbs of the women and gers around him. After all, their words were not entirely false. He had indeed ventured into his sister's betrothed's bed, conceived a child, and eventually married him.

As his baby fussed, Jae Soo cooed soothingly, lifting the infant from the stroller and cradling him gently. At that moment, the world beyond his son ceased to exist. He whispered endearments, attempting to lull his child back into slumber.

Such encounters had become a daily ritual for him. Wherever he went, whispers and gossip would always follow him. Jae Soo had grown accustomed to it, steadfast in his devotion to his child. As he made his way home, pushing the stroller, he noticed his husband's car elegantly parked by the doorstep. The butler, with graceful movements, helped a delicate hand to get out of the car.

The newcomer was his step-sister, who glanced briefly at Jae Soo before resuming her animated conversation with the head maid and butler. As always, she treated him with indifference, as though he were mere air. Her smile radiated beauty, but it was a beauty that Jae Soo had long ceased to acknowledge.