THE FORGOTTEN DAD

Chapter 4: Nighttime Reflections

The quiet stillness of the park at midnight wrapped around Jasmine like a comforting blanket, the cool night air providing a much-needed respite from the suffocating thoughts that plagued her. She walked slowly along the gravel path, her hand resting protectively on her growing belly. The darkness offered her a kind of solace, a place where she could escape the prying eyes and whispered gossip that followed her every move.

It wasn't easy, being back in South Korea, where everyone seemed to know about her past with Emil. They knew about the whirlwind romance, the seemingly perfect couple that had once graced magazine covers and social media feeds. They knew about the bitter end, the scandal that had left her heartbroken and alone. And now, they would know about the baby—a constant reminder of the man she was trying so hard to forget.

Jasmine paused on a small bridge overlooking a pond, the moon reflecting off the still water. The stars twinkled above, distant and unreachable, yet somehow comforting in their presence. She looked up, searching for answers in the night sky, but all she found were memories.

Memories she had tried so hard to bury.

Flashback

It had been a night much like this one, the air heavy with the promise of rain. Jasmine and Emil were in their home, their voices echoing off the walls of the spacious living room. She had just finished getting ready, her dress carefully chosen for the small gathering at Emil's mother's house. It was supposed to be a simple evening, a family get-together that she had been looking forward to. But Emil had other plans.

"I can't go, Jasmine," Emil had said, his voice firm as he adjusted his tie in the mirror. "I already told my mother I won't be able to make it."

Jasmine's heart sank, frustration bubbling up inside her. "You're always too busy, Emil. Always with your work, your company, your endless need to be more successful. When will it ever be enough?"

Emil turned to face her, his expression hard. "You knew what you were getting into when we got together. I'm doing this for us, for our future."

"Is it really for us?" Jasmine shot back, her eyes flashing with anger. "Because it feels like you're doing it all for yourself. You've changed, Emil. You're not the man I fell in love with."

Emil's jaw tightened, his blue eyes narrowing. "I haven't changed. I've grown. There's a difference."

"You've grown distant," Jasmine replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "You've grown obsessed with success, with being the best, and you're leaving everything else behind—including me."

Emil ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly frustrated. "I'm doing what I have to do, Jasmine. You of all people should understand that."

Jasmine shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "What I understand is that you've become so consumed by your ambition that you've forgotten what really matters. Family, Emil. Your mother invited us because she wants to see us—together. But you're too busy to even care."

"I told her I wouldn't be there. She understands," Emil said, his voice colder than she had ever heard it.

But Jasmine wasn't ready to back down. "Does she? Or is that just what you tell yourself so you can keep pushing us all away?"

Emil's expression darkened, and before she could say another word, he snapped, "This isn't just about the party, is it? This is about you always questioning my choices, always pushing me to be something I'm not."

Jasmine stared at him, shocked by the sudden outburst. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about Dae Ho Kim," Emil spat, the name laced with bitterness. "You think I don't notice the way he looks at you? The way he's always around, always in your life? He's been after you since university, and you act like it's nothing."

Jasmine felt a rush of indignation. "Dae Ho is just a friend, Emil. A senior who helped me with my studies, nothing more. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

But Emil wasn't listening. His envy of Dae Ho had been festering for years, silently gnawing at him. Dae Ho came from a wealthy family, a golden boy with a perfect future laid out before him. By the time he finished university, he was set to inherit his family's business, a sprawling empire that dwarfed anything Emil had ever dreamed of.

Emil had always felt like he was fighting against an invisible rival, a specter of perfection that he could never quite measure up to. It terrified him—the thought of losing Jasmine to someone who seemed to have everything handed to him on a silver platter. Emil wasn't just working to build a future for them; he was working to prove to himself that he was worthy of Jasmine, that he could offer her more than Dae Ho ever could.

"Why are you bringing him up now?" Jasmine asked, her voice tinged with exasperation. "This isn't about Dae Ho. It's about us—about you and me, Emil."

But Emil couldn't shake the fear that had taken root deep inside him. "You think I don't see it? The way he looks at you, the way he's always around, waiting for me to fail, waiting for you to turn to him?"

Jasmine's heart pounded in her chest, anger and hurt swirling together. "You're being ridiculous. Dae Ho is not a threat to our relationship—your obsession with work is. You're pushing me away, Emil, and I don't know how much more I can take."

Emil didn't respond, his silence more painful than any words he could have spoken. The chasm between them felt insurmountable, and for the first time, Jasmine wondered if they were truly meant to be together.

The flashback faded as Jasmine looked back up at the moon, a tear slipping down her cheek. That night had been a turning point, a moment when she realized just how much Emil had changed—and how much she had lost him.

She brushed the tear away, her resolve hardening. She had left that life behind for a reason. Emil was no longer a part of her world, and she needed to keep it that way. For her sake, and for the sake of the baby she was determined to raise on her own.

As she turned to head back home, the baby stirred within her, a small reminder of the life growing inside her—a life that was hers to protect, no matter what the future held.

But as she walked back along the path, a sudden chill ran down her spine. Jasmine paused, her senses on high alert. It felt as if someone was watching her, the weight of unseen eyes heavy in the darkness. She glanced around, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement, but the park remained eerily silent.

She took a deep breath, convincing herself it was just her imagination, the lingering effects of her troubling memories. Yet, as she continued walking, the feeling of being watched refused to leave her.

Jasmine quickened her pace, eager to return to the safety of her home. But the unease lingered, a nagging suspicion that she wasn't as alone as she thought.