our crossed paths | jww.

three.

The cabin was a small, cozy refuge perched on the edge of the mountain, surrounded by tall pines and colorful wildflowers. Its weathered, rough-hewn wooden walls blended seamlessly with the landscape, while a thin wisp of smoke curled from the chimney, promising warmth inside.

Wonwoo, seeking a brief escape from the city's relentless noise, stood on the cabin's porch, sipping coffee from a mug and letting the crisp mountain air fill his lungs.

The view before him was breathtaking: rolling peaks, snow-capped and majestic, bathed in the soft light of dawn.

Inside, the cabin was simple but inviting. A stone fireplace cast a warm glow, while the rustic furniture offered comfort. Shelves lined with a few well-worn books and old photographs were quiet reminders of a life now distant.

As Wonwoo gazed out at the serene landscape, his thoughts turned to his late wife. He could almost see her smiling, remembering how much she loved the mountains.

"Seolhee... it's so beautiful here. Maybe next time, I can bring Ahrin too," he whispered softly.

Wonwoo's heart ached as he considered the daunting task ahead—raising Ahrin alone while trying to return to his career.

'Will I do a good job raising Ahrin?'

'How will she cope if I'm away for long stretches on project shoots? ... Should I bring her on set?'

'Will people still cast me once they know I have a daughter?'

These thoughts swirled in his mind, grief for Seolhee's loss still heavy in his chest. But he knew he had to push through for Ahrin, the precious gift Seolhee had left him.

Ahrin's existence had been hidden from the media since Wonwoo left the acting industry three years before her birth. He had devoted all his attention to his wife during her pregnancy and poured his heart into raising Ahrin during her early months.

Everything had been going well until Seolhee fell ill.

Wonwoo sighed, reliving those painful moments again. Suddenly, his phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Hello? Chan? Is everything alright?" Wonwoo asked, his voice tinged with panic.

"Daddy!" Ahrin's cheerful giggles came through the speaker, and Wonwoo's tense expression softened.

"Sorry, hyung, Ahrin was calling for you, so I had to ring. She's probably not used to you being away. But don't worry, everything's good! She's eating well, and I'll take her out to play later," Chan said brightly.

"Aww, is my Ahrin-ie having fun with Uncle Chan?" Wonwoo asked, smiling as Ahrin's voice piped up on the other end. "Fun!"

"Thanks for taking care of her, Chan. I'll be back by tomorrow evening at the latest."

"Don't worry! I love spending time with her. Talk to you later then."

"Bye."

It was as if Ahrin knew her father was thinking of her, and Chan had called right on time.

Little did Wonwoo know that someone had overheard their sweet conversation.

"She's so cute."

Wonwoo turned to see a woman stepping onto the patio of the cabin next to his.

"I didn't mean to intrude, but I overheard by accident. She's around two or three years old, right?" Jiwoo continued.

"Yeah, she just turned two a couple of months ago," Wonwoo replied with a smile.