Hearts in chaos: Hearts Entwined book 4

10

As Jin and Mia exchanged tentative smiles, laughter bubbling beneath the surface of their shared pain, a sudden cry pierced the quiet of the house. The sound was soft but urgent, and both of them froze, their smiles faltering.

“Jiwoon,” Mia said, her heart racing as she sprang to her feet.

Jin was already heading for the stairs, his legs moving swiftly as he shouted, “I’ll get him!” The sound of his son’s cries grew louder as they rushed up the staircase, their hearts pounding in unison.

When they reached Jiwoon’s room, Jin pushed the door open, his heart dropping at the sight before him. Jiwoon was sitting up in bed, tears streaming down his cheeks, his little fists balled tightly. The dim light from the hallway cast shadows across his face, and Jin could see the fear etched there.

“Daddy!” Jiwoon cried, reaching out for him.

“Shh, buddy, I’m here,” Jin soothed, rushing to his son’s side. He scooped Jiwoon up into his arms, cradling him against his chest. “It’s okay, I’ve got you. It was just a bad dream.”

Mia stood by the doorway, her heart aching as she watched the scene unfold. She had been so focused on helping Jiwoon that she hadn’t realized she’d accidentally turned off the lights earlier. In the darkness, the poor boy must have felt lost and afraid.

“Did you have a bad dream?” Jin asked, brushing Jiwoon’s hair back from his forehead. “What was it about?”

“I was in the dark! And the monster was going to get me!” Jiwoon wailed, burying his face against Jin’s shoulder. “I wanted the light!”

Jin felt a pang of guilt wash over him. If only he had checked the light before putting Jiwoon to bed. “It’s okay, sweetheart. The monster can’t get you; Daddy won’t let anything happen to you,” he promised, trying to reassure his son.

But as he held Jiwoon, the earlier news about Mina flooded back into his mind, threatening to steal the peace of this moment. Jin’s grip tightened around Jiwoon, his heart heavy with frustration and pain. He glanced back at Mia, who stood uncertainly by the doorway.

“Mia, can you please—” he began, but the words came out sharper than he intended. “Just go to your room. I can handle this.”

Mia’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she hesitated, caught off guard by his sudden anger. “Jin, I just—”

“Just go!” Jin snapped, his frustration spilling over as he tried to comfort Jiwoon. He felt the walls closing in on him, a mixture of emotions overwhelming his mind.

Mia’s expression fell, hurt flashing across her features. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“Can you please just leave us alone for a moment?” Jin said, his voice rising as Jiwoon clung to him. “I need to be with my son right now!”

“Okay, I’ll go,” Mia said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned and stepped out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

The silence that followed was deafening. Jin took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm as he held Jiwoon. “I’m sorry, Jiwoon,” he said softly, rocking him gently. “Daddy’s just a little stressed right now.”

“But why did she leave?” Jiwoon sniffled, looking up at Jin with wide, innocent eyes.

“Sometimes adults need their space, just like you do when you’re feeling upset,” Jin explained, his heart aching for his son. “Mia was trying to help, but I got upset, and that’s not fair to her.”

Jiwoon nodded slowly, still clinging to his father as he wiped his tears. “I didn’t mean to be scared, Daddy. I just wanted the light.”

“I know, buddy. And it’s okay to be scared,” Jin reassured him. “You’re safe now. We’ll make sure there’s always light, okay?”