Hearts in chaos: Hearts Entwined book 4

24

Jiwoon sat on Jin’s lap, looking up at him with those wide, innocent eyes that Jin couldn’t resist. They had just finished reading a bedtime story, and Jiwoon was clinging to his father with the lingering tiredness that comes before sleep. His small hands absentmindedly played with Jin’s shirt, and after a quiet moment, Jiwoon spoke, his voice soft.

“Daddy,” Jiwoon began, his words sleepy but full of curiosity, “I like Mia.”

Jin smiled, his heart warming at the mention of Mia’s name. “I know you do, buddy. Mia likes you too. You know that, right?”

Jiwoon nodded, nestling closer into Jin’s chest. “She’s really nice. She plays with me and makes me food and tells me stories… like you do.”

Jin swallowed, feeling a mix of emotions flood through him. Mia had undoubtedly stepped into a motherly role for Jiwoon, something he hadn’t expected when he first hired her. What started as a simple nanny job had grown into something more significant, something that neither he nor Mia had fully come to terms with.

Jiwoon was quiet for a moment before he spoke again, his words catching Jin off guard. “Daddy… if you like Mia too, I wouldn’t mind if she became my mom.”

Jin’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt a lump form in his throat. His son’s innocent words were like a jolt to his system. Jiwoon’s view of the world was simple and unclouded by the complexities of adult relationships. He saw Mia’s care and love and immediately connected it to the concept of a mother.

Jin took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Jiwoon, I know Mia takes good care of you, and she makes both of us happy. But being your mom… that’s a big decision. It’s not something we can just… make happen overnight.”

Jiwoon tilted his head, his small brow furrowing in confusion. “Why not? She’s already like a mom. And you like her, don’t you?”

Jin felt his chest tighten. He did like Mia. More than he had expected to, more than he wanted to admit. But things were complicated. There was everything that had happened between them—the late-night encounters, the way he had used her as an outlet for his anger and frustration, and the way she had silently absorbed it all without pushing back. He didn’t want to force her into a role she might not be ready for.

“I do like Mia,” Jin said carefully, his voice soft as he tried to explain. “But I don’t want to make her feel like she has to be your mom just because we both like her. It’s something she has to want too.”

Jiwoon seemed to think about this for a moment, his small face serious. “But… doesn’t she already want to? She’s always taking care of me.”

Jin’s heart ached at the simplicity of Jiwoon’s logic. To his son, love and care were synonymous with being a parent, but Jin knew there was more to it. The emotional weight of what had happened between him and Mia was heavy, and it was clear that Mia was still sorting through her own feelings.

“She does care about you,” Jin reassured him, “and that’s really important. But I don’t want to rush her into something she’s not ready for. I don’t want to hurt her, Jiwoon.”

Jiwoon looked up at his father with big, understanding eyes, though Jin wasn’t sure how much his son truly grasped. “I don’t want her to be hurt either, Daddy. But I think she’s really nice, and I think she could be happy with us.”

Jin smiled softly, brushing a hand through Jiwoon’s soft hair. “I hope so too, buddy. But we have to be patient, okay? We have to give her time.”

Jiwoon yawned, clearly growing sleepier, but his small voice remained hopeful. “Okay, Daddy. But I still hope she stays forever.”

Jin’s heart ached at his son’s innocence, his simple desire for love and stability. It was what Jin wanted too, more than anything. He wanted to give Jiwoon the family he deserved, but he also knew that rushing things with Mia wasn’t the answer. There was too much unresolved between them, too much uncertainty about what the future held.

As Jiwoon’s breathing slowed and he drifted off to sleep, Jin carefully lifted him and placed him into bed, tucking the blanket around him. He stood there for a moment, watching his son sleep, feeling the weight of his own thoughts press down on him.

He couldn’t deny that Mia had become an important part of their lives. In the few short weeks since she had moved in, she had transformed their home with her gentle presence. Jiwoon adored her, and Jin… well, Jin couldn’t deny the way his heart raced whenever she was around. But he also couldn’t forget the way he had treated her, the way he had used her to release his own frustrations.

As Jin left Jiwoon’s room, his mind wandered back to the previous night, to the way he had taken Mia to his bed after his argument with Mina. The memory made him wince. He hadn’t meant to treat her like that—as a way to vent his anger, his pain—but that’s exactly what he had done. And yet, Mia hadn’t protested. She had let him, almost as if she understood that he needed to release the pent-up emotions that were eating away at him.

But that didn’t make it right.

Jin made his way to the living room, his thoughts a whirlwind. He didn’t want to hurt Mia, and yet he couldn’t seem to stay away from her. Every time he looked at her, he felt drawn in, not just because of her beauty, but because of the warmth she brought into his life. The way she cared for Jiwoon, the way she smiled at him even when he didn’t deserve it—it all made him want her even more.

He sat down on the couch, running a hand through his hair in frustration. What was he doing? Was he really considering pursuing a relationship with Mia, knowing how complicated things already were? Knowing that he had been using her as an emotional outlet?

Jin leaned back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. He had to figure this out. He couldn’t keep going back and forth between his feelings for Mia and the guilt he felt for how he had treated her. He had to decide what he really wanted.

He sighed, closing his eyes and trying to clear his mind. But no matter how hard he tried, Mia’s face kept appearing in his thoughts. The way she had smiled at Jiwoon earlier, the way she had taken care of him so effortlessly—it was all too much to ignore.

The truth was, Jin didn’t just like Mia. He was starting to fall for her.

But he wasn’t sure if Mia felt the same way. She had been professional, keeping her distance during the day and focusing on Jiwoon. But at night, when they were alone, things between them changed. The lines blurred, and Jin wasn’t sure if she was just trying to comfort him, or if she felt something deeper too.

He had to talk to her. He had to find out where she stood, how she felt about everything that had happened between them. He couldn’t keep going on like this, pretending that things were fine when they were anything but.

Jin stood up from the couch, determined to figure things out. He made his way to the kitchen, where Mia was cleaning up from dinner. She looked up when he entered, giving him a small smile.

“Hey,” she said softly, her voice gentle as always. “Is Jiwoon asleep?”

“Yeah, he’s out,” Jin replied, leaning against the counter and watching her. There was an awkward silence between them, filled with unspoken words.

“Mia,” Jin began, his voice hesitant. “Can we talk?”

Mia looked up at him, her expression curious but cautious. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”

Jin took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “It’s about… everything that’s been happening between us. I just… I don’t want to hurt you.”

Mia’s eyes softened, and she set down the dish she had been washing. “I know, Jin. But I’m not sure what you want from me.”

Jin sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know either. But I do know that you mean a lot to me, and I don’t want to mess this up.”

Mia stepped closer, her gaze steady as she looked up at him. “Jin, we both need to figure out what we want. But I’m here, and I care about you and Jiwoon. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her words sent a wave of relief through Jin, and for the first time in a while, he felt like maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.