Hearts in chaos: Hearts Entwined book 4

25

The sun filtered through the windows of Jin’s mansion as Mia sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by colorful toys that Jiwoon had strewn across the living room. Jiwoon was happily chatting away, building a tower with his blocks as Mia patiently listened to his ramblings.

“Mia,” Jiwoon said, his voice bright with excitement, “do you think I could have a mommy soon?”

Mia froze for a moment, her hand stilling on the block she was holding. She hadn’t expected him to ask that—though lately, Jiwoon had been dropping small hints, almost as if he was trying to figure out how she fit into his and Jin’s lives. Mia forced a smile, her heart heavy with the weight of his words.

“Well, Jiwoon,” she replied gently, trying to choose her words carefully, “I’m sure your daddy is thinking about what’s best for you. He loves you very much, you know.”

Jiwoon nodded eagerly, a broad grin spreading across his face. “I know! And I think he likes you a lot too. I told him I wouldn’t mind if you were my mommy. You’re already like one, anyway.”

Mia’s heart clenched. She adored Jiwoon, but the idea of stepping into the role of his mother felt overwhelming. She cared for him deeply, but this was more complicated than a simple arrangement. After everything that had happened between her and Jin, Mia wasn’t sure where they stood.

“That’s very sweet of you to say,” Mia said softly, trying to deflect the conversation. “But right now, let’s focus on building this tower as tall as we can. What do you say?”

Jiwoon giggled, momentarily distracted by the game, and continued stacking his blocks. Mia breathed a small sigh of relief, though Jiwoon’s words lingered in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that things between her and Jin were heading in a direction she hadn’t fully anticipated.

Meanwhile, Jin was driving home from work, his thoughts occupied with Mia. He had spent the entire day mulling over their complicated relationship and the way he had treated her. He hated how things had escalated between them, how he had let his anger and frustrations with Mina spill over into his interactions with Mia.

He needed to make things right.

Stopping at a small flower shop on his way home, Jin picked out a bouquet of delicate lilies and roses—Mia’s favorites, as he had learned from a conversation they’d had weeks ago. It wasn’t much, but he hoped it would be a small gesture to show her that he wanted to start fresh, that he valued her beyond the physical connection they had shared.

As he drove home, flowers resting on the passenger seat, Jin thought about everything that had happened since Mia had come into their lives. She had been a godsend with Jiwoon, filling the void Mina had left without even trying. And while his feelings for her had grown stronger, Jin couldn’t help but feel guilty for the way he had treated her. He had used her as an outlet for his anger, and he knew he couldn’t keep doing that.

He pulled into the driveway, grabbing the bouquet and heading inside, his heart racing as he thought about what he would say to Mia. He was determined to apologize, to clear the air between them, but he wasn’t sure how she would react.

As he walked into the house, Jin’s eyes immediately landed on Mia and Jiwoon in the living room. Jiwoon was in the middle of a story, talking animatedly while Mia listened with a soft smile on her face. The sight warmed Jin’s heart, and he stood there for a moment, just watching them.

Jiwoon noticed his father first, jumping up excitedly. “Daddy! You’re home!” he shouted, running toward Jin with a grin.

Jin smiled, kneeling to hug his son. “Hey, buddy. Did you have a good day?”

Jiwoon nodded, his smile never fading. “Yeah! Me and Mia built the tallest tower ever! And I told her you should make her my mommy.”

Jin’s eyes widened slightly, his gaze flicking over to Mia, who looked both flustered and amused. Jiwoon was completely oblivious to the tension that his innocent words created between the adults.

“Did you, now?” Jin said, his voice light as he ruffled Jiwoon’s hair. “You’ve got some big ideas, huh?”

Jiwoon giggled, hugging his father tightly. “Yeah! I think it’s a great idea!”

Jin chuckled, though his mind was already racing, trying to figure out how to address the situation. He stood up, his eyes meeting Mia’s, and he held out the bouquet of flowers toward her.

“These are for you,” Jin said softly, his voice carrying an apology in its tone.

Mia blinked, clearly surprised by the gesture. “Oh… thank you,” she said, taking the flowers from him. “They’re beautiful.”

Jin shifted awkwardly, glancing at Jiwoon before speaking again. “Mia, could I talk to you for a minute? Alone?”

Mia hesitated, glancing at Jiwoon, who was busy playing with his toys again. She nodded, setting the flowers on the table and following Jin into the kitchen.

Once they were alone, Jin took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “I wanted to apologize,” he began, his voice sincere. “For everything that’s happened between us. I’ve been handling things badly, and I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable or pressured.”

Mia stood silently for a moment, processing his words. “I appreciate the apology, Jin,” she said quietly. “I understand that you’ve been going through a lot with Mina and everything, but… I just don’t want things to be complicated between us.”

Jin nodded, his gaze steady. “I don’t either. And I know I’ve made things more complicated than they needed to be. But I want you to know that I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for Jiwoon. You’ve been incredible with him.”

Mia smiled softly, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “He’s a great kid, Jin. It’s been a joy to take care of him.”

There was a pause, the tension between them palpable as they both searched for the right words to say. Finally, Jin spoke again, his voice softer this time.

“I bought the flowers because I wanted to show you that I value you, Mia. Not just as Jiwoon’s nanny, but as someone important in our lives. I know things have been messy, but I want to make things right.”

Mia looked up at him, her expression conflicted. “I appreciate that, Jin. But I’m still not sure where we stand. I don’t want to get too attached to something that might not be real.”

Jin’s heart clenched at her words. He had been so focused on his own feelings that he hadn’t considered how confusing all of this must have been for her. He stepped closer, his gaze earnest.

“I want to figure this out,” he said softly. “I don’t want to hurt you, Mia. But I also don’t want to lose what we’ve built here.”

Mia’s eyes searched his, and for a moment, Jin wasn’t sure what she would say. But then she nodded, her expression softening.

“Okay,” she said quietly. “Let’s figure this out. But let’s take it slow. For Jiwoon’s sake, if nothing else.”

Jin smiled, relief washing over him. “That sounds good to me.”

As they stood there, the weight of the past few weeks seemed to lift slightly. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was a start. They would figure this out together, one step at a time.

Just then, Jiwoon burst into the kitchen, his eyes bright with excitement. “Mia, Daddy! Can we have ice cream now?”

Mia laughed, the tension between her and Jin easing as she turned to Jiwoon. “I think we can arrange that, don’t you, Jin?”

Jin smiled, grateful for the small moment of peace. “Yeah, buddy. Let’s get some ice cream.”

As they gathered around the table, eating ice cream and laughing at Jiwoon’s antics, Jin couldn’t help but feel hopeful. Things were still uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like they were on the right path.