Hearts in chaos: Hearts Entwined book 4

26

The next day, Jin woke up with a sense of renewed purpose. He had been thinking about the conversation he’d had with Mia the night before and how important it was to make sure their relationship, however it unfolded, was built on something genuine. Today, he wanted to do something special for both Mia and Jiwoon. After all, Mia had been doing so much for them, and Jiwoon adored her.

As he made breakfast, the idea struck him—he’d take them out for a nice dinner. Something lighthearted, away from the mansion and all the memories of Mina. A night out would be a fresh start for the three of them.

Jiwoon bounded down the stairs, still rubbing his eyes. “Daddy, what’s for breakfast?” he asked, his little voice filled with curiosity.

“Pancakes!” Jin said, smiling at his son’s enthusiasm. “And guess what? Tonight, we’re going out to dinner. You, me, and Mia. What do you think?”

Jiwoon’s eyes lit up. “Can I wear my new shirt?” he asked, already excited about the idea.

Jin chuckled. “Of course, you can.”

Mia appeared shortly after, dressed casually but with a warm smile that brightened Jin’s morning. “Good morning,” she greeted, glancing at the breakfast Jin was making. “Smells good in here.”

Jin smiled back, feeling a sense of comfort just by her presence. “Morning. I was thinking… how about we all go out for dinner tonight? Something nice, just the three of us.”

Mia’s eyes flickered with surprise, and then she nodded. “That sounds lovely. I’m sure Jiwoon will enjoy it.”

Jiwoon, who had been playing with his toy cars at the kitchen table, piped up, “We’re gonna wear nice clothes! Right, Daddy?”

Jin laughed. “That’s right, buddy. We’re going to have a fun night.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity, with Jiwoon eagerly talking about their upcoming dinner every chance he got. Mia kept things running smoothly, balancing her time between caring for Jiwoon and tidying up the house. By the time evening rolled around, Jin felt a growing excitement about the night ahead.

They chose a quaint Italian restaurant not too far from Jin’s home. It had an intimate atmosphere, with soft lighting and a cozy interior that was perfect for a quiet evening out. Jiwoon, dressed in his favorite new shirt, was practically bouncing with excitement as they arrived. Jin had never seen him so animated about going out before.

As they settled into their booth, Jin glanced at Mia. She was dressed in a simple but elegant dress, her hair pulled back, and her smile was soft as she helped Jiwoon get comfortable. He couldn’t help but admire the way she naturally took care of his son, how easily she slipped into the role of someone who truly cared for Jiwoon.

The dinner started off wonderfully. Jiwoon, being a curious and energetic toddler, kept Mia and Jin entertained with his endless chatter. Mia laughed at his stories, her eyes sparkling with affection as she gently guided him to eat his meal. Jin found himself relaxing in her company, feeling a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time.

“This is really nice,” Mia said softly, turning to Jin. “I think Jiwoon’s having the time of his life.”

Jin smiled. “Yeah, he’s loving it. And honestly, I’m really glad we did this. It feels… normal, you know?”

Mia nodded, her eyes meeting his. “It does. It’s nice to just… enjoy the moment.”

But just as they were starting to settle into the evening, the mood shifted.

A shadow fell over their table, and Jin looked up to see none other than Mina standing there, her face twisted in a smug smile.

“Well, well, look at this,” she said, her voice dripping with condescension. “Playing house, are we?”

Jin’s stomach dropped. He hadn’t seen Mina in weeks, and he certainly hadn’t expected her to show up here of all places. His hands clenched under the table as he fought to keep his composure, but anger bubbled just beneath the surface. This was supposed to be a peaceful night with Mia and Jiwoon—a chance to rebuild something good—and Mina had the audacity to ruin it.

“Mina,” Jin said coolly, his voice low. “What are you doing here?”

Mina shrugged, her eyes flicking between Mia and Jiwoon with barely concealed disdain. “Oh, I was just having dinner nearby. Thought I’d drop by and see how my little family was doing.” She gave a fake pout, her tone mocking. “Although it looks like you’ve moved on quite quickly, haven’t you?”

Jiwoon, sensing the tension but not understanding, looked up at his father with wide eyes. “Daddy, who is that?”

Jin’s jaw tightened. “That’s enough, Mina. Leave.”

Mina smirked, clearly enjoying the disruption she had caused. “Leave? Oh, Jin, come on. You should be thanking me. After all, I did give you full custody, didn’t I? You and your little nanny should be grateful.”

Jin’s face flushed with anger. He stood up, trying to shield Jiwoon from the venom in Mina’s words. “Mina, get out of here. Now.”

But Mina wasn’t done. “You know, Jin, it’s pathetic how you couldn’t even keep your own wife happy. Now you’re parading around with your replacement, pretending like you’re some kind of perfect father.”

Jin’s chest tightened at her words. Deep down, he had always feared he was a failure—both as a husband and a father. And hearing Mina throw those insecurities in his face, especially in front of Jiwoon and Mia, cut him deeply.

Before he could respond, Mia’s voice rang out, steady and calm, but full of conviction. “That’s enough, Mina.”

Mina blinked, clearly taken aback. Mia stood up, her posture firm as she met Mina’s gaze without flinching.

“You can say whatever you want about Jin, but you have no right to come here and disrupt his life like this. He’s doing his best to be a good father to Jiwoon, and honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself for abandoning your own son.”

Mina’s face twisted in anger, but Mia didn’t back down.

“Jin isn’t a failure,” Mia continued, her voice unwavering. “He’s a good man, and he’s been nothing but kind to me and to Jiwoon. You can’t just waltz in here and tear him down because you’re unhappy with your own choices.”

Jin stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest as he listened to Mia’s words. No one had ever defended him like that before. He had always felt alone in his struggles with Mina, but hearing Mia speak up for him—especially in front of his ex-wife—made something inside him shift.

Mina’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t have a comeback. With a frustrated huff, she turned on her heel and stalked out of the restaurant, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

Jin slowly sat back down, still processing what had just happened. Jiwoon looked between his father and Mia, confused but sensing that the bad lady was gone.

Mia exhaled, sitting down as well, her face softening as she glanced at Jin. “Are you okay?”

Jin nodded, though he still felt a little shaken. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I just… I didn’t expect you to… thank you.”

Mia smiled gently. “You don’t have to thank me. You don’t deserve to be treated like that, Jin. No one does.”

Jin looked at her, really looked at her, and for the first time, he realized just how much she had become a part of his and Jiwoon’s life. She wasn’t just a nanny. She was more than that—she was someone who cared, someone who saw him for who he really was.

As the night went on, the tension from Mina’s visit slowly faded, and they managed to enjoy the rest of their dinner. But Jin couldn’t stop thinking about what Mia had said, about how fiercely she had defended him.

He realized that maybe, just maybe, Mia was becoming more than just a part of his son’s life. She was becoming a part of his life, too.