Hearts in chaos: Hearts Entwined book 4

44

Morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Jin stirred, the soft sheets and the warmth of Mia’s body beside him wrapping him in a cocoon of comfort. He smiled, memories of the night flooding back—the way Mia had melted beneath his touch, how they had lost themselves in each other, and the beautiful connection they had forged.

As he turned to look at Mia, his heart swelled. She lay there, still asleep, her long hair fanned out across the pillow. The remnants of their passion were visible in the form of love bites that adorned her neck and shoulders, evidence of their night together. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and affection for the woman beside him, the woman who had brought so much joy into his life.

However, the serene moment was short-lived. Jin’s heart sank as he remembered the other occupant of the house: Jiwoon. The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water—his son had been awake during the earlier festivities, and there was a good chance he had heard more than just whispers.

“What do I say?” he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair as he sat up in bed. He glanced at Mia one more time, still blissfully unaware of the impending conversation he would have to face. He took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for the inevitable.

Jin slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Mia. He grabbed a pair of sweatpants from a chair and slipped them on before making his way downstairs. The house was quiet, the only sounds being the soft rustle of leaves outside and the distant chirping of birds.

As he reached the living room, he found Jiwoon sitting on the couch, a blanket wrapped around him, eyes wide as he clutched a stuffed dinosaur. The boy’s gaze shifted to his father, and Jin felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.

“Good morning, buddy,” Jin said, forcing a smile as he sat down next to Jiwoon. “Did you sleep well?”

Jiwoon nodded but didn’t say anything. Instead, he stared at Jin, his small brow furrowed with curiosity. The silence stretched between them, and Jin could feel the tension rising.

“Um, so… did you have fun yesterday?” Jin asked, trying to steer the conversation to safer waters.

Jiwoon nodded again, still silent, but his expression shifted to one of seriousness. “Daddy, why was Mia screaming your name last night?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with innocence and confusion. Jin’s heart dropped, and he felt his face heat up. He had hoped that Jiwoon had been asleep during their more intimate moments, but the boy had clearly heard more than he intended.

“Uh, well…” Jin stammered, searching for the right words. “You see, sometimes… adults make noises when they’re really happy.”

Jiwoon’s brow furrowed even deeper, clearly not satisfied with that answer. “But it sounded like you were hurting her. Were you hurting her, Daddy?”

Jin’s heart raced. The last thing he wanted was for Jiwoon to think that he had hurt Mia. “No, no! Not at all!” he exclaimed, leaning closer to his son. “Mia and I love each other very much, and when people love each other, they sometimes express their feelings in… loud ways.”

The boy seemed to contemplate this, his small face scrunching up in thought. “So, you and Mia are in love?”

“Yes, buddy. We are,” Jin said, relief flooding through him at Jiwoon’s understanding. “That’s why it’s so special. It’s just… something that happens between people who care for each other a lot.”

Jiwoon nodded, seeming to accept this explanation for the moment. “So, it’s like how you used to hug Mommy and smile at her?”

Jin felt a pang in his chest at the mention of Mina. “Yeah, something like that,” he said carefully. “But it’s different now. Mia makes me really happy, and I think she makes you happy too, right?”