Guarded Hearts || Yoon Jeonghan ||

CHAPTER 14

Jeonghan's Pov

I walked into the dining area, and as usual, breakfast was already set out.                                                                                                                                                     "Good morning, Mr. Jeonghan," Martha greeted me, her smile warm and genuine, as it always was.

"Good morning, Martha," I replied, giving her a nod.

Martha had been with our family since I was a child, a constant presence in my life, and the only one who ever seemed to care about me beyond the duties she was paid for. I appreciated her more than I ever let on.

I settled into my chair, the silence of the room stretching out. I usually ate alone, just the clink of silverware against plates for company. But since Jessica had started staying here, I'd gotten used to having breakfast together. It was strange, almost jarring, when she wasn't there. I figured she might have just woken up late, or maybe she was still getting ready. She'd show up any minute, I told myself. But as I waited, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off. Still, there was no sign of her.

"Where's Jessica?" I asked, looking up at Martha as she moved around the kitchen, humming quietly to herself as she tidied up.

"Oh, she had to go to the hospital this morning," Martha replied, not missing a beat.

"She'll be here soon, though." "Hospital?" I raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "Why?"

Martha turned to face me, pausing with a dish in her hand.

"Oh, you didn't know? Jessica's younger brother had surgery today. She went to see him."

 I had no idea. Not that she ever told me anything personal, just as about the door creaked open behind me. Jessica entered, looking tired and distracted, her dark circles under her eyes more pronounced than usual. She didn't look at me. Martha, ever the hostess, smiled brightly.

"Jessica, breakfast is ready. Come sit and eat something. You must be hungry."

But Jessica just shook her head, barely acknowledging either of us.

"No, I'm not hungry," she murmured, already turning to head down the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the quiet room.I stared after her for a moment, then caught Martha's eye. She raised an eyebrow, but I knew what she was thinking.

"Come on, Jessica," I called out, my voice more insistent now.
"Have some. I won't be around much later, and you might not get the chance."

Jessica paused at the doorway, her back still to me, then slowly turned to look at me—really look at me—for the first time that morning. There was hesitation in her eyes, a flicker of something.

For a moment, I thought she might refuse again, but then, as if giving in to some unspoken pressure, she walked back to the table. She sat down across from me, just like she always did, her usual spot, as if I might pounce.

For a while, neither of us spoke. I picked at my food, occasionally glancing up at her. She was barely eating, her fork moving mechanically through the food, eyes distant. She looked... tired, as if the weight of whatever she'd been dealing with had drained her.Finally, I couldn't stand the silence anymore.

"You don't even tell me when you're going somewhere," I said, the words coming out sharper than I intended.

Jessica didn't look up, her eyes fixed on her plate.

"I forgot to mention it last night," she said quietly, "so I asked Martha to let you know if you asked."

Her response was flat, distant. I didn't know whether she was being deliberately evasive or if she just didn't care enough to explain herself.