𝙴𝙼𝙰𝙻𝚈𝙽 |𝑴𝒂𝒇𝒊𝒂 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒇 | 𝑩𝑻𝑺

14

The sun rose, casting warm rays over the mansion. One by one, everyone began coming downstairs, settling into their seats at the dining table for breakfast. Yn and Yoongi arrived soon after, each taking their place.

The younger ones weren’t interested in going to university, they would much rather stay at home or work at the company. But they knew there was no convincing their Namjoon hyung.

They had no choice but to attend university regularly. Namjoon called it “discipline” and “responsibility,” though it was more about keeping them out of dangerous situations.

As usual, Yn had a bottle of Yakult, something the boys had gotten used to, and neither Mrs. Bae nor Miso paid it much attention.

But Mr. Kim cast a concerned glance her way, noticing her tired eyes and pale face as she sat there with only a small bottle of yakult for breakfast. Clearing his throat, he hesitated, feeling strangely nervous about talking to Yn. He thought to himself how tough it could be to understand a daughter.

He had always wanted a daughter, but now that he had a stepdaughter, he felt completely at a loss of what to do or how to talk.

“Um, Yn will take a day off from university today,” he announced, taking a bite of toast. “The rest of you will still go, and I need to talk to her.”

“What talk?” Jungkook blurted out, tension rising in him at the idea that they might grow closer or that she could take his place.

“Nothing serious,” Mr. Kim replied.

“Dad, did she get into trouble again?” Miso asked softly, her wide eyes filled with concern, trying to look so genuine it almost worked.

After her question, most of the boys assumed that Yn had done something wrong.

“It’s nothing, Miso,” Mr. Kim said gently with a smile.

Yn stayed quiet, unbothered by what Mr. Kim wanted to discuss. She was just relieved she’d get a break from the headaches of university.

Miso and the boys left for university after breakfast.

Bae In-Ah, Kim Gu-Won’s wife, couldn’t shake her anxiety. She was reluctant to leave Kim Gu-Won and Yn alone, worried about what their conversation might uncover. The thought that Yn could bring up her own secret dealings with Kim Gu-Won made Bae In-Ah uneasy.

“Let’s go for a drive while we talk,” Kim Gu-Won said softly, glancing at Yn before heading toward the door, with her following quietly behind.

He asked the driver for the keys, took the driver’s seat himself, and Yn settled silently in the passenger seat.

They drove slowly around the empty streets for a while, Kim Gu-Won unsure of how to start the conversation. He knew she wouldn’t be too open with him, but he wanted her to know that he would always be there if she ever needed him.

“How is it at the Kim mansion, Yn?” he asked gently.

“The stay here is very nice, Mr. Kim... The boys are all kind and welcoming.” Yn almost wanted to roll her eyes at her own forced lie.

Kim Gu-Won nodded, half-accepting but half-doubtful of her answer.

Kim Gu-Won almost wanted to throw himself across the ocean. Here he was, a man who could yell at thousands without a second thought, and now he was at a complete loss for words.

Irritated with his own lack of speaking skills, he glanced over at Yn, who sat quietly beside him.

“Yn... I’ve never had a daughter before,” he began, stumbling a bit. “I always wanted one, which explains why I ended up with seven sons. Now that I have a stepdaughter—someone who’s no less than a daughter to me—I find myself unsure of what to do…” He trailed off, hardly aware of what he was saying, trying to make sense of it for both Yn and himself.