THE BITCH CEO (Im Nayeon)

54

NO ONE'S POV

The next few days were a blur of routine and distraction.

Nayeon busied herself with work, Haven, and anything that kept her mind from spiraling back to Hans.

But no matter how hard she tried to push it aside, the memory of Hans's question lingered like a stubborn shadow.

At night, after Haven had gone to bed, the silence of the house became unbearable. It was then, alone with her thoughts, that Nayeon replayed Hans's words over and over again: 'Is Haven my daughter?'

The look in Hans' eyes when she asked had been haunting, raw and filled with hope, pain, and something else Nayeon couldn't quite name. She hated that it affected her so much.

One evening, as she stared at the ceiling, the quietness was broken by her mother's soft knock on her bedroom door.

"Can I come in?" Mrs. Im asked, peeking her head in.

Nayeon sat up, nodding reluctantly.

Her mother entered, carrying a small wooden box Nayeon hadn't seen in years. She placed it on the edge of the bed and sat down beside her daughter.

"What's that?" Nayeon asked, eyeing the box warily.

"Memories." Mrs. Im said simply.

She opened the box, revealing old photographs, letters, and trinkets.

Nayeon's chest tightened as she recognized the items. They were from her time with Hans, moments they had shared, pieces of a life she had tried to forget.

"I kept these. because I knew one day, you might need them." Her mother said gently.

"I don't need them. I've already moved on." Nayeon said quickly, her voice laced with bitterness.

"Have you?" Mrs. Im asked and gave her a knowing look.

Nayeon didn't answer. She couldn't. Instead, she stared at the photographs, her fingers twitching with the urge to reach for them but stopping herself.

Her mother pulled out a small, folded note from the box and handed it to her.

"You should read this."

Nayeon hesitated before taking the note. It was old and worn, the handwriting instantly recognizable. Hans's handwriting.

She unfolded it, her hands trembling slightly. The words blurred for a moment before she focused enough to read:

"Hi baby,
I know I've hurt you more than words can fix. But I need you to know that everything I ever did, everything I ever felt, was real. I made mistakes, but loving you wasn't one of them. I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'll never stop trying to earn it.
Always,
Hans."

Tears welled up in Nayeon's eyes as she finished reading. She hated how easily Hans' words could still break through her walls.

"She wrote that after you left. She brought it here, hoping I'd convince you to talk to her. But I knew you weren't ready then." Mrs. Im said quietly.

"I'm still not ready," Nayeon said, her voice cracking.

"You might never feel ready. But you can't keep carrying this weight forever, Nayeon. It's not just about you anymore. It's about Haven too." Her mother said and reached out, placing a comforting hand on hers.

At the mention of her daughter, Nayeon felt a lump rise in her throat.

"I'm scared, Mom." She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.