To Fall In Love Again [JEONGKYU FF]

Chapter 49

"M-Mom??" Doyoung stammered, instinctively taking a step back from Junkyu as if her sudden appearance could physically strike him.

Junkyu, whose thoughts had been filled with hopeful visions of his baby brother's future success, was snapped out of his reverie by the decidedly unpleasant sight of their mother. Like Doyoung, he hadn't expected to see her here—of all places—at a park so far removed from the opulent mayoral residence where the Kim family resided.

This was only the second time Junkyu had seen her in years, though the first encounter barely counted; it had lasted a mere two seconds before he passed out at the Park manor.

She looked just as poised and elegant as he remembered, sitting regally in the grand drawing room. Her mature, yet strikingly beautiful face was subtly enhanced with barely-there makeup, her hair pulled back into a flawless, tight bun adorned with pearl hairpins. Her petite figure was dressed in a crisp white silk blouse paired with matching wide-legged trousers, their clean lines giving her a polished, professional appearance—almost as if she had just stepped away from her duties as the city's mayoress.

Despite the conservative cut of her pants and her average omega height, she looked tall and commanding, thanks to the four-inch white pumps she wore. Draped over her shoulders like a cape was a light brown wool coat, its sleeves left untouched. Though winter was around the corner, Junkyu doubted the heavy coat was meant for warmth—it seemed more like an accessory to complete her pristine ensemble.

The outfit, complemented by a sleek leather handbag and understated gold accessories, radiated old-money sophistication. The sight of her reminded Junkyu that her family's wealth far surpassed his father's—likely the reason his father had never left her for someone less affluent, like his birth mother.

"So, this is what you've been doing, huh?!" Lee Ann's sharp voice cut through the air as she closed the distance between them. Her eyes, fiery with anger, zeroed in on Doyoung. She shoved Travis aside with a curt motion, paying no mind to the blonde as she marched past him.

There was no warm greeting, no "How have you been?"—not even a hint of longing after weeks of no communication with her son. Just fury, plain and unfiltered, painting her features a livid red.

"M-Mom... W-what are— you..." Doyoung stuttered, instinctively retreating another step, desperate to avoid her reach. The memories of her hitting him burned vividly in his mind, a harsh reminder of how dangerous her anger could be.

"You disappoint me once again," she snarled, her voice as icy as her demeanor. "I thought you'd finally come to your senses. I know you've been staying at JeongWoo's house, and I allowed it because I believed you were securing your position as his future husband. But look at what we have here, Doyoung!"

Her piercing gaze shifted to Junkyu, filled with loathing so intense it made him feel like a piece of trash discarded in a filthy alleyway. "Him," she spat, venom dripping from her voice, "and this rubbish." Her eyes flicked briefly to Travis before settling back on Doyoung.

"You haven't learned your lesson, I suppose," she said coldly, her words deliberate and menacing. "Should I do what I should've done a long time ago?"

"NO!" Doyoung's panicked shout echoed through the air, his face paling. He shook his head frantically, his heart pounding as dread settled in his chest.

He could never forget the day his father had ordered his guards to beat Travis nearly to death after catching the blonde sneaking into Doyoung's bedroom during his confinement. The memory of Travis, bruised and bloodied, gasping for air under the unrelenting assault of three men, haunted him. He had only survived because Doyoung had thrown himself over his body, shielding him and begging his father to stop.