They walked only a short distance from the abandoned building.
Ji-Hoo led Ji-Ah through a quieter part of the neighborhood, down a narrow street lined with small houses and modest gardens.
After a few minutes, he stopped in front of a simple metal gate. He pointed toward it. "My house."
Ji-Ah looked at it. It wasn't a mansion. It wasn't anything like Ha-Joon's enormous home back in Korea.
But it was a proper home. A warm one.
The small front garden had flowerpots arranged along the walkway. Some flowers were blooming, while others looked like they had been planted recently. There was a little wooden bench beside the wall and a pair of children's shoes near the entrance.
It looked lived in. Loved, even.
Ji-Ah smiled faintly. "It reminds me of my home."
Ji-Hoo glanced at her. "Really?"
"Yeah."
She looked around again. "Not the mansion where Ha-Joon lives. My actual home."
Ji-Hoo smiled. "Then you'll probably feel comfortable."
He unlocked the gate. "Come in."
Ji-Ah followed him through. At the front door, she noticed a few pairs of shoes neatly placed beside the entrance.
She slipped hers off before stepping inside. The interior was modest but comfortable.
A small sofa sat in the living room, covered with a neatly folded blanket. There were family photographs on one wall, little decorations on another, and several small medals and certificates displayed carefully on a shelf.
Ji-Ah stopped near them. Some were school awards. Others belonged to Tae-Hyun.
She smiled. "He seems like a hardworking kid."
Ji-Hoo looked at the shelf proudly. "He is."
There was something different in his voice when he talked about his son.
Pride. The kind that didn't need a fancy trophy cabinet to prove anything.
"Sit down," Ji-Hoo said.
Ji-Ah sat on the sofa.
Ji-Hoo turned toward the hallway. "Tae-Hyunnie!"
His voice echoed through the house. "Tae-Hyunnie!"
For a second, there was silence.
Then a tiny voice came rushing from somewhere deeper inside. "Appa!"
Ji-Hoo's face immediately brightened. "I'm back!"
Small footsteps hurried across the floor.
Then Tae-Hyun appeared. The little boy wore warm clothes that looked slightly oversized, with soft trousers and a thick sweater that kept him bundled up against the cold.
His dark hair was a little messy, as if he'd been playing before his father returned.
He stopped when he saw Ji-Ah. His eyes widened. Then he smiled brightly.
"Appa!"
He ran toward Ji-Hoo.
Ji-Hoo crouched and caught him gently. "Hey, Tae-Hyunnie."
Tae-Hyun looked over his father's shoulder. "Appa, who's this?"
Ji-Hoo smiled. "She's a friend of Appa's."
Ji-Ah raised her hand and gave him a small wave. "Hi, Tae-Hyun. I'm Ji-Ah."
The boy's smile became even brighter. "Ah!"
He looked at her with complete curiosity. "Ji-Ah..."
Then he tilted his head. "Are you my mother's Aunt?"
Ji-Ah blinked.
Ji-Hoo looked like he was trying not to laugh.
Ji-Ah smiled awkwardly. "Do I look that old? No, I'm not."
Tae-Hyun seemed satisfied with that answer.
Ji-Ah remembered why she had wanted to meet him.
She opened her bag. "I actually brought something for you."
Tae-Hyun's eyes immediately followed her hands.
Ji-Ah pulled out a chocolate bar. "Here."
She held it toward him. His face lit up like he'd just been handed his favorite thing in the world.
"For me?"
"For you."
He took it carefully. "Thank you!"
Ji-Ah smiled. "You're welcome."
Tae-Hyun immediately ran off with the chocolate, happily clutching it in both hands.
Ji-Ah watched him disappear down the hallway.
She smiled. "You have a very lovely son."
Ji-Hoo looked toward the hallway.
A proud smile appeared on his face. "Thank you."
He sat down across from her. "He's trying his best to be cheerful."
Ji-Ah's smile faded slightly.
She understood what he meant.
Ji-Hoo looked down at his hands. "And about Seo-Rin..."
Ji-Ah listened.
"Please." His voice became quieter. "Please bring her back."
He looked up. "I love my wife so much."
Ji-Ah's expression softened. "You really still love her?"
"Yes."
"Even after she left?"
"Yes. She thinks it's the best for her, she really believes that this is all good for her." Ji-Hoo swallowed. "She's making terrible choices. She's going to ruin her own life."
Ji-Ah hesitated.
"But..." She looked at him carefully. "She basically abandoned you. She's engaged to Ha-Joon."
Ji-Hoo nodded. "I know."
"And she's trying to marry him."
"I know."
"Then why do you still want her back?"
Ji-Hoo smiled sadly. "Because she's still my wife."
Ji-Ah couldn't immediately answer that.
Then Ji-Hoo added, "Besides, Ha-Joon isn't going to marry her."
Ji-Ah blinked. "What?"
"He doesn't want to." Ji-Hoo leaned back. "I've watched you all."
Ji-Ah's eyes widened. "You've watched us?"
He nodded. "I followed you for a very... uhm a while."
Ji-Ah stared. "...That's slightly terrifying."
Ji-Hoo laughed quietly."But I noticed something."
"What?"
"Ha-Joon seems interested in you."
Ji-Ah's face immediately changed.
She laughed awkwardly. "Very funny, Dad."
Ji-Hoo blinked. "Dad?"
Ji-Ah waved her hands quickly. "Nothing! I mean, you're talking like an embarrassing father right now."
He chuckled.
"He doesn't like me."
"You don't think so?"
"No." Ji-Ah shook her head firmly. "He's just annoying."
Ji-Hoo raised an eyebrow. "Annoying?"
"Very."
"He treats you well."
"That's his job."
"He worries about you."
"That's also his job."
"He looks at you differently."
Ji-Ah stopped. Her cheeks warmed. "...Okay, that's enough."
Ji-Hoo laughed. "Alright."
Ji-Ah looked away. "He doesn't like me."
Ji-Hoo simply nodded. "Okay."
She looked back at him suspiciously. "Why do I feel like you don't believe me?"
"I believe you."
"You don't."
"I do."
Ji-Ah narrowed her eyes.
He smiled. "Mostly."
She laughed despite herself.
Then her expression became serious again. "Thank you."
Ji-Hoo looked at her. "For what?"
"For telling me everything." She held her bag. "I needed these answers."
Ji-Hoo nodded. "And thank you for listening."
Ji-Ah stood carefully. "I should probably go before Yoo-Na starts searching the entire city for me."
Ji-Hoo smiled. "Be careful."
"I will." She glanced toward the hallway where Tae-Hyun had disappeared. "Take care of him."
"I always do."
Ji-Ah smiled. "I know."
She moved toward the door.
Behind her, Ji-Hoo quietly said, "Ji-Ah."
She turned. "Yes?"
"Please..." His expression became serious again. "Don't give up on her completely."
Ji-Ah looked at him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"I'll try." She opened the door. "And I'll find out what she's planning."
Ji-Hoo nodded. "Thank you."
Ji-Ah stepped outside, carrying the documents close to her.
She had come looking for one clue.
Instead, she'd found an entire family hidden behind Min-Ji's carefully constructed life.
And now she had one more reason to uncover the truth.