The meat Kaye was cooking had already finished, yet it remained on the stove, the fire still burning beneath it. She stood there, staring blankly, lost in her thoughts.
She only snapped back to reality when the sharp, loud hiss of the pressure cooker pierced the silence.
Startled, she quickly turned off the heat and reached for the ladle. As she gripped it, she let out a soft sigh.
She still couldn't believe it—Matias had confessed his feelings for Jinny.
Her mind drifted back to that day… the day they returned from the airport.
Mikhail had asked her to come to his office. When she stepped inside, she saw Matias already standing in front of his father, his expression serious and unreadable.
"What's the matter?" she asked as she walked toward her husband, glancing at their son.
"Your mother is here. Now, tell us what you want to say," Mikhail said firmly.
To their surprise, Matias suddenly dropped to his knees.
"M-Matias?" Kaye gasped, her eyes widening.
"Mom, Dad… please forgive me," he said, his voice steady but heavy with emotion.
"What do you mean?" Mikhail asked, his brows knitting together.
"I…" Matias lifted his gaze and met his father's eyes. "I'm in love with Jinny."
Kaye covered her mouth in shock. Of all the possibilities, she had never expected this—from her own son. She had thought it might be Ran or Shuu, especially after the two had been caught fighting before.
"You what?" Mikhail's tone was sharp, his expression turning cold.
"I know I shouldn't feel this way," Matias continued, "especially since she's your adopted daughter. But I can't help it. These feelings… they're impossible to suppress. That's why I came here—to confess. I'm hoping you'll understand."
"Since when?" Kaye asked, still trying to process everything.
"Since the very first time I laid eyes on her," he replied.
"So… since your time in the Serolf Empire?" Mikhail asked.
Matias nodded.
"Then why are you confessing to us instead of her?" Mikhail pressed.
"Because I made a terrible mistake in the past," Matias said quietly.
Kaye's heart tightened. "What do you mean?"
Matias began to explain—how they met, how they fell in love in secret, and how he had never known that Jinny was his parents' adopted daughter at the time. He told them about the painful decision he had made—to leave her and marry someone else for the sake of the empire. How that choice had broken her heart and left her feeling betrayed.
He didn't mention the child. He knew his father would be furious, so he kept that part buried.
"But now that I'm here," Matias continued, "I've decided to fix everything. I want to ask for her forgiveness… and for another chance. Mom, Dad—I love Jinny. I hope you won't object. There's only one woman I want to marry… and it's her."
His voice was firm, filled with both determination and desperation.
Kaye looked at her husband.
Mikhail studied their son in silence, his gaze sharp and searching.
"Do you really love her?" he finally asked.
"I do, Dad."
There was no hesitation.
Mikhail saw himself in his son—the same quiet intensity, the same unwavering resolve. Matias rarely spoke of his feelings, but when he did, his eyes never lied.
"Alright," Mikhail said at last.
Relief flickered across Matias's face.
"But…" Mikhail added, his tone still firm, "only if Jinny feels the same way."
Kaye nodded in agreement. "Your father is right. If you truly love her, we won't stand in your way. But you have to make sure she feels the same. Love can't be forced."
"I understand, Mom," Matias said. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "If you permit it, I want to go to Spain. I want to find her… fix everything… and bring her back. I'm planning to propose."
"P-Propose?" Kaye repeated in surprise.
Matias smiled faintly. "I won't let her go again, Mom."
Mikhail smirked, amused yet approving.
And that was the end of it.
Kaye leaned against the kitchen table, returning to the present.
Matias was probably already in Spain by now.
"One month," she murmured—the time Matias had given himself.
Mikhail had already begun planning an engagement party for when they returned. It was all happening so fast, but he had insisted. It was his way of making up for lost time—for the years he hadn't been there to watch Matias grow.
Unlike with their youngest son, Maikell, whom he had raised with full devotion, Mikhail now wanted to give something to his eldest—a gesture of love, of acknowledgment, of everything he had missed.
A father's way of making things right.
Kaye glanced at the calendar, then smiled softly, placing a hand over her chest.
"I hope they find their way back to each other," she whispered.
A quiet giggle escaped her lips as she imagined it—
Her son… getting married soon.
It stirred memories of when she and Mikhail had first fallen in love and eventually married. Even now, she could still feel the faint flutter of butterflies in her chest, as if time had never taken that feeling away.
.
.
.
Spain
Class had just ended, and Jinny began packing her things.
From the back of the room, a group of male classmates exchanged glances, subtly nudging one another as they silently debated who would approach her.
Just as Jinny stood up, one of them finally gathered the courage and hurried toward her.
"Hey, Jin," he greeted, a little breathless.
"Hi," she replied with a polite smile.
"I'm not sure if you already know my name, but I'm Diego," he said, introducing himself.
"Hi, Diego," Jinny answered. "I've noticed you and your friends at the back of the class." She tilted her head slightly. "So, is there something you wanted to say?"
"Well…" Diego cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. "Are you free right now? My friends and I are planning to go to a rooftop pool bar—you know, just to have some fun. Drinks, a small party… that kind of thing."
Jinny's smile softened, apologetic.
"Thank you, Diego, but I'm sorry. I already have plans. Someone's waiting for me after class."
"Oh… it's alright," he said, trying to hide his disappointment. "Maybe next time?"
She nodded lightly. "Yeah, sure. I'll see you around. Bye."
"Bye," he said, giving a small wave as she walked away.
When Jinny stepped outside, she immediately spotted Shuu leaning casually against his car. He wore a pair of dark sunglasses, his posture relaxed yet effortlessly eye-catching.
Several female students lingered nearby, stealing glances at him, whispering among themselves as they admired his looks. It was hardly surprising—Shuu had inherited the striking features of his father and brothers.
As soon as he noticed Jinny, he removed his sunglasses and waved.
She smiled and walked toward him.
"Where do you want to eat?" Shuu asked as he opened the car door for her. "I know you're hungry."
"I'm still not familiar with this place," she admitted as she got in. "I have no idea which restaurants serve the best food."
Shuu slid into the driver's seat and gently fastened her seatbelt.
"I know a place," he said. "I've been there a few times when I accompanied my father on business trips."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up with interest.
"You'll like their food," he assured her before starting the engine.
...
Not far away, a black car remained parked along the street.
As Shuu's car passed by, its window slowly rolled down.
Inside sat Matias, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. His sharp gaze followed the car until it disappeared from sight.
Without a word, he took out his phone and dialed a number.
.
.
.
At the restaurant
"This place looks expensive…" Jinny whispered as they waited for the waiter to arrive.
"Don't worry, it's my treat," Shuu said with a grin. "It's our first date, after all."
"D-Date?" Jinny blinked in surprise. She had thought he was only joking that night.
Shuu merely winked at her before turning to the waiter who had just approached their table. Without hesitation, he began ordering dishes she wasn't even familiar with.
Jinny glanced around. The place looked like something out of a five-star hotel—elegant and refined. The guests dined quietly, speaking in low tones, their movements graceful and composed. Even the way they held their utensils reflected perfect etiquette.
"Uhm… Shuu," she said softly.
A strange uneasiness settled in her chest. She felt out of place.
"Yes?" he asked, looking at her. "Do you want to add something? Dessert, maybe?"
"N-No… that's not it," she replied, hesitating.
Shuu frowned slightly, sensing something was off.
"C-Can we… maybe leave?" she said in a low voice. "And find somewhere else to eat? Somewhere… cheaper."
For a moment, he studied her expression—nervous, uncertain.
Then he smiled.
"Alright."
He called the waiter, handed over his card, and settled the bill.
"Let's go," he said simply.
Jinny blinked in confusion as she stood up. "D-Did you already pay? But the food hasn't even been prepared yet… W-We just wasted money…"
Shuu chuckled. "No, we didn't. Don't worry about it."
Before she could protest further, he gently took her hand and led her outside.
"B-But—" she started, but she had no choice except to follow him.
Outside, a motorbike was parked nearby.
"I had a feeling you wouldn't like that place," Shuu said as he picked up a helmet and handed it to her. "I just wanted to see for myself. And I was right—you're not the type who enjoys luxury."
He smirked slightly. "Let's go for a night ride."
Jinny looked down at the helmet in her hands. "Is it… safe?"
"Come on," Shuu said with a confident grin. "You'll be safe with me."
They climbed onto the motorbike. The moment it sped forward, Jinny instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around him, her eyes squeezing shut.
"P-Please drive slower!" she pleaded.
Shuu laughed softly. "Come on, open your eyes."
Hesitantly, she did.
And froze.
The city stretched out before her, glowing under the night sky. Countless lights shimmered like stars fallen to earth, painting the streets in gold and silver.
It was breathtaking.
Her grip on him loosened as her fear melted away, replaced by quiet awe. A small smile formed on her lips as she took in the view.
Shuu glanced at her through the side mirror—and smiled.
They stopped in front of a small street food stall.
"Do you miss street food?" Shuu asked as he removed their helmets and placed them on his motorbike.
Jinny fell silent for a moment.
She used to eat street food often when she was younger. It was cheap, and the other children at the orphanage loved it. Those simple meals, shared with laughter, had once been enough to make her happy.
But everything changed when she became part of the Fuentebella family.
Since then, she had rarely eaten anything like this. The last time she brought street food home, her brothers had complained, calling it disgusting. Only her mother had comforted her, gently telling her that the food tasted good—and that she herself would eat it whenever she had the chance.
That was when Jinny began to understand.
People of wealth didn't eat the same things as the poor.
Slowly, she adapted to their lifestyle… shaping herself into what they expected her to be.
Now, standing in front of the stall, staring at the skewers neatly displayed, she felt something stir deep within her.
She turned to Shuu.
"You eat street food too?" she asked.
"Yeah, why not?" he replied casually as he picked up a few skewers. "I grab some whenever I see them."
He smirked slightly. "I'm not like my brothers."
Right… Shuu was different.
She had heard stories about him before—that he was a troublemaker, always wandering from place to place, getting into fights. Maybe it was during those times that he discovered places like this… simple, unpretentious, and real.
Shuu picked up another skewer and held it out to her.
She smiled and accepted it.
Standing side by side, they ate together, enjoying the familiar flavors. Around them, the city buzzed softly under the night sky, its lights flickering in the distance.
And for the first time that night, Jinny felt completely at ease.
.
.
.
The next day
Jinny sat with her classmate, Katalina, at a café near the university.
"Wow, their Frutas del Bosque is so good!" Jinny said, smiling as she took another sip of her fruit infusion.
"See? I told you their drinks were amazing," Katalina replied with a grin.
"Thank you for bringing me here," Jinny said warmly.
They were in the middle of their conversation when Katalina's phone suddenly rang.
"Excuse me, I'll take this," she said, standing up and stepping outside.
Jinny nodded and continued sipping her drink. Through the glass window, she noticed Katalina's expression shift. Her face turned serious—then tense. It looked like she was arguing with whoever was on the other end of the call.
Moments later, Katalina ended the call abruptly and returned inside, forcing a smile.
"I'm really sorry, Jin," she said. "I have to go. There's something urgent I need to take care of."
"It's alright," Jinny replied gently. "You can go. I'll just leave after I finish my drink."
"Thank you. I'll see you at school tomorrow. Bye!"
With that, Katalina hurried out.
Jinny watched her leave before turning back to her drink, casually scrolling through her phone. A few seconds later, her phone rang.
It was Shuu.
"Hello?"
"Jin, I'm sorry. I won't be able to pick you up today," Shuu said from the other end. "Dad called—I need to drop by Mr. Montalban's company. It's something important."
"It's okay," she replied. "I can go home on my own."
"I'll see you at home."
"Yeah."
The call ended.
Jinny finished the last of her drink and stood up, ready to leave—when something caught her eye.
A freshly displayed cheesecake sat in the glass case.
"Wow… it looks delicious," she murmured.
She stepped closer, about to order, when a group of unfamiliar men approached her.
"Hi, miss," one of them said with a smirk. "You're alone?"
Jinny stiffened.
They didn't look like students—and they definitely didn't look friendly.
"I-I'm sorry, but I'm actually with someone," she said, attempting to step past them.
But one of the men moved, blocking her path.
"Come on," he said, his grin widening. "We saw you earlier. You were alone. Why not join us? It'll be fun."
The others chuckled, their laughter laced with something unsettling.
"I'm really sorry, but I have to go," Jinny insisted, trying to push past him.
"Hey, not so fast—"
The man reached for her—
But suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist.
Hard.
A sharp cry of pain escaped his lips.
Jinny froze.
The man's face twisted as his arm was held in a crushing grip. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the person who had intervened—
And her eyes widened in shock.
"M-Matias…" she whispered.
"Stop harassing my girlfriend," Matias said coldly, his voice sharp enough to cut through the tension.
The men exchanged uneasy glances. Sensing the danger in his presence, they quickly backed off and fled without another word.
Silence fell.
Jinny stared at him, her heart pounding.
She couldn't believe it.
"What… what are you doing here?" she asked.
Matias didn't answer.
Instead, he reached for her hand, his grip firm but controlled.
"Come with me."
"Eh—?"
Before she could react, he pulled her along, leading her out of the café. Within seconds, they were inside his car.
"W-Where are we going?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
But he said nothing.
The engine roared to life.
Unease crept into her chest. She quickly pulled out her phone and tried to call Shuu—
But Matias noticed.
In one swift motion, he snatched the phone from her hand and threw it out of the window.
"My phone!" she cried.
"Shhh…"
He leaned closer, placing a finger gently against her lips.
"Be quiet," he murmured. "I'll explain everything once we get to my place."
Jinny swallowed hard.
His face was so close—too close. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she quickly turned her gaze away.
Her thoughts raced.
Why was Matias here?
Where was he taking her?
And… what did he want from her?