Morning light slipped gently through the curtains.
Jihyun's lashes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was Taewon sitting beside the bed, his large hand wrapped tightly around his.
Taewon had dozed off like that, half-sitting, his head tilted forward in exhaustion.
Jihyun sat up suddenly, startling him awake.
"How are you feeling?"
Taewon asked softly, his voice husky with sleep.
Jihyun's lips trembled.
"Taewon"
"Yes?"
"Take me to my mom. Please. I want to see her. I want to stay next to her."
His voice cracked, tears welling in his eyes as he pleaded like a child, lips pressing into a pout.
"Please, Taewon. Let's go."
Taewon leaned forward, steadying his shoulders.
"Jihyun, calm down. Listen to me."
His tone was gentle yet firm.
"Your mother's treatment may finish by the end of this month just one more week.
I already spoke with your dad. They'll return then."
He brushed Jihyun's tears away with his thumb.
"Eat breakfast first, take your medicine. If you're feeling better, we'll go home together. If not, we'll stay here another day."
"Please… do something for my mom. Find a doctor who can help her,"
Jihyun whispered desperately.
Taewon's jaw tightened.
"I will Minjoon and I are already searching for one. I promise, your mom will be fine."
Jihyun swung his legs slowly over the edge of the bed.
"Go wash up," Taewon said gently.
"I'll bring breakfast."
As He left the room,
but halfway down the stairs, a sharp wave of nausea hit him.
He gripped the railing tightly, his knees threatening to buckle. Still, he forced himself toward the kitchen.
Just as he picked up the breakfast tray,
Mrs. Kang appeared, catching him as his body swayed.
"Taewon-ah!" She grabbed his arm quickly.
He forced a smile.
"I'm fine, Mom. Just a headache."
Mrs. Kang frowned and took the tray from his hands.
"I'll take this. You go rest."
(Inside the room)
Jihyun was curled up on the bed, tears still staining his face.
Mrs. Kang set the tray down and went straight to him.
She cupped his face tenderly, brushing back his hair.
"Jihyun, my dear," she whispered,
"If you keep crying and lose all patience, how will you help your mother when she needs you most? Look at me."
Jihyun blinked at her through tears.
"For me, you are no different from my own child. You are my precious, patient child." Her voice cracked with emotion.
"While your mother is away, you can lean on me. Ask me for anything, and I will be here. Until she comes back, I'll be your mother."
Tears spilled down Jihyun's cheeks as Mrs. Kang opened her arms. He collapsed into her embrace, sobbing against her chest.
"I'm sorry you had to learn the truth this way," she murmured, stroking his back.
"But maybe it's also a blessing. Now you can pray for her, now you can cherish her even more. She will come back to you, Jihyun. On her own two feet."
At the table, Taewon quietly set out the breakfast, his gaze lingering on Jihyun's swollen red eyes.
"Taewon," Mrs. Kang said firmly,
"go and rest. I'll feed him. You both should stay today and return tomorrow."
He hesitated, his gaze flickering to Jihyun before finally nodding.
"Give him his medicine on time," he whispered, then leaned close to his mother.
"I'll be in my room."
He left with heavy steps.
Inside his childhood bedroom, he collapsed on the bed, clutching his chest.
His pheromones flared uncontrollably, his head throbbing as if something inside him were breaking.
Sweat dampened his forehead as he pressed a palm hard over his heart.
With trembling hands, he picked up his phone and texted Taehyun:
Taehyun, handle the company today. Also, book a doctor's appointment for me.
(Meanwhile, in Japan)
Mr. Han sat quietly in the sterile hospital room, his hand wrapped tightly around his wife's frail one.
Mrs. Han lay motionless, eyes closed, her breathing shallow.
"You won't even look at me anymore,"
he whispered, voice breaking.
"Are you that angry with me? That disappointed?"
His grip trembled.
"You were the first person I loved, and you still are. You are my reason."
He bowed his head, pressing her hand to his forehead.
"I still remember the day you came to my house with your father
the way you looked at me, our sudden marriage. Then Minjoon's birth, Jihyun's birth… building the company together. You've always been my strength.
And now, here you are, not even opening your eyes."
Tears blurred his vision.
"You're my world, my Miss. I'm older than you. I should leave first, not you.
Don't make me live through the pain of losing you. Don't make our children suffer. We need you."
His voice softened, trembling.
"When my mother died, I thought I would collapse from the pain.
But you held me, comforted me, gave me life again. I don't want our children to feel what I felt. I don't want them to lose you."
He kissed her hand, lingering as his tears fell onto her skin.
"Please don't leave me a failure.
Don't take away the only light I have."
Leaning back, he wiped his eyes roughly.
"I'll come back tomorrow.
Soon we'll return home, back to our villa, back to where we belong."
He stood, his shadow long and heavy against the hospital bed, before quietly walking out.