[Next Day | 11:00 a.m.]
[Police Station]
(Inside Inspector Minsoo's office)
Taekyun sat stiffly on the couch, his posture straight, hands resting on his thighs.
Lihan sat beside him, equally silent, his expression unreadable.
A thick file lay on the table between them.
Minsoo cleared his throat and slid the file toward Taekyun.
"He signed it this morning,"
Minsoo said carefully.
"He's confirmed his involvement."
Taekyun picked up the file slowly, flipping it open.
His eyes moved across the pages, sharp and focused.
"So,"
Taekyun said at last, his voice calm,
"the case is solved."
Minsoo looked at Taekyun, his lips pressed into a tight line.
Lihan leaned forward slightly.
"So what's the conclusion?"
Minsoo hesitated before answering.
"It wasn't a simple incident,"
He said.
"It was a strong game played by an entire group."
The air in the room tightened.
"If you want,"
Minsoo added,
"you can meet Lee Haesu first."
Taekyun closed the file and nodded.
[Investigation Room]
The investigation room was too cold.
Lee Haesu sat on the chair inside, his hands restrained, his head lowered.
Lihan entered first.
Then Taekyun followed.
For a moment,
Taekyun didn't recognize him.
The face meant nothing until it did.
The second Taekyun's gaze settled on Haesu, something sharp tore through his chest.
Memories surged forward.
[Three Years Ago]
[Late Night | Residence]
Taekyun's eyes snapped open.
Instinctively,
He reached out but the bed beside him was empty.
He lifted his head.
Near the bed, Harin walked slowly back and forth, holding Haru against her chest.
One hand supported Haru's back; the other trembled slightly.
Taekyun pushed the blanket aside and sat up.
"What's wrong?"
Harin turned toward him, startled.
"Sorry....
Did I wake you?"
Taekyun slid his feet into his slippers and stood.
He crossed the room and turned on the light.
Harin's eyes were red.
Tears clung stubbornly to her lashes.
Taekyun gently took Haru from her arms, holding her close, then guided Harin to sit on the bed, his hand still holding hers.
"What's wrong?"
He asked again, softer.
Harin shook her head quickly.
"It's nothing. Just…. my back hurts a little."
Taekyun studied her, unconvinced.
He laid Haru down carefully, then sat beside Harin.
"Something happened,"
He said.
Harin leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Taekyun wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer.
"Did Mother say something?"
"No,"
She whispered.
"She didn't."
She swallowed.
"I've been having bad dreams lately."
Taekyun rubbed her back slowly.
"What kind of dreams?"
Harin lifted her head and looked at him.
"They're always about you, me, and Haru," she said.
"I see myself walking away from her."
Her voice trembled.
"She keeps crying, calling for me.
You're holding her…. but I keep walking."
Her fingers curled into his shirt.
"And then….. you both fall. Into the sink."
Taekyun tightened his grip on her hands.
"They're just nightmares,"
He said firmly.
"Don't let them get to you."
Harin's voice broke.
"I don't want to end up alone,"
She whispered.
"I don't have anyone else."
Taekyun stood and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"It won't end like that,"
He said.
"We just started this life."
He pressed his forehead to hers.
"We've both lost so much
but from now on, it'll be different.
I promised you.
I'll protect you and Haru. Always."
Harin clung to him.
"I'm scared of being the last one left in this world."
After some time, he gently took her hand in his and helped her lie down on the bed.
Slowly, he reached for her medicine from the side drawer.
She lay back quietly, letting him care for her.
This had been happening for the past few months her zoning out, getting stuck in her thoughts, sometimes enduring sleepless nights.
The doctor had explained it was all stress.
She hadn't been able to let go of her past; the deaths of her father and brothers still haunted her even after three years.
That lingering pain was what had been affecting her like this.
She fell asleep holding his hand.
Tears still slipped from the corners of her eyes.
Taekyun stayed seated beside her, gently brushing away the tears that fell from her eyes.
"I don't know what else to do for you,"
He murmured softly, his voice heavy with frustration and care.
"I'm trying my best so why can't you let go of this?"
He slowly stood, lifting Haru in his arms and placing her carefully on the bed beside Harin.
"I want your life to change to be peaceful.
But why does it feel like every day it's only getting harder?"
[The Next Morning]
Taekyun was eating breakfast when a staff member entered.
"Sir, the new driver from the residence has arrived."
Taekyun nodded.
"Send him in."
A man entered and bowed.
"Good morning, sir. I'm Lee Haesu."
Taekyun stood, wiping his hands.
"You'll stay here,"
He said calmly.
"You'll take Harin wherever she wants to go."
Haesu bowed deeply, smiling.
"Yes, sir."
"Lihan will check your skills first,"
Taekyun added.
Haesu nodded and followed the staff out.
Just then,
Harin came downstairs, Haru in her arms.
Taekyun walked toward her and took Haru gently from her arms,
And pressed a soft kiss on Haru's cheeks.
Haru looked up at him with her big, round eyes, lifting her tiny hand to rest gently on his face.
"Ma… Ma"
She whispered.
Harin watched them quietly, a slow smile forming on her lips.
But then Haru's lips trembled, and she began to cry softly.
Harin's smile didn't fade; she looked at Taekyun, her eyes speaking for her.
"She's still not that close with you,"
The smile seemed to say.
"You stay away in the office too much."
Taekyun leaned down carefully and handed Haru to Harin, a small, gentle smile on his face.
"I'll try coming back early today,"
He said softly,
"I will..."
Before he could finish.
Jiwon emerged from guest room.
Seeing Taekyun and Harin,
He walked toward them and bowed slightly, first to Taekyun, then to Harin.
Harin returned his smile warmly, and Jiwon nodded back politely.
Taekyun paused mid-step and looked at Harin, his voice calm but deliberate.
"The new driver has arrived. If you need to go anywhere, you can go with him."
Harin nodded with a smile.
Taekyun glanced at Harin.
Her shirt had slipped from her shoulder, revealing her skin.
Without a word, he gently adjusted it, letting the fabric settle back over her shoulder.
He added firmly but with care
"Buy yourself some clothes not too oversized."
Harin's cheeks flushed, and she smiled shyly.
"Okay, I'll buy. These are just old clothes anyway,"
She replied.
Taekyun gave a small nod.
His gaze flicked sharply to Jiwon, who immediately understood the silent message in that look.
He gave a respectful nod in return.
Without another word, Taekyun walked past him and left the room,
Jiwon turned to Harin and looked at her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to,"
He said quietly.
"It's been so long already….. still, I feel like he doesn't like me staying here."
Harin looked at him and smiled softly.
"Don't think like that.
He cares a lot about you.
That's why he wants you to stay here and isn't letting you leave."
Jiwon slowly lowered his gaze.
"Maybe it would be better if I went back.
I just…. don't know how."
Harin sighed and shook her head lightly.
"Hey, don't act like this,"
She said, handing Haru to him.
"Look, she's already awake.
She keeps looking at you.
What if she starts learning from you and acting like you too?"
Jiwon slowly took Haru from her arms.
"She's just like my brother,"
He murmured.
Harin looked at him and said softly,
"I hope your brother comes to this world someday too, so I can see him as well."
She smiled gently.
"The way you describe him… it really makes me want to meet him."
Jiwon smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
Harin noticed the sadness still lingering on his face.
"Jiwon,"
She said, then smiled,
"let's go shopping today."
He looked at her,
"But you said today we have to decorate Haru's room."
Harin paused, then laughed softly.
"Oh right…. I totally forgot."
Jiwon looked at her.
"Then what should we do now?"
Harin thought for a moment.
"When she turns four, she'll have to sleep alone anyway. There's still two years left."
She smiled again.
"But it's fine. You like decorating things, right?
We'll do it today. And we'll go shopping on Saturday."
Jiwon smiled and nodded.
[Outside]
Taekyun had just settled into the car when Lihan arrived.
Lihan took the driver's seat and said,
"Sir, he's good. He has full experience, a valid license, and he's capable enough."
Taekyun nodded as the car started moving.
As they drove away, Taekyun's gaze shifted toward the residence through the car window.
Haesu was standing there, smiling faintly as he bowed.