Minjae and Ana reached their home which was on the either side of the road of Sofia's place.
As they reached the door, Minjae rang the bell and after a matter of few minutes the door was opened revealing a lady in her late 40s wearing a light knee length dress hair tied in a bun and her face flawless.
"Minjae, where were you? "
"I just went to bring my wife back home Mom. You should thank me for bringing your daughter in law back"
Ana's eyes widened hearing Minjae.
She quickly moved her head towards minjae with wide eyes and parted lips.
"Ahh- bringing her back. Why? "
That lady gazed at Ana. Ana's breath hitched as she saw the lady taking in her in her view. But she was dumbstruck when suddenly the lady side-hugged Ana and said
"You must have done something otherwise why would my dear daughter leave you".
" Mother, do you really trust your daughter in law who just got here yesterday over you're own son"
Minjae spoke in amusement with a teasing glint in his gaze.
"I do because I am your mother and I know what you're capable of"
"Now move let me make her have some breakfast she must have been hungry. I am quite sure last night must have been hard for her"
The lady spoke with an teasing tone which made choke on her breathe.
"Mo-mom…" Minjae dragged the word slightly, his brows knitting together for a second before smoothing out, though the corner of his lips still held that faint, knowing smirk.
Ana, on the other hand, looked like she had just forgotten how to breathe.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her sleeve, her cheeks warming up instantly as her gaze dropped to the floor. She didn't even know where to look anymore.
Last night.
The way she said it—
Ana pressed her lips together, trying to steady herself, but the embarrassment lingered, settling deep.
"I didn't mean it like that," the lady added casually, though the amusement in her eyes clearly said otherwise. "Or maybe I did."
"Mom," Minjae repeated, this time firmer, but there was no real annoyance in his tone. Just a quiet warning that didn't quite land.
She waved him off effortlessly.
"Move aside, both of you. Why are you standing at the door like strangers?"
Without waiting, she gently pulled Ana inside, her hand resting warmly against her back.
The moment Ana stepped in—
The smell hit her.
Fresh food.
Warm.
Comforting.
Something about it made her chest tighten unexpectedly.
"Sit here," the lady said, guiding her toward the dining table.
Ana hesitated.
Just for a second.
Her eyes flickered toward Minjae unconsciously.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
"Sit," he said.
Calm.
Simple.
But it carried that same quiet authority.
Ana nodded slightly and sat down, her movements careful, almost too careful, like she was afraid she might do something wrong.
The lady watched her for a moment.
Really watched.
The way her shoulders stayed slightly stiff.
The way her hands rested too neatly in her lap.
The way her eyes didn't wander freely like someone comfortable would.
Something softened in her expression.
"You don't have to be so tense," she said gently, placing a plate in front of her. "This is your home too."
Ana's fingers twitched slightly.
Home.
That word again.
It didn't settle.
It never did.
"I… thank you," she said quietly, her voice almost barely there.
Minjae leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the entire scene unfold without interrupting.
His gaze lingered on Ana.
On the way she avoided eye contact.
On the way she held herself back.
On the way she accepted everything—
But didn't fully step into it.
"You didn't eat properly last night, did you?" the lady asked, placing more dishes on the table.
Ana froze.
Her grip on her fingers tightened.
"I… did," she replied softly.
A lie.
A weak one.
Minjae's eyes narrowed just slightly.
But before he could say anything—
"I raised a son who notices everything," the lady said casually, glancing at Minjae for a split second. "You won't get away with small lies here."
Ana's breath hitched.
Her eyes widened just a little.
She looked up.
First at the lady.
Then—
At Minjae.
And just like that—
She knew.
He had noticed.
Of course he had.
Her gaze dropped again quickly.
"I wasn't very hungry," she corrected, her voice softer now.
The lady didn't push further.
Instead, she simply placed the chopsticks in Ana's hand.
"Eat now."
Not a command.
Not forceful.
But firm in a way that didn't leave room for refusal.
Ana nodded slowly.
She picked up a small bite.
And as soon as she tasted it—
Something shifted.
It wasn't just the food.
It was the feeling.
Someone had made this.
For them.
For her.
Her throat tightened slightly as she continued eating, slower this time, quieter.
The lady watched her with a soft smile.
Minjae watched her with something else entirely.
Something deeper.
Something more focused.
"You cook well, Mom," he said suddenly.
The lady scoffed lightly.
"Of course I do. Unlike you, I actually care about feeding people."
A faint smirk appeared on Minjae's lips.
"I feed people."
"You order food."
"That still counts."
"It doesn't."
Ana blinked softly, her gaze shifting between them.
The interaction was so… normal.
So effortless.
It felt strange to witness.
Strange in a way that made her chest ache slightly.
Because she had never had this.
Not once.
"You should learn," the lady added, looking at Minjae. "Now that you're married, you can't let your wife starve."
Minjae's gaze shifted to Ana again.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"She won't starve."
The words were simple.
But something about the way he said them—
It lingered.
Ana felt it.
Her fingers paused for just a second before continuing.
The lady hummed softly.
"I hope so."
A small silence settled.
Not heavy.
Not awkward.
Just… there.
Then—
"Why did you leave yesterday?" the lady asked suddenly, her tone still gentle but more curious now.
Ana froze.
Her hand stopped mid-air.
Her mind went blank.
Minjae's eyes sharpened instantly.
Not outwardly.
But enough.
He was waiting.
Watching.
Her answer mattered.
Ana swallowed.
Her gaze lowered.
"I… needed some air," she said quietly.
Not entirely a lie.
But not the truth either.
The lady studied her for a moment.
Long enough for Ana to feel it.
Then—
She smiled.
Soft.
Understanding.
"Next time, tell someone before you go," she said. "People worry."
People worry.
The words hit harder than they should have.
Ana nodded slowly.
"I will."
Minjae didn't say anything.
But his gaze didn't leave her.
Not for a second.
Because he heard it.
The hesitation.
The careful choice of words.
The distance she still kept.
And it only confirmed one thing—
She was still hiding something.
After breakfast.
Ana stood near the sink, quietly helping to clean up despite the lady insisting she didn't need to.
"You don't have to do this," the lady said again.
"I want to," Ana replied softly.
The lady paused.
Then smiled.
"Alright."
Minjae stood by the doorway, watching her.
Still.
Silent.
Observing.
"You're trying too hard," he said suddenly.
Ana's hands paused.
She didn't turn.
"I'm just helping."
"That's not what I meant."
Silence.
Then—
She turned.
Slowly.
Her eyes met his.
"And what did you mean?"
A pause.
A long one.
Minjae stepped closer.
Not too close.
But enough.
"You act like this isn't yours."
Her breath caught.
Because—
It wasn't.
Not really.
Not yet.
"I…" she started, but stopped.
Because she didn't have an answer he would accept.
Didn't have an answer she could say.
Minjae's gaze didn't soften.
But it didn't harden either.
It stayed—
Steady.
Focused.
"You're my wife," he said.
The words landed between them.
Heavy.
Real.
"And this is your home."
Ana's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
Her heart pounded.
Not because she didn't know that.
But because—
She didn't feel it.
Not completely.
Not yet.
"I'll try," she whispered.
Minjae held her gaze for a moment longer.
Then—
"That's not enough."
Her brows pulled together slightly.
"Then what is?"
A pause.
Then—
"Be it."
The words were quiet.
But absolute.
And for the first time—
Ana didn't know how to respond.
Because trying—
Was all she knew.
Being—
Was something she had never learned.
Outside.
Across the road.
A figure stood near the window.
Watching.
Silent.
Unnoticed.
And the moment Ana stepped slightly into view—
That gaze sharpened.
Interested.
Curious.
And far from harmless.