Jungkook ran his fingers around the whiskey glass. The heaviness inside him was even sharper than the burning of the drink. He thought of his ex-wife. He had once been in love with her. Or at least he thought he was. But as the years passed, love had been replaced by fatigue and disappointment. At first, everything had started off well. They were young, full of hope. Jungkook had thought she would wait patiently while he worked day and night to grow the company. But no one waits forever.

The fights had increased, and the distance between them had grown. One day, while his wife was packing her suitcase, he had looked at her and whispered quietly, "I'm not your priority anymore, am I?" Jungkook hadn't been able to answer her. And that's when he realized: Losing someone doesn't happen all at once. It happens little by little, without realizing it.

A divorce was inevitable. But Minjun... He hadn't wanted to leave Minjun. He couldn't lose his son. And since his wife understood that, she had let the child stay with Jungkook. However, raising a child alone was as difficult as fighting in the business world. He realized too late that he could not be both a father and a mother to Minjun. And just when everything was falling apart, you entered his life.

You were the person who noticed everything Jungkook could not, who gave Minjun the affection he needed. But Minjun never fully accepted you. Despite his young age, he did not hesitate to tell you, "You are not my real mother," at every opportunity. Jungkook had hoped that this would improve with time. But now... When he saw Minjun's tears, he realized that everything had gotten worse.

Night had fallen. The city lights shone dimly behind the glass. Jungkook sat at the large desk in his office, frowning at his computer screen. Every detail of the project was weighing down his brain—he couldn't afford to make a wrong move. Being the CEO of Jeon Corp. meant endless responsibilities and constant battles.

But the world outside was oblivious to the chaos in his mind. Small steps slowly approached the door to his study. There was a moment of silence. Then, his four-year-old son opened the door with his tiny hands. "Dad, can you play with me?" Jungkook took a deep breath without taking his eyes off the computer. "Not right now, Minjun. Go play with her." Minjun stepped in a little further, his eyes sparkling but hesitant. "But Dad, I want to play with you. You're always working."

Jungkook rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. His son's small voice was lost like an echo in the numbers and calculations swirling around in his head. There was no time. "Minjun, I told you, not right now. Please go." But Minjun was stubborn. Not like a four-year-old, but like someone afraid of being abandoned. His small hands gripped the edge of the table, and his eyes shone with hope. "Dad, please. Even a few minutes will do." Jungkook's breathing quickened. The pressure in his brain, the fatigue, and the stress combined with it made him lose control. "Minjun, that's enough! Get out of here!"

The room echoed with Jungkook's voice. Minjun's tiny body flinched. His eyes widened. His lower lip trembled. Tears first gathered in his eyes, then they flowed like a silent scream. You were standing at the stove in the kitchen just outside the door. As the hot steam of the tea rose, the sound of shouting suddenly echoed through the house, startling you. The sound of crying that followed spurred you into action.

You dropped everything you were doing and ran to the study. When you opened the door, Minjun was standing on the floor, shaking and in tears. Jungkook was still panting, looking at him with regret but not knowing what to do. You quickly leaned down and took the little boy in your arms. "Minjun, my dear, what happened?" Minjun sobbed and wrapped his arms around your neck. His little hands were shaking. "Daddy doesn't love me," he whispered.

Your insides were torn apart. When you turned to Jungkook, there was disappointment in your eyes. Jungkook wanted to reach out and touch his son, but Minjun buried his head, hiding. For the first time, he saw his son running away from him, and it stabbed him like a knife. "I—" he began, his voice shaky and helpless. But you cut him off. "No problem, I'll try to talk to him. Don't worry." Your eyes were hard but your voice was calm. You gently picked up Minjun and left the study. The door closed slowly. And for the first time, Jungkook felt truly alone.