[Study room]
The room was quiet.
Nayeon leaned against the desk, her gaze fixed on Taekyun as if she were measuring something invisible.
"So that's why you opened the case again," she said calmly.
Taekyun gave a brief nod.
Nayeon let out a low breath, lips curling faintly.
"No wonder. He felt different.
Even his pheromones were pretty unique."
Taekyun didn't react.
He only reached for the folder beside him and placed it in front of her.
"These are the files,"
He said.
"Until you're free, you'll oversee the company in Itaewon."
Nayeon stared at the folder but didn't touch it.
"Taekyun,"
She said sharply,
"don't pull these things on me.
I swore five years ago
I'd never touch Father's company again. Even if it gets destroyed,
I won't work for his business. Ever."
He looked at her, unsurprised.
"Then why are you visiting Neopharm so often these days?"
He asked.
Nayeon froze.
Her eyes lifted slowly, meeting his.
"Seems like you found out."
Taekyun's gaze turned cold.
"What are you really up to?"
She chuckled softly.
"Oh, so that scientist
What was his name again?
Oh Ji-chun. He's really working for you."
A pause.
"No wonder he felt suspicious."
Taekyun's blood boiled.
"How did you find out?"
She tilted her head.
"Don't forget, Taekyun.
Even if we're not close, we're still children of the same parents."
She straightened.
"And only Neopharm's staff could be blind enough not to check where Ji-chun came from in the first place."
Taekyun stood up slowly, his presence turning sharper.
"What are you really trying to do?"
Nayeon stood as well.
"I'll destroy them."
He stared at her.
"And why would you do that?"
She sighed, then laughed quietly.
"Don't forget. They took our elder brother from us."
Her smile faded.
"And Father still doesn't blame them. Isn't it obvious?
He even stopped the Harin and Jiwon case to protect Neopharm and bury his past."
Taekyun leaned back into his chair.
"You knew all this before,"
He said.
"So why now?"
"Because they started teaming against me," she replied flatly.
"So why should I keep covering for them?"
He watched her for a moment, then nodded once.
"Good."
Nayeon smirked.
"Think of it as repayment.
For what you did for me."
"Then let's end it quickly,"
Taekyun said.
She laughed again.
"Even if Father isn't in the best condition
I'm sure he'll still manage to make coffee in jail for two or three years."
A knock interrupted them.
"Come in,"
Taekyun said.
Bora entered, bowing slightly.
"Sir, dinner is ready."
"We'll be there,"
He replied.
"You can go ahead."
Bora nodded and left.
Taekyun slid another file toward Nayeon. "For now, you handle everything in Itaewon. It's my property."
He added coldly,
"Father has nothing to do with it."
Nayeon picked it up.
"If I ever walk away from anything related to the Kims,"
He continued,
"I'll come to you. You'll take over my share."
She stood, smirking.
"Alright, if you say so."
Then, her voice lowered.
"But don't forget this is for ourselves and our partners. Nothing more."
Taekyun gave a brief nod and walked past her.
[Dining room]
Haru and Haneul were seated with Jina, the staff quietly serving dishes.
Jina leaned close to Haneul, murmuring something under her breath.
As Nayeon entered, her eyes scanned the scene.
"Looks like you've gotten quite attached," she remarked.
Haru instinctively shifted closer to Haneul as Nayeon took a seat beside Jina.
"Quiet,"
Jina muttered, nudging her.
Taekyun arrived moments later and sat next to Haneul.
Haru immediately climbed down from her chair and moved to him.
He noticed, lifted her easily, and settled her on his lap.
Jina shot Nayeon a sharp look as Nayeon smirked at Haru.
"Haru-ah,"
Nayeon said lightly, lips curving,
"you should be scared.
We'll be seeing each other more from now on."
Jina snapped,
"Are you crazy?
Who talks to a kid like that?"
Haru looked at Nayeon and said quietly, "No."
Nayeon smiled wider.
"That doesn't really matter."
Taekyun calmly pulled Haru's plate closer. "Eat,"
He said.
Haneul kept glancing at Nayeon.
The resemblance was undeniable her posture, her eyes, even the way she held herself.
She really was Taekyun's sister.
Nayeon turned to him.
"I hope you'll be better than Harin,"
She said lightly.
"And that you'll stay with my brother longer."
Jina stomped hard on Nayeon's heel under the table.
"You psychopath.
If you don't know how to speak, stop talking nonsense."
Taekyun's expression darkened.
Haneul, however, smiled faintly and began eating.
Nayeon's words were harsh but strangely, he didn't find them offensive.
After dinner, a staff member approached. "Miss, your room is this way."
Jina and Nayeon stood.
Jina bent down and kissed Haru's cheek. "Good night, my little girl."
She moved toward Haneul, but before she could say anything,
Taekyun turned to her.
"You should hurry."
She straightened, bowing slightly.
"Oh okay. Good night, Taekyun."
Haneul watched as Jina walked away with Nayeon.
He turned slowly toward Taekyun.
Taekyun looked down at Haru.
"Are you done?"
She nodded and slid off his lap, walking over to Haneul.
Haneul gently wiped her mouth.
"Are you sleepy?"
She nodded again.
The staff began clearing the table.
Taekyun stood.
Haneul stood as well, holding Haru's hand.
"We'll go first,"
Haneul said.
Taekyun nodded.
"Good night,"
Haneul added softly.
As he turned to leave,
Taekyun suddenly leaned in and kissed Haneul's cheek.
A nearby staff member froze,
then hurried away.
Haru watched quietly.
Haneul's eyes widened.
What?
Why now?
And in front of Haru?
Taekyun's gaze shifted to Haru.
He watched her carefully, quietly judging whether she was doing what he had told her that morning.
Haru only blinked once.
She didn't frown. Didn't protest. Didn't cling to Haneul.
She simply stood there, calm.
Just as he expected.
Taekyun glanced at Haru, then bent and kissed her cheek gently.
"You're doing well,"
He said slowly.
Haru stepped back, smiling.
"Abba, kiss umma."
Haneul stood frozen.
What had they talked about that morning?
That Haru isn't reacting?
Taekyun turned to the staff.
"Bring me coffee to the study."
And he walked away.
[Later/ in the bedroom]
Haneul lay beside Haru, his thoughts tangled.
"Haru-ah,"
He whispered.
She looked up at him.
"What did Abba tell you?"
She smiled and pressed a finger to her lips. "No."
"You can't tell me?"
She shook her head.
"Am I not your umma?"
He asked quietly.
"My umma,"
She replied.
"Then tell me."
"No"
Haru turned away, closed her eyes, and pretended to sleep leaving Haneul staring at the ceiling, more curious than ever.