Ha-yeon rolled her eyes and flicked his forehead. "Yah, shut up, you pervert. You're being dramatic."
Eun-seo laughed so hard she almost choked. "Oppa, you're so ridiculous! Just accept it!"
Hyun-woo groaned dramatically, flopping back in his chair like a defeated boy. "Fine… fine. As long as Mom's happy, I guess I have no choice. But still… step-aunts… this is cruel."
Mi-Kyung reached over and patted his head gently, smiling warmly. "They're family now, Bin-ah. And yes—they're beautiful, kind, and wonderful. Just like you're going to be a wonderful big brother to my new child… and a good son to me."
Hyun-woo sighed again, but this time with a small, reluctant smile. "Yeah, yeah… I get it. Fair enough."
Min-seok smiled warmly at him. "Don't worry. I'll protect them from you."
Hyun-woo laughed despite himself. "Yeah, yeah… I get it."
Mi-Kyung's tears finally spilled over. She reached for Min-seok's hand across the table. He squeezed it tightly, eyes full of love.
The rest of the meal was filled with warmth, laughter, and healing. Families blending. Hearts opening. No more doubts. Just love.
As Mi-Kyung walked past to get more dishes, Min-seok gently caught her wrist and pulled her toward the quieter corner of the living room. The rest of the family was still chatting and clearing plates near the dining table, leaving just the three of them—Mi-Kyung, Min-seok, and Tae-joon—momentarily separated from the others.
Min-seok kept his arm wrapped protectively around Mi-Kyung's stomach, holding her close against his side, his hand resting openly and intimately on her lower back. He turned his head just enough to look straight at Tae-joon, who was standing a few steps away, face already paling.
His voice came out low, cold, and deadly calm—exactly the same tone he had used years ago when he ended his father's life.
"Stay away from my darling," Min-seok said, eyes hard and empty. "Don't touch her. Don't barge into her room. Don't badmouth her. Don't try to force yourself on her. There won't be a next time. If you ever do anything like that again… I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life. Keep yourself at arms length from her."
Tae-joon swallowed hard, face drained of color.
Min-seok's grip on Mi-Kyung tightened slightly—possessive, protective—as he continued, voice dropping even lower.
"She's pregnant. If anything happens to her or the baby—if you try to sabotage us, harm her, hurt her in any way—I'll come after you. And I won't stop at just beating you. Do you understand?"
Tae-joon nodded quickly, eyes wide with raw fear, unable to speak.
Min-seok's expression softened the instant he turned back to Mi-Kyung. He leaned down, kissed her forehead tenderly, and whispered against her skin, "I love you."
She smiled up at him, squeezing his hand. "I love you too."
Tae-joon backed away silently, face pale and shaken, then slipped out of the house without another word.
The rest of the afternoon continued with laughter, stories, and warmth. Min-seok's sisters and Mi-Kyung's kids got along well, the families slowly blending. By the end of the day, everyone was smiling—hearts opening, doubts fading.
Mi-Kyung watched Min-seok laugh with her kids, her hand resting gently on her stomach, and felt complete peace.
They were going to be okay.
All of them.
Ha-yeon waited until the lunch plates were cleared and the group had scattered a bit—some chatting in the living room, others helping in the kitchen. She caught Min-seok first as he stepped into the hallway to grab more drinks from the fridge. She followed him quietly and closed the door behind them, leaving them alone in the small pantry space.
"Min-seok... can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" she asked, her voice steady but her eyes serious.
Min-seok turned, nodding without hesitation. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
Ha-yeon leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. She took a breath, choosing her words carefully. "I just... need to ask a few questions. About what Mom said. The story about your mother... and how you raised your sisters. And how you saved her from the landlord. I need to hear it from you. In detail. To make sure it's all true."
Min-seok's expression softened, but he didn't look offended. He leaned back against the opposite wall, arms loose at his sides, his voice gentle from the start. "I understand. You're looking out for your mom. Ask away. I'll tell you everything."
She started with the basics. "Tell me about your mother. What happened to her?"
Min-seok's eyes grew distant, but his voice stayed calm and kind, like he was sharing a story with a friend. "My mother—Ji-soo—was murdered by my father on my birthday eleven years ago. He was abusive—drunk, violent.
That night, I was out with friends. When I came home, she was already dying. He had beaten her so badly... I fought him off, but she didn't make it. She made me promise to protect my sisters before she passed. It broke me... but it made me who I am."
Ha-yeon nodded slowly, watching his face for any sign of hesitation. "And your father? What happened to him after?"
Min-seok's jaw tightened slightly, but his tone remained soft. "He disappeared that night. Police never found him. We don't talk about him. It's too painful."
She pressed gently. "And raising your sisters? You were only 13. How did you do it?"
He shrugged modestly, a small, sad smile on his lips. "I got jobs—part-time at first, then full-time. Ji-yeon helped a lot at the beginning. I made sure they went to school, ate well, and felt safe. We had nightmares—all of us—but I held them through it. I cooked, cleaned, and paid bills. Whatever it took. They were my world. Still are."
Ha-yeon's eyes narrowed. "And Mom? The landlord incident. Tell me exactly what happened."
Min-seok met her gaze steadily, his voice turning even gentler, like he knew this part would hit her hard. "She couldn't pay rent on time due to some sudden expenses. The landlord attacked her—tore her clothes, pinned her down.
She was screaming, fighting, but he was stronger. I heard her cries while walking by. I burst in, took photos as proof, kicked him off her, beat him until he couldn't get up.
Then... I covered her. She was naked, shaking so badly, tears streaming down her face. She was in shock—her body trembling like she couldn't stop, her mind... broken in that moment. She kept whispering 'thank you' over and over, clinging to me like I was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.
I held her all night, rubbed her back, sang to her until she fell asleep. I made sure that man never came near her again—and now he pays her bills instead. She was so scared, Ha-yeon... but she's strong. Just like you."
Ha-yeon listened, her throat tightening as he described her mother's state. The details hit her like a punch—the image of her mom naked, terrified, broken. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she blinked them back hard. "I... I didn't know it was that bad," she whispered, voice cracking. "She never told us."
Min-seok's eyes were full of compassion. He stepped closer, voice even softer. "She didn't want you to worry. She's your mom—she protects you like that."
Ha-yeon nodded, but the tears spilled over anyway. She wiped at them quickly, but more came. "I'm sorry... I just... I need to know you're real. That you're good for her."
Min-seok reached out gently and pulled her into a light hug—comforting, reassuring, his arms loose and calming. "It's okay," he murmured, rubbing her back softly. "Let it out. I get why you're asking. You're protecting her.
That's what a good daughter does. Don't worry—your mother's wellbeing is my priority. I'll always protect her. She'll never be alone or hurt again. I promise you that."
Ha-yeon let herself cry quietly into his shoulder for a moment, the worries pouring out as she could clearly feel warmth from his hug. "How... How are you so mature? You're the same age as me... but you act like you've lived twice as long."
Min-seok chuckled softly, pulling back a little to look at her with a warm smile. "Well... when life throws you three little sisters and a whole lot of chaos, you either grow up fast or end up buried in laundry and tantrums. Trust me, the tantrums were the real boss level monsters."
Ha-yeon let out a watery laugh, wiping her eyes. "You're funny too. I can see why Mom's so in love with you... to the point she even got pregnant with your kid without caring about the age gap or marriage or anything."
He smiled gently, giving her shoulder a light squeeze. "She's amazing. And so are you. Thanks for giving me a chance."
Ha-yeon nodded, feeling lighter. "Thank you... for being honest. And for her."
She left him there and found Min-seok's sisters in the backyard, chatting with Eun-seo about art. She asked politely if she could speak to them alone for a few minutes. They agreed, curious but kind, and followed her to the quiet patio.
Once seated, Ha-yeon took a deep breath. "I... need to ask you some questions about your brother. About your family. To verify what Mom told us. I don't mean to offend you... but I have to be sure."
Soo-min, the eldest, nodded calmly. "We understand. Ask anything."
Ha-yeon started with their mother. "What happened to her? Tell me the details."
Hye-jin spoke softly. "Our mom—Ji-soo—was murdered by our dad on Min-seok oppa's birthday eleven years ago. He was abusive. That night, oppa was out. Dad beat her to death. We saw it... we were traumatized. Oppa came home, fought him off, but she died in his arms."
Eun-ji added quietly, eyes down. "She made him promise to protect us."
Ha-yeon nodded. "And after? How did Min-seok raise you?"
Soo-min smiled faintly. "He was only 13. He got jobs, paid bills, cooked for us, helped with homework. He held us through nightmares. He never complained. Ji-yeon Unnie helped too, but oppa was our rock."
"And the landlord thing with my mom?" Ha-yeon asked.
Eun-ji's eyes widened slightly, but Soo-min answered steadily. "Oppa told us a little. He saved her from being raped. Took photos, stopped the man, made sure he never came back. He cares about her a lot. He's never been like this with anyone else."
Ha-yeon asked more—about their daily life, Min-seok's jobs, how he balanced everything. Their answers were consistent, full of love and respect for their brother. No lies. No hesitation.
Satisfied, Ha-yeon sighed. "Thank you. I... I didn't have any ill intentions. It's just... as a nurse, I see so many women come in—pregnant, alone, broken because the father ran away.
Left them with a swollen belly and a shattered heart. Love can blind people sometimes. Mom's been through so much already. I just needed to make sure she wasn't one of them. That this is real."
Soo-min reached over and patted her hand gently. "We get it. You're protecting your mom. That's what family does. And... it's real. Oppa loves her."
Hye-jin nodded. "He's happier now. We see it."
Eun-ji smiled. "Don't worry. He's the best."
Ha-yeon felt the last of her doubts melt away. She smiled back. "Thank you. Really."
They returned to the group, hearts lighter. Ha-yeon felt relieved—her mom was safe, loved, and not blinded. It was real.
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