Chapter 31: Auntie Song's Past

Auntie Song bustled around the living room, helping the triplets prepare their props for the upcoming event. Ye-joon and Jung-woo assisted her, carrying the backdrops and other materials the children needed. The house was filled with movement and chatter, but Seo-jun froze mid-action when he overheard a name that sent a jolt through him—his father's name.

From his spot near the table, Seo-jun's ears perked up as Auntie Song, Ye-joon, and Jung-woo started discussing Seo-woo. His small hands clenched into fists. Why are they talking about Dad? His curiosity burned, but before he could step closer, Auntie Song's firm voice rang out.

"Children, go to your room now. The adults need to discuss something important."

Seo-jun hesitated, glancing between the adults and his younger siblings. Seo-min and Seo-jin pouted, reluctant to leave, but they ultimately followed their elder brother's lead. They shuffled towards their room, dragging their feet in protest.

Once inside, Seo-jun couldn't shake the feeling that something big was being kept from them. He turned to his younger siblings, eyes filled with determination.

"Let's listen," he whispered.

Seo-min and Seo-jin immediately copied his movements, pressing their small ears against the wooden door. They didn't understand much, but if their big brother thought it was important, then they had to know.

Inside the living room, Auntie Song, Ye-joon, and Jung-woo sat down.

Auntie Song's expression darkened at the sight of Jung-woo. She crossed her arms, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"What are you doing here, Jung-woo?" she asked sharply.

Jung-woo, unbothered by her hostility, studied her for a moment before realization dawned on his face.

"Ah... I thought you looked familiar," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You're Ye-joon's grandmother, aren't you? The woman who divorced her husband because he kept an illegitimate child in their home."

Ye-joon tensed beside them.

Auntie Song's face hardened. "And what of it?"

Jung-woo leaned back, crossing his legs. "I just was shocked after hearing it from my father. Your ex-husband hid an illegitimate child from you and gave him a place to leave."

Auntie Song's fingers dug into the fabric of her dress. "That man is nothing to me anymore." Her voice wavered, but she kept her head high. "He told me I was the only one for him, yet he kept another woman's child in our home as if I would accept it."

Ye-joon was silent.

Auntie added, "he finally admitted his mistake," Auntie Song said bitterly. "But too late. I refused to stay with a man who thought keeping secrets from me was acceptable. I don't regret leaving."

Jung-woo asked, "Why are you going there?"

Auntie Song said while patting Ye-joon's shoulder, "For the sake of my grandson, I will check on him to see what that bastard is doing to his family since he refused to go to the hospital."

Jung-woo chuckled, shaking his head. "A story of betrayal. Sounds like something out of a drama."

Suddenly, Ye-joon, noticing the shift in the atmosphere, decided to step out. He stood up and dusted off his pants. "I'll step outside for a while. You two... have something else to talk about, don't you?" His tone was light, but there was an underlying understanding in his gaze. He knew some things needed to be said—things that weren't meant for him to hear.

Auntie Song and Jung-woo exchanged glances.

Auntie Song gave a small nod of appreciation. "Thank you, Ye-joon."

Ye-joon gave a small smile and walked out of the house, leaving them alone.

Once Ye-joon had left, the air grew heavier. Jung-woo leaned forward, his gaze sharp.

"Now, tell me," Jung-woo said, his voice low. "What really happened to Seo-woo and those three little kids?"

Auntie Song exhaled deeply, her fingers gripping the edge of the table. Revealing Seo-woo's secret was the last thing she wanted to do. But this man was his family. If anyone had the right to know, it was them, his family.

With hesitation, she finally spoke.

"Seo-woo... was drugged and raped by someone he didn't know," she confessed, her voice tight with emotion. "That stranger was also drugged. It wasn't consensual."

Jung-woo's face lost all color.

Auntie Song's gaze turned cold. "As for the mother of the triplets..." She paused, her heart aching. "Seo-woo was the one who gave birth to them."

The room fell into complete silence.

Jung-woo sat frozen, his hands trembling as he processed the revelation.

"That's... impossible," Jung-woo whispered. "Seo-woo... gave birth?"

Auntie Song nodded. "That was the truth. I helped deliver them in my clinic. I kept it a secret to protect him. He was the sixth man who gave birth, so it was not shocking to me, but he didn't want to reveal this in public even to his family because he wanted to pursue his dream of being a singer and didn't want to expose his children from the media."

Jung-woo's chest ached. His older brother had suffered so much—and he hadn't been there.

Outside the room, Seo-jun's small hands clenched into fists as his eyes filled with silent tears.

His father...

Had suffered so much.

---

The tension in Min-ho's car was so thick you could probably slice through it with a dull butter knife.

Seo-woo sat in the backseat, sandwiched awkwardly beside Woo-seok, while Min-ho focused on driving. He wanted to avoid conversation altogether, but then—he realized something.

"Ah—my location!" Seo-woo suddenly leaned forward, almost startling Min-ho into swerving the car.

"Yah! A little warning next time?!" Min-ho grumbled, gripping the wheel tighter.

Seo-woo quickly rattled off the address, and Min-ho nodded, grumbling something about unexpected passengers.

Meanwhile, Woo-seok remained eerily quiet... except for the fact that he was staring at Seo-woo the entire time.

Seo-woo could feel it. That intense gaze. Burning into the side of his head.

What is with this guy?

Trying his best to ignore it, he stared out the window, pretending that the two powerful and incredibly persistent CEOs in the car with him didn't exist.

But that peace didn't last.

"Bi-yong," Woo-seok suddenly called out.

Seo-woo flinched so hard he almost smacked his forehead against the window. Why is my ex-boss calling me like that?

Turning his head with a strained smile, Seo-woo asked, "Yes, CEO Moon?"

Woo-seok hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.

"Come work for me."

Silence.

Seo-woo blinked. Then blinked again.

Did he just get a job offer in the middle of a car ride?! And it would be a disaster if he found out that he was his former employee."

Before he could even process the randomness of the situation, Min-ho suddenly scoffed.

"Hold on a second—this was your real intention, wasn't it? That's why you suddenly barged in here! And FYI, he's my recruit!" Min-ho shot back, flicking on the turn signal like he was declaring war.

Seo-woo whipped his head between them. "Wait—what?!"

Min-ho smirked, lifting his chin arrogantly. "I was the one who first interacted with Bi-yong. That means I get priority."

"Priority?" Woo-seok repeated, expression darkening. "Are we hiring an employee... or calling dibs on a limited-edition item?"

Min-ho shrugged. "Same thing."

Woo-seok exhaled sharply, turning to Seo-woo. "Ignore him. I'm offering you a job at my company. Your skills would be—"

"Excuse me?" Min-ho cut in. "You're in my car, asking my recruit to work for you? Have you no shame?"

Seo-woo sat there, mouth slightly open, watching these two CEOs bicker like children fighting over a toy in a sandbox.

Min-ho clicked his tongue. "Besides, I have the better deal. If you work for me, you'll have full creative freedom. I'll support your projects without interference."

Woo-seok's eyes narrowed. "Money isn't an issue with me. I'll double whatever he offers."

Min-ho gasped dramatically. "Bribery?! Really?! How low can you go?!"

"You were the one who started with this 'priority' nonsense," Woo-seok retorted.

Seo-woo held up both hands. "Whoa, whoa—time out! What is happening?! Why are you guys acting like I'm a contestant in some CEO bidding war?!"

Min-ho crossed his arms. "Because you're a valuable asset."

Woo-seok nodded in agreement. "And we don't let talent go to waste."

Seo-woo let out a deep sigh. Why me?

Looking between the two of them, he gathered his thoughts before shaking his head firmly.

"I'm not accepting either offer."

Silence.

Min-ho: "...Huh?"

Woo-seok: "...What?"

The two CEOs blinked at him, utterly baffled.

"You're... rejecting us?" Min-ho sounded like he'd just been told Santa Claus wasn't real.

Woo-seok furrowed his brows. "I don't understand. If it's about the contract—"

"No, no. It's not about the contract," Seo-woo sighed. "I'm just..." He scratched his head awkwardly. "I have other priorities right now."

The two CEOs exchanged glances.

"What's more important than a career?" Min-ho asked.

"My children," Seo-woo said without hesitation.

Min-ho: "..."

Woo-seok: "..."

They both froze, their expressions morphing into sheer disbelief.

Min-ho blinked rapidly, as if his brain was short-circuiting. "Children?! What children?!"

Woo-seok frowned. "You're a father?"

Seo-woo nodded. "Three of them, actually."

Min-ho choked on air. "Three?!"

Woo-seok's face remained stoic, but his hands subtly clenched.

"Did you see my trending video? There were three little kids in it. Those were my children. How dare you ignore my little cutie pies?"

Woo-seok said, "I was focused on your voice, so I didn't recognize them."

Seo-woo simply smiled. "I appreciate the offers, really, but right now, my main focus is taking care of them. I can't commit to anything that takes too much time away from them."

Min-ho leaned back in his seat, muttering under his breath. "First, I get hijacked in my own car. Now I find out he has three kids? What is my life..."

Woo-seok was eerily quiet. Then, in a low voice, he asked, "Do they have a mother?"

Seo-woo stiffened.

"That's not important," he replied quickly.

Woo-seok's eyes darkened, but he didn't press further.

Min-ho sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. I'll accept my defeat. But just so you know, if you ever change your mind, my doors are always open."

Woo-seok nodded slightly, though his gaze lingered on Seo-woo. "The same goes for me."

Seo-woo chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."

The car fell into a brief silence. Then Min-ho let out a loud sigh.

"Man... I can't believe I lost to a bunch of kids."

Seo-woo laughed. "You'd lose even harder if you met them."

Woo-seok glanced at Seo-woo with a rare, almost amused expression.

Bi-yong... you really are something else.

But then, something occurred on their journey.