Author's Pov:

"Not as big as yours but here is my sweet home", Minghao said opening the door. Aera entered and looked around. She saw some paintings hanged on the wall while some were kept in the corner.

"You like painting?", Aera asked seeing the paintings hanged on the walls. Minghao smiled and nodded, "Yeah, it is something I love to do in my free time".

"These are beautiful", Aera's eyes twinkled. Mingyu kept staring at them, "Even Aera makes painting". Minghao gasped, "Really!". Aera nodded, "But those are not that good".

"Eomma, lying is bad", Jiho said. Aera frowned, "When did I lie?".

"Now. Just now you said your paintings are not good and it's a lie", Jiho said. Aera made a straight face and looked at Jiho, "Really? You never see my paintings though".

"I saw one, you left it incomplete. You were painting Appa, weren't you? I saw that one", Jiho said. Aera remembered that painting, the one she supposed to gift him today.

"Yeah that one. I forgot about it", Aera murmured. "Are you going to complete it?", Jiho asked. Aera shook her head, "I don't know and no more question now".

"I sometimes sell these", Minghao said looking around. "I have a room where I have kept my paintings. I used to do a lot before but then I got busy", Aera said.

"Are you still ignoring Mingyu?", Minghao whispered not wanting Jiho to hear it. Aera nodded, "I am trying my best. Tomorrow we are talking to Jiho about our divorce and soon I'll move out".

Mingyu kept looking at his paintings until he found a familiar one. "It's  Aera's", Mingyu whispered. His blood boiled. "Can we talk for a moment, Minghao? Alone?", Mingyu asked.

Minghao nodded, "Let's go to the roof top, shall we?". Mingyu followed him. "I know you saw that painting. I won't lie but I do have some feelings for her", Minghao said as soon as they reached the roof top.

"It was never my intention to paint her but I was so immersed in the painting that I didn't realise it was her", Mingyu listened to him closing his eyes.

"I am not going to say anything, Minghao. Aera always had that charismatic aura which can make anyone want to get close to her", Mingyu said leaning on the door.

"But if you are really serious about her then I don't mind. We are going to be separate anyways, so it doesn't matter. I don't even have any right to stop her", Mingyu said.

"My mother wants me to marry Eunji, my secretary. I am confused. I don't want to but it was equally my mistake that she is pregnant", Mingyu kept on speaking about whatever happened today. Meanwhile in Minghao's house...

"Eomma, Is this your painting?", Jiho said pointing at the same painting. Aera took a clear look and realised it was actually her. 'Why did he do this?', Aera thought. Just then Mingyu and Minghao came back.

"The mechanic is here, let's go. Thank you for letting us stay here for while", Mingyu thanked Minghao. Aera wanted to ask him about the painting but didn't.

Time Skip:

Reaching home, Aera took a deep breath, "It was tiring day today". She patted Jiho's back who was again asleep.

"Where were you both? It's been so long since you left from the venue", His mother shouted. "Shh, Eomma. Jiho is sleeping. Please don't wake him up now", Mingyu tried to shush her. But as it was Mingyu's mother-

"I won't. I was so afraid, you know".

"You could have called us, Mrs. Kim, If it was this important. You have our numbers", Aera said. She became quiet, "Now that you both are here, I wanted to talk something".

"Can we talk later? I need to freshen up also let me tuck in Jiho", Aera excused her and went to Jiho's room. Changing his clothes, she went to her room.

She looked at the frames hung on the walls. In the that, she could see the reflection of Mingyu who entered the room. "Mingyu, I have one request", Aera said.

Turning around, she looked at Mingyu, "Can I get a hug?". Mingyu looked into her eyes, trying to find love she had once.

Both looked deeply into their eyes. Without uttering a single word, he opened his arms, inviting her into an embrace. As their bodies intertwined, a different emotion surged to their veins.

Slowly, Aera's eyes filled with tears, with the each drop that fell increased the weight of guilt that Mingyu had. "I want to go back in time and stop this", Mingyu whispered, "I wanted to give you all the happiness but ended u giving pain".

Aera bit her lips trying not to sobs, "Even I wish Mingyu, If I could have done something". Mingyu hugged her tightly, "I won't ask for a second chance now, Aera. But the only thing I would tell is that, if you ever need my help. I will always be there for you. Maybe, not as a ex-husband but as a friend".

Aera wrapped her hands around his waist, listening to his heartbeats. She bit her lips again 'What am I even doing? I should hate this man for cheating on me but here I am asking for a hug. Is this how eomma felt when Appa was leaving?', Aera tightly closed her eyes feeling his hands caressing her hair.

It felt as if time stopped, they wanted to the time to stop wanting to stay in each other embrace.

"Was that the reason you were drunk and asked me for a divorce?", Aera asked. Mingyu nodded, "I should have told you sooner, Aera. The day you gave second chance was the same day she told me about her pregnancy. I never expected that. She said she was on pills and..", Mingyu couldn't continue any further.

"I am waiting for you both. I have to leave tomorrow", His mother yelled outside the room.

Now, Aera and Mingyu were sitting infront of his mother. She sighed, "I don't care about what you are going to do after divorce but the only thing I want is Mingyu to marry Eunji. She is perfect daughter in law for me".

"You never wanted a wife for me Eomma but a daughter in law for you", Mingyu whispered. Aera tightly held his hand. "I don't want to marry her, I have told you this before", Mingyu said.

"Why can't you marry her, Mingyu? She is far better than a girl who lives in her past", His mother spat. Mingyu stood up, "Enough Eomma. I am not marrying her, I don't want to hear anything about Aera now. What did she ever do? Just because she isn't your ideal daughter in law type that doesn't mean you will are act rude to her", Mingyu said. Aera tried to calm him down.

"That is also a reason but let's not forget about the standards Mingyu. Her brother might be a business man but they aren't the same level as ours", his mother answered.

Mingyu scoffed, "Do you think Eunji is same level as us?". His mother opened her mouth to speak something but then closed her mother finding no words to speak.

"Let's not fight-"

"You are the reason for our fights, Aera. He left me because of you. He is not my son, you changed him. You took my son away from me", his mother shouted.

"Eomma, she was never the reason", Mingyu said standing between them. Aera kept her hand his shoulder whispering a small no.

"Don't stop me now, Aera", Mingyu said, "Eomma, when I first brought her home, you humiliated her. Later, when Jiho was born, your taunts still didn't stop. I was the one who decided to stay away from you because of the way you behaved with her. While she was the one who always wanted me to talk to you".

"But"

"It is still not over Eomma. I cheated on her with my secretary. I cheated on a woman I loved, this doesn't matter to you, does it? You still blamed her. She is the best, Eomma, but it was me who wanted to cheat. I regret doing it, why? Because she never deserved this", Mingyu said.

Aera kept staring at him, she never expected any one to stand up for her except Jeonghan. But Mingyu always proved her wrong. She took a deep breathe,

"Mrs. Kim, if you feel that than I am sorry. It is already late night. You need to go tomorrow early as you said before so I think it's better if you leave this matter. Anyways, I am leaving your son, so it doesn't matter now".

After a lot of efforts, she went to her room. Aera sighed, "I am sorry for all this". Mingyu shook his head, "I should be the one to say sorry".

Unknown to them a pair of eyes witnessed this.

"Good night", Mingyu said but Aera was already inside the room. Sliding down she covered her face with her hands. She just wanted to leave all of this. Whatever was happening, made a small change in Aera, that was she started getting emotional at even a slightest thing. She hated this, she hated someone seeing her vulnerable side but her tears would always betray her.

"E-Eomma", hearing Jiho's voice, Aera quickly wiped her tears. "Yes? Why are you still awake, Jiho-ya?", Aera asked. Jiho got down from the bed and slowly walked to her.

Cupping her cheeks with his small hands, he said, "Eomma, leave Appa". Aera looked at him with wide eyes, "Jiho".

Jiho shook his head, "I don't want to see you crying, Eomma. Leave Appa. Live separately if you want but please don't cry", Jiho said.

Aera couldn't control her tears anymore. She hugged Jiho and kissed his head, "Sleep now, Jiho. You need some rest". Aera tried to control her sobs.

"Eomma, I know Appa did a big mistake. He told me, but I don't hate him. He is not a bad guy, Eomma, he is not", Jiho said and wrapped his arms around her neck.

Aera swallowed her tears and said, "Jiho-ya. I am leaving your Appa. Why don't we just spend this night together hmm?". She felt Jiho nodding his head.

Aera picked him up. As she was about to knock the door, Mingyu came out. He was not in his regular clothes, "I need to go. Eunji is not feeling well" and he left while Aera stood there with Jiho in her arms.

"I think we both need to sleep now, Jiho. Let's forget whatever happened today", Aera said as a lone tear slipped down her cheeks.

                                                                 
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Woah! This book is coming to an end soon. Just few more chapters...