Author's Pov:

Giggles filled the hallways of her own house. Jiho kept talking about how cute his sister is. Aera smiled seeing her son being happy.

"Where were you?", both the pair of eyes landed on the human standing in the middle with his hands crossed. His voice was intimidating. Aera whispered, "Go to your room". Jiho looked at his mother and then ran to his room.

"I was in Jeonghan's house", she answered. "Why didn't you tell me?", he said, "It is almost 10 and you are not at home. I even tried calling you but you didn't pick up", Mingyu said.

Aera looked at him with furrowed eyes, "I had already messaged you, Gyu that I am going to meet Jeonghan later. I had even called you for that but now a days you never let me speak and hang up saying you are busy. And you said that you kept calling me but it was just a phone call, a single call. You called me only once that too when I was at the door step. I couldn't pick up the call because I had Jiho in my arms", Aera said calmly, "I was about to call you but you are already here".

Mingyu scoffed, "I never got a message".

"Really? Do you ever check your messages?", she asked. Mingyu opened his phone amd there were actually some messages from Aera. His expression changed to a guilty one. "You are changing Mingyu", Aera whispered.

"I-I am s-sorry. I was-"

"So busy today that didn't get time to check my phone. I know that reason Mingyu", Aera smiled sadly. She remembered the promise she made today to her son, "Don't you realise Gyu that we are falling apart? Don't you feel that? Can't you feel the distance between us? You rarely make time for us, especially for Jiho, Gyu. You are always busy with your work. I know work is important but so is your family", Aera said and went to their room without waiting for his reply. Mingyu stood as he saw Aera disappear from his sight. He knew she was right, he knew she trying to get back together as it was but he didn't let her. He was afraid what if she gets to know truth.

He went to their room but Aera was in washroom, probably taking a bath, he waited for her to came out so that they can talk but when Aera came out, he saw she was in no mood for talking about that. "So how is everyone there?", Mingyu asked while playing on his phone trying to change the topic. "Everything is good", Aera answered short.

Mingyu got up and went towards Aera who was now standing infront of window looking the busy city. "What really happened, Aera?", he asked. He was about to hug her but

"Jeonghan again asked me to meet that man and nothing else", Aera answered shortly.

'That man, her father, the person she hates the most', he said in mind retreating his hands back. He cleared his throat, "It is nothing serious right?".

Aera shook her head, "I don't think so", she turned around, "I'll go and check on Jiho. It is already his bed time". She smiled and went out.

Mingyu looked at his trembling hands. "I should be doing this", he whispered, "She hates such people and I am one among them. No".

Later that night, when Aera slept. Mingyu got up and went to his office room in the house. He sat on his chair, "I shouldn't be doing this", he whispered in guilty voice, "No, no, she will hate me. She will leave me", he shook his head.

"Gyu? What happened? Are you okay?", Aera asked coming inside. Mingyu looked at her with guilty eyes. "A-Aera, I want to tell you something", his voice lowered which almost came out as whisper.

"I-I know, I-I s-shouldn't have done this b-but I am sorry. I-I cheated on you with my secretary", Mingyu said closing his eyes waiting for Areum's reply. He always had a habit of stuttering when it comes to Aera. It was his worst nightmare, Aera going away from him. "You what? It not a time to joke, Mingyu", Aera whispered.

"I-I am not j-joking", he stuttered. Aera looked at him with unreadable expression, "So that was why you were always busy?", her voice quivered, "You are just the same, Mingyu. Just the same". She slapped him, "I don't want to be with you anymore".

Mingyu woke up with a jolt realising it was just a dream. She was sleeping calmly, her hand intertwined his. A habit she had since an incident.

Flash back:

Due to some reasons Aera and Mingyu had to share bed. It was just a new relationship of theirs. Mingyu saw hesitancy in her eyes. "Aera", she flinched and looked at him.

Her hands fidgeting and he held her hands caressing it, "I don't what happened in your past that you made you afraid and hate men but believe me, I am not like that. You don't need to be afraid of me". Aera slowly nodded, "But can I hold your hand? I have that habit". Mingyu nodded and held her hand tightly. Since then Aera always held his hands while sleeping.

Present:

Mingyu scoffed, "I said I am not like them turns out to be one like them". She hated men and he gave a reason to hate them more. "I shouldn't do this", he whispered. He promised himself not to cheat on her anymore and tell her the truth when there is a right time. For a long time he was awake regretting his decisions until his eyes gave up to stay open.

Next Morning,

Aera was making breakfast when Mingyu came still in his pajamas, "Aren't you going to office today?", she asked. Usually he would be ready to go without having his breakfast.

"No, I am taking a holiday today. Also, it has been a long time since I ate breakfast at home", Mingyu smiled. Aera couldn't help but smile, "Can you please see this? I'll go and wake up Jiho", she said.

"No wait, today his Appa will do everything", Mingyu said getting up from chair and went straight to Jiho's room. After waking him up, giving him bath amd cleaning up his room, Mingyu picked up his son, "And here comes our prince to have breakfast", Jiho giggled at his father's silly behavior.

He saw Aera's face has fallen, he made Jiho sit on chair and went to her, "What happened, love?". Aera was suprised hearing him call her love, he had stopped calling her that.

"Umm, Eunji had called saying there is an important meeting today", Aera said avoiding his eyes. She was disappointed knowing what was going to happened next.

"I will talk to her", he took his phone and went to his room. He called her,

Mingyu: Hello, which meeting do I have today?

Eunji: Don't tell me you forgot that it was supposed to our day today, just you and me. You said that yesterday.

Mingyu: Eunji, I can't. I am sorry, we need to stop this.

Eunji: Stop what, Gyu? I like it so do you then why you need to stop this because of your wife?

Mingyu: Yes! Because of her. Also please don't call me Gyu. Only Aera calls it. I can't lose her. If she gets to know about this she will hate me and will never she my face Eunji. I can't do it anymore.

He heard her sighing

Eunji: Okay! We will stop this but one last time please come to my house. Just one last time? I want to talk something.

Mingyu thought for a second and said yes. He got ready and went down, to see Aera already ready to drop Jiho, "You can go and attend the meeting. I have kept the breakfast, if you are not in hurry then you can eat it", she said.

"It's not like that, Aera. I-",

"You forgot you had meeting. I know", Aera completed his sentence, "These are the same reasons you always give Mingyu. So, I know what you will say next. Come, Jiho".

Aera left with him. Mingyu stood there, "Why am I like this? Why? Why? Why?", he said and kicked the chair beside him. He again saw the message sent by Eunji's messenge.

'Please come as soon as possible'

Mingyu left for her house leaving, just to break the promise he made to himself last night.

Aera entered the house to feel the silence, a daily routine of her's. She hated always hated silence, turning on the music she completed her chores. "He again didn't eat it", she whispered, "He didn't even cover it". She took the plate and threw the food with heavy heart. She never liked wasting the food but as it was open for long time she had to. There were maids who cleaned up everything in early morning. The only thing she could do was cooking.

"I haven't been in that room", she whispered and ran to a room. She opened the room to see her paintings. Most were Mingyu's and Jiho's painting. "I should make something this time. Even our anniversary is coming in a month. Maybe after this everything will be back as it was", she whispered. She took her phone and set the alarm so that she wouldn't be late to pick Jiho up.

At Eunji's house:

Eunji slept beside a tired Mingyu. "Do still want to stop, Kim Mingyu?", she asked tracing his abs. Mingyu shook his head, he hovered over her and whispered, "What about another round?". Eunji smirked and nodded her head, "I am all yours", she whispered in a seductive tone. Mingyu smirked, "I know".