"Good day, Miss!" Jae greeted his head teacher as we walked out of the school gate, his small hand tightly gripping mine. I smiled, cherishing this moment of picking him up from school. It was always the highlight of my day.

"How was your day, sweetheart?" I asked him sweetly, running my fingers through his hair. Memories of his father, Jimin, flooded my mind. He always spoke about him so fondly—my ex-husband, Jimin.

Jimin and I still maintained contact, co-parenting our son. But with each passing day, Jae seemed to grow more attached to Jimin's new wife. I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, unsure of how to interpret it all. It seemed ridiculous, but it still stung.

"It was fine, Mama. Now, I would like to go to Papa's house, please," he pleaded, looking up at me with those innocent doe eyes, his desire clear. I unlocked the car door for him, feeling a sigh escape my lips involuntarily.

It seemed like he wanted to spend every waking moment at Jimin's house, barely leaving any time for me. I had already lost my husband, and now I didn't want to lose my son too.

"Jae, why do you enjoy being at Papa's house so much?" I asked, trying to understand his perspective as I started the car. Sadness shimmered in my eyes, visible for a fleeting moment.

"It's fun there! Chae Mama cooks such delicious meals for me every day. You wouldn't believe how good they taste!" he exclaimed, playfully licking his lips and giggling in his seat, distracting me as I struggled to focus on the road.

"What about the food I cook for you?" I inquired, hoping for a different response, hoping that he would appreciate my efforts as his mother.

He paused for a moment, looking at me, before hesitantly replying, "It's good, but not as good as her food." His words hit me with a heavy weight, delivered with an underlying intention to spare my feelings.

"Ah, I guess I'll have to ask your Chae Mama for some of her recipes, right, baby?" I deflected my emotions, continuing to engage with my child. Perhaps if I talked more, if I tried harder, he would want to stay with me more too.

Jae continued to ramble about his friends' mischievous acts, how they wrote on the blackboard without the teacher's permission, and how he planned to inform the teacher the next day. I feigned attention, but my mind was elsewhere, consumed by unease and anxiety. The fear of losing the only thing I had left weighed heavily upon me.

"Jae," I interrupted his chatter, making him look up at me. "Don't cause trouble for anyone, okay? And if you miss Mama, just ask Papa to make a call." I gazed at him with sad eyes, hoping he would understand the depth of my longing as he eagerly bobbed his head, eager to rush inside the house.

"Oh, and baby, please remember to go to bed by 10. You have school tomorrow too," I added, gently brushing his bangs away from his face, searching for any signs of connection. He didn't seem particularly interested in my words, but he put on a façade, pretending to listen attentively.

With a heavy sigh, I uttered, "Never mind, you can go," as I opened the car door for him, watching him dash inside the house. I wished he displayed the same joy when meeting me after school, at least.

---

"Misha, I've emailed the sale reports to the group. Please scan them and ask the editing department to review them once. I may have made some mistakes," I spoke with a heavy sigh, my voice laden with exhaustion and stress.

Life had been a constant whirlwind of pressure, and I could feel the tension building up once again, threatening to consume me.

"Sure, ma'am. I'll get back to you later," Misha replied before hanging up.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the little Polaroid placed on my desk. It captured a moment of bliss—me, Jimin, and Jae, all smiling together. The photo was taken during our visit to my in-laws in Busan. We looked so happy, so united. Oh, how I longed to turn back time and relive those moments of joy.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my phone rang, interrupting the silence. It was Park Jimin calling.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice tinged with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

"Yes, Y/n, Jae has forgotten his sketching file at home, and he's supposed to bring it to school tomorrow. Could you please retrieve it now?" Jimin's voice carried a lingering bitterness, a reminder of the person he had become. He was no longer the Jimin I had fallen in love with. Everything had changed, and I felt the weight of that transformation. My son was now my sole source of hope, the only thread connecting me to a fading past.

"Sure," I replied, mustering all the strength I had left before hanging up the phone. Alone in my office, I allowed myself to succumb to the overwhelming sadness that had been building within me. I sobbed, releasing the pent-up emotions that I had been suppressing. Life had become a relentless struggle, and I bore the scars of a tough existence.

---

I stood in front of their house, holding Jae's sketching file in my arms. The guard stepped aside, allowing me to enter. The sight of the house was captivating, adorned with beautiful flowers. It seemed that Chae had a fondness for plants and greenery.

I rang the doorbell, and soon a small figure appeared at the entrance. "Mama, thank you! Come in!" Before I could decline the invitation, Chae emerged from behind, her presence undeniable.

However, what caught me off guard was the tiny bump on her stomach. Was she pregnant? The realization hit me, and a mix of emotions washed over me. She had taken my place, but at least she seemed genuine.

"I'm sorry for bothering you at this hour, but Jae was throwing a tantrum about his sketching file," I said, furrowing my brows as I looked at Jae, who sulked in response. "No, it's alright! We can't resist his doe eyes," Chae tried to lighten the atmosphere, laughing off my comment. I glanced at the two of them uncomfortably.

"Hey, why don't you come inside for a cup of tea?" Chae proposed, but I instinctively shook my head in denial. The thought of encountering Jimin inside stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within me. "Please, Y/n! I'm sure Jae wants the same," Chae pleaded, looking down at the little boy clutching her nightgown. Jae nodded his head in agreement.

"Uh, as you wish."

The living room was a mess, scattered with Jae's toys and books. An array of snacks lay within his reach. This boy was indeed spoiled, no wonder he enjoyed being here so much.

As I settled down on the couch, I looked around. Jimin's shoes were nowhere to be found inside the shoe cupboard. Some things never change, his messy habits being one of them.

"Mama, look at this picture," Jae approached me with a crayon drawing in his tiny arms. The artwork depicted a woman, a little boy, a baby, and a man—all together in one frame. "This is beautiful, Jae," I smiled at him, causing him to blush. "Yes! I drew myself, Chae mama, Papa, and my baby brother," he explained. So, it's going to be a boy, I surmised.

"Y/n, here's your tea," Chae sang sweetly, placing the cup in front of me. Her generous smile never wavered as she settled down on the opposite couch. "Thank you, Chae," I replied, returning the smile and taking a sip of the tea.

Chae began asking about my work at the office, discussing the hectic nature of it all. "If you ever feel like you need a break, you can come here. I used to be a counselor before becoming an intern, so I can help a lot," she giggled, showering me with kind words.

I couldn't hold back any longer. The emotions surged within me, and I let it all out.

"How many months along are you?" I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity.

"Oh, are you asking about this?" Chae pointed to her belly, a silly expression on her face. When I nodded, she continued, "It's been three months! I'm already so moody. I wonder what the upcoming days have in store!" She giggled, tenderly caressing her growing belly.

A part of me warmed up, genuinely happy for her, but I couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy. It had been years, and yet a part of me hadn't fully moved on from Jimin.

"Oh, hey Y/n," Jimin's voice echoed through the living room as he walked in, drawing closer to where we sat. I mustered a faint smile, barely visible, as I locked eyes with him. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, memories flooding my mind. His appearance hadn't changed a bit—his signature messy haircut and his shorter stature remained as they were. It was a painful reminder of what we once had.

Jimin took a seat beside Chae on the opposite couch, the space between us feeling impossibly vast. Their proximity stung, a constant reminder of the life they were building together—the life that was meant to be mine. The realization crashed over me, waves of hurt and longing washing over my fragile heart.

As the weight of my emotions grew unbearable, I could feel tears welling up, threatening to spill over. Trying to maintain composure, I forced out the words, "Oh, I need to attend a virtual meeting. Sorry, I'll have to head out."

My excuse was feeble and ill-timed, but I couldn't bear to be in that house any longer. With a hasty, inappropriate farewell, I hastily made my way out, feeling the numbness enveloping me, shielding me from the piercing pain in my chest.

The realization that I had lost the man I once loved and the life we had built together settled upon me like a heavy fog. The future that once seemed so promising had crumbled, leaving me adrift in a sea of emptiness and longing.

----

"Happy birthday, baby," I said with enthusiasm, trying to mask the disappointment that welled up within me. "I booked a reservation for us at Pizza Plaza!"

But my son's expression quickly shifted, his brows furrowing in concern. "But Mama, Papa and Chae Mama have already planned to take me to the amusement park at noon," he replied, his voice tinged with conflict.

My heart sank. Once again, it seemed like I was being sidelined. Why was it always them and not me?

"Baby, don't you want to spend at least an hour with me? We can have so much fun together," I pleaded, hoping to sway his decision.

He shook his head, his resolve firm. "You've been getting too moody lately. Whether you like it or not, you're coming with me," I scolded him, with my voice trembling with determination.

A loud cry erupted. It was a matter of seconds and now he was crying hard.

I felt a lump forming in my throat as my eyes welled up with tears. Not even on his birthday could I have a moment alone with him?

I tried to maintain a sense of authority, my voice turning stern as I said, "Baby, stop crying! I will take you to Papa's house, okay?" I wiped away his tears, my own hands trembling with a mix of frustration and sadness. It was a desperate attempt to placate him, to regain his favor and ensure he wouldn't be upset on his special day.

The sobs gradually subsided, leaving a heavy silence hanging in the air. I looked at my son, his tear-stained face reflecting the turmoil in his young heart. It pained me to see him caught in the middle, torn between his love for both his parents.

As I held him close, a surge of sadness washed over me. I couldn't help but question why things had turned out this way. Why was it always a struggle to carve out moments for just the two of us? The ache in my chest intensified, a constant reminder of the fractured family dynamic we now navigated.

But amidst the pain, I made a silent promise to myself. I vowed to cherish whatever time I did have with my son, to create meaningful memories and foster a sense of love and belonging. Despite the challenges, I was determined to be there for him, to be a constant source of support and affection, even if it meant sharing his affection with others.

---

"Mama, no. I don't like it here anymore. Please send all my toys and clothes to Papa's house," my son's voice was devoid of the usual joy and excitement. He looked at me with a dull expression as he began packing his belongings into a bag.

My heart shattered into a million pieces. I couldn't fathom the idea of losing my son, the one constant source of love and happiness in my life. Desperation welled up within me as I tried to reason with him. "Baby, why? I am your mama! Your real mama!" I pleaded, my voice filled with a mix of desperation and longing.

But his reply cut through me like a knife. "I like Chae Mama more," he said simply, his words piercing straight to the core of my being. It felt like a cruel betrayal, a realization that I was being replaced in his heart.

Tears streamed down my face as I realized the depth of his attachment to his stepmother. It was a painful truth that I couldn't deny or change. In that moment, I knew it was time to make a difficult decision.

With a heavy heart and trembling hands, I signed the papers. "Park Jae is now under the guardianship of Mr. Park Jimin and Mrs. Park Chae," the legal document stated, sealing my fate as I relinquished my role as Jae's primary caregiver.

As I watched my son gather his belongings, preparing to leave the home we once shared, a profound sense of loss engulfed me. It was a bittersweet moment, filled with both sadness and resignation. I knew deep down that this was what he wanted, what he believed would bring him happiness.

But as he walked out of the door, leaving a void in my life that would never be filled, I couldn't help but wonder if I had failed as a mother. The ache in my heart echoed the unanswered questions, the unspoken regrets, and the haunting feeling of being replaced.

Yet, even in the midst of my pain, I found solace in the hope that Jae would find the love and stability he sought in his new family. As I whispered a tearful goodbye, I silently vowed to always cherish the precious memories we had shared, and to keep a flicker of love burning in my heart for the child I would forever call my own.

----