Flashback,

Aera sat in front of the mirror in the makeup room, her reflection showing her beautiful self. She smiled a little, as the makeup artist complimented how she looks.

She knows that she is pretty, she has been hearing this since her childhood. And now she is using that as profession.

Her manager entered, a serious expression etched on her face.

"Aera, I have some news for you," her manager began, her tone cautious. "Kim Seunghyun is here to see you."

Aera's heart sank at the mention of his name. She had hoped to avoid any encounter with him, especially after what happened between them.

She has met all type of people while working in this industry, but Seunghyun and his ways of approaching her shocks her.

Her discomfort evident, Aera hesitated before responding. "I... I really don't want to see him," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her manager's expression softened, but her tone remained firm. "I understand, Aera. But you need to meet him. The ad campaign you're shooting for is produced by him. It's important for your career. You can't afford to miss this opportunity. Otherwise, you'll have to go home."

Aera's shoulders slumped as she weighed her options. Taking a deep breath, she made a decision. With resolve in her eyes, she nodded. "Okay. I'll face him."

Her manager nodded in approval before leaving the room. Aera braced herself, stealing her nerves for her interaction  with Kim Seunghyun, knowing that her career depended on it.

Aera squared her shoulders as she entered the room where Kim Seunghyun awaited. His gaze met hers, and she could sense the tension crackling between them.

"Hello, Aera," he greeted, a hint of smugness in his tone.

Ignoring the pleasantries, Aera cut straight to the point. "What do you want, Seunghyun?"

He smiled, leaning back in his chair. “From Mr. Kim directly called my first name, I did like the improvement.”

Aera was just staring back straight, without any soft expression. Seunghyun then continued, "I thought we could catch up over lunch. Discuss the campaign, perhaps."

Aera's jaw clenched. She knew better than to trust his intentions. "I'm not interested in lunch. Let's stick to business."

His smile faltered, replaced by a cold glint in his eyes. "Very well, Aera. But I must remind you of something. Your little secret, tucked away in your family history. Do you really want the world to know? I heard your parents are living here illegally, is that really true? How sad it would be for them to get torture and have a jail time at this age.”

Aera felt the blood drain from her face as she realized what he was implying. Her hidden past, carefully guarded and shielded from the public eye, threatened to unravel at his hands.

"You wouldn't dare," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear and anger.

Seunghyun leaned forward, his expression menacing. "Oh, I would. And with that, your modeling career would come crashing down.”

Aera's hands clenched into fists as she fought to maintain her composure. She knew she was trapped, she doesn't want to risk losing everything she had worked so hard for.

With a heavy heart, she conceded defeat. "Fine, Seunghyun. I'll have lunch with you. But know this, I won't let you destroy me.”

“Dinner too honey.” He said.

“I am not coming for dinner.” She replied.

“I am not asking, I am telling you,” he said.

“Look, I have a boyfriend. So I hope you know I would not do anything else.” She exclaimed.

“Yeah I Know, you have a daughter too. Aera, your background is so interesting to look at, you are everything that I didn't expect you to be.” He replied.

Aera just stared at him, she is not surprised by the amount of information he has about her.

__

Aera stumbled through the front door, her tear-stained face a mask of despair. She had been crying for what felt like hours, unable to shake the memories of her with Seunghyun.

She doesn't know what to know, she doesn't even know why she agrees to go on lunch with him when she knew that would just blackmail her more and more.

As she entered the house, she prayed that her boyfriend Hyunwoo wouldn't notice her swollen eyes and trembling lips. But as soon as he caught sight of her, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Aera, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

Aera tried to compose herself, swallowing back the sobs threatening to escape. "It's nothing, just a long day," she muttered, avoiding his gaze.

Hyunwoo then steps closer,"You've been spending a lot of money on your mom's treatment lately. All your earnings goes to her treatment.”

Aera's heart sank at his words. At this moment she doesn't want to hear such things from him.

"I want my mom to be healthy," she sajd, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's been sick for so long, and I can't bear to see her suffer."

Hyunwoo's expression softened, but his next words cut deep. "What about our daughter, Aera? She's young and needs your attention too. You need to focus on her."

Aera's anger flared at his words, a surge of resentment coursing through her veins. How could he prioritize their daughter over her own mother's health?

"She's my mother, Hyunwoo!" Aera snapped, her voice trembling with fury. "She raised me, cared for me. I won't abandon her when she needs me the most."

Tears welled up in her eyes once more as she realized the depth of their disagreement. With a heavy heart, she turned away, retreating to her room.

Her relationship with her boyfriend has never been all sweet and nice, and surely it can never be the same again.
___

Aera was not expecting, she was not expecting her boyfriend to just run away, he disappeared. She doesn't even know where, but he left and took their daughter and as well as all the savings she had for her mother's treatment.

She still tried to encourage herself and told herself that she can still make it, she can work harder. But she was getting no work except her modeling career started to go down the hill.

She doubts she knows the reason, and he was indeed the reason for her sudden downfall.

She was devastated, he made himself clear that his goal was to get her, and he will do that in any way possible.

Aera found herself torn between the intoxicating attention Seunghyun showered upon her and the suffocating grip he held over her life.

Aera stared at the pregnancy test kit in her trembling hands, her heart pounding in her chest. The two lines stared back at her, a stark confirmation of her worst fears. She knew her future had just taken a dark and uncertain turn.

Not because she wanted but because Seunghyun wanted it, she started to know him but she is still unaware of the depths of his Obsession.

Now, as she stood in her bathroom, trying to come to terms with the reality of her situation, she decided to hide the truth.

But Seunghyun was cunning, always one step ahead. It wasn't long before he discovered the truth, his possessive nature rearing its ugly head once again.

"You're carrying my child, Aera," he declared, his voice dripping with possessiveness. "You belong to me, body and soul. You must take care of yourself. You're special to me, my love."

His words, though filled with affection, were slowly suffocating her dreams of a successful modeling career.

But she couldn't deny the rush of adrenaline that coursed through her veins whenever he expressed his love for her. It was a dangerous game, one that threatened to consume her entirely.

He made her believe that he loves her that most and it showed in some way, he treated her really special, and even take care of her mother which melts her heart.

As the days passed, Aera found herself trapped in Seunghyun's web of manipulation and control, her modeling career slipping further and further out of reach. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to break free, the allure of his possessive love proving too intoxicating to resist.

Until she finds something that makes her want to leave him.

Aera’s hands tremble as she stares at her phone. Seunghyun approaches, noticing her distress.

“Aera, what's wrong? You look pale.” Before leaning in and then kissing her forehead. “Are you feeling the mood swings again?”

Aera looks up, her eyes red-rimmed with tears.

“Seunghyun... I just found out... you're married?”

Seunghyun freezes, his expression shifting from concern to guilt. “Aera, I... I wanted to tell you…”

He find out every little thing about her but yet she couldn't find the slightest detail about him.

Aera stands abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor.

“How could you keep this from me? All this time... you've been so secretive about your personal life!” Her voice trembles with anger and hurt. Seunghyun reaches out, but she flinches away.

“Please, Aera, let me explain…” He said.

Aera shakes her head, her heart pounding with betrayal.

“No! I can't believe I trusted you!” She turns to leave, but Seunghyun grabs her wrist, his grip firm but gentle.

“Aera, listen to me. Yes, I'm married, but... but you mean more to me than anything. I love you.”

Aera's eyes widen in disbelief, tears threatening to spill over again.

“How can you say that? If you loved me, you wouldn't have lied to me!”

Seunghyun releases her wrist, his eyes pleading.

“I know I messed up. I was scared... scared of losing you. But my feelings for you are real. I can't imagine my life without you.”

Aera wavers, torn between her anger and the sincerity in Seunghyun's eyes.

“I don't know if I can trust you again…”

Seunghyun takes a step closer, his voice barely a whisper.

“Please, Aera. Give me a chance to make things right. I'll do anything to prove how much I love you.”

Aera searches his eyes, seeing the vulnerability and desperation reflected back at her. Slowly, she nods, her resolve weakening.

“Okay... but this is your last chance.”

Seunghyun's face lights up with relief as he pulls her into a tight embrace.

“Thank you, Aera. I won't let you down, I promise.”

It was impossible to leave too, he wouldn't let her. Because she was hers here. The way he claimed her, she was sure that one day he would divorce his wife and marry her.

But when that one day comes?

That day never came.

And they got into countless fights because of that.

__

Aera paces back and forth in the hospital, her anxiety palpable. The silence of the room is only broken by the ticking of the antique clock on the wall. She glances at her phone, desperate for a missed call or a message, but there's nothing.

She takes a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She has been taking care of Jungkook alone most of the time.

Now she doesn't work, she thought she would continue her work after getting back in shape but Seunghyun doesn't allow her to.

He doesn't even allow her to meet her first daughter, she doesn't even know where they are.

Her main focus right now was Jungkook, who was really sick and was hospitalized. She was expecting Seunghyun to be here, he finally picked up the call but told Aera that he was busy and she believed him.

But then her eyes catch a glimpse of a news notification on her phone screen. Her hands tremble as she reads the headline: "Seunghyun Throws Lavish Birthday Party for Son Taehyung."

Fury boils inside her, eclipsing her worry for Jungkook momentarily.

How could he be celebrating while his other son lay in a hospital bed? And he didn't even bother to visit him even once.

Without a second thought, Aera storms out of the hospital, determination driving her forward.

Aera stands before the grand entrance of Seunghyun's mansion, her fists clenched at her sides. She rings the doorbell, her heart pounding in her chest.

The door swings open, before the guard could ask her anything she stormed inside. “Ma'am? Who are you and where are you going?” The guards were shocked and followed her.

She saw a woman who was a few years older than Aera Yet she still owns the graceful beauty. It was Taehyung's mother who told Aera with a look of surprise on her face.

She knows Aera, she was a well known model, her face was everywhere in Korea just 4 years ago, and then she vanished and now she was standing in her house.

“Can I help you?” She asked, Taehyung was with her, he was calmly playing with his dinosaur toys.

Aera's jaw tightens as she meets her gaze, her resolve hardening.

“Where is Seunghyun?” Aera asked with determination.

Hyejin’s expression shifts, confusion clouding her features.

“I'm sorry, who are you?” She was still uncertain.

Aera's breath catches in her throat, but she refuses to back down.

“I'm his mistress.” She said firmly.

Hyejin’s eyes widened in shock, but she knew how to control her expression In Front of her son and the maids.

She first told the maids to take Taehyung away from there before she turned to Aera again.

Aera's voice trembles with suppressed emotion as she speaks, her words laced with bitterness.

“You may not have known, but you can't deny the truth now. Where is he?” She said angrily.

Hyejin hesitates for a moment before finally speaking, her voice barely above a whisper.

“He is not here, and you have no right to come to my house and raise your voice on me.” She said, “You should leave now, I don't want more drama here.”

Aera's fists clench even tighter at her sides, her fury reaching its peak. “Tell Seunghyun to contact me, or at least visit our son once.”

Hyejin was shocked again, they have a child too? She was losing her patience slowly and her legs were trembling.

“Leave, just leave my house. Before I get you kicked out of this house.” She said,

Without another word, she turns on her heel and storms away, leaving Hyejin standing in the doorway, her world shattered by the revelation.
__

Aera sits by Jungkook's bedside, her eyes filled with concern as she watches over her son, his fever raging despite the efforts of the medical staff.

She reaches out to soothe his brow when the door bursts open, revealing Seunghyun, Jungkook's father.

Jungkook smile a little but he was so shocked that he couldn't even form proper words.

Aera freezes, her heart pounding in her chest as she meets Seunghyun's accusatory gaze.

He shuts the door as he looks at her, “Why the hell you went to my house?”

He didn't even ask about Jungkook, he was more worried about why she went to his house.

“I was looking for you, Jungkook is not doing well.” she said.

Seunghyun's eyes narrow, his anger simmering beneath the surface as he steps closer to Aera.

“Oh, spare me your lies. You came to gloat, didn't you? To revel in my wife's suffering?” He said in a mocking tone.

Aera's breath catches in her throat, the weight of Seunghyun's words crushing her spirit.

“No, Seunghyun, I swear. I just wanted you to check on Jungkook.” She said.

Seunghyun scoffs, his frustration boiling over as he walks closer to her and holds her by her hair before slapping her face. “Do you have any idea what you have caused in my house?”

Jungkook sat up, he was confused. He just turned two.

“Hyejin has been ignoring me! She wants to leave me because of you!” He said.

“If you care about that much! Why don't you leave me!” Aera said, he just got more furious because of that. He was not abusive before this, but this was the first time Aera made him this mad.

He said, “You want to break my marriage don't you? What do you think? If you break my marriage I will marry you? I will never marry a woman like you.”

Aera's eyes well up with tears, her voice trembling with emotion as she struggles to defend herself. “What do you mean by that? You say you love me!”

“Don’t be stupid Aera! I was not expecting such behavior from you! What were you even expecting? You have no right to go to my house and you can't even walk anywhere near my house.”
__

Jungkook, who was three-year-old, sits on the floor with his cheeks streaked, crying inconsolably.

His mother kneels beside him, trying to soothe him, but to no avail.

Aera said while holding Jungkook's hand)
“Shh, Jungkook, it's okay. Daddy will come home soon.”

She knew she was lying. He will not come back, he does whenever he wishes and disappears whenever he wants. For him, his legal family is more important.

“But I want Daddy now!” Jungkook exclaimed.

Aera hugs Jungkook tightly, her heart breaking for her son's longing for his absent father.

Suddenly, Jungkook's attention is drawn to the television across the room. His tears momentarily cease as he sees a familiar face on the screen – his father, Seunghyun, smiling widely, but not alone.

Jungkook excitedly pointed at the TV, “Mommy, Daddy's on TV!”

Aera's heart sinks as she follows Jungkook's gaze to the television. Her breath catches in her throat as she sees Seunghyun standing beside his wife, their arms linked, and a little boy playing beside them.

“Oh Jungkook,” Aera’s voice trembled a little.

Jungkook's confusion grows as he watches the scene unfold on the screen. It has been months since he saw his father and now he did and he was confused.

He looks back at his mother, searching for answers in her eyes.

“Mommy, who's that lady with Daddy? And who's the boy?”

Aera takes a deep breath, struggling to find the right words to explain the heartbreaking truth to her young son.

“That's... that's Daddy's family, Jungkook.” She told him.

“But we are his family right?” He asked. But then as if he assumed his own answer, “Families live together, he doesn't live with us because he lives with them right?” He asked.

“Jungkook, it's getting late, you should sleep.” She said, She doesn't want to talk to Jungkook about this topic.
__
Jungkook bursts through the front door with tears streaking cheeks, his school bag dangling from his shoulder. His mother looks up from her spot on the couch, concern etched across her face.

“Jungkook, what happened? Why are you crying?” She rushed to Jungkook.

“They... they didn't believe me, Mom.” Jungkook was sobbing.

Aera's heart sinks as she realizes what might have transpired. She gently guides Jungkook to sit beside her, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting embrace.

“Tell me what happened, sweetheart.” She asked him.

“I... I told everyone that Dad is my father. But they laughed at me. They said he's rich and I don't belong to his family.” He said in tears.

Aera's eyes widen with a mixture of sadness and resignation. She knew this day would come, the day when her son would face the harsh reality of their unconventional family situation.

“Oh, Jungkook… You shouldn't have told everyone that.” She stroked Jungkook's hair.

“Mom, why don't they believe me? Why won't anyone believe that I'm his son?” Jungkook looked up at his mother. “They said he has only one son, Kim Taehyung. Who is he? Is he that boy who was with dad?”

Jungkook got compared to Taehyung for the first time, where her friends made her feel like Taehyung is superior than him.

Aera takes a deep breath, trying to find the right words to comfort her son without revealing the painful truth.

“Sweetheart, sometimes people don't understand things that are... different. But that doesn't change who you are or where you come from.” She tried to choose the word wisely.

Jungkook looks at his mother, searching her eyes for reassurance.

“ But why can't Dad just tell everyone the truth?” He asked, “How about I talk to dad and he tells everyone that I am his son, not that Taehyung?”

Aera's heart clenches at the mention of Seunghyun being Jungkook's father. She knows she can't tell him the truth, not yet.

“ Your father... he has his reasons, Jungkook. And one day, when you're older, he'll explain everything to you himself.” She forced a smile.

Jungkook nods slowly, though his confusion and hurt linger in his eyes. Aera holds him tighter, wishing she could shield him from the pain of their hidden truths.

“ For now, let's focus on us, okay? No matter what anyone else says, you are loved, Jungkook. Always remember that.” She said,

Jungkook nods again, finding solace in his mother's embrace. They sit together in silence, clinging to each other.

___

Seunghyun sits at a lavish table, his arrogance evident in the way he behaves. Jungkook and Aera sit across from him, now even Jungkook doesn't like coming to talk to his father. As he is always rude to him.

Also because now Jungkook has seen it all, he has seen how badly he treats his mother so now he no longer likes his father.

Seunghyun was being really arrogant and mean towards Jungkook and Aera, eversince Hyejin got to know about his affair. So Seunghyun tries to fix his wedding first.

Jungkook started playing on its own, Aera Gaze fixed on her son, a mixture of worry and affection etched on her face. Now even she was feeling trapped in a relationship with Seunghyun. She never felt this way before, she feels like she is unworthy of marriage.

“Must you always indulge him like this, Aera? He's becoming spoiled.” Seunghyun said.

She purposely include Jungkook in this meeting, she does want him to just leave after s*x.

Aera looks up, her eyes flashing with defiance as she defends her son.

“He's just a child, Seunghyun. Let him enjoy himself.” She said.

Seunghyun's lip curls in disdain, his disapproval evident as he turns away, unwilling to entertain Aera's argument.

Jaehyun approaches, a warm smile lighting up his face as he greets Aera and Jungkook. He is Y/n’s father, Seunghyun and Jaehyun were really close friends and Jaehyun knows everything about Seunghyun, so that is why Seunghyun decided to call Jaehyun as he was getting bored here.

“Hey there, little buddy! Mind if I join you?” He said to Jungkook.

Jungkook's eyes light up with excitement as he nods eagerly, welcoming Jaehyun's company.

Aera watches with a soft smile as Jaehyun plays with Jungkook, laughter filling the air as they play together.

Jaehyun's genuine kindness and warmth leave a lasting impression on Aera and Jungkook, their hearts touched by his genuine care and affection. That he has been showing for years now.

Jaehyun pulls out a chair and sits, Seunghyun gives him a look. “I called you here for myself, not to entertain Jungkook.” He said.

Jaehyun smiled, “Oh come on, Jungkook is a really fun kid.” Seunghyun then finally smiled. He talked and now the awkward vibe was gone.

Seunghyun went to take the call, leaving Aera and Jaehyun alone.

“Aera, how are you holding up?” He asked.

Aera looks up, surprise flickering in her eyes as she meets Jaehyun's gentle gaze. His presence brings a sense of comfort, a welcome reprieve from the turmoil of her crumbling relationship with Seunghyun.

“I'm... managing, I suppose.” She replied

“He has changed, don't you think? I can no longer stand by and watch my best friend's cruel treatment towards you and Jungkook.” He said.

“I don't understand if he wants to keep me or leave me.” She mumbles.

“No one can leave someone like you, but at least he can treat you better..” He said. Aera was shocked, and then she shook her head.

“That's not true.” She said,

“You are forgetting who you are, Aera. Jeon Aera, the whole nation had a crush on you.” He said. Aera took a heavy breath thinking about her peak era and how Seunghyun destroyed it.

She was not even given a choice, suddenly she was just offered less and less work and then suddenly no work at all because Seunghyun doesn't want her to work.

But she was seeing him as just a friend, meanwhile he was expecting more. He wanted more. He didn't just waste years on gaining her trust just to be labeled as friends.

Jaehyun wanted to make a difference, Jaehyun set out to win Aera's trust. He begins by showing her kindness and compassion, offering a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on during her darkest moments.

Over the years, Jaehyun's genuine care support slowly chips away at the walls around Aera's heart. She begins to see him not just as Seunghyun's friend, but as someone who can give her the respect and love that Seunghyun didn't give.

As time passes, Aera finds herself opening up to Jaehyun in ways she never thought possible.

And she thought Jaehyun loved her. He was nice to Jungkook too, meanwhile Seunghyun never even wanted to look at Jieun, who was Aera's first daughter.

Jaehyun even made promises to her that he will help Aera get his first daughter from wherever Seunghyun is hiding her.

Aera was about to commit the sin of being in an affair with married again. But she was manipulated by Jaehyun's manipulation.

Seunghyun has completely stopped visiting her for months now. In absence Jaehyun was with her, and Jungkook.

He was with them until she got pregnant. Then he remembered his family. He wanted Aera to ab0rt the baby, but Aera doesn't want to.

Jaehyun doesn't want to risk losing his family, he knows his father too, if his father gets to know about his affair, he will just kick him out of the property.

Nor did he actually love Aera like Seunghyun, that he would accept the child and risk his own family.

Months passed by, Aera was actually excited for the baby. Seunghyun hasn't contacted her nor he picks her calls so he considers that breakup.

But Jaehyun started to give her the cold shoulder too. He thought if he started to ignore her and put her in financial problems she would get the ab0rtion herself.

But she didn't, now she couldn't even get ab0rtion as it had been months now.

Jaehyun couldn't convince her to k’ll the baby.

So he decided to k’ll her.

Give her poison and the child can just d’e together.

He thought he would cover it up but Seunghyun found out, and he was really furious which led to them breaking the friendship. And the argument they were having in Y/n’s house was because of this too.

But Seunghyun still helped Jaehyun and never let anyone know that it was m*rder.

Because that could have led Seunghyun to get in more Trouble and unnecessary rivalry, so he rather not have anything to do with this. In exchange Jaehyun gave Seunghyun some shares too, so he find it unnecessary to ruin the connection both families have.

“Why did you bring Jungkook to your house?” Jaehyun even wanted Seunghyun to abandon Jungkook.

“Where else should I have brought my child too?” He said.

“Seunghyun, don't, he has seen me with his mother so many times, what if he times everyone?” Jaehyun asked.

“He is a child. He hardly remembers anything about Jaehyun, and I am not as cruel as you, I can't let anything happen to my child.” Seunghyun said. Jaehyun clenched his fists.

“I don't want that kid to ruin my family's life.” He said.

“He is part of my family, maybe Aera wasn't. That is why I couldn't include her in my family, but Jungkook is, he is my blood, and don't even think of hurting Jungkook. If you ever dared to hurt him, I will expose you In Front of everyone.” He said.

Jaehyun was still furious, he left the room as he did he saw Jungkook who got excited when he saw Jaehyun. And he wanted to talk to him. “Uncle!”

Before Jungkook could say anything else he held his collar, lifting Jungkook off the floor by his collar. “Do you know who I am?”He asked. Jungkook was just confused and terrified.

“Don't talk to me ever again, you don't know me, you have never even seen me, if you dared to talk to me! Or tell anyone who I am, I will send you where your mother is.” He said and hardly threw Jungkook at the floor, causing the little child to get hurt.

He stepped on his tiny hand, “You will act like you don't remember me. You will pretend you know nothing.Promise me right now.”

Jungkook was crying, but indeed he was terrified and promised to not tell anyone.

He acted like he didn't remember anything. He didn't tell anyone, he kept his promise.

He didn't understand why in the start, but slowly he started to know the reason why. He understood, but he kept pretending until even Jaehyun forgot that he was the one who told Jungkook to pretend like he didn't know anything.
__

(Unedited)
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