Jaehee didn't really know what she got herself into.

She usually wasn't the kind of person to act purely on impulse... No, she was the complete opposite. She calculated, recalculated, considered, worried-

But for some reason that didn't happen today.

All of the sudden she found herself standing right in front of an extremely luxurious mansion; and it wasn't even Jumin's penthouse.

This place... seemed so disconnected from the rest of the world. So intimidating. And apparently it had the same effect on Jumin next to her, who unconsciously squeezed her hand slightly as he hesitantly reached out for the golden doorbell and rang it.

Silently, the two stared at the door of red wood while quickened footsteps could be heard in the background. The quietness was broken as the door was no longer closed shut.

"Jumin," Mr. Chairman acknowledged him with a nod after his many bodyguards stood aside for father and son to make eye contact.

"We need to talk," Jumin quickly noted, sounding concerned.

Mr. Chairman gave him a cocked smirk. "Of course we will, son. Come upstairs to the dining room and you'll get your wish."

The raven-haired man couldn't help but deepen his frown, a growl almost escaping from his lips. "That is exactly what I want to avoid-"

"Jumin..." Jaehee flinched at the new, feminine but mature voice that quietly called out her boss's name. When she was able to discover who the person was, it turned out to be an extremely beautiful woman clearly around Mr. Chairman's age noting the creases on the corners of her eyes.

Her skin was pale and her hair cascaded down on raven black waves that reached her shoulders; as a whole she styled very elegantly and sophisticatedly. Her eyes were really sharp-looking, which really reminded Jaehee of someone...

Jumin stared at the woman in front of them with clear conflict. His silver eyes widened greatly before narrowing again and he uttered a soft reply, "Mother..."

"What the he-" Jaehee (luckily) shrieked inside her head, shocked at the revelation. This lady was Jumin's mother?! No wonder they looked so incredibly similar! They both were supermodels...

"Son..." she finally responded after a doubtful minute. "It's wonderful to see you again after so many years." She slowly walked towards the tall man, much taller than she was herself. "You've grown into a respectable businessman."

She almost allowed her hand to caress Jumin's cheek lovingly, but retreated in fear he might not take it well.

Jumin's eyes were closed tightly, as if attempting to deny the presence of his estranged mother suddenly right in front of his face. He wasn't able to speak or even move.

His mind was becoming an increasing mess of pulled, disarranged threads forming a giant knot that represented all those intense feelings he had bottled up during all his life.

Jumin just couldn't. It was just too much. Too much pain. Too much confusion...

Then he felt a squeeze on his right hand that managed to bring him back to reality. He looked down surprisedly only to realize Jaehee was gazing at him with heartfelt, reassuring eyes.

She was deeply worried about him, and he could feel that through the comfort she gave him while tenderly holding his hand. As if to keep him standing.

He finally got the strength to lift his head and gaze back at his absent mother. The one he never knew. "I have."

He noticed his mother smile slightly for half a second before going back to her stoic expression. Her grey orbs lowered until her eyes were settled on Jaehee Kang's petite, trembling figure.

She raised an eyebrow when she noticed how she and Jumin's grip on each other had never loosened; and she assumed the young girl to be her daughter-in-law. "It's an honor to meet your girlfriend, son." She leaned down in a respectful bow.

Before either Jaehee or Jumin could speak up, she decided to introduce herself. "My name is Jooeun Lee, pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Um..." Jaehee murmured nervously, letting go of Jumin as if to reveal they weren't actually dating.

"She is Jaehee, my assistant. We don't hold a relationship of that sort," Jumin told her with slight spite, grasping the bridge of her nose to calm his nerves. "And may I know what you're doing here... after all these years?" he questioned with a low snarl. "What made you come back?"

The older woman became silent, having been caught red-handed. Mr. Chairman immediately jumped on the scene, feeling how horribly tense the environment had turned. "Jumin, be polite with your mother," he reprimanded him.

Then the old man of grey hair cleared his throat. "Me and your mother have decided to... You have to understand, but Jooeun and I-"

"We're getting back together," Jooeun said, seeing that he wasn't going straight to the point. "We'll be getting remarried this year..."

"What...?" Jaehee's worry increased by a mile when she noticed how Jumin's face had paled so suddenly to the point he almost looked like a ghost. His eyes widened and they rolled to the back of his head.

"Mr. Han!" the short-haired brunette exclaimed when Jumin started stumbling back as if he was about to faint. But he was able to hold himself in place, especially thanks to Jaehee supporting his back and arm from behind.

"I will make sure to invite you to the wedding," his biological mother decided to tell him before walking back inside the house as calmly as she could.

..

Afterwards, the disturbed Ceo-in-line was leaning back on his car seat, Jaehee next to him trying to calm down his pure rage. "This whole situation feels like an acid trip... is that what people call it?" She heard him mutter dazedly, his eyes still unfocused.

"Mr. Han... What have I told you about using urban vocabulary?" she inquired gently, attempting to lighten up his mood of just a little. Seeing that he didn't respond, instead quietly turning his face to the window, she resolved to asking the many questions hoarding her mind.

"Mr. Han... If I may ask... " She glanced at him momentarily for permission to continue, not wanting to be disrespectful or bring back bad memories. Jumin nodded, allowing her.

"What's your relationship with Ms. Lee? I mean, you don't have to answer-" She quickly reassured him in her ramble.

"She's my biological mother," Jumin proceeded to tell her, knowing in his heart he fully trusted Jaehee and confided in her. "She divorced my father before I turned four years old. The last time I heard of her was two years ago, when she was traveling around the world for leisure... And now... my father told me she has returned."

"Oh," Jaehee uttered, her golden eyes widening slightly as they kept examining Jumin's strained expression.

"We never formed a bond of any kind, and she abandoned my life as soon as she escaped this household. I... I haven't seen her in so many years..." Jumin's frown was no longer an angered one but a completely saddened, longing face.

She could tell he resented his mother and that it probably affected him more painfully than anyone could imagine. Her upper body began leaning forward, closer and closer to Jumin's figure, until her arms enveloped his back and she squeezed him in a comforting, understanding hug.

Neither of them said anything, nor moved either. Just stayed next to each other's warmth, feeling the solace of having one another in the midst of life's hardships.

..

They stayed that way all the road until Driver Kim reached C&R once again. The chauffeur parked the company car right by the building's entrance, and got out of his seat to open Jumin's door.

He was greatly surprised when he saw the surreal scene of Jumin and Jaehee somehow cuddling together. They were both too distracted to notice him staring at them with his mouth wide agape. "Er, um, Mister... Mr. Han?"

As soon as his hesitant voice rang through their ears, both people flinched out of their minds, snapping from their deep thoughts.

They quickly pulled away, sitting at least a meter away from each other, embarrassed.

"Miss Kang?" Driver Kim muttered again, scratching his cheek bemusedly. What had he missed between these two?