Seokjin looks up from his plate at Irene. She has become more dejected after her visit to the Bae Mansion. It was a week ago. He did not object to her decision. Afterall, it concerns her niece. That little soul should not be dragged into this adults' mess in the first place. Irene will check on Aera atleast thrice a week. She has informed him that today is one such day.

"Are you feeling alright? Shall I call the doctor?" He asks in concern. He finds her moving the spoon aimlessly and looking intently at the plate.

"Huh? Oh no! I am fine. I just don't feel like eating. It is common in this condition. You don't worry." She smiles a little.

"Oh, then, I can tell the maid to get you something else! What do you want to eat?" Seokjin asks eagerly. She rarely ever shares her cravings and feelings with him.

She smiles at him again and shakes her head, "It's okay. I will eat something when I will be hungry."

Seokjin cannot decide what torments him more. Her lies? Her forced smiles? He feels like they are turning into his parents. Cold, unhappy and just tolerating each other's existence. Except, in his case, Irene is cheating on him emotionally.  

He has learned that one can be miserable even after marrying the love of one's life.

He watches her excusing herself and retrieving to their bedroom.

"Stop, Kim Seokjin! You have to be strong! You've to be strong for your child! You'll be a good father! And hope that he or she will love you. Yes, atleast, he or she will love you for real." He murmurs to himself and wipes a stray tear.

Namjoon is looking through the files. He puts the spoon absent-mindedly back on the plate and begins to pack his office bag. So much work! He had to have his breakfast in the studyroom. He checks the watch and it is almost time for him to leave for office. Irene must be visiting today. He has heard her voice.

How can still recognize the slightest of her voice from so far away?!

He groans. He opens the door to check if he can hear her but see Joy walking through the hallway towards the room. He leans at the doorframe and waits for her to reach. He rises his eyebrow to ask what the matter was.

Joy looks at him and peeks inside. Namjoon glances back to see she looking at the tray and moves away to let her in. It is his personal studyroom and no one is allowed here without his permission.

She gathers the things and turns, "Do you need something else?"

Namjoon smirks.  How he wants Seokjin to see his lovely baby sister in this situation!

He shakes his head no. He again goes back to his bag. He thought she has left when suddenly a hand covers his mouth. He gets surprised to see Joy rubbing his lips roughly with concentration. She stops for a moment and brings out a tissue from her pocket. 

She is about to bring it to his face when he yells after getting over the initial shock, "WHAT THE HELL?! HOW DARE..."

"Ketchup. Dried." She says meekly and points at the corner his lip.

He self-consciously wipes his face and looks at her asking it is gone.

She shakes her head and again rubs his lips. This time with the wet tissue.

"OH! YOU ARE SO ROUGH!" He moves away, irritated.

Joy looks at the tissue, "It's gone now. What type of ketchup is this?! Glue-type?" She frowns.

Namjoon looks at her incredulously and rolls his eyes.

She leaves to find a paled Irene outside the room, looking lost.

"Good morning Unnie. Aera is still sleeping." Joy deliberately avoids eye-contact and folded her lips inwards as if to appear embarassed. 

At that very moment Namjoon comes out of the room, locking it. He was waiting for her arrival for the whole week.

He has so many things to say to her but as always couldn't.

"I'm leaving." He looks at Irene distraught.

Irene would have definitely notice his despair if her attention is not on his red and swollen lips.

She just nods and walks away to where Aera is...in Joy's room.

Namjoon keeps looking longingly at her until she disapppears and lets out a shaky, mournful sigh. He walks outside the mansion to his car without paying any attention to anyone or anything.

Joy walks back to the kitchen. She washes her face and shakes her head. 

It is agony, pure agony. Like a knife repeatedly plunging into her heart. But she will have to do it as she has decided. She is the wife here. She is no competition.

She smirks a little. Tiny steps. She has to check in her room if  it was succeessful.

Irene looks outside the window of Joy's room. It is nothing special and there is no comparison with her previous bedroom in the Kim mansion. Her mind goes back to the scene of minutes earlier.

"OH GOD! YOU ARE SO ROUGH!" Namjoon's shout.

Joy's awkward and uncomfortable behavior, his lips, red and...

She holds her head tightly. Isn't it obvious?!! He may not love or regard Joy as his wife but she still is.

She rises her head to see Joy entering with a small school shirt and pant.

"How are you and Oppa?" Joy asks sincerely. She misses her oppa.

"We are fine." Irene looks at her closely.

Joy has changed. The sweet, innocent and adament Joy is not here. They know each other for a decade now but they are never close.

"How's the baby? Do you know the gender?" Joy asks excitedly. No matter how their relation is she never fails to pray for them at night.

"The baby is fine and healthy. It's a girl." Irene smiles a little.

"Oh, that is great! I am so happy for you. Congratulations!" Joy feels elated.

Though her sister-in-law's unenthusiasm dampens her mood.

"Thanks." Irene looks at the child sleeping on Joy's bed,"Does she sleep here now?"

"Huh? Yes. After that night I did not feel secured to let her stay in her room. Besides it was my fault."Joy sighs.

"What? Why?! It was you who saved her and also got injured." Another scene begins to play in her mind which she shakes off.

"Yes. But that night Aera woke up and came out of her room looking for me. Only to face her father in the hallway. He was drunk and..."Joy shakes her head and begins to wake Aera up by planting kisses on her cheek.

The little girl giggles and pretends to sleep.

"Okayyy. Baby, wake up now! You've school today and look who has come to meet you." Joy smiles at Irene who is dumb-founded. 

Aera opens her eyes to see Irene smiling at her. She gets up and stands on the bed.

"Good morning Aunty." She bows respectfully Irene.

"Good morning! Wow. Aera has become a big girl with such good manners." She smiles.

"Oh, yes! My teachers say that too! I learn all from My Jooyy." She exclaims.

Irene looks at Joy beaming. She must admit the changes are inevitable. But she never thought these girls would be so close.

She observes Joy effortlessly getting Aera ready and feeding her breakfast. She asks about her school and other activities. Irene leaves as she is getting late for her office.

After promising to pick her up and bring her to meet Cheonsa, Joy returns home to study. She has decided to resume her studies. She may not be a good student but a certified degree is very important. She wants to be a good exemplary to Aera. She is in her junior year of university and does not have to be in class if not urgent.  She is preparing for her upcoming tests and has been very busy. This term, her marks are better and she really hopes to get a greater GPA.

Today, Irene's dejected face makes her feel sorry.  But it had to be done. She cannot stop her from visiting. She does not even want to try. Aera should be close to her aunt. None of these is her fault.

Joy, Irene, Namjoon and Seokjin, they all have made their own choices and now they will have to bear the consequences. But if she wants to make her and Namjoon's lives better, there is no harm.