Noel quickly opens the door as she hears the car entering the gates. Namjoon had informed her that Aera was with them and they would be late. He did not go into details but from his tone she could figure out that things were not all right. She eats a small meal the whole day and waited for them to return. She is anxious and having a gut feeling that things are going to change for the best or for the worst.

They get down from the car with Namjoon holding Deiji and Joy carrying a sleeping Aera. They get to Joy's room and Noel closes the door.

"What happened?" Noel asks quickly.

Namjoon  and Joy look at each other. They look drained and worried. He sighs, "As we thought, she did go to get Aera from her friend's home..." He narrates the whole incident.

"Oh my God!! This was left..." Noel shakes her head sadly, "I wish we could help her. She...how could she do that?!" She has a good idea about Irene's temperament and can withstand it when it is limited to only her and other servants. But now...

"Yes. Aera is really scared of her." Joy utters. She wakes Aera and takes her to freshen up and get ready for bed.

Namjoon asks the older woman to come outside the room, "I won't beat around the bush and I want to tell you about it before anyone else."

Noel looks confused, "Yes. What is it?"

"I've decided to adopt Aera."

She looks at him in shock, "What?!"

"I've decided to adopt her." He repeats, "After what happened today, I am worried for Aera's safety the most. I can keep Park Sooyoung and Deiji away from Ren. But I cannot do that for Aera, unless I am one of  her legal parents. I have not talked to Park Sooyoung yet. I know I should have consulted her first cuz she will involved in co-parenting but at that time I could not think of any other option. And I had to do something really fast. The paperwork has already started and in few days it will be processed."

"I know, Namjoon but..."

"If you are worried about the Bae's name then don't worry Aera won't need to change her title if she does not want to. And if you are thinking what will people say that her foster uncle is legally adopting her when her own aunt is still around then I can speak about the abuse the child had to go through because of her father. And..." He looks downwards, "I may also have to note how her aunt has failed to protect the child." He hates himself for saying such things about his Ren but he cannot help it.

Noel just nods and smiles a little, "You know...I never thought you would be able to perceive things beyond Mistress Irene and her wishes one day...I can just say that I am glad. I was just saying what if she gets more violent and do something extreme? Or this court-cases and stuff...what if she fights back dirty?"

"Then...I guess I will just have to speak the truth." He states. 

After they said their good nights, Noel gets into her room and calls Cheonsa to inform her about everything. The other lady expresses her worry and fear for the little girl. She has been tensed since Noel has first mentioned her about Irene's mental health. But she feels secured when she hears about the adoption. Now she just prays that all will be sorted with anymore hussle.  

Namjoon stands outside Joy's room again and knocks. It seems the girls are asleep. Joy slowly opens the door and lets him enter.

"I wanted to talk to you about something." He says sitting down.

"Hmmm..." She nods.

"I 've decided on something without consulting you. I should have...I am sorry."

She is a bit surprised and confused.

"I...I have asked my lawyer to get the adoption papers ready for Aera..."

Joy's jaws drops, "Adoption?!"

"Yes. I thought we can only keep her safe if we become her legal parents. I mean after today... you know how important it is. I know I should have discussed with you at first but that moment I wanted to do it as sooner as possible. Sorry again..."

"Thank you..."

He looks at her. She has tears in her eyes and one can also find love, respect, trust and gratitude in them.

" Thank you for letting Aera in my life in the first place!! Thank you so much for doing this for that little girl. She may not understand it but the insecurity and unsurety of living like this is just..." She shakes her head, "Aera and Deiji are so lucky to have you in their lives. Namjoon, you are a great father." 

The honesty and admiration make him blush. He clears his throat and says, "I just don't want her to suffer...She don't deserve any of those torture or abuse inflected on her since her birth. It was never her fault..." Namjoon reflects on his past and Joy thinks about her own.

"And Unnie? I mean...she will..." Joy asks softly.

Namjoon nods, "Yeah, I know. She'll fight back. But we have to do this for her. We are not separating them forever. We're doing this cuz she won't be a good parent to her. Besides for more than a year it was you who took care of her. Doing everything a real mom does. You know how to balance your studies, home and the kids. You are physically and mentally healthy. And as for me, I can provide well for them..."

"...And love them so much..." Joy speaks out. She is smiling. She is yet to get used to his praises. But whenever she gets them it never fails to make her feel so special. She touches the wooden locket around her neck.

"Huh?" Namjoon looks up at her.

"You love them, you are willing to do anything to protect them. You have not voiced it but parents never say what they want or can do for their children. They just do it. That is exactly what you are doing, always." Joy looks at him understandingly.

Namjoon smiles slightly at her explanation. He does not  know to be a father. He has no idea what he has been doing is right or wrong. But when someone, especially the other parent, says that he is doing a good job, it makes him confident and satisfied.

"...I do not want to hurt Irene. You know I can never do that!! I still love and care for her. If I cannot stop her from hurting herself then I would try my best to stop her from harming others." He rubs his face with his hands.

"Why are you saying you can't help her? I mean if we can convince her..." Joy starts.

But Namjoon shakes his head, "You don't know her as much as I do. Today in the parking lot you two were talking. But you did not notice her eyes. Did you?"

Joy shakes her head.

"Her eyes were cloudy as if she was in a daze. There was immense hatred and anger in them when..." He looks at her, "...when they were directed at you. Those negative feelings were vanished when they fell on me. I saw love, longing and accusation in them. The loathe was back when she noticed Deiji in the car. She is fully aware of what has happened and why. Still she harbours such feelings for you and the baby. Yes, she has suffered. Yes, her baby did not survive. Yes, she is suffering from post-partum and infertility. I know and agree that her pain is too much to bear. But her hatred for you and Deiji is so..." He shakes his head, "...is so unacceptable. She is blaming you for something that was never your fault."

Joy wipes her eyes. She may have never been too friendly with Irene but she has never even sneered at the older girl.

"You must have heard about or connection?" Namjoon asks her.
She nods. 

"You remember the nightmare I had about Deiji where she was..." He gulps and looks at the bassinet, "...she was falling from the cliff?"

Joy nods again, "Yes."

"I told you about it but I did not tell you one thing. I saw the person who was throwing her in the lake. It..." He takes some time to control himself, "It was Ren..."

Joy blinks in shock. What kind of a nightmare was that?

"Few days back when I stayed in this room and remember I asked everyone if they had been outside your bedroom?"

She nods.

"I am quite sure it was Irene."

This time Joy stands up quickly, "What?!"

"Yes. I am damn sure someone was watching us and when I had opened the door I got the smell of sweet plum. Specifically that scent. You know who uses that fragrance."

Joy gulps in fright.

"After the dream I was a bit cautious around her. The smell I thought I was mistaking. Then her weird talk with Deiji and then me...I began to feel that it was not my imagination. Then Dr. Tan, Kim Seokjin and then Aera...I...I know I cannot help her." He cries in his hands.

Joy walks towards him and pulls him in her arms, "You are a great friend, Namjoon. You have loved her and you have done everything for her. But there is a limit to everything. You have come to that limit and you know that. Unnie can only help herself now. We can just hope she understands that and let us help her as well."

He nods slowly.

They sit like that and do not realize someone is watching them. Aera had woken up from her slumber to find her Jooyyy and Nemjjun unkeel hugging each other on the couch. He has his face buried in her neck and she is softly running her hand on his back and head. Aera scrunches up her tiny nose and scratches her head. Then she realizes. Her friends have said that their parents kiss and hug each other. When they ask the daycare instructor about it, she explained that it means they are happy together. Her Jooyyy and Unkeel are the umma and appa of her Baby-ah. So they are husband and wife. She knows that as she went to her Unkeel Jimin's wedding and saw many husbands and wives. Also she saw videos of weddings in her class. They need to know about social norms.

She smiles happily to herself. It means they are happy together...