A few days later, 

"Jimin-ah, are you coming to the company dinner next Friday?" Seokjin peeked his head to Jimin's office. Jimin lifted his head to look at Seokjin, and a frown formed on his forehead. Dinner? He totally forgot about the company dinner. Jimin sighed as his eyes remained on Seokjin's face. "Should I go?" Jimin asked, as it didn't want to attend the event. 

"Gosh~! Jimin-ah, you're the business director for this company. You should be there, networking for the company at least," Seokjin's bulged as he stated the reason why his colleagues should be there at the dinner. Jimin leaned back as the screen of his laptop no longer got his attention. Each employee was instructed to bring their partner.  "This is the time for you to introduce your wife to us. I mean, everyone in the building knows that you're married and are waiting to meet her since you didn't invite us to your wedding," Seokjin added with an intentional smile. He has always been curious about the woman who makes Jimin call her every few hours.

"She's pregnant right now. I don't think it's a good idea to bring her along. She'll be tired," Jimin replied as his mind drifted to Mari. Is she going to agree if he invited her as his plus one to his work event? The last time she was too involved with his family caused the young lady to be filled with guilt and emotional turbulence, which made her cry so hard that day as she felt bad for lying. He needed to hug her as she fell asleep that night, as she sobbed so hard. Another whirlpool of lies might cause her to cry again. 

"Jimin, make sure to bring your wife to this dinner," Another voice appeared in his office; the chief operating officer smiled as he peeked into Jimin's office where Seokjin was standing a few seconds ago. Jimin sighed and replied, "She might be too tired to attend the event. As you know, our dinner usually takes around three to four hours," 

"Just bring her along. We just wanted to see her. After that, you can send her home." His boss smiled before excusing himself away from Jimin's office. Why would people be curious about his wife? To be true, his filled-in-wife. The temporary wife that filled in the spot for Joeun. Jimin shook his head in firmness. He would never bring Mari along to the dinner and make her feel more burden. Jimin shifted his focus back to his screen and continued with his work. 

"Mari-shi?" Jimin called for Mari when he parked at his usual parking space below Mari's apartment complex. Mari, who was about to walk into the lobby of her apartment, turned her head to look at Jimin, who just got back from work, in his light blue shirt and navy slack. Mari smiled to the man as she walked to the man. "You look a little tired today, Jimin-shi. Are you okay?" 

"Little is an understatement. I'm really tired right now," He mumbled as he clicked the button on his car key, locking his car. "Aigoo, Jimin-shi. You worked too hard. I'll give you a massage tonight," She replied with her bright smile as she walked alongside Jimin, heading to the lobby of her apartment. Jimin just smirked as he glanced at Mari, who walked beside him in her baggy baby blue hoodie and loose grey pants. 

"You look cute in that baby blue hoodie," Jimin complimented Mari as they got into the elevator.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I never saw you wear this hoodie before," 

"You know that Kang Taehyun guy who works at the cafe with me?" 

"Okay, that pretty boy," 

"He gave me this hoodie. I complimented him when I saw him using this hoodie yesterday, and today, he bought the same hoodie for me," 

"He bought this? For you?" 

"Yup, he's nice, right?" 

"Yeah... but why are you accepting gifts from just anyone," Jimin looked at Mari as a frown formed on his forehead. 

"He's my colleague. Don't worry, he would not harm me," Mari retorted as she frowned at Jimin's bitter response. Jimin chuckled as her subtle rebellious side was displayed right now. Jimin ruffled Mari's hair playfully as he walked out of the elevator. Both of them had their dinner together with their grandmother before both of them changed their clothes and cleaned themselves. Jimin went to the living room, where Grandma was seated on the floor while folding the laundry. 

"Grandma, you don't have to do my laundry," Jimin scratched his head as he looked at the old woman folding his clothes. 

"Mari was the one who did your laundry. I just fold it," Hyeja replied as she smiled at his grandson-in-law. 

"Mari?" He sighed. "I already told her to stop washing my laundry, and I'll do it myself. She'll get tired easily if she doesn't listen to me," Jimin added. 

"Don't worry too much. She's just taking care of your well-being," Grandma replied as she continued to fold the laundry. Jimin stole a few glances at Mari, who was in the kitchen, wiping the countertops and their dining table. At times like this, Mari looks a little too young to be a wife and a mother. But, to his surprise, she is doing it well. She's been taking care of his well-being subtly and doing nothing too obvious. He was aware that she did all that as she felt gratitude, but as someone who was used to growing up alone, all this subtle effort from Mari caused him to feel a little emotional. Maybe this is what it's like to have a wife. Jimin thought as his eyes remained on Mari before he sat down beside Grandma and folded his laundry, too. 

"You should go to bed. You look tired," Mari walked into the living room after drying her hand. As Mari moved into the living room, her small pointy nose, rose-pink lips, and beautiful cheekbones caught Jimin's eye. In the soft glow of the room, she emanated a radiant warmth that tugged at his emotions. The realization that Mari had been quietly looking out for him, subtly taking care of him, stirred a sense of gratitude and emotion in Jimin.

"It's still too early," 

"Come here. I'll give you a shoulder massage," She stated as she sat on the couch, nonchalantly pulling Jimin's torso towards her. "Just lean onto me and relax. You'll be refreshed in no time," She added as his torso leaned on her knee. Mari's lean finger that is slowly untying the knot in this shoulder causes Jimin to moan in relaxation. 

"Aigo~ Aigo~, goodnight," Grandma stood up once she was done folding the laundry and went to her. Giving some space to Jimin and Mari in the living room to be alone. Grandma, recognizing the need for privacy, excused herself. 

"Mhmmmm," Jimin moaned as Mari's fingers gently massaged his shoulder and the back of his neck, which had been too stiff lately. Since he met Joeun at Namjoon's summer house, he had a hard time falling asleep as he didn't know how to solve the complexities between him, Joeun and Mari. The quiet ambience allowed the unspoken complexities of their relationships to linger, and for a brief moment, it was just Jimin, Mari, and the shared understanding that seemed to grow.

The soft glow of the living room lamps cast a warm ambience as Mari's fingers continued their rhythmic dance on Jimin's shoulders. Her voice, a gentle murmur, broke the comfortable silence that enveloped them. "Jimin-shi, if you're too tired, you can just go back to your home. It must have been uncomfortable sleeping with me," she suggested, her words laced with genuine concern. The quietude of the room amplified the subtle sounds of their breaths, creating an intimate cocoon.

Jimin, his eyes closed, shook his head in response, a small smile playing on his lips. The tender touch of Mari's fingers provided a sense of comfort that transcended words. "You don't have to come over if you're too busy or tired," she added, the sincerity in her voice echoing the care she felt for him. Jimin turned to face her, his eyes opening to meet Mari's. 

Mari's caring nature surfaced once again as she whispered, "Maybe you can call Joy. Maybe she could make you feel at ease," her words meant only for Jimin's ears. The mention of Joy brought a flicker of something in Jimin's eyes, a mix of surprise and a tinge of discomfort. However, Mari couldn't help but tease, "Hoseok told me that you and Joy had some sneaky naughty time at Namjoon's place when I left. So, maybe you're just missing her," a playful chuckle escaped her lips. 

Jimin grunted in response, a mix of irritation and amusement evident on his face. He sighed, resting his head on Mari's baby bump, finding solace in the soft, rhythmic movements within. It was an intimate tableau—Jimin seeking comfort, Mari offering it.

As Jimin's head rested against her, he shifted the topic, his voice muffled against her baby bump, "My office is going to hold an annual dinner event this Friday. You want to come with me?" The proposal hung in the air, a bridge between their shared moments. Mari, her hand unconsciously Jimin's silky hair, responded softly, "No. Our lies have become so complicated now. I don't want to lie anymore." Her admission carried a weight of sincerity, a desire for authenticity in the midst of their tangled emotions. Jimin nodded his head in understanding; he didn't want to burden the woman anymore. 

Another passed by,

As the day drew to a close, Jimin guided his car into the parking lot beneath the apartment complex; just like the other day, he saw Mari walking towards the apartment lobby, intending to call Mari from a distance. However, his plans shifted when he spotted her strolling toward the lobby, accompanied by someone. A tall young man sporting a pastel-coloured hoodie, unmistakably Kang Taehyun from the café where Mari worked.

Observing from afar, Jimin hesitated, allowing Mari and Taehyun to reach the apartment lobby. Mari, ever polite, remarked to Taehyun, "You don't have to walk me home." Taehyun responded with a friendly grin, "We rarely go home at the same time. So, it's nice to actually walk a pregnant lady home," before bidding Mari farewell and heading in a different direction. Hidden behind the wheel, Jimin watched this exchange with curiosity and a trace of something else.

"Jimin-shi~!" Mari's cheerful greeting rang out as she spotted him approaching, waiting for the elevator. Jimin closed the distance, a question forming in his mind. "So, that is Kang Taehyun?" he inquired, raising an intrigued eyebrow. Mari, catching the inquiry, nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, you saw him?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Jimin simply nodded, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

As they entered the elevator, Jimin couldn't help but notice the subtle weariness etched on his face. In response to his moods, Mari expressed concern, "Didn't I tell you if you are too tired, you should rest at your home?"

Jimin sighed, his pout revealing a hint of vulnerability. "I need your massage," he admitted, leaning toward Mari, their proximity accentuated by the elevator's confined space.

"Jimin-shi, the mattress that we're sleeping on is not comfortable for you, so I think it best for you to stay at your home," 

"Are you subtly kicking me out? Why?"

"That's not what I mean," Mari panicked as she saw Jimin's face twisted in a flash. 

"Because you have Kang Taehyun to take care of you, so you don't need me anymore?" Jimin asked; unaware of the conflicting emotions that played out in his expression, he sighed.

As the elevator doors opened onto their floor, Mari, attuned to the subtle shifts in the atmosphere, decided to playfully tease Jimin. Her eyes, filled with a mixture of mischief and understanding, locked onto his, and with a light, teasing tone, she remarked, "You seem tired. Should I start worrying when my friends walk me home? Perhaps that's what made my husband a little bit bitter today." Her words were delivered with a playful smile, a mischievous glint in her eyes, adding a touch of flirtation to the air and stirring the unspoken complexities between them.

Jimin, momentarily caught off guard by Mari's playful banter, found himself responding with a nervous chuckle. His eyes, a shade deeper than usual, met hers as he tried to maintain a light tone. "No, no need to worry. It's just tired because of... work stuff," he replied, the corners of his lips lifting in a half-smile. The casual dismissal in his words attempted to downplay the flutter of jealousy that tugged at the corners of his consciousness.

As they walked down the corridor, a subtle tension lingered in the air—a gentle dance of unspoken sentiments. Mari's teasing had introduced a playful dynamic, and Jimin, while trying to mask the traces of jealousy, couldn't entirely shake off the lingering unease.

Both of them exchanged a few glances at one another face as they walked toward Mari's house. The interplay of their gazes spoke volumes—Mari's eyes held a mixture of amusement and a gentle challenge, while Jimin's carried a flicker of vulnerability and a subtle longing. Unbeknownst to them, each step down the corridor became a silent exchange, a language only they could understand.

After dinner and a short conversation with Grandma, Mari went into her room to do her assignment as her semester almost ended. Jimin, who was done doing the dishes, went into Mari's room, following her steps. Something had been bothering his mind since he walked out of the elevator just now. He had been too attached to Mari and her grandma without realising.

"Mari-shi,"

"Hmm?" Mari hummed as she was busy typing on her laptop.

"Should I go back home? And sleep on my bed for a couple of days?" He asked, as his eyes remained on Mari's back.

"Yeah, you should go back home. About Grandma, I'll tell her that you need to go out of this city. I'm in my third trimester now, and the baby seems healthy, so don't worry about me too much," Mari turned her body around to look at Jimin clearly. 

"Really?" 

"Yeah... don't worry," Mari squinted her eyes as another smile appeared on her face, comforting the man who seemed hesitating about his decision. Mari knew her place. She had no right to keep Jimin by her side all the time. One day, they'll definitely part ways.  Jimin nodded his head as he reached out his hand to touch Mari's face. 

"Take care of yourself, okay?" Jimin muttered as he smiled warmly at the pregnant lady. 

"Okay,.. rest well or maybe give Joy a call," She whispered, teasing the man.

"Take care, Mari-shi," He whispered back to her before he stood up and walked out of her room and out of the house. Mari nodded her head with a bitter smile, looking at the closed door of her room. Her heart hurt, thinking that what they had now was temporary and she'd need to live her life without him by her side. It was a brave move for her when she told Jimin he should return to his home. Jimin will never love her. His mind is filled with Joeun most of the time, and she was just a burden to his life.

"Kim Taehyung!! What is this?" A loud scream appeared in his house after his front door was knocked for several minutes. Taehyung lifted his head when he heard his father calling his name. Taehyung just rolled his eyes in annoyance at the unwelcome intruders in his home.  He stood up from his lazy couch and put his tablet at the coffee table, crossing his arms as his eyes remained on the old man who just walked into his house. 

"Dad, why are you here?" He raised his brows lazily as he walked to his bar, taking out a bottle of whiskey and pouring it into his cup. This is going to be a long night, he thought as his eyes landed on his father and his favourite personal assistant. 

"What the hell is wrong with you, Kim Taehyung!? Joeun told me you had a kid!" The old man stormed towards Taehyung's direction and slapped his face hard. 

"What?" Taehyung touched his sore face as he glared back at his father. 

"Joeun told me that you made a girl pregnant, and now she's already in her third trimester. Is it true?" The man yelled again, as he could not hide his anger. 

"No, Dad! It's not true. Why do you believe in what Joeun said? She's crazy," Taehyung scoffed as he walked past his father with a cup of whiskey.

"Are you sure that you're not lying?" The man asked as he growled in anger, looking at his child's nonchalant behaviour. 

"Yeah,.. if that kid is mine, why would it bother you anyway?" 

"Kim Taeahyung!!" Mr Seo, the personal assistant, warned he didn't want the father and son to fight. 

"If the foetus has already reached the third trimester and safely delivered. I want you to take the baby and register the kid as yours," The father added as he watched Taehyung acting like he had no interest in the topic he was discussing. 

"Taehyung, can you give me this girl's phone number and address? Maybe we can find a resolution with her," Mr Seo stated as he placed the pictures of Kwon Mari that Joeun gave him. Taehyung just smirked as he sighed. 

"Mr Seo, the kid in her tummy is not mine," 

"I understand; maybe we can take her to the nearest gynaecology to conduct a DNA test so we can make sure that she is not pregnant with your child," Mr Seo stated, causing Taehyung to shut his eyes tight. Remembering the promise that he made to her. He used to be sure that she was not pregnant with his child, but after she made him promise never to claim her baby as his, his stand started to shake. 

"Dad, that child is not mine, and I never wanted to have a child of my own!!" 

"Why!!! This child will be the heir to our wealth! This child will be a treasure in your grandfather's eyes as this will be his first great-grandchild. Imagine how much land and buildings he would buy for your kid for being the first great-grandchild," 

"This child will grow up alone, without a mom and dad, just like I used to be!!! So, you better stay away from this unknown kid because he is not my baby!" 

"He? So the baby is a boy?" 

"Dad!!!! Just get the out of my life!" 

"Yah!!! If you do grow up alone, you're probably dead by now. This Kwon Mari? Mr Seo will find her and conduct a DNA test on the baby," 

"How many times-" 

"Shhhhhhhh, if that baby is proven to be yours. Just get yourself ready., or find a wife or something to take care of the baby. No excuse," Taehyung's dad gritted his teeth as he arranged his step to get out of Taehyung's house. Taehyung cursed as he watched his father walk out of his house. Before long, emotion runs into his veins as his childhood memories resurface and the loneliness he felt as he grew up. Taehyung took out his phone and dialled for Jimin's number in the seek of emotional solace and comfort.