POV: Male Lead (Min-jae)
Min-jae could hear his own heartbeat—steady but heavy.
Ha-neul's hand still rested on his chest, over the heart that wasn't originally his.
He closed his eyes.
He didn't want to say it.
But the truth was clawing at his throat, demanding to be set free.
He gently removed her hand, sat up, and ran a hand through his hair.
"Min-jae, please," Ha-neul whispered. "Whatever it is, we can get through it together."
Can we?
He finally looked at her—her eyes filled with love, trust, and concern.
And for the first time since he learned the truth, he wasn't sure if that trust would survive the night.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke.
---
A Truth That Hurts
"When I was 14, my mother died in this very hospital." His voice was cold, detached.
Ha-neul blinked, taken aback by his tone.
"You told me before," she said softly. "She had a heart condition—"
"Yes. And she was supposed to have surgery." His jaw clenched. "But it was delayed."
He watched as confusion crossed her face.
"The doctor in charge of the surgery postponed it. He decided that another patient needed the operating room more."
Ha-neul's frown deepened.
"Min-jae… who was the doctor?"
A pause.
And then—
"Your father."
---
A Silence That Cut Deeper Than Words
The room fell into complete silence.
Ha-neul's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something—but no words came out.
Her face paled.
She shook her head slightly. "No… that's not…"
Min-jae didn't look away. "It's the truth."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "He… he must have had a reason."
"A reason?" Min-jae let out a bitter laugh. "He let a pregnant woman die. My mother. My unborn sibling. And you think there was a reason?"
"I don't know!" Ha-neul's voice broke. "I didn't know about this! My father… he wasn't a bad person!"
Min-jae stood up, pacing. His hands clenched and unclenched.
"Do you know what's worse?" He turned to her. "I have his heart inside me. The heart of the man I've hated my entire life."
Ha-neul gasped, covering her mouth.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
The man she loved… was suffering because of her father's actions.
---
The Breaking Point
Min-jae sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to do, Ha-neul."
She shook her head, stepping closer. "Min-jae, I—"
But he took a step back.
Her heart dropped.
"Are you…" Her voice wavered. "Are you going to leave me?"
Min-jae looked at her, eyes filled with torment.
"I don't know."
Her breath hitched. "You don't… know?"
He exhaled slowly. "I love you, Ha-neul. I love you more than anything."
"But every time I look at you… I see him."
Tears fell freely down her face now.
Min-jae turned away.
"I need time," he whispered.
And with that, he walked out.
Leaving Ha-neul alone in their shared pain.
---