Chapter 280: Ignorance is bliss... isn’t it?

Seoha’s POV

I giggle at the video Minjae sent me two hours ago.

It’s three forty-five a.m.

I can’t go back to sleep, so I’m watching my best friend through the phone as he embarrasses himself.

Minjae keeps sending me videos of when he’s taking a bath or when he’s peeing or pooping. I really don’t need them; but he keeps insisting that he is teaching me ’post-motherhood’.

This friend of mine, I love him to death, but I want to kick him at the same time.

"You’re still up? You’re not going to sleep?" Yuki says as she comes into the kitchen.

The woman is yawning and rubbing at her eyes. Her tattoos are showing, but she’s dressed in cute hello kitty pajamas.

"I woke up some minutes ago" I say while trying to stifle a loud yawn of my own.

I’m leaning over the kitchen counter with my phone in hand and a glass of water next to me.

Minjae is also awake at the hospital.

He doesn’t sleep well in noisy places, and he hates that he can’t be with his son, so he visits the special room as often as twice in an hour.

"So...did you and Taesan settle?" I ask Yuki and she shrugs. Her bob is messy from sleeping awkwardly.

"I can’t say; although he told me to look after you guys" she says as she heads over to the tap.

I watch her get her own glass of water, and she shrugs again.

"Seriously, how do you cope with that man? Taesan is an annoying prick" she says and I shake my head at her.

She’s older than me, so I don’t correct her, I just laugh.

"He’s my mate, and I’m in love with him"

"Woah...love does strange things to people" she mutters and sits on one of the stools in the kitchen.

We stay quiet for a few seconds, staring at nothing and listening to the soft hum of the refrigerator.

After a while, I wince at the sudden pain in my chest.

"Do you remember when you first came to M.A?"

"M.A? what’s that?" I ask in confusion and she sips her glass of water like it’s a glass of expensive wine.

"M.A is Mountain Atelier, keep up" she clicks her tongue and I roll my eyes at her.

Still a tease.

"I told you to stay away from Taesan" she says and I nod.

"That’s right. And you asked me to stay away from everything that has to do with him and the...family" I say and she hums.

"Do you ever wish you could turn back time and do what I said you should do?" she asks in a solemn voice and I look at her.

Do?

"I don’t know...maybe?" I say with uncertainty and she hums softly.

"Why? This life gets overwhelming, doesn’t it?" Yuki asks and I don’t think twice.

"No...I don’t know" I say and shake my head. My mating bite feels strangely cold, so I rub at it to warm myself.

"I actually don’t wish I can turn back time. I cherish every moment of it" I say and she slouches in her seat.

"I know I’m stupid for being with Taesan this way, but I don’t regret it" I speak for myself and she nods.

How can I regret falling deep into the man who stood for me?

My dad walked out of my life. Daeshin used me. My aunt and my cousins made me hate myself...but Taesan stood for me.

"I don’t regret it" I say again softly and I hear Yuki sniffle.

"I regret betraying the family" she says and tears fill our eyes.

In the dimly lit kitchen, we stare at each other, eyes brimming with unshed tears and lips trembling.

"Being with Junho wasn’t love, but I regret losing his friendship. Right now, I can’t even play with Sooin without seeing myself as the betrayer who took her to the lion’s den" Yuki’s voice cracks and I get up to hug the woman.

"We’re learning" I whisper and she nods.

"I’ll fight for this family till I die" she says and wipes her tears off with the back of her hand.

We break our hug and the tattooed woman looks small as she says those words.

"We still have a lot to fight for. We have the future, Mountain Atelier needs you, Sooin adores you, our unborn pups will love you, and Taesan sees you as family" I tell her.

I hear the noise of footsteps approaching and we both freeze.

"Daddy?" Sooin’s small voice calls and I turn around, sighing with relief as she comes to join us.

My little girl doesn’t look so little anymore.

She looks taller. Her hair is in space buns, her eyes are heavy with sleep, and her lips are pouted.

"Sooinah, what’s wrong?" I ask.

"I had a bad dream" she says and I open my arms to hug her.

"What was it about?" my voice softens when she wraps her arms around my waist and presses her face into my stomach.

"Dad didn’t come for us" she says with a shaky voice and I chuckle softly.

"That’s impossible, baby. Your dad will always come for us; he loves us too much" I tell her and Yuki nods in agreement.

"I’m scared" Sooin whispers.

"Do you want to sleep near daddy?" I ask and she nods, still sniffling softly, and I kiss the top of her head.

"Don’t cry, okay? before you know it, dad will be here" I say in a cheerful voice.

"Promise?" Sooin holds her pinkie finger up.

"Promise" I whisper, linking my pinkie with her tiny one.

"Come on, pup. Let’s go to bed" I say and take her hand.

"Goodnight or...good morning?" Yuki says and I wave at her, leaving my phone face down on the counter.

My omega whines in my chest, and I shake it off. He has been acting moody since I woke up.

"Careful" I say as I help Sooin up the stairs.

"I love you and dad, daddy" Sooin says and I pat her head.

"I love you too, princess" I say, using the title that Taesan likes to call her by.

The weather is warm this morning, but why is my mating bite so cold right now?

My omega whines again. I guess I have to put on something warmer and call my mate when I wake up...I miss him.