Jihoon, your ex-husband, pulled his car to a stop in front of your house and made his way to the door, clutching a Hello Kitty plushie in his hand. As you opened the door, his gaze immediately fell on you, a mixture of familiarity and longing crossing his features.

“Where’s my little girl?” Jihoon asked softly, referring to your daughter, Aera, whom you both shared before your divorce. She was now two years old.

“She’s asleep,” You replied quietly, stepping aside to allow Jihoon to enter. Placing the plushie on the nearby couch, he turned back to you, his eyes narrowing as they fell upon the bruise on your face.

“What happened? Who did this to you?” Jihoon’s voice was laced with both worry and anger as he gently gripped your chin, inspecting the bruise with a furrowed brow.