The smell of chocolate spread through the kitchen as I prepared the cake. So-hyun, my daughter, kept tugging at my dress, wanting to peek at the batter in the bowl.

“Mommy, I want to see!” she asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

“Honey, go watch the cartoon. As soon as it’s ready, you can put the sprinkles on, okay?”

She pouted, but obeyed, jumping on the sofa in the living room. Finally, some peace… or at least that’s what I thought, until I heard a whimper coming from the living room.

I rolled my eyes before even looking. I already knew who it was.

When I turned around, there he was. Hae-won, still in a suit, with his hair messy from the tiring day at the office, was holding So-hyun in his lap. She had her little arms around his neck, and her eyes were shining as if she knew exactly what she was doing.

“What now?” I asked, crossing my arms.

— You left our daughter alone, abandoned and sad on the couch — Hae-won dramatized, stroking the little girl's hair.

— I told her to watch the cartoon while I finish the cake — I replied, arching my eyebrow.

— But she wanted to see you cook… — he replied, looking at me in that irresistible way.

So-hyun smiled victoriously on his lap, and I snorted.

— You're spoiling this girl too much — I complained.

— And you look too beautiful in an apron — he said, smiling sideways.

My heart started racing a little, but I tried to ignore it.

— Hae-won…

— What? I'm just telling the truth.

I sighed, going back to messing with the cake frosting, but he came closer and hugged me from behind, still holding So-hyun with impressive ease. His warm breath brushed my neck.

— I missed you today — he murmured.

My face heated up, but before I could answer, So-hyun clapped her hands together.

“Daddy won, Mommy lost! Now I can see the cake up close!”

Hae-won laughed, giving me a charming look.

“It seems so.”

I sighed, picking up the spatula and handing it to my daughter.

“Next time, you’ll both be grounded.”

“Does that mean we’ll be alone in the room?” he whispered teasingly.