"Where is he?" Mark barged inside the hospital room, not caring for the person who got admitted there.

The woman laid on the bed had her eyes glistened in happiness. "Mark!"

But he was furious. Mark's stern gaze bore holes through her soul. "I had a schedule outside town. I told you not to cause a scene while I'm out. I was doing everything I can to keep this a fucking secret. What did you do?"

She was obsessed. She didn't care about the anger that he felt towards her. She didn't care if he despised her. What's important was seeing him being there for her.

The woman was convinced that he cared for her. "Mark, you're here—"

"I'm going to ask you again." If it wasn't the answer to his question, Mark doesn't want to hear her out. "Where is my baby?"

She was there for a purpose. This woman was crazy. Mentally insane. "I did it, Mark! I got rid of him!"

With that statement, Mark felt his world breaking apart.

This isn't what he's supposed to come back to after a short vacation out of town.

"You said that if it weren't for him, you won't even bother seeing me." She began to laugh hysterically. "Yet, here you are!"

Crazy? She's bat-shit fucked up in the head.

"You're here. You're here for me." She exclaimed, repeating the same assumption over and over again. "That kid is gone now. We don't have anything that can ruin us anymore. Mark, we can now be together—"

"I've had enough." Mark cuts her off, pulling his phone out and starts dialing a number.

Her eyes widened after seeing him treating her like how he usually does. "Mark..."

"I have done my very best not to have you involved in my life. I was doing everything to keep you away from my family because they'll go to extra measures just to ruin your life." Mark told her. Word for word, he made sure to let her know how much he suffered because of her. "You won't let me raise the kid alone. You insisted that you will take care of him."

That was because she knew that it was the only way he would stay with her. The kid was the only reason why Mark wanted to see her.

"I trusted you with your promise." Gripping the phone tight as he was hearing it ring in his ear, Mark gritted his teeth as he stared at her with full hatred. "The least I could do, and the only thing I wanted to do, was take responsibility."

She wasn't hearing him out. She purposely didn't want to process his argument. "But all I wanted was for us to be—"

"I never wanted you." He stated, detesting the idea of them together. "The outcome of that one night stand was the only thing that tied us up."

Her face dropped at the harsh truth. It pierced right through her heart. This was the only time she got her sanity back, being slapped to reality with that brutal statement.

The woman's heart sank and she was not able to let a word out of her mouth.

"You're testing my patience." Hearing a voice from the line he's calling, Mark gave her an empty stare. "I'm taking action."

It was a thought she remembered that made her let out a laugh. "You're not fooling me, Mark. You will never have the guts to let your parents, especially your father, know about this."

"Now, I do. I'm telling him about this and I'll take custody of my own son." Mark turned around and began to walk away. He stopped for a second by the door. "See you in court."

With that, he left the room and didn't bother to hear her out. She was screaming and going ballistic. Mark motioned his hand to signal the nurses on standby to manage the situation. Afterwards, he went back to putting his phone back in his ear to attend to the person he called.

"Mr. Lee, is there anything we can do for you?"

"Find Lee Chan." Mark ordered, making his way to the elevator to exit the hospital. "By all means, find my son."

🍼

Fluttering his eyes open, Mark scanned the room he fell asleep in. He let out a groan when he realized that he stayed all night in his office. It pissed him to be reminded that his vacation had to be cut short just because a certain someone was being a handful.

He can't even catch a break.

Unclasping one button from his dress shirt, Mark picked up a folder from his table and went through the contents in it. Sad to say, it gave him a migraine.

"Fucking hell." He cussed under his breath before reaching for the company phone, calling an employee that's a floor under his.

It didn't take a minute for that certain worker to arrive at his office, panting and breathing heavily. That, itself, was the outcome of how strict and ruthless Mark can be when it comes to tardiness in work.

"Is there... Something wrong, Mr. Lee?" The employee mustered the voice to speak even when he was still catching air.

"Call Lee Donghyuck." Mark instructed.

The employee that was asked to report to his office began to panic. "Uhh..."

Mark didn't know when it started, but whenever his thoughts would get jumbled up, he would find peace and comfort whenever he would see and be with his secretary.

He'd like to think that it's because Donghyuck was good at doing his job. He can adjust his schedule quite well. He knows when to clear a certain time for Mark to calm himself down in his office. Donghyuck knew when to fill his spot in meetings when he couldn't be able to.

Yeah. That's definitely the one and only reason why he's always looking for him— why Mark would run to him whenever things in his life would go downhill.

"Tell him also to buy coffee for me." Mark told the employee that was standing by the door. "Black coffee."

"But Mr. Lee, didn't you..." Gulping, the worker was fumbling with his fingers while lowering his head. "Didn't you give him a day off?"

A day off?

Mark mentally slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand. He completely forgot that he visited him last night, gave him a box of macaroons, and excused him for today.

Mark's coping mechanism was too dependent on his secretary to even remember that immediately.

"Do you still want me to call him over?" The employee suggested. "I'm pretty sure he won't mind."

Oh, Mark knows. He knows Donghyuck would come the moment he'll order him to do so.

"No. Don't." Changing his mind, Mark leaned back on his swivel chair as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Disregard what I said. You may now leave."

It was an understatement to say that the employee was confused. Nonetheless, he took a bow to excuse himself quietly. Mark's eyes settled on the door that was shut close upon seeing his worker leave the office.

Taking a deep breath in, Mark buried his face down on his hands.

This was another problem to think of.

Donghyuck taking care of his son.

Ever since he got back from his vacation, Mark was working nonstop. He had sleepless nights ever since that day. He was anxious every second that passed by. He was devastated when he received the news that the woman that carried his child was caught in an accident— and another report about his son being left alone somewhere.

The hospital was the first thing he went to the moment he arrived in the city.

"I got rid of him!"

Mark can't help but scrunch his nose in anger.

His blood was boiling at how his son was being treated that way.

Getting someone pregnant from a one night stand was one thing. Having a lunatic take care of his son was another story that shouldn't have happened. Mark had no choice. The woman was persistent, she wanted to keep the child all to herself— because she knows it's the only way to keep Mark with her.

Mark wanted to raise the kid alone. It wasn't an argument for Mark. He was willing to take full responsibility, without a doubt.

As much as Mark wanted to take legal measures, that would result in his father finding out about his lackings. Not only will he get an earful, but his father's disappointment might lead to him losing the position he worked hard for. Their family might be the biggest investor of the company, making them technically own it, but Mark didn't get to where he is right now because of the connection he had. Before him was his father, being the chief executive of the company. Mark started off as an intern, he had to work himself to the top.

He had to convince his father that he had what it means to take his spot.

"Hi, I'm Donghyuck! But you can call me yours!"

Then, he met him. Mark met his secretary a month before it was announced that he'd be the next chief executive.

"That kid is gone now. We don't have anything that can ruin us anymore. Mark, we can now be together—"

And Mark got into a twisted situation the moment he took his father's position.

He was in his late-twenties at that time. Mark was curious and it was a celebration that he wanted to enjoy. That very night, he couldn't remember anything aside from his secretary obviously wanting to talk to him. The problem was, Mark was busy entertaining other businessmen that came to his congratulatory party. The moment he was free to talk to, Mark found out that his secretary left the venue and went home because it was getting late.

The next thing Mark could remember was being in a hotel room with another naked body next to him.

That was the beginning of his long-term problem. He apparently got her pregnant with their one night stand— but that wasn't the problem.

Mark never saw the child as the problem.

"God." Mark dropped the pen he was holding from signing the proposals that needed approval from him. "This is stressing me out."

She was the problem itself.

If Donghyuck is obsessed, she is a lunatic.

If it weren't for their child, Mark would never, in his right mind, associate himself with the likes of her.

If he'll be blunt about his situation with her, it's such a pain in the ass. That's how he describes it.

Mark didn't have a choice. He was just recently promoted, he had a lot in his mind, and his father had high expectations for him. Finding out about him getting a stranger pregnant will result in everything being taken away from him. His job, his time, and his efforts in building his own reputation. Not only that, but he'll get her involved in a fued with his family.

They'll destroy her life with just one snap.

Mark may despise her with his whole being, but he still had humanity left in him. He had to take responsibility on both their son and her, because it's what the saying goes.

"It takes two to tango." Mark reminded himself.

The problem is, Mark was not allowed to be with his own child. But regardless, that didn't stop him from supporting his son financially, and finding ways to see him.

As much as Mark wanted to file a case to take full custody, his father would definitely find out about it and things might be a mess afterwards. He thought that situation would go smoothly if he followed what that woman wanted.

Until he found out about her going to the extent of getting rid of their son.

That was all it took to change his mind and finally take action.

That was his last straw. It didn't matter if his father would find out— if it would lead him to finally getting full rights of raising his son alone, Mark couldn't care less if his father would be against it.

"Donghyuck..." Mark mentioned a name that is suddenly involved with his fucked up situation.

He just didn't expect to see his own son being under the care of his secretary.

What's surprising to him is seeing how the two were getting along well.

Mark honestly doesn't know if it's making things harder for him... Or easier.

One thing's for sure, he was relieved to see his son being treated right.

"Fuck." He cursed while throwing his head back, feeling the headache getting worse.

He'll fix his relationship with his son after settling his case and legal papers towards that woman. Mark planned to do that.

For now, it's best to trust Donghyuck in taking care of the child.

There's just one thing that concerns him. "A baby taking care of a baby."

Mark has always seen his secretary as quite immature, still exploring life, and was new to things. It was the first time seeing him act like a grown adult— and it surprised Mark to see that he knew how to take care of kids.

Realizing the smile on his face brought Mark back to his senses, shaking his head to snap himself out from his thoughts. "I need a break."

If Donghyuck could get a day off, why can't he?

🍼

"It's weird." Donghyuck stated, being at a fast food restaurant to have lunch with a close co-worker.

It was Johnny Suh, sitting across from him with a brow raised. "What's weird is you not eating your food."

That too, since Donghyuck adored food with his whole being, but there was something else that's bothering him. "I mean, isn't it strange that Mr. Lee is giving me another day off? He already cleared my afternoon yesterday."

His friends had two moods.

One is to tolerate and encourage his delusions, and the other was to slap some reality into him.

Johnny was in the mood for the first choice. "I'm telling you. That dude likes you."

Donghyuck's ego was being fed well. His cheeks warmed up at the thought. "Shut up. He doesn't."

But deep inside, Donghyuck was chanting all religious manifestations for his boss to actually have feelings for him.

"Why else would he give you a box of sweets?" Johnny asked, genuinely rethinking about his friend's relationship with their supervisor.

Donghyuck honestly had no clue. It did flatter him last night, no doubt, but it also confused him as to why the CEO bought him a box of macaroons on a random weekday. "He said he accidentally bought extra. He decided to give me one since he's passing by my apartment."

"Bullshit. Can't believe you didn't see right through that lie." At this point, Johnny wasn't trying to boost his delusions. He was already stating facts. "If he was going back to the company, your street is the opposite. Why would he be able to pass by your apartment then? He could have gone to Jungwoo's. His unit is right next to our building."

That sounded like it made a point. However, Donghyuck refused to get fooled this time around.

For the first time in a while, Donghyuck finally had something else to think of aside from his severe crush towards their CEO.

"A coincidence, probably." Donghyuck would like to think that their boss might have either lost his way to the company or took a long way there.

"Coincidence?!" Johnny scoffed. Just when things were making sense, this guy had to be in denial with the obvious.

Nodding his head as an answer, Donghyuck thought of something else to talk about so as not to stay in the hot seat. "By the way, why are they taking so long?"

Johnny could only roll his eyes at how his co-worker sitting across from him was obviously changing the topic. Seeing that his questions wouldn't be tolerated either way, Johnny decided to drop the talk about their boss. "Chan probably wanted to buy the whole fucking store."

"Please not." Donghyuck begged with a whine. "Those guys have my card."

While the two of them were eating together, the other people from their circle wanted to spend lunch with the little boy. Being deprived of food because he wasn't able to have breakfast, Johnny passed from being a babysitter. He knew he had to eat first. The others had energy though, especially his boyfriend, Ten, who volunteered to watch over the kid while Donghyuck accompanied Johnny for lunch.

Grateful that trusted people wanted to look after the child, Donghyuck thought that a moment to breathe wouldn't be bad.

That's how the both of them got separated from the others.

Just when the latter finally ate his meal, Johnny had to catch him by surprise when he saw a familiar figure getting inside the restaurant they were in.

"Hyuck, look." Johnny began to tease him with a sly grin. "It's the love of your life."

Donghyuck hesitated to turn around because it might be one of his pranks, and might waste his time if he turns around. But because it's about the man of his dreams— Donghyuck whipped his head to turn around.

It concerned Johnny to see how fast he reacted. "Your neck is going to snap if you keep on doing that."

With his cheeks turning bright red, Donghyuck started to panic as he faced his co-worker. "Why is he here?"

Johnny shrugged his shoulders. "To eat? I don't know."

"Do you think he's here to see me?" Donghyuck's eyes sparkled at the thought.

Johnny was back to slapping some sense into him. "Don't get ahead of yourself—"

"This is how you spend your day off?"

The both of them flinched when a voice startled them. They slowly lifted their heads and followed the direction where the voice was at— behind Donghyuck. While the secretary looked nervous in seeing their supervisor there, Johnny had an empty expression on his face.

"Mr. Lee!" Donghyuck still kept the formalities even outside work hours.

Johnny, on the other hand, was too comfortable. "Hey there, Marco—"

That earned him a kick on the knee under the table by Donghyuck who warned him with a glare.

Someone else looked pissed. Mark raised a brow at the two who were acting strange. "Lee Donghyuck, didn't I tell you to rest?"

The said secretary nodded his head with an anxious smile. "I'm just out to eat—"

It was Johnny's turn to cut him off with a statement that might also cut his salary. "You can also spend a day off with a date."

Donghyuck slowly turned his head towards his friend across him, his eyes widened and jaw dropped. However, he wasn't able to scold him in time because their boss spoke ahead of him.

"Dating?" Mark sounded genuinely taken aback by the news. "You two?"

"No! Well, it's kind of a friendly one since—" Donghyuck internally screamed when a voice once more overpowered his own.

"Come on, Babe! There's no need to be embarrassed about it. I think it's finally the right time to tell him our love for each other." Johnny reached out for his drink and sipped on the straw with a playful smirk plastered on his face. His current mood was making his friend suffer.

Donghyuck then jolted up from his seat.

Mark gave him a look with a brow raised and Johnny was on the verge of laughing his ass out.

"Mark!" Donghyuck was in conflict with his head on how he was going to explain his situation to this man over here. "You're my type— I mean, I like you, wait no! I'm not dating him, I swear! I have someone else in mind!"

If it was decent to roll on the floor laughing, Johnny would have done that by now. It was funny to see Donghyuck being confident to share his delusions with his friends, but would stutter whenever he's in front of the person he keeps on daydreaming about. The sight of Donghyuck fumbling was what Johnny signed up for. It's always entertaining to see his brain malfunctioning in front of the person he likes.

Mark cleared his throat, easing the tension between them. He didn't mean to look and sound intimidating, he just wanted to know why these two are together.

He didn't know it would lead to his secretary confessing his obvious feelings for him.

"Enjoy your day, Lee Donghyuck." Mark assured him that he wasn't (he was a slight bit) irritated seeing them both eating together. "Suh, report to my office this afternoon."

"Will do, Jerk—" Johnny was caught off guard with his own clumsiness. He coughed to cover up what he called him before nodding his head to tell him that he's taking mental note of that instruction. "Will do, Mr. Lee."

With that, the both of them lowered their heads towards their supervisor who grabbed his take-out. Their eyes followed him walking away, panic immediately arose when they saw a familiar group of men making their way to the entrance where Mark was leaving his way out.

Both Johnny and Donghyuck were frantically waving their hands in the air, praying and hoping that their friends would see them.

What made them overreact was the kid wadling at the center of the men that circled around him.

They all looked clueless until Yuta caught a glimpse of the two by the glass wall. Luckily for them, the CEO had his eyes glued to his phone, giving them time to quickly carry the little boy and walk away from the man that opened the door from the restaurant.

"Papa—"

Mark lifted his head upon hearing a familiar voice. It was then he saw a group of men with their backs facing him, catching a pair of stubby hands showing on one of the men's shoulders

It didn't take him a second to know what the situation was. Mark continued to busy himself with his phone while making his way to his car.

He took a glance at the same group of men by the rear-view mirror.

Mark's lips curved up to a smile when he saw the boy getting inside the restaurant with excitement. He couldn't help but comment about it. "Cute."

"Why are you hiding the boy from the CEO?"

Dropping his body down his seat, Donghyuck heaved out a stressful sigh. "What am I going to say? It's my kid and I kept my situation a secret for years from you guys?"

Looks like Johnny was still in the mood to be dramatic about it. "The other father deserves to know, Donghyuck!"

The said man gave him a judgmental stare. "What the actual fuck, Johnny?"

Laughing, Johnny shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows? Chicken hands might be the father."

Donghyuck let out a groan of frustration. "Don't get started with me, I'm tired. I've been with him for so long. I know what he's doing with his life."

He wasn't wrong about that. Johnny had no choice but to agree. If Mark did fuck someone, Donghyuck (of all people) should know first about it.

However, Johnny couldn't help but also point out all the possibilities that could possibly happen. "Life is full of surprises, Donghyuck."

Johnny wasn't wrong. Life is indeed full of surprises.

And Mark Lee is, in fact, the kid's biological father.

— to be continued