Seokjin's Pov:

The sweet scent of Nam-il's hands filled my nostrils as he cupped them around my face, while he kissed my nose repeatedly before pulling back and laughing as he sat in my arms, made me smile brightly. My gaze was fixed on my husband and daughter, who were discussing which ingredient to put first in the cake they were making for my birthday.

I knew Ae Ri was right, and Jungkook was wrong, but I did not dare interfere with them, as I knew they would eventually resolve the matter between themselves.

"I have made it with Appa before; I know what I am doing. Can you please listen?" I hear Ae Ri say to her father and press my lips together to avoid laughing, shifting my gaze to Nam-il, "aren't you happy you are not a part of that?"

As he pulls back and claps his hands, he smiles and gives me another kiss, followed by another happy giggle. He was the sweetest, most angelic baby I have ever known, not just because he was my son. It's possible Ae Ri was like that as well, and maybe that was what made her and Jungkook so close. Even though our bond has grown stronger now, and she knows I'm fully invested in her now, knowing that what I've experienced with Nam-il I never took time to experience with her, makes me sad. I've realized recently how much I neglected my family and how much I missed out on their important moments.

I felt guilty at times, especially towards Ae Ri. Looking back, I see now how much she must have needed me when she was younger, but I wasn't there. Instead, my husband was responsible for all her needs. It seemed as if just being in the same home as them, telling her how much I loved her, and giving her things would be enough - I didn't realize she and my husband needed so much more.

In my career-centered life, every other area of my life was falling apart, and I threw so much on Jungkook that I had the expectation that he should understand; he was my husband, I thought he should understand. There have been a million times when I justified my problem, and most of the time, I felt I was right, and he was wrong. I could not grasp his views, and he couldn't grasp mine, yet the truth is I had an issue. Our entire marriage, he has been consistent, he has never done anything differently, he has always been to me what he has always been, my rock, my confidant, the ideal partner who would never let me down.

No, not me. I changed, and I changed, I reshaped and recharged in so many different ways, forcing him to keep up at times. It took a near-death experience for me to realize how selfish I had been and how fragile life can be at the same time. My love for my career, the company, the work I do almost cost me my life, my son's life, and another person's life. There was a very serious problem. I didn't believe I could ever fully embrace it and recognize it until I fought to live because of it.

Ae Ri had to live months in wonder if her Appa was going to survive, Jungkook had to live months wondering if his husband was going to survive while struggling with cancer. In addition to my suffering, my parents were also struggling. My father, experiencing guilt, stepped up and was able to be my father when I needed him most. As I witnessed the impact on the people around me, I promised myself before leaving the hospital that if I was given a second chance, I would do things right.

Even on my worst days, I was never alone because I had so much support to get me through. In addition to my family, Jimin visited daily, never leaving my side, and comforted Jungkook when needed. Taehyung and Hoseok welcomed Ae Ri and Nam-il into their homes during Jungkook's stay with me at the hospital, keeping them there for several days. Sometimes, Yoongi cooked and provided meals for Jungkook, Jimin, and my parents after being with me at the hospital late at night.

I am so grateful for all of them, especially my husband. I don't know how I am so lucky to have met someone like him. I wonder if he is real every time I look at him because I don't think there are any other people like him. I have learned so much from him, and because of him, I strive to be a better person. Despite not quitting being the CEO of the company, I did change a lot. Work is something I love, and I am passionate about what I do, so I couldn't let it go, and I don't think I should.

Working with Dr. Chye and my husband, I have practiced work-life balance while keeping my family as my top priority. When I think of work, I no longer feel the stress and anxiety I once did. I feel comfortable missing a day, not checking my emails, and not feeling guilty about doing so, but before, that was hard; it was painful and a struggle.

I am dedicated to family time; sitting here with my son in my arms while watching my husband and daughter bicker amongst themselves is what brings me joy. It means so much more to me to be there for them than for a client. I look forward to our family vacations, as well as to quality time with everyone individually.

Sadly, it took something so painful to realize how much I was missing out on; I don't regret it because I needed the wake-up call. By focusing on something that only destroyed parts of me, I missed out on the greatest part of my life.

Ae Ri tells me all the time that she loves the new me, and it makes me happy and sad at the same time because she has seen the changes, but sad, that she had to experience the old me when she needed me. Nevertheless, Jungkook reassures me not to dwell on the past since it cannot be changed. Focus instead on what is right in front of me and how I can continue to evolve to create a better future for our family and me.

"Fine, you were right." I hear Jungkook lets out in defeat.

"Told you!" Ae Ri says cheerfully as she runs over to me, "Appa, tell that dad that I'm better than him since I learned from the best."

Smiling at her, I looked over to my husband, "she is better than you, and you should know this as she has learned from the best."

"Oh, so you are taking sides now?" He responds, looking at me as if he is shocked.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Appa." Ae Ri says, leaning in and giving me a kiss, one that makes Nam-il push at her wanting her to move, "no." he says, leaning his head against my chest, causing the entire kitchen to erupt in laughter.

The End!

*******

A/N: Ahh, what a journey that was! Also, readers in the future, if I have any intentions of wiping out a major character, please know it will be listed in the tags :). Also, this book is a testimony that unpublished books can be republished and get an ending ❤️

Some of you may know this, while others may not, but this book, with Jin's character, is very close to my heart. I struggle with being a workaholic, though I have gotten to a point where I now understand how to maintain a work-life balance, just as Jin did. The struggle is still there, but it is by no means as bad as it used to be.

Prioritizing work over everything and everyone used to be my way of life. While attending a BTS concert, I was catching up on my email. Even during vacations, I never completely disconnected from my work. I was always online. From the day I received my first job back in high school, my mother had told me that I had a problem similar to my dad's, but I didn't believe her and didn't want to acknowledge it. During the course of my career, I grew fast. I once received four promotions in less than two years at the time I started working professionally. As Jin did, I have been negligent when driving while my laptop is in the passenger seat and I am checking my email on the road.

Having made all those rash decisions, I ask myself, for what reason did I do all that? Workaholism does not get much attention, and I think it ought to get attention since it is a real problem. It took me having a minor stroke to realize how badly I was, and it wasn't immediate. In the hospital after having that minor stroke, all I could think about was when I would be able to return to work. On the evening of a Thursday, it happened. I spent the entire weekend in the hospital, and I recall the doctors didn't want to let me go because of another suspicious issue they found, which sparked an entirely different issue, but that's not the story for now. I begged to be released and informed them that I would follow up with the specialist outside, and they released me.

On Monday, I was back at work, and I remember the head boss called in and needed something, and I was giving it to them, and they were like, "Aya, you sound a bit off, is everything okay?" I told them as if it was nothing, "I am fine, just had a minor stroke, but all is well." I think the woman almost fainted on the floor, she didn't understand why and how I was at work, but I saw no problem with it.

After some weeks, however, after seeing the specialist and learning about my heart problem. I realized that I should do better, but how could I do better if I was anxious about reading my email if I didn't have my laptop beside me in bed at three in the morning. A few weeks later, though, I had this darn idea to write on Wattpad, and I was like hell no, I'm not that creative, this will be a joke, and I'm not going to succeed.

Even as I read other writers' books here on the app, the idea kept coming, so I decided, you know what, I will give it a shot. When I published my first book, I didn't check the app to see if anyone had read it because I thought no one would. Boy, was I wrong! Although there weren't a thousand readers, it was still enough! I think I squealed like a kid when people commented, asking for more. I still was not invested yet, though.

I think it was while I was in NJ for a BTS concert, my book The Alpha's Charm had been published, and I had taken it away, and while in my hotel room in New Jersey, I saw people asking about the book. I thought, "What are you talking about? Why?" That's when I decided that I would give this a fair shot when I get back home and see what happens. With time, I found myself dedicating my evenings to updating a book rather than checking my work phone or logging in for what I called "the night shift."

Although I'm still a career-driven individual, I don't place it before the people in my life who are most important. I dedicate my time to myself and to my family. I have also always been proud of myself, even during the pandemic, since I have not stayed late for work. I've found alternative activities to get me through the day. It's because of this that I disagree with people who say, "don't update too much; take a break." While I recognize you are coming from a caring place, please allow me to do what makes me happy because you don't know what's happening on the other side of the coin. There is a limited view available to you. You have no clue why I chose to update a book when I did, none whatsoever, so don't ever assume.

I tried to be as transparent to you guys as I can; I operate with you as I do with my family and colleagues at work, transparency is important for me. When I am tired, I will say it, if I need a break, I will say it; I do not need anyone to assume if I need one. Recognize what I give and that if I cannot give more, I will verbalize it. It might take me some time because I am a private individual, but I will when I am ready to share.

Anyhow, I want to thank you for recognizing the importance of this book, a novel that's different in many ways but that holds something more significant than many of my other books.

Also, something important, telling a person they have a problem repeatedly or what they need to do, is NOT how you help someone, you push them further into their problem doing that than you are helping them. Your personal opinion does not matter to them and provides no help.