Jin’s heart raced as he pushed open the door to his restaurant, the familiar scent of fried rice and sizzling meat greeting him. He was still reeling from the confrontation with Mina the previous night, but he needed to focus on the day ahead.

As he made his way to the back office, he caught sight of her—Mina—sitting at one of the tables with a man, her laughter ringing out like an annoying bell. Jin clenched his fists, the anger bubbling up inside him as memories of their life together flashed before his eyes.

“Jin!” she called out, spotting him. “Come join us!”

He felt his blood boil. “No, thanks. I’m busy,” he snapped, forcing himself to turn away and head to his office.

“Busy ignoring your responsibilities?” she shot back, a smirk playing on her lips.

He gritted his teeth and pushed through the door to his office, slamming it behind him. The last thing he needed was her taunting voice haunting him while he tried to run his business.

Moments later, she followed him in, her heels clicking against the floor as she entered with a swagger that made him want to scream. “Why so angry, Jin? You’ve got everything you wanted—full custody of Jiwoon and a successful restaurant,” she said, leaning against the desk, a mocking smile on her face.

“Is this why you came here? To rub it in my face?” Jin asked, his voice low and controlled, but he could feel his temper flaring.

Mina rolled her eyes. “I came to see our son, but I guess you’re too busy sulking. I’d be bored too if I had to stay home all day with a toddler.”

“Don’t you dare talk about Jiwoon like that!” he spat, stepping closer to her. “You said you didn’t want contact. You said you didn’t want anything to do with us, so why are you here?”

“I just wanted to see how you’re managing without me,” she taunted, crossing her arms. “You seem so... content with your little life. But I guess it’s easy when you have a nanny to help you out, right?”

“Leave Mia out of this,” Jin warned, his voice cold. “She’s doing a great job with Jiwoon, and she actually cares about him.”

Mina laughed, a high-pitched sound that grated on his nerves. “Cares? Is that what you call it? Just because she’s playing house with you doesn’t mean she’s invested. Don’t get too comfortable. You’re still just a single dad to a kid who won’t remember you when he grows up.”

Jin felt the sting of her words. “You don’t get to say that. You made your choice to walk away. You’re the one who doesn’t care!”

“Maybe I didn’t care enough,” she said, shrugging casually. “But you should really get used to being a failure. Just like you were when we were together.”

Fury coursed through him as he took a step closer, every ounce of restraint slipping away. “Get out. Now,” he growled.

Mina’s smile faded as she sensed the seriousness in his tone. “Or what? You’ll call the cops on me? You’re pathetic, Jin. You think you can keep me away forever? I’ll always be a part of your life.”

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” he shot back. “You’ve lost your right to be in our lives. You don’t get to come here and act like you care after abandoning us!”

The tension in the room was thick, and for a moment, Jin thought she might finally leave. But then, with an infuriating calmness, she smirked and said, “You can’t just wish me away. You’ll have to deal with me one way or another, Jin.”

With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of his office, her laughter ringing in his ears like an echo of all the pain she had caused him. Jin slammed his fist against the wall, the frustration boiling over.

As the day dragged on, he felt like a volcano ready to erupt. He barely managed to focus on work, thoughts of Mina’s taunts playing in his mind.

When he finally got home, he found Jiwoon happily playing with his toys, and for a moment, his heart swelled with love for his son. Mia was in the kitchen, humming to herself as she prepared dinner. The sight brought a small sense of calm, but it was fleeting.

“Hey, Jin,” Mia said, glancing over her shoulder with a warm smile. “How was work?”

He forced a smile back, but he could feel the tension still simmering beneath the surface. “It was fine,” he replied, his voice flat. “Just the usual.”

As they sat down to eat, Jin’s mind wandered back to his confrontation with Mina. He could still hear her taunts, the way she belittled everything he had fought to build. It made his blood boil, and the anger was starting to seep into every aspect of his life.

After dinner, he tucked Jiwoon into bed, kissing his forehead and whispering sweet dreams. The boy snuggled into his blankets, the innocence of his slumber soothing Jin’s frazzled nerves, even if only temporarily.

Once Jiwoon was asleep, Jin felt the familiar pull toward Mia. She was still in the living room, cleaning up the remnants of their dinner. He hesitated for a moment, the anger and frustration swirling inside him, but he needed an outlet.

“Mia,” he called softly, and she turned, her expression shifting from cheerful to concerned.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, wiping her hands on a towel.

“No,” he replied, stepping closer. “I need to talk to you.”

“About what?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jin felt a mixture of fear and excitement as he approached her. “I need you. I need to feel something other than this anger.”

Mia’s eyes widened slightly, and he could see her hesitation. “Jin, we talked about this...”

“I don’t care!” he snapped, the frustration bubbling over. “I just need to forget everything for a moment. You’re the only one who makes me feel something other than this overwhelming rage.”

Her breath caught, and Jin could see the conflict in her eyes. But before she could respond, he stepped closer, closing the distance between them. “Please, Mia. I can’t handle this anymore.”

She searched his face for answers, and he could see the wheels turning in her mind. Finally, with a hesitant nod, she murmured, “Okay.”

Without wasting another second, he took her hand and led her toward his room, urgency coursing through him. As he pushed the door shut behind them, he felt the air grow thick with tension.

Jin turned to face her, his heart racing. “I need you to understand that this isn’t about love. It’s just... I need to escape.”

“I know,” Mia whispered, her voice barely audible. “I understand.”

He reached for her, capturing her lips with his in a desperate kiss. The taste of her was intoxicating, and as she melted against him, he felt a surge of desire overwhelming his senses.

Jin lifted her, pressing her against the wall as he kissed her harder, more passionately than before. The weight of the world outside faded away, leaving only the heat between them.

“Jin,” Mia gasped, her breath warm against his mouth, but he couldn’t hold back any longer.

He pulled away just long enough to drag her shirt over her head, revealing her soft skin beneath. The sight fueled his hunger, and he trailed his kisses down her neck, feeling her shudder beneath his touch.

“Please,” she breathed, her hands finding their way to his hair, urging him on.

Jin’s hands explored her body, eager and rough, igniting every nerve ending within him. He claimed her mouth again, pouring all of his frustrations into the kiss, leaving no room for doubts or regrets.

As he moved to undress her completely, he was consumed by a primal need. The anger he felt toward Mina became fuel, pushing him to take what he wanted without hesitation.

He laid her down on the bed, his body pressing into hers as he dominated the moment. Every thrust was fueled by the rage he felt, a desperate need to assert control over something in his chaotic life.

Mia responded beautifully, her body arching against him, urging him on as he lost himself in the pleasure they created together. With every movement, he felt the tension begin to release, the darkness of his thoughts melting away in the heat of their connection.

“Just let it go, Jin,” she whispered, her voice breathy and encouraging.

In that moment, he gave in completely, letting the anger transform into something raw and passionate. It was messy and rough, and in that haze of physicality, he found a fleeting escape from the chaos surrounding him.

As their bodies intertwined, the world outside faded, and all that existed was the two of them. But deep down, a part of him wondered how long this could last.

When they finally reached their climax, it was explosive, a release of pent-up emotions that left Jin gasping for breath. He collapsed beside her, his heart racing as he fought to process what had just happened.

For a moment, they lay in silence, the weight of the world settling back in. Jin stared at the ceiling, the anger and frustration giving way to an uncomfortable clarity.

He rolled over to face Mia, who looked equally spent, her hair splayed across the pillow.