Read The Fated Bond:The CEO’s Hidden Heart :: Chapter 10: The Park Playdate

The fragile understanding forged in the conference room didn’t vanish, but it was followed by a week of careful, professional distance. Emails were exchanged, schedules were coordinated, but the profound intimacy of that afternoon was carefully boxed away. Both men were grappling with the seismic shift, unsure of the next step.

The push, as it turned out, came from the most unlikely of conspirators: Choi Daehyun and Park Jaeho.

It was Daehyun who, during a late-night strategy session, looked up from his laptop and said, “The kid keeps asking about him. You can’t just pretend it didn’t happen.”

Simultaneously, Jaeho was whining at Siwoo over ramen. “You two are being ridiculous! He held your hand! While his son slept on you! This isn’t a business negotiation, it’s a k-drama, and I need the next episode!”

And so, a plan was hatched.
It was presented to Jeon Minho as a “team-building exercise to foster cross-company synergy” and to Kim Siwoo as a “much-needed creative break in a neutral, inspiring environment.”
The reality was a sunny Saturday afternoon at Seoulland, orchestrated to look like a complete coincidence.

Minho, with a wary Junho clutching his hand, felt a wave of sheer panic when he saw them approaching the carousel. Siwoo was there, looking unfairly handsome in casual jeans and a bucket hat, alongside a beaming Jaeho.

“Appa, look! It’s Mama and Uncle Jaeho!” Junho shrieked, vibrating with joy. Any hope of a quick escape vanished.

Minho’s eyes met Siwoo’s over Junho’s head. Siwoo offered a small, slightly apologetic smile carrying a hint of shared conspiracy.

“Minho-ssi. Junho-yah. What a lovely coincidence.”

The coincidence lasted the entire afternoon.

They rode the merry-go-round, with Junho insisting on sitting between Siwoo and Minho on a giant swan. They ate overpriced ice cream, and Minho found himself captivated not by the rides, but by the sight of Siwoo — head thrown back in laughter as Jaeho told a silly story, a smear of ice cream softening his usually sharp elegance.

During a quiet moment, when Jaeho had taken a hyper Junho to win a stuffed toy, Minho finally spoke.

“This wasn’t a coincidence, was it?” he asked, voice low.

Siwoo shook his head, eyes lingering on Junho’s delighted face. “No. It wasn’t. Daehyun-hyung and Jaeho… they’re meddlesome.”

A corner of Minho’s mouth twitched. “They are.”
He paused.
“Thank you.”

Siwoo looked at him, surprised. “For what?”

“For coming,” Minho said simply. “For making him this happy.”

Their eyes held, and the world faded.
This wasn’t the charged quiet of the conference room — this was sunlight, laughter, and a terrifying glimpse of a warm, possible future they both pretended not to see.

Just then, a friendly Alpha father walking past with his own child smiled a little too long at Siwoo.

“Your son is adorable,” the man said, gaze lingering appreciatively on Siwoo.

A low, instinctive growl vibrated in Minho’s chest.
His arm moved on its own — his hand landing firmly on the small of Siwoo’s back, a clear, territorial claim.

“Thank you,” Minho replied, his voice dipped in unmistakable Alpha warning.
His spiced amber scent flared, wrapping around Siwoo like a protective cloak.

The man blinked and moved on quickly.

Minho seemed to realize what he’d done a second later. He stiffened, starting to pull away — but Siwoo shifted subtly, leaning back into the touch, silently accepting it.

A soft blush rose on his cheeks, but he didn’t look away.
His sandalwood scent sweetened, curling instinctively around Minho’s amber — answering it.

No words were spoken.
None were needed.

The playdate was over, but the game had only just begun.

The first spark of true jealousy had ignited — and with it, the first public claim.