"The baby..."
"...is the trigger point."
The playful smile slowly faded from Jeewon's face.
"Whenever Yihan comes into contact with the baby, his subconscious reacts before his conscious mind does. His body remembers. His instincts remember... even if his memories don't."
He tapped his finger lightly against the desk as he continued.
"That's why he protected the baby without thinking. His instincts reacted before he could even understand what was happening. And once his conscious mind took over again..."
"...he forgot everything."
Hyunseok's thoughts refused to settle.
A knot tightened in his stomach, and his shoulders felt heavier than before. He stared at Jeewon for a moment, trying to make sense of everything he had just heard.
"So whenever the baby cries, his instincts react?"
"That's what you're saying?"
Jeewon shook his head.
"No. It's not simply because the baby cries."
"Whenever Yihan feels that the baby is in danger, his subconscious activates. His mind reacts before his conscious thoughts can catch up."
He paused before continuing.
"But I'm not saying this means his memories are returning."
"Right now, we can't tell whether his memories are actually coming back or whether his subconscious is simply responding to something familiar."
"Once his conscious mind takes over again, he forgets what happened."
Jeewon leaned back in his chair.
"For now, we can't say what will happen."
"We'll just have to wait and see."
Even though Hyunseok's expression remained calm, Jeewon could tell that his mind was anything but calm.
Jeewon stood up from his chair and walked over to him. He placed a hand on Hyunseok's shoulder and gave it a gentle pat.
"Don't worry."
Hyunseok gave a faint nod before turning toward the door.
He left the hospital with countless thoughts running through his mind.
Although his expression remained calm and composed, one thought continued to trouble him.
*What if Yihan's memories really are returning?*
The possibility refused to leave his mind.
Not long after, he finally reached the mansion.
He stepped out of the car, walked toward the entrance, and pushed open the front door.
The moment he stepped inside...
...he saw someone he never wanted to see.
Yihan was sitting comfortably on the couch with another man.
The moment Yihan noticed Hyunseok, he immediately stood up and walked toward him with a bright smile.
"Mr. Husband, you're back."
Hyunseok barely heard him.
His jaw clenched, and the muscles along his cheek twitched as anger burned beneath his otherwise controlled expression.
"I told you not to open the door for anyone."
His voice was low.
"Why did you let someone you didn't know inside?"
---
Earlier, while Hyunseok was at the hospital...
Yihan had been sitting comfortably on the couch, completely absorbed in his H-drama, when the doorbell suddenly rang.
The sound immediately irritated him.
"Who keeps ringing that thing?"
With an annoyed sigh, he got up and walked toward the entrance.
Before opening the door, he checked the video door-entry system.
A man was standing outside, repeatedly pressing the doorbell.
The constant ringing quickly tested Yihan's patience.
"Seriously...?"
Finally, he unlocked the door and opened it slightly.
Before Yihan could even ask who he was, the man casually stepped inside with a cheerful wave.
"Hello, brother-in-law!"
He looked Yihan up and down before laughing.
"I thought you weren't coming out of your room anymore. I'm surprised to see you outside the bedroom."
Yihan was already annoyed by the doorbell.
But the moment the stranger called him *brother-in-law*, his irritation increased.
Before Yihan could respond, the man casually placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him closer.
"My brother-in-law, where's my brother?"
Yihan stared at him with obvious annoyance.
"I don't know who the fuck you are, and I don't give a fuck even if you're that big guy's brother."
"So shut the fuck up and go."
The man's expression immediately turned into an exaggerated sad-puppy face.
"Aww... brother-in-law."
He clasped his hands together.
"You used to go crazy whenever you saw me."
"What happened to you?"
Yihan's expression changed.
He stared at the man for a moment.
*He says I used to know him...?*
Perhaps this person really did know something about his past.
Yihan's attitude suddenly changed.
"Fine."
"Come in."
He stepped aside and gestured toward the couch.
"Sit there and wait for your brother."
The man happily walked inside.
"In the meantime, I'll get you something to drink."
A few moments later, Yihan returned with a glass of orange juice and placed it in front of him before sitting down on the opposite side of the couch.
The man began casually talking about his brother, telling Yihan stories about how frightening and intimidating he could be.
Yihan listened quietly, occasionally asking questions whenever something caught his attention.
Then...
The sound of the front door opening echoed through the mansion.
Both of them turned toward the entrance.
Hyunseok had returned.
---
Back to the present...
"I told you not to open the door for anyone."
"Why did you let someone you didn't know inside?"
Hyunseok walked directly toward his brother.
The anger inside him was becoming increasingly difficult to contain. The muscles along his neck stood out as his expression hardened.
Hyunwoo slowly stood up from the couch and faced him.
The two brothers stood directly opposite each other, while Yihan remained between them, completely confused by what was happening.
Yihan looked from one brother to the other and let out a tired sigh.
"Uh..."
"Can't you two just sit down and talk?"
Hyunseok turned his head slightly toward Yihan.
"Don't meddle."
His voice became colder.
"Go to your bedroom and close the door before I do something."
Yihan stared at him for a moment before raising both hands in surrender.
"Ugh... fine."
"I'll go."
He reluctantly walked toward his bedroom.
But even as he left, his eyes remained fixed on the two brothers.
Once inside, he closed the door loudly.
**Bang!**
He stood there for a moment.
Curiosity gnawed at him.
He couldn't simply ignore what was happening outside.
After a few seconds, he quietly opened the door again, leaving only a narrow gap.
He pressed himself against the wall and listened.
Back in the hall, neither brother had moved.
The silence between them felt heavy.
Hyunwoo's expression slowly changed.
Then he began releasing his pheromones.
Hyunseok's eyes immediately darkened.
His already simmering anger intensified.
"How many times have I told you not to release your pheromones?"
Before Hyunwoo could answer, Hyunseok suddenly grabbed him by the neck and pulled him closer.
Hyunwoo's eyes widened as Hyunseok's grip tightened.
"Why don't you ever listen to your older brother?"
Hyunwoo immediately grabbed Hyunseok's wrist, trying to loosen his grip.
But Hyunseok didn't budge.
The tension between the two brothers filled the entire hall.
From upstairs, Yihan watched through the narrow opening of his bedroom door.
His eyes widened.
After several tense seconds, Hyunseok finally released him.
Hyunwoo straightened himself and rubbed his neck as he caught his breath.
"Okay... okay."
He raised both hands in surrender.
"I won't release them anymore."
Even then, Hyunseok's anger hadn't disappeared.
His cold gaze remained fixed on his brother.
"Then why did you come here?"
Hyunwoo tilted his head slightly.
Hyunseok took another step toward him.
"Did you come here..."
"...to steal Yihan from me?"
The words fell into the silence like a stone dropped into still water.
Upstairs, Yihan stopped breathing.
His fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the door.
Steal Yihan...?
The words echoed inside his mind. Something about them felt strangely familiar. He didn't know why. He didn't know what they meant.
But for some reason...
his heart had reacted before his mind could.
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