Chapter 138

Ruby had always been attached to her Mommy.

Not just clingy.

Not just cuddly.

No… the tiny three-year-old treated Jennie Kim like oxygen itself.

From the moment she was born, Ruby would only stop crying once she was placed on her Mommy’s chest. Nurses used to joke that the baby had built-in Mommy detection because the second Jennie Kim walked away, Ruby’s tiny face would scrunch up dramatically before the loudest wail echoed through the hospital room.

And three years later?

Nothing changed.

“MOMMYYYYYY!”

A tiny dumpling came sprinting across the living room at full speed, curly hair bouncing everywhere before launching herself straight into Jennie’s arms.

“Oof-” Jennie laughed softly, catching her with ease. “Baby Mandu, you almost tackled Mommy.”

Ruby wrapped herself around Jennie like a koala immediately.

“No work today,” she declared seriously, burying her face into Jennie’s neck.

From the couch, Lisa pouted dramatically.

“Wow. So Mama doesn’t even get a hello anymore?”

Ruby peeked at her Mama for one second.

“Hello Mama.”

Then immediately returned to clinging onto Jennie.

Lisa gasped in betrayal.

“That’s it?!”

Jennie burst into laughter while Ruby nodded proudly, still glued to her Mommy.

It wasn’t that Ruby didn’t love Lisa.

Oh, she absolutely adored her Mama.

Lisa was her chaos buddy, snack provider, playground partner, and bedtime storyteller.

But Jennie?

Jennie was her emotional support human.

Which became a massive problem every single morning when Jennie had to leave for work.

Especially today.

Because Ruby had already noticed Jennie wearing her coat.

The tiny girl froze in Jennie’s arms.

Slowly…

Very slowly…

Her lips trembled.

Jennie immediately knew.

“Oh no.”

Ruby’s eyes became glossy.

“You… go work?”

Her tiny voice cracked so sadly that Lisa clutched her own chest dramatically.

“BABY NO DON’T CRY- Mama will cry too!”

Too late.

Ruby’s tears started falling instantly.

“Noooo Mommyyyy- stay homeeeeee!”

Jennie sighed lovingly and kissed her daughter’s cheeks repeatedly.

“Baby, Mommy has work. I’ll come back later.”

“No later!” Ruby cried, hugging Jennie tighter. “Now!”

Lisa sniffled loudly from the side.

“She just like me fr…”

Jennie turned to her wife.

“You are not helping.”

“But babe,” Lisa whined, already walking over to cling onto Jennie from behind, “I miss you too when you work.”

Now Jennie had both her wife and daughter attached to her simultaneously.

Ruby clinging in front.

Lisa clinging from behind.

Two oversized babies.

Jennie sighed while trying not to laugh.

“My family is impossible.”

Ruby looked up sadly.

“Mommy no go…”

Lisa nodded immediately.

“Yes. Listen to our daughter.”

“Our daughter?” Jennie raised an eyebrow. “You’re pouting harder than her.”

“Because I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs.”

Ruby copied Lisa instantly.

“Women wrongs!”

Jennie laughed so hard she nearly dropped her bag.

The little dumpling didn’t even understand what she was saying, but if Mama said it? Ruby repeated it proudly.

Jennie cupped Ruby’s tiny cheeks gently.

“Baby Mandu, Mommy promises I’ll come home fast, okay?”

Ruby sniffled.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“And cuddles?”

“Lots of cuddles.”

“And kissies?”

Jennie smiled softly.

“Infinite kissies.”

Ruby finally considered it.

Then she held up one tiny finger dramatically.

“One more thing.”

Jennie blinked.

“What is it?”

Ruby pointed toward Lisa.

“Mama sad too. Kiss Mama.”

Lisa immediately pointed at herself proudly.

“See? She understands me emotionally.”

Jennie rolled her eyes fondly before leaning over and kissing Lisa quickly.

Lisa melted instantly.

Meanwhile Ruby gasped happily.

“Again!”

“Ruby-“

“AGAIN!”

So Jennie kissed Lisa again.

Which made both Lisa and Ruby cheer loudly together.

And honestly?

Jennie was starting to think she wasn’t raising one clingy baby.

She was raising two.