Chapter 163

The whole Kim-Manobal household knew one thing very clearly.

If Mochi disappeared-

Ruby disappeared right after him.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Seoul, and the backyard of their home had turned into Ruby’s personal playground. Toys were scattered everywhere, bubbles floated in the air, and a tiny pink picnic blanket sat crookedly on the grass because Ruby insisted her stuffed bunny needed “fresh air too.”

Meanwhile, the fluffy potato corgi himself, Mochi, was waddling around proudly with a sock in his mouth like he had just won a championship.

“MOCHI!” Ruby gasped dramatically, tiny hands on her cheeks. “That’s Mommy’s sock!”

The corgi barked once.

Then ran.

Ruby squealed.

“MAMA! MOMMY! MOCHI IS DOING CRIME AGAIN!”

Inside the patio, Jennie Kim nearly spit out her iced coffee laughing while Lisa Manobal recorded everything on her phone.

“She says ‘crime’ like she pays taxes,” Lisa wheezed.

Ruby pointed accusingly at Mochi. “HE’S ESCAPING!”

And just like that-

The chase began.

Tiny feet stomped through the grass while Mochi zoomed around the yard with shocking speed for a loaf-shaped dog. Ruby ran after him with full determination, her curls bouncing wildly.

“Mochi! Stop being criminal!”

The corgi barked again and darted toward the garden bushes near the fence.

Lisa immediately sat up straighter.

“Ruby, careful-“

Too late.

Without a second thought, Ruby dramatically dove into the bush after Mochi.

There was a rustle.

A squeak.

Then-

“OWWWWWWWWW!”

Jennie froze.

Lisa dropped her phone instantly.

Both mothers sprinted across the yard at terrifying speed.

They found Ruby sitting halfway inside the bush, clutching Mochi with one arm like she successfully rescued a hostage… while her tiny knee had a nasty scrape across it.

And the second Ruby saw her parents-

Her face crumpled.

“M-MOMMYYYYYY!”

Jennie’s heart shattered immediately.

“Oh my baby…”

Ruby burst into loud sobs as Lisa carefully lifted her out of the bush. Mochi was still calmly sitting in Ruby’s lap like none of this was his fault.

“My knee!” Ruby cried dramatically. “My leg is broken forever!”

Lisa bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

Jennie shot her a glare.

“Do not laugh.”

“I’m trying not to-“

“Mommy!” Ruby sobbed harder, arms reaching for Jennie.

Jennie immediately took her baby into her arms, kissing her forehead over and over.

“Oh no, my poor dumpling…”

“It hurts sooo bad,” Ruby whimpered.

Lisa crouched beside them, checking the scrape carefully. It wasn’t deep, but for a four-year-old?

It was absolutely world-ending.

“You brave little bush diver,” Lisa teased softly.

Ruby sniffled angrily. “I SAVED MOCHI!”

Mochi barked.

Jennie looked at the dog flatly.

“You caused this.”

The corgi wagged his tail proudly.

Ruby buried her face into Jennie’s shoulder dramatically while tiny hiccup sobs escaped her.

“I thought Mochi was lost forever…”

Lisa melted instantly.

“Oh, baby…”

Ruby looked up with watery eyes.

“I had to save him because he’s fluffy and doesn’t know taxes.”

Jennie fully lost it.

She laughed so hard she had to hide her face against Ruby’s hair while Lisa nearly collapsed onto the grass.

Even Ruby looked offended.

“Why are you laughing?! I’m injured!”

“You’re right,” Jennie said quickly, still giggling. “Very serious injury.”

“My knee is gone.”

Lisa glanced down at the perfectly attached knee.

“Mhm.”

“Completely gone.”

“Yes, baby.”

Ruby sniffled again as Jennie carried her inside the house bridal-style because apparently walking was no longer possible.

“I can never walk again,” Ruby whispered sadly.

Lisa followed behind carrying Mochi under one arm.

“You said that when you bumped your toe last month.”

“That was different,” Ruby argued weakly. “That was my tiny toe.”

Inside, Jennie sat Ruby carefully on the kitchen counter while Lisa grabbed the first-aid kit.

The second Ruby saw the antiseptic spray-

She gasped in betrayal.

“No.”

Lisa blinked. “No?”

“No spray.”

“We have to clean it, lovebug.”

Ruby clung to Jennie instantly. “Mommy protect me.”

Jennie kissed her temple sympathetically. “It’ll sting for a second, baby.”

Ruby looked like she had just been informed of her execution.

“Mama… don’t do this…”

Lisa almost folded right there.

“You’re acting like I’m removing your leg.”

“She IS removing my leg!” Ruby cried to Jennie.

Jennie sighed dramatically at her wife. “Look what you’ve done.”

Lisa pointed at herself. “Me?!”

“Yes. Villain behavior.”

Ruby nodded tearfully. “Villain.”

Lisa laughed in disbelief before gently crouching in front of Ruby.

“How about this? Mama gives you one chocolate cookie after.”

Ruby paused.

“…Two.”

Lisa narrowed her eyes.

“You negotiate while injured?”

“I’m brave.”

Jennie snorted.

“Fine. Two cookies.”

Ruby took a deep breath like a soldier preparing for battle.

“O-okay…”

Lisa sprayed the scrape quickly.

Ruby SCREAMED.

“MOMMYYYYYYYY!”

Jennie immediately hugged her tightly while rubbing her back.

“I know, baby, I know…”

“It burns! I saw my soul leave my body!”

Lisa was laughing too hard to function now.

“You’re so dramatic!”

Ruby glared through tears.

“You hurt innocent people.”

Jennie nodded solemnly. “Jail honestly.”

“MOMMY!”

“What? I’m on your side.”

After the scrape was cleaned and covered with a cute strawberry bandage, Ruby finally calmed down enough to sniffle quietly against Jennie’s chest.

Lisa handed her the promised cookies while Mochi rested beside them on the couch.

Ruby glared at the corgi.

“You almost killed me.”

Mochi licked her hand.

Ruby immediately melted.

“Aish… you’re lucky you’re cute.”

Jennie smiled softly watching her daughter cuddle the very dog she risked her life for five minutes ago.

Lisa wrapped an arm around both of them.

“You know,” Lisa teased gently, “Mama got scrapes all the time as a kid.”

Ruby gasped softly. “Really?”

“Mhm. I climbed trees.”

Jennie smirked. “And fell from them.”

Lisa pointed dramatically. “Not important.”

Ruby looked amazed.

“So Mama was also chaos?”

Jennie immediately answered.

“Yes.”

“Traitor.”

Ruby giggled for the first time since the accident before leaning sleepily against her Mommy.

“My knee still hurts…”

Jennie kissed the top of her head carefully.

“I know, baby.”

“Can I still be Mommy’s little dumpling even with broken knee?”

Jennie’s entire face softened instantly.

“Always.”

Ruby smiled sleepily.

Then whispered dramatically-

“If I don’t survive… tell Mochi I loved him.”

Lisa nearly rolled off the couch laughing while Jennie buried her face into Ruby’s hair to hide her own laughter.

“You’re surviving, drama queen.”

Ruby sighed heavily.

“Okay… but only because I’m strong.”