Chapter 46: Starting with Pregnancy

Pregnancy. Baby. Jisoo quietly rolled these surreal words around in her mind, trying to grasp their meaning. She had never once considered this kind of connection with Tae-ha—this tangible, irreversible bond.

While he himself was postponing the engagement for reasons unclear, stirring up all sorts of rumors despite its business significance, how could he casually bring up such a topic in this fleeting relationship?

What if I say yes? What would he do if I clung to him, unwilling to let go, driven by selfish desire? The thought intrigued her.

“That thing you just said… it was a joke, right?”

“Do I seem like someone who enjoys joking, especially in a situation like this?”

Tae-ha twirled a strand of Jisoo’s hair around his finger, pulling gently and then letting it go, teasing her as usual. Though she knew he rarely spoke frivolously, she asked again, hoping against hope that he meant it.

“We’ve always been careful about contraception. Why are you suddenly bringing this up now? If I were to get pregnant, what would you do? I’d never give up a baby. Even if it cost me my life, I’d definitely give birth. I’d raise the child fiercely on my own.”

“Why think about raising the baby alone when there’s a perfectly healthy, virile father right here?”

Unlike Jisoo’s desperate tone, Tae-ha smirked, still more interested in playing with her hair. He brushed it lightly against his lips, inhaling her lingering scent.

“So…”

No matter what Tae-ha’s intention was, Jisoo felt foolish for getting so worked up over a careless remark. She turned her face away from him, avoiding his gaze. But before she could fully look away, he gently pulled her back toward him.

“If you’re absolutely certain you won’t give up the baby, then let’s start with pregnancy. After all, if you carry my child, I’m sure you’ll be kind enough to tolerate me too.”

Tae-ha straddled Jisoo, trapping her wriggling body between his legs. As if gauging the possibility of a baby’s presence, he softly caressed her flat stomach with his palm.

“Stop it. Get off me.”

Jisoo grabbed his wrist as it moved toward her thighs. Though she couldn’t overpower his strong grip, he obligingly withdrew at her insistence.

“Even if you hate me to the point of trembling, even if you despise me, pregnancy is one thing that will tie you to me no matter what. So let’s start with that.”

The hand Jisoo released wandered from her waist and ribs upward, finally resting on her chest. She watched his heavy movements beneath her thin clothing before lifting her gaze to meet his. She wanted to understand his true intentions—to know why he was trying so hard to keep her close.

<Whether I toy with her a little longer and discard her or place her in the room next to our honeymoon suite—that’s my decision.>

Tae-ha’s voice from earlier echoed vividly in her ears. Misinterpreting her trembling eyes as anxiety, Tae-ha chuckled softly and released her breast.

“I didn’t finish inside you. That’s my plan for now. Is it really something to worry about?”

Had she held onto some faint hope? It felt like grains of sand slipping through her fingers. She was stuck on a spinning carousel, dizzy and aimless. Jisoo lowered her gaze, which had been fixed on him.

“Is the engagement preparation going well? Since I’m part of the entourage, I figured I should know at least a little.”

The softness in Tae-ha’s eyes hardened instantly.

“You’re doing this on purpose. You have other things you truly want to say, don’t you?”

“I’m just worried about losing a good bed partner. We did fit together quite well physically.”

Tae-ha leaned down, pressing his lips against the nape of her neck. The soft scent of her skin sent a surge through his lower body. Yet, he forced himself to pull back, withdrawing from her embrace.

“Try to get some rest before work. I’ll sleep in the next room.”

Every time the topic of engagement came up, he either ignored it or avoided it altogether. Swallowing her bitterness, Jisoo clenched her lips tightly before turning her back to him.

Her body was exhausted, but she doubted she’d be able to sleep tonight. If only he’d hold her until she collapsed—it would give her a chance to rest her weary mind and body.

Her small head buzzed with tangled thoughts. She didn’t even realize that Tae-ha, who had said he’d move to the next room, stayed by her side until her breathing grew steady.

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After finishing her early morning prayers, In-hee strolled through the wooded area surrounding the church. This quiet walk before sunrise was her favorite part of the day—it felt like a prelude to the fortune of the day ahead.

The forest, still lush and vibrant after the peak of summer, brimmed with life even in the dim dawn light. In-hee could feel the vitality of the greenery around her.

Tomorrow was Tae-ha’s birthday—a weekend celebration. She had spent far more days apart from her son than together since his birth. Each monthly visit revealed how much he had grown, leaving her feeling both estranged and proud.

Their conversations revolved around health and well-being, familiar yet distant. A few months ago, she caught him sitting alone, suddenly breaking into a smile. It was the first time she’d seen her wintry son radiate the warmth of spring.

<Tae-ha, something good happened?>

<There’s someone beautiful. I’ll show you soon.>

Seeing the spring bloom in her son’s icy heart brought her relief. But the very next day, through an intermediary sent by Oh Yoon-mi, she learned of Tae-ha’s engagement.

Having suffered greatly from corporate strategic marriages herself and with Cha Geon-wook, she didn’t want to pass such a curse onto her only son.

Though they initially acted as though they’d rush through the engagement and wedding, Yoon-mi’s side remained unusually silent. Tae-ha’s lack of objection suggested he had postponed it for some reason, and In-hee hoped it meant he was finding his own path.

Sitting on a bench overlooking a small lake, In-hee pulled out her phone. A single photo of Tae-ha, reluctantly taken at her request, adorned her screen. She gazed at his stoic expression staring straight ahead before dialing his number.

As always, his familiar voice answered after a brief ring.

“Did I wake you up by calling so early?”

-It’s 6 a.m., and I just woke up.

“Tomorrow’s your birthday, my son. Congratulations.”

Jisoo, who had carefully closed the bedroom door after waking, walked into the living room holding her phone. Tae-ha rarely attached special meaning to anniversaries, treating them as just another day in the calendar. He had never lived a life leisurely enough to meticulously observe such dates.

-Is there anything you want?

“No, nothing.”

-You’re so unfeeling. At least pretend to think about it instead of cutting me off so quickly.

“I’ll consider it. Are you eating well? How’s your health?”

-The same as yesterday—neither good nor bad. Tomorrow will likely be similar.

“That’s good to hear.”

-What about that beautiful person you mentioned? Will you bring them over this weekend? I’ll cook something delicious.

Standing on the balcony, Tae-ha surveyed the lively morning scene unfolding before him. Given how busy his employee was with work, he wasn’t sure if they’d have time on the weekend.

“I haven’t mentioned it yet. I’ll ask and bring them if possible.”

-Alright. Let me know in advance so I can prepare mentally.

“Don’t go out of your way to prepare. We’ll just greet you and leave quickly.”

-How cold and detached you are. Do you speak to that beautiful person like that too?

Tae-ha tilted his head, unable to comprehend what she meant.

“Make sure to eat properly. I’ll call again in the evening.”

After ending the tender call, Tae-ha turned around to find Jisoo standing by the bedroom door. Instead of the clothes hastily discarded the night before, she wore his shirt. On her slim frame, it hung loosely like a mini dress.

“I wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose… I was thirsty and wanted some water.”

Tae-ha gestured for her to come closer. Hesitantly, she moved toward him, and he gently pressed her shoulders to sit her on the sofa.

“Even if you were deliberately listening, it’s fine. Stay seated.”

Soon, Tae-ha returned from the kitchen with lukewarm water. Jisoo held the cup with both hands, feeling its warmth before taking sips. Though mornings after passionate nights weren’t new, last night’s conversation made the bright atmosphere feel unusually awkward.

Tae-ha had carelessly expanded the boundaries of their relationship. His words had conjured the sensation of cradling a nonexistent baby in her arms.

“Did you manage to sleep at all?”

“Considering how little I usually sleep, and stopping halfway through, how could I fall asleep?”

Jisoo smirked at his considerate tone. Their meetings followed a pattern: meeting him with a racing heart, falling deeply under his spell, only to snap back to reality and retreat to her designated spot.

Despite vowing not to harbor any expectations or make promises, moments like these—when they shared comfortable conversations—made her defenses crumble.

“You barely sleep or eat. Where does all that energy come from? Are you secretly taking some miracle supplement?”

“Are you comparing me to someone who relies on pills? You, of all people, should know that effects don’t last that long.”

True—if there were a pill that gave someone Tae-ha’s stamina, it would be Nobel Prize-worthy. Jisoo nodded in agreement.

“I don’t take pills often.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“When I was little, someone gave me the wrong medicine, and it nearly caused a disaster.”

Who could have done such a cruel thing to a child? Jisoo’s expression grew serious, more so than his own. Tae-ha took the glass from her hand, set it on the table, and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I’m a wounded man, traumatized. So treat me kindly.”

Before Jisoo could protest where the conversation was heading, Tae-ha leaned in and kissed her softly, silencing her protests.