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“Today after work, I have something to say to you, so don’t make any other plans.”
“Something to say? What is it?”
“I’ll tell you over dinner.”
“Alright. Be careful on your way.”
Seunghyun gave a faint smile and turned around.
Yewon watched his retreating figure silently.
It had already been three weeks since the alumni gathering.
After much deliberation, Yewon had made up her mind to leave Seunghyun.
But even after that decision, she hadn’t changed her behavior at all.
She continued going on dates with him, eating dinner together, and spending intimate nights wrapped in each other’s arms.
Though she wanted to trust Seunghyun, every time their eyes met, Se-ah’s words kept resurfacing in her mind, making it unbearable to endure.
She no longer wanted to torment herself like this.
The constant strain had left her physically drained, and her condition wasn’t good.
─”Have my child and pretend to be a loving family—or become one for real. Just stay by my side.”
Her resolve hadn’t stemmed from those words.
To avoid repeating the same mistakes, Yewon had secretly begun packing her things behind Seunghyun’s back.
She deliberately left out everything he had gifted her.
As she excluded items one by one with excuses, there was almost nothing left to pack.
“Hoo.”
No matter how hard she tried to steel her resolve, it wasn’t easy.
She decided to take another look around before leaving the house, now that she’d finished organizing her belongings for the time being.
As she stepped out of the dressing room, Mrs. Choi caught sight of her and waved her over.
“Let’s have lunch.”
“Ah, okay.”
Surprised at how quickly time had passed, Yewon glanced at the wall clock.
The hands pointed to 2 p.m.
Though she didn’t have an appetite, she felt obligated to at least taste the meal Mrs. Choi had prepared.
Dragging her reluctant feet, Yewon headed toward the kitchen.
And at that moment—
“Huh?”
As if by magic, her appetite returned the instant she saw the food laid out on the table.
Mrs. Choi brought over a tray with two glasses filled with mineral water and smiled warmly.
“You mentioned wanting some spicy seasoned clam bibimbap, right?”
“Did I say that?”
“No, I overheard you muttering it while watching TV earlier, so I made it. Have a seat.”
Before she could respond, Yewon’s body moved instinctively.
“I’ll eat well. Thank you.”
Yewon picked up her spoon and scooped a large portion of the bibimbap.
The spicy aroma tickled her nose, and her mouth began to water.
Gulp. As soon as she swallowed her saliva and tasted the food, Yewon couldn’t help but exclaim.
“It’s so delicious!”
“What a relief. Lately, you haven’t been eating well, so I was worried. If there’s anything you want to eat, please let me know. I’ll make whatever you want.”
“Yes, I understand. It’s really good.”
With every bite, it tasted sweeter. Yewon eagerly devoured the dish.
When she was more than halfway through, she suddenly stopped.
“Ugh.”
Yewon covered her mouth with her hand.
Her stomach, which had been fine just moments ago, began churning, and nausea rose, making it impossible to continue eating.
Mrs. Choi looked at Yewon with concern.
“I’m sorry.”
Quickly lifting the glass to her lips, Yewon took a sip of water and forced an awkward smile.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. Yesterday, the smell of rice was unbearable, and here I am again.”
Realizing she couldn’t eat anymore, Yewon wiped her lips with a napkin.
Mrs. Choi placed her spoon down on the table.
“Could it be morning sickness?”
“Huh? No, that can’t be...”
Yewon suddenly froze mid-sentence.
Now that she thought about it, her period, which should have started last week, still hadn’t arrived.
Her cycle was usually regular, but she had been so preoccupied with planning her departure that she hadn’t noticed.
A lump formed in Yewon’s throat as she swallowed dryly.
Even if, by some chance, a new life had taken root inside her, she knew Seunghyun must never find out.
“No, it’s not that. My period just ended yesterday.”
“I see.”
Mrs. Choi looked as disappointed as Yewon felt.
After deciding to try for pregnancy, they hadn’t used contraception, so the possibility of pregnancy was high.
It felt as though someone were squeezing her heart tightly, suffocating her.
________________________________________
Yewon told Mrs. Choi she was going out for a short walk and left the house.
Her heart continued to pound loudly—thump, thump, thump.
If she walked a little further down the main road, there was a pharmacy.
Of all days, today the pregnancy test kits at home had run out.
Yewon quickened her pace.
“It can’t be... It shouldn’t be.”
She desperately hoped the delay in her period was due to extreme stress.
Only then could she leave Seunghyun without feeling weighed down.
“One pregnancy test kit, please.”
Lost in thought, she arrived at the pharmacy sooner than expected.
Just in case, she bought three kits from different manufacturers.
If one turned out to be faulty, she’d have backups.
“Your payment is complete.”
“Thank you.”
Yewon stuffed the bag containing the test kits into her purse.
Though the first-morning urine was said to give the most accurate results, Yewon couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning.
With the intention of testing immediately, she began walking back home.
Then—”Honk!”
Startled, Yewon whipped around.
“Secretary Kim, your legs are as fast as ever? Hop in. I have somewhere to take you.”
Mijin, who had suddenly appeared, beckoned to Yewon with a wave of her finger.
________________________________________
At the same time, Seunghyun, who had gone out for an external meeting, stopped by somewhere briefly.
It was a famous jewelry shop.
“Welcome. Please take a seat and wait just a moment.”
Recognizing Seunghyun, the employee smiled and turned to fetch something.
Moments later, she returned holding something, wearing white gloves.
“Here’s the custom-made piece you ordered. It’s the necklace, ring, and earring set, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Please take a look.”
As the square velvet case opened, the accessories Seunghyun had custom-made for Yewon were revealed.
He naturally pictured Yewon wearing them, her face glowing with joy like a young girl.
The thought made him feel inexplicably happy himself.
─”There’s no other reason. Being with Yewon just feels comfortable. I found myself sharing things I’d never told anyone, and even walking beside her felt nice.”
─”Most importantly, on days I met Yewon and went home, I could sleep without medication. That’s probably why my feelings naturally gravitated toward her.”
These were impromptu answers he’d given to his friends’ teasing questions during the year-end gathering.
But afterward, the more he reflected on them, the more he realized they were his true feelings.
Perhaps because of how comfortable he felt, most nights he slept soundly without medication while sharing a bed with Yewon.
It was something he hadn’t even noticed about himself.
“They’re beautiful. I like them.”
“The recipient will love them too. Who are you giving them to?”
“My wife. I’m giving them to my wife.”
“Ah, it must be your wedding anniversary.”
“Our anniversary has passed. I just have something to celebrate. Anyway, thank you.”
Seunghyun couldn’t explain why he was standing there elaborating so much.
Was it because he wanted to reveal his feelings for Yewon somewhere, somehow?
“Why didn’t I realize this until now?”
Perhaps if Yewon hadn’t brought up the topic of pregnancy, he might have remained oblivious to his own feelings indefinitely.
The guilt over his mother’s torment.
The discomfort of seeing her with another man.
The comfort he always felt by her side.
All these emotions stemmed from affection, yet he had lived without realizing it.
His life might have remained pitiful if Yewon hadn’t saved him.
He had planned to confess after finalizing the Eunhwa Construction acquisition, but anxiety over missing the chance nagged at him.
Now, he was ready to confess his true feelings to Yewon.
That he liked her.
No, that he loved her.
That he wanted her to become a real part of his family.
________________________________________
The place Mijin practically dragged Yewon to was a Japanese restaurant.
“Please bring the food all at once and don’t let anyone else in.”
“Yes, understood.”
After the staff left, the two were alone in the private room.
Mijin crossed her arms and stared at Yewon with a sardonic expression.
Yewon felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
“Hey, Secretary Kim.”
“...Yes.”
Just like last time, Mijin addressed Yewon as “Secretary.”
But since she wouldn’t see Mijin again after leaving Seunghyun’s house, Yewon didn’t dwell on it too much.
“What did you buy at the pharmacy earlier?”
Whether it was her imagination or not, there was a mocking tone in Mijin’s voice.
It was as if Mijin already knew what Yewon had purchased.
“Painkillers.”
“Ho. What a sly girl. You bought a pregnancy test kit, didn’t you? Why are you lying so blatantly?”
As expected, Yewon’s suspicions were correct.
Why beat around the bush? She could have just said that from the start.
Yewon’s mood soured.
“Well, I suppose when you’re running around recklessly with your body, lies become necessary! Who knows whose child it is!”
“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”
Yewon hadn’t wanted to engage, but Mijin’s absurd accusations were impossible to ignore.
“This isn’t something I can just let slide.” Yewon snapped back.
“You’re still denying it, huh? Looks like I’ll have to show you proof before you admit anything!”
Mijin pulled out a folded envelope from her bag and tossed it onto the table in front of Yewon.
“Let’s see if you can keep up this act after looking at this!”
The shrillness of Mijin’s voice grated on Yewon’s ears, making her instinctively frown.
Curious about what Mijin was talking about, Yewon picked up the envelope and pulled out its contents.
...It was a photograph.
A picture of the day Yewon and Minho had gone to an exhibition in Insadong and later ate tteokbokki in Samcheong-dong.
“After roughly calculating the dates, it seems this is when the baby was conceived.”
“Aunt Mijin, this is all a misunderstanding.”
“Buying a pregnancy test kit secretly while Seunghyun wasn’t home must have been for a reason, right?”
“It’s really not like that.”
Yewon felt wronged.
She had only enjoyed such leisure activities outside that one day—how could it lead to such a misunderstanding?
“How would I know that? And whether it’s Seunghyun’s child or someone else’s doesn’t matter to me.”
“...”
“I simply despise your filthy blood. Any child coming from your body will never be recognized as part of our family!”
Mijin’s shouting made Yewon’s head spin.
At that moment, a restaurant employee entered to set the table, briefly interrupting their conversation.
Yewon tried to steady herself.
But then—
“Ugh.”
The smell of food made her stomach churn again.
Instinctively raising her hand to cover her mouth, Mijin across from her burst into a derisive laugh.
“So you are experiencing morning sickness?”
Though it was just a question, goosebumps rose on Yewon’s skin.
Forcing herself to calm her queasy stomach, she lifted her head to meet Mijin’s gaze.
“It’s not morning sickness. My period just ended last week.”
Though she hadn’t confirmed it yet, if there was any chance of a new life growing inside her, this lie was to protect it.
If Mijin found out Yewon was pregnant, she would undoubtedly drag her straight to the OBGYN.
“Hand over your bag.”
“Huh?”
“Let me see those painkillers you supposedly bought. How can I believe your words unless...”
Just then—
The restaurant door slid open noisily, and Jonghee appeared.
Their eyes met, and a wave of fear crashed over Yewon, freezing her like a statue.
“You arrived just in time, Brother. Didn’t I tell you? If we’re going to break them up, we need to act fast!”
“What’s going on?”
“That secretary… I think she’s pregnant!”
“What? What do you mean?”
Jonghee’s gaze immediately shifted to Yewon’s lower abdomen.
Instinctively, Yewon crossed her arms over her stomach.
“You—what they’re saying is true? Are you really pregnant?”
“Absolutely not. I’m not pregnant.”
Jonghee and Mijin’s piercing gazes felt suffocating.
“In the unlikely event that this is true, I don’t want that child to be born into this world.”
“But Mother, you were the one who wanted us to have children.”
Yewon’s voice trembled faintly.
Jonghee let out a dry laugh and shook his head.
“Are you insane? Do you think I’d ever welcome a grandchild from someone raised by a gambling addict?”
The memory of the day Dongjun had visited flashed through Yewon’s mind. Mijin had met him privately afterward.
She had anticipated the family would find out sooner or later, but facing them directly now, she couldn’t muster a single response.
“If it turns out she’s really pregnant, what then? Why does she have to complicate things like this?” Mijin shouted impatiently.
But Jonghee remained completely unfazed.
“If it comes to that, we’ll make her get rid of it.”
“And if she refuses? We can’t exactly drag her to the operating table ourselves.”
“Then we take it away.”
Jonghee’s eyes gleamed sharply as he stared at Yewon.
“Se-ah said she’d raise the child as her own if it carried Seunghyun’s blood.”
“What? Mother, what did you just say?”
The moment those words left Jonghee’s lips, Yewon felt as though she’d been struck hard at the back of her head.
To think Seunghyun and Se-ah’s story was still ongoing.
When Se-ah’s name slipped from Jonghee’s lips, Yewon’s neck stiffened.
She wanted to believe she had misheard, but absurdly, it was true.
Her hands, resting on her thighs, began trembling uncontrollably.
Though she had resolved to leave him, her body still reacted to Seunghyun’s name.
“How dare you sit in that seat without knowing your place and bring shame to this household?”
“I’ve never done that. I’ve always been careful with my conduct...”
“I’m talking about the man who raised you! How dare he come crawling to us because he’s penniless? To us !”
“Could it be Uncle Dongjun came to see you?”
“Yes. He showed up in such a pitiful state! I was mortified thinking others might see him!”
Yewon couldn’t utter a word.
She had thought cutting off contact and living separately would be enough—but she had underestimated the situation.
“How could you even think of deceiving us so thoroughly? Then again, it makes sense given who raised you. Environment shapes a person, after all.”
It felt as though her throat was clogged with something.
Her jaw quivered as she struggled to hold back tears threatening to spill.
More shocking than Jonghee and Mijin cornering her here was the side of Seunghyun she hadn’t known.
An overwhelming sense of loss enveloped Yewon.
Though she felt dirty, as if something would burst out of her throat if she opened her mouth, she forced herself to endure.
“Is it enough for me to just leave?”
That was all she could manage to say.
Jonghee’s eyes lit up as if waiting for this exact moment.
“Yes. Don’t say a word to Seunghyun and leave the house by the end of this week.”
“No. I’ll pack up today.”
─”After work today, I have something to say to you, so don’t make other plans.”
That’s what Seunghyun had said when he left for work this morning.
Judging by the circumstances, whatever he intended to say likely wouldn’t differ much.
Since she had already packed her things, all she needed to do was leave.
“Good, at least you understand. Then today will be the last time we see each other.”
“Yes.”
The defeat weighed heavily on her—everything was going exactly as Jonghee wanted.
But Yewon knew she couldn’t resist or fight back here.
She resolved to accept everything.
“One last question.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Having given up entirely, Yewon’s voice lacked any strength.
“Who’s the father of that child?”
Even though she had denied it, Jonghee asked as if certain Yewon was pregnant.
After a moment of hesitation, Yewon replied.
“The man in the photo is the father.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I haven’t been reckless enough to confuse who the father might be.”
“My, you’re more brazen than I thought.”
Mijin chimed in mockingly from the side, further irritating Yewon.
Though she hadn’t confirmed it yet, she knew they’d insist on checking the pregnancy test kit in her bag if she denied it again.
Whether they planned to terminate the pregnancy or take the child away, how could she tell the truth in front of them?
This was the best choice to protect any potential child.
“Never appear before Seunghyun again. Understand?”
“Yes. And please make sure today’s events remain unknown to him.”
“That’s a given.”
After receiving confirmation, Yewon stood up.
“Then I’ll excuse myself first.”
She almost naturally added, “Thank you for everything,” but caught herself just in time and left the suffocating space.
“Hik...”
The moment the door closed behind her, tears spilled down her cheeks.
From the very beginning, the role of Seunghyun’s fake wife had been an ill-fitting garment for her.
It was time to end this charade.
________________________________________
Yewon got into a taxi and headed straight to the OBGYN clinic.
She had accompanied Jonghee countless times to these clinics, but this was her first time visiting alone.
Everything felt unfamiliar today.
‘Maybe I am...’
Her eyes drifted toward a pregnant woman in her final trimester.
Next to the pregnant woman stood her husband, gazing at her with loving eyes.
“How enviable.”
A bitter smile spread across Yewon’s face.
At that moment, her phone vibrated.
It was a call from Seunghyun.
“Haa.”
The instant she saw his name, Yewon’s heart began pounding wildly.
Why was he calling at a time like this?
She considered not answering but decided she needed to know why he had called.
After taking a deep breath, Yewon answered in as calm a voice as she could muster.
“Yes, Seunghyun?”
— “Where are you?”
Had he already found out and called her?
Yewon swallowed nervously, her throat dry.
“I’m at the hospital. I think I might have caught a cold. Why do you ask?”
— “Mrs. Choi said she stepped out to the pharmacy and hasn’t been reachable.”
“Oh, I ended up coming to the hospital instead of the pharmacy. Medicine prescribed here works better anyway.”
— “I see. While you’re there, get some vitamins too. You’ve looked tired lately.”
“Okay, I will. Thank you for worrying about me.”
Every time Seunghyun spoke to her kindly, Yewon’s chest tightened painfully.
She wanted to ask him how long he had planned to deceive her.
But if she really was pregnant… she wanted to keep the baby.
To avoid creating more problems, she stopped herself there.
— “What’s there to thank me for?”
“Just because.”
— “I’ll be leaving work an hour early today. I’ll head home right away.”
“...Alright.”
— “Let me know when you’re heading home after your appointment.”
“Okay, I will.”
And with that, the call ended.
It felt like her final conversation with Seunghyun.
“Patient Kim Yewon.”
“Yes.”
Just then, the nurse called out her name.
Opening the door to the examination room would confirm everything.
She regretted the day she couldn’t bear it anymore and asked Seunghyun if they could have a baby.
If only that hadn’t happened, she wouldn’t have fallen in love with him all over again.
That one sentence had changed so much.
If she could, Yewon wished she could go back to before that moment.
Even though she thought she’d die on that day, now she felt even worse.
She yearned for those days when nothing had happened.
________________________________________
“You’re pregnant.”
The doctor kindly pointed out the location of the gestational sac.
As much as she hoped it wasn’t true, it was.
The word “pregnant” left Yewon’s mind blank.
“Would you like to hear the baby’s heartbeat?”
“...Yes.”
At her response, the doctor moved the ultrasound machine.
Soon enough—
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
The rapid and strong heartbeat filled the examination room.
Her chest burned as if set aflame, and her body tensed.
“The gestational sac is beautifully formed, and the baby is healthy. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Go change back into your clothes and come out.”
“Yes.”
The reclined examination chair returned to its upright position.
As Yewon got up and changed back into her clothes in the dressing room, her mind raced with overwhelming thoughts.
She felt as though she might burst at any moment.
After changing, she approached the doctor, who handed her the ultrasound image.
Yewon stared silently at the black-and-white ultrasound photo.
“Come back for your next appointment in a month. If anything feels off before then, feel free to visit anytime.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As she stood to leave, the doctor added one last remark.
“Babies can feel all of their mother’s emotions. Try to think positive thoughts.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”
The doctor spoke as if fully aware of Yewon’s situation.
Having seen countless mothers, the doctor likely read the turmoil behind Yewon’s somber expression.
“Take your maternity handbook with you.”
“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”
Receiving the maternity handbook made her pregnancy feel even more real.
Though her resolve to have the baby remained unshaken, she worried whether she could truly be a good mother.
“What if the child asks about their father someday?”
She couldn’t very well tell them their father was in heaven when he was still alive.
Already, Yewon found herself worrying about life after childbirth.
________________________________________
Seunghyun’s car came to a stop at a red light.
He turned his head toward the passenger seat.
There lay a bouquet of flowers and a gift meant for Yewon.
“Hoo.”
Today, Seunghyun intended to propose—not as part of a contractual relationship, but as a real couple.
He had originally planned to do it last week, but an unexpected overseas trip had delayed it.
He was going to confess that he had grown to like her and ask her to become wholly his.
He also planned to apologize for arrogantly telling her she could date others and assure her he would wait if she was seeing someone else.
Though rejection was possible, Seunghyun tried to stay positive as he headed home.
But—
“What the...”
Seeing a familiar car parked outside his house, Seunghyun sensed something ominous.
Approaching it, he saw Jonghee stepping out.
Realizing something unusual was happening, Seunghyun got out of his car and walked toward her.
“Why are you here?”
“I have something important to tell you about Yewon.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s talk inside.”
After a brief hesitation, Seunghyun agreed and rang the doorbell, but no answer came from inside.
Mrs. Choi should have been home by now, and Yewon should have been waiting.
Then, Jonghee, standing behind him, spoke.
“Yewon isn’t here.”
“What?”
“She left. She said she won’t come back.”
As usual, his bad premonition proved accurate.
Seunghyun glared at Jonghee, refusing to believe her words.
“What nonsense is this? Did you threaten her again?”
Annoyed, Seunghyun scowled, but Jonghee sighed deeply.
“If you don’t want our family drama spreading around the neighborhood, open the door first.”
“Haa. Alright, come in.”
Seunghyun reluctantly let her in, knowing the conversation wouldn’t be pleasant.
“No, no, it can’t be.”
When he had asked her to wait without making other plans that evening, Yewon had agreed.
She had never broken a promise before, so he was certain she’d be home waiting.
But—
“...Ah.”
Opening the door and stepping into the dark, empty house, he immediately sensed that his worst fear had come true.
Clutching his fists tightly, Seunghyun turned to face Jonghee.
“Where did Yewon go?”
“How should I know? She just said she was leaving.”
“So why did Yewon suddenly leave? You must have harassed her again. What unreasonable act did you pull this time?”
“What? Unreasonable?”
Jonghee looked incredulous, as if she couldn’t believe Seunghyun would accuse her.
“You forced her to take a pregnancy test and even checked her underwear. That’s completely irrational behavior.”
“Seunghyun, now’s not the time for this. Do you know why Yewon left without a word?”
Jonghee’s feigned innocence disgusted him.
He wanted to wipe that smug face off her entirely.
All the resentment he had suppressed since the day she first appeared, demanding to be called “Mother,” surged forward.
“Yewon ran away because she’s pregnant—with another man’s child.”
“What...? Are you making up lies now?”
“You keep accusing me of being strange, so I’ll show you proof.”
Jonghee pulled something out of her bag.
“Look at this and then speak.”
Inside the envelope she handed him was a photograph.
In it... was Yewon and the man from before.
Yewon’s face as she attended the exhibition in Insadong and later ate tteokbokki looked radiant, as if she owned the world.
It was a side of her Seunghyun had never seen—a dazzlingly bright smile.
“Do you know him?”
“...No.”
“Anyway, once she was caught, she fled. The moment she saw this photo, she turned pale. Tsk, tsk. How could someone with such a demure face behave so recklessly?”
With a thud, the photo slipped from Seunghyun’s hand and fell to the floor.
Strangely, rather than resentment, he felt regret.
Why had he only realized his feelings now?
If only he had postponed last week’s overseas trip and proposed to her that day, could he have prevented this?
Most of all, he despised himself for being so arrogant as to believe Yewon would never leave his side.
“How can I bring Yewon back? What should I do?”
No, if she left with another man, perhaps his place was already gone.
Too many thoughts swirled in his head, yet his mind refused to function.
It was as if his thought process had shut down.
“No... Is it already too late?”
Facing the truth he didn’t want to accept, Seunghyun clenched his teeth tightly.
________________________________________
Swash, swash, swash, swash.
Once again, Yewon opened her eyes to the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Getting out of bed, she threw open the curtains to reveal the vast ocean stretching before her.
“Ah, it’s so beautiful.”
Yewon rested her elbows on the windowsill and took in the picturesque scenery.
The sunlight shattered against the horizon where the sky met the sea, sparkling like scattered jewels. It was almost blinding.
“Good morning, Bada. Did you sleep well? The weather is perfect again today. Next year, let’s hold hands and come see the ocean together.”
Yewon gently rubbed her lower abdomen, which had just started to show signs of pregnancy.
She used to think her belly would swell immediately after becoming pregnant.
But now, entering her fifth month, her lower abdomen was beginning to make its presence known.
That also meant it had been nearly five months since she left Seunghyun.
At first, she cried herself to sleep every night, soaking her pillow as she thought of him.
But whenever those moments came, she repeated the words the doctor had said the day she first confirmed her pregnancy at the clinic:
—”Babies can feel all their mother’s emotions. Try to think positive thoughts.”
Determined to grow stronger, Yewon had felt an inexplicable longing for the sea.
So she impulsively fled to a small village in Busan.
It was a place she’d never visited before, even for travel, and didn’t know anyone there. But the moment she saw the shimmering ocean bathed in sunlight, her mood lifted.
That day, Yewon decided to settle down in this city for a while.
And... albeit belatedly, she gave her baby a nickname.
“Bada.”
It was the name that brought her back to life.
Since moving to this town, she had deliberately tried not to think about Seunghyun.
If she kept dwelling on him, she feared she’d end up crying like a child every time she mentioned the baby’s father.
Though he was someone she could never forget, she repeated the mantra daily as if casting a spell:
“Cha Seunghyun is nothing to me.”
Over time, she felt a little numb—though perhaps it was just an illusion.
There were still legal matters to settle with Seunghyun, but giving birth safely was her priority.
If she returned now, who knew what might happen with Jonghee or Mijin?
“The house feels too quiet. I keep having strange thoughts.”
Trying to shake off Seunghyun’s lingering image, Yewon grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
The first thing she saw on the screen… astonishingly, was news about Donghwa Construction.
—”Donghwa Construction has successfully completed the acquisition of Eunhwa Construction. Chairman Cha Seunghyun...”
“Haa.”
Startled by Seunghyun’s name emanating from the TV, Yewon quickly pressed the power button to turn it off.
The silence in the house was filled only by the pounding of her heart—thump, thump, thump.
She had tried so hard to ignore him, even deliberately pushing him out of her mind... but this was unbearable.
Deciding it was best to get out of the house, she hurriedly slipped her feet into sandals by the door.
Throwing open the door, she headed toward the same ocean she had gazed at through the window moments ago.
Standing still for a long while, watching the waves crash and break into white foam, she slowly began to regain her composure.
But then—
“Kim Yewon.”
Her heart began racing again at the sound of that familiar voice calling her name.
“Let’s go. I’ve come to take you home.”
It was Seunghyun—the man she had resented so much, yet missed just as deeply.
________________________________________
Two days before Seunghyun came to Busan.
“Seunghyun, I always knew you’d pull it off. I’m proud to call you my grandson. The official announcement will be made in two days.”
Hanju warmly praised Seunghyun for the successful acquisition of Eunhwa Construction.
“Thank you.”
Seunghyun responded mechanically, his face devoid of emotion.
Acquiring Eunhwa Construction was something he had desperately wanted to achieve.
He had worked tirelessly to silence those who criticized him and spread baseless rumors, determined to prove them wrong with results.
But despite achieving everything he set out to do, Seunghyun felt no joy.
Because the one person he wanted to share this happy news with was gone.
“Yewon... I miss her.”
A bittersweet smile crept onto Seunghyun’s lips as Yewon’s face naturally came to mind.
It had already been five months since he lost her.
During those five months, he felt as though he hadn’t been himself for a single day.
Unable to neglect his work at the company, he pretended everything was fine in front of others.
But the moment he returned to the home he once shared with Yewon, he crumbled repeatedly.
Even today, when he opened the bedroom door, he half-expected to find Yewon lying on the bed.
He still hadn’t managed to let her go.
Seunghyun couldn’t bring himself to throw away any of Yewon’s belongings, leaving them exactly where they were.
As his sense of loss deepened, he considered moving to escape the pain.
But thinking there was still a chance—however slim—that Yewon might return, he decided to wait.
“Seunghyun.”
“Yes.”
________________________________________
Lost in thoughts of Yewon, Seunghyun snapped out of his daze at Hanju’s voice and looked up.
Hanju exhaled deeply, adjusting his posture as he spoke.
“What do you think about remarrying?”
“Grandfather.”
“We need to finalize the divorce proceedings we’ve put off for so long. Starting anew would be good for you. People heal through people, after all.”
Seunghyun’s jaw trembled visibly.
He felt a tinge of resentment toward Hanju for casually bringing up remarriage.
“Give me a little more time.”
________________________________________
“I heard she left carrying another man’s child.”
“How did you...?”
________________________________________
“I heard about how she shamelessly pretended to have no family while being raised by someone else. That girl sure looked innocent, didn’t she?”
Hanju, who had once cared for Yewon, remained unaware until the very end, leaving Seunghyun choking on his breath.
Two months ago, when Mijin revealed that relatives from his uncle’s household had embezzled funds and misappropriated company money, leading to their imprisonment, she claimed she had overheard it.
Mijin clung to Yewon’s reputation to cover her own flaws.
“No matter how fond I was of Yewon, there are things I cannot forgive. Even if you bring your wife back and raise a child unrelated by blood, I won’t see you again, Seunghyun.”
Hanju’s firm tone squeezed Seunghyun’s heart tightly.
“I’ll think about it.”
________________________________________
Unable to muster a definitive answer, Seunghyun rose from his seat with those words.
Behind him, he heard Hanju clicking his tongue disapprovingly.
“If only you had taken after your father and treated relationships lightly, things might have been easier.”
Knowing nothing good would come of responding, Seunghyun feigned ignorance and left Hanju’s office.
Despite the good news and sunny weather, dark clouds seemed to fill Seunghyun’s heart, leaving him feeling low.
“Shall we depart, Chairman?”
“Yes. Thank you, Secretary Park.”
________________________________________
As Seunghyun fastened his seatbelt, the car moved forward and merged onto the road.
Staring blankly out the window, Seunghyun turned to Secretary Park.
“Any updates today?”
“...No, Chairman. I apologize.”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
Forcing a smile, Seunghyun lowered his gaze.
If he could find Yewon, who had left without a word, he wanted to at least see her from afar.
Seeing her happy with another man might help him let go.
But after five relentless months of searching every corner of the country, he still hadn’t found a trace of her.
It was as if she had never existed.
Or perhaps someone was deliberately hiding her existence—it was baffling how impossible it was to uncover any information.
Frustration mingled with growing longing.
And there was another reason Seunghyun couldn’t give up on Yewon so easily.
“It might still be my child.”
At first, amidst the chaos, he hadn’t realized it. But somewhere along the way, the thought struck him.
Timewise, it was during the period when he and Yewon had been intimate without contraception.
So why had Yewon concluded it was another man’s child and left?
Had she become pregnant before suggesting they try for a baby? But hadn’t Jonghee insisted on pregnancy tests just before?
Even if it wasn’t his child, Seunghyun wanted to be with Yewon if she’d allow it.
His inability to let go stemmed from the fact that he still trusted her.
The Yewon he knew would never act deceitfully or maliciously.
Moreover, they were still legally married.
He wanted to verify whether Jonghee’s accusations were true.
Though he feared he might burst into tears upon meeting her, unable to say anything.
‘Wait.’
Suddenly, Seunghyun furrowed his brow.
The evidence Jonghee had presented—a photo showing Yewon attending an exhibition and eating dinner with another man—wasn’t conclusive proof of infidelity.
If they had photos of her entering a hotel or the man’s house, that would have been far more damning.
‘Could it be...’
Why hadn’t he entertained this doubt before?
He knew full well how underhanded Jonghee and Mijin could be behind the scenes. Why had he believed them?
“And right after Yewon left, they suggested meeting Se-ah as if they’d been waiting for this chance.”
It might be a misunderstanding, but Se-ah was starting to seem suspicious too.
Without rushing into anything, Seunghyun resolved to sort through his thoughts carefully from today onward.
Amidst the swirling confusion, he craved a drink.
Just then, his phone buzzed with a message.
[Cha Seunghyun, I heard about the Eunhwa Construction acquisition. Congratulations.]
It was Suktae, contacting him after such a long time.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t properly kept in touch with his friends since Yewon left.
Seunghyun immediately tapped the call button.
“Yeah, Seunghyun.”
“Thanks for the congratulations. It’s been a while. How are you doing?”
“You’re always asking me that when we talk. You should reach out more often, you jerk. I’m doing well. What about you?”
“I guess...”
Seunghyun trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
“Suktae, do you have time today?”
“Why?”
“Let’s grab a celebratory drink. Drinking alone feels a bit lonely.”
“Hmm... Sure, let’s do that. Let me know the place, and I’ll be there.”
“Alright, see you later.”
Seunghyun was grateful that Suktae readily accepted his sudden invitation.
As he moved to end the call, he reconsidered and brought the phone back to his ear.
“Hey, Sim Suktae. Do you have no loyalty? Are you really going to meet Seunghyun after seeing how hard Se-ah’s been taking it because of him?”
Hearing Juyeon’s voice from the other side, Seunghyun frowned.
He wondered if the stress of intense workloads had driven her to use “loyalty” as an excuse.
The call abruptly ended, cutting off any further conversation.
But Seunghyun sensed a connection between Juyeon’s words and the suspicious actions of Jonghee and Mijin, who had been trying to push him closer to Se-ah.
He decided to ask Suktae about it in detail during their meeting tonight.
After her usual seaside stroll, Yewon stopped by the fruit shop and picked out several sour fruits.
“Watermelons are already in season? I want one.”
Among all the fruits, watermelon was the one she craved the most, but it was too heavy for her to carry home alone.
The elderly shopkeeper wouldn’t be able to help either—it felt awkward to ask.
Though her mouth watered at the thought of biting into a cool, juicy slice, she decided to wait and order delivery online instead.
“Please charge me for this watermelon.”
A large hand suddenly reached past her, holding out a card for payment.
Turning her head, Yewon met Minho’s gaze as he flashed a warm smile.
The shopkeeper took the card, glancing back and forth between Yewon and Minho.
“I always wondered about your story since you’re always alone—but looks like you do have a husband after all?”
Clearly mistaking them for a married couple.
Worried that Minho might feel offended, Yewon quickly waved her hands in denial.
But Minho beat her to it.
“I’ve been busy running my café, so I usually come home late at night. That’s probably why people only see her alone.”
“You run a store? What kind of business?”
“A café.”
“I see. Here, this is on the house. Take it home and enjoy together.”
The shopkeeper packed a few oranges into a black bag along with the watermelon and handed it over.
“Thank you. Since you gave us this service, next time I’ll bring some freshly baked bread.”
“Minho…”
Yewon looked at him worriedly, but he simply shrugged, signaling it was fine.
“Is the baby a girl or a boy?”
“A girl… I think.”
“Whether she takes after her dad or mom, she’ll surely be a beautiful daughter. You two look great together.”
“Thank you. Have a good day.”
Minho answered smoothly on Yewon’s behalf.
With their final greetings exchanged, they walked side by side in silence.
As buildings gave way to reveal the ocean view, Seunghyun finally spoke.
“Did you think about what I said last time?”
“Ah…”
If Minho’s words from before were anything to go by, he had offered to become the father of Yewon’s child.
But Yewon didn’t need even a second to make up her mind.
There was only one man who could ever be considered the father of her child—Seunghyun.
Still, knowing how much thought Minho must have put into making such a heartfelt proposal, she couldn’t reject him outright.
But now, there was no avoiding an answer any longer.
“I’m sorry, Minho.”
Yewon gave her concise reply while absently rubbing the back of her neck.
Minho burst into laughter.
“What’s there to be sorry about? Don’t say that. Guess I’ll just have to settle for being Bada’s forever cake uncle.”
“Cake uncle?”
Amused by the cute nickname, Yewon chuckled softly.
“If she’s craving our café cakes while still in her mom’s belly, imagine what she’ll be like once she’s born. I’ll take care of all the cakes Bada eats for life.”
“I really appreciate that.”
Minho’s kindness made Yewon feel lighter.
During her time in Busan, Minho—the café owner who started as a regular customer—had become the only person she could confide in.
Three months ago, when she had first realized she was carrying Bada…
By then, she had grown quite accustomed to life in Busan. One day, when morning sickness left her with no appetite, a memory of the cakes from Minho’s café popped into her head.
Nothing else seemed edible, but the thought of eating even a single bite of his cake gave her hope.
It wasn’t just any cake—it had to be Minho’s.
However, the distance between Busan and Seoul made her hesitate. She hoped that sleeping it off would rid her of the craving, but the urge only grew stronger over time.
Eventually, Yewon boarded a train bound for Seoul.
The café’s location near Donghwa Construction didn’t even cross her mind—it was irrelevant at that point.
When she arrived at Minho’s shop, Yewon ordered a whole cake and devoured it recklessly with a fork.
She ignored her drink entirely, focusing solely on stuffing herself with cake until—
‘Miss Yewon!’
Her chest tightened painfully, and everything spun before her eyes. She collapsed right there in the shop.
Her sudden binge after weeks of not eating properly had caused indigestion.
When she regained consciousness, Yewon found herself lying in the emergency room, hooked up to an IV.
‘Miss Yewon, are you okay? Are you coming around?’
At Minho’s urgent voice, Yewon immediately placed a hand on her lower abdomen.
Terrified something might have happened to the baby, she trembled.
‘The baby’s fine.’
‘How… did you know?’
‘You kept mentioning the baby whenever you came to. So don’t worry anymore.’
Hearing Minho’s reassurance, Yewon thanked him repeatedly.
Then, Minho casually brought up the topic.
‘The IV is almost done, and we can leave soon. Shouldn’t you call your husband first?’
Seeing Yewon hesitate, Minho asked if they’d had a fight.
Rather than brushing it off with a vague “Yes,” tears streamed down her cheeks.
‘Miss Yewon?’
‘I’m sorry.’
Noticing something amiss, Minho escorted her to a nearby hotel.
Concerned something might happen, he asked for her contact information.
After some deliberation, Yewon wrote her number into his phone. In that moment, she realized she wanted to unburden herself—to someone, anyone—and perhaps ease the pain gnawing at her heart.
It was ironic that the person she chose to confide in was Minho. After cutting ties with everyone due to her contract marriage with Seunghyun, she had no one else.
‘Do you think you could listen to my story right now?’
Feeling as though she’d explode if she didn’t share with someone, Yewon clung to Minho.
That’s how the two became friends.
Even after Yewon returned to Busan, Minho occasionally visited to check on her well-being.
“And yet, Miss Yewon…”
“Yes?”
“Are you still unable to forget your ex-husband?”
“…Yes, not even a little.”
For some reason, it felt bitter.
Answering awkwardly, Minho nodded sympathetically, acknowledging it was understandable.
Fortunately, he didn’t know the full details—he only knew it was a divorce due to personality differences.
If he had known she left because of another woman and still missed her ex-husband, he might have pitied her.
Thinking about it, she had lied to Jonghee and Mijin, claiming Minho was the baby’s father…
Thankfully, she had stopped at just the right point during that confession.
“If people’s hearts followed their will, where would heartbreak exist in this world? I understand how you feel, Miss Yewon.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“To be honest, there’s someone I can’t forget either.”
Yewon wondered why such a kind person like Minho didn’t have a girlfriend.
It wasn’t romantic curiosity—just human concern.
“Minho, you’re such a good person. You’ll definitely meet someone better.”
“I’m glad I at least seem like a good person to you.”
“You’ve helped me so much.”
Yewon didn’t understand why, the moment she said those words, Seunghyun’s face flashed in her mind.
Though things had turned out this way, Seunghyun remained the biggest part of her life.
When her world hit rock bottom, he was the only one who extended a helping hand.
And willingly stood as her shield.
—”Let’s get married. For two years. After that, we’ll follow the contract.”
Even if given the chance to go back, Yewon would have made the same choice.
Her mistake lay in falling deeply in love with him and secretly harboring feelings while becoming pregnant.
Even if Seunghyun had used her as a tool for revenge against Se-ah, Yewon bore no ill will toward him.
After all, she had her own reasons for accepting his hand in marriage. There was nothing to resent.
“It’s all my fault.”
Yewon gathered her thoughts and turned her gaze toward the sea.
________________________________________
In a lounge bar at a Gangnam hotel, Seunghyun sat sipping his drink when Suktae approached from behind.
“Our CEO Cha Seunghyun—long time no see. Did you lose weight? Your clothes fit looser.”
“Here already?”
Seunghyun brushed away Suktae’s teasing hand from his shoulder with a faint smile.
—”Hey, Sim Suktae. How dare you meet Seunghyun despite seeing how hard Se-ah suffers because of him?”
Suktae suppressed the urge to ask about that conversation before even sitting down.
After ordering his cocktail, Suktae turned to face Seunghyun.
“What’s with the gloomy face today? Aren’t you supposed to be celebrating?”
“Just… stuff.”
Seunghyun trailed off, lifting his glass to his lips and taking another sip.
Ever since hanging up the phone earlier, he had been racking his brain about how to start this conversation.
Yet, no solution seemed ideal.
“What am I missing here?”
After their second wedding anniversary, Seunghyun had tried harder to pay attention to Yewon.
But somehow, events unfolded beyond his knowledge.
And now, Se-ah was involved too.
No matter how hard he thought, nothing added up.
“Haa.”
Seunghyun swallowed another sigh.
“Cha Seunghyun. Something’s definitely bothering you.”
“…Suktae.”
“Hmm?”
He wanted to bring up the subject naturally, but it felt futile.
Carefully, Seunghyun parted his lips.
“Did Yoon Se-ah tell you guys anything?”
This approach seemed better than mentioning the conversation he overheard between Juyeon and Suktae.
Sure enough, Suktae’s eyes wavered slightly as he avoided eye contact.
“Tell me. I think I need to know.”
“But Juyeon told me not to say anything…”
Suktae scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Without another word, Seunghyun stared intently at him.
After chewing on his lip for a moment, Suktae sighed audibly and locked eyes with Seunghyun.
“You two… apparently met secretly without us knowing.”
“Yoon Se-ah said… that?”
Seunghyun barely managed to suppress the grimace threatening to twist his face.
He hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn.
“When you were in college, and briefly dated before your marriage.”
“She claims… you did?”
“Yeah. Apparently, your family pressured her to have kids, so you broke up before the wedding.”
“Ha.”
Seunghyun let out a dry laugh.
The absurdity of these lies being believed by those around him was infuriating.
No, Suktae and Juyeon weren’t at fault.
The real problem was Yoon Se-ah.
Though they worked together and saw each other every day, the fact that she had been spreading such baseless rumors behind his back filled him with rage.
A wave of betrayal and anger made the back of his neck stiffen.
“Sim Suktae. Do you believe her?”
Seunghyun asked with a bitter smile.
Detecting something off, Suktae pursed his lips.
“I’ve never met Yoon Se-ah even once. And what? That my family pressured her into having kids, so we broke up before I got married? If that were true, wouldn’t I have had a child right after marrying Yewon?”
“Oh… is that so? I only heard this story from Juyeon, so...”
“Didn’t it seem strange to you too? You’ve known me since high school. Shouldn’t you have realized immediately that it was impossible?”
Seunghyun felt a pang of resentment toward Suktae for not questioning the story over the past five months.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve at least asked you about it.”
It wasn’t Suktae’s fault, but the way things had unfolded irritated Seunghyun.
The real culprit behind this absurd situation was someone else entirely.
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“No, I do. If I had just thought a little harder, I would’ve realized it wasn’t true. My judgment was shallow.”
Seunghyun and Suktae paused their conversation and took a sip from their glasses.
Seunghyun decided to give Suktae some time to process everything without rushing him.
He felt a twinge of guilt for putting Suktae in this position, where he had to question and doubt him.
“But, Seunghyun.”
“Yeah?”
“Actually, before coming here today, Juyeon told me something else...”
Suktae trailed off, his brow furrowing as he hesitated.
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