“I’m pregnant.”

At that single phrase, silence instantly filled the car. Kang-joon, tapping the steering wheel with his long fingers and staring straight ahead, seemed lost in thought. Se-hee, watching his exquisitely sculpted profile, suddenly wondered, What is he thinking right now? And how does he feel? She knew. She knew that pregnancy could make Kang-joon even more persistent. Yet, she had to tell him because she knew what kind of man Seo Kang-joon was. If she hid the pregnancy and Kang-joon found out later, she felt she wouldn’t be able to handle how he might change. If she couldn’t hide it anyway, it was better to reveal it now and face it. After a long moment, Kang-joon looked at Se-hee again, his expression still unreadable, and said calmly.

“Say what you just said again.”

“...I’m pregnant.”

Se-hee repeated her answer, and for the first time, she saw it. That a perfectly handsome face could wear such a dumbfounded expression. In the awkward silence that followed, Se-hee this time turned her head to look out the window. He wasn’t happy, nor was he displeased. His lukewarm reaction left her unsure how to continue the conversation.

“The baby’s father is...”

A low voice cut through the subtle stillness. Se-hee turned her head and met his still unreadable, jet-black eyes. Those eyes were quietly urging her. Tell me the truth, quickly. How could he even ask such a thing? Feeling that he was harboring an absurd suspicion, Se-hee’s reply came out sharply.

“If I were pregnant with another man’s baby, and that’s why I couldn’t marry you...”

“...”

“Then what would you do?”

To her audacious and bold question, Kang-joon replied nonchalantly.

“I wouldn’t be able to do anything to Joo Se-hee. But would I really leave that man alone?”

However, his jet-black eyes, filled with menacing intensity, were anything but nonchalant. It was as if he was threatening Se-hee, implying that if she dared to use a false name, that man would be attending his own memorial service. With his persistent gaze fixed on her, Kang-joon continued, as if muttering to himself.

“Of course, it’s my child.”

Knowing that, why would you say such a thing? Se-hee shot back, somewhat dumbfounded.

“If you knew so well, why did you ask such a question?”

“I thought you were trying to refuse marriage with an absurd excuse, shall I say, I got annoyed.”

Kang-joon was actually testing Se-hee. To see if she hated marrying him so much that she would come up with such a ridiculous excuse. Of course, he confessed before he could even hear her answer, just in case Joo Se-hee really would do such a thing.

“I don’t tell lies like that. That would be disgracing my child, and I don’t want to use my child to achieve a goal. And if I mentioned some random man’s name, I don’t know what you would do, so why would I make such an excuse? I’m not stupid.”

At Se-hee’s clear answer, Kang-joon muttered to himself. Right, I’m the only crazy one for having unnecessary misunderstandings. Joo Se-hee is still shrewd.

“Then all the more reason we should get married, shouldn’t we? For our baby’s sake.”

“You are indeed the baby’s father, Mr. Kang-joon. But let me be clear, it’s my baby, not our baby.”

For a moment, Kang-joon doubted his own ears. It felt like he had heard something more shocking than the news of pregnancy. Wondering what he had just heard, Kang-joon looked at Se-hee again.

“That night, I clearly said. To give me a baby as a gift. You gave me the most precious gift in the world, and I’m grateful. But that’s as far as it goes.”

Joo Se-hee, with eyes and lips beautiful enough to drive a man crazy, skillfully rattled off hurtful words.

“Of course, if you want to see the baby as its father, you can. But I will absolutely not marry you, Mr. Kang-joon.”

No longer composed, Kang-joon asked, frustrated.

“So you’re saying you’re pregnant with my child and will give birth, but you won’t marry me. But you’ll allow me to see the baby as its father, is that it?”

“Until you remarry. After that, I’ll discuss it with your wife...”

“Stop.”

Kang-joon finally frowned, his face contorted, and cut Se-hee off. Remarry? Another wife besides Joo Se-hee?

“You’ve gone too far.”

Kang-joon muttered gruffly, looking at Se-hee with somewhat angry eyes. A heartless woman who didn’t understand the burning heart of a man.

“Just one question. What is it that you dislike about marrying me?”

“...Marriage.”

Kang-joon sighed involuntarily. Before, it was because she wasn’t truly Yoo Tae-ryeong. Now, it was because she disliked marriage. Why do you always try to escape from me? Every time I try to grasp you, you try to slip away, driving me crazy. With those beautiful eyes that still love me, you try to push me away coldly. It was truly maddening and frustrating.

“So, why do you dislike marriage?”

Se-hee hesitated for a moment at that question but answered softly.

“I’m originally an advocate of non-marriage. And marriage entails many duties and responsibilities, which I’m not confident I can handle, and it’s too much of a burden.”

“You’ve already been married to me.”

“I dislike it because I’ve experienced it. And that wasn’t a real marriage because it wasn’t my real name.”

At that answer, all sorts of thoughts crowded Kang-joon’s mind. Did I make some mistake? Or did my family bother Joo Se-hee without my knowing? And so on.

“If you were the real Joo Se-hee, you wouldn’t have married me?”

“I love you, Mr. Kang-joon, but not enough to break my principles.”

Then what am I, who broke his principles? What am I, who was troubled by being swayed by you even though I thought of you as my younger sister’s woman? Kang-joon was so dumbfounded that he almost let out a cynical laugh.

“So, you plan to raise the baby without a father?”

He knew it was cheap, but now Kang-joon decided to use the baby as leverage. He wanted to hold onto this woman, no matter what.

“Of course, I feel sorry for the baby. But if it understands my heart later, won’t the baby understand me too?”

What good is it if only the baby understands? I don’t understand. Kang-joon felt a throbbing headache and said with a sigh.

“I don’t know what it is you can’t handle so much, but whatever it is, I’ll take care of everything. That’s fine, isn’t it?”

So just marry me, just stay by my side. Why is that so difficult? Then, Se-hee, with an expression of incomprehension, calmly asked.

“Why should you do that, Mr. Kang-joon?”

Because I love you, and to a crazy, infuriating extent.

“If you take care of everything unconditionally and do everything, do you think I’ll be happy? Is that your way of loving, Mr. Kang-joon?”

“Joo Se-hee.”

“I’m not finished. I’m sorry, but I’m different from you, Mr. Kang-joon. I want to have a give-and-take love, an equal love, a normal love. But with you, that’s not possible.”

He wanted to argue, Why are you assuming it’s impossible without even trying? But Joo Se-hee’s eyes, which looked like they were about to cry despite her calm tone, cut off his words.

“You’re... Seo Kang-joon.”

Se-hee whispered softly and bowed her head deeply. Her face was cleverly hidden by her cascading hair, but she couldn’t hide her trembling body. That trembling resonated in Kang-joon’s heart. What is tormenting you so much this time?

“My decision remains unchanged. So if you truly love me, Mr. Kang-joon, please give me up. This stress isn’t good for the baby either. I’ll go now.”

The moment Se-hee opened the car door, Kang-joon slowly opened his mouth.

“I’ll accommodate everything you want, Ms. Joo Se-hee.”

Something else had come between him and Joo Se-hee again. Whatever it was, she wouldn’t tell him this time either. She would try to handle and resolve it alone. He already knew that Joo Se-hee was bad at sharing. If that’s the case, he had no choice but to approach her in his own way again this time.

“But giving up is not an option. I need to keep seeing Joo Se-hee.”

If she didn’t want to marry now, he was perfectly willing to wait. Marriage wasn’t urgent. But he couldn’t give her up. So Joo Se-hee, you have to concede on that one thing.

“I’m the type to go all-in when I set my mind on something.”

To Se-hee, who was blinking rapidly as if dumbfounded, Kang-joon said with infuriating nonchalance.

“It seems we’re both quite surprised and agitated today, so let’s leave it at that for now.”

Kang-joon, who never gave up, possessed bulldozer-like drive and swift decision-making. At the same time, he was cautious and quick to assess situations. That caution and judgment whispered to him. Now was the time for a strategic retreat. No matter what he did, he wouldn’t be able to change Joo Se-hee’s mind right now. With the variable of pregnancy, he had to re-plan. How to use this to his advantage. He felt sorry for the baby in her womb, but what was urgent for Kang-joon right now wasn’t the baby, but Joo Se-hee.

“Instead, this time, I’ll be the one to call.”

Unnecessary conversation, a battle of wills, and back to square one. Perhaps angry, Joo Se-hee slammed the car door shut as she got out. Even that fiery action, why do I find it so endearing? When Kang-joon got out of the car, Joo Se-hee was already walking away without looking back.

“Ms. Joo Se-hee.”

The coldly resolute Joo Se-hee would naturally not look back, but Kang-joon knew. He knew how to make her turn around eventually. Having been a married couple for nine months, they knew each other to some extent. He didn’t care about others’ attention, but she cared terribly.

“Se-hee!”

When he called out louder, Se-hee, as expected, stopped and spun around. She knew his personality, that he would keep calling her name loudly until she turned around. Her trembling eyes seemed to fiercely challenge him.

Are you crazy?

“Don’t forget to turn on the lights after you go inside and show me your face from the terrace.”

Looking at her calmly and waving, Kang-joon said serenely. Watching Se-hee turn sharply and walk away, still with her upright posture, Kang-joon thought, Yes, I am crazy. For you, Joo Se-hee. *** Joo Se-hee’s unannounced nuclear bomb exploded an hour later, right in the Hanshin Motors office, and specifically in front of Director Yoon. His mind was chaotically complex, and his chest felt queasy from inexplicable mood swings. Thinking that focusing on work might calm him down, Kang-joon immediately returned to the office. How long had he been sitting at his desk?

‘I’m pregnant.’

Joo Se-hee’s calm yet sweet voice echoed in his mind, and an inexplicable excitement surged within him. Pregnant. Our child, yours and mine. Our child, who I hope resembles Joo Se-hee more than me. The hand that was signing paused in mid-air, and a rolling sound was heard. He had dropped the M-brand fountain pen he was holding onto the floor.

“President, are you perhaps feeling unwell?”

Director Yoon asked with a surprised look, as Kang-joon had never been like this before. But Kang-joon just chuckled in response. Good heavens. He thought he understood why Joo Se-hee had revealed her pregnancy even though she disliked marriage. She must know him. That if she hid it and he found out later, the repercussions would be severe. In that case, it was better to face the music early. She was truly a quietly clever woman.

“Director Yoon, do you remember when your wife was pregnant?”

At Kang-joon’s question, Director Yoon frowned.

“Of course, I remember. Her morning sickness was so severe that she couldn’t eat anything, and she lost so much weight, watching her was even more heartbreaking for me. But actually, more than the morning sickness, her mood swings were so extreme, all I remember is walking on eggshells. But why are you asking?”

At Director Yoon’s words, Kang-joon finally recalled his meetings with Joo Se-hee after returning from Germany. Her thin appearance from losing weight, the dark circles under her eyes, her uncharacteristic mood swings. To think it was all because of pregnancy. But he had never seen a pregnant woman before, so how could he have known? Especially today, Joo Se-hee’s mood swings were even more severe. She would be calm, then agitated, then annoyingly prim, then look like she was about to cry. In any case, since he had retreated strategically, he had to make a new plan. If the previous plan was to charge straight ahead until Joo Se-hee lost her mind, now he would have to approach her gently, handling her carefully like glass, coaxing and soothing her. If Joo Se-hee was willing to throw a bomb first and prepare nimbly, Kang-joon intended to turn that bomb into an opportunity to get closer. The problem was the method. How to coax and soothe a sensitive pregnant woman. Quickly organizing his thoughts, Kang-joon finally spoke.

“Director Yoon, by tomorrow, please prepare the best-selling books on pregnancy, prenatal education, especially those for expectant parents.”

“...Yes?”

Director Yoon looked bewildered by the sudden directive. But Kang-joon ignored him and continued.

“Don’t forget to invite a competent obstetrician and a doctor of psychology as well.”

To know everything properly is to win every battle. If he didn’t know about pregnancy and pregnant women, he would just have to study until he did. To become a perfect expectant father. So, just wait a little longer, Joo Se-hee.