“Freya, Daddy’s here.”

Whispering softly, Kang-joon slightly shifted his gaze from Se-hee’s belly. Her clear eyes, looking up at him in surprise, were sweet as cotton candy. Her long, charming eyelashes were lovely, and her slightly parted, plump lips were alluring. He barely managed to resist whispering in her ear how beautiful she was today. First, he needed to deal with the distraction. The man, who couldn’t possibly have misunderstood, was still standing stubbornly. Kang-joon gently covered Se-hee’s eyes with his other hand and mouthed words coldly at the man: Get out, now. Reluctantly, the man turned, but not without looking back several times with lingering regret. He gazed at Joo Se-hee, nestled obediently in Kang-joon’s arms with her eyes covered. Once the man disappeared, Kang-joon finally released Se-hee.

“Did you perhaps put someone on me?”

Though she had been docile in his arms, Se-hee’s voice, as she spun around, was a little sharp.

“You know this world is surprisingly small. It’s human nature not to give up the habit of playing with one’s own kind.”

Showing Se-hee a photo on his phone, Kang-joon’s gaze went to the second floor. In the photo Kyung-jin had sent, unsure of what he was capturing, there were two women. One with long hair, one with short. After seeing the photo, Se-hee followed Kang-joon’s gaze and saw Kyung-jin awkwardly smiling on the second floor.

“Given the location, there was no way I wouldn’t come.”

Kang-joon muttered to himself, his eyes sweeping the bar’s interior with a cold gaze. Since it was a place Joo Se-hee would never seek out, it had to be Alicia again. Of all the places, why a bar, and this kind of place?

“Where’s Alicia?”

Despite his calm tone, his eyes were cold.

“Don’t say anything to my sister. I came knowing what it was, and she even hinted in advance that she wouldn’t join anyone... Wait, what right do you have to interfere, Mr. Kang-joon?”

Se-hee, who had been hastily making excuses at Kang-joon’s menacing aura, suddenly snapped. She realized, Why should I explain myself? We’re nothing to each other now. But how, there’s Freya between us, who are nothing. And you’re the one who gave me the right to be a father.

“Of course, I’m doing this as our child’s father.”

At Kang-joon’s nonchalant reply, Joo Se-hee wore a blank expression. When Joo Se-hee, who always wore a prim facade, occasionally made such an expression, she was irresistibly cute. Kang-joon’s fingertips tingled, wanting to hold her in his arms again. But knowing she would glare at him, he endured.

“Prenatal education is something both parents do together. And as Freya’s dad, I have a duty to ensure she doesn’t hear or see anything bad.”

“Wait, is Freya the baby’s nickname? By whose authority?”

“It’s one of the candidates. I was going to choose a few and discuss it with you. Have you chosen a nickname yet?”

Seeing her unable to answer, it seemed she hadn’t given the baby a nickname yet. Se-hee, avoiding his direct gaze, asked.

“Why Freya?”

“It’s short for ‘present.’ I can’t call her ‘gift’.”

“...”

“You said she’s a gift I gave you. And it rolls off the tongue. Do you not like it?”

Se-hee couldn’t answer this time either. It wasn’t that she didn’t like it; it was perfectly her taste. For a nickname chosen by a cold man, it had surprisingly good sense. But saying she liked it somehow hurt her pride. It felt like she was always dancing in this man’s palm.

“Let’s go out first.”

The moment Kang-joon turned his body, he saw Alicia standing there, observing them. Knowing how mercilessly Kang-joon would press Alicia if they met, Se-hee quickly grabbed Kang-joon’s arm.

“My sister and I are going to have dinner together nearby.”

“I’d like you to cancel.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I don’t like Alicia. Even considering various approaches, she’s someone who won’t be of any help to you or our baby.”

“By that logic, I should dislike Kyung-jin very much too.”

At Se-hee’s retort, Kang-joon let out a chuckle. Such a cute, stubborn person who never loses an argument.

“So, you absolutely have to meet her?”

“We only have a few days left to see each other anyway. She helped me, and when I think about the baby, I want to reduce even one enemy.”

Se-hee, continuing calmly, didn’t understand herself at the moment. Why did she have to persuade this man to meet someone? But she was the one who had given Seo Kang-joon the right to be a father. Kang-joon, lightly stroking his chin with a smooth finger, offered a compromise.

“Instead, meet me again after dinner.”

Why see me again after seeing me? To Se-hee, who protested fiercely with her eyes, Kang-joon continued nonchalantly.

“I’ll take you home.”

I drove here myself. I’m not a child, I can go alone.

“Joo Se-hee, answer.”

The moment Kang-joon called her name again, Se-hee let out a small sigh. Calling her name at a time like this was too unfair. Especially with such a soft voice and affectionate eyes. In the end, Se-hee lost again.

“I will.”

Realizing that she was always the one who, when clashing with this man, fell under his spell and lost. Resenting herself for still being swayed by him.

________________________________________

‘If you see my wife, or even a woman who looks similar, contact me immediately. Even if you hear the name Joo Se-hee.’

Those were Kang-joon’s words to himself and Jae-woo as soon as he returned from Germany. Why would he be so obsessed yet want a divorce? And who is this Joo Se-hee woman? Since he offered no explanations, questions just piled up, but as always, he just accepted it. However, today, Kyung-jin was disgusted with Kang-joon yet again. Kang-joon, who had said he was going to his car, returned with a thick book. Reading in the middle of a heated drinking session? He was so absorbed in the book that it felt as if they were in a library.

“That crazy bastard, seriously.”

It was beyond admiration, it was shock. He knew Kang-joon was a self-willed person who didn’t care about time or place, but this was too much. It was Kyung-jin and his acquaintances who felt awkward because of Kang-joon, who was reading so nonchalantly and openly. They couldn’t talk freely, couldn’t play games, couldn’t drink heartily. They were all forced to be as quiet as him, and it was hard to tell if what they were drinking was alcohol or a beverage. And of all the books, ‘Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Must-Read for New Dads,’ what was that? No, wait, what?! In the sudden confusion, Kyung-jin first appeased his drinking buddies and sent them away. Regardless of what was happening around him, Kyung-jin slumped down next to Kang-joon, who was still reading.

“Seo Kang-joon, are you going to be a dad?”

As his best friend, he had to ask this. Could this possibly be the reason he so hastily divorced the wife he seemed to love to death?

“So that’s why you rushed the divorce with Tae-ryeong?”

The CEO of Inno Fashion had suddenly resigned and recommended the representative of an athleisure wear shopping mall. It wasn’t headline news, but he had vaguely heard such talk during their drinking sessions. But the name of the shopping mall representative was Joo Se-hee... My God, this guy!

“Is it because Joo Se-hee is pregnant?”

As he asked that, Kyung-jin felt disappointed in Kang-joon for the first time as a friend. Although he had met women lightly, like a passing breeze, there was always a reason. He planned to completely put an end to such frivolous pleasures and only look at his wife once he got married. That’s why Kyung-jin was even angrier about his friend’s infidelity. Of all people, he didn’t expect Seo Kang-joon to do this.

“Are you abandoning your devoted wife for another woman, you?”

Only then did Kang-joon slowly raise his eyes from the book. He only had a few more pages left to finish two books. But with Kyung-jin mentioning Yoo Tae-ryeong and Joo Se-hee right next to him, his concentration was broken.

“Seo Kang-joon, it turns out you’re a really terrible bastard! How did you threaten Tae-ryeong to recommend your mistress as CEO?!”

Assuming his unspoken silence was an affirmation, Kyung-jin’s eyes burned as he looked at Kang-joon.

“You bastard, if you were going to meet another woman and cause trouble, you should have divorced Tae-ryeong first! You used to boast about knowing what love is, but a man shouldn’t do such things!”

Kang-joon, who had been listening silently to Kyung-jin, let out a chuckle. He found Kyung-jin’s absurd imagination amusing. He wondered how he could piece together such a story. But Kyung-jin misunderstood his laughter and suddenly threw a punch.

“You bastard, are you laughing now? Or do you think I’m funny?”

He tried to dodge, but they were too close. Even though the punch, light as a cotton ball, missed, Kang-joon’s lip still split. As Kang-joon wiped the metallic taste of blood from his lip with the back of his hand, Kyung-jin lunged at him again.

“As your friend today, I’m going to...?”

“Take your hands off him right now!”

At the sharp voice from behind, both men’s gazes turned to the stairs. Kyung-jin, startled to see Se-hee approaching quickly, swiftly backed away. Seeing Kang-joon’s split lip, Se-hee’s eyes turned sharp.

“I know your way of thinking is excellent, Mr. Kyung-jin. But why throw punches when you can talk? Does your fist have a mouth?”

“No, I was worried about Tae-ryeong, so...”

“It’s Joo Se-hee.”

“Huh?”

“My name isn’t Yoo Tae-ryeong; it’s Joo Se-hee.”

“No, what...”

Only then did Kang-joon slowly get up and pat Kyung-jin on the shoulder.

“Park Kyung-jin, I divorced a few days ago.”

“Oh?”

“The rest later.”

“Oh? Oh, okay.”

After Kang-joon left with Se-hee, Kyung-jin remained alone, looking blank. It was definitely Yoo Tae-ryeong, but now it’s Joo Se-hee? What on earth is going on? *** Since they couldn’t travel in two cars, Kang-joon decided to drive Se-hee’s car. Upon arriving at the villa’s parking lot, Kang-joon parked the car. Normally, she would have gotten out immediately, but Se-hee hesitated and then spoke cautiously.

“Doesn’t your lip hurt?”

Kang-joon said it was nothing. But the scratch on his handsome lip kept bothering her. She felt like he had been misunderstood and hit because of her. Kang-joon turned off the engine and turned his head. His burning hot gaze made her instinctively swallow hard.

“I thought it was nothing.”

Tracing the scratch on his lip with his finger, Kang-joon continued nonchalantly.

“It does sting a bit.”

In truth, Kang-joon wasn’t in pain. But seeing her clear eyes filled with concern, he suddenly felt greedy. He liked the rare attention and worry Joo Se-hee showed him.

“Are those muscles just for show? Your whole body is like stone, so why couldn’t you even avoid Mr. Kyung-jin’s flimsy punch and just took it?”

Even in her sharp retort, and in her eyes, there was a lot of concern. I shouldn’t upset Freya’s mom. If Mom is happy, the baby is happy, and I, the baby’s dad, am happy. The desire not to upset her and the desire to be greedy just for today intertwined chaotically. But the victor was ultimately greed.

“Right. That flimsy guy’s punch is quite strong.”

This small wound, what was it, but Joo Se-hee couldn’t take her eyes off it. She was looking at him with eyes that looked like they were about to cry. Thinking about it, he didn’t seem to have been hurt while with Joo Se-hee. Rather, overflowing stamina was the problem. So he hadn’t known, but now he saw it clearly. The soft-hearted, affectionate Joo Se-hee, always hidden behind a prim and cold facade. The foolishly kind Joo Se-hee, strong against the strong and endlessly weak against the weak. Barely suppressing the rising corner of his mouth, Kang-joon said slyly.

“My whole body might be stone-like muscle, but my lips aren’t muscle.”

Now I think I get it. The strategy to conquer Joo Se-hee.

“You know too, Ms. Se-hee. That I’m a man with soft lips.”

At his meaningfully deep gaze, Se-hee’s face flushed, and she bit her lip tightly. Her plump, blood-flushed lips alluringly captivated Kang-joon’s gaze. Kang-joon unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned his upper body towards the passenger seat.

“It’s stinging, so, can’t you just blow on it, Ms. Joo Se-hee?”

He knew it was an absurd pretense. Joo Se-hee probably knew too. Nevertheless, he wanted to try. If only he could get Joo Se-hee’s attention. Se-hee stared at Kang-joon, who had stopped at a breath’s distance, then hesitated and reached out her hand. Her soft hand carefully cupped his cheek, and a gentle breath, mixed with a sigh, touched his lips.

“Hoooh.”

Looking down askance, he saw Joo Se-hee. Long, full eyelashes, focused eyes, softly pursed lips, sweet breath. Kissing Joo Se-hee was irresistible for Kang-joon. Chook. The moment their lips lightly touched and parted, Se-hee’s eyes widened, and she looked at Kang-joon.

“You...”

Seeing her soft eyes waver for him, he couldn’t hold back anymore. Wrapping his arm around her slender nape, he slowly pulled her closer and whispered like a growl.

“If you don’t like it, avoid it, Joo Se-hee.”

And he saw her. Just before their lips met, the beautiful Joo Se-hee, who closed her long, full eyelashes as if in resignation. A faint smile spread across Kang-joon’s face as he gently pressed his lips to hers.

Perhaps he had yearned for this moment. A precarious gap, timing. Long-awaited after much patience and longing. Your sweet breath and lips.