Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
“Oh dear, why is my child doing things he doesn’t usually do?”
Yeonsuk frowned delicately, pulling out a tissue to wipe the water from the table. And Kang-joon understood why Yeonsuk was particularly cheerful. She had noticed Pré’s existence. But how on earth did she know? Joo Sehee had clearly said she hadn’t mentioned it herself. And visually, Sehee, who had lost even more weight, definitely didn’t look pregnant. Feeling his steady gaze, Yeonsuk looked up with a bright smile.
“Why, are you curious how I knew?”
To Yeonsuk’s question, which saw right through him, Kang-joon deliberately didn’t answer.
“I ran into Sehee at the baby products store. For someone who was there to buy a gift, the way she looked at those baby shoes was so tender and happy, you wouldn’t believe it. Besides, she was drinking lemonade, which she never used to drink, and she didn’t eat any dessert, as if she had morning sickness, despite being someone who eats so well. And she kept holding her hand over her belly while talking. Unless you’re a complete idiot, you’d know right away if you paid a little attention.”
Kang-joon could only manage a bitter laugh. If Yeonsuk’s words were true, he was a total idiot. Joo Sehee had shown symptoms of pregnancy during their few meetings, but he truly hadn’t noticed. He didn’t even know Joo Sehee was suffering from morning sickness alone, and he had even offered her digestive aids and stomach medicine, so there was nothing more to say. They had committed the act together, and he, who had completely forgotten the possibility of pregnancy, was an unfeeling man. That means I have to stick by Joo Sehee’s side like glue for the rest of her life and treat her even better. Having neatly reached this conclusion, Kang-joon slowly opened his mouth.
“Pretend you don’t know anything to Sehee. She’s at a very sensitive and complicated time right now.”
“Kyaaah! Sehee really is pregnant, isn’t she?”
Wait, what is this...?
“Oh my! My son, you’re finally showing filial piety to your mother after 31 years! A daughter-in-law and a first grandchild!”
Yeonsuk jumped up, patting Kang-joon’s back proudly, and continued excitedly,
“I take back what I said earlier. Let’s persuade Sehee as quickly as possible and have the wedding first. Women look forward to wearing a wedding dress so much, surely you’re not planning to make her wear it with a bulging belly, are you? She’ll need to recover after giving birth. I’ll actively cooperate in persuading Sehee too, alright?”
“Were you testing me?”
“Of course I was testing you! Would I test sensitive Sehee?”
Only then did Kang-joon realize the purpose of Yeonsuk’s visit. Yeonsuk, with a faint suspicion, had come to fish for information from her son, Kang-joon. To put it simply, Kang-joon had been caught.
“Let’s keep it a secret from Father for now. That’s right, isn’t it?”
After Yeonsuk, looking even more delighted than when she entered, left the office, Kang-joon let out a hollow laugh. He felt like he was constantly being swayed lately. Not just by Joo Sehee, but now even by his mother. Just like the unchanging rule that no matter how brilliant the Seo family men were, they could never win against their wives. That’s why he wished Pré was a son, not a daughter. Dealing with three women, even for him, seemed a bit overwhelming. Nevertheless, chuckles escaped his lips. The happiness that bloomed within him when he thought of Joo Sehee and Pré was simply irresistible.
“I wish her belly would show soon.”
Joo Sehee, with a gently swelling belly carrying their child, would be lovable in a different way. Just thinking about it warmed his heart and made his shoulders feel heavy, which was probably the responsibility of being a father. He loved that weight more than words could say. It was also the moment he truly understood why men wanted to marry quickly.
________________________________________
“Why is today’s main character so nervous?”
Sehee asked with a laugh, looking at Jinkyung, who was constantly checking things with a nervous face and couldn’t sit still.
“Isn’t it strange not to be nervous when the esteemed successor of Hanshin Group is visiting my house? I’ve only met mediocre chaebols; this is my first time meeting the top 1%!”
Until now, Jinkyung had mostly held her birthday parties at clubs. But for her 29th birthday, she decided to have a quiet celebration at home for pregnant Sehee. When Sehee said she was bringing Seo Kang-joon, Jinkyung had told all the friends she had invited not to come. Although she was nervous, Jinkyung was actually quite determined, though she hadn’t told Sehee. As Joo Sehee’s best friend, she intended to give Seo Kang-joon a piece of her mind. How could he, with the best money and power in his hands, not properly win a woman’s heart and cause her such trouble? Family is family, and she thought it was all Seo Kang-joon’s fault that her beloved friend fell in love, got pregnant, and was having a hard time. Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Jju, your Seo Kang-joon must be here. I’ll go get it, you stay seated.”
At that one remark, the fatigue on Sehee’s face noticeably brightened. How could she even think of breaking up when she loves him that much? Jinkyung, smiling brightly, headed for the front door, proudly squaring her shoulders. Kim Jinkyung, don’t be intimidated by a third-generation chaebol. As much as Seo Kang-joon loves Joo Sehee, I, Joo Sehee’s best friend, am definitely the boss to him. But the moment she opened the front door, Jinkyung’s confidence evaporated like mist.
“Kyaaah!”
Jinkyung, startled, stepped aside as two men, tangled together like one body, tumbled onto the floor. Jinkyung stared with wide eyes, wondering who on earth these guys were. One was a very handsome face she didn’t know at all, and the other was subtly familiar. The unknown man seemed overwhelmingly larger in height and build, but he was pinned underneath the familiar-faced man. Wait, could that familiar face possibly be...?
“Kim Jinwoo!?”
The moment Jinkyung’s name burst out like a scream, Jinwoo’s fist struck the handsome face of the man pinned beneath him. At the same time, Sehee’s sharp voice echoed through the entrance hallway.
“Oppa, what on earth are you doing? Get off him right now!”
“Sehee, just listen to me! This guy is a total criminal, he was stalking you! I was trying to resolve it quietly, but he brazenly even rang the doorbell... Ugh! Sehee!”
This time, Jinwoo’s booming scream echoed in the entryway. When Jinwoo didn’t get off the man’s body despite the warning, Sehee grabbed an umbrella from the shoe cabinet and smacked Jinwoo’s back with it.
“Get off Kang-joon right now. Next time, it won’t be your back, but your head I smash.”
At Sehee’s chilling words, stripped of all playfulness, Jinwoo quickly got off the man. Rushing to Kang-joon’s side, Sehee didn’t take her glaring eyes off Jinwoo. As Jinwoo, with a thoroughly wronged expression, was about to say something, Sehee spoke again.
“I invited this person. I called him here to show him to Jinkyung.”
“Sehee, why are you bringing this man here, ow! Why are you hitting me too!”
This time, Jinkyung slapped Jinwoo’s back with her hand, as he wore a bewildered expression. This clueless, annoying older brother! Why did he show up and cause trouble when he wasn’t even called?! He usually doesn’t even use his fists, so why did he throw a soft punch at Seo Kang-joon?! He wasn’t an older brother; he was a pure enemy. Meanwhile, Kang-joon slowly picked himself up, brushing off his clothes and tidying himself. Jinkyung was momentarily captivated by the elegance in his slow movements and gestures. Is that the class of a top 1% chaebol, born that way? His eyes, nose, and mouth on his small face also seemed incredibly sophisticated. Sehee, who carefully examined Kang-joon’s face with a different kind of gaze than Jinkyung’s, said with a look of distress,
“Your lip is bleeding again.”
“I’m fine, don’t worry about it. By the way, Sehee, weren’t you surprised?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Oh my, his voice is to die for, and his manners are too. What a contrast to someone else.
“Are your friend fine too?”
As Kang-joon’s cold gaze turned towards her, Jinkyung, whose face felt flushed for no reason, spiritedly exclaimed,
“I’m strong-hearted, so I’m fine!”
And then, Jinkyung’s sharp eyes, like someone looking at a large dog that had caused trouble, fixed on Jinwoo.
“Jinkyung, please take care of Kang-joon.”
Sehee, who had brushed past Jinkyung, called out to Jinwoo in a cold voice.
“Jinwoo Oppa, come see me.”
Jinwoo scratched his head. Damn it, this isn’t how it was supposed to go. Following Sehee with drooping shoulders, Jinwoo looked back and doubted his eyes. A faint smile was spreading in the man’s eyes as he looked at him with a relaxed expression. No way, did he intentionally provoke me to throw a punch in front of Sehee and Jinkyung? Before he could even feel the indignation of being tricked, Sehee called Jinwoo again.
“Oppa.”
“Uh, I’m coming!”
After Jinwoo and Sehee went out to the terrace, Jinkyung was left alone with Kang-joon. In her awkwardness, Jinkyung smiled as widely as she could, remembering the saying that you can’t spit on a smiling face.
“Hahahaha. Hello. I’m Kim Jinkyung, Sehee’s best friend. And I’m also the younger sister of that, uh, less-than-a-dog older brother who just... acted so rudely.”
“I’m Seo Kang-joon.”
It was a polite yet arrogant self-introduction, as if his name alone was enough. But instead of being offended, it suited the man well.
“It’s a humble home, but would you like to come in first?”
Kang-joon followed Jinkyung leisurely into the house. Upon reaching the living room, Kang-joon calmly spoke to Jinkyung, who turned awkwardly.
“Please don’t worry about your brother. It was a misunderstanding.”
This man clearly said that out of consideration, but why did it sound to her like he was asking her to worry more? Jinkyung, caught in a puzzled feeling, replied,
“How can I not worry? I’ll apologize again on behalf of my brother. He’s not usually that hot-headed. Instead, as Sehee’s best friend, feel free to ask me anything you’re curious about. I’ll answer with all my heart as an apology.”
Jinkyung swallowed hard as she watched Kang-joon slowly sit on the sofa. It seemed her plan to act like the boss was ruined today because of her brother. Why did he cause trouble, and I have to clean it up?
“Then...”
Kang-joon slowly sat on the sofa, crossing his long legs, and looked at Jinkyung with a relaxed air. He was clearly sitting upright, yet the aura he exuded was somehow arrogant.
“Shall we, Ms. Kim Jinkyung?”
Nevertheless, Kang-joon’s husky baritone was pleasing to the ear, and his gracefully curving lips were captivating. This is why even the stone-faced Joo Sehee fell in love. Jinkyung plopped down on the sofa, feeling as if she had been somehow ensnared by the man named Seo Kang-joon.
________________________________________
Jinwoo, dragged out onto the terrace, stood awkwardly in front of Sehee, who didn’t even reach his chin. He began to make his excuses, feeling utterly, maddeningly wronged.
“Sehee, I honestly thought that man was a stalker. He didn’t answer when I asked, and how could I not misunderstand when a man who has no business being here rings Jinkyung’s doorbell, knowing you’re here?”
“If you were suspicious, you should have called me first to confirm. And are you a gangster, Oppa? Why did you throw a punch first?”
“I didn’t throw a punch from the start, I tell you! The person wouldn’t even pretend to listen when I spoke. So I got angry and...”
Jinwoo stopped speaking, and now he understood. This was definitely that man’s scheme. A man with a punch strong enough to crack a bathroom wall, and words sharp enough to shut him down with a single phrase, had acted like a mute, provoking him. In truth, Jinwoo didn’t really think the man was a stalker. He just found the man he coincidentally met in the parking lot unpleasant and disliked him. He wasn’t even curious how he knew about them. He just thought he couldn’t let him meet Joo Sehee. So he had warned him several times, just to go home, just to not ring the doorbell. But the man stubbornly reached Jinkyung’s house and scoffed, telling Jinwoo,
‘You don’t even have the guts to throw a punch, you’re all talk.’
As a result of falling for that provocation, Jinwoo now stood before Joo Sehee like a sinner.
“I’ll let this go, assuming you misunderstood, Oppa.”
When Sehee forgave him so easily, Jinwoo was bewildered yet happy. Yes, Sehee. You also know that a long-standing bond is more important than some man.
“But don’t treat Kang-joon rudely again. I’ve started over with him, and I’m going to marry him if possible.”
At the word “marry,” Jinwoo’s reason snapped, and his eyes rolled back.
“Joo Sehee, are you crazy? How can you say that, knowing who that man is? You know very well that any other man is fine, but not him. How can you even think such an absurd thing?”
“Do you think so too, Oppa? That I, as the daughter, have to bear my mother’s wrongdoings?”
At Sehee’s incredibly sorrowful question, Jinwoo’s words caught in his throat.
“It’s fine if others point fingers and curse me. But can’t you and Jinkyung, who are like family to me, just be on my side?”
“Sehee, Oppa, it’s not that...”
Jinwoo’s eyes, wide with concern as he called Sehee, widened further. What was slowly welling up in Sehee’s large, clear, and calm eyes was moisture.
“Kang-joon was my man from the beginning. I only borrowed my sister’s name, but I had the wedding, I played the role of the wife, I lived with him and built affection, and it was I who loved him. So why am I the one who stole my sister’s man?”
“...”
“I want to be happy now too. I want to be greedy for my life, for my family.”
With a tear that dropped from her large eyes, Sehee covered her belly with her hand.
“With that man, and with my child.”
And at Sehee’s last words, Jinwoo’s heart also dropped with a thud.
Google Sites
Report abuse