Chapter 17 – Part 15

Liese murmured, frowning, and Marcus’s angular jaw tightened. Suppressing his excitement, he took a step back. Liese panted for breath through her slightly swollen lips. The easily excited man didn’t approach her any further.

“Go inside, Liese.”

His deep voice, trying to divert attention, still held a hint of unsteady breath.

“I’ll come by again at noon tomorrow. Let’s have a meal together.”

Tomorrow, being a weekend, was Liese’s day off, and Marcus was determined not to go a day without seeing her. However, he was trying to turn away, holding onto his reason, not to push her any further.

On the other hand, Liese regretted the sudden cooling of their passion. Seeing Marcus, who was retreating after suppressing his desire, made her feel strangely frustrated.

But, like Marcus, Liese held onto her reason. She struggled not to look at him with her disordered gaze as he backed away.

“…Thank you very much for today.”

“Thank me when we meet tomorrow. Sleep well.”

When Liese nodded, Marcus signaled with his eyes for her to go inside. Turning her back, she entered the house alone and closed the door. A few seconds later, she heard the sound of footsteps gradually fading away.

A long sigh escaped her. Standing in the foyer with a complicated and stifled heart, Liese soon noticed the silence flowing through the house.

The lights in the living room were off. Unlike Liese, who was thrifty, Abigail often forgot to turn off the lights. If Abigail had been home, all the lights in the house would have been brightly lit.

‘Is she still not back from work?’

Turning on the kitchen light, Liese saw a note on the checkered tablecloth of the dining table. Tilting her head, she picked it up. It was written in Abigail’s handwriting.

I’ll be away for a while. Auntie and Anna miss me too much.

I’ll be staying at Auntie’s house by the river for about a week.

You’re free, Liese!

Along with a playful drawing winking, the note ended there.

Anna was Abigail’s cousin whom Liese used to look after at the church daycare. Knowing how close they were, Liese could guess that Anna wasn’t the real reason for Abigail’s absence.

Liese put the note down again. With a blank stare, she looked at the tightly closed front door.

Marcus had already turned away. Besides, what would she do by bringing him in here…? She knew she wouldn’t spend a silent night with him.

Liese’s already slumped shoulders dropped even further. Though not much time had passed since she reunited with Marcus, she felt like a dull fool who eventually wanted to open her heart wide to him.

She had no intention of maintaining her pride. She didn’t want to play a push-and-pull game with him at all.

She just regretted, knowing this would happen, making the sad decision that left deep scars on each other. The tears shed, leaving behind a family that knew nothing, were foolish. The time she thought was the best choice was stupid.

Thoughts scattered, and self-reproach ran wild. In the midst of it, the lower abdomen that kept throbbing made Liese feel even more miserable. She had been fine without any major pain, but since Marcus appeared, her body kept creaking, as if begging for attention.

‘It hurts…’

Hot tears welled up under her reddening eyes. Liese wiped the teardrops with the back of her hand and hunched her shoulders, clutching her abdomen. Unable to bear the sorrow and pain, she sobbed aloud. At that moment, she heard a knock on the front door.

It was a heavy knock. The uninvited guest, considering the late hour, did not ring the doorbell but made their presence known with a knock, waiting for Liese’s response. As if spellbound, Liese moved and opened the door.

It was Marcus. The man, who seemed to have hurriedly climbed the stairs instead of using the slow elevator, was panting heavily.

“I came to get my handkerchief back.”

Marcus looked down at Liese with a troubled expression, scanning her tear-streaked face. And Liese knew that the handkerchief was just an excuse.

“Liese, what’s wrong?”

“I’m just a fool.”

Liese muttered self-deprecatingly without any further explanation. Her voice, mixed with tears, was a mess. Round tears fell from her flushed cheeks.

“It’s okay.”

A calm voice fell over her forehead. Marcus, who had approached her, whispered soothingly with a gentle face.

“If anyone’s done foolish things, it’s me.”

Her nose reddened and her mouth kept drooping at his comfort.

“I resented you.”

“…I know.”

“But I’m grateful, and I feel sorry, and I’m as hurt as I am upset, and I just hope you won’t be hurt again…”

Liese poured out her unfiltered feelings and looked up at Marcus. As she blinked, the tears fell, clearing her blurry vision.

“I’m sorry for not being clear.”

His gray eyes shimmered softly. They were eyes full of countless emotions, like an expansive sea beneath the surface.

“Don’t apologize. I’ve always felt the same.”

Liese’s lips trembled with emotion. Marcus wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a firm embrace. He pressed a long kiss to her blushing cheek.

“I’m sorry, Liese.”

When Liese finally let out a sob, Marcus buried his face into her, kissing her everywhere. He kissed the soft, stray hairs near her forehead, her temples, and back to her cheek without pause, then her nose and plump lips.

Held within his familiar scent, Liese received his kisses, looking at him with teary eyes. Only now did she confront the sincere feelings she had avoided, claiming she was trapped in a fog.

“Marcus, I have something I really want to say…”

It was at that moment she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen.

“Ah…!”

As her knees buckled and she started to collapse, Marcus quickly caught her.

“Liselotte!”

Liese’s face turned pale as she panted like a wounded animal. Her head spun, and her vision blurred as Marcus’s face faded beyond the ringing in her ears. A piercing pain in her abdomen grew.

Her vision went dark. The last face Liese remembered was one filled with utter shock.

***

Marcus was filled with anxiety. Standing by the window of the examination room, he couldn’t take his eyes off the pale Liese.

The elderly female doctor had been examining Liese for an unusually long time. Her wrinkled face looked serious, causing Marcus great worry.

It was a huge relief that there was a clinic nearby. Marcus was able to bring Liese here immediately because he had previously investigated the area for any unidentified individuals within her living radius.

But that didn’t ease his mind.

Why was the doctor examining her small body for so long? Marcus’s patience was wearing thin as the silence dragged on without any explanation of her symptoms.

“I’m not sure where to begin…”

Finally, the doctor spoke, after attempting several tests. Her tone was overly cautious, causing Marcus to raise an eyebrow.

“Tell me everything.”

“Well… It seems the patient is not exactly… alone.”

Marcus furrowed his brow. Though he understood, his face hardened as he processed the doctor’s words. The atmosphere in the room grew tense and sharp as a needle.

“Are you saying she’s pregnant?”

“Given the circumstances, it’s almost certain. There are a few unclear points, though.”

Marcus turned his gaze to the weakly breathing Liese. How could she be so thin and yet be carrying a child?

“I’m afraid I can’t say there’s no risk of miscarriage. There has been some bleeding.”

“…How bad is her condition?”

“It’s not unusual, but it seems her pregnancy symptoms appeared late. Has she recently experienced morning sickness, lower abdominal pain, or br*ast tenderness?”

Marcus, who had been separated from Liese since last fall, couldn’t have known about her condition. Even recently, he wouldn’t have noticed her pain, given her reserved nature and their short reunion.

Marcus suddenly recalled a moment in a cafe at the square when Liese looked nauseated. It was when she tried to pick up a sandwich with minced beef. She suddenly furrowed her brow, excused herself, and left the table for a moment.

He had thought something was off but never guessed it was morning sickness.

Marcus cursed under his breath, finally understanding why she had tears in her eyes when she couldn’t eat the bread she wanted.

He, of all people, should have noticed that she wasn’t alone, that she was carrying a child.

As Marcus remained silent, the doctor began to look at him with disapproval.

Though the doctor was used to sudden patient visits, Marcus barging in late at night with his intimidating entourage had shocked her. Since then, she had been visibly scared.

Now, she saw Marcus as a negligent husband who had left his pregnant wife unattended.

“Given the current stage, morning sickness should have ended by now. Some women show a noticeable belly by this time, but it’s not evident in her case.”

“What other concerns do you have?” Marcus asked softly, rubbing his face with his large hand. The doctor spoke cautiously.

“Her overall health isn’t very good.”

“How bad is it?”