Coming to the main house without Gyeom was a first, and meeting Sujeong face-to-face was also the first time since the wedding.

No matter how many times Hyunseo said they should visit and pay their respects, Gyeom cut her off midway, making it difficult. 

Honestly, Hyunseo had been secretly looking forward to this private meeting with Sujeong. Even so, she couldn’t help feeling nervous to death.

“Please come in.”

“Hello.”

Hyunseo bowed politely along with the employee who bowed respectfully and changed into indoor slippers.

“You can go to the dining room.”

“Yes, I’ll just wash my hands and be right there.”

Hyunseo hurried to the bathroom on the right side of the hallway. She locked the door firmly and turned on the cold water to wash her hands, but perhaps because she was nervous, she’d been feeling a slight heat in her body since earlier.

As she dried her hands with a towel, she tilted her head. Between her legs, feeling something a bit strange, she checked and saw blood had slightly stained her underwear. That’s odd. It’s not time yet, so why…?

“Maybe I’m tired.”

Dismissing it as nothing, Hyunseo took out a panty liner she’d brought for emergencies and put it on. After carefully washing her hands again and leaving the bathroom, when she entered the dining room, Sujeong had already taken her seat.

“Sit down now that you’re here.”

“Yes, Mother. Have you been well?”

At the carefully offered greeting, Sujeong didn’t respond. She only stared blankly at Hyunseo.

Hyunseo sat in the prepared seat. It was extremely uncomfortable being directly across from Sujeong, but she struggled not to show it. Employees who appeared from somewhere quickly filled the table with various dishes and withdrew.

“Where’s Father?”

“Golf gathering.”

“Ah, I see.”

Just as she’d suspected, it was a meal with only Sujeong—Hyunseo’s vision went distant.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“N-no. Absolutely not.”

“Good, then. Let’s eat.”

Hyunseo confirmed that Sujeong picked up her fork first before following with her utensils. There was braised short ribs, japchae, and even pan-fried beef—truly a feast—but she couldn’t easily reach for them. Sujeong asked Hyunseo.

“Nothing suitable to eat?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Hyunseo was flustered. All the dishes mentioned earlier were placed only at her seat.

Seeing Sujeong’s meager plate with only a bit of salad and fruit, Hyunseo carefully spoke.

“Mother, is that all you’re eating?”

“I don’t really feel like eating.”

“I see…”

“Go ahead and eat. I told them to put some effort in since you were coming.”

Sujeong spoke casually, but for Hyunseo it could only be a huge burden. It sounded like she meant not to leave anything. Somehow she had to at least pretend to eat as deliciously as possible.

With thanks for the meal, Hyunseo carefully put the food in her mouth. Sujeong quietly watched her chewing and swallowing diligently without even knowing what it tasted like. The salad had long been out of consideration.

Hmm.

She eats quietly and well without making sounds. Her upright posture and fairly proper chopstick handling weren’t bad.

Aside from her family background, there really wasn’t much to criticize about Hyunseo. Just based on looks, she was much better than some chaebol daughters who’d been excessively done up. Fair skin, slender yet large br*asts.

From what she’d heard, Hyunseo did her work very well at the company too. Her reputation for being quick-witted and meticulous was widespread.

Right. So that’s why she caught Gyeom’s eye.

That’s why they went all the way to marriage. That stone-like guy who’d never even looked at women before.

“Does it suit your taste?”

“It’s so delicious. Thank you.”

Hyunseo lowered the corners of her eyes while covering her mouth with one hand. The gentle eye-smile wasn’t unpleasant.

Well, what good would hating her do? 

Sujeong, who’d accepted early on that disliking Hyunseo as her daughter-in-law now would only be her own loss, was close to resignation. Eventually, Sujeong finally put down the fork she’d only been holding.

“Let’s pick out some clothes after eating.”

“Clothes…?”

“Gyeom made such a fuss that I said no at first, but it doesn’t seem right. I don’t intend to drag you everywhere, but you should at least show your face at a few places, shouldn’t you?”

At Sujeong’s addition that there were limits to what she could handle on her own, Hyunseo obediently answered yes.

She suddenly recalled the advice Sujeong had given just before the wedding. As you know, being Gyeom’s wife is the same as being Giwha’s next mistress, so she’d repeatedly urged her to be careful in all her actions and behavior.

“Don’t feel burdened. I’m not even planning to take you to troublesome places.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“I’ll persuade Gyeom.”

“No, it would be inconvenient for you, so I’ll tell him.”

“You will?”

“Yes. Gyeom will understand too. Most of all, I like it—spending time with you, Mother.”

Sujeong’s stiff expression relaxed considerably. Hyunseo had a talent for making empty words not sound empty.

No, it was clearly sincere. At this age, one develops an eye for people, so she could distinguish at a glance what was pretense and what wasn’t. The Hyunseo that Sujeong saw was honest to the point of seeming foolish.

Even the consistent check-in texts were like that. Though the path to visit directly was blocked by Gyeom, Hyunseo had been sending texts to both Sujeong and Guk every day since the marriage. 

Looking at the texts filled with sincerity, whether short or long, she’d thought: No one could do this even if ordered to. She’d wondered how long those texts would last, but now it was quite ironic that she’d come to secretly look forward to them. 

Especially Guk, who was delighted like a child and grinned foolishly.

At her husband Guk’s words that everyone raises daughters for this pleasure, Sujeong also strongly agreed.

That didn’t mean she had any intention of showing such feelings. Being affectionate was something only those who’d done it could do. Sujeong pretended not to notice and took a sip of coffee. At some point, her gaze watching Hyunseo had clearly softened.

“Good. That looks great on you too.”

Looking at Hyunseo in a neat and sophisticated tweed two-piece, Sujeong nodded. Since Hyunseo was so thin, the size would need more adjustment, but the purple color suited her amazingly well.

“Shall we see the next one?”

“Yes, Director. I’ll prepare it right away.”

The woman who received the instruction led Hyunseo back to the changing area. Sujeong couldn’t take her eyes off Hyunseo’s retreating figure. To suit her that well was honestly beyond expectations.

Before long, Hyunseo returned dressed in another outfit. Looking at Hyunseo, who’d become even more radiant to the point of making her forget what she’d worn before, Sujeong stood up with a satisfied smile.

“Manager Choi, how do they all fit like they’re custom-made?”

“Thank you. It was worth thinking hard about it.”

“No need to choose. Set up everything you brought.”

At Sujeong’s generous instruction, the female shopper bowed repeatedly in thanks. While other waiting staff joined in to move the outfits, Sujeong, who’d been carefully observing Hyunseo’s appearance, opened her eyes wide.

“But are you hot?”

“Ah… a little.”

“Wait, now that I look, why is your complexion so bad?”

They hadn’t spent that much time. After the personal shopper arrived, she’d only tried on exactly three outfits. But.

“Hyunseo?”

“Mother, I…”

“Oh my, dear!”

Sujeong hurriedly caught Hyunseo as she collapsed in an instant. Only after holding her in her arms did Sujeong realize Hyunseo’s body wasn’t normal, and her face turned deathly pale.

“C-call Professor Park! Right now!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The employees moved busily. Even when moving the limp Hyunseo to the guest room, and while wiping her sweat with a wet towel after laying her down comfortably, Sujeong stayed by Hyunseo’s side the whole time, trembling with anxiety.

Good grief.

What is all this?

Sujeong let out a sigh while pressing her throbbing temples. Before long, Professor Park, the family’s longtime physician, came and went, and it was around that time that Hyunseo regained consciousness. Sujeong clicked her tongue.

“I knew you’d be like this.”

“Yes…?”

“What did you do to collapse? I said I didn’t like it, and look.”

Sujeong’s grumbling expression was full of anger. At the cold gaze glaring with sharp edges, Hyunseo couldn’t say anything.

No, actually it’s not that.

“Don’t get up, just lie down. Do you know how shocked I was?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Yes, you should be sorry. I thought something happened to you, I really, how much I…!”

Sujeong’s pouring words cut off abruptly. It was because Hyunseo quietly reached out to hold her hand.

Only then did Sujeong notice her own trembling hand. Hyunseo carefully caressed Sujeong’s hand, which was shaking so badly it was hard to calm down. Sujeong struggled to suppress her anger and scolded Hyunseo.

“If you have a fever, you should say so.”

“I just thought it was because I was nervous.”

“Why be nervous? Who’s going to eat you?”

“…Because I was so happy.”

“What?”

“It felt exactly like shopping with my mom. I’ve never done it before.”

Hyunseo added: She swore it wasn’t hard at all. She’d wanted to keep changing into outfit after outfit.

Her heart pounded every time she stood before Sujeong. At the words about how wonderful those moments were when she said she was pretty, that it suited her well, Sujeong frowned. 

This girl, really, of all things…

“I’m not Gyeom.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t think you can charm me with those words. I won’t fall for it.”

Hyunseo gripped Sujeong’s hand even more tightly as she spoke indifferently. And Sujeong couldn’t shake it off.

“Let go now.”

“Just a little more.”

“I’m not shaking anymore, so let go.”

“Mother.”

“What.”

“I really like you, Mother. I hope I can become someone like you later too.”

For Sujeong, who was praised as the foremost among female entrepreneurs, these weren’t particularly new words.

She’d heard people say they wanted to be like her to the point of being sick of it. Right, so she should be indifferent, but strangely her mood lifted. 

Sujeong, who barely pulled her expression together, spoke stiffly, “Whether you do or don’t is up to you, but don’t go to work for the time being.”

“What?”

“What if you collapse again when you need to be stable? Listen to me.”

“I’m fine though.”

“Tell Gyeom too. Not to lay even a finger on you from today.”

Only after the words followed that it could go wrong otherwise did Hyunseo close her mouth. Go wrong, what do you mean?

“Clear your schedule to go to the hospital tomorrow morning.”

“Hospital…?”

“Professor Park said earlier it seems like pregnancy, but if you get tested you can know more clearly…”

“Do Hyunseo!”

Hyunseo, who’d been dazed, turned her head. At the sight of Gyeom approaching like he was running, Sujeong frowned.

“Gyeom, what about your meeting, why are you here?”

“You should have told me.”

“What?”

“What exactly is it? What did you say to make Hyunseo collapse? Mother, really…!”

“Gyeom, you’re going to be a dad!”

Gyeom, who was about to raise his voice abruptly, froze like ice at Hyunseo’s exclamation. Hyunseo hurriedly continued.

“We need to test to be sure, but probably that’s it.”

“What…?”

“It’s my fault. Actually, earlier, there was a little blood but I thought it was nothing. I kept sweating too, but I only thought it was because I was nervous…”

“Hello, Professor Park?”

At some point, Sujeong was calling Professor Park, the family physician. After quickly asking various things, Sujeong, who finished the call, looked at Hyunseo with a relieved face.

“Professor Park says it could be implantation bleeding. It’s not common but it’s not unheard of.”

“Ah, I see.”

“You absolutely can’t overdo it. You have to be especially careful from now on, understand?”

Sujeong, who urged repeatedly, finally shifted her gaze to Gyeom. At her son standing there completely dazed, Sujeong let out an empty laugh in disbelief, then quickly erased the smile and pressed him.

“Continue what you were saying. What did I do?”

“…”

“You’re completely devoted to your wife. When you heard your wife collapsed, you couldn’t even see your mother or anything?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Whatever, I hope you have a child just like you.”

Even at Sujeong’s curse to suffer properly that way, Gyeom didn’t bristle or get angry.

He wasn’t in the state of mind for that. Watching Gyeom, whose soul had left after hearing words that were practically confirmation, Sujeong clicked her tongue quietly and gave them space. Hyunseo, who sat up, reached out and grabbed Gyeom’s arm.

“Go after her quickly, okay? Go and properly apologize to Mother again…”

Gyeom, who’d lowered his body, pulled Hyunseo into his arms. Thanks to that, Hyunseo, who stopped talking, smiled faintly.

“Were you very surprised?”

“…”

“Still, first go appease Mother. I’d be upset too if I were her.”

“I can’t.”

“What…?”

“Breathe properly. Am I alive?”

At the absurd question, Hyunseo burst into laughter again. When she lifted her head, Gyeom met her eyes intently.

“Can you check if my heart stopped?”

Then he brought Hyunseo’s hand to press firmly on his left chest. Thump thump. The pulse was clear.

Instead of saying there was nothing wrong, Hyunseo just smiled. At her beautifully folding eyes, Gyeom’s heartbeat became even more clamorous. Gyeom made a sound like he was struggling.

“Hyunseo.”

“Yes, Gyeom.”

“What am I really going to do with you?”