Part 26 

“Ah…”

The doctor’s face hardened as he watched the monitor. The doctor’s eyes twitched as she ran the ultrasound probe over her stomach.

Sensing the eerie atmosphere, Seowoo cautiously spoke up.

“Doctor… W-what’s wrong?”

“…”

“Doctor.”

“How long has the fetal movement been absent?”

As soon as she heard those words, it felt like her heart dropped to the floor. She was certain it wasn’t just an innocent question.

“What’s wrong?”

The doctor turned to look at Seowoo. Just by looking at the doctor’s face, Seowoo could tell instinctively.

Something was seriously wrong.

A chill ran down her spine.

“The… fetal movements… yesterday, yesterday morning. They were there… she moved.”

Seowoo stumbled over her words, trying to recall.

“Ms. Yoon Seowoo.”

The doctor called her name in a low voice. With the growing sense of dread, Seowoo’s slender body began to tremble.

“The baby’s heart has stopped.”

“…”

Seowoo’s face drained of color.

What the hell was I hearing right now…….

“What are you saying right now?”

“We’ll need to conduct further tests to understand why this happened, but… these situations are not unheard of.”

“Please examine me again. There must be some mistake. Doctor!”

Seowoo grabbed the doctor’s coat with trembling hands. Her knuckles stood out white as she clutched the gown.

Despite her desperation, the doctor remained composed.

“I’m sorry, but it’s your last month and there’s nothing else we can do, and I think you’ll have to have the baby by induction. Fortunately, we have time today, so you can be admitted immediately.”

“Just last week, the baby was moving fine. A few days ago, there were movements. There’s no way… Please. I’m begging you, examine me again.”

Seowoo burst into tears and clung to the doctor.

There was nothing she could do in the face of this unbelievable reality but to beg the doctor to examine her one more time.

***

[Your call cannot be connected. After the beep…]

“…Sigh.”

Her arm holding the phone fell limp.

She had tried calling Jiwook countless times, but he didn’t answer, and neither did his secretary.

Even after pleading with the doctor in the clinic, the outcome remained unchanged. Eventually, Seowoo made her way to the delivery room alone.

“Sob…”

She still couldn’t believe what was happening. Her belly was still protruding, and there was supposed to be Byul inside her…

Seowoo wiped her tears and picked up her phone again.

• What’s wrong?

After a moment, Myeong-hye’s voice came through. Seowoo swallowed her sobs and trembling lips opened.

“Mom.”

• What’s wrong with you?

Seowoo couldn’t find the words to respond. Her lips quivered, unable to utter a word. Myeong-hye’s voice sounded annoyed at the sobbing.

• You’re not going to say anything? Then I’ll hang up…

“I… I had a miscarriage.”

• What?

“The baby’s, the baby’s… heart stopped.”

Seowoo’s head drooped. She closed her eyes, imagining Jiwook’s face.

If only he would answer…

Her body trembled with anxiety, shaking like a leaf. She longed to hear Jiwook’s voice.

• So, what are you going to do?

Myeong-hye’s response was chillingly indifferent. Seowoo, who had been shedding tears, spoke while holding her belly.

“Today… I have to deliver by induction…Jiwook isn’t answering.”

Even if he were to fly in from America right now, he would arrive tomorrow.

If only Jiwook were here, this anxiety and heartache would be a little better.

But she can’t connect her calls to him.

• Ugh, really. So distasteful.

Even amid this, Myeong-hye’s accusing tone stabbed into her ears.

• Do you know why Jiwook went to the United States?

“Hmph.”

Seowoo blinked her wet eyes. The secretary who had accompanied her looked at her with a troubled expression.

• Jiwook probably hasn’t finished his work yet. If he finds out, it’ll ruin everything. If he messes up work, it’s all over, including the succession, so don’t tell him.

Seowoo’s face chilled at the cold words.

***

“Ha.”

Lying on her side, Seowoo began to groan softly. This moment felt surreal.

Almost like a dream.

Her water broke quickly, and then, just as suddenly, so did her labor. The intensity of the contractions was unimaginable, and Seowoo’s face contorted with pain, a pain she had never imagined.

*Haa… Huh…*

Gripping the bed rails, Seowoo groaned.

She had thought about calling Yongjae out of fear of being alone, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. He had raised her with more sincerity than his own biological daughter; she couldn’t bear to upset him.

She didn’t even think about calling Jung-ah. She was so panicked that she didn’t even think about anything.

Fear and excruciating pain made her tremble uncontrollably.

“…….”

Seowoo squeezed her eyes shut as the contractions continued to rage.

‘Don’t contact Jiwook, don’t even answer his calls. If you mess up this time… Anyway, you’ll have another child, that’ll be it. So, don’t say anything until Jiwook finishes his work.’

After leaving those words, Myeong-hye sent her secretary to handle things in her place. Myeong-hye’s secretary was waiting outside the delivery room.

“Ha..”

Seowoo clutched her swollen belly and wept.

It still felt unbelievable.

The vivid movements of the baby, who had been kicking vigorously. She had thought she would meet her soon.

It felt like the sky was falling.

“How are you feeling, ma’am? Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

The nurse, who had come in to check on her, asked Seowoo. Seowoo closed her eyes and shook her head.

She had been in labor for hours without an epidural, and she didn’t have the energy to speak.

“Just a little more… Hang in there. You’re almost there.”

The nurse spoke to Seowoo with a gentle voice.

“Huh..”

Seowoo swallowed her tears and endured alone.

***

“Byul-ah, huhu.”

Sitting in front of a small tree, Seowoo sobbed at the top of her lungs.

After giving birth, the hospital didn’t even show her face, but she didn’t want to leave her child in the hands of others, so she buried Byul herself.

Because she hadn’t done anything for her. This was the least she could do, the only thing she could do for her.

“Mom… is sorry.”

Everything felt like her fault.

For not protecting her, for not giving her more love. It was her fault.

Was it because you had suffered so much during the pregnancy? Was that why you left first?

In the end, having to send off the child without the father shattered Seowoo’s heart.

“Ha..”

Seowoo’s dry hands stroked the soil as if she were caressing a child.

It had been a pregnancy journey that no one had wanted.

Even Jiwook married her out of obligation because of her pregnancy.

So, Seowoo couldn’t shake the thought that it led to this.

“Madam.”

Only the secretary sent by Myeong-hye stood quietly behind her.

The secretary was the only one who stood by her side while she processed and finalized everything.

“…….”

How much had I cried?

Seowoo stayed there for a long time. Her face, wet with tears, crumbled as she stared blankly at the tree.

“Leaving you behind.. I…”

How could I go on?

She couldn’t bring herself to leave. Gradually, darkness enveloped her surroundings.

Tears, brimming in her eyes, once again traced down her cheeks.

***

“She’s not answering her phone.”

Jiwook muttered, his brow creased.

It’s been four days since he’s heard from her.

Jiwook was on his way to the airport for his departure. He finished his work faster than expected. With the impending birth and the lingering unease when he left, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of anxiety.

So Jiwook had sacrificed sleep to get things done.

“No calls from home?”

“No. None.”

“Weird.”

Tap, tap.

His index finger, which had been tapping the phone regularly, paused momentarily in the air. Feeling uneasy, Jiwook raised the phone and pressed the call button.

• Yeah. Son. Why would you call so many times?

The affectionate voice of Myeong-hye echoed in his ears.

“I’m on my way to the airport after finishing work.”

• Oh, you’re coming already?

“Yes. I finished up quickly, so I’m planning to depart today.”

• You’ve worked hard. Chairman would be pleased.

Jiwook ran his index finger along his eyebrow. Myeong-hye sounded as usual.

He wondered if he’d been worried for nothing.

After hesitating for a moment, he spoke again.

“Seowoo isn’t answering my calls. Do you know what she’s doing right now?”

• I don’t know. Probably in her room.

“Ah, I see.”

• Hey, Jiwook.

Just as he was about to hang up, Myeong-hye’s voice came again. Jiwook brought the phone back to his ear.

“Yes?”

• Um, you’re on your way now?

“Yes. Heading to the airport.”

He sensed Myeong-hye’s hesitation through the phone. Jiwook’s eyebrows arched as he gripped the phone in a moment of bad premonition.

“Tell me.”

Unable to endure that moment, Jiwook urged Myeong-hye.

• I mean, since you’re on your way… I just wanted to mention…”

After a long pause, Myeong-hye finally spoke up. Jiwook’s face turned cold as he heard her words.

***

Bang.

Jiwook rushed into the room.

The room, where even a mood light wasn’t turned on, was engulfed in pitch darkness. Curtains were drawn shut, blocking out even the moonlight. He couldn’t even see his way around.

Jiwook flipped on the light and quickly approached the bed. As he pulled back the covers, he saw Seowoo curled up in a ball.

“Yoon Seowoo!”

At the sound of his voice, Seowoo slowly opened her eyes.

Jiwook’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. His gaze traveled down her body and landed on her belly. The once small bump that seemed almost burdensome on her petite frame now appeared half-shrunken.

It was a situation he couldn’t believe even when seeing it with his own eyes.

‘Seowoo had a miscarriage.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘The baby’s heart suddenly stopped beating. So, Seowoo had no choice but to give birth and send it away.’

As if discussing someone else’s affairs, Myeong-hye’s indifferent voice sent shivers down his spine.

‘Why didn’t you tell me? If something like that happened, you should have contacted me!’

‘I thought you knew. Since it happened, what could we do?’

Jiwook hung up the phone without listening to the rest of the story. The whole way home, he didn’t want to believe it. He needed to see it with his own eyes, so he came straight to their house when he arrived.

“You…”

Seeing her now visibly exhausted form, Jiwook couldn’t continue his words.

“Why didn’t you call? Why!”

His voice was loud enough to make her head ring, and she slowly lifted her gaze to look at him.

Her vision blurred at the sight of the face she’d been waiting for so long.

“I tried to call you, but…….”

Her voice leaked out through her newly cracked lips. He had no idea what had happened.

“Honey…”

He looked at her exhausted face. Tears streamed down from Seowoo’s large eyes. She couldn’t say anything.

“Ha…”

Jiwook closed his eyes and caught his breath as he watched her sob under her breath.

“Seowoo, Yoon Seowoo!”

As he looked at her for a moment, Seowoo’s body slumped lifelessly. Sweat dotted her pale forehead.

“What’s wrong with you? Pull yourself together!”

A stunned Jiwook picked her up in his arms and ran out of the room.