Part 28

“It might just be pity.”

Seowoo said bitterly.

A woman who was driven out almost like being discarded after having a miscarriage in a wealthy family. 

With all her unfortunate circumstances, she must have seemed pitiful to the kind-hearted Sung-hyun. Her situation must have looked truly pitiable to him. Hearing this, Sung-hyun’s face turned cold.

“Because you’re a good person, maybe you just feel sorry for me…”

“I understand that you don’t accept my feelings, and I know why. But don’t distort my sincerity. It makes me angry.”

The idea of his feelings being treated as mere sympathy made him abruptly angry. A tense silence followed his sharp response.

“Ha.”

Sung-hyun lowered his head for a moment, took a deep breath to cool his mind, and then looked up at her again.

“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

“What…”

A wave of unease washed over her at his serious tone.

“I met Kwon Jiwook recently.”

This was news to her. 

Of course, Jiwook had not told her, so she had no way of knowing. Seowoo’s eyes trembled in shock.

“Looking at your face, it seems he didn’t tell you.”

Her face was etched with confusion, clearly hearing it for the first time.

I didn’t want to go this far… but I don’t want you to be unhappy again.

Sung-hyun clenched his fist and spoke calmly.

“Don’t give your heart away too much to that person.”

“I’ve heard enough. I don’t need to hear this from you, Sung-hyun. Please go home safely.”

Seowoo responded firmly and turned away. 

No matter how vulnerable she might appear, even as a person with wounds, she did not want to hear this kind of talk from a third party who didn’t fully understand her situation. 

As she slowly walked away, she heard his voice from behind.

“Who do you think was behind the publication of our scandal article?”

Seowoo’s steps halted abruptly. 

What is this now…

Even hearing it directly, it was still hard to comprehend. 

She had thought the reporters following them had just made up some gossip. 

But who… Who would have done it?

“I didn’t just meet Kwon Jiwook. I met Jo Myeong-hye too.”

“…!”

Seowoo’s eyes widened. She slowly turned around to face him.

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s talk a bit more. I have something to say.”

Sung-hyun grabbed her wrist and led her forward.

***

“Travel…”

Where would be good? 

Jiwook pondered, his face serious, as if deciding on a major decision. Thinking about it, he realized that he had never once traveled with Seowoo. The thought that he had been living so poorly up until now made his stomach churn.

He had planned to propose to her at that destination where they would travel together. He had prepared the ring a long time ago but was still deliberating on the timing. He thought that maybe going abroad would be a good time.

They hadn’t been able to have a honeymoon because she was already pregnant at the time of their marriage.

“How pathetic.”

Just looking at his past actions, he felt it was enough reason for her to have divorced him. A self-mocking sigh escaped Jiwook’s lips. He opened the jewelry box he had placed in front of him. Inside was a ring, perfectly sized for Seowoo’s finger.

“Rejection…”

She would probably reject it.

Seowoo had been through such difficult times because of him. He knew she wouldn’t agree to marry him again.

But he had no choice. He had to confess his true feelings and keep trying and waiting until he could possibly change her mind.

Jiwook pressed the intercom to call Cheol-hoon. Shortly after, the office door opened, and Cheol-hoon approached and bowed respectfully in front of him.

“I need to clear my schedule for 2 nights and 3 days around the end of this month.”

“Ah…… I’m afraid I’ll be a little tight this month.”

Cheol-hoon opened his mouth cautiously with an embarrassed expression.

Jiwook’s schedule was already full every day of the week, and Cheol-hoon could barely adjust it, but two days and three nights? It was practically impossible.

“That’s why I’m telling you now. Make the adjustments.”

“……General Manager.”

“If it’s not possible, cancel everything else if you have to. Then take care of things afterward.”

Cheol-hoon’s face hardened. The mere thought was dizzying. After pursing his lips, Cheol-hoon spoke up.

“How about just 1 night and 2 days…”

“Then clear my schedule for 3 nights and 4 days.”

“I’ll make it 2 nights and 3 days.”

Finally hearing the answer he wanted, Jiwook cracked a small smile and stood up from his seat. Then he picked up his jacket from the coat hanger.

“It’s too short a time to go far, let’s find somewhere relaxing.”

“Are you talking about a vacation?”

“I’m thinking of going with Seowoo.”

“I see.”

I hope she opens her heart to me. Just one more chance.

Throughout the workday, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He needed to see her.

As Jiwook left his office, a slight smile spread across his lips.

***

Seowoo hadn’t stepped outside her house for days. After hearing the story from Sung-hyun, she kept feeling breathless. She thought she’d gotten better, but every time she thought of Myeong-hye again, she hyperventilated.

“Ha.”

She had made all sorts of excuses to reject Jiwook’s requests to come over. Fortunately, she had no schedule for the time being. Her condition wasn’t good due to the pregnancy, but her unstable mental state also left her feeling unable to handle her schedules. 

Her health was rapidly deteriorating. It was a vicious cycle again.

‘Jo Myeong-hye asked to see me, so I met her, and she offered me money to get involved with you.’

What Sung-hyun had told her was outrageous. It was unimaginable. That Myeong-hye would even suggest such a thing to a coworker who was working with her to keep her and Jiwook apart. It was chilling.

‘If you can’t believe me, listen to this.’

After a long explanation, he handed her a USB. It contained a file of his conversation with Myeong-hye that day.

‘General Manager Kwon knows too. I told him when I met him.’

‘So don’t trust him either. I can keep waiting, so call me anytime. It’s not just a casual interest, I’m sincere.’

After returning home, Seowoo thought about it for a few days. It was like a Pandora’s box. 

She wanted to listen but also didn’t want to. Eventually, she made up her mind. Despite the fear, she thought she needed to know the truth. 

After listening to the recording, her heart, which was just beginning to open towards Jiwook, shut tightly again. 

Seowoo rested her hand on her abdomen and sighed.

“This is so hard.”

I never expected life to be easy, but why does my path have to be filled with thorns?

It felt like she was endlessly running on an unpaved road.

Tears moistened the corners of Seowoo’s eyes.

But now it was time to face reality. At this point, she could probably hear the baby’s heartbeat.

She needed to protect this baby that came to her like a gift.

After all, she was the only one who could protect her child.

Seowoo went into the dressing room and busied herself. She dressed in clothes that would make her unrecognizable, adding a hat and scarf to complete the disguise.

“Pull yourself together, Yoon Seowoo.”

She steadied her heart as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

***

“Hmm…”

A small smile tugged at the corners of the doctor’s mouth as he looked at the ultrasound.

This was her third pregnancy. She tried to calm her nerves and stared at the monitor in front of her, but she had enough experience to know what the doctor was showing her.

“Here is the gestational sac, and you see this round thing here? This is the yolk sac, which provides nutrients to the baby. And…”

The doctor zoomed in near the yolk sac, and something shiny caught her eye.

That is…

Seeing it, Seowoo’s eyes lit up with affection.

“Shall we listen to the heartbeat? The baby is right next to the yolk sac.”

The strong, train-like sound of the heartbeat filled the examination room, bringing tears to Seowoo’s eyes.

“The heartbeat sounds really good, but…”

“What’s the problem…?”

Seowoo clenched her fists and looked at the doctor’s face as the doctor trailed off, her own heart beginning to pound with anxiety.

“There’s one more egg yolk here.”

“…What?”

“Let’s listen to this little one’s heartbeat too.”

The sound of another strong heartbeat filled her ears. Seowoo’s lips parted in surprise, and soon two round yolk sacs appeared on the monitor. She looked at the doctor in shock, but she was still smiling.

“Although there’s only one gestational sac, there are two yolk sacs and two babies.”

“…!”

“Congratulations! You’re having twins.”