Chapter 27

Squeeze.

Erin’s hands, which had been pounding and hitting Ash’s shoulders, eventually could do nothing but clutch desperately at his collar.

‘Why…’

Why, even though she was so angry, couldn’t she refuse these lips?

Self-loathing and fury surged, but what made it even harder for Erin to bear was…

Thump, thump, thump.

Her heart instinctively raced as Ash found her, held her close, and kissed her.

It felt as if she were bouncing on a trampoline, or a fish pulled from water. She hated how her heart fluttered, but she couldn’t deny it.

A part of her—her heart—was happy with this man’s touch and kiss.

Even though he had betrayed her and wounded her deeply…

Her body still responded to him.

Worse, she felt a thrill when he accused her of planning to abandon him.

Even with just a kiss, her body tingled between her legs. Her pride was wounded. Tears welled in Erin’s eyes before she realized it.

“…Erin.”

Ash sensed her tears and pulled back, his voice dropping to a deep, rough tone as he called her name.

Her tears dotted his handsome cheeks.

“Uh, hng…”

“Why are you crying?”

“Hic, hng, you bad, bad…”

“Don’t cry.”

His hands gently wiped her tears, and his arms held her tightly, just as he used to as her assistant—so kind, yet his way of addressing her was still not the same.

That made her even sadder, and she struck his shoulder.

A voice like a rasp on the floor echoed in her ear.

“Crying won’t make me let you go…”

“……”

“I won’t let you leave, no matter what.”

Hiccup.

Erin felt as if her heart was about to leap out of her mouth. A chill ran down her spine.

“Hng!”

Bang!

Ash forcefully opened one of the bathroom stalls, then, with hands much gentler than the force he’d used on the door, pushed her inside.

He closed the lid of the small metal toilet and sat Erin on top. Then, he pressed her with another kiss, slow and wet, sending chills up her spine.

She struggled, scratching his back, but his grip only tightened.

Rip!

Her coat and blouse were yanked open, buttons scattering on the floor.

“Ah, mm…”

His long fingers began to knead her chest.

Whether she was swollen or sensitive, every touch sent a strong jolt through her. Ash, excited, rolled her stiff peak between his fingers.

“Haa…”

His knee pressed firmly between Erin’s legs, grinding in. It was as if he truly didn’t intend to let her go.

Her pale chest heaved in his grasp. Erin’s body, familiar with Ash, responded out of habit. She didn’t want to be aroused, but the man who knew her body too well touched her in all the right places, and she trembled, unable to resist the sensations.

Rip.

Her skirt was pushed up, stockings torn. Ash’s fingers slipped under the garter belt and kneaded her soft thighs.

Their lips still didn’t part.

‘I-I can’t breathe…’

Only when Erin was on the verge of suffocation did Ash finally pull back, just enough for her to catch her breath, though he kept licking and sucking her lips.

“Ash…”

“Shh. Breathe.”

“Let’s… let’s talk…”

Erin finally began to whisper to Ash. Honestly, she could have hit him and run, but after three years together, she was willing to hear his side.

It was absurd and almost laughable that he’d embrace her like this instead of explaining himself, but maybe this was his way of smoothing over his betrayal.

‘I don’t want to just sweep it under the rug.’

She wanted to sort things out properly and part on good terms. And anyway, the medicine he stole was a failure…

“Ah.”

Only then did Erin remember she was pregnant. But Ash’s fingers were already moving boldly downward.

“Mm, mmph! Hng!”

Her mouth was sealed again. No matter how she bit Ash’s tongue and lips, he only clung to her more desperately.

“Mm, mm!”

His long fingers rubbed her inner folds and pressed her sensitive spot. When he twisted and teased, fl*id gushed from her clenching core.

As if pleased by her arousal, Ash added more fingers. His hand moved roughly, pushing in his index, middle, and ring fingers. Wet sounds filled the air, and Erin’s mind spun wildly.

‘Th-this…’

The stimulation was too much, and she suddenly remembered that *ntercourse early in pregnancy could increase the risk of miscarriage.

‘The baby…’

What if she lost the baby?

She was on her way to have it terminated, but now she was terrified the child might actually die from this. The worry mingled with pleasure, and Erin instinctively kicked her legs.

Maybe Ash thought she was trying to escape, because his touch grew rougher. His hand rubbed her sensitive spot hard, making her head fall back.

“Haa, mm…”

Even as fl*id gushed out, Ash’s hand didn’t stop. It was as if he was determined to make her body as sensitive as possible—

So she wouldn’t be able to refuse him.

‘No, I can’t…’

Her chest and core were pinched and rubbed at the same time, and just as his long fingers slipped out—

‘Ah!’

Something hot and hard, about the size of a baby’s fist, pressed between her folds, trying to enter.

As it pushed at her entrance—

Slap!

“……”

Erin instinctively slapped Ash’s cheek.

His beautiful face turned bright red, and she felt a bit guilty, but relief from finally being able to breathe came first.

“Ah, ugh…”

Ash bowed his head in silence while Erin caught her breath, then slowly lifted his gaze to her.

She expected him to be angry.

But his red eyes were full of sorrow and pain. He gripped her waist tightly.

“Even now, do you think I’ll…”

“You… idiot!”

Realizing what he was about to do, Erin shoved his chest and shouted.

Her voice mixed with sobs, and Ash stopped abruptly.

“Erin?”

Realizing she was crying again, Ash reached out, unsure what to do.

“Don’t!”

“But, Erin…”

“Just get out!”

“Erin. Please listen. I…”

When she wanted to talk, he wouldn’t listen!

Erin, overcome with sorrow, yelled,

“The baby could die!”

* * *

After that, everything was chaos.

At the mention of a baby, Ash’s eyes changed instantly, and he kept stroking her lower belly.

He hurriedly withdrew from inside her, cleaned her up carefully, and wrapped her in his coat before carrying her out.

“Are you okay?”

“……”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

He rambled apologies as he walked, and Erin wondered where they were going.

They arrived at the clinic she’d always visited.

Even on the way, Ash kept gently warming and caring for her belly.

That simple gesture shook Erin’s heart.

‘…Even though he’s a traitor.’

He’d approached her to steal her research.

‘Does he not care that the experiment he stole was a failure?’

Why was he being so gentle, why did he come looking for her, and why was he so frantic at the mention of pregnancy?

But all those questions vanished when she heard the doctor’s words.

“…Side effects?”

“Yes. Side effects.”

The doctor shook her head.

“That’s why I told you to listen to the end…”

The doctor’s grumbling made Erin’s ears turn red. She stammered,

“So, it looked like pregnancy symptoms but…”

“In reality, it’s not pregnancy. It’s more like a phantom pregnancy.”

“Really, there’s no baby?”

“Yes. The test was completely negative. You said you were experimenting with drugs?”

“Well…”

“Were they related to menstruation or pregnancy?”

At that, Erin rolled her eyes. The contraceptive was related, after all.

Feeling awkward, she cleared her throat, and the doctor shook her head. Then, she glanced at Ash.

“So there’s no need to look so desperate.”

“…I see.”