Chapter 12.2

By the seventh month, Moonkyeong’s body had grown heavier. She couldn’t lie flat to sleep properly, and her dreams were always restless.  

Her emotions were all over the place. She would feel joyful one moment, then burst into tears the next, repeating this cycle several times a day.  

One afternoon, she was nodding off while watching her favorite romance movie. A message from Dennis arrived on her phone.  

It was a simple greeting accompanied by a video file.  

Opening the file, Moonkyeong saw a younger Seojun in his twenties. His long fingers danced over the piano keys. The man she had loved so deeply, the one she still couldn’t forget, was playing a piece.  

Overwhelmed with emotion, she paused the video.  

Her drowsiness vanished completely, replaced by a heightened sense of being alive. She took a deep breath, struggling to steady herself.  

Just as she was about to press play again, the title of the file caught her eye.  

The title of the piece was written in Russian. Translated into Korean, it read:  

「Bora」  

Moonkyeong reached for her earphones.  

***

Leehan Group was engrossed in its mid-year strategic meeting, focusing on plans for generational succession.  

Seojun had finally been appointed as a Director of Leehan Electronics. Within the business world, it was widely believed that this marked the complete defeat of Nam Leehyun, the late Chairman Kim Seokyeong’s first wife.  

Although Nam’s two daughters had achieved record-breaking sales in their respective divisions—home shopping and trading—their performance still fell far short of the group’s core subsidiary, Leehan Electronics.  

The two daughters were preparing for a lengthy legal battle over shares in Leehan Electronics against Seojun.  

While some speculated that Seojun might be promoted to Vice Chairman in the upcoming special promotion list, he still held the title of Executive Director. Many believed this was a temporary pause for him to catch his breath.  

“Executive Director, the strategic meeting starts in five minutes.”  

Seojun, who was reviewing a business report handed to him by Chief Secretary Yoon, looked up at Secretary Park’s words.  

Holding dual roles as Executive Director of both HAN Motors and Leehan Electronics, his schedule was packed to the point where even ten bodies wouldn’t suffice.  

Despite his young age, many factions still sought to undermine him. But Seojun intended to prove himself.  

He would show them that the only person capable of reaching the top of Leehan was him.  

Handing the report back to Chief Secretary Yoon, he said, 

“I’ll review the rest on the way.”  

“Yes, Sir.”  

As Seojun headed toward the strategic meeting room, Chief Secretary Yoon followed closely behind.  

“HAN Motors’ fourth-quarter sales this year reached 29.4874 trillion won, with an operating profit of 1.843 trillion won. Compared to the same period last year, these figures represent increases of 6.4% and 43.2%, respectively. One moment, please.”  

Yoon’s expression turned serious as he answered an urgent call mid-report.  

“Yes? What do you mean?”  

While Yoon was on the phone, Seojun reached the meeting room door. Unable to wait, he entered the room with Secretary Park.  

Barely five minutes into the meeting, Chief Secretary Yoon entered the room, having finished his call.  

Interrupting the meeting briefly, Yoon approached Seojun and whispered in his ear.  

“Madam is preparing to leave the country.”  

Despite their divorce, Yoon still referred to Moonkyeong as “Madam.”  

That aside, hadn’t she already left the country months ago?  

Seojun knew she had been traveling extensively, as he had received reports about her movements.  

Even after letting her go, he had continued to obsess over her whereabouts. About a month ago, he had instructed Yoon to stop reporting on her unless there were significant issues or emergencies.  

For Yoon to bring it up now, it had to be serious.  

Seojun excused himself and stepped out of the meeting room.  

“What’s the issue?”  

Yoon composed himself, feeling regretful for the delayed report.  

“She is pregnant.”  

Seojun froze, his face hardening.  

There was no doubt about whose child it was. Recalling their last night together, he realized her belly should have been showing by now.  

Seojun turned to Chief Secretary Yoon, his voice carrying a sharp edge.

“She must be about seven months along. And the intel didn’t know until now?”  

“She hadn’t visited a hospital except when her dog was sick. Our intel didn’t suspect anything because her belly hadn’t shown at all.”  

“How is that even possible?”  

“I apologize.”  

As Yoon bowed his head, Seojun’s expression grew darker.  

The thought of the woman he had wanted to protect enduring pregnancy and its challenges alone broke his heart.  

He had wanted her to meet someone full of love, to have the most stable family.  

Instead, it felt like he had taken even that away from her.  

But there wasn’t time to dwell on it.  

If he had done something wrong, he had to take responsibility.  

No matter what, he would protect Seo Moonkyeong and their child.  

He stared at the closed meeting room door  

Inside the meeting room were dozens of allies who could support him. Every day, Seojun stood against the people aligned with Nam Leehyun, who were eyeing his position. At the same time, he needed to persuade those who could contribute their shares to strengthen his position.  

He had to convince them that completely taking over Leehan Electronics would bring immense benefits to the group as a whole. Today’s meeting was crucial for Seojun.  

Chief Secretary Yoon quickly reviewed the schedule and spoke to Seojun.  

“The earliest slot we can clear is this Friday at 2 p.m. After lunch with Chairman Jung of Daekwang Group, you can head straight to the airport.”  

Seojun firmly shook his head.  

“No, Chief Secretary Yoon. This is urgent. Let’s leave immediately.”  

Yoon hurriedly made a call to arrange the private jet.  

***

The first winter in a foreign land  

The wood in the fireplace had burned out, leaving only weak embers. Moonkyeong added more logs to the fire.  

Dawn was breaking outside the window. She spent the entire morning packing her belongings, enjoying her first winter in this distant land.  

She packed enough clothes for about a week but added extra just in case.  

Returning seemed like the natural choice. When she heard the piece he had composed, she felt no hesitation.  

She should have realized it earlier—when the elevator doors opened and she saw him crying alone.  

If you want me and love me that much, why did you let me go? There’s no one else here who can love me as much as you do. So this time, you should give up.

She planned to tell him that when she met Seojun in Korea.  

Moonkyeong placed the plane ticket for her flight the next afternoon in the drawer and stepped outside for a moment.  

Winter in Canada was far harsher than in Korea.  

The world was blanketed in white from days of snow, and everything looked serene. Despite the biting cold, she decided to go for a walk.  

Maybe I can make a snowman. A mom has to be strong. I’ll try to be stronger.  

Pulling her coat tighter, Moonkyeong walked a few steps before sitting down to gather snow. She made the head and the body of the snowman.  

The airport is fine, so even with all this snow, the flight should take off safely. For that, she was grateful.  

As she patted the snowman’s belly with her hands, she murmured softly to herself.  

“I miss you, Kim Seojun.”  

What if he pushes me away? What if he coldly tells me to leave again?  

“Lies. I won’t fall for it anymore.”  

Her hands were freezing from handling the snow without gloves. She stood up after roughly finishing the snowman.  

I guess I have no artistic talent.

She thought, smiling brightly.  

That’s when she heard the crunching sound of someone stepping on snow behind her.  

The footsteps grew louder, brushing past her ears.  

A strange sense of déjà vu made her eyes well up with tears. Knowing it couldn’t be, she still felt a foolish sense of hope. Placing her hand over her chest, she tried to calm her racing heart.  

The person who had caused her so much pain, yet was the only one she wanted to give everything to.  

The person she had waited and waited for every single day, hoping they might come to find her.  

When she finally turned around, as if in a dream, there stood Seojun, tall and gazing at her. His ears were bright red, likely from walking through the snow for a long time.  

Snow had gathered on his hair and broad shoulders.  

No, it wasn’t snow.  

It was flowers.  

The most beautiful flowers in the world, so breathtaking that just looking at them brought her to tears.