“My dear, have some of this too.”

“Th-thank you, Mother.”

I took the fork she handed me.

I had been craving cake—and as if she had known, she brought some.

Today marked one month since I had been admitted to the hospital.

As if all the worry had been for nothing, the baby was growing well.

In truth, the doctor had said I could be discharged two weeks ago but he refused.

Since I had promised to do as he said, I had no choice but to quietly remain here.

At first, it had felt suffocating, but now I had adjusted, and in my own way, I was even enjoying hospital life.

Even now, Mother had come to visit. She came every other day, and each time, she brought plenty of food I liked.

“It’s so delicious.”

“Right? Seo-ah and I went to eat, and I immediately thought of you. After dropping Seo-ah off at her academy, I brought this just for you.”

She urged me to eat more and took out another slice of cake.

“Did Seo-ah go to her swimming lesson today?”

“Yes. I want her to continue what she learned in the States.”

“I’m sure she likes it.”

Starting with piano and swimming, Mother had been helping Seo-ah discover what she liked.

I spoke with Seo-ah often.

Just thinking about how much brighter she had become made me smile.

My baby would be just like her—bright and full of love.

Father, Mother, Secretary Kim, Secretary Park, the house staff, Seo-ah, even Park Na-yeon, everyone had congratulated me on the pregnancy.

The baby wasn’t even born yet—and already, it felt so loved.

For that, I was grateful.

And happy.

Yet at the same time, before I could feel that happiness fully…

I shook my head firmly.

It would be okay now.

I steadied my heart.

“You’re being discharged the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Y-yes.”

The doctor had reassured him that I was well enough to return to daily life.

“This is your discharge gift.”

“Mother… I don’t need a gift.”

I had already received so much.

To me, her very presence was a gift.

“Go on, open it.”

When I opened the shopping bag, there was a maternity dress inside. It carried a faint scent, as if it had already been washed. I took the dress out and pressed it to my face, breathing it in.

…It felt warm. A warm, comforting scent.

“Wear that when you’re discharged.”

She said she bought it because she thought it would suit me.

“There should be an envelope inside. That’s the real gift.”

I reached into the bag and pulled out the envelope.

As I read the paper inside, I bit my lip.

“Mother… what is this?”

My eyes fluttered rapidly, trying to hold back the tears.

“I’ve already reserved a postpartum care center for you. It’s quite famous, apparently. They said people line up for it, so I pulled some strings in advance.”

I had been searching online, but there was too much information—it only made things more confusing. Especially for postpartum care centers, everyone seemed to recommend something different.

They said you had to book early, and I had been starting to feel anxious about it.

“After the baby is born, you’ll be exhausted. Stay there for about a month. If you want to rest longer, you can stay longer.”

If I had been alone, I wouldn’t have been able to prepare properly.

Even without me saying anything, she had taken care of everything.

“Thank you, Mother…”

“No, I should be the one thanking you. I’ve said this many times, but… thank you for marrying Kang-heon. If it weren’t for you, he would have—”

She stopped herself, pressing her lips together.

“I’ll do better.”

It sounded as if she felt sorry—to me, who had married him and was now carrying his child.

That made me smile.

“Mother… I’ll do my best too.”

“But it’s really amazing.”

“What is?”

As I carefully folded the paper back into the envelope, she suddenly held my hand tightly.

“That you don’t stutter anymore. Though, even when you did, you were still beautiful.”

How did she always speak so beautifully?

I wanted to learn from her.

Her grace, her elegance, her warmth—

I wanted to resemble all of it.

“No matter what, you’re a beautiful daughter-in-law. So please… just stay healthy.”

Perhaps remembering when I collapsed, her eyes welled with tears.

“Mother…”

I blinked rapidly, trying to keep my own tears from falling.

“If you’re going to make her cry, then leave.”

The moment his voice cut through the room, my tears vanished.

I hadn’t even noticed when he arrived.

He stood there, looking displeased as he glanced between us.

“Oh my, I didn’t make her cry. Jae, don’t cry, alright?”

“Mother, I’m not crying.”

Once before, I had cried while talking with her, not realizing he had already come back from work. She had been sent away immediately. She had even been banned from entering my hospital room for a week.

“My dear, I should go. My son keeps glaring at me. Let’s meet after you’re discharged.”

“Yes. I’ll call you.”

“Alright.”

He didn’t even offer polite words for her to stay longer.

As if she already knew, Mother simply left the room without hesitation.

“…You’re back?”

“That’s a slow greeting.”

If he was just going to act like that, he could have gone home.

Why did he come to the hospital every day after work?

“Go home and rest.”

His sharp gaze landed on my forehead.

Avoiding his eyes, I took the maternity dress out of the bag, then put it back again.

“I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable sleeping here.”

Ignoring my words, he sat down on the sofa in the corner and pulled out his tablet, immediately returning to work.

Even so—whenever I got up to go to the fridge, he reacted.

I deliberately moved slowly, putting on my slippers.

“Water?”

He brought me a bottle and held it out.

I shook my head slightly.

“Then fruit?”

“No. I was just going to put this away.”

There was still cake left—Mother had brought it. I was planning to store it in the fridge for tomorrow, but he took the box from me and put it away himself.

Even if he was blunt—after work, he was always there, right beside me. As if he had never told me to get rid of the baby, he treated me well.

Still, I knew—that sometimes, he looked at my stomach.

It wasn’t very noticeable yet, but my lower belly had started to round slightly. I found it fascinating, so I often rubbed it without thinking.

And every time—

I caught him looking.

Was he curious too?

And as for me…it felt like my desires had grown stronger after becoming pregnant.

Was he… alright with that?

He used to want me constantly, several times a day…

I knew that pregnancy hormones could heighten desire.

But still—to think it would be me…

I almost felt like crying.

***

At last, it was the day of my discharge.

“You must avoid severe stress and any strong impact. If you feel abdominal pain or notice any bleeding, come to the hospital immediately. Don’t try to endure it.”

“I understand.”

My voice was firmer than ever.

“But don’t just lie down all day. Light exercise is good—maintain your daily routine.”

“I will.”

After answering brightly, I glanced at him standing beside me. The discharge time had been deliberately set to match his work schedule.

His decision.

Even when I said I could leave on my own or with Mother, he refused outright.

Well… it wasn’t surprising anymore.

As we went down to the underground parking area, Secretary Kim was waiting and bowed.

“Secretary Kim, have you been well?”

“Of course. Congratulations on your discharge, Madam.”

“Thank you.”

I got into the car with him.

After a month in the hospital, just leaving it behind made me feel strangely excited.

“Wow… it’s snowing.”

Large flakes drifted down from the sky.

In just one month, the world had turned into a white winter landscape. It felt completely different from watching through a hospital window.

It felt… alive.

I opened the window.

A sharp gust of wind brushed against my face but even that felt good.

Snowflakes landed on my skin and melted away instantly.

I was about to reach my hand out when the window suddenly closed.

“It’s cold.”

I found winter welcoming but he must have been freezing.

‘I’ll enjoy the snow properly once we get out of the car.’

With that thought, I continued gazing outside.

“We’ve arrived.”

The place we arrived at—was his family home.

When I said I wanted to eat Mother’s cooking, he had brought me straight here after discharge.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

As I stepped out of the car, he held an umbrella over me and adjusted my coat, wrapping it more securely around me.

For some reason, that small gesture made my cheeks flush.

Each breath came out in white puffs.

The snow had piled up so much that my shoes sank with every step.

Holding the umbrella, we crossed the gate together.

It looked like someone had cleared the stone steps earlier, but the heavy snowfall had covered them again.

“We should have gone through the underground parking.”

I hesitated, worried my custom shoes—specially made by Mother—might get wet.

“M-Mr. Kang-heon!”

Before I could move, he suddenly lifted me into his arms. With one hand holding the umbrella, he carried me effortlessly with the other.

It didn’t seem like I weighed anything to him.

“You make it look so easy… you must be really strong.”

He let out a quiet breath.

“You don’t think you’re light?”

“……”

“And besides… you already know how strong I am.”

The tone shifted subtly, making me blush. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, my face burning.

“Why are you so embarrassed?”

“It’s just… it’s been a while since we’ve been this close…”

His steps came to a sudden stop.

“Since the umbrella’s covering us… should we kiss?”

I opened my eyes slightly.

His shoes and pants were already soaked from the snow.

So that’s why…

“…Can we?”

The great Kang-heon was walking through the cold snow, not caring if his shoes and clothes got soaked because of me.

And I couldn’t even remember the last time we had kissed.

“The doctor said it’s fine, as long as it’s not too intense.”

“…A kiss?”

He set me down in front of the entrance.

Just behind me, if the door opened, Mother, Father, and Seo-ah would be inside.

“Shall we?”

Our eyes met as he asked that question, his tone faintly suggestive.

“Mmh…!”

There was no telling who moved first.

He cupped my cheek and pulled me in, pressing me back until my back met the door.

At the same time our breaths intertwined.