“Mmh… ngh. W-wait…!”

His brows lifted slightly as she kept pushing at his shoulders.

“Why?”

The moment their lips parted, she stepped back.

Displeased, he grabbed the back of her neck firmly.

Where do you think you’re going?

At his sharp gaze, her slightly swollen lips parted.

“M-my phone… it’s ringing…”

Each time she drew in a breath, her warm breath brushed against his face. They had barely eaten at his family home before he made an excuse about being busy and rushed back here.

And now they hadn’t even gone inside yet. They were still in the parking area, kissing.

“Answer it.”

His tone was curt as he gave the command.

Frowning, she fumbled through her bag, her eyes darting around before pulling out her phone.

‘D*mn it.’

He wanted to throw it out the window. But he held himself back—she might get startled.

“H-hello? Mother?”

Ah—so the interruption was his mother.

“Yes… I just got home.”

Her face—no, from her neck to her ears—was flushed red.

She looked—tempting.

He swallowed dryly, a sharp thirst rising within him.

As he reached out, her eyes widened like a startled rabbit, her shoulders flinching.

“Tomorrow? Yes… I’ll go shopping too.”

…He let out a quiet breath.

She called at this hour just to ask about shopping?

He snatched the phone from her hand and brought it to his ear.

She stammered, trying to get it back, flustered.

‘D*mn it. She’s ridiculously cute.’

“We’re busy. I’ll hang up now.”

“I told you firmly and ended the call.”

“Mr. Kang-heon! That was Mother on the phone—”

He tossed the phone into the backseat.

Her clear eyes trembled.

“What? Did you want her to hear us?”

She bit her lip and turned her head away. His gaze fell on the slender line of her neck.

It was so pale—whiter than snow, almost blinding.

Her coat had slipped halfway off, her dress had ridden up to her thighs, her hair was disheveled, and her cheeks were flushed, as if ripened.

‘How am I supposed to endure this?’

If he held back now, he’d be a fool.

He pulled her closer by the nape and lowered his head, claiming her lips again—deep, consuming.

Their breaths tangled. Their warmth mingled.

Somehow, after becoming pregnant, she had only grown more beautiful.

As the kiss deepened, he felt her grip tighten on his arm, her body trembling slightly.

If it were up to him, he would have taken her right there in the car but he held himself back.

“Get out.”

He decided to endure it just once.

Stepping out of the car, he moved to the passenger side, opened the door, and pulled her out, barely giving her time to straighten her dress.

Grabbing her wrist, he hurried her into the house.

Like chasing a rabbit, he led her straight into the bedroom.

“Don’t go shopping with my mother.”

“…Why? It’s fun…”

She seemed to be growing even more beautiful every time she went shopping with his mother—and that irritated him.

She was already beautiful—why make her even more so?

‘Tch… I don’t like it.’

“Forget it. Do whatever you want.”

There was no point telling her—she probably wouldn’t listen anyway.

He would have to speak to his mother instead.

He gave her a light push, making her fall onto the bed.

…The sight of her lying there made his restraint waver.

He had already confirmed with the doctor that it was safe.

There was no intention of holding back tonight.

He quickly removed her outer layers, letting them fall aside.

She tried to cover herself instinctively, flustered.

“I-it’s embarrassing…”

He almost lost control at that.

“Don’t… don’t stare at me like that.”

She covered herself as best as she could, yet told him not to look—it made no sense.

He reached out, gently but firmly moving her hands away.

“I’ve gained weight… it’s embarrassing.”

“You look better like this. What’s the problem?”

He couldn’t understand her embarrassment at all.

She had stirred him to this extent yet she looked at him with such innocent eyes, as if she knew nothing.

He removed his own clothes. Even as she tried to hide her embarrassment, she stole glances at him. The sight was almost unbearable.

He leaned down, pressing a firm kiss to her shoulder, leaving a mark.

“Ah…”

She reacted sharply.

Faint traces bloomed across her skin.

Drawn by her warmth, he buried his face against her, breathing her in deeply.

There was something about her, something intoxicating, overwhelming.

He couldn’t think straight.

As he brushed his lips lightly against her skin, her body tensed.

“Ah…!”

Lowering himself beside her, he drew closer, pulling her into his arms.

Before long—her breathing grew uneven, and her eyes slowly closed.

“Lee Jae. Are you asleep?”

No matter how long it had been, no matter that her stamina had weakened because of the pregnancy did it make sense for her to fall asleep from something that was barely more than a prelude?

He almost felt like grabbing her slender shoulders and shaking her awake.

Instead, he quietly took her in—as she slept, unaware that her body was marked with traces of him.

He had been gentle, but seeing how her fragile body still struggled made him click his tongue.

If he gave in to his desires now, would she wake up crying?

A faint chuckle escaped him as he lay down beside her.

He liked it when she smiled but only when she smiled at him.

The thought of her smiling at anyone else—his father, his mother, even his niece—was something he couldn’t stand.

What could he do?

That was simply the kind of man he was.

He lightly cupped her chest in his palm, idly toying with the soft weight.

For some reason, touching her calmed him.

His hand moved down, carefully stroking her stomach, before he slipped his arm beneath her neck, letting her rest against him.

“Kang-heon, are you having morning sickness instead of her?”

His mother’s sudden remark from earlier at dinner crossed his mind, and he let out a quiet, amused breath.

As if a man could have morning sickness.

It was ridiculous.

He had just stopped smoking because he disliked the smell now and whenever he tried to eat, his stomach felt unsettled.

His mother always exaggerated things. He reached out, brushing her long eyelashes lightly with his fingertips.

When her brows furrowed slightly, he smiled faintly.

Tracing her features—her brows, her nose, her lips—he touched her as if memorizing them.

“You’re beautiful.”

He pulled her soft body close and closed his eyes.

***

“Stop crying.”

Instead of answering, I nodded.

I had visited my mother today.

Ever since becoming pregnant, I had missed her terribly. When I told him I wanted to go alone, he made time to take me.

‘Thank you, Mom. Because of you… I was able to escape Father. I was able to take my revenge. I’m happy now… and you have a grandchild. I’ll come visit you often.’

As I spoke to her old photograph, tears had suddenly spilled over.

Once they started, I couldn’t stop.

Even on the way home, sitting in the car, the tears wouldn’t fall away.

He had every reason to scold me.

Even as he grumbled, he gently patted the back of my hand.

I leaned my head against his shoulder.

“But… don’t you need to visit your grandmother?”

I had heard his grandmother was in a care facility because she was ill. I hadn’t realized it was dementia.

She had seemed so strong…

Shouldn’t he visit her?

But at my question, he let out a low laugh.

“You’re too kind for your own good.”

It sounded like he didn’t want to.

So I didn’t ask again.

His hand, wiping my tears, felt warm.

I closed my eyes. After he drove me home, I told him to go straight back to work instead of getting out of the car, but of course, he didn’t listen.

“I’ll be back soon.”

There were bodyguards anyway—he could have just left. But he got out of the car with me, gently urging me forward.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Watermelon… and peaches. They’re hard to find in winter… but I keep craving them.”

“Alright.”

No matter what I said I wanted he always found a way to get it.

“You don’t have to buy fruit…”

I rose slightly on my toes, and he instinctively lowered his head so I could whisper into his ear.

“Come back quickly. I’ll get bored.”

The corner of his lips lifted.

“Go inside first.”

I shook my head.

He always watched until I went inside.

So today, I wanted to see him off instead.

“I’ll see you off.”

“No.”

“It’s right in front of the house—what could possibly happen? Go on, get to work.”

I answered brightly, telling him not to worry since the bodyguards were here, and pushed him into the car.

I waved my hand, smiling, and the car began to move.

I watched it disappear then slowly lowered my arm.

I had cried so much because of Mom that my head throbbed.

‘I should go inside and get some rest.’

Just as I turned around—

Screech—!

At the chilling sound, my head turned slowly.

…!

A black car was speeding straight toward me.

Ah…

At this rate—

I have to move.

I have to get out of the way, but my legs wouldn’t budge.

As the car drew closer and closer, I realized—

I was going to be hit.

Instinctively, I wrapped my arms tightly around my stomach and shut my eyes.

A deafening crash rang out but my body felt… fine.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was the car, crashed into the wall.

And beside it—a bodyguard, collapsed on the ground.

“Hic—!”

He must have been hurt trying to protect me.

His eyes were closed.

The other bodyguards rushed toward him, and as I watched them, my legs gave out, and I sank to the ground.

“Ugh…”

Someone was saying something to me, but I couldn’t hear anything.

I just stared blankly at the smoking car then something felt wrong.

My gaze dropped.

“Ah… ah…”

Bl-blood…

Blood was pooling between my legs.

“N-no… please… hngh… baby…”

My baby…

Please…

And just like that, everything went black.