Upon hearing Jung Ah’s words, Ga Eun felt her heart drop to the floor.

[The nurses said they couldn’t disclose patient information and sent me away.]

Jung Ah trailed off anxiously before adding:

[I think she recognized me. We had greeted each other at the wedding.]

Ga Eun suddenly remembered that another friend had introduced Jung Ah to Do Jun as an obstetrician at that time.

Jung Ah remained silent for a while, seeming concerned for Ga Eun, then slowly spoke:

[Why don’t you just be honest with your husband now?]

A long silence followed Jung Ah’s persuasion on the other end of the line.

[Alright. I won’t nag anymore. Don’t forget to get your checkup today.]

“Thanks, Jung Ah.”

After hanging up, Ga Eun’s heart raced as if Do Jun had caught her. The fact that he had personally gone to a small regional hospital meant he still suspected her.

Ga Eun had received an internal medicine checkup along with her obstetrics appointment at the general hospital, in case Do Jun became suspicious.

Just until she secured her position as heir in World Group.

Please, just until then.

Ga Eun steadied her trembling heart and quickly hailed a taxi. Since hearing Do Jun’s story, she had been consumed by anxiety.

The taxi came to a stop in front of the World Group headquarters. Ga Eun hurriedly got out of the taxi and walked toward the building as if nothing had happened.

Just then, a familiar voice called out to her.

“Yoon Ga Eun.”

Turning toward the voice, she saw Do Jun. Ga Eun was startled to see his face, like someone caught in the act of committing a crime.

“Why are you so surprised?”

At Do Jun’s question, Ga Eun tried to hide her expression, feigning nonchalance.

“What brings you here?”

Ga Eun asked with an awkward smile, trying to gauge Do Jun’s mood.

“I had a meeting nearby. I saw you passing by. Where have you been?”

Do Jun’s persistent gaze scanned her face, as if demanding an answer.

“I had lunch with father. He had some work, so he went to the company first.”

As soon as Ga Eun spoke, Do Jun’s brow furrowed.

“You had lunch alone with your father-in-law?”

Ga Eun knew why Do Jun was making such a puzzled expression, but she acted nonchalantly and brushed off the situation.

“Is it so strange for a father and daughter to have a meal together?”

Perhaps, seeing my behavior now, he will no longer doubt that I have completely lost my memory. After all, my father and I had never once eaten lunch alone outside.

Ga Eun quickly spoke before Do Jun could ask more questions.

“The lunch break is almost over. I’ll go in first.”

Just as Ga Eun was about to hurry into the building, Do Jun grabbed her wrist.

“Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

Ga Eun’s eyes wavered at Do Jun’s sudden proposal.

“I’m sorry. I suddenly got a call from a friend asking to meet.”

Watching Do Jun’s expression after hearing her words, Ga Eun added an explanation.

“I think I might be able to recover some lost memories if I meet my friend.”

Do Jun, who had been silently listening to Ga Eun’s words, finally moved his lips.

“Which friend?”

Do Jun asked a personal question he had never asked her in three years.

Ga Eun smiled calmly, deflecting Do Jun’s question.

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know them well.”

At her gentle but cold voice, Do Jun could no longer hold her back.

Ga Eun gave Do Jun a nod and quickly entered the building. Although she acted nonchalant in front of Do Jun, her heart felt like it might burst from fear that today’s plans might be discovered.

As she entered the building and got in the elevator, her face flushed red with heat. Ga Eun went straight to the women’s restroom after getting off the elevator.

She touched up her makeup over her flushed face and reapplied lipstick. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror as if nothing had happened.

Only then could Ga Eun enter the fashion team’s office again.

With the fashion show approaching, Ga Eun had many tasks to handle personally. While working at the company, she needed to go out to check on the factory.

“Team leader, I’ll go instead.”

As Oh, the assistant manager, stood up offering to go together, Ga Eun gently declined.

“Oh, please double-check the clothing production documents and patterns to be sent to the factory.”

“Yes, team leader.”

Ga Eun didn’t fully trust the employees in the fashion team yet. She knew that her stepmother, Yun Sook, would try to sabotage the fashion show by any means necessary.

“I’ll go to the factory and then head home.”

Ga Eun couldn’t relax at all until the clothing samples were made. Even when hailing a taxi in front of the company, she checked several times to see if there were any watchful eyes on her.

The taxi stopped in front of a clothing factory located in Gyeonggi-do, not Seoul. Hearing that Ga Eun had arrived at the factory, the factory manager came out personally to greet her.

“You should have at least called ahead.”

The two seemed very close, as if they had known each other for a very long time.

“Is everything I asked for progressing well?”

“Of course. Don’t worry. This time, everything will go smoothly without any problems.”

After being falsely accused of bribing the factory manager to switch to cheaper fabrics, Ga Eun found it difficult to trust people. That’s why she carefully selected people she believed would never betray her for this project.

Moon Hyun Cheol was the father of Ga Eun’s best friend. When the factory was on the verge of bankruptcy, Ga Eun had readily given her own money to prevent its collapse. Since then, Hyun Cheol had treated Ga Eun like his own daughter.

“You’re here?”

Mi Sook, who was helping Hyun Cheol with his work, came out of the factory upon hearing Ga Eun’s voice.

“The schedule is so tight, it must be hard on you?”

“No, it’s fine. We’re working for World Fashion, so this much effort is necessary.”

Ga Eun looked back and forth between their faces and moved in close. Then, as if sharing a secret, her voice became very quiet.

“Have you finished the task I asked for at the factory?”

“Of course.”

Mi Sook and Ga Eun exchanged secretive glances, as if sharing a confidential matter.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

Ga Eun left the factory after checking her surroundings several times. After finishing the factory inspection, it was nearly time for the hospital appointment Jung Ah had booked. Ga Eun quickly hailed a taxi in front of the factory.

The reason Ga Eun had received an obstetrics checkup at a regional hospital was because Jung Ah, whom she trusted, worked there as an obstetrician.

Ga Eun was well aware that with Do Jun’s power, he could easily access her medical records, even if it was illegal.

Ga Eun still felt uneasy in the taxi. The fact that Do Jun had personally come to the regional hospital was proof that he didn’t trust the health checkup report she had given him.

Ga Eun deliberately got off the taxi at a location slightly away from the hospital, rather than right in front. Fortunately, there was a cafe on the first floor of the hospital building.

Ga Eun entered the cafe as if meeting a friend. Then she quickly exited through the opposite door and went up to the floor where the obstetrics department was located.

A notice was posted on the obstetrics department door saying the doctor was away at a seminar and the clinic was closed for the day. As Jung Ah had instructed, Ga Eun knocked on the door, and the doctor who had been locking up opened it.

The doctor hadn’t heard the details of my situation that required a secret consultation from Jung Ah, but she readily agreed to help with the examination because she trusted Jung Ah.

“Are you Yoon Ga Eun?”

“Yes.”

The two quietly confirmed each other’s identities and entered the examination room without making a sound. Only after the door to the examination room closed did they both let out a long sigh of relief at the same time.

“I feel like I’m in a spy movie.”

The doctor’s lighthearted comment helped ease Ga Eun’s tension.

“I’m sorry. It’s all because of me.”

As Ga Eun bowed her head in apology, the doctor waved her hands to stop her.

“I mooched so many meals off Jung Ah when we were in college. So there’s no need to apologize.”

The doctor smiled brightly, putting Ga Eun at ease.

“Shall we take a look with the ultrasound?”

Ga Eun followed the doctor into the ultrasound room. As she lay down on the examination table, she felt her heart racing even faster from nervousness.

The doctor applied gel to Ga Eun’s belly and gently moved the ultrasound machine over it.

“I heard you’ve been suffering from severe morning sickness. Is it still bad?”

Ga Eun nodded in response to the doctor’s question.

“The baby’s sac has settled in nicely. There’s nothing to worry about.”

The doctor kindly pointed to the ultrasound screen and explained to Ga Eun.

“Would you like to hear the baby’s heartbeat while you’re here?”

At the doctor’s words, Ga Eun prepared to listen to the baby’s heartbeat with a tense expression. A moment later, the faint sound of the baby’s heartbeat could be heard.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? Even though it’s still just the size of a bean.”

Hearing the baby’s heartbeat, an indescribable warm feeling spread from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.

“It would have been nice if the father could have heard it too.”

At the doctor’s words, who was still unaware of Ga Eun’s situation, Ga Eun tried to deflect.

“My husband is very busy with work.”

Ga Eun seemed to hesitate for a moment before shyly and cautiously speaking to the doctor.

“Could you possibly record the baby’s heartbeat for me?”

“Of course.”

The doctor watched Ga Eun’s brightly smiling face and asked her another question.

“Have you decided on a nickname for the baby?”

“Pardon?”

Ga Eun realized she hadn’t yet chosen a nickname for the baby. She even felt a bit sorry towards the baby.

“Not yet. I’m planning to choose one slowly.”

After the examination was over, Ga Eun left the obstetrics department with the doctor who was leaving work late because of her. As Ga Eun kept looking around before getting into the elevator, the doctor observed her behavior closely.

Ga Eun got off the elevator with the doctor on the first floor. Just then, a familiar voice stopped Ga Eun in her tracks.