Ga Eun turned her head towards the sound. The person staring at her intently was none other than Seo Yu Jin.

Yu Jin’s gaze shifted to the floor guide posted on the wall. The first floor was marked as a cafe, the second floor as an obstetrics and gynecology clinic, and the third floor as a tutoring academy for lower elementary school students.

Just as Yu Jin was about to ask Ga Eun a question, the doctor standing next to them, Ji Soo, naturally joined the conversation.

“Who’s that? A friend?”

Ji Soo asked about Seo Yu Jin, pretending to be curious as if she were Ga Eun’s close friend. Ga Eun didn’t know how to explain about Seo Yu Jin.

How could she explain about the woman who had been engaged to her husband before their marriage? The woman rumored to have been with Ji Do Jun at a hotel the night before the wedding?

As Ga Eun stood there blankly without any explanation, Seo Yu Jin spoke first.

“Let’s just say we’re work colleagues.”

Ji Soo casually ignored Yu Jin’s words and took Ga Eun’s hand protectively, walking forward.

“You must have had a hard time waiting because my appointment ended late. I’ll treat you to delicious beef for dinner!”

Ji Soo naturally led the conversation as she walked past Seo Yu Jin with Ga Eun. The two linked arms, pretending to be close, and walked far until Yu Jin was out of sight. Ga Eun felt grateful to Ji Soo for helping her.

“Now that we’re out of the hospital, I’m not a doctor anymore. I’m Moon Ji Soo. Nice to meet you.”

Ji Soo extended her hand for a handshake as if to reassure the frozen Ga Eun. Ga Eun grasped Ji Soo’s hand awkwardly.

“I heard you’re close friends with Yu Jung Ah. Then let’s be friends too.”

Ga Eun took a great liking to Ji Soo’s easygoing behavior.

“To celebrate our first friendship, I’ll buy the meal. Let’s go.”

Led by her hand, Ga Eun entered a quiet neighborhood meat restaurant.

“Aunt! Three portions here, please.”

The restaurant owner immediately recognized Ji Soo, as if it were her regular place.

“What’s this, you’re not alone and brought a friend?”

“It’s three including the baby. I have to eat for two by myself!”

Hot charcoal was brought to the table, and soon beef was grilling on the plate. Oblivious to the meat smell permeating her coat, Ga Eun stared blankly at the cooking meat. She thought maybe it was fortunate.

She now had a real excuse that she had dinner with a friend. Even if Do Jun asked persistently, she had an explanation to give.

Due to morning sickness, she hadn’t been able to eat properly for weeks. But strangely, she could eat beef without any issues. As the beef cooked just right, Ji Soo placed some on the plate in front of Ga Eun.

“When the mother is happy, the baby is happy too.”

Ji Soo’s passing remark struck Ga Eun’s heart. She had been so preoccupied with hiding the baby’s existence that she hadn’t even given it a proper name yet.

The moment she heard the baby’s heartbeat suddenly came back to her. It felt like warm light was seeping into her whole body, as if experiencing a completely different world.

As the meal was winding down, Ga Eun, who had been quietly listening to Ji Soo, spoke up for the first time.

“Taeyang.”

Ga Eun opened her lips shyly and smiled, looking straight at Ji Soo’s face.

“The baby… its name.”

“Ah!”

Ji Soo couldn’t help but laugh out loud, finding Ga Eun adorable as she had been lost in deep thought throughout the meal.

“It suits the baby perfectly. Because your eyes shine when you think about the baby.”

The two smiled brightly at each other. Just then, Ga Eun noticed the flash of a camera taking their picture from outside.

‘Who could have sent them?’

Ga Eun quickly got up from her seat, pretending nothing had happened.

“Thank you so much for today.”

“I really hate eating alone, so this worked out well for me.”

The two came out of the restaurant, greeted each other, and turned around. Then, Ji Soo carefully approached Ga Eun again and whispered to her.

“Come a little fatter for your next appointment.”

Ga Eun nodded slightly at Ji Soo’s words and waved to her. Ga Eun felt a man’s footsteps following her. She hurriedly hailed a taxi in front of the restaurant, trying to act natural.

“Please take me to Cheongdam Apartments.”

After quickly getting into the taxi, Ga Eun slowly turned her head, trying to see the man’s face. Fortunately, the man did not follow the taxi.

Many people who might have someone tail me came to mind. Stepmother Yun Sook, father Gi Cheol, and Ji Do Jun.

Should I think it’s fortunate? Even if they had someone follow me and monitor my every move, they wouldn’t gain anything.

They would know nothing about me – who my friends are, what I do after work ends, what my hobbies are.

As these thoughts occurred to her, Ga Eun felt her mouth go dry.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

Lost in deep thought for a moment, the car arrived in front of Cheongdam Apartments. Realizing she had arrived home later than expected, Ga Eun hurriedly entered the apartment.

‘He’ll be at work overtime, so he won’t be home.’

Ga Eun belatedly remembered Do Jun’s invitation to have dinner together. Since pretending to have lost her memory, she was often taken aback by his changed behavior as much as her own changed self.

Rejecting was just as unpleasant as being rejected.

Did he feel the same way as I do now?

“Can we have dinner together today?”

Even on her birthday when she wanted to eat with him.

“It’s our wedding anniversary today.”

Even when she excitedly prepared an event for their anniversary alone.

He had flatly refused my words without the slightest emotional response.

“Work is busy.”

Sometimes she thought that maybe I wasn’t in his life’s destination. Since there was no station for me on his life’s route map, it felt like no matter how long I waited, he would never come to me.

Even though I knew he wouldn’t come every time, when night fell, I would wait for him, hoping he might come home.

That was all in the past. Ga Eun bit her lower lip hard, trying not to lose her composure at the old memories as she got in the elevator. When she entered the passcode and went inside, all the lights that should have been off were on.

‘Is Oh Jipsa still here?’

Ga Eun entered the living room, looking for her back view. At that moment, the person blocking her way was not Oh Jipsa, but Ji Do Jun.

“You’re late.”

Ga Eun was startled when Do Jun, whom she had assumed would be working overtime at the company, walked towards her from the living room sofa where he had been sitting.

“My conversation with a friend ran long.”

Ga Eun looked straight into Do Jun’s eyes as if to prove she wasn’t telling even the slightest lie. As she said, her coat was permeated with the smell of meat.

“I’m tired. I’ll go wash up.”

It was becoming increasingly difficult to face Do Jun while living in the same house. She only wanted to avoid him as much as possible.

“About your friend Yu Jung Ah.”

As Ga Eun was about to move to the dressing room to change clothes, Do Jun quickly grabbed her ankle. Trying her best not to look flustered, Ga Eun turned her head back towards Do Jun.

“Yes? Jung Ah?”

Ga Eun’s face hardened when Jung Ah’s name was suddenly mentioned from Do Jun’s lips. She tried hard to look as if she didn’t know well who Jung Ah was.

Do Jun paused for a long time, observing her expression as if choking her breath. After a long silence, Do Jun’s lips slowly moved.

“I met her at the hospital recently.”

Contrary to expectations that he would keep secret the fact that he had investigated her, Do Jun openly revealed to Ga Eun that he had gone to the local hospital.

“Is that so?”

Ga Eun answered more boldly, trying not to be caught. She felt her nerves on edge, trying not to fall into Do Jun’s trap.

“She said she’s an obstetrician.”

Could it be that he found out something? Or is he pretending to know to probe my true feelings?

The sharp gazes of the two met in mid-air. Unlike before, Ga Eun remained calm and unshaken even under Do Jun’s persistent gaze.

“Ah, did I have such a friend? I don’t remember well.”

Ga Eun probed Do Jun’s mind, pretending to know nothing about Jung Ah. The conversation between the two continued to skirt around, hiding the questions they really wanted to ask.

“How about getting an examination from Jung Ah?”

Once again, unexpected words came out of Do Jun’s mouth.

“I’m concerned about the doctor’s opinion on your health checkup that you need an obstetrics and gynecology examination.”

Ga Eun couldn’t even guess what Do Jun really wanted to hear, even looking straight into his eyes.

“I’ll take care of my own problems.”

Ga Eun coldly pushed Do Jun away and turned her steps back to the dressing room. At that moment, Do Jun firmly grasped Ga Eun’s wrist.

“I was thinking of creating a reason why we can’t divorce.”

Ga Eun felt goosebumps all over her body at his low voice that seemed to contain a warning.

“What do you…”

Before Ga Eun could finish speaking, Do Jun pulled her wrist and pressed his body close to hers.

“A child who looks just like me.”

Ga Eun could barely breathe at Do Jun’s voice that seemed to contain a warning in each syllable.

“I want to have a child.”

For a moment dizzy from his scent, Ga Eun tried her best to regain her senses.

“We were a contract couple for 3 years, and I understand that I lost my memory just as we were about to divorce.”

Ga Eun tried her best to separate her body from Do Jun, but the more she did so, the more strength entered Do Jun’s arms embracing her body.

“Do you think we can have a child in our relationship?”

Ga Eun feigned ignorance, but fear spread throughout her body that Do Jun might really know her secret.

“We can make new memories again.”

Do Jun’s words overflowed with composure, as if the three years of terrible married life meant nothing.

“I have no intention of doing that.”

Ga Eun firmly shook off Do Jun’s arms holding her body. At that moment, Do Jun grabbed Ga Eun’s arm again and moved his lips.

“Are you lying to me about anything?”

Do Jun narrowed the distance with Ga Eun to the point where their lips were about to touch.

“I’m giving you one last chance.”

At Do Jun’s cold voice, Ga Eun’s eyes wavered.