“Didn’t tell him, so he must be surprised, right?”

Rona chuckled, imagining Jaemin’s startled reaction. Although she was angry yesterday when he left her alone at the cinema, his earnest contact in the afternoon had calmed her down. However, not wanting to let him off easily, she continued to pretend to be angry and not respond to his messages, and now, she was on her way to surprise him with a lunchbox.

“Kongal, daddy will think mommy is still angry. If I appear with delicious food, daddy will be so surprised, right? Let’s give daddy a scare!”

Murmuring to herself while holding her belly, Rona soon entered the building near the courthouse, housing numerous lawyers’ offices, including the third floor where Jaemin’s office was located. She walked down the hall, remembering her previous visit.

“Were Jaemin’s wife always this pretty?”

“I had no idea. I couldn’t attend Jaemin’s wedding because of work.”

While walking down the corridor, Rona paused upon overhearing the conversation of two men passing by.

“Where did he even find a woman like that? How did he even woo her?”

“I heard they met through work. His wife’s father was involved in a hit-and-run case. Apparently, she seemed so fragile and in need of protection.”

“Jaemin is so lucky. I’ve never met such a woman in all my cases.”

“Yeah, I was surprised too when I saw her at the cafe just now.”

Listening to their conversation, Rona steadied her uneven breath and stood up straight.

“Excuse me!”

The two men stopped as she approached them, checking the logo on their takeaway cups.

“Sorry to bother you, but could you tell me where the restroom is?”

“It’s one floor up for women.”

“Thank you.”

The men turned away casually, and Rona, with a flushed face, gripped the elevator. Now that she knew Jaemin was with his wife at the branded cafe downstairs, her feet were automatically leading her there.

As she briskly exited the building and reached the first floor, Rona stopped abruptly at the sight of Jaemin and his wife.

Rona’s gaze quickly shifted to the woman standing close to Jaemin.

“…Kim Hee-ju?”

Rona’s eyes shook as she took in the woman’s appearance. The bare shoulders, the slim waist and the long, lean legs accentuated by the tight skinny jeans and heels. Her gaze moved from the woman’s attire back to her face.

“That woman! Is she… Kim Hee-ju?”

Though the style was drastically different, and she wore no glasses, it was unmistakably her face. The shy smile replaced by a confident gaze, the slumped shoulders now held straight, the elegant lines of her figure highlighted by her attire, the subtle yet radiant makeup, and the different hairstyle.

‘She’s making a fuss before the divorce. Completely changed her style.’

Rona had scoffed inwardly at Jaemin’s words.

But she never expected such a dramatic transformation.

Rona’s startled gaze then shifted to Jaemin.

“What, why is he smiling?”

He was looking at Kim Hee-ju and smiling.

The atmosphere between the two didn’t resemble a couple about to divorce. In fact, it was Hee-ju who occasionally smiled back, as if bestowing a favor.

Watching them, Rona’s hand trembled as she took out her phone.

“Answer, Jaemin…”

Rona watched the two secretly and called him. Jaemin felt the vibration, glanced at his phone, then thoughtfully pocketed it again, quickly refocusing on Hee-ju.

“…Did you deceive me?”
Rona’s pupils wavered, losing direction as she watched Jaemin smiling at his wife.

It seemed he never intended to divorce in the first place. His plan must have been to keep her, pregnant and all, as a mistress while maintaining a double life.

“No Jaemin… How could you!”

As her imagination ran wild, Rona felt dizzy from extreme stress. Yet, she couldn’t take her eyes off them, watching Jaemin’s actions, leaning against the wall in a hidden spot, ridiculing her own situation.

The shaman rattled her beads as she chanted and rolled her eyes back.

Young-ja, swallowing nervously, sat before her.

“I see it! I see!”

“Do you?” Young-ja asked excitedly, grinning at her friend, signaling, ‘It must be a boy!’

“Is it really a boy?”

As the beads stopped rattling, the shaman spoke ominously, “He’s wandering.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your daughter-in-law’s father hasn’t passed on. He’s lingering!”

Chills ran down Young-ja’s arms. The shaman had guessed right without her mentioning that her daughter-in-law’s father had passed away.

“I’ve heard that at fortune-telling places. But why is he sticking around our house?”

“He has unresolved issues. He couldn’t find peace!”

“That’s right. He was a hit-and-run victim. We’re about to divorce her, so I don’t need to know her fortune. But please, can you see if it’s a boy or a girl, and suggest a good date for delivery?”

“Uuuuu.”

The beads rattled again. Young-ja clasped her hands, praying as the shaman chanted.

“There! I see it!”

“Aha! It’s a boy!”

“No, it’s not that!”

“Not that? Then… a girl? Ah, but the first should be a boy!”

“It’s not her. Not that woman!”