When friends saw the wedding invitation, their reactions were all the same.

“Isn’t this too rushed? Next week?”

“I know, I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend.”

Ro Na put down her cup of drink and smiled nonchalantly.

“Actually, I wanted to postpone it until after giving birth, but Jae Min said we should have the ceremony soon since it might be hectic after the baby is born.”

“Still, next week is too shocking. I have plans that day.”

With her belly growing day by day, the anxious Ro Na called dozens of wedding halls to check available dates.

She tried to book it at least a month later, but she heard that a cancellation opened up at the wedding hall she liked, and only next weekend was available.

Ro Na knew the schedule was tight, but tempted by the cleanliness and luxurious interior of the newly built convention center, she readily made the reservation and immediately printed the invitations.

Of course, there were concerns from the elders, but knowing that every day was urgent with the baby, both families had no choice but to accept it.

“Since I told you suddenly, I won’t be upset if you can’t come to the wedding. I don’t know why so many people are getting married in the summer, but all the reservations are full, so that’s the only date available. After thinking about it, I decided to just have it next week even if it’s soon because the dress fitting is important too.”

In the morning, she handed out invitations to her work colleagues first.

Everyone looked surprised at the wedding schedule that was not far off, but in the end, they finished the conversation cheerfully with words of congratulations.

Now feeling relieved, Ro Na thought several times that she did well to take the lead without waiting for Jae Min’s divorce.

With this, she informed everyone of the wedding schedule through mobile invitations, except for a few high school friends.

“I told you not to get married and live alone, but you’re finally entering that hell road.”

At the words of her friend So Ra, who got divorced due to her husband’s affair two years ago, Ro Na stopped laughing.

“So Ra, you still have a lot of distrust?”

“All men are the same, they all fool around when they get married.”

“The same, there are many men who are not like that.”

“You live hoping they’re not. Honestly, after going through everything, I’m finally starting to see how the world works.”

Ro Na, displeased with the cold water she poured on this day full of congratulations and blessings, smiled and said with effort,

“Our Jae Min is not that kind of person.”

“Hey, even that guy was incredibly sweet at first and would get me a watermelon in the middle of winter if I said a word. But as time passed, it was all ‘bring me water, bring me the remote, make me food’, treating me like a maid. And then he goes and gets watermelon for another girl. Huh, you’ll only know after you experience it, that there’s no guy who stays the same.”

Ro Na, thinking that So Ra should have behaved better, lowered her gaze and drank her beverage.

So Ra, who had been listing the negative aspects of marriage without notice, suddenly grabbed her stomach.

“Ah, my stomach. Did I chew too much ice? Ugh, I’ll be back after going to the bathroom.”

As So Ra left her seat, Ro Na crossed her legs differently and brought up what she had been thinking all along.

“Honestly, I think the woman is also responsible for her husband’s affair.”

Her friends, who were drinking, raised their heads with wide eyes.

“Huh?”

“If a husband who consistently loved and was fine gradually starts playing around, isn’t there a reason on the wife’s part?”

Jae Min’s affair is because Kim Hee Joo acted stupid and frustrating.

“Honestly, men are what women make of them.”

Kim Hee Joo and I are different.

Our Jae Min is different.

With little bean, we will form a perfect family.

“Once we get married, I’m actually confident.”

Ro Na picked up her wedding invitation and smiled with satisfaction.

*

“You’re here?”

The caregiver greeted Chae Won, who had just entered.

“Yes.”

“But it looks like you’re going somewhere? That travel bag is very pretty.”

Her gaze was on the small carry-on in Chae Won’s hand.

“Ah, not traveling.”

Today, as Kim Hee Joo suggested, a one-day vacation with Yoo Gun at a hotel was scheduled.

Since they had become real lovers, she couldn’t refuse the photos.

As promised, she had to spend the day with him, taking affectionate photos.

“I just need to stay somewhere other than home for a day.”

“Ah, I see.”

The caregiver, pulling out two wet wipes, tidied up the hospital room with a gentle smile.

Chae Won set her bag on the sofa, approached Hee Joo as usual to check on her, and fixed her hair.

She also straightened the rabbit doll in a position where Hee Joo would see it as soon as she opened her eyes, and noticed an unfamiliar bear doll next to it.

“…What’s this?”

The caregiver, who was wiping here and there, turned her head at Chae Won’s voice.

“Ah, your boyfriend came and left that.”

“What?”

“When I asked about that rabbit doll before, he said the guardian put it there so Hee Joo could see it as soon as she opened her eyes. This morning, he came and sat it next to her before leaving. When I asked what it was, he said a boyfriend doll should be placed next to it.”

The caregiver laughed as if recalling a fun memory.

“I was surprised at how thoughtful he was, despite not looking like it. Ah, don’t misunderstand. I mean, his first impression was a bit cold.”

Chae Won asked with a profound expression, looking at the flustered caregiver who seemed to have misspoke.

“Are you talking about Choi Yoo Gun?”

“No… I don’t know the name, but that really tall and handsome guy. Ah, the one who came with you before!”

Although Chae Won thought the man the caregiver recognized would naturally be only Choi Yoo Gun, she was surprised that he was taking care of Hee Joo.

“Oh, wasn’t he your boyfriend? Oh no, did I make a mistake accepting something I shouldn’t have? No, it wasn’t for long, he just looked around and left.”

The caregiver was restless, thinking she had made a mistake at Chae Won’s thoughtful expression.

She kept explaining that she really thought he was her boyfriend. At the caregiver’s voice, Chae Won belatedly opened her lips.

“That’s right.”

“Excuse me?”

“Boyfriend… That’s right.”

It was the first time the word ‘boyfriend’ came out of her mouth after acknowledging her feelings.

The word and the feeling were unfamiliar, and Chae Won, who was making a strange expression, suddenly turned her head, concerned about what Hee Joo would think if she heard.

Even if she said she was dating, it didn’t mean she wasn’t caring about her sister. Don’t be disappointed. She tried saying various things in her mind, but in the end, it always ended with ‘If you don’t like it, wake up’ today as well.

Chae Won took out a desk calendar from her bag with an even firmer expression.

“Don’t put this away either. So my sister can see it as soon as she opens her eyes.”

“It’s a calendar, right?”

Chae Won placed the calendar next to the two dolls.

The caregiver looked closely at a date with a particularly large circle drawn on it and asked,

“It must be an important day, seeing how big the circle is drawn.”

Looking at the calendar, Chae Won crossed her arms and straightened her back.

“It’s someone’s death anniversary.”

“Pardon?”

Seeing Chae Won without an answer, the caregiver hurriedly grabbed the garbage bag, feeling that further interest would be crossing the line.

“Um, spend time with your sister. I’ll go throw this out and come back.”

After the caregiver left, Chae Won stared at Hee Joo’s face as it was.

The thing she must know when she opens her eyes

Jae Min Noh and Ro Na Go’s wedding date.

And that I am by your side.

And…

Ring ring. A call came from Yoo Gun.

– I’m almost there. I’ll go in, so don’t come out.

And… that there’s one more person protecting you.

“But you’re suddenly speaking informally?”

– If you don’t like it, should I keep speaking formally?

Heh. Chae Won let out a small smile.

Chae Won approached the teddy bear doll that kept catching her eye and stroked its face with her fingertips.

“Do as you please. I might drop it too.”

– Then do that.

Although she was used to formal speech and wasn’t sure if she could do it well, they decided to try narrowing the gap between each other now.

Chae Won pulled the rabbit doll a little closer to the boyfriend doll.

*

Ho Tae never took his eyes off Yoo Gun’s car in front of him.

When his car changed lanes to the right, he also changed lanes, and when it suddenly stopped, he also stopped at a slight distance.

“Where on earth is he going?”

Secretary Ahn, who always stuck by his side, wasn’t with him, so it didn’t seem to be company business.

Following his car without knowing the destination, Ho Tae, who wanted to go to the bathroom, was slowly getting annoyed.

Ho Tae took a deep breath as he followed his car to an unknown destination.

“Who the heck is the matchmaking woman? That guy isn’t someone who would jump into dating just because I told him to date.”

Yoo Gun started his business without the help of his grandmother.

When he started to set foot in the entertainment industry with his innate visuals, Ho Tae thought he would become a famous star, but who knew he would start a business?

Yoo Gun’s business, which grew in size at a rapid pace, with one big hit in a small office becoming two and three, finally made a name for itself enough to be located in a decent building.

As if there were still mountains to climb, Choi Yoo Gun never kept a woman by his side and devoted himself to his business.

How much was he compared to by Mrs. Kim? These days, Choi Yoo Gun seemed to be eyeing even his father’s company to take over.

“I don’t know who the woman is, but it’s obvious he’ll pretend by giving money or whatever. I’ll definitely uncover it and take over the Seongsu-dong house. Yes!”

Ho Tae focused on driving, feeling his stomach gradually swelling and the urge to relieve himself.

His car, which seemed like it would never end, suddenly entered some university hospital.

“…What? Does the woman work here?”

Ho Tae, who had been following with a little more force in his eyes, saw Yoo Gun parking and stopped his own car at a suitable distance.

Yoo Gun got out of the car and entered the hospital with unhindered steps.

Ho Tae hurriedly picked up the hat from the passenger seat and got out of the car.

Pulling the cap low to cover his face, Ho Tae followed Yoo Gun with cautious steps.