“Are you looking for any particular item?”

The employee kindly asked the awkwardly standing man. The man’s appearance as he entered the baby goods store was extremely out of place.

Literally surrounded by ‘baby-like’ products, he stood out in stark contrast wearing a stiff suit. The employee who spoke to him also looked at him curiously with great interest.

“My wife is pregnant…”

In Cha Do Ha’s hand, which uncharacteristically trailed off, was already a gift for Min Hae Yeon. The reason he came to the department store was to buy her a present, so he had already achieved his goal.

However, after finishing his shopping and heading back to the parking lot, he discovered this store and entered without much thought.

In fact, there was no more time to linger. He had to get home after work with time to spare, but choosing Hae Yeon’s gift took longer than expected.

“Oh my, congratulations! Take your time and look around.”

Seeing him as a potential buyer, the employee introduced various items. As the products were explained, Do Ha was surprised to learn that a baby needed so many things.

It was much later, after agonizing over what to buy and what was needed, that an item immediately captivated him. The employee, who had been rejected several times by the items shown earlier, clapped her hands with a snap.

“Do you like these shoes? It’s an excellent choice. You said you don’t know the gender yet, but don’t worry. In that case, you can choose yellow or white like this.”

What the employee held out was a pair of pastel-colored baby shoes, so cute and tiny that even the most stoic person could melt right away.

Do Ha watched as the employee wrapped it up. The moment he saw those tiny shoes, nothing else caught his eye. As if possessed, Do Ha chose the item and left the store with a much lighter heart after buying a few more toys.

On the way to the parking lot, Do Ha’s hands were filled with several more shopping bags containing baby products in addition to the bag with Hae Yeon’s gift.

“What is all this?”

Hae Yeon, who was smiling brightly at Do Ha even though he said he would come home early today but was late from work, tilted her head as she was handed the shopping bags.

“A gift.”

He had clearly given her a surprise gift a few days ago, but giving her this today was somehow embarrassing. As he handed it over, his ears turning red, Hae Yeon, who had been looking at him questioningly, unwrapped the gift.

“Do Ha, this is…”

Hae Yeon couldn’t finish her sentence. Hae Yeon’s gaze, which had been moved by the teardrop-shaped diamond earrings, now shifted to the contents of another bag. It was clearly the bag containing the baby shoes and toys.

“They’re so cute.”

Especially the yellow baby shoes seemed to capture Hae Yeon’s attention.

“Right, Hae Yeon? I couldn’t see anything else either.”

“Yes… the color is so pretty and also, also.”

Hae Yeon rolled her brown eyes. It was as if she couldn’t find the right words to express how much she liked it despite wanting to. Just as she was about to lament her lacking vocabulary skills, Do Ha lowered the items in Hae Yeon’s hands and held out a jewelry box.

“I know what you want to say, so show me this first.”

Because that’s what I want to see the most right now. Do Ha, who buried his lips near Hae Yeon’s ear, whispered sweetly.

Like the baby gift, he had also put a lot of effort into choosing the earrings. So he wanted to see. How pretty and lovely Hae Yeon would look wearing them.

“Hm? Hae Yeon.”

“Oh, I got it.”

When Do Ha nibbled her earlobe and urged her, Hae Yeon’s cheeks were flushed as she pulled away. Suddenly clearing her throat, Hae Yeon hurriedly went into the dressing room.

Do Ha, who had been watching Hae Yeon with contentment, hardened his expression as she disappeared. Recently, Do Ha had been happy about the pregnancy, but at the same time, his worries had also increased.

‘Are you really okay?’

Hae Yeon had no idea that Do Ha had made some kind of contract with Chairman Yoon. That was one of the terms of the deal he made with Chairman Yoon.

So after the honeymoon until now, she would have thought her husband was just a workaholic. Because he had been buried in work, often working on weekends for over 3 years.

Meanwhile, Hae Yeon had been called to Daechi-dong countless times. Every time, even if he said there was no need to go, Hae Yeon said it was okay because she wanted to score some points with her in-laws who opposed the marriage.

– Then don’t go alone, go when you’re with me.

– Okay.

Even as she said that, on some days when Hae Yeon went to Daechi-dong alone and her expression wasn’t good, he tried to persuade her, asking if it was hard and that there was no need to force herself to go.

– What? It’s okay. Nothing happened. By the way, Do Ha. Miss Do Hee…

Watching Hae Yeon change the subject, Do Ha wondered if, contrary to wanting to be a new family for Hae Yeon who had no family, he had made her lonelier.

But even if he divorced her or broke up with her, Chairman Yoon would never let Hae Yeon go easily. That would become another new contract. Saying that if he inherited Gilmyeong Group, he would never touch Min Hae Yeon for the rest of her life.

In the end, because she met him, Hae Yeon was going through hardships that she didn’t need to go through. Yet she never showed any signs of having a hard time or disliking it.

Do Ha wanted to ask Hae Yeon why she did that, even though he knew the reason. Why are you by my side?

How can I love you?

How exactly should I love you to give back to you the same way you have loved me?

‘You really…’

That was why. Why he felt so guilty and remorseful towards Hae Yeon, who was moved by just one gift. As Do Ha was thinking, he realized that Hae Yeon, who had gone in to put on the earrings, was taking a long time.

“…Hae Yeon, are you still not done?”

“Huh? Just a moment!”

Soon there was some rustling, and finally Hae Yeon returned.

“Do Ha, how do I look?”

Hae Yeon, who seemed a little embarrassed, asked timidly, and he had to answer quickly. But Do Ha just stared blankly at Hae Yeon without saying a word.

“Ah.”

The foolishly uttered word was a sigh. Hae Yeon laughed awkwardly, interpreting it in some way.

“Wearing the dress too is a bit much, right?”

No way. If she was wearing that dress, there was no way it would look like that. Because Hae Yeon was wearing the dress Do Ha liked the most right now. Do Ha couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Hae Yeon, who had carefully dressed up just to try on the earrings as he had said.

The neat yet elegant trench-style dress and the graceful earrings went so well with Hae Yeon’s fair skin. Do Ha could finally realize it. When choosing the earrings, he must have subconsciously considered that dress he liked.

“So Do Ha. What do you think?”

“…Well.”

At the ambiguous answer rather than a positive reaction, Hae Yeon’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I can’t really tell from far away. I need to see up close.”

After saying that, Do Ha strode over to Hae Yeon and held her close. As he took a step just a span away, Hae Yeon’s cheeks quickly flushed red.

“Are you just going to tease me like that…?”

Do Ha laughed out loud as if to say it was cute when Hae Yeon timidly added, her earlobes turning red in contrast to the transparent diamond earrings.

“If you react like this, it makes me want to tease you more.”

“…ha. Really.”

Hae Yeon hung her head. As Do Ha laughed as if to say she was lovely, Hae Yeon covered her face with her palms and shook her head. Do Ha wrapped his arm around her waist and cupped her blushing cheeks to lift her face.

“I love you, Hae Yeon.”

As Do Ha gently curved his sharp eyes and pressed his lips against hers, the mumbling pink lips were instantly covered. As Hae Yeon’s hands wrapped around his back, Do Ha caressed her ears and neck.

After their hot breaths filled each other’s mouths as if to devour, they slowly parted their yearning lips. Under the intense gaze looking down, Hae Yeon’s eyes rolled around in confusion before answering quietly.

“I love you, Do Ha.”

Hae Yeon shyly lifted her head. The lips that had been pressed hard against his own were plumper than ever.

* * *

Warm and peaceful days continued.

After Hae Yeon became pregnant, Do Ha’s workload increased even more on weekdays. It was to get out of the contract with Chairman Yoon as soon as possible, but he tried to stay by Hae Yeon’s side on weekends.

He reduced business trips as much as he could, and he also stopped Hae Yeon from going to Daechi-dong almost every weekend. In return, the news of Hae Yeon’s pregnancy had to be revealed to his family.

“Shall we go to the obstetrician this week?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“Don’t go secretly like last time.”

When he spoke a little firmly, Hae Yeon blinked her eyes, mumbling her lips. Hae Yeon had gone to the hospital alone last month because of Do Ha, who tried to follow her obstetric schedule even if he overworked himself.

Although Hae Yeon deliberately didn’t show her baby book for fear that he would overdo it and come out, Do Ha, who found what she had hidden tightly, eventually found out Hae Yeon’s obstetric schedule.

“…Okay.”

Hae Yeon answered timidly. She seemed to feel sorry for hiding it and going to the hospital alone, even though it was for her husband’s sake. Do Ha ended up laughing.

“You’re going to drive?”

On a sunny weekend, Do Ha faced Hae Yeon, who nodded her head, with a serious expression.

“It might be the last time before giving birth, so I want to do it.”

Do Ha also knew that early pregnancy was when the risk of miscarriage was highest. But he couldn’t dissuade Hae Yeon, who wanted to do it that day.

“You always did it, Do Ha. You have to check your emails frequently, so let me do it just for today. It’s not far from home.”

When she winked one eye, Do Ha crumbled helplessly. In the end, as he handed over the keys, he got a firm promise that he would drive when they came back.

“You can’t do it in the future either. Understood?”

“Aw, I got it. Of course. This is the last time.”

As Hae Yeon pecked his cheek with a small laugh, he really couldn’t stop her. Since she had driven Do Ha’s car a few times before, Hae Yeon decided to drive his car. Moreover, Do Ha promised to drive after leaving the hospital.

They made plans to go for a drive to a nearby place, not just to the obstetrician. They decided to go for a drive near Seoul because they might not be able to go out often once her body got heavier.

“See? I told you there’s no problem.”

“Still, only until the hospital.”

“Okay.”

It was a happier time than ever. They had trivial conversations while driving, and most of it was about the baby to be born, so they were just happy.

It was around the time they were passing Singil Station, having an everyday conversation.

Riiiing-.

I thought it was a call to Do Ha, but it was Hae Yeon’s cell phone.

“Oh? The phone is in the back seat.”

“Really? I’ll give it to you.”

The signal had just changed and Do Ha unbuckled his seat belt. The handbag was in the back seat of the driver’s side, and he was about to twist his body diagonally.

“Do Ha!”

At Hae Yeon’s heart-rending call, Do Ha reflexively turned his body back. Hae Yeon’s scream was more important to Do Ha than confirming the vehicle rushing toward them.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Do Ha threw himself at Hae Yeon. Blocking her body and turning the steering wheel until the car collided was solely to prevent the oncoming truck from crushing Hae Yeon from the front.

Crash!