When Tae Kyung entered the hospital room, Si Yul was watching a soccer game on television.

About a week had passed since Si Yul’s surgery. Fortunately, Si Yul was recovering at a rapid pace.

“Oh no! He should have shot that! What a waste of transfer fee!”

“I see you’re back to normal now.”

“Oh? You came? Thanks. I even got to use such a nice hospital room because of you.”

Si Yul rubbed his nose. Although he was wearing a patient gown, he looked so healthy that anyone who saw him might ask if he was really a patient.

Yet Tae Kyung felt as if a heavy stone was placed on his chest. He had moved Si Yul to a special room and even hired a caregiver. Si Yul had protested that it wasn’t necessary, but Tae Kyung wasn’t okay with it.

“It’s nothing. How are you feeling?”

“I’m dying. What’s with the fruit basket? Don’t you have anything else?”

Si Yul wrinkled his nose and examined Tae Kyung’s hands. Tae Kyung chuckled and replied.

“If there’s anything you want to eat, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Forget it. I can’t even move, so if I just eat, I’ll only get fat.”

“At least you know that.”

Tae Kyung placed the fruit basket he had bought on the table. He felt like buying everything Si Yul might want to eat. Tae Kyung looked around and asked.

“Where’s Si Hyun?”

“My younger brother just went to take a shower. He won’t listen when I say I can be alone.”

“I see. I’m sorry. It’s because of me.”

“What are you talking about? How is this because of you? It’s Assemblyman Jin’s fault.”

Si Yul waved his hand, comforting Tae Kyung. The suspect who had stabbed Si Yul and fled was not easy to find.

After hiring a private detective, they found out that the suspect was in his mid-30s with eight prior convictions, but his current whereabouts were unknown.

It seemed that Assemblyman Jin’s side had likely hidden him.

Si Yul turned off the television and said unenthusiastically.

“I’m thinking of quitting the newspaper. It’s too dirty to continue.”

“Why?”

To Tae Kyung’s question, Si Yul replied unexpectedly calmly.

“They say I’ll be transferred to another department after my sick leave. It’s a complete demotion. They say I should be grateful they didn’t move my desk to the storage room.”

“Oh my. What are you thinking of doing? If you quit, do you have something else lined up?”

“Well, I’ll have to look into various things. And it seems it’ll take some time to recover. They say the surgery went well, but it’ll be hard to do reckless reporting like before. I’ve worked hard all this time, so it might be okay to take a break for a while. And I’m feeling disillusioned with the life of a reporter.”

Tae Kyung looked at Si Yul impassively, but tried not to reveal the sense of guilt rising from deep within him.

In the end, he thought that if it hadn’t been for himself, none of this would have happened.

Seeing that Tae Kyung’s face wouldn’t relax, Si Yul deliberately spoke cheerfully.

“Hey man, cheer up. I’m not dead yet, am I?”

“I know. That you’re fine.”

“Right. Since I’m fine, if you have any work, throw some my way.”

At Si Yul’s words, Tae Kyung hesitated before opening his mouth. He didn’t like the idea of giving him more work, but there was no one else he could entrust it to besides Si Yul.

“Can you take on a request for me?”

“A request? I don’t have to risk my life this time, do I?”

Si Yul chuckled as he replied to Tae Kyung. He put on a brave front to hide his tension. Tae Kyung shrugged and answered.

“Of course not.”

“I can’t trust you, you rascal. Hehe. What kind of request is it?”

“Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook.”

Si Yul waved his hand as he spoke. He was sincerely worried about Tae Kyung.

While he himself might only lose his job, Tae Kyung had more to lose than him since he had more. Moreover, now that he had a loved one and a child, it was even more worrying.

“Come on. For me, it’s just getting fired from the newspaper, but will you be okay? Wouldn’t it be better not to touch it?”

“Even if I don’t touch it, they won’t leave me alone. To protect my woman and child, I need to have at least one thing to pressure them with.”

“…”

Si Yul couldn’t dissuade him because Tae Kyung’s words made sense. However, he was still worried and couldn’t easily agree.

“Of course, I’m not asking you to head-butt on bare ground. I’ve already figured out some things. You just need to do a fact check one more time.”

“Alright. Since it’s come to this, I also have some scores to settle with Assemblyman Jin.”

“Thank you.”

“What are you talking about, between us. If it weren’t for you in high school, I would have continued to be bullied by those guys as a loner.”

Si Yul scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

For Si Yul, helping Tae Kyung with all his might was only natural.

Just then, Si Yul’s younger brother Si Hyun came in.

“Oh my! Elder brother Tae Kyung! Hello?”

“Si Hyun, it’s been a while.”

Si Hyun’s face turned slightly red at Tae Kyung’s smile.

“Elder brother, you’re still as handsome as ever, unlike our brother.”

“That’s probably because I’m not your brother.”

Si Hyun laughed out loud at Tae Kyung’s words. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked with wide eyes.

“Oh, elder brother, that rumor. Is it true?”

“Rumor?”

Tae Kyung tilted his head, not immediately understanding.

“Hey! You, what unnecessary things are you saying.”

At that moment, Si Yul scolded Si Hyun from the side. It probably wasn’t a good rumor.

Tae Kyung nodded then, finally understanding what rumor Si Hyun was talking about.

He replied nonchalantly.

“Ah. You mean about my wife and son.”

“What? Wife and son? When did you get married?”

Si Hyun’s eyes widened and she bounced up and down.

“It’s understandable that you don’t know since we didn’t have a wedding ceremony.”

“Oh my! So it was true! Then what about Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook?”

“That’s just a rumor that spread strangely.”

“I see. Anyway, congratulations!”

Si Hyun congratulated him with her eyes curved like bows. Tae Kyung asked Si Hyun with a nice smile.

“Thanks. If anyone asks, please explain it well. It’s awkward for me to grab people one by one and explain.”

“I’m getting married soon too. We’ve set the date for next year.”

“Congratulations! I’ll make sure to attend your wedding.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve taken up too much time. Well, take care, Si Yul. I’m leaving.”

“Okay. Don’t go too far.”

Si Yul waved his hand while sitting on the bed.

Si Hyun spread the news of Tae Kyung to her friends on the phone, calling it a huge event.

Yoo Na bit her nails. She couldn’t believe what she had seen and heard this morning.

The air around Yoo Na had changed from before. She could feel that people’s gazes towards her had changed from envy to pity.

However, that unnecessary and meddlesome pity made Yoo Na even more uncomfortable.

Moreover, today she came to work looking like a cabbage soaked in fatigue, not having slept properly for several days. She headed to the pantry to drink coffee, which is like blood to office workers.

As she approached the pantry, her drooping eyes suddenly opened wide at the sound coming from inside.

“Did you hear what Director Kim said?”

“What? What is it?”

“Well, apparently Executive Yu subtly asked our chairman about the rumors going around these days, and he didn’t deny it. They say he didn’t say anything, isn’t that an affirmation?”

The voices heard from inside the pantry were clearly those of female employees from the same team.

“Oh my! So does that mean he really set up house with that gold digger woman?”

“They say the child looks exactly like CEO Han Tae Kyung. A Han Tae Kyung Junior!”

“Wow. What’s going to happen to Jin Yoo Na? She’s become like a dog chasing chickens!”

Yoo Na was displeased with the talk about Tae Kyung, but she was more upset about the talk about herself.

“She acted all high and mighty thanks to her well-off parents, serves her right.”

“These days, being born to good parents is the biggest spec in the world.”

“Honestly, is Jin Yoo Na that good at her job, or does she have good social skills? Look at how she acts like a princess because male employees pamper and praise her. Honestly, CEO Han Tae Kyung is much more valuable. Whether you look at appearance, ability, or family background, isn’t CEO Han Tae Kyung better?”

They seemed to have a lot pent up against Yoo Na, as they started endlessly badmouthing her.

Yoo Na felt wronged.

What had she done so wrong to them that they were cursing her like this?

What exactly was she lacking compared to Han Tae Kyung?

There were plenty of wealthy heirs who liked Yoo Na. It’s just that they weren’t Han Tae Kyung.

Yoo Na felt wronged because she had faithfully liked only one man, yet people were throwing stones at her.

“Who knows, what if Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook really becomes president?”

“Ugh, if that happens, how much stiffer will that stiff neck of hers become? Just thinking about it makes me sick.”

“What did our parents do if not politics?”

“Does just anyone do politics? These days, even dogs won’t look at politicians’ poop.”

Yoo Na gritted her teeth and her eyes blazed with anger.

She entered the pantry with the sound of her heels clicking.

“Oh, h-hello? Would you like some coffee?”

“Let’s go quickly!”

The two female employees who were gossiping inside saw Yoo Na and hurriedly left the pantry.

Yoo Na glared fiercely at their retreating backs.

She was very displeased about where such nonsensical gossip was coming from.

In any case, it’s troubling that Hyun Young isn’t denying the rumors that are spreading.

In this situation, if Hyun Young would just say one word in her favor, everything would be sorted out.

Yoo Na felt resentful towards Hyun Young for not showing any reaction.

Could it be that Hyun Young also knows that child is Tae Kyung’s?

Surely they haven’t really set up house together?

Yoo Na became increasingly anxious that her marriage to Tae Kyung might end up as a bubble.

As she was biting her lip, Do Yeop, an employee from the same team, came in.

“Oh, Manager Jin! You look so tired. How about some strong coffee? I’ll brew you a double shot.”

“Thank you. You’re the only one I can count on, Do Yeop.”

When Yoo Na gave a tired smile, Do Yeop laughed heartily.

Yoo Na didn’t dislike Do Yeop’s friendliness.

Honestly, while Tae Kyung’s cold and mature aspects were attractive, Do Yeop’s cute aspects like a younger brother were charming. But that was all, he couldn’t compare to Tae Kyung.

“I’ve put lots of my love into this coffee. Haha!”

Do Yeop’s joking manner seemed even more grateful today compared to the female employees who had been cursing her.

“Do Yeop, I was having a tough day, but thanks to you, I feel energized. I’ll treat you to something delicious later.”

“It would be my honor if Manager Jin treats me!”

Yoo Na smiled brightly. However, terrifying thoughts were blooming in her mind.

She would have to separate Kim Seo Ha from Tae Kyung’s side.

If she separates Kim Seo Ha from Tae Kyung, Han Tae Kyung will also lose affection for the child. It’s entirely possible since he believes it’s another man’s child.

Tae Kyung won’t raise another man’s child like a son when Seo Ha is not around.

Don’t blame me, Kim Seo Ha.

You stole my man, so I’ll take away your most precious being from you.

This is all because you did wrong.