“And I didn’t know you were a woman who cared about such things.”
If you wanted a man who affectionately celebrates anniversaries, you shouldn’t have married me in the first place.
It felt as if he was saying that, causing a pang in her heart. Jinwook seemed to think that her drinking and emotional outburst yesterday was due to the forgotten wedding anniversary.
As Yeonju stood silently, Jinwook spoke up.
“You’ve received a gift, you should open it. Take a look.”
Slowly, Yeonju opened the shopping bag. A large box came out, and inside the box, there was a handbag. It was a luxurious and special item, easily recognized by anyone.
It was beautiful and dazzling. But there was no further emotion.
There was no excitement, no laughter. She felt like a doll who had lost all emotion, unable to do anything.
“…….”
As Yeonju just stared at the handbag, Jinwook gently asked.
“Don’t you like it?”
“…….”
“They said it was a hard-to-find item, according to the secretary.”
The word ‘secretary’ made Yeonju’s face stiffen momentarily.
‘Ah… The female secretary chose it.’
With that thought, the handbag suddenly became distasteful. And the story she had momentarily forgotten came back to her mind.
‘My acquaintance saw Jinwook entering a hotel near his company at dawn, with a very young woman.’
Yeonju put down the handbag, turned around, and faced Jinwook.
“……Where did you sleep last night?”
Jinwook replied.
“At a hotel.”
“Alone?”
Jinwook’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“What are you trying to ask?”
His strong gaze met Yeonju as he spoke.
“Are you implying that I might have slept with another woman?”
“…….”
His gaze scanned her face. As if he roughly knew what she was thinking, Jinwook said.
“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t worry, nothing like that happened.”
His gaze then drifted down her delicate shoulder line. The shower robe draped over her skin glowed as if soaked in moonlight, pale and translucent.
His deep gaze fixed on Yeonju.
“I’m so busy I could die from all the work.”
He untied his necktie as he stepped closer to her.
“Being with my wife in bed is satisfying enough.”
He reached out and cupped her chin.
“There’s no way I’d look at another woman.”
Jinwook undid the robe’s tie and leaned toward her lips. At that moment, Yeonju turned her head away.
“…….”
Jinwook looked at her, his gaze asking why she was avoiding him.
Yeonju looked down slightly and said.
“Not now.”
“….”
“I don’t want to.”
That was her honest feeling at the moment. She didn’t want anything right now.
No matter what gifts he brought, they wouldn’t catch her eye, and she certainly didn’t want a bed only fueled by impulsive desire.
“….I’m not feeling well.”
She spoke in a subdued voice.
“I just want to rest today.”
At her words, Jinwook scrutinized her face and asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“….”
“Have you been to a doctor?”
At the mention of the doctor, Yeonju flinched slightly. She avoided his gaze slightly and said.
“It’s not that I’m sick… I just drank too much yesterday. It’ll get better with time.”
Jinwook seemed to understand, nodding slowly.
“The liquor you drank yesterday was strong.”
Then he looked straight into her face and said.
“From now on, no more alcohol.”
His voice carried a stern warning.
“You should just focus on your health management without worrying about anything else, considering you could get pregnant at any time. I’ll take care of everything else.”
Yeonju’s pupils trembled slightly.
If he knew that it’s not about when she might get pregnant, but rather that she might not be able to get pregnant at all…
How would he react?
As Yeonju stared at him, Jinwook asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“…….”
“Is there something you want to say?”
Cold sweat formed on Yeonju’s forehead.
It was a secret she couldn’t keep forever. If it was bound to come out eventually, perhaps it was better to speak sooner rather than later.
She was engulfed in deep turmoil. Swallowing dryly, Yeonju slowly opened her mouth.
“I……”
She struggled to utter a word, and Jinwook watched her intently. Her mind went blank under his gaze.
Her face turned pale, and cold sweat started to run. She felt like the Little Mermaid who lost her voice, unable to utter a word.
Visions of Mi-hyeon, Aera, Kyung-ok, and Hong-seok flashed before her eyes.
She feared how they would react if they knew she had difficulty conceiving, what would happen to her mother, and what would become of herself.
Most of all, she was terrified of how Jinwook would react.
“……”
In the end, she couldn’t utter a word. Yeonju slightly turned her body and said.
“It’s nothing. Not at all.”
She picked up the gift box from the table and added.
“….Thank you for the gift. I’ll use it well.”
Yeonju held the box and headed towards the stairs. Her steps quickened as if she was escaping.
She knew that avoiding it wouldn’t make the issue disappear.
But she still wanted to cling to a little more time. She knew she had to tell him someday, but not just yet.
“I can’t have children.”
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
