The Wife Who Ran Away (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
It was the pitch-black hour before dawn.
Yeon Joo slowly opened her eyes, lying face-down on the bed. The room was quiet, and she was alone in it.
She was used to being left by herself. Even when she’d spent the night with someone, she always woke up alone.
Yeon Joo tried to get up, but she couldn’t muster any energy. Her whole body felt heavy—she didn’t even want to lift a finger.
‘I’ll be quick.’
The intimacy that had started the previous night in the living room, without any foreplay, had continued into the bedroom.
Contrary to his promise of finishing quickly, the intensity had only grown fiercer and hotter over time.
‘I’m going crazy.’
Sometimes, his rough breathing and the low, guttural sounds he made, along with those heated gazes locking with hers midair, made Yeon Joo feel as if there was something more between them.
But now, she clearly understood—there was no need to attach any meaning to that trivial act.
Just as Yeon Joo, lying listlessly, tried to get up to take a shower,
click.
the bedroom door opened, and Jin Wook walked in. His hair was neatly combed back, and he was already dressed in a full suit with a tie.
Jin Wook headed straight for the bedside table on one side of the room. Apparently, he’d come to retrieve the wristwatch he’d left there the night before. Yeon Joo asked him,
“Are you leaving now?”
“Yeah.”
Jin Wook picked up the watch and strapped it onto his wrist. Yeon Joo stared at him blankly for a moment before speaking again.
“I have a regular check-up at the OB-GYN tomorrow.”
Her soft voice floated through the quiet atmosphere.
“If I’m not pregnant this time either, I’m thinking about trying IVF.”
It had already been two years since they’d married. Two years was long enough—they’d tried everything within reason. Now, it was time to consider other options. This method would probably be better for him too, rather than continuing these fruitless nights together.
Yeon Joo spoke to him, who was standing silently,
“They say it has a higher success rate than artificial insemination.”
“…”
“But you’ll need to make time. The man also needs to undergo tests and provide a sample.”
Yeon Joo stared at him, waiting for his response. Jin Wook replied calmly,
“Do whatever you want.”
Whatever I want…
Yeon Joo silently repeated those words in her mind and asked herself,
Did I really want to get pregnant?
I did.
‘The only marriage condition I’ll present to you, Ms. Kang Yeon Joo, is this one.’
‘You must plan for pregnancy immediately upon marriage and have a child.’
Back then, she’d been certain she could bear this man’s child, even harboring hopes of building a happy, ordinary family life like anyone else.
But now, she’d forgotten why or for whom she needed to have a child.
All she knew was that it was simply her duty—her entire purpose.
Having fastened his watch and tidied his clothes, Jin Wook faced Yeon Joo.
Unlike last night’s sweat-drenched, disheveled state, he now looked excessively composed and detached.
“I’ll be late tonight.”
Leaving just those words behind, Jin Wook walked out of the room.
Yeon Joo gazed at the closed door for a moment, then headed to the bathroom.
*** *** ***
The next afternoon, Yeon Joo arrived at the OB-GYN clinic.
It was a large hospital that also ran an infertility center—the same place she’d been visiting since getting married.
“Please wait outside the examination room.”
Yeon Joo sat down on a long waiting bench. Her eyes fell on a woman seated across from her.
The woman’s belly was noticeably rounded, indicating she was well into her pregnancy. Sitting beside her was a man who appeared to be her husband, and the two were smiling brightly as they looked through the maternity record book together.
Yeon Joo stared at them for a long time. She suddenly wondered—what if it were her and Jin Wook sitting there?
Would we have smiled like that too?
She envied everything about that woman—the maternity book filled with ultrasound photos, the love-filled smile, and simply having someone beside her.
“…”
Just then, a voice came from beside her.
“We meet again here.”
Yeon Joo turned her head. Standing before her was Chae Rin, wearing a haughty expression.
She’d known they went to the same OB-GYN, but this was the first time they’d actually run into each other. Yeon Joo didn’t dislike her per se, but she didn’t feel particularly glad to see her either. Calmly, Yeon Joo offered a greeting,
“Hello.”
Chae Rin gave only a slight nod and sat down two seats away from Yeon Joo, placing her designer handbag on the seat right next to Yeon Joo.
Yeon Joo felt the strange tension and discomfort building between them. Chae Rin was someone who never seemed to become more comfortable, no matter how many times they met.
From their very first encounter, Chae Rin had made it clear she didn’t care for Yeon Joo. She often made dismissive comments and showed subtle signs of disregard.
Especially in crowded places, she’d bring up Yeon Joo’s family background, implying—though subtly enough that others wouldn’t notice—that Yeon Joo wasn’t a suitable match for Jin Wook.
On the other hand, Yeon Joo could understand why Chae Rin disliked her. Since their husbands were rivals, it was only natural for Chae Rin to view Yeon Joo with suspicion.
Moreover, they shared the same goal: whoever conceived first would gain the upper hand in this messy battle.
Just as Yeon Joo hoped this awkward moment would pass quickly,
“There’s something I couldn’t say the last time we met.”
At Chae Rin’s words breaking the silence, Yeon Joo looked at her.
“?”
“It’s about Mr. Jin Wook.”
Yeon Joo recalled what Chae Rin had said at the previous family gathering.
‘There’s a rumor I heard about Mr. Jin Wook.’
‘It’s so out of the blue… I’m not sure if I should even mention it.’
Back then, Chae Rin had clearly wanted to tell her something but was interrupted by Jin Wook’s sudden arrival.
“I debated whether or not to tell you, but I think you should know.”
Chae Rin hesitated briefly, then leaned slightly closer to Yeon Joo and whispered,
“A friend of mine saw Mr. Jin Wook entering a hotel near his office late at night.”
She followed up with a hushed, conspiratorial tone right into Yeon Joo’s ear,
“With a very young woman.”
Yeon Joo’s pupils dilated instantly. But she quickly regained her composure and forced a nonchalant reply,
“…It must’ve been his secretary. One of Mr. Jin Wook’s secretaries is a young woman.”
She always saw him with a very young secretary—surely it was her that Chae Rin’s friend had mistaken for someone else.
Chae Rin, studying Yeon Joo’s face, spoke in a clear tone,
“What reason would he have to enter a hotel so late at night with his secretary?”
“…”
“Whether it’s a secretary or anyone else, isn’t the mere fact that he entered a hotel with a young woman the problem?”
Yeon Joo couldn’t think of a reply. Because Chae Rin wasn’t wrong.
Had Jin Wook really gone to a hotel with someone?
Honestly, she had no idea how Jin Wook lived outside their home. In fact, even under the same roof, she never knew what he was thinking or what he planned to do.
Even if Jin Wook was seeing another woman, Yeon Joo would never know—unless a third party like this told her. Otherwise, she might never find out for the rest of her life.
Just as her mind grew chaotic, a nurse’s voice rang out.
“Ms. Kang Yeon Joo, please come into the examination room.”
Yeon Joo stood up and walked toward the examination room, leaving behind Chae Rin, who was wearing a faint smile.
*** *** ***
Yeon Joo sat in the examination room chair after finishing her ultrasound.
Her expression was pensive—Chae Rin’s words kept circling in her head.
‘A friend of mine saw Mr. Jin Wook entering a hotel near his office late at night. With a very young woman.’
Who could it have been?
Was it that secretary who was always with him? Or someone else I don’t know?
Even as she sat before the doctor waiting to hear her test results, her thoughts were entirely elsewhere.
“First, let’s take a look at the ultrasound images from this visit.”
Yeon Joo raised her head at the doctor’s voice. The doctor was staring seriously at the monitor.
Only then did Yeon Joo realize the doctor’s expression was ominous.
The doctor pointed to a spot on the screen and said,
“Do you see this black area here? It’s called a submucosal fibroid.”
“…”
“You did have a submucosal fibroid before, but back then, it didn’t take up much space in your uterus. However, this ultrasound shows it’s grown significantly larger and spread further.”
Yeon Joo, looking bewildered, asked,
“Why… why did it grow?”
“The exact causes of fibroid development and growth aren’t entirely clear, but hormones and various environmental factors can contribute.”
“…”
“Depending on its location and size, a fibroid can make implantation and maintaining a pregnancy difficult. As you can see, the fibroid has spread across most of your endometrium, making implantation unlikely. Even surgery might cause too much damage to your uterus, so it wouldn’t significantly improve your chances of pregnancy.”
Darkness instantly blanketed Yeon Joo’s face.
Implantation was difficult? Her chances of pregnancy couldn’t be improved?
She couldn’t understand why the doctor was saying such terrifying things. Her mind went blank, and everything before her eyes turned dark.
A trembling voice escaped from her pale lips,
“…Then… what should I do?”
“We can start with medication, but its main purpose isn’t to reduce the size—it’s to alleviate symptoms and prevent further growth, so don’t expect dramatic results. Still, I’d recommend trying medication first.”
“What about IVF or artificial insemination?”
“Even with IVF or artificial insemination, the area available for implantation is far too small. It’ll be difficult… but if you wish, we can attempt it.”
Yeon Joo felt her limbs turning icy cold, as if all the blood in her body was draining away.
Intellectually, she understood what the doctor was saying—but her heart simply refused to accept it.
Her eyes, filled with despair and shock, met the doctor’s.
“…So… what you’re saying is…”
Her quivering lips could barely form words.
With great effort, she squeezed out the next sentence,
“…That right now… it’s hard… for me to get pregnant?”
The doctor let out a dry sigh, as if the words wouldn’t come easily.
After an excruciating pause, the doctor spoke with a heavy expression,
“I’m sorry, but in your current condition, the possibility of pregnancy is very slim.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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His words.. God Damm.. His words would really cost him everything… 😱😱
Oooo… I really want his POV.. What’s on this mind…
JIn wook’ POV… What’s he thinking… He obviously likes her.. Communication