The menstrual cycle has been irregular for a while, and when stressed, there were times when it skipped or started earlier than the cycle.

The first time she skipped her period, she was so surprised that she immediately went to the hospital, realizing that she wasn’t the only one who had such an experience.

“The saying that stress is the root of all illnesses is not an exaggeration. So, you must find ways to relieve stress.”

After hearing the doctor’s advice, she tried to learn a musical instrument and tried to learn other exercises, but due to her tight schedule, it was challenging to make time regularly.

So, she returned to her original lifestyle, and even if she skipped her period, she no longer felt surprised.

She placed her hands on her belly.

“I should take care of my body from now on.”

Thinking about it, it was strange not to be stressed. Jaehun, Seoyoung, and even her step-parents.

Yes, that’s why emotions are jumping around like this.

Otherwise… she might have unknowingly harbored false expectations.

Even though she knew Jaehun would marry Seoyoung, she agreed to the contract herself.

‘Pull yourself together.’

Lajin wiped away tears with the back of her hand and took a slow deep breath.

After organizing her life in Seoul and moving to the provinces, now she truly is alone. From now on, she has to judge and decide everything on her own.

So, let’s quickly get rid of false expectations.

Otherwise, she might end up clinging to him and hanging on.

Is he really going to marry Jang Seoyoung? Instead of a contract or anything, can’t he just stay by my side?

Being alone is too… scary and lonely.

‘I don’t want to be remembered as a pitiful figure.’

If Jaehun himself comes to dislike her, it seemed even more unbearable.

So, she decided. To leave him.

Now, there are less than three months until the contract expires.

“…From the beginning, it was a contract made with the intention of leaving.”

Looking at herself in the mirror, she tried to force a nonchalant smile but soon gave up. It looked even more miserable.

‘I need to find a way for him to sleep without me.’

Ha. Is it really going well like this?

Returning to the living room from the guest room bathroom, Jaehun, who had taken a shower, sighed.

“Are you really going to sleep there?”

Lajin, after covering herself with the neatly folded blanket on the sofa, lying down with her hands clasped over her belly, responded calmly.

“Yes.”

The emotions that had been tightly pressed during the shower were trying to explode.

Jaehun took a slow deep breath. He no longer wanted to treat her coldly.

He approached Lajin and sat at the end of the sofa, which was specially made in Italy to accommodate his body size, making it comfortable for him to sit beside her lying down.

“Let’s talk.”

In response to the voice that sounded close, Lajin, who slowly opened her eyes, sat up with Jaehun supporting her back to help her.

“Ah… Thank you.”

He crumpled his face. Ah. Today, everything Lajin said and did seemed irritating.

The words of gratitude were incredibly unpleasant to hear. Isn’t this too trivial and obvious?

It seemed like they had become lovers, but Lajin was treating him as a superior again.

“Did you happen to meet Jang Seoyoung?”

While showering, Jaehun continued to ponder why Lajin’s attitude had changed. Seeing the name mentioned, he wondered if something had happened related to Jang Seoyoung. After recalling the persistent and greedy gaze of that woman buried in his memory, he judged that it was a highly possible story.

“Tell me. What did Jang Seoyoung say for you to act like this?”

Lajin tightly gripped the blanket. She didn’t want to hear the woman’s name from Jaehun’s mouth.

“Whether Jang Seoyoung and I met or not is irrelevant.”
“If it wasn’t meeting Jang Seoyoung, it’s because of Grandfather.”

As of now, the only person to talk to Lajin about Seoyoung is Chairman Seo Sungjae, her grandfather.

“It has nothing to do with the chairman. It’s my personal decision.”

Lajin denied everything.

“Is it really at your will, Lajin?”

“…Yes.”

“If you suddenly build this wall, how am I supposed to deal with it?”

“Recall the purpose of the contract. The reason you grabbed me, the possibility of treating insomnia discovered through a one-night mistake.”

She fell silent. Because it wasn’t entirely false.

However, if it weren’t for the fact that the other party was Jang Seoyoung, this woman, he would never have mentioned meeting as lovers for three months.

Because it was you. Because it was you that I wanted to keep by my side.

Lajin, without caring about such feelings, suddenly prepares to end everything.

Even if asked for the reason, she only says, “Recall the purpose of the contract.”

Did my feelings and emotions really disappear in a moment?

…I couldn’t bring myself to ask just that.

If Lajin answers ‘yes,’ I wouldn’t know what to do.

It seemed impossible to grasp her feelings.

“…Fine, if that’s what you truly want.”

Saying that, Jaehun gently embraced her and headed for the bed.