In the car, the two hadn’t exchanged a single word. Lajin occasionally felt his gaze touching her face, but he stubbornly stared straight ahead, and soon Jaehun also focused only on driving.

Even though they were looking ahead, their sharp senses were keenly directed toward each other.

Especially for Lajin, in a state of extreme tension, being conscious of Jaehun while taking care not to startle the baby in her belly was mentally exhausting.

Continuing to endure in this state seemed detrimental to the child.

As Lajin let out a faint sigh and relaxed her body, Jaehun grabbed her ankle and carefully removed her shoes.

The temperature of his hand on her ankle, as if holding a continuously burning flame, was exceptionally high.

His touch, removing the low-heeled Mary Jane shoes, was delicate and careful.

Watching Jaehun in such a state, she felt a warm sensation rising in her chest, as if hot water was filling it.

‘…Why is he doing this?’

A man who had never bowed his head to anyone.

A man who had never kneeled willingly to help someone take off their shoes, especially someone he cherished.

“Go.”

As Jaehun rose, he unconsciously tried to grab her hand, hesitated, and then extended his arm.

“Hold onto it.”

“…I can go by myself.”

Lajin passed by him and stepped into the house.

It was his house, one she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Nothing had changed.

The black leather sofa where they used to sit side by side, the fireplace that never seemed to have been lit, the well-placed artifacts and the serene paintings on the wall.

Everything was exactly as she remembered.

Given Jaehun’s personality, it was a matter of course. Just one missing piece wouldn’t cause the slightest disturbance.

“I’ll use the bathroom.”

When she came to his house, she usually used the bathroom in the living room that Jaehun used, and the bathroom attached to the bed that she used.

Unconsciously, Lajin stepped into the familiar place, and by the time she realized it, she was already inside the bedroom.

‘Ah, I must be crazy…’

Then, as Lajin absentmindedly looked at the bed, her body froze.

There was something completely incompatible with the chic and urban interior, lying quietly.

It was a teddy bear.

The one she had delivered to him before leaving Seoul using a quick service.

“Why is this still here…”

She naturally thought that Jaehun would have thrown it away immediately.

For him, something left by the secretary due to insomnia would be utterly meaningless.

However, it was still here. Moreover, it quietly occupied the center of his bed.

As Lajin walked toward the bed, she extended her trembling hand and lifted the doll.

“…Why are you still here?”
In the doll, instead of the fragrance of the perfume and lotion she used to enjoy, there was Jaehun’s distinctive scent.

Exactly… as if it were touched by his hand. Moreover, very often.

Looking at the teddy bear, memories of the happy times came to mind. The business trip to Gangwon Province with Jaehun to sign a contract with William Stuart Chef was one of the few happy moments in her life.

Not only did she achieve the goal of signing a contract, but she also saw beautiful camellia flowers in William’s vinyl house and received this doll as a gift from Suji, the granddaughter of the vinyl house caretaker.

It was the first doll gift she had ever received in her life.

When she was young, she desperately wanted the teddy bear that Eugene hugged. However, her adoptive parents did not buy it, saying, “You’re older because you’re an older sister.”

So when Suji gave her the doll, she was extremely happy and excited, feeling like a child again.

Above all, because she shared all those moments with Jaehun, Lajin was genuinely happy.

She sent the teddy bear to Jaehun’s house, wondering if something with her scent might help him sleep, and also… she couldn’t help but wish that the doll would briefly remind him of her.

It was also a commitment to start anew in Seoul, leaving memories with him. But…

“Why is this still here…”

“It’s because you gave it to me.”

Suddenly, a voice from behind startled Lajin, causing her to drop the doll.

Seeing her wide-eyed, Jaehun, who narrowed his eyebrows, hurriedly approached.

“Are you okay?”

Seeing that she didn’t say anything while maintaining the surprised expression, Jaehun, who hesitated, slowly swept away Lajin’s back.

“Breathe. Slowly.”

“Ah… I was a bit surprised… I’m fine now.”

Looking at Lajin, who awkwardly avoided his touch and moved slightly to the side, Jaehun, who silently observed her, picked up the fallen teddy bear and placed it back on the bed.

Just like when he took off her shoes, his touch was delicate and careful, making Lajin bite her lip. Somehow, her heart was fluttering.

“It didn’t come out. I thought… something might have happened.”

Jaehun, who was making excuses, washed his face in the bathroom.

“Let’s go. We need to eat.”

“Why do you still have it?”

It was a somewhat impulsive question. She couldn’t endure without asking.

“I told you. Because you gave it to me.”

So, what does that mean?

“Let’s eat first. We also need to think about the child.”

At the mention of the child, Lajin, who had widened her eyes, glanced at him warmly. Eventually, she slowly headed to the bathroom.

“You haven’t washed your hands yet.”

Jaehun, who couldn’t take his eyes off her with an anxious expression, sighed as soon as she entered the bathroom and closed the door.

“Hoo.”

It seemed as if it might not be as precarious as walking on thin ice.

Endlessly simmering in her chest, a laugh suddenly escaped without reason.

“Ha.”