Recalling the past and smiling, Sun-ok’s comforting words overlapped with the employee who used to sell baby products at the department store.

“But people say that. No matter how difficult it is, the moment you see the baby’s face, the pain disappears.”

“That’s right. The problem is, you do a lifetime of filial piety at that time. How much it rots inside as it grows up, sigh.”

Letting out a big sigh, Sun-ok’s eyes were filled with affection for the child.

“…You must have been surprised to see me suddenly appear.”

In response to Lajin’s words, Sun-ok, who widened her eyes for a moment, hesitated briefly before nodding.

“Honestly.”

Why wouldn’t she be? After delivering the teddy bear with a quick service, the secretary, who had been mysterious in his whereabouts until now, suddenly appeared as a pregnant woman.

“…I’m not sure if I can ask you something like this.”

When Lajin looked at her with a gaze that indicated it was okay to say, Sun-ok very cautiously opened her mouth.

“Is it the Director’s child?”

“…Yes.”

“Phew. No, I knew that would be the case. Considering how strict both of you are, I was just checking, in case.”

Sun-ok, who wiped her chest, soon showed a regretful expression.

“Director, you’ve been through a lot.”

…That’s true. Perhaps she was worried that she had spoken thoughtlessly and might interfere with their future.

“Since the Director left, you haven’t slept properly or had a proper meal. Chairman was worried a lot, too.”

“…Yes.”

With a quiet acknowledgment, Lajin took a sip of the clear egg soup.

“Your natural stamina is so good, and you’ve been exercising steadily, so you’ve endured it. If you were an ordinary person, you would have collapsed several times by now.”

“…”

“Although you didn’t eat as much as before, it was inconvenient because your weight dropped, so you had to get new shirts and jackets.”

Paused. Putting down the spoon, Lajin took a sip of the water Sun-ok had prepared.

“Originally, you couldn’t sleep much… Your complexion has changed so much compared to before. Dark circles under your eyes have deepened. Once, you were in the study, and suddenly you rushed into the bedroom, sitting quietly for minutes or hours, just staring at the teddy bear doll on the bed.”

At that word, Lajin suddenly felt like a heavy weight had been placed on her chest.

“For a while, you didn’t touch it. It’s as if touching it would wear it out. Then, ah, this is a secret to the Director, but when I tried to greet you when you were leaving, I could see it through the crack in the door. You were sitting quietly, hugging the doll.”

Ah… Suddenly, the inside of her throat burned hot.

“Your gaze was so desperate and poignant… There were many times when you couldn’t speak and quietly retreated.”

The spoon was placed down heavily by Lajin.

“Have you finished everything already?”

“…Yes. I’ll stop eating. I feel nauseous, and it doesn’t seem like it’ll go away.”

“Oh no, are you feeling unwell? Just stay still; I’ll prepare warm plum tea for you.”
It seemed like a good idea. Leaving the dining room would only lead to encountering Jaehun again, and in this mood, drinking warm tea would be helpful.

As Lajin nodded, Seonok began to boil water.

I stared at the doll I left behind for a long time.

Then I was holding it in my arms.

Why…

“Director. I don’t know what happened between you two. I have no right to ask. But one thing is for sure.”

Seonok said as she took out homemade hwangmaesil extract from the refrigerator.

“The Director deeply loves you.”

Ha. Without realizing it, Lajin let out a sigh. Then Seonok, surprised, widened her eyes and turned around.

“Director?”

“It’s probably not.”

“Huh?”

“Director is not worried about me…”

Then Lajin closed her mouth and lowered her head.

“No. It’s nothing.”

Love. Love, she said. What an absurd thing to say, that he loves me.

Ignoring Lajin’s reaction, Seonok continued speaking.

“Every season, the Director buys women’s clothing. Clothes that fit the Director’s size. And suddenly, she decorated one room on the second floor as a study.”

After pouring a little of the maesil extract into a cup and pouring warm water, Seonok stirred it slowly with a teaspoon and placed it in front of Lajin.

“It seems she needed a study more, but she said she did it while drunk.”

“Drunk?”

Lajin asked unintentionally in a loud voice.

As far as she knew, Jaehun had never been drunk. He resembled Chairman Seong Jaeha and had a strong drinking capacity, even dealing with renowned Chinese buyers weekly while remaining composed.

For him to drink to the point of intoxication.

“Yes. I was surprised too. I’ve been working in this house for a few years, but it was the first time I saw the Director like that.”

“Ah…”

“She said it’s being decorated so that it can be used anytime when the Director returns.”

Lajin. A surge of emotions mixed with tears. Lajin narrowed her eyes. It was an unbelievable story.

“Maybe it’s not for me but for someone else.”

“Huh? Someone else?”

“I heard about the marriage story with the youngest daughter of the Do Mun Group. I thought maybe she wanted to make this house their newlywed home.”

Yunhee had told her, so she knew. The marriage news with Seoyoung was unfounded. It was only Jaehun’s perspective, and the Chairman’s office and the Do Mun Group considered it as ‘not the right time’ unlike Jaehun.

It could be resumed anytime if he decided.

“I don’t know the details of the upper management. I just conveyed what I saw with my own eyes.”

Lajin blew on the rising steam and drank the maesil tea. A sour taste was followed by sweetness. However, her mood did not sweeten.

“When is the baby due?”

“…Almost seven months.”

“Wow, there’s not much time left!”

Seonok said soothingly.

“If the relationship between Mom and Dad is not good, it affects the baby too.”