The 4th floor station was filled with chatter.

Hye Ji, who had just finished her rounds and was about to head to the ward, glanced at the station and passed by as if she had no interest.

“Doctor Joo!”

At the voice of nurse Lee Na Rim urgently calling her, Hye Ji stopped and turned around.

“What’s going on? Why is it so chaotic?”

“Ah, it’s because of this.”

“What is it?”

Na Rim handed Hye Ji a white envelope containing a card. Even without opening it, the contents were obvious. Hye Ji smiled and peeled off the sticker on the envelope as she asked,

“It’s a wedding invitation, is Nurse Lee getting married? I heard you went on a blind date before, looks like it worked out well.”

“It’s not me… It’s Professor Yoon’s wedding invitation. I heard he’s getting married this month, everyone is saying it’s too sudden.”

Hye Ji’s hand, about to take out the card, stopped in an instant.

“Professor Yoon said he couldn’t see you due to his schedule, and asked me to pass it on instead.”

It’s a lie.

We ran into each other in front of the station this morning, and although we weren’t alone, we briefly talked about a research funding project.

If it were you, you would have given it to me on the spot, or called me out separately.

Nevertheless, the fact that you asked this nurse to deliver it means you won’t even give me that chance anymore.

Because that’s the kind of person you are.

My mouth tasted bitter. I couldn’t manage my expression well.

“He didn’t say anything and then gave out the wedding invitation before leaving, causing this commotion.”

“……”

“Ah, Doctor Joo. About 4 months ago… Do you remember the COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patient who was transferred from Doctor Go when she went on maternity leave, and hadn’t been settled for over 3 months before suddenly being moved to the VIP ward?”

When Hye Ji nodded, Na Rim whispered in her ear as if telling a secret.

“There’s a rumor that she’s his daughter.”

The surrounding sounds were no longer audible. Only a sharp tinnitus scratching her ears filled Hye Ji’s ears.

“She was moved to the ward under Professor Yoon’s orders. Someone said they saw them together in the VIP ward last week.”

[This is the timeline separator]

On the evening of the day I went to greet them, the man suddenly showed me wedding invitation samples and asked me to choose one. I picked one design I liked, and the invitations were ready in two days.

I knew we had to hurry since the wedding was less than a month away, but I never thought they would come out this quickly.

When I touch his hand, the impossible becomes possible. After all, he’s the person who made this absurd marriage happen.

Eun Jae quietly sighed as she placed the freshly cleaned humidifier back in its place.

It was because of Mi Ran, who still couldn’t take her eyes off the wedding invitation.

Why does Mom look so happy?

A smile almost appeared, but quickly faded. Because she couldn’t fully enjoy Mi Ran’s delighted appearance.

“That’s a scarf I haven’t seen before.”

She’s so happy, how will I tell her that we’ll be divorcing in a year?

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty. When did you buy it?”

We’ll be living together for a year and then separating anyway, is there a need to make such a fuss?

“Yoon son-in-law gave it to me when he came to greet us that day.”

Is there a need to do so well?

It would have been easier if she had stubbornly insisted on having a marriage that I told her not to. Then it could at least be an excuse later. Eun Jae swallowed the bitter feeling and pressed the button on the humidifier.

Silently watching Eun Jae standing lost in thought in the hazy mist from the humidifier, Mi Ran spoke up.

“Come sit here.”

“Why, again.”

Eun Jae grumbled as she pulled up the folding chair next to the bed and sat down.

Pressing the side button of the bed to raise her upper body, Mi Ran took out something that had been under her bottom and handed it to Eun Jae.

“What is this?”

She asked what it was, but it was clear at a glance. It was a pouch containing a passbook, a seal, and a debit card.

“It’s not much. It’s what I’ve been saving little by little in your name while running the business. I was so worried it might get taken by those jerks.”

Eun Jae opened the passbook with a displeased expression. The amount printed in the passbook was larger than she had thought.

30 million won.

As soon as she saw the amount, she got angry. If she had this much money, she should have paid the hospital bills instead of holding out.

“Mom! If you had money, you should have paid the hospital bills first. Don’t you know we almost got kicked out of the hospital?”

“Even if we get kicked out, this is for when you get married-”

“Why are you really like this? Do you want to see me die?”

Eun Jae vented her frustration at Mi Ran. Her swollen, reddened eyes were brimming with tears.

How have I endured so far,

I’ve come this far looking after only you, Mom,

Why on earth are you!

“Even if Yoon son-in-law said he would take care of it, it’s not right to go empty-handed. I know they’re not that kind of people just by looking at Yoon son-in-law, but you might still be disliked later. I saved this as your marriage funds. So it’s not Mom’s money.”

Mi Ran said, putting the passbook in Eun Jae’s hand, who had turned her head away.

“I don’t know why you’ve been holding onto money so tightly that you can’t even take with you when you die. A school uniform, a popular brand sneaker. It still haunts me that I couldn’t buy those for you. As a mother, have I ever properly prepared breakfast for you, have we ever eaten out together on your birthday? I was always busy going to work as soon as I opened my eyes.”

She always got hand-me-down uniforms, and the ten thousand won sneakers she had been wearing since middle school were even in her high school graduation photo.

“Our daughter would have looked so pretty in a new school uniform.”

Still, she was a good daughter who never complained. Thinking about it, Mi Ran’s heart still ached. Her chest hurt.

“I look pretty even without new clothes.”

“Yes, our Eun Jae looks pretty in anything.”

Mi Ran reached out and embraced Eun Jae.

Looking back now, she wondered what she had been saving for so diligently. She thought she would definitely do everything for her later, let her do whatever she wanted.

When did she grow up so much?

There was no later.

“Everyone lives like that. Don’t feel guilty about it.”

“I feel like I have to do at least this much to put my mind at ease.”

Mi Ran slowly stroked the back of her daughter, who had already grown much taller than herself.

“Eun Jae, married life can’t always be happy. There are good times and bad times. You have to navigate through them wisely as a couple.”

Eun Jae couldn’t say anything in response to Mi Ran’s words.

It’s only a one-year marriage.

“Our Eun Jae will do well. Because you’re sharp and smart. Right?”

It wasn’t that she hadn’t expected it to some extent when accepting this marriage.

But facing the reality, it stung her heart more than she had thought.

“You have a call, Eun Jae.”

Mi Ran, who had let go of Eun Jae, pointed to Eun Jae’s cell phone placed next to the humidifier. Eun Jae picked up the phone, wiping the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes.

The culprit of this incident. It was Yoon Sun Woo.

“I’ll take the call and come back.”

As soon as Mi Ran nodded, Eun Jae went out into the hallway and pressed the answer button.

“Yes…”

[Where are you?]

The man’s gentle words flowed into her ears. The man was smiling, but Eun Jae wasn’t.

It sounded like a parking lot. The man’s voice echoed.

Eun Jae recalled her mother’s face brightly smiling while holding the wedding invitation, and tightly closed her eyes.

Mom is so happy not knowing anything, if she finds out this is all fake…

Eun Jae slowly opened her closed eyes, cutting off the bad thoughts that kept coming, and organized her mind.

“I’m at the hospital.”

[I’m at the hospital too. I was about to finish up and go in.]

Liar, you’re in the parking lot.

“You finished early.”

[It’s my day off. I have some papers to review.]

At the hospital even on your day off. Your love for the hospital is really moving.

[Don’t go ahead, wait for me. Let’s have dinner outside. I have something to tell you.]

Eun Jae quietly listened to the man’s words. The man continued to speak even though Eun Jae didn’t respond.

[Take your time wrapping up, and come down to the parking lot.]

“Okay.”

[I’ll be waiting.]

As she heard the man’s voice full of laughter, the corners of her mouth that had unknowingly risen together fell heavily as soon as the call ended.

“Sigh…”

After what happened with Mom, I couldn’t sort out my complicated emotions.

Just as Eun Jae, who had let out a long sigh, was about to enter the hospital room again.

“Are you the guardian of Jung Mi Ran?”

At the voice of a woman resembling the fresh spring scent, Eun Jae looked up and faced a slender female doctor standing in front of her.

It was a face she had never seen before.

“Yes, but.”

“I’m Joo Hye Ji, a respiratory specialist. I’m in charge of patient Jung Mi Ran.”

A fleeting memory came to mind that the original doctor in charge had gone on maternity leave when she was being chased by the men, and the doctor in charge had changed.

Ah. Is it that doctor?

Eun Jae belatedly bowed her head in greeting.

“Ah, hello, Doctor.”

“Nice to meet you for the first time.”

At the female doctor’s words, Eun Jae awkwardly scratched her head.

“Yes, right…”

“You must have been busy?”

When your mother is so sick. It wasn’t a clear statement, but that kind of gaze flowed from her eyes. It sounded somewhat aggressive in questioning and tone.

She thought it was just her feeling. It was true that she had been negligent due to work and such.

“Yes… I had some circumstances.”

“You’re Ji Eun Jae, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

With the answer, Hye Ji offered a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I’m not only your mother’s doctor in charge, but also an old friend of Sun Woo…”

She called his name affectionately, then,

“No, Professor Yoon.”

She hastily corrected.

What, it seems intentional.

As if emphasizing that she’s close with the man. As if wanting me to misunderstand.

They meant nothing to her.

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

Eun Jae responded to the handshake, grasping Hye Ji’s outstretched hand.

“Professor Yoon and I are college classmates.”

The woman added information that wasn’t asked and smiled brightly. Feeling unnecessarily awkward, Eun Jae nodded and naturally loosened her grip to pull out her hand. Then the woman grasped it even tighter.

“I heard you’re getting married.”

The woman waved the wedding invitation she was holding in her other hand in front of Eun Jae’s eyes.

“Yes.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“See you again.”

Watching Hye Ji’s back as she greeted and walked away, Eun Jae scratched her head.

Didn’t she come to see Mom? Or was she just passing by?

Respiratory specialist Joo Hye Ji.

Eun Jae repeated the woman’s name a couple of times. Thinking it was a strange atmosphere in the conversation, Eun Jae turned into the hospital room without much suspicion.

As soon as she entered the room, Eun Jae hurriedly picked up her bag and coat.

“Mom, I have to go. The professor seems to be getting off work.”

“Why are you still calling the person you’re about to marry ‘professor’?”

“It’s a habit, hard to fix.”

While Eun Jae was talking back, Mi Ran quickly opened Eun Jae’s bag and stuffed the passbook inside. Eun Jae didn’t refuse. She hoped her mother could ease her burden this way.

“But you have to fix it!”

“Jeez, our mom’s nagging.”

Eun Jae pressed the button on the side of the bed to lay Mi Ran down. Then she put her lips on Mi Ran’s forehead and took them off.

“I’ll come again tomorrow.”

[This is the timeline separator]

After the meal was over, Eun Jae, who was putting the Hallabong sorbet served as dessert into her mouth, casually asked,

“Didn’t you say you had something to tell me earlier?”

The man seemed to have something to say from before. Amusingly, it seemed like he was hesitating. There’s no way he would do that when he always says whatever he wants to without hesitation.

“What did you talk about so much with my aunt at the end of the meal then?”

“Oh, I thought it was something else…”

Of course. I thought it was some really important story. I got nervous for nothing.

“I told her that her cooking skills are so good. That I’m eating well the food she makes for me… Ah, and when I asked if I could learn how to make dubu seon, she wrote down the recipe for me.”

She could feel with her skin that the man was concentrating on her story. Because his eyes, which he had slowly closed and opened, were constantly directed at her. Just as that gaze was starting to feel burdensome, the man lowered his gaze to the sorbet in front of him.

“Let’s refrain from talking as much as possible.”

About to scoop up the sorbet with a spoon, the man’s lips parted as if to say something he had forgotten, then closed again.

The man, who seemed to be pondering for a moment, didn’t open his mouth in the end.