#78.

It was a languid afternoon, and the management office was quiet. Warm sunlight streamed through the window, gently enveloping the office. Han Su-jin was sitting comfortably on the sofa, listening to classical music with her eyes closed. Her expression seemed peaceful, and her slightly swollen belly hinted at her new life.

Lee Han was sitting at his desk, working quietly. The sound of his pen scratching across the documents was the only sound mingling with the music. Finally finishing the report, he got up from his seat and headed towards the sofa. Picking up a slice of peeled apple from the table, he turned his gaze to Han Su-jin.

“How many months now?” Lee Han’s voice was soft.

Han Su-jin slowly opened her eyes and looked at Lee Han. A smile spread across her lips. “Are you finally getting interested?”

Lee Han shrugged. “I come here often; wouldn’t it be weird if I wasn’t interested?”

Han Su-jin carefully stroked her belly. Her touch was filled with affection and anticipation. “It’s been about 15 weeks now. Look at this.”

She took a photo from her pocket and handed it to Lee Han. In the black and white ultrasound photo, the faint image of a fetus could be seen. Lee Han took the photo and stared at it silently for a while. A complex emotion flickered across his face.

“Isn’t it pretty?” Han Su-jin’s voice was full of pride.

Lee Han nodded, but his eyes still looked confused. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.

“We named the baby ‘Star’,” Han Su-jin continued. “Our Star has to grow up healthy.” She stroked her belly once more.

When Lee Han continued to stare at her silently, Han Su-jin smiled and gently took his hand. She guided Lee Han’s hand onto her belly.

“You have to be our Star’s godfather.”

Lee Han’s hand touched Han Su-jin’s slightly bulging belly. At that moment, his eyes changed. The complex expression gradually softened, and a smile spread across his lips.

Han Su-jin leaned her head on Lee Han’s lap and lay down on the sofa. She looked up at Lee Han and said, “Then, please take care of Star.” And then she closed her eyes and quietly took a nap.

Lee Han looked at Han Su-jin’s peaceful face. His hand was still on her belly. He slowly, carefully began to stroke Han Su-jin’s belly.

—

Around evening, the sound of the door opening broke the silence of the management office. Han Su-jin, who had been dozing off with her head on Lee Han’s lap, blinked her eyes and carefully sat up. As she moved, Lee Han’s hand gently fell from her belly.

The person who opened the door was Kim Eun-ju. The moment her eyes caught the sight of Han Su-jin and Lee Han sitting on the sofa, leaning on each other, her expression instantly hardened. Discomfort and displeasure flashed in Kim Eun-ju’s eyes, but she quickly tried to hide her emotions.

Han Su-jin slowly got up and stretched. Her swollen belly looked even more prominent. “Oh, Eun-ju-ssi. Hello.” Han Su-jin’s voice was amiable, but Kim Eun-ju didn’t miss the subtle confidence hidden within.

Kim Eun-ju, pulling a stroller, replied briefly. “Yeah. How’s your health?” There was a slight tremor in her voice.

Han Su-jin smiled and replied, “I’m fine now that I barely have morning sickness.”

Lee Han quietly got up from the sofa and approached Jin-woo, who was sitting in the stroller. “Jin-woo-ya, shall we play with uncle?” He picked up the child and started playing with him to the side. Lee Han’s actions seemed natural, but his eyes were carefully watching the reactions of the two women.

Kim Eun-ju’s gaze turned to Han Su-jin, who was sitting on the sofa. Her eyes were cold and sharp. But Han Su-jin seemed unfazed by such a gaze, sitting there calmly. She even smiled softly and stroked her belly.

The air in the room instantly became heavy. Tension was taut, and the heavy animosity between the two women was almost visible. Lee Han sensitively sensed this situation.

“Um,” Lee Han suddenly opened his mouth. There was a slight tension in his voice. “I’ll take Jin-woo for a walk for a bit. Get some fresh air too.”

Kim Eun-ju and Han Su-jin both looked at Lee Han. Their eyes held different emotions.

“Okay, go ahead,” Kim Eun-ju replied first. Her voice seemed calm, but her fingers were unconsciously gripping the edge of the sofa tightly.

Lee Han quickly left the office with Jin-woo in his arms. With the sound of the door closing, a heavy silence fell in the room again. Kim Eun-ju and Han Su-jin, the two women left alone in the space, the tension escalated further.

After Lee Han left with Jin-woo, a heavy silence fell in the management office. Han Su-jin and Kim Eun-ju’s gazes met in the air, then scattered again. Amid the taut tension, Kim Eun-ju spoke first.

“Hmm… Su-jin-ssi, didn’t you say you had a bad relationship with Tae-young-ssi before?” Kim Eun-ju’s voice was calm, but the hidden sharpness within could be sensed.

Han Su-jin closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and replied. “That was a long time ago.” There was no agitation in her voice.

“What about now?” Kim Eun-ju’s question was sharp.

Han Su-jin smiled softly and stroked her belly. “This proves the love of a married couple, doesn’t it?” Her voice was full of confidence.

Kim Eun-ju twisted her lips and retorted. “Love with Tae-young-ssi?”

“Of course,” Han Su-jin’s answer was firm.

Kim Eun-ju frowned and snorted. At that sight, Han Su-jin continued in a soft voice. “Why don’t you have one too, Eun-ju-ssi?”

At these words, Kim Eun-ju showed a moment of embarrassment. Her gaze turned to Han Su-jin, then soon turned to her own belly. Unconsciously, her hand gently stroked her belly. A moment of silence passed, and Kim Eun-ju’s eyes wavered.

“Is it possible?” Kim Eun-ju’s voice was almost a whisper.

Han Su-jin approached Kim Eun-ju and sat down next to her. Her eyes were filled with understanding and sympathy. “Eun-ju-ssi also knows that you can’t monopolize him, right?”

Kim Eun-ju nodded slowly but surely. A complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

“Then, wouldn’t it be a good idea to create an unbreakable relationship?” Han Su-jin’s voice was soft and persuasive.

Kim Eun-ju looked at Han Su-jin. Her eyes were filled with pity and longing. Han Su-jin carefully took Kim Eun-ju’s hand.

“It’s too late to get out, and I don’t want to anymore,” Han Su-jin’s words were filled with deep understanding and empathy.

Kim Eun-ju met Han Su-jin’s eyes. A faint smile spread across her lips. The smile was filled with complex emotions. A smile mixed with fear and anticipation, guilt and desire.

—

Late at night, Jung Seo-yeon’s room was quiet under the soft lighting. The clock on the wall was slowly moving towards 10 o’clock. Jung Seo-yeon was sitting on the bed, finishing the preparations for the wedding tomorrow. Her finger followed the checklist down.

‘3 PM wedding… If I leave early in the morning, it’ll be enough.’ She muttered to herself.

Suddenly, Jung Seo-yeon was startled by the ringing of the phone. Checking the screen, Kim Tae-woo’s name was displayed. She hesitated for a moment, then answered the phone.

“Hello, oppa?” Her voice was soft and amiable.

“Seo, Seo-yeon-ah…” Kim Tae-woo’s slurred voice was heard. In the background, there was loud music and people chattering.

Jung Seo-yeon’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Oppa, don’t drink too much.”

Then suddenly, someone’s voice was heard loudly. “It’s a bachelor party, sister-in-law!”

Kim Tae-woo shouted in embarrassment. “Hey! Don’t talk nonsense!”

Jung Seo-yeon froze for a moment, but soon regained a calm expression. A cold light flashed in her eyes.

“No, it’s not like that, Seo-yeon-ah. Don’t misunderstand.” Kim Tae-woo said urgently, but it was easy to tell from his slurred voice that he was lying.

Jung Seo-yeon was silent for a moment. There was nothing on her mind. It was something she had already expected, and it was not important to her.

“It’s okay, oppa. Have fun. Don’t overdo it.” Her voice was as calm as if she were talking about the weather.

“No, it’s not like that, Seo-yeon-ah. Don’t misunderstand,” Kim Tae-woo said urgently.

Jung Seo-yeon replied in a voice as if she didn’t doubt Kim Tae-woo’s words at all. “Of course, oppa. I trust you, oppa. Just have fun.”

The moment Kim Tae-woo hung up the phone, the smile disappeared from Jung Seo-yeon’s face. Her expression instantly turned blank.

Jung Seo-yeon concentrated on the wedding preparations again as if nothing had happened.

Kim Tae-woo’s actions had no effect on her. To Jung Seo-yeon, this wedding was just one step in the life path she had chosen. Jung Seo-yeon was just checking her plans to be able to play the perfect bride.

After finishing her tasks, Jung Seo-yeon lay down on the bed. She tried to get a good night’s sleep for the perfect wedding tomorrow, but complex emotions swirled in her mind.

Annoyance at Kim Tae-woo welled up. ‘Even though I’m acting like this, it’s a bachelor party…’ She bit her lip. ‘Are men just like that?’

Then suddenly, her relationship with Lee Han came to mind. A bitter smile spread across Jung Seo-yeon’s lips. ‘I’m no different either.’

As Jung Seo-yeon tossed and turned in bed, Lee Han’s image vividly came to mind. The moments she had spent with him, his touch, his gaze… The embers of desire slowly began to burn.

‘Anyway, Kim Tae-woo won’t even be thinking about me tonight,’ she muttered to herself.

As if determined, Jung Seo-yeon got out of bed and threw on some clothes. Her movements were quick and decisive. Her eyes were filled with desire and determination as she left the house.

While walking through the apartment complex towards the management office, Jung Seo-yeon’s mind was complicated. When she saw the management office with the lights on, her steps stopped for a moment. Lee Han’s smile, as if he had foreseen her final victory, came to mind.

Jung Seo-yeon hesitated for a moment. Her eyes were conflicted as she wondered whether to turn back. But in the end, she let out a deep sigh and headed towards the management office.

Her steps were slow but firm. Jung Seo-yeon’s eyes were filled with complex emotions. Desire, regret, and perhaps even a sense of liberation. She knew where she was going and what the result would be.

Jung Seo-yeon closed her eyes for a moment in front of the management office door. After taking a deep breath, she opened the door with a determined expression. At that moment, her eyes were filled with a different, genuine desire than before.

As Jung Seo-yeon opened the door and entered the management office, Lee Han was sitting at his desk, looking at her and smiling. At that sight, Jung Seo-yeon felt a deep sense of defeat, but at the same time, a strange anticipation and excitement filled her chest even more.

“What’s the matter?” Lee Han asked.

Jung Seo-yeon pretended to be calm and replied, “I just… came to say goodbye since it’s the last day.”

Lee Han made a surprised expression. “Ah, it’s tomorrow. Congratulations on your wedding.”

Jung Seo-yeon snorted and walked to the table, handing over an invitation. “If you have nothing to do, come and have a meal.”

Lee Han took the invitation, checked the name, and smiled. “The Shilla Hotel… It’s a successful life.”

At those words, Jung Seo-yeon bit her lip tightly. Her eyes turned provocative. “Don’t you have a gift for me?”

Lee Han shrugged and replied, “I’m poor, so I have nothing to give.”

Jung Seo-yeon looked at Lee Han, then leaned her head in front of the desk and whispered, “Are you going to give up this easily?”

Lee Han smiled and replied, “I don’t want to take the risk.”

Jung Seo-yeon glared at Lee Han, then closed her eyes, sighed, and opened her eyes again. “I lost.”

Lee Han’s eyes shone as if demanding an accurate answer.

Jung Seo-yeon’s fingers trembled. “I lost. So I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“What did I ask for? I never did,” Lee Han said nonchalantly.

Jung Seo-yeon looked at Lee Han as if resigned. “I want you to hold me. I’ll do anything for it.”

Lee Han slowly approached Jung Seo-yeon. His lips touched her ear. “I’ve been waiting for those words.”

Jung Seo-yeon wrapped her arms around Lee Han’s neck and fell into a deep kiss. A desperate whisper escaped from her lips.

“Please…”

The two people’s bodies were pressed against each other. Jung Seo-yeon’s eyes were filled with desire, regret, and liberation. Lee Han’s hand went down her back, and Jung Seo-yeon dug deeper into his arms.