#140.

The bedroom was dark, and Lee Han, Park Min-ah, and Kang Ji-won were lying on the bed as usual. On the soft sheets, their hands moved towards each other. A sweet tension filled the air.

Just as Lee Han was about to bring his lips to Park Min-ah’s neckline, Kang Ji-won suddenly sat up. A strange tension was on her face.

,Wait… I have something to say.” Kang Ji-won’s voice trembled.

Lee Han and Park Min-ah looked at her with puzzled expressions. The air in the room instantly became heavy.

,I… I’m pregnant.” Kang Ji-won continued cautiously.

A moment of silence flowed in the bedroom. Just as Lee Han was about to say something with a surprised expression, Park Min-ah suddenly jumped up from her seat.

,What? Pregnant?” Park Min-ah’s voice rose. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes.

Lee Han and Kang Ji-won looked at each other, seemingly embarrassed. The atmosphere changed in an instant, and the sweet tension that had been lingering just moments before disappeared somewhere.

,How come Ji-won-ssi is first?” Park Min-ah said, sobbing. She pulled the blanket over and wrapped it around her body. ,I was supposed to have a baby first…”

Lee Han carefully reached out and wrapped his arm around Park Min-ah’s shoulder. ,Min-ah-ssi, don’t worry…”

But Park Min-ah shook her head violently and shook off his hand. ,You promised to get me pregnant first!!”

Kang Ji-won approached Park Min-ah, looking apologetic. ,I’m sorry, Min-ah-ssi. I didn’t expect it either…”

Park Min-ah’s cries and complaints continued all night long. Sometimes sobbing, sometimes shouting, her emotions went up and down like a roller coaster.

Lee Han and Kang Ji-won took turns comforting and soothing her. Lee Han gently stroked Park Min-ah’s back and said, ,You know how much we love Min-ah-ssi, right? Your turn will come soon.”

Kang Ji-won took Park Min-ah’s hand and looked at her with affectionate eyes. ,I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise.”

Sometimes laughing, sometimes serious, they tried to ease Park Min-ah’s heart. Lee Han tried to brighten the atmosphere by throwing witty jokes, and Kang Ji-won offered comfort with warm hugs.

,I’ll make sure Min-ah-ssi has a baby next time. I promise,” Lee Han said with a serious expression.

Park Min-ah nodded, even while sobbing. ,Really… will you really do that for me?”

Lee Han smiled and replied. ,Of course. When have I ever lied?”

As the night deepened, Park Min-ah’s sobs gradually subsided. The three of them lay down, exhausted, embracing each other. One of Lee Han’s arms embraced Park Min-ah, and the other embraced Kang Ji-won.

,I’m sorry… Was I too much?” Park Min-ah said in a small voice.

Lee Han and Kang Ji-won shook their heads at the same time. ,No, it’s understandable.”

And so, they shared each other’s warmth, bringing the unexpected commotion of the night to a close.

—

Lee Han rubbed his eyes, looking tired, and stared at the documents in front of him. Because he hadn’t gotten proper rest due to last night’s commotion, today felt particularly long.

Lee Han sat at his desk and let out a deep sigh. The fatigue around his eyes didn’t go away easily.

,Haa… I didn’t know I’d be this tired.”

Lee Han slowly got up and stretched. In the quietness of the morning, he headed to the coffee maker. He ground the beans, poured water, and turned on the switch. While the coffee was brewing, his gaze turned to the calendar on the wall.

,The wedding… is only a month away now.”

He wore a strange smile. It was the date that Park Min-ah had rushed to set because she wanted to have a child. Her tears and nagging were still vivid. ,How come Ji-won-ssi is first?” He recalled her crying. Fate was so strange that Kang Ji-won ended up pregnant first.

Sitting on the sofa, Lee Han recalled recent events. ,I heard Im Ha-yoon returned to work… and said she was moving into this apartment.” He bit his lip. After completely making Im Ha-yoon his own, the fact that he used her to drive out Park Joon-ho and put her in his place flashed through his mind like a lantern.

The faces of several women flashed through his head. ,Han Soo-jin is in her eighth month now… I should stop by sometime this afternoon.” He raised the corners of his lips, imagining Han Soo-jin’s bulging belly.

Thinking about her building a happy family with her husband, Park Tae-young, while carrying his child, a strange thrill ran through Lee Han’s heart. Their secret, and the twisted situation that the secret created, gave him an undeniable sense of satisfaction.

,Kim Eun-joo said she’s in the early stages of pregnancy and is taking care of herself.” Lee Han’s relationship with Kim Eun-joo was deepening. Their relationship, which was progressing without her husband knowing, and the child that would be born between them…

Jung Seo-yeon sent him a picture of a pregnancy test a few days ago via message. The message only contained the meaningful words, “Should I congratulate you?”, but Lee Han fully understood what she meant.

Lee Han slowly sipped his coffee. Han Soo-jin, Kim Eun-joo, Park Min-ah, Jung Seo-yeon, Kang Ji-won, Im Ha-yoon… The names of the women entangled in his life came to mind one after another. The relationships he had with each woman, the moments he manipulated and used them, flashed through his mind like a lantern.

,Already four…” A smile spread across his face. The smile contained a mixture of satisfaction and complex emotions.

It had been a year since he came to the apartment, and a lot had happened during that time. What started as a simple instruction from Chairman Park had now shaken his entire life. Lee Han looked out the window, lost in thought.

Lee Han sank deep into the sofa and recalled the meeting he had with Chairman Park a few days ago. His finger slowly moved along the rim of the coffee cup.

Lee Han absentmindedly turned the coffee cup and recalled what had happened a few days ago. ,I wonder if Im Ha-yoon is doing well?…” he muttered. A faint smile lingered on his lips.

He used Im Ha-yoon to expose Park Joon-ho’s affair and create evidence, and used that to kick Park Joon-ho out of the police station. On the surface, it looked like a simple woman problem, but behind it was Lee Han’s meticulous calculation.

,The chairman didn’t express any particular dissatisfaction either…” His voice was filled with pride.

A look of relief flashed across his eyes. It was an element that he was secretly uneasy about, but he had to say he was lucky. He had been worried about how Chairman Park would react to losing Park Joon-ho, who was his pawn. But unexpectedly, Chairman Park accepted it and even praised Lee Han’s skills.

,Im Ha-yoon… that female detective. That’s quite an interesting choice,” Lee Han recalled Chairman Park saying, and let out a sigh of relief.

But soon his expression hardened. The relief disappeared in an instant, and anxiety gripped him.

,The last words…” Lee Han took a deep breath. That moment came back to him vividly.

Chairman Park said in a slow voice. ,I’ve enjoyed watching the videos you’ve sent me so far.” His eyes contained an unknown meaning. ,I’ll contact you soon.”

Lee Han pondered those words. ‘Videos’… Is he talking about all the videos he’s taken and sent with women so far? Or is he referring to videos with a specific woman? Han Soo-jin? Kim Eun-joo? Or Im Ha-yoon?

Several scenes flashed through his head. The secret moments he shared with each woman, their images captured on camera… Lee Han bit his lip.

What does ‘I’ll contact you soon’ mean? A new instruction? Or an evaluation of what he’s been doing? Maybe punishment?

Lee Han’s fingertips trembled slightly. He thought he had been acting according to Chairman Park’s instructions so far, but suddenly everything felt uncertain.

He was seized by the anxiety that the network of relationships he had built, and the secrets hidden within it, might collapse in an instant. But at the same time, he found himself feeling a secret excitement at the dangerous thrill that this whole situation gave him.

,What does he want…” Lee Han muttered, staring blankly out the window. His head was filled with all sorts of possibilities.

What Chairman Park’s next instruction would be, and how it would shake up his life… Lee Han took another sip of coffee, overwhelmed by anxiety about an unknown future.

Lee Han’s fingers gripped the handle of the coffee cup tightly at the sudden ringing of his cell phone’s notification. He slowly, carefully, as if handling a bomb, picked up his cell phone.

The message on the screen was concise: “To the office in 3 days”

The number was not found, but it was not difficult to realize that the sender was Chairman Park.

Lee Han read the message once, twice, three times. His pupils trembled slightly. He slowly placed his cell phone on the table. At that moment, his shoulders slumped slightly, as if he had put down a heavy burden.

He picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. The cold coffee left a bitter taste on the tip of his tongue. He unconsciously smacked his lips.

The sky visible through the window was clear and blue. He saw birds flying freely. But Lee Han’s gaze wandered in the air.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table. At first slowly, then faster and faster. The rhythm became increasingly irregular.

,3 days later…” His lips moved silently.

Lee Han got up from his seat and walked to the window. His steps were heavier than usual. Looking out the window, he took a deep breath. And slowly, very slowly, he exhaled.