Chapter 1: How Are Babies Made?

I’ve always been quick to pick up on things. I wiped my damp hands roughly on a towel, glancing at her.  

“Is there talk of a marriage arrangement?”  

“Something along those lines,” she replied, her voice low and measured.  

This was the VIP penthouse of Seongpoong, a sanctuary accessible only to the Seongpoong family and their closest allies. 

Right now, it was just me and Joo Eunha.  

I turned to face my charge.  

Her black eyes gleamed like polished obsidian, framed by the sharp lines of her tailored black suit. 

Her pale, almost ethereal blue-white hair cascaded around her twenty-year-old frame—a young woman who embodied the very essence of beauty.  

She was, without question, the epitome of elegance.  

“…Yes, it’s true,” she said, her brows twitching with irritation. 

“That vile man mentioned it. Said they’ve set up a political marriage for me. But I don’t want it.”  

Joo Eunha’s voice carried a sharp edge as she spoke, her expression a mix of defiance and exasperation.  

“It’s absurd, isn’t it? Asking an abandoned child when she’ll get married. Every time we meet, it’s the same question—not even on holidays! And it always circles back to this arranged marriage nonsense.”  

“Why does she keep asking about children?” I ventured, curiosity piqued.  

“All my older sisters and brothers are married, popping out kids left and right. What more do they need from me? I haven’t even held a man’s hand yet.”  

She pushed an empty teacup aside with a flick of her wrist.  

“Well, except for you, ahjussi. Your hands are the most comforting thing in the world, you know? Ever since elementary school, you’ve been by my side. Holding my hand, walking me to school… I don’t even remember what life was like before that.”  

It was because of the arranged marriage.  

Even I could see how much stress it was causing her.  

“Have you… got your eye on someone?” I asked cautiously.  

Her response was surprisingly candid, her eyes glinting with mischief.  

“Of course I do. Someone very close. Guess who?”  

“Really? Hmm. Kangcheon’s out—too many women around him. I’ve heard good things about the eldest and second sons of the Daeoh Group, though.”  

Eunha shot me a cold glare.  

“No, not them. Someone… closer to an ordinary person. The one I love.”  

I let out a sigh. So, she already had someone she loved. 

And not someone her family had forced upon her—she’d chosen him herself.  

When would I ever find love?  

At twenty, I’d parachuted into a job at Seongpoong Group, a conglomerate of immense power. 

The label of “parachute” stuck to me like a curse, and I was assigned as the personal bodyguard to the family’s ostracized youngest daughter. 

I’d never married, never even dated.  

But I became her family. 

I stayed by her side, always. 

I poured everything into helping her rise to her rightful place, taking the fall for her mistakes and stumbling more than a few times along the way.  

And so, I could only offer a bitter smile.  

“Miss.”  

“Eunha,” she corrected, her tone softening. “Call me Eunha. ‘Miss’ makes it feel like we’re miles apart. Wouldn’t it be nice if you called me that even at home?”  

“I’d call you that if you were the chairman,” I teased. 

“But there’s no reason for me to drop the formalities, is there?”  

She snorted, rolling her eyes.  

“Me? The abandoned daughter? Please…”  

“There’s no woman I know more capable or kind than you, Miss,” I said earnestly.  

“You know women?” she shot back, half-joking.  

“The female security team members want to kill me, but I’d bet my life on it. You’re the perfect bride. Beautiful face, stunning figure, and a heart big enough to embrace even a dullard like me. Haha!”  

Eunha’s laugh was awkward, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson.  

Was she laughing too hard at the compliment? 

They say flattery can make even dolphins dance.  

But her character was already proven—she’d never once cast me aside, despite my shortcomings.  

“Pfft, haha. Really?” she said, her voice softening. “I’ve always tried hard, you know. To look good for him.”  

“How long have you known this man?” I asked, intrigued.  

“You know the red string of fate? With him, it was love at first sight. Over time, those threads tied around my heart grew stronger, thicker. Now, I can’t let him go.”  

Good heavens. 

Joo Eunha, harboring such pure devotion?  

I couldn’t hide my stunned expression.  

South Korea’s top influencer.  

The furthest from the Seongpoong Group’s line of succession, yet somehow blessed with an untouchable position.  

A face that could rival idols.  

A calm, refined demeanor.  

And a kindness that never failed to consider others.  

She was, in every sense, a woman who had it all—a true gem.  

I’d have to officiate her wedding someday. 

Oh, and if she had a kid, she could send them to me! 

She’d be busy once she started claiming her stake in the company.  

“You’re already thinking about marriage?” I asked, half-teasing. “Have you confessed to him yet? I’d love to see his face.”  

Eunha scratched her cheek, her eyes darting to me nervously.  

“I haven’t confessed yet. I… I’m not confident enough.”  

She clasped her hands behind her back, her voice hesitant as she continued.  

“If I confess… do you think he’ll accept me?”  

I tilted my head, bemused. 

She was asking me?  

“Of course he will,” I said with a grin. “You’re prettier and sweeter than any woman I’ve ever seen. Any man who rejects you would waste away in regret for years. Heh.”  

“Hehehe!”  

Her smile lit up the room, her lips curling upward as if reaching for the heavens. 

I picked up her empty teacup and headed to the sink, turning on the faucet. 

The water gushed out, loud and steady. 

I scrubbed the cup in silence, the squeaking fading as my thoughts drifted.  

This was the last day.  

The last of these quiet, everyday moments with Eunha.  

My contract with the chairman ended here. 

Getting hired by Seongpoong in the first place was pure luck—thanks to my mentor.  

“Miss,” I said, my voice heavy.  

“Yes, yes!” she replied eagerly.  

“There’s been talk of a personnel reassignment.”  

Her smile faltered, then faded. Her lips slowly curved downward.  

“Reassignment?”  

Reassignment.  

A polite way of saying I was being relieved of my duties as her personal bodyguard.  

“Yes,” I said softly. 

“A new reassignment. You know what it means, don’t you?”  

She nodded, her response a curt, “Yes.”  

I froze for a moment. 

Of course, she’d know.  

To the chairman, I was a reliable outsider, tasked with raising her just enough to serve their purposes. 

And I’d done my job well.  

The chairman saw people as tools. 

I was a toy that had outlived its use, destined to be discarded. 

To survive, I’d chosen surrender.  

I’d already prepared to disappear, to forge a new identity. 

The handover was nearly complete. 

Soon, I’d return to being a nobody.  

No regrets, though.  

Memories of caring for Eunha flooded back, vivid and warm.  

I’d been ordered to act as her parent, and I’d done so faithfully.  

A servant’s role is to sacrifice for their master’s family.  

I’d scrimped and saved, pouring my salary and support funds into raising her right. 

Eunha was a genius—teach her one thing, and she’d master ten. 

Raising her was a joy.  

“I’ll walk you to school from now on, Miss,” I’d said, holding her hand.  

“Miss, you’ve got this! Fighting!” I’d cheered at every school event.  

“Happy birthday, Miss! Here’s your favorite chocolate cake!” 

I’d said, grinning, though I’d paid for it out of my own pocket.  

It wasn’t lavish, but it was enough to create a few cherished childhood memories. 

I helped her make friends.  

She grew.  

And grew.  

She set her sights on a top-tier university.  

“I got the emerald button, ahjussi!” she’d exclaimed, her beauty drawing the world’s attention.  

She started a YouTube channel, pouring her heart into it. 

After days of struggle, she skyrocketed to fame.  

She attended countless events, her stunning looks and outgoing personality shining through. 

As her bodyguard, I assembled a team and led her security detail.  

I even took a knife for her once, meant for her by some deranged stalker.  

I spent weeks in critical condition.  

But I bounced back.  

“I stayed by your side because of your love troubles,” I’d thought.  

But that need was gone now.  

She had someone she loved. It was time for me to make a grand exit.  

I made up my mind.  

Today, I’d resign. 

I didn’t want to be the final obstacle in Joo Eunha’s path.  

“Miss,” I said firmly.  

She turned to me, her eyes wide and innocent, like a loyal puppy.  

“Yes!”  

I untied my apron and turned to face her.  

That face of hers—too perfect, almost unfair. It nearly made my heart skip a beat.  

“There’s something I need to confess.”  

“S-Same here, ahjussi. I mean, Jaehyuk-oppa.”  

I gave her a wry smile, unable to meet her gaze. 

It was inevitable. 

This was for her growth, after all.  

I spoke, my voice steady.  

“I’m done, Miss. As of today.”  

Eunha froze, as if turned to stone by Medusa’s gaze.  

“…What?”  

I delivered the news like a decree. 

Our relationship ended here.  

I was only a liability to her now.  

With a snap of my fingers, the penthouse door lock beeped open. 

My successors entered—handpicked, loyal staff who’d lay down their lives for her. 

A parting gift, perhaps.  

I nodded to the man at the front, a potato-headed figure.  

“Manager Park. Take it from here.”  

“Understood, sir. Your bags?”  

“In the car. She’ll be shocked, so… you know what to do.”  

Manager Park nodded silently. 

No need for words—the chairman’s orders were absolute. 

In a conglomerate, the chairman was an emperor.  

“Got it.”  

I scanned the security team, then approached Eunha. 

She stared up at me, her breathing uneven, tears welling in her eyes.  

I stroked her hair gently as she reached out, pleading, but her grip was weak.  

“I was happy, Miss. I loved you.”  

I stepped away as the security team took over. 

A scream echoed from the penthouse, but I ignored it.  

Kids throw tantrums. It’s normal.  

…Why were my eyes sweating?  

***

I submitted my resignation, and it was processed immediately.  

I felt lighter, relieved. I didn’t want to be a burden to Eunha anymore.  

I’d gone to great lengths to ensure the chairman wouldn’t come after me. 

There’d been threats, after all.  

With the money I’d saved, I opened a café near an apartment complex. 

To my surprise, it was bustling with customers.  

[Seongpoong Group’s Joo Eunha: “South Korea’s Top Influencer Certification Earned”]  

[Breaking News! A Star Falls: Chairman Joo’s Death?]  

[Exclusive! Joo Eunha: Who Is Her Man?]  

[Joo Eunha: “I Plan to Confess to the Man I Love Today.”]  

– LOLOLOL  

– Hahahahaha  

– Eunha-noona, I’m dying!!  

– Ugh, why do I feel jealous—  

I scrolled past the online articles on my phone.  

“Excuse me? Sir, can you take my order?”  

“Oh, yes!”  

I’d been so lost in thought I hadn’t noticed the customer in front of me. 

Snapping back to reality, I took their order.  

Thankfully, Eunha hadn’t tried to find me. 

It stung, but seeing her thrive in the news brought me quiet satisfaction.  

She’d grown so well.  

“What would you like, sir?”  

“A Mango Lassi and—oh.”  

“Yes, sir!”  

“And a slice of cake. Can you write down your number too?”  

“Pardon?”  

Thanks to my decent looks, I got a lot of female customers. 

But I never entertained their advances. I barely had time to look after myself, let alone open my heart to someone else.  

Years passed since I parted ways with Eunha. 

I settled into a quiet, ordinary life.  

Then, one late night, as I returned home after closing the café, I received a strange text.  

– ㅇㅇ: (A photo of a naked figure in a collar)  

– ㅇㅇ: This  

– ㅇㅇ: They threatened me to take it. Open the door before they spread it.  

– ㅇㅇ: Hurry  

My eyes widened as I stared at the message. 

That viciously perfect body, the faint scar brushing her collarbone…  

Was this Joo Eunha?  

I was so stunned I couldn’t speak.  

No way. 

No way that kid had tracked me down!  

Bang bang bang!  

The sound of pounding on my iron door jolted me. 

Without thinking, I threw on clothes and flung the door open. 

There stood Joo Eunha, drenched in cold sweat.  

“…Ahjussi.”  

She wore a Burberry coat, but nothing underneath—not even underwear.  

I froze solid.  

“E-Eunha.”  

Her beauty, honed over the years, was beyond what I’d seen on TV. 

Her figure, her feminine scent—it was intoxicating, almost predatory.  

“Ahjussi!”  

She threw herself at me, her eyes red with tears, wrapping me in a tight embrace. 

Our skin pressed together, and my heart raced instinctively. 

How had she found me?!  

“W-Wait! How did you find me?! What happened?!”  

“Haa… Ahjussi. Why did you disappear on me? I told you how much I loved you. Did you want to see me lose my mind?!”  

Crash! I stumbled backward, falling flat. 

Eunha fell on top of me.  

Clutching my head, I paled.  

Why was she here? 

Was she being blackmailed? 

My mind raced to conclusions, and I acted fast.  

“Eunha! You’re being blackmailed, aren’t you?! Who is it? Kangcheon? Or someone else? I’ll help you!”  

“Ahjussi.”  

“What?”  

Eunha pinned me down, her grip tight on my arms. 

I tried to push her off, but she didn’t budge. 

My skills and strength had rusted since leaving the field.  

And I didn’t want to hurt her.  

“Blackmail? Heh,” she laughed darkly, like a witch.  

Her eyes burned with desire, tears streaming down as she laughed and cried at once. 

She wasn’t in her right mind.  

The collar around her neck, the handcuffs, and—though I hadn’t noticed before—a pill hidden under her tongue. 

I shook my head, signaling surrender.  

“E-Eunha… you can’t do this. I won’t report you, but this gives people leverage over you. Just… look at me and go, okay? I’m sorry. I’ll explain everything.”  

“Where were you?”  

Her voice was ice-cold.  

“Huh?”  

“Where did you go, abandoning me? Tell me. I want to hear it from your mouth.”  

I studied her, my breath heavy. 

She wasn’t stable. I had no choice but to tell the truth.  

“The chairman ordered me to leave when you turned twenty. To raise you well, protect you, then step away when you could stand on your own.”  

“Haha, hahaha,” she laughed bitterly. “You sound just like him. Do you know how much I suffered, worrying myself sick while you were gone? Do you know what ‘reverse grooming’ is?”  

“W-What’s that?”  

“It’s when you raise someone just to devour them.”  

“What?”  

“You’re too lovable for your own good. Throwing yourself into danger for me, that reckless devotion—it’s adorable. Do you know how much I burned, believing you’d come back for me?”  

Eunha trembled, her face hardening.  

“I love you, oppa. But seeing you flirt with other women? I couldn’t stand it.”  

“You… love me? Eunha, snap out of it! I’m an old man! Mid-thirties! The kind of ahjussi you hate! What’s so great about me? You’re young, full of potential!”  

She grinned wickedly.  

“I know. So what if you’re older? That’s what makes it exciting. I love older men.”  

“Wha—”  

She opened her mouth, revealing the pink pill under her tongue. 

Before I could react, she slipped it into my mouth, forcing me to swallow.  

Gulp.  

Oh no.  

“I’m going to devour you, ahjussi.”  

I was done for.