#63
I had secretly been looking forward to this dinner since he specifically suggested eating out today. I wondered if perhaps he also attached importance to our wedding anniversary, just like I did.
During the car ride, I couldn’t hide my nervous excitement. I had found the courage to tell him about the baby precisely because today was special.
‘…But it was just my misunderstanding.’
The elaborate outfit I had put on now seemed meaningless as my vision blurred with tears. I could feel his gaze, which had been on my face, gradually drifting away.
I lowered my head and let a teardrop fall. My palm, filled with red marks from where my nails had dug in, was now covering my still-flat stomach.
‘…Little Lucky, I’m sorry.’
The courage I had mustered disappeared helplessly in the face of the cold response to my confession.
He was someone who dismissed feelings of affection as bothersome. If I begged such a person to let me have this baby, he might just drag me to a hospital.
It was time to act according to my plan. To protect Lucky, I needed to steel my heart.
“I’ll prepare the main dish for you.”
Since my reply, a heavy silence had hung between us. A staff member came in, placed untouched plates on a trolley, and prepared the next course.
Hyun-oh loosened his tie, feeling suffocated. His mind had been in disarray since hearing my confession.
His heart was also beating unusually fast. This had been happening whenever he spent time with me lately. Faced with the aftermath of unfamiliar emotions, Hyun-oh chose the most cowardly method.
“Let’s leave now.”
Though the main dish was temptingly displayed on the table, neither of us seemed inclined to pick up our utensils.
As it happened, something had come up at headquarters. He had planned to go there after finishing dinner with me, but leaving early wouldn’t change anything.
I clutched the edge of my sleeve inside my palm when I heard his cold voice from across the table.
“Are you… going to the company today too?”
After parting like this, I didn’t know when I would see him again. I planned to run away from Hyun-oh until I safely delivered Lucky and the child grew up.
I intended to make sure the child’s early years weren’t lonely, even if I was alone. Even if my escape had a predetermined end, I was determined to stay by my child’s side as long as possible.
I gazed endlessly at Hyun-oh’s face, as if imprinting it in my memory.
From the first time I saw him, I was captivated by his face, which was as handsome as if it had been drawn. Even though I wasn’t in a situation where I should be dazzled by someone’s appearance, I still was.
Despite the cold glance he gave in response to my question, I still liked him enough to feel a dull ache in my chest.
How wonderful it would be if one’s heart could be controlled at will. I gave a faint smile to a love that would never be reciprocated.
Even as he faced my expression that seemed about to dissolve into tears, Hyun-oh’s face remained unwavering, contrary to his complicated inner feelings.
“I believe I should.”
With those words, Hyun-oh stood up and coldly turned his back. The tie he had loosened out of discomfort was somehow neatly back in place at the center of his neck.
The sound of his dress shoes echoed softly in the spacious room. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he walked away, and only when he was about to open the door did I whisper in a small voice.
“…I’ll miss you.”
The end of my voice was moist and damp with emotion. It was at that moment that his movement, about to open the door without hesitation, suddenly stopped.
It was such a small voice that one would have to strain to hear it. Yet Hyun-oh turned his head as if his ankle had been caught.
As always, I was looking at him with a submissive expression. Though wearing a faint smile, my dark eyes wavered with an indescribable emotion.
It suddenly occurred to Hyun-oh that I might be crying. Even though my eyes were only slightly redder than usual and my face remained clear, he strangely had a vision of my small face becoming soaked with tears.
He knew. He knew how much courage it had taken for someone with my personality to confess to him.
Knowing this, he still chose to turn away, unable to face my feelings.
Even if these incomprehensible words and sorrowful expression were trying to hold him back now, Hyun-oh would have given me the same answer even if he could go back in time.
That’s why Hyun-oh forcibly restrained his steps that wanted to turn toward me and left the room. Outside, he saw Kim Myungjun and Song Do-ye raising their startled gazes.
“I’m going to the company.”
“Have you finished your meal, sir?”
Seeing Hyun-oh emerge from the room earlier than expected, Kim Myungjun had a bad feeling. He spoke up, prepared to receive a rebuke.
“Don’t add unnecessary comments. Have the car ready. I’ll be going down right away.”
But faced with Hyun-oh’s cold response, he could only suppress a rising sigh and bow his head. Kim Myungjun quickly followed behind Hyun-oh, who had already started walking, and gave Song Do-ye a meaningful look toward the door.
It meant to take good care of Eunsol, who was left alone.
Song Do-ye was already growing anxious, remembering how I had been unable to hide my nervous excitement throughout the journey.
She took a deep breath while standing in front of the door. She knocked lightly with her fist.
“Mr. Eunsol. This is Secretary Song.”
“You may come in.”
Contrary to her concern, my response came immediately. Song Do-ye entered the room, tightening the muscles in her face.
I was standing by the window, gazing at the brilliant night view. I appeared to be doing better than expected. Song Do-ye approached and stood beside me.
“I heard you’ve finished your meal. Shall I call the driver right away?”
Unlike my prompt response to the knock, I only blinked slowly at Song Do-ye’s question.
Song Do-ye swallowed nervously at my face, which looked like a lifeless doll with all vitality drained from it. Up close, I didn’t look fine at all.
Standing there vacantly as if mesmerized by the view outside the window, just breathing, I looked so precarious that it seemed like I might collapse at the slightest touch.
“…Mr. Eunsol.”
She couldn’t leave me standing like this forever. She thought it might be better for my wounded heart to go home and rest.
Fortunately, this time I showed a response. Turning my body to meet Song Do-ye’s eyes, I curved my lips into a smile.
“Secretary Song. I have one favor to ask.”
Although she had served by my side for quite some time, the occasions when I asked for something were few and far between.
It would be problematic if she got used to my gentle expressions when I could simply give orders. If she ever had to serve someone else, she might become disillusioned with her proud work if she couldn’t adapt to a disposition different from mine.
Though she hadn’t served many superiors, she knew very well that my personality was unusual in this world.
Just from the information gathered from her seniors in the industry, I was practically like a unicorn in the world of secretaries.
“Anything you wish, please just say the word.”
Song Do-ye’s manner of speaking had changed considerably compared to when she first started. By now, she considered her superior to be me, not Hyun-oh.
Although she still belonged to Hyun-oh’s personal secretary team, she sincerely followed me.
“I’d like to spend about three days alone. I’m planning to turn off my phone. I’m telling you this in advance so you won’t worry. Also, could you contact the staff who come to the house and ask them not to come for these three days?”
Song Do-ye exerted all her strength into her toes within her shoes to hide her emotional turmoil. She should have realized it when Hyun-oh left the room before the course meal was even finished.
What kind of hurt had he inflicted on this fragile and kind person that made me want time alone?
She was somewhat bewildered since this had never happened before. As if reading her mind, I reached out and carefully took her hand.
Song Do-ye’s eyes trembled uncontrollably. Although we had grown close over time, such intimate physical contact had never occurred.
“Thank you so much for always thinking of me.”
I held Song Do-ye’s hand as if shaking it. The shared warmth momentarily comforted my chilled heart.
Song Do-ye, who had stiffened in surprise, returned the pressure. I smiled faintly and spoke words I had kept inside until now.
“Thanks to you, I was able to navigate difficult situations. I can’t tell you how reassuring it was to have someone as good as you by my side.”
A light blush spread across Song Do-ye’s cheeks. She had merely done her job. Once, due to her oversight, I had almost suffered mistreatment from Han Hyunyong.
Even while under disciplinary action, Song Do-ye thought she would have nothing to say even if she was forced to resign over the incident. After all, she had failed to properly protect the person she served.
However, Song Do-ye returned to her position as my personal secretary sooner than expected. Later, she learned from a senior secretary team member that I had asked Hyun-oh not to impose any unfavorable measures on her because of that incident.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
