WAF 35

Chapter 35

The change in Sehun’s expression—he had been laughing just moments ago—was instantaneous.

“Since I’m not getting any younger, there’s no benefit in delaying. I’m trying my best.”

Dohun replied while looking at Eunha with loving eyes.

Eunha’s heart fluttered at the way he looked at her so suddenly.
And the words “I’m trying” made her face burn.

Yi-hak looked very pleased as he chimed in.

“Of course. Even if you start trying now, you never know when the child will come.”

“Well thought.”

Even Iljun, who almost never spoke, added his encouragement.

“Come on, hyung. No matter how rushed you are, are you really planning to have a baby right away, without even enjoying married life? You should still enjoy being newlyweds.”

Sehun inserted himself into the conversation under the guise of looking out for them. Somehow, he had already recovered his expression; his mouth smiled, but his eyes stayed sharp.

“You need to think of your wife too. Maybe you’re in a hurry, but she’s only twenty-five—she’s in her prime.”

“This is what she wants.”

“…What?”

At that moment, everyone’s gaze fell on Eunha.

Feeling embarrassed, Eunha slowly opened her mouth.

“Yes. I really like children. I want to have Mr. Dohun’s baby as soon as possible.”

It was something she had prepared to say in case the elders ever asked.
But right now, she meant it sincerely. Ever since she began carrying feelings for Dohun, she truly wanted his child.

“You’re not like most young people these days. You know you need to take good care of your body if you want to have a child, right?”

“Yes, Grandfather. I’ll take care of myself.”

Feeling satisfied that Eunha was following his wishes so well, Yi-hak nodded and then called out to Sunju.

“Hey. Call Director Kim and have him prepare some herbal medicine and send it over.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Sunju sat frozen with a dazed expression, then reluctantly replied.

“And don’t give the new daughter-in-law any stress.”

At that moment, Sunju’s eyes drifted toward Iljun, who sat there indifferently.

She remembered telling him that if Yi-hak heard she was making Eunha work, it wouldn’t be good for Sehun.
Iljun wouldn’t have tattled directly, of course.
Yi-hak must have simply assumed it himself, but even so, it felt unpleasant.

The talk about babies bothered her too.
After harassing Eunha for a few days, it sounded like Dohun’s warning for her to stop.
And on top of that, it was a chance to appeal once again to Yi-hak, who was eagerly waiting for a grandchild.

Knowing Dohun’s personality—how he never said anything lightly—he very well could have meant it that way.

“A baby? What nonsense.”

There was no way she would sit by and let Eunha have a child first.

Sehun seemed to feel the same; his face was stiff as he stared down at his rice bowl.

Three days had passed since Dohun left on his business trip to America.

His absence was immense.
Eunha spent the days feeling unsettled, as if the house had become completely empty.

Being alone made her think too much, and her dreams were troubled.
Last night too, Chan-woo appeared in her dream and tormented her all night. It was the several-th time since she saw his name in Pyeongchang-dong.

She kept telling herself, “It must just be someone with the same name.”
But she couldn’t help being conscious of it.

What happened when she was twenty, in Las Vegas, was truly horrifying.
If she had been dragged by Chan-woo and sold off to that gambler that day—what would her life have become?

If it hadn’t been for Dohun then, those terrifying possibilities might have become her reality.

Maybe that was why her bond with Dohun felt even more strange, miraculous, and precious the more she thought about it.

Trying to shake off the unease from Chan-woo, she started her day thinking of Dohun instead.

Late that morning, Eunha had just arrived at the hospital.

While Dohun was away, she had been visiting Eun-pyo’s room every day.

“Why are you blocking me? I’m the brother-in-law of patient Yeo Eun-pyo who’s hospitalized here, and I’m here to visit!”

The VIP ward entrance was unusually noisy.

“I’m sorry, sir. But except for the registered guardian, Ms. Yeo Eun-ha, all visitations are currently prohibited.”

“What did you say? Since when? Who decided that? Who’s in charge here?”

“This is a visitation restriction requested by the guardian of Mr. Yeo Eun-pyo. Thank you for understanding.”

One voice was polite but firm; the other was agitated and coarse.
Someone was causing a scene all the way in the VIP ward.
And once she looked closely, she saw that the center of the commotion was Youngcheol.

Eunha hurried toward him in surprise.

“Director Park, what’s going on?”

“Madam, you’re here early. I was just about to contact you…”

He looked troubled to see her appear so suddenly.

At first, Eunha didn’t understand what was happening—and then she froze.

The person causing the commotion was Chan-woo.

He looked the same as always: a heavy, sluggish body, an oily face, and eyes that were both overbearing and sleazy.

But why was he here?

It had been so long since he cut ties with Eun-pyo.

After dreaming about him for days, was this meeting inevitable?

As Eunha stood speechless in shock, Chan-woo noticed her first and spoke.

“Oh, Yeo Eunha. Long time no see. I heard you’re living well now.”

“…What brings you here?”

Eunha barely managed to steady herself enough to speak.
She had absolutely no desire to exchange pleasantries with him.

Her cold attitude made Chan-woo’s face twist with anger.

“You rude brat. You don’t even greet your uncle when you see him?”

“Watch your mouth!”

When Youngcheol stepped in to block him, the two men’s eyes clashed mid-air, the tension crackling.

“I don’t know why you’re here, but stop causing trouble and leave.”

Unable to watch any longer, Eunha stepped forward.
This was, after all, a public space. She had to stop him from making a scene.

“Am I not allowed to come? I came to visit my brother-in-law, and you’re treating me like some criminal. What a joke.”

Even with people watching, Chan-woo spat phlegm on the floor and added a string of curses. The filthiness he lived by had not changed at all.

“Dad won’t be happy to see you. Please leave.”

“That’s all because of you. You framed me. Giving your body once—what’s the big deal? You caused a whole scene, kept me from getting money from your dad, and even tore me apart from my sister. If you think about it, everything started because of you. You should’ve lived your life better.”

He rambled nonsensically, then chuckled as if he found himself amusing.

“You’re the one who treated your niece’s life like it was nothing.”

She hated even calling him “uncle.”

She still remembered vividly how horrifying his gaze had been the first time she saw him back in elementary school, through her stepmother Chansook.

“That’s your fate. Looks like marrying into a chaebol family has made you forget your place. But even thieves can’t steal destiny. You’ll find out what I mean soon.”

He rolled his eyes grotesquely and let out another chilling laugh.

In his mind, once Eun-pyo died and Eunha divorced Dohun, she’d become worthless—and he could pass her around however he pleased.
The thought alone already thrilled him.

“That’s enough. If you insult Madam one more time, I won’t stand by.”

“Oh wow, Yeo Eunha really climbed up in the world.”

When Youngcheol stepped forward protectively, Chan-woo sneered.

“If you don’t leave immediately, we will remove you by force.”

Youngcheol pointed to the guards standing behind him, threatening Chan-woo.
Even reckless Chan-woo couldn’t ignore him and the guards.

He couldn’t afford to ruin his plans by making a big scene now.

“But why are there so many guards in a VIP ward? Looks like some giant corporation chairman must be admitted here.”

Frustrated that things weren’t going his way, Chan-woo grumbled at the guards and turned away.

“If you don’t want me around, I don’t have to pretend to be polite. I’m busy too. Yeo Eunha—see you again sometime.”

After he left, Eunha collapsed into a sofa in the hallway.

“Madam, are you alright?”

“…Yes. I’m fine.”