Episode 5
Christine slowly calmed down as she watched him say nothing.
Right… there’s no way this could be true.
She tried to push away the shock, thinking he must be lying. Angry, Christine said:
“President Deirt.”
She couldn’t understand why he was lying and trying to hold onto her like this.
Or maybe… was this revenge? Because she left him and divorced him without his permission?
Even so, this kind of crazy lie was too much.
Her hands clenched into fists, turning white.
“You think I’ll believe that kind of lie? It’s not funny. It’s disgusting.”
“It’s true.”
He leaned back in his seat, placed a hand on his forehead, and sighed deeply.
“I have a terrible illness. Right now, there’s no cure. So please, feel sorry for me and just talk to me slowly.”
Talk?
Christine frowned.
Wait—did he just say he has an incurable disease? This young and healthy man? The powerful Seimon Deirt who controlled the world’s economy?
“No way.”
“Is this a joke? Don’t joke about life!”
“Christine.”
He saw how upset she was and tried to calm her down.
“Don’t get angry. The baby can hear you.”
“Then let me go. I don’t want to hear your lies anymore. And it’s not your baby.”
Christine glared at him. But then Seimon looked down at her stomach with sad eyes and said:
“Stop it, Christine. Seriously—this child is my only heir. I thought about it all night. When I die, this child is the only one who can inherit Deirt.”
Christine froze.
“…What did you just say?”
Seimon looked into her eyes and said clearly:
“Heir. The one who will have everything I own and carry my responsibilities. I don’t care if the baby is another man’s child. As long as it’s your child.”
Christine stared at him in shock, feeling like she’d been hit in the head.
Heir? Her baby?
She wanted to raise the baby far away from the Deirt family. She thought if she lived quietly in another country, her late parents and brother would forgive her for marrying into a Republican family.
She wanted to meet them in heaven with a smile.
But now…
Her face turned pale. Seimon’s golden eyes darkened as he continued.
“When I die, someone must take my place. You don’t think Deirt is just a small store, do you, Lady Christine Elite Oredot?”
Silence filled the car.
In the darkness, his golden eyes shone. There was no fear or anger in them—just calm acceptance of death.
Only then did she realize—he was telling the truth.
Christine felt like she was drowning.
Is this real?
Her hands trembled. Even if he was her ex-husband and someone she resented, watching him face death was too much to bear.
But Seimon, the man who had been told he was dying, was strangely calm.
That made it even harder for Christine to hold back her tears. She clenched her shaking hands and demanded:
“Why are you dying? Why? What kind of illness is it?”
“Now you believe me?”
He smiled weakly and leaned on the window.
“If I tell you, will you accept this child as my heir?”
He pointed to her belly, and Christine glared.
“Explain properly. Don’t use the baby to make deals.”
Christine’s voice sharpened. She became sensitive the moment he mentioned her baby.
“Then let’s get out of here. A small space like this isn’t good for a pregnant woman.”
“Are you worried for your heir now?”
She snapped and opened the door first. Behind her, Seimon sighed deeply.
“…Hah.”
A painful, heavy sigh. Christine’s legs felt weak.
What’s going on? Why is he really dying? What’s with that sigh?
She couldn’t understand any of it. She followed the hotel assistant, Andrei, inside.
She didn’t want to walk with Seimon.
I have to find out what’s really going on. I need answers.
She had just entered the hotel lobby when—
“Ugh.”
She heard a soft groan behind her.
…Seimon?
Startled, Christine turned her head. Seimon had collapsed into a lobby sofa, head down.
His face had turned completely pale. A sudden, sharp pain tore through his head like it would explode.
But he tried to hide it.
He didn’t want anyone—especially Christine—to see him like this.
He clutched his forehead so tightly his fingertips turned white.
Seeing this, Andrei rushed to him in panic.
Seimon’s lips were trembling.
“President!”
Even Andrei’s support made Seimon feel humiliated, but he couldn’t take it anymore. With a shaking voice, he finally said:
“…Medicine.”
Cold sweat ran down his chin. Andrei quickly pulled pills from his pocket while another assistant brought water.
“Here it is!”
Leaning weakly on the sofa, Seimon squeezed his eyes shut. He took three white pills and swallowed them quickly.
“Hoo…”
He breathed heavily, eyes still closed. He hated showing himself like this.
He feared that everything might end like this—so weak, so defeated.
Christine stood frozen, watching him like a scene from a play.
Ah…
It hit her.
He really was dying.
She had accepted it before, but not like this—not in such a real, physical way.
To be honest, she had thought he was just trying to use the baby to keep her.
But now…
How could I be so foolish?
If his disease was that serious, of course he would be in pain. But she didn’t even think of that.
“Hah…”
“Should I bring more water, sir?”
“No…”
Even while gasping in pain, Seimon still tried to act strong.
Christine had never seen him like this during their two years of marriage.
He always acted perfect in front of others. Always healthy, always in control.
He was almost too healthy. Not even a cold. He worked for days with no sleep and was fine.
He’s really sick?
Christine couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She didn’t even know how to approach him.
That man didn’t look like the Seimon she once knew.
“Hoo… hoo…”
Seimon bent forward and breathed deeply. After a while, he slowly leaned back on the sofa.
Then, his eyes met Christine’s. She stood stiff, eyes wide in shock.
He gave a small order to Andrei.
“Tell Lucy… to take Christine to her room.”
“Yes, sir. Lucy, escort Miss Oredot.”
“Yes, understood.”
A woman near Seimon stepped forward and greeted Christine politely.
“I’m Lucy Berrerent. I’ll take you to your room.”
She signaled with her eyes—come with me.
Christine, still stunned, followed her to the elevator.
“….”
“….”
There was silence.
Waiting for the elevator, Christine swallowed hard. Finally, she couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Is he… in pain like that often?”
Lucy glanced at her briefly and shook her head.
“All details about the president are confidential to outsiders. I’m sorry.”
“Oh… okay…”
Her answer hit Christine hard. She was now considered an outsider. She had no right to know anything.
She realized she had been crossing a line. She clenched her fists.
That’s right. We’re nothing now. I shouldn’t try to know more.
But she still worried. He looked like he was really suffering.
A terminal illness… But he looked fine before I left…
Christine tightly gripped the handle of her bag.
Why? How? A man who seemed so strong and untouchable… how did this happen?
If he really dies… what should I do?
Her heart pounded heavily in her chest.
