Episode 46
It didn’t take long before two red lines appeared on the test strip.
Two lines. Clearly visible.
“Pregnant?”
Sorin’s strength drained from her legs as she looked at the instruction label on the box.
No way… How?
Taeyoon always did things his own way, so there was no point in wondering when. The only one who didn’t want a child was Sorin, so contraception had always been solely her responsibility.
That’s why she had always taken her birth control pills carefully and consistently. If a baby came into the picture, the one who’d be in trouble was her. So there was no way. No way this could be happening.
But as if mocking her denial, the faint red lines grew clearer, announcing Sorin’s pregnancy without question.
“There’s a baby… in here?”
She murmured softly and covered her belly with her palm.
It was still flat—there was no physical sign yet—but she was told that another life existed within her. Not just her own anymore.
Then… what should I do?
Her thoughts creaked like a rusted machine trying to move.
She was at the airport, just minutes away from boarding a flight. She was about to leave the country.
What do I do about the baby?
Abort it? Or give birth?
If I decide to give birth… how? Could I raise the baby in New Zealand?
Even if she decided to keep the baby, raising it would be another matter entirely. Especially with Youngsook watching her every move over there.
Youngsook would never want Sorin to have Taeyoon’s child. An illegitimate child would become a major flaw in Taeyoon’s image if Jaehee ever found out.
Youngsook didn’t want any blemish on Taeyoon.
A perfect marriage—that was what Youngsook desired.
Giving birth while hiding from Youngsook’s watchful eye would be nearly impossible. And even if she did manage to hide it, she would have to raise the baby alone. In a foreign country, with no father, no family, only her.
How was she supposed to raise a child like that?
Sorin shut her eyes tightly.
She felt sorry for the baby—but she just wasn’t ready.
She would cancel the flight and terminate the pregnancy. That was the right decision.
As Sorin made her decision and moved to exit the restroom, the innocent eyes of a little girl she had met earlier in front of the pharmacy came to mind.
“Baby, baby!”
The child who had held out a bunny plush toy to her—her flushed cheeks that reminded Sorin of ripe peaches, those sparkling eyes like embedded jewels—her pure gaze kept replaying in Sorin’s mind, like it was scolding her for even considering this choice.
It was still early—too early to even form a shape—but this was still a life. A life created by her and Taeyoon’s flesh and blood.
Sorin reached for the restroom door handle, only to hesitate, again and again.
If she walked out and returned to the man waiting for her outside, she would never get to meet the baby growing in her belly. Never.
But Sorin still had another option left. A different life—one where she and a child resembling the person she once loved could live in this world together.
She wondered what that kind of world might look like.
Just like her father had raised her after her mother passed away, tied together by the shared bond of loss—maybe she could do the same.
A path not taken can only be known by walking it. And without courage, that path will remain forever out of reach. She understood that now.
Sorin gritted her teeth and firmly grabbed the restroom door handle.
—
While waiting outside for Sorin, Secretary Han’s phone rang.
“Yes, this is Han Jonghoon.”
As soon as he answered, Youngsook’s sharp voice came through.
“Where’s Sorin?”
Han looked around for her. He had seen her head into the restroom after buying something from the pharmacy. She stood out with her light pink cardigan.
Everyone else was in short sleeves due to the warm weather, but she was bundled up strangely, her complexion pale…
Was she sick?
It would be over an 11-hour flight to New Zealand. Could she handle it alone in that condition?
Han shook his head slightly and reported,
“She’s at the airport, waiting to depart.”
“Good. Make sure she doesn’t run. Watch her like a hawk until she gets on the plane—and don’t just stop at the gate. Make sure she’s in the air before you leave. Understood?”
“Yes, don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll follow your instructions precisely.”
Youngsook finally seemed satisfied.
“Well, I did cover the Dongyoung Foods promissory notes like she asked, so it’s about time. Should’ve done this earlier… Hmph. Feels good though.”
Muttering to herself, she abruptly hung up.
Han slipped his phone back into his jacket pocket with a stoic face. He checked his watch again.
Three hours until takeoff.
Still plenty of time.
He sat up straight and began considering when he should escort Sorin into the departure area.
The airport was calm, not too crowded.
Maybe 30 more minutes of waiting.
So he waited for 20 minutes.
But Sorin never came out of the restroom.
Had she fainted inside?
Considering how frail she looked, that was possible.
Han, now concerned, finally stood up. He walked over to the restroom entrance, but he couldn’t just enter the women’s restroom.
Luckily, a woman was about to go in. He stopped her.
“Excuse me, could I ask you a favor?”
“Huh? What is it?”
“Could you check if there’s anyone collapsed inside? A woman went in quite a while ago and hasn’t come out.”
Thinking he was a worried husband, the woman nodded readily.
“Sure, just a moment.”
She stepped inside.
But even after quite a while, she didn’t return.
All he asked was for her to check, so why was it taking so long?
Tap tap tap tap—Han’s foot tapped the floor anxiously, faster and faster.
Eventually, the woman came out—but she looked puzzled.
“Well?”
He asked.
She tilted her head and said,
“Are you sure this is the right restroom?”
“What?”
“There’s no one inside. Not a single person, let alone someone collapsed.”
“That’s impossible…”
“I’m serious. I even checked twice just to be sure.”
Startled, Han’s eyes darted around. Then, without thinking, he pushed past the woman and rushed inside.
“Wait! That’s the women’s restroom—!”
The woman protested, but her voice didn’t register in his ears.
Stomp stomp, he widened his strides, flinging open stall doors roughly. They slammed into walls with loud bangs, but he didn’t stop.
Bang!
He checked the last stall and finally stopped.
No one.
Nowhere in the restroom was Sorin to be found.
“What the hell…”
He had kept an eye on the entrance most of the time. At no point did he see that pale pink cardigan exit the restroom.
Stunned, Han stood in the empty restroom, unable to believe what had just happened.
—
“What?! Sorin’s disappeared?!”
When Han reported this to Youngsook, she practically had a fit.
“How the hell does someone vanish from the airport like that?!”
“I’m still trying to figure out how it happened.”
“Han! Didn’t I tell you to keep a close eye on her?!”
Before she could finish scolding him, she sensed someone approaching nearby. She quickly shut her mouth.
Turning around, she saw Taeyoon staring at her with a terrifying expression.
Caught off guard, she parted her lips in shock, but quickly forced a smile and softened her tone.
“Taeyoon, you’re home early today! Is something wrong—?”
“Did something happen to Sorin?”
He cut her off bluntly.
Youngsook shook her head.
“Happen? No, nothing at all. Everything’s fine, Taeyoon.”
But Taeyoon’s cold, hard expression didn’t budge.
He slowly walked toward her. Though clearly a man, he seemed more like a predator closing in, and a chill ran down Youngsook’s spine.
