Minho's house was wrapped in the quiet softness that only early pregnancy brings. Sora sat curled on the sofa, looking tired but glowing in that fragile, trembling way expectant mothers do.
Yuna knelt beside her, brushing a hand over her hair.
"How are you, darling? How is everything going?" she asked gently.
Sora sighed, pressing a hand on her stomach.
"I feel like I'm dying, ommoni…" she groaned. "Mood swings, nausea… I can't even look at food."
Yuna smiled with the patience of someone who had seen generations of babies grow under her roof. She kissed Sora's forehead tenderly.
"It's normal, sweetheart. Just the early stages of pregnancy."
Sora's lower lip trembled, emotions flooding her easily these days.
"I need you here, Ommoni… I'm scared to take care of myself alone. Minho stays at the office all day…"
Yuna's touch became even softer, comforting.
"I wish I could stay with you," she said truthfully. "But I can visit you more often. And I'll hire a few extra caretakers for you. Is that alright?"
Sora pouted like a little girl. "…Okay."
Yuna kissed her forehead. "Don't worry. This will become one of the most beautiful memories of your life. Just focus on staying healthy and letting the baby grow well."
Sora nodded with a tired but genuine smile.
Kim Mansion
Yuna stepped inside the mansion, taking off her shoes quietly. Mrs Kim looked up immediately, her brows knitting.
"Where were you?" she asked, tone sharper than she intended.
Yuna paused. Her shoulders straightened.
"Do I need permission to see my son?" she replied calmly.
Mrs Kim blinked at the sudden frost.
"I just asked. You could have answered normally."
Yuna's lips tilted into a dry, bitter smirk.
"I'm not interested in talking to every other person in this house."
She walked away without waiting for a response.
Mrs Kim stood stunned until Daehyun walked in, humming as she carried a file.
"What happened, Yejina?"
"Nothing, unni… I just asked Yuna where she was coming from, and she got offended."
Daehyun chuckled. "That's not new. She's always been like that."
Mrs Kim sighed, a rueful smile appearing. "These days, even one sentence offends her."
Daehyun looped her arm through Mrs Kim's. "Leave her. Come, I have a few new designs from the Choi atelier. Choose something for you."
Mrs. Kim sighed and walked away with Daehyun.
Penthouse
The evening in the penthouse was peaceful.
Hauen was outside, humming softly as she watered the plants. A small breeze carried the scent of soil and fresh leaves.
Inside, Suho was on the treadmill, sweat dripping down his forehead, as he had finished his work early today, he was running on the treadmill. These days, he had been pushing himself harder, almost back to the man he used to be. His legs worked smoothly now, his steps steady, confident.
Forty-five minutes passed, no break. A record since his recovery.
"Hauena…" he called proudly.
"Hauena! I've finished in forty-five minutes! No break!" he yelled again, sounding like a gym trainee reporting to his strict coach.
Still no reply.
He frowned deeply. Where did she go?
"Bora!" he called.
"Yes, sir?" Bora appeared from the kitchen.
"Hauenie odi isso?(Where is Hauen?)" He asked, brows drawn.
"Molaseyo sajangnim, (sir… I don't know)." She replied.
Where did this woman disappear again? He muttered, wiping sweat, gulping water, and marching out, automatically searching for the one person he wanted to praise from.
And there she was.
Talking to a tall, well-built man near the garden gate.
Suho's face instantly scrunched.
Who is this… man? Why is she smiling at him? Why is he standing so close?
He walked toward them, suspicious radar fully activated.
"Okay… fine. From next week, you can onboard," Hauen said, offering the man a polite smile.
The man nodded, "Thank you, ma'am."
"What is happening here?" Suho asked, frowning openly now, his gaze locked on the stranger as he came straight from enemy territory.
The man bowed politely. "Annyeong, sir."
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Suho asked immediately.
Hauen stepped in. "This is your new bodyguard. Mr Park."
Suho stared at her. "Why another bodyguard? We already have Mr Lee."
Hauen shook her head. "He is your personal bodyguard, pabo. Didn't you say you'll start going to the office next week? You want to go alone?"
Suho blinked. "Mr Lee is there, right? He'll drop me and pick me up."
She sighed. "Mr Lee is my employee. He's been my bodyguard ever since."
"But I hired him. He is mine now," Suho said… in the exact tone of a man claiming his woman.
Hauen froze, eyebrows shooting up.
Mr Park pressed his lips together, definitely trying not to laugh.
"What did you just say?" she asked, stunned.
Suho's eyes widened as he realized how it sounded. "I mean, I hired him with a salary hike. I don't want a new one," he argued quickly.
She breathed out, exasperated. "Seems like you're in love with Mr Lee. Fine. Mr Park, you can be my bodyguard. Let him keep his precious Mr Lee."
Mr Park smiled softly. "Okay, ma'am." He turned to leave.
"Hey, wait," Suho stopped him.
Hauen looked at her husband, genuinely confused. "Now what?"
"Where is your resume? What's your background? Are you married or single? How long have you been in this industry? Which agency do you work for? Any criminal record? Who are your references?" Suho fired the questions like bullets.
Hauen rubbed her forehead. "Teddy… I've taken his interview, done the background check, everything. Then I hired him."
Suho glanced at her, then back at Mr Park. "Still, I don't trust him. Send me your documents. I'll reverify it. Only after I check your history will you be hired."
Hauen was done. Completely.
"Teddy…"
"Don't call me that," he cut her off instantly. "Listen, it's about my wife's safety. That's why I'm cautious. Do as I say and get hired."
Mr Park nodded with a polite bow. "Sure, sir."
Suho nodded back. Mr Park left.
As soon as he disappeared, Suho turned around.
Hauen was staring at him with a deadly serious expression, arms folded across her chest.
"What?" he asked.
"You really had to do that?" she asked.
"Of course… I can't trust anyone when it comes to safety. Especially you," he said.
"And?" she asked.
"And what?" he said.
"And why are you stealing Mr. Lee?" she asked.
Suho looked at her, offended. "What do you mean by stealing? I just hired him as my bodyguard. He is trustworthy."
Hauen exhaled a long, exhausted breath. "I thought you fell in love with Mr Lee," she muttered, turning back to water the plants.
His eyes went wide instantly. "What...? What are you saying? Don't misinterpret it. I'm not that type," he clarified quickly, almost panicking.
Hauen pressed her lips, fighting a smile. "The way you're obsessed with him, what should I assume?"
"Yaa… Hauena… How can you? How can a wife say such things to her husband? And why do you call me 'teddy' in front of strangers?" he complained, voice rising like a grumpy child.
Hauen looked at him calmly. "See… you don't even like me calling you with the pet name I gave with love. I knew it. You are into Mr Lee," she declared dramatically.
Suho looked at her, fully scandalized. He opened his mouth to argue but gave up halfway, realizing how pointless it was. He stayed quiet, lips in a pout, clearly mad.
Hauen watched him and couldn't help the soft laugh that slipped out at his expression. She felt bad for teasing him.
"Teddy?" she said gently, reaching for his hand.
He yanked it away in the cutest little pull-back, still mad, and turned to walk off.
Hauen smiled, the affection bubbling in her chest.
"Yaa… Suho… are you mad? Yaa… wait, I'm sorry! Stop, husband! Talk to me, my love!" she yelled after him.
But he kept walking, mad, all stiff shoulders and dramatic silence.
She smiled again, helplessly. "Sulky bear." She turned off the water tap and followed him inside to make peace with her pouty bear.
To be Continued....