Chapter 44
by GideonHyewan froze, her voice trembling as she spoke to Yundo, who was calling her name in a panic.
“I’m… I’m okay. I’m not hurt.”
“That bastard… I’ll kill him!”
Consumed by a terrifying rage, Yundo stepped out of the car and rushed to her side. The thought of what might have happened if he hadn’t gotten out of the car just a fraction of a second sooner made her stomach churn. Even Haetsal seemed startled; Hyewan felt her belly tighten painfully.
“Just… just take me home.”
“Alright.”
He helped Hyewan into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt. Fourteen weeks, she thought. That’s always the problem.
Saturday was Chairwoman Kang’s eighty-third birthday. No matter how much Yundo detested it, he couldn’t skip the birthday celebration of his family’s eldest matriarch—his grandmother.
“Hyewan, you stay home. No, I’ll take you to your mother’s place.”
“Why are you acting like this? It’s not like I’m showing,” Hyewan said, taken aback.
It wasn’t the first time she’d felt embarrassed by his overprotectiveness whenever his family was involved.
“It’s my grandmother’s birthday, not some other day. I’d be too ashamed to face her if I missed it. My mother would scold me, too.”
Min-suk had always insisted that Hyewan fulfill her duties unless she was being treated unfairly. Hyewan agreed.
“Lately, I just want to keep you tied to the bed.”
“Bora knows all about that kind of thing,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood. “Should I ask her to buy us a pair of handcuffs?”
He let out a soft chuckle.
“What would Bora think of me if I asked for that? She’d just call me an idiot. If anyone’s buying it, it’ll be me.”
Hyewan handed him his jacket.
“Hurry up and put it on. We’re late.”
“I really don’t want to go.”
Ever since Wednesday’s accident, Yundo had been anxious about putting Hyewan in the car. But walking all the way to his parents’ house was out of the question. Even the distant roar of a motorcycle brought back the memory of that day—the one that had nearly clipped Hyewan. It infuriated him that no matter how careful he was, he couldn’t protect her from the recklessness of strangers.
Once they were in the car, Yundo fastened Hyewan’s seatbelt for her.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
For his own peace of mind, he also handed her a soft cushion to hold.
“My husband is such a handful. What are you going to do when Haetsal is born? You’ll be even more anxious then. The whole world will seem dangerous to you.”
“I’m worried too.”
“You’re definitely going to be an overbearing dad.”
“I’ll admit it. I’m going to be a total doting father, showing you off to everyone.”
Hyewan knew she’d be embarrassed, but there was no need to tell him the truth now. If it put his mind at ease, he could dote on the baby all he wanted. Haetsal, this is on you. You’re the one who has to keep your dad calm.
“Shall we go?”
“Haetsal is already ready.”
“Alright.”
The car left the underground parking lot and pulled onto the road.
“Oh, Bora is coming over tomorrow evening. Is that okay?”
Bora had decided to throw a gender reveal party for Yundo, complete with a cake and balloons.
“Of course. She’s welcome anytime.”
Yundo, completely oblivious, was his usual “yes-man” self. She was already looking forward to seeing how happy he would be.
“Will Grandma like the gift?”
She had prepared a set of luxury teacups for Chairwoman Kang, who loved tea. Yundo shook his head.
“Not a chance. She thinks nothing made by a mere human could ever be worthy of her noble self. Just give it to her.”
His blunt answer hurt her feelings.
“I spent so much time picking this out…!”
“It’s not your taste, Haetsal. It’s just that she’s an ungrateful woman. She’ll find a flaw in a limited-edition luxury item, so it’s faster to just give up on trying to please her.”
“…If that’s the case, alright. I won’t take it personally.”
“Haetsal’s mommy is so good, not even crying.”
“Because I’m a mommy.”
He smiled at her.
That was when it happened.
A car in the opposite lane was hurtling toward them without slowing down. Yundo’s blood ran cold.
Instinctively, he yanked the steering wheel.
A deafening roar and a massive impact slammed into the passenger side, not the front. The car that had been in the next lane over had struck them. Their vehicle spun in a full circle before grinding to a halt.
Yundo, who had slammed his head against the window, finally came to his senses.
“Hyewan!”
He screamed her name, and the moment he saw her, his heart seemed to stop. She was slumped, her head lolling to the side, blood streaming down her forehead.
“Hyewan! Ko Hyewan! Answer me!”
Her white dress, stained with blood, remained still.
She was fourteen weeks and four days pregnant.
Yundo was miraculously unharmed, but Hyewan’s legs were pinned under the wreckage, requiring the jaws of life to free her. After being rushed to the hospital, her condition remained critical. As he waited in the emergency room for her treatment, Dr. Hwang, who had been called in, approached him.
“The Vice President needs to be examined as well.”
But Yundo was far from lucid.
“No, Hyewan comes first.”
“Guardian of Ms. Ko Hyewan!”
“That’s me!”
At the medical staff’s call, Yundo shoved Dr. Hwang aside and rushed to Hyewan’s bed.
“Ms. Ko Hyewan will undergo leg surgery followed by an obstetric procedure.”
“An obstetric procedure?”
“I’m sorry, but she has suffered a miscarriage.”
Yundo felt as if his heart would burst. He couldn’t believe this hellish reality.
“Is… is my wife… is she going to be okay?”
“We can’t guarantee anything right now. She needs to go into surgery immediately, so please sign the consent form.”
His hand trembled as he signed.
Yundo sat in the hallway outside the operating room, his clothes stained with Hyewan’s blood.
Hyewan underwent surgery for a compound fracture in her right leg. Her internal organs had also suffered trauma, so they had to monitor her condition, but they said her life was not in immediate danger.
Haetsal, who had lived for fourteen weeks and four days in her womb, departed without ever seeing the light of day. There was no body to recover, meaning they couldn’t even build a grave to visit.
“Yundo!”
“Hyung!”
Chairwoman Kang led the way as Madam Park and Yun-woo rushed over. He looked at his family with hollow eyes.
“Yundo, are you hurt? Any broken bones?”
Chairwoman Kang, who had been inspecting Yundo, clasped her hands over her chest.
“Oh, thank God. Thank goodness you’re safe, our eldest grandson!”
Haetsal is dead, and Hyewan is lying there unconscious, yet you’re telling me it’s a relief that I’m safe?
Infuriated, Yundo shook off Chairwoman Kang’s hand.
“How can you say you’re glad I’m safe?! How can you even say that?”
His fury echoed through the hallway.
“Do you even realize what’s happening right now?”
Yundo’s world had crumbled.
He had always thought the day his father died was the worst moment of his life. The feeling of being left all alone in a world that had turned to black ash was devastating and despairing. But back then, he hadn’t been afraid. He had been confident he could rebuild that ashen world.
But now, Yundo was terrified. He was so afraid that Hyewan would leave him, just as Haetsal had. He couldn’t even dare to cry. He was too scared to let the tears fall, for that would mean accepting this hell as his reality.
“Yundo, you! I know you’re upset, but how dare you raise your voice to your elder? Is this how I taught you?”
“Grandmother!”
Just looking at Chairwoman Kang—who didn’t give a damn about his feelings, or Hyewan’s pain—made him nauseous.
“Lower your voice! I’m sorry the new bride is hurt, but isn’t it a relief that at least one of you is unharmed? Does her being injured mean you have to be hurt too?”
“Mother!”
Madam Park hurriedly cut her off.
“Why are you interrupting your mother-in-law? Oh, my dear in-law.”
Chairwoman Kang turned her annoyed gaze and spotted Min-suk.
“Ahem. In-law, you’ve arrived.”
“…Hello.”
Min-suk, who had rushed over the moment she heard about Hyewan’s accident, looked as if she might collapse. Gyeong-ae supported her, glaring at Chairwoman Kang with resentment.
Madam Park bowed her head to Min-suk. “The new bride is in the operating room. I have no excuse.”
“The baby…?”
“I’m sorry.”
At the sight of Madam Park unable to even lift her head, Min-suk clamped her jaw shut, biting her pale lips. If she didn’t, she felt she would scream.
My child is hurt, my grandchild is dead! How can he say something like that? Does he only care as long as his own bloodline is safe?
The memory of Hyewan’s face when she announced her pregnancy was still vivid. Her usually gaunt face had held a smile as beautiful as a flower.
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