Chapter Text
“Is this enough?” Haein's furrowed brow softened as she scrutinized the email draft once more, weighing each word with meticulous care. The past few days had been a whirlwind of tension between her retail team and the formidable force of Gentle Monster. Known for their avant-garde concepts and museum-like exhibitions, the eyewear brand now demanded a staggering 1500sqft space for a pop-up store, a significant increase from their initial plan. Haein's lips pressed into a thin line as she considered the implications of this demand on Queens Department Store, her gaze flickering over the words on her screen.
She was not one to micromanage; her leadership style was defined by a blend of strictness and trust in her capable team. Yet, Gentle Monster's relentless demands had pushed her to the edge. The threat of them pulling out from the pop-up store loomed ominously, casting a shadow over her usual composed demeanor. Without hesitation, she had requested to be included in all email communications between the parties involved. If there was a battle to be fought, she would meet it head-on.
With a final exhale, she hit the send button, resolving to face whatever repercussions might come. Her phone buzzed, momentarily distracting her from her thoughts. A gentle smile tugged at her lips as she read her husband's message, a welcome reprieve from the intensity of her day.
“Yeobo, I am almost done with work. Are you ready to go home?” he texted.
“Yes. Let’s go home”
“I’ll come to your office in 5 minutes”
“Ok, see you in a bit. I need to go to the washroom first”
Haein set her phone down, a lingering smile gracing her features. Despite the passage of more than a year since their marriage—or remarriage—Baek Hyunwoo still stirred a flutter of butterflies within her. Often, she found herself pondering their past dynamics in the office, a time now obscured by the haze of lost memories and the pain of divorce. Though fragments of her past had gradually resurfaced, they remained scattered and elusive, blurring the lines of time and leaving her disoriented. Hyunwoo, however, had proven to be a steadfast beacon, patiently piecing together the puzzle of her past with unwavering support. He was her guide through the labyrinth of forgotten moments, unafraid to confront even the most painful of memories.
With a swift flick of her wrist, Haein powered down her monitor, the screen plunging into darkness as she prepared to depart. She deftly retrieved her Valentino handbag, fingers brushing against the smooth leather surface as she sought out her lipstick. With practiced precision, she applied the crimson hue to her lips, a final touch of elegance before the day's end.
A gentle rap on her glass office door drew her attention, anticipation fluttering in her chest as she recognized the familiar rhythm. Baek Hyunwoo entered, his presence bringing with it a wave of warmth and affection. Their smiles mirrored each other's, eyes alight with the unspoken language of love as they closed the distance between them. In the sanctuary of her spacious office, they embraced, the world beyond the confines of their arms fading into insignificance. Here, in this moment, they found respite from the stresses of the day, lost in the simple pleasure of each other's company. Their embrace was a sanctuary, a haven of solace and reassurance in a tumultuous world. Hyunwoo pulled away but proceeded pressing a tender kiss to her lips, Haein felt her heart swell with adoration, his touch a balm to her soul.
“How was your day?” he withdrew from their tender embrace, his hands lingered possessively around her petite waist. His gaze, like liquid honey, remained fixed on hers, an unspoken declaration of devotion
“Hmm” she pursed her lips. “It was fine but the issue with Gentle Monster is still being escalated. I have to step in” her lips turned into a cute pout. Just moments ago, she had been the epitome of a charismatic CEO, commanding authority with effortless grace but the moment she was in her husband’s arms, she shed the armor of leadership, allowing herself to embrace vulnerability. In his embrace, she was able to seek solace and reassurance, finding comfort in his unwavering support regardless of the magnitude of her worries.
“I heard about that from my team. I am sure you have everything under control” he smiled, his hands intertwined behind her back, offering a sturdy pillar of support. His thumb traced gentle circles against her spine, a tender gesture of comfort and affection.
“Yeah, we are trying to offer them something to compensate. I tried to go with rental discount first. Let’s see what will be their response” she added.
“Good. My team will be ready to revise their contract, just let us know” Hyunwoo reassured. Haein nodded to his statement, feeling blessed for having a very competent and capable Legal Director as her husband.
“Oh wait, I need to go to the washroom. Can you wait for me at the elevator?” she pulled away.
“Sure, I will grab your handbag and coat” he smiled.
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Exiting the washroom cubicle, Haein approached the sink to cleanse her hands. As she reached for the soap, her gaze wandered to a corner of the washroom where a small station provided essential items for women, such as pads, tampons, and feminine wash. She couldn't recall instructing Secretary Na to implement this thoughtful initiative, but Secretary Na claimed that it had been Haein’s idea all along and the female employees were very grateful with the initiatives.
The sight of the women's essentials triggered a sudden realization—she couldn't remember the last time she'd had her period. "How long has it been? One month? Two months?" she mused aloud, her brow furrowing with concern. A wave of unfamiliar emotions washed over her, prompting a sense of urgency. "Ah! The period tracker!" she remembered that she tracked her period with an app. With a quick twist of the tap, she hurried out of the bathroom, determined to address the nagging uncertainty.
A puzzled expression knit her brow as she briskly made her way toward Hyunwoo, who stood patiently by the elevator.
“Are you okay?” he asked, observing her fast steps and the enigmatic expressions playing across her face. He had an uncanny ability to discern her moods—whether she was unwell, troubled, or melancholic—simply from her countenance. Yet, this time, despite his familiarity with her, he found himself unable to decipher the thoughts concealed within her mind.
“My phone. I need my phone” Haein exclaimed urgently as she rushed to Hyunwoo's side and began rummaging through her handbag, which he held, to retrieve her phone.
“Yeobo, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” His concern escalated as he watched her tap away on her phone with an unsettled look. Despite his inquiries, she remained silent, completely absorbed in her screen. Growing increasingly impatient, he awaited her response until her gaze finally shifted from the phone to him.
“I am late” she said.
“Huh?”
"I'm late. It has been over a month since I last had my period" she stated with a tone that wavered between nonchalant and shocked.
“I know” he nodded.
“You knew?!” her voice suddenly carried a hint of increased sternness.
“Of course. I remember every time you had your period because I have to count the days… you know…” he grinned slyly. She was fully aware of what he meant but she did not find it amusing this time.
“You knew and you noticed but you didn’t tell me?” her voice raised even higher.
“I thought you knew too. You had your period tracker right?” he suddenly felt scared of his wife sudden change of mood.
“Baek Hyunwoo, I know you’re a Law graduate from SNU, but don’t tell me you don’t know basic science?” she took a jab at him, delivering a sarcastic remark in the hope that he might finally realize what was happening.
"Uhh..." He remained puzzled and silent, his face a portrait of confusion, utterly lost in the situation. At the same time, he remembered the old Haein said similar words to him when they were talking about the busman.
Haein heaved a big sigh and pressed the elevator button. At times, she couldn't believe how dense her husband could be.
"Forget it, let's go. We need to stop by the pharmacy on our way home," she informed him.
"The pharmacy? Why?" he inquired. As the elevator dinged and the doors opened, Haein entered with her arms folded, feeling a twinge of frustration at her husband's sluggish thought process. As the elevator doors closed, and she turned to him, exasperated.
"Yeobo, listen to me. I haven't had my period for close more than a month, and my cycle is usually regular. That could only mean two things; either I'm entering menopause or..." she paused, locking eyes with her husband.
"Or... you're... pregnant?" he muttered slowly, uncertainty lacing his voice.
"Finally" she rolled her eyes.
As the elevator doors opened onto the basement, he took her hand and intertwined with his as they walked together to the car in silence. Both of them tried to process the uncertainty hanging over them, though Hyunwoo couldn't contain his smile since the word 'pregnant' left his lips. Haein stole glances at her husband, seeing him beaming with happiness. While his smile eased her worries to some extent, it also stirred up new concerns. They hadn't taken the test yet—what if it turned out negative? What if she was just experiencing a late period? But she had been experiencing unusual sensations for the past few weeks—moments of nausea in the mornings and bouts of extreme fatigue on certain days—that were completely out of the ordinary which she brushed it off as stress or exhaustion from her hectic schedule.
“Why are you still smiling? We need to take the test first to be sure” Haein said as she settled into the car seat and fastened her seatbelt.
Hyunwoo turned to her with a warm smile, gently took her right hand and kissed it tenderly.
"Haein-ah, whatever the result may be, we'll face it together, okay? We've got this." He shot her a reassuring smile, his eyes twinkling with affection
“Mmm” she nodded while returning his smile. “For now, let’s go to the pharmacy to buy the pregnancy test first” she continued.
After their second wedding at Yongduri last year, they visited Haein's gynaecologist. Given her health history and the medications she had to take following her brain surgery one year prior, they needed assurance regarding Haein's health and readiness to conceive again. After the doctor conducted some tests, they were relieved to hear that Haein was healthy and fit for pregnancy. However, both Haein and Hyunwoo decided not to rush things and opted to let nature take its course. While they dreamed to build a family of their own, they also weren't desperately trying to conceive. Their past experiences had left them both apprehensive about facing the possibility of heartbreak once again. Haein became acutely aware of the rift that had torn them apart following the heartache of her miscarriage five years prior. She understood now that their past disagreements had been fuelled by unchecked ego and unresolved grief—a stark contrast to the harmony and happiness that now defined their remarriage.