Chapter 163
“I’m fine.”
Si-heon’s brows furrowed at her response, but he didn’t say anything further.
She assumed he was already receiving reports about her condition anyway.
“Is there anything uncomfortable?”
“No.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
Despite her compliant answers, Ga-eun had never once sought him out first.
Just like before.
“Mr. Kwon Si-heon.”
“Yes.”
Si-heon responded immediately to Ga-eun’s call.
Perhaps she finally needed something from him.
“When are you returning to Seoul?”
Si-heon gave a bitter smile.
Of course that would be it.
Still, he was pleased that Ga-eun had something she wanted to know from him.
“Where would I go? You’re here.”
“……”
“Rest well.”
Ga-eun sighed as she watched Si-heon’s retreating figure as he quietly closed the door.
Except for occasional departures to receive reports, he remained in Yeonjun as much as possible.
Though not constantly by her side, he was always present within the same space they called home.
She couldn’t understand why he was personally conducting the surveillance that he used to delegate to his subordinates.
Why was he here?
Why wouldn’t he return to Seoul?
Why was he wasting time like this?
…Well, surely even this was just for show.
It must be an act serving some intention and value beneficial to him—something she neither knew nor could understand.
Yet every time he looked at her, his eyes held an emotion she couldn’t decipher, and every time she saw him, her heart grew heavy.
He always watched her from a distance that was neither too close nor too far, silently providing whatever she needed.
Sometimes, after hesitation, he would ask about her physical condition.
Asking if the baby was doing well.
Each time she tensed up defensively at such questions, Si-heon would look at her with an indecipherable expression before falling silent.
As she cradled her lower abdomen lost in thought, voices drifted in from outside.
“S-son-in-law, h-have some i-ice cream too.”
“Madam, he is your niece’s husband. Perhaps your pronunciation was a bit too—”
“T-too difficult.”
“Director Noh.”
“Yes, Executive Director.”
“Be quiet.”
“…Yes, Executive Director.”
“D-director N-noh won’t g-get any i-ice cream.”
“…I apologize.”
This was unexpected too.
That Si-heon had earned her aunt’s deep trust.
He proved to be quite an attentive listener.
He waited patiently for her aunt to finish speaking and responded courteously even to nonsensical remarks.
Somehow… he seemed experienced in dealing with childlike individuals.
Though that couldn’t be possible.
‘He’ll leave soon.’
Surely it was Kwon Si-heon’s pride that kept him here.
He must be disoriented from having the initiative of divorce taken from him by an unexpected opponent.
Because this was his first such experience, the shock must be significant.
Perhaps that’s why the person who delivered this unprecedented shock appeared special to him.
However, contrary to Ga-eun’s expectations, Si-heon faithfully remained by her side.
Even now, with three months remaining until her due date.
“D-director N-noh. Were you c-crying over r-romance novels again?”
“N-no, not at all.”
“I t-told you I’d t-tell son-in-law if you l-lied.”
“…I only shed a few tears.”
“Y-you l-lied. I’m g-going to t-tell Mr. K-kwon.”
Her aunt spoke earnestly to Si-heon, Director Noh frantically made excuses, and Si-heon quietly listened to them both while keeping his gaze fixed on her.
Such scenes had become so familiar they’d turned into their ‘daily life.’
His staying by her side.
These shared glances between them.
‘He’ll leave eventually. One day he’ll suddenly change his mind and disappear again.’
With such thoughts in mind, she had focused solely on prenatal care, and time had flowed by before she knew it.
Ga-eun unconsciously caressed her now-prominent belly.
At this, Si-heon approached her, leaving behind Eun Seon-mi and Noh man-su’s squabble.
“Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
“…No.”
While her body wasn’t uncomfortable, her heart was.
Every time he examined her with that seemingly concerned gaze, her heart would race.
Like before, foolishly.
“Tell me if you feel even slightly uncomfortable. Don’t endure it.”
Though his voice seemed emotionless at first glance, Ga-eun now understood.
That it carried underlying concern for her.
Though they had lived together before, they had never spent almost entire days together like now.
While they didn’t exchange many words, she had ample time to observe his gazes, expressions, breathing, and tone more deeply and for longer.
“Mr. Kwon Si-heon.”
“Yes.”
His immediate response with direct eye contact had become another familiar aspect.
The only thing that remained difficult between them was conversation.
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