Chapter 94
- Her, Baek I-hae
The pregnancy was confirmed.
Worried that going with Baek Yeong might cause misunderstandings, he had sent Chai Ryeong along. Such a considerate man.
“That bastard Seo Do-gyeom.”
Having heard the rough outline of events, Chai Ryeong cursed him nonstop while they waited their turn at the obstetrics clinic.
Her gritted teeth and flashing eyes made Baek I-hae worry she might pick a day to ambush him.
“Unnie, no swearing in front of a pregnant woman.”
“Ah, sorry! Our little hope, Auntie didn’t mean to scare you.”
Chai Ryeong hurriedly spoke to Baek I-hae’s belly. Smiling fondly at the still-flat stomach was somehow adorable.
When Baek I-hae gave a small laugh, Chai Ryeong asked,
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes. It’s still early, so the doctor gave me a list of things to be careful about.”
“You won’t be able to eat your favorite seafood for a while.”
“That’s a little disappointing.”
Genuinely crestfallen, Baek I-hae watched Chai Ryeong hurriedly wave her hands.
“But there’s plenty of other delicious food, so don’t worry! Just trust your unnie.”
“Thank you. And thank you for coming with me today too.”
“Of course. It’ll be uncomfortable for a while, but we’ll stick close whenever you go out.”
“You found out who’s behind it, right?”
Chai Ryeong nodded with a troubled expression, then let out a groan.
“I thought everything would be over once Do Ha-jun was dealt with—huh. The one who sent that man to abduct you was the boss’s father.”
“The former boss of the Baek faction, right? The one who now controls the Shin-un faction too.”
“Yeah. Getting rid of Do Ha-jun freed the puppets he’d been manipulating with threats, so he must be furious.”
At Chai Ryeong’s murderous tone, Baek I-hae gave an awkward smile and asked,
“But why target me specifically for kidnapping?”
Wouldn’t it make more sense to attack Baek Yeong directly, or Chai Ryeong under him?
When Baek I-hae expressed genuine confusion, Chai Ryeong scratched her head with a troubled look.
“He must have realized you’re special to the boss. Do Ha-jun probably tipped him off beforehand.”
“…Me?”
She knew Baek Yeong treated her well, but special?
Baek I-hae blinked slowly. Even after leaving the clinic and getting into Chai Ryeong’s car, she still felt dazed.
Chai Ryeong drove more gently than usual as she answered.
“Yeah. He said if you wanted, after the birth he could put both you and the baby on his family register? Same surname, so it wouldn’t feel awkward—nice, right?”
“He did say that, of course.”
Baek I-hae smiled awkwardly. She knew family wasn’t a positive concept for Baek Yeong.
For someone like him to offer to become family if I wanted…
It must have taken more courage and resolve than she realized to say those words.
That was why she hadn’t been able to answer easily and had asked for time to think.
“Well, what he really wants is probably something else.”
Chai Ryeong muttered loud enough for Baek I-hae to hear. She wasn’t oblivious enough to miss the meaning.
Baek Yeong really does like me.
She hadn’t done anything to deserve it, and their beginning had been a mess.
People were truly unpredictable, Baek I-hae thought.
He holds back from expressing it openly because he’s afraid of burdening me. This must be his way of being considerate too.
A ticklish feeling. Caught up in the strange emotion, Baek I-hae deliberately changed the subject.
“He doesn’t know where I’m moving to, right?”
“We can only hope. That’s why only the minimum people know your new place.”
With Ye Eun-seol’s help—who had been briefed on the situation—Baek I-hae would temporarily stay in a highly secure location.
Baek Yeong’s place might be safer, but they worried about possible spies.
And I said I wanted to move somewhere Seo Do-gyeom doesn’t know.
Fortunately, everyone had respected her stubbornness and agreed. She was genuinely grateful for their consideration.
“Still, Seo I-heum seems to have guessed you’re under our protection.”
“I figured Uncle would. But I thought he’d respect my wishes.”
“Yeah. We agreed to let him know occasionally that you’re doing well. We didn’t mention the new address or the pregnancy.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The place Chai Ryeong dropped her off was quite far from Baek Yeong’s house. Fighting nausea on the way, Baek I-hae arrived to find Ye Eun-seol already waiting outside after being contacted in advance.
“You got carsick? Your face is pale.”
Worried and frowning at her, Ye Eun-seol received only a smile from Baek I-hae.
After parking, Chai Ryeong looked around and muttered in admiration,
“The entry process is definitely complicated—no outsider could get in easily.”
“Celebrities live here too, so it has to be strict. To keep fans out.”
Ye Eun-seol answered as if it were nothing, and Baek I-hae couldn’t bring herself to ask how expensive it was.
She said not to worry about money and just rest comfortably, but it still feels burdensome. Our sense of money is just too different.
Rolling her eyes around the surroundings, Baek I-hae felt someone gently flick her forehead without pain.
“You’re making that face again. I said it’s fine, so don’t stress over needless things.”
“Well, I can’t help it.”
“If you feel that bad, buy me tteokbokki later. With sundae and fried stuff on the side.”
What a weird chaebol.
Baek I-hae stared at the utterly serious Ye Eun-seol in disbelief. Before she could say anything, Chai Ryeong—who had been glaring murderously—grabbed her and smacked her soundly on the back.
“How dare you hit the forehead of a girl with no meat on her!”
“Ow, how hard do you think you hit! And you were way meaner to I-hae at first!”
“That was then, and this is now—we’re practically sisters?!”
They’ll end up close fighting like that, Baek I-hae thought, clicking her tongue and heading inside first. The sound of hurried footsteps followed even as they bickered.
“Oh, right, Baek I-hae. Seo Do-gyeom contacted me—he’s been desperately looking for you.”
Baek I-hae listened silently to Ye Eun-seol. Chai Ryeong stopped mid-smack and walked quietly too.
“I said I didn’t know, but he guessed I did because he didn’t panic at the news you were gone.”
“But is it okay for you to come here? What if Seo Do-gyeom followed you?”
“I came after confirming his real-time location. Luckily, neither Seo I-heum nor Seo-yeol seems to be cooperating with him.”
Ye Eun-seol answered Chai Ryeong’s concern.
“Since Seo I-heum isn’t helping, the men under him naturally won’t either. He must be struggling alone.”
Seo I-heum, Baek Yeong, Ye Eun-seol—all of them seemed to know Baek I-hae’s whereabouts, while he alone didn’t.
…Seo Do-gyeom, you idiot.
She felt a tiny pang of pity for him, but Baek I-hae didn’t show it.
She simply stroked her belly quietly, and after glancing at her, Ye Eun-seol continued,
“As you asked, I’m looking into Baek Yong-jo too. There’s definitely a lot of corruption. Everyone’s just hushing it up.”
Baek Yong-jo was Baek Yeong’s father, the man who controlled the Shin-un faction—and the dangerous person currently targeting Baek I-hae.
At Ye Eun-seol’s words, Chai Ryeong replied coldly,
“With that personality? Of course there is.”
“Exactly. I’m shocked he stayed quiet this long… The info you gave me was useful too. You dug up some impressive stuff.”
“He was next on my list after Do Ha-jun.”
Chai Ryeong answered flatly, then added,
“We handled Do Ha-jun ourselves instead of sending him to prison because of that old man. He’d definitely have used money to get him out.”
“Seems like Do Ha-jun handled most of the dirty work in between. More of a brains-than-brawn type.”
“Brains…”
Listening to Chai Ryeong and Ye Eun-seol, Baek I-hae murmured, then opened the front door and said,
“Then let’s use our brains too. I’m tired of waiting around to get hit this time.”
“Huh?”
“Uh?”
“Honestly, getting knocked out and kidnapped sucks.”
Chai Ryeong flinched as she stepped inside.
“And finding out the aftermath was handled without me—just being informed of the results—isn’t exactly pleasant either.”
Ye Eun-seol, following behind, flinched in turn.
Baek I-hae calmly removed her shoes and turned back with a bright smile toward the two women frozen in the doorway, still in their shoes.
“Right? I’m pregnant, so I need to be careful with my body.”
“Y-yeah?”
“I never knew being careful could be this… aggressive—ow!”
Ye Eun-seol, opening her mouth without thinking, got smacked on the back of the head by Chai Ryeong—a now-familiar sight.
Watching them, Baek I-hae burst into delighted laughter.
“He’s just one person, so let’s corner him completely with no escape. Both Uncle I-heum and the boss will listen if it’s my request.”
Wow, serious power abuse.
Ye Eun-seol silently expressed admiration with her face.
