To My Brother’s Friend - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 55
“Could you lower the lighting intensity by just fifteen percent more? The texture is crucial for these exhibition pieces, and if the light is too strong, the depth the artist intended won’t come through.”
“Yes, Vice Director.”
“Replace the carpet color on the visitor pathway with a deep charcoal. We want all eyes to remain solely on the artwork.”
At Hee-jo’s calm yet decisive instructions, the curator overseeing the site and the installation team members moved with purpose.
As the newly appointed Vice Director leading this large-scale special exhibition for the first time, I scrutinized the floor plans and overhead views alternately, ensuring no detail escaped my attention.
Dozens of staff members moved in perfect unison at my single word.
As I busily reviewed the site, my gaze suddenly caught the sunset glowing beyond the expansive glass window.
Watching it quietly, I recalled my phone conversation with Kwon Yeol earlier that day.
—I’ll pick you up when it’s done. Wait at the site.
“The meeting seems like it’ll run long today. Perhaps you should head in first….”
—If you’re going to keep avoiding me, then go see my mother instead. It seems like you’re handling all the Foundation’s work alone anyway.
With him saying that much, I had no excuse left to evade.
I’d tried to maintain distance by using the project as a pretext, appearing as unbothered as possible.
But it seemed I’d reached my limit.
I exhaled softly and checked my wristwatch.
As the sunset faded, anxiety rose within me.
Facing him was both joy and pain simultaneously.
I forced my hand down from instinctively cradling my abdomen and gripped the stack of documents tightly.
Recently, I’d remembered that among Han Teacher’s former disciples, there was an obstetrician-gynecologist who had quietly retired and now operated a private care facility.
So I’d made a discreet request to Han Teacher.
To help me receive an examination secretly without leaving any records.
“The pregnancy is confirmed. In the early stages, the miscarriage risk is high, so you need to be especially careful.”
The moment I confirmed the pregnancy, my heart raced beyond Seoul, toward my teacher’s hometown where I’d planned to depart with Han Teacher.
That’s why I made even more excuses about devoting myself to the project.
Part of it was to protect the child by avoiding sleeping with Kwon Yeol.
But using the project as cover allowed me to fulfill external schedules, evade Kwon Yeol’s attention to meet the doctor, and plan the future with Han Teacher.
Moreover, by appearing devoted to work, no one would suspect that I was pregnant.
Though it took more effort than usual to hide my exhaustion, I could endure it.
Because I wasn’t alone.
‘I have to get through today too. As if nothing happened.’
I steadied my trembling heart and bit my lip.
“Vice Director, this is the final zoning plan for this section. Could you review it?”
“Yes, I’m coming now.”
At the site team leader’s call, I moved forward.
As I directed the site in such a flurry, the promised time was nearly upon us.
The sunset that had burned crimson beyond the glass window faded, and dusky darkness began to settle.
A black sedan with heavy tinting glided smoothly up to the front entrance of the Exhibition Hall.
“It looks like we can wrap up as is.”
“Understood. Oh, Vice Director, Beom Executive Director has just arrived.”
At the Secretary Director’s report, Hee-jo drew a shallow breath.
“Understood. Everyone has worked hard. We’ll review the rest tomorrow.”
Hee-jo deliberately composed herself, gathered her bag, and headed toward the Exhibition Hall entrance.
As she stepped outside, Kwon Yeol emerged from the car, standing beneath a streetlight.
Even in the darkness, his eyes gleamed brilliantly, capturing Hee-jo’s gaze.
“Have you been waiting long?”
Hee-jo spoke first, striving to keep her voice as natural as always.
Rather than answer, Kwon Yeol approached with long strides and wrapped his arm around Hee-jo’s shoulders.
His warmth, a stark contrast to the cool evening air, transmitted through the fabric of her clothes.
“Not really. I timed it to match when you’d finish work.”
Kwon Yeol gazed down at her quietly, studying her complexion.
Beneath the streetlight, her face appeared slightly paler than usual.
He carefully brushed aside the strand of hair touching her cheek and asked softly.
“Your color doesn’t look good. You must be quite tired.”
“I had quite a few things on my mind today, but… I’m fine despite how I might look.”
Hee-jo offered a slight smile, naturally averting her gaze from his as she turned her body toward the car.
“….”
Kwon Yeol watched his wife’s retreating figure for a moment before catching up to her with long, quick strides.
He opened the car door for her before she could even reach for it.
“…Thank you.”
“What’s with the formality? It’s only natural.”
Hee-jo pressed her lips together tightly and settled into the seat with an awkward smile.
In that brief moment after the car door closed and Kwon Yeol circled around the hood toward the driver’s seat, she found her only chance to catch her breath.
“Phew….”
Just as Hee-jo drew a deep breath, the driver’s door opened and Kwon Yeol climbed in.
The narrow car was instantly filled with his presence and his rich, distinctive scent.
In truth, Hee-jo had been secretly taking medication to suppress her nausea.
But nothing worked more effectively than Kwon Yeol’s scent.
Whenever she ate alone outside and the nausea threatened to overwhelm her, she would discreetly pull out the handkerchief she’d brought from him and press it to her nose, breathing deeply.
Remarkably, her roiling stomach would settle almost immediately.
“Let’s eat dinner out before heading home. I’ve made a reservation at a Korean Restaurant that should suit your taste. It has flavors closest to Han Teacher’s cooking.”
Kwon Yeol fastened his seatbelt while observing Hee-jo’s complexion.
“You don’t seem to be eating properly lately. You look even thinner.”
“I’m eating well. I’m fi—”
“I’ll have to check for myself whether you’re fine or not.”
At the concern in his eyes, Hee-jo bit her lip.
Moments like these left her heart defenseless, wavering between illusion and hope.
Hee-jo stared blankly at Kwon Yeol’s firm hand gripping the steering wheel before nodding.
“…Thank you, Kwon Yeol. I was actually craving that kind of food.”
Kwon Yeol offered a faint smile and reached out to gently cup Hee-jo’s cheek in his hand.
A large, warm palm pressed against my shoulder, and I flinched.
As the distance between us narrowed, our eyes locked in the empty space with an intensity that made my breath catch.
Kwon Yeol’s gaze grew hungry as he naturally lowered his head toward me.
By instinct, I turned my head slightly, evading his lips.
“Ah, that’s… I was in a place with so much dust today.”
I knew the excuse was flimsy even as I spoke it.
But if we returned home in this atmosphere, an unstoppable heat would surely follow.
And that might put strain on the child.
“In the early stages, the risk of miscarriage is high, so you must be especially careful.”
The Hotel Doctor’s words echoed in my mind—especially the warning that I, being physically frail, needed to be even more cautious.
“I see. You must be quite tired.”
Kwon Yeol chuckled softly, fastened my seatbelt for me, and slowly pulled away.
I watched his profile as he gazed ahead with an unbothered expression, my lips trembling.
Waves of guilt crashed over me, yet I had no words to offer.
‘You have everything already.’
Even if I left, Kwon Yeol would soon have the perfect family he desired.
But for me… there is only this child.
In this world, family is only this child.
Rationalizing it this way, I rested my head against the window and closed my eyes.
The only comfort was knowing that with Kwon Yeol beside me, I could manage to swallow food this evening.
* * *
“Ugh…”
As the meal drew to a close.
I rose with perfect posture and made my way to the Bathroom without faltering.
Terrified of being discovered, I headed to the most remote, sparsely populated corner far from the Restaurant’s main hall.
I walked through the Corridor, which felt several times longer than usual, with grim determination.
Cold sweat streamed down my back with each step, but I clenched my teeth and endured.
The moment I entered the stall and closed the door, my body, which had been held rigid, collapsed entirely.
“Ha… ha…”
Tears—physiological, involuntary—welled up in my eyes as I expelled everything I had just eaten.
My throat burned with a raw, searing pain, but I covered my mouth to stifle any sound that might escape, breathing quietly as I rose to my feet.
“…”
After rinsing my mouth several times, I lifted my head.
The woman in the mirror looked so fragile she might shatter at any moment.
‘Just a little longer. Once I get home and sleep, everything will be fine.’
I washed my hands in cold water, then applied lipstick with trembling fingers.
I had to erase my pallid complexion and return as the happy wife who had come out to dinner with her husband.
When I forced the corners of my mouth upward at my reflection, a convincing smile took shape.
After straightening my disheveled clothes, I stepped out of the Bathroom.
As I turned the Corner, I collided with someone’s shoulder.
“Ah, I’m so sorry….”
“Hee-jo?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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