WRL 3

Chapter: 3

Are You Really Going to Die?

Noeul was the landlord’s son. His younger sister, Chohee, was Taeyeon’s friend. Taeyeon was renting the rooftop room at Chohee’s house. She knew her mother liked Noeul. But hearing that kind of talk at a time like this felt burdensome.

“Mom. I’ll just try to find someone to help.”

“What are you talking about? Do you know how expensive labor is these days? We already have hospital bills to pay—we need to save every penny.”

“I’m just worried your condition might suddenly get worse.”

“Even if something happens, don’t worry. You can call 119 anytime these days. You need to focus on doing well at work, our big-company assistant manager.”

Her mother often bragged that her daughter worked as an assistant manager at a major corporation. Yet at the same time, she always felt sorry that her daughter couldn’t even afford a single decent outfit.

“When you come back from this business trip, your annual salary might go up, and then…”

But Taeyeon couldn’t bring herself to say that she was going to have a wedding. Could it even be called a wedding?

Still, her thoughts kept drifting to Choi Hyunseo. Living in the same house as him. Raising his child. Even if the baby wasn’t hers, she felt like she could do her best.

Why did he choose me? He hadn’t said a single word about that one night six months ago.

Maybe he didn’t even remember. She had no intention of bringing it up first. The thought of going to Europe excited her. She had never once traveled abroad. She had always been too busy struggling with financial hardship and paying for her mother’s hospital bills. Even so, she had been happy just having her mother. Just being able to share meals together like this was enough.

Two days later, Taeyeon left for England. She planned to stay there for a week before heading to the Netherlands. She was traveling around Europe, visiting the places she had carefully planned out, when—less than two months in—he contacted her.

– Are you doing well?

“Yes, Director. Thanks to you, I’m enjoying the trip.”

– Thank you for not posting anything on social media.

“It’s part of the contract. I intend to fulfill it faithfully.”

– But I think you’ll need to come back sooner than expected.

“What?”

What could be the reason?

– The baby seems likely to be born earlier.

The moment she heard that, a chill ran down her spine.

Is his child really being born? Then who on earth is the woman giving birth to his child?

“I’ll return as soon as possible.”

– Wear something loose and voluminous when you come back. Nothing that shows your figure too much.

She understood. In case anyone noticed, she needed to look like a pregnant woman.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Taeyeon flew from Italy to Incheon International Airport. As soon as she arrived, she went into the restroom, strapped a small cushion around her belly, and tied it tightly. Over it, she wore a loose trench coat before stepping into the arrivals hall. Waiting there was the chief secretary—someone she recognized.

“Hello.”

“Good afternoon, Madam.”

Her title had changed. Taeyeon felt embarrassed and didn’t know how to react to Manager Hwang.

“I never thought I’d hear someone call me Madam…”

“Does it feel awkward?”

“Yes. Manager. Very awkward.”

“You’ll need to get used to it. I was told you’ll be giving birth soon.”

His eyes shifted to her belly. Taeyeon nodded, saying as little as possible.

“I’ll escort you to the hospital. I was told not to let anyone in Pyeongchang-dong find out yet, so we’re being careful.”

“Yes. Understood.”

The place he drove her to was a hospital. A VIP room. Yet no one came. Changing into a hospital gown and sitting there made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. Soon, someone would give birth. That man’s woman.

Around evening, Choi Hyunseo entered.

Seeing him after two months, he seemed even more striking. His physique and face hadn’t changed at all, but there was something sharper about his aura—just looking at him created tension.

He opened the hospital room door as if it were nothing, but Taeyeon’s heart pounded.

“Director.”

“There’s somewhere we need to go. Come with me.”

“Somewhere?”

“The mother wants to see you one last time before giving birth. She says it’s her dying wish. I couldn’t refuse.”

She was terrified. That meant she was going to meet the woman carrying his child.

Is she being abandoned? Is that why I was hired—to erase the mother’s existence?

Swallowing hard, Taeyeon hesitated. Hyunseo spoke.

“Yeong, if you don’t want to go, I won’t force you.”

“No. I’ll go.”

Fear and dread mixed with strong curiosity.

What kind of woman is she? Is she beautiful? Or… someone from a bar?

The contract had included a clause asking her not to ask unnecessary questions. That was likely due to Choi Hyunseo’s private and meticulous nature. She assumed they were in the same hospital. Once the baby was born, the child would become hers. Registered as her child from birth… It was technically illegal.

With a pounding heart, she followed him into another VIP room slightly down the hall.

The moment she stepped inside, she felt something in the air—a scent of death. A heavy, indescribable smell hanging low. The presence of death.

Taeyeon froze.

Inside, a gaunt woman with only her belly swollen stared at her with sorrowful eyes.

“Hello.”

A pale face. Large eyes like a lake. She was painfully thin, raising a skeletal hand and gesturing toward Taeyeon.

But Taeyeon couldn’t bring herself to hold that hand. Standing a little distance away, she greeted her.

“Hello.”

The woman looked at her with tears brimming in her eyes, then smiled.

“I’m going to die soon. Please take good care of our baby.”

Goosebumps spread across Taeyeon’s body. Die? The woman looked as though she might pass away at any moment. Only her belly was round with life.

Tears streamed down Taeyeon’s face without her realizing it.

“Thank goodness,” the woman whispered. “You seem like a kind person.”

That was as far as she got before Hyunseo, expressionless, turned to Taeyeon.

“Min Taeyeon. Let’s go.”

With his hand on her shoulder, he led her out. His brows furrowed as he looked at her.

“Why are you crying?”

“She’s dying? The baby’s mother? Why?”

She had never imagined such a situation. The baby’s mother was dying?

Her tearful voice trembled. But Hyunseo answered calmly.

“It’s terminal cancer. There’s nothing that can be done. She decided to give birth anyway.”

“Then… is that why I’m here? Because she’s dying?”

Her throat tightened.

“I’d prefer no hysterics,” he said coldly. “I told you to think of this as a job. You agreed. Backing out now would be a breach of contract. If you want more money—”

“That’s enough! Is this really the time to talk about money?”

“It’s work.”

“How can you say that right now?”

As she raised her voice, he cut her off.

“Min Taeyeon. What do you think you’re doing here?”

Confused, Taeyeon returned to her room, closed the door, and collapsed onto the bed, sobbing.

She was a discarded woman. No—a dying woman.

That woman would die, and Taeyeon would take her baby and raise it. His baby.

She was afraid. She had seen death before.

Her father’s death. And now her mother, surviving day by day on kidney dialysis.

Death was a word that felt very close to her.

The image of that emaciated woman, eyes filled with tears as she entrusted her child, gripped Taeyeon’s heart.

They say there’s no such thing as easy money, but this was too cruel.

And Hyunseo—she clearly remembered the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at that woman. Even the faint moisture in them.

After witnessing something so cruel, could she really stand by his side and raise that child as if she were the real mother?

Her heart pounded in fear.

Soon, they said, the baby would be delivered by C-section.

A boy or a girl?

No—that wasn’t the point.

Her lips went dry as she paced the room, wondering if she was doing the right thing.

Then her phone buzzed.

[Which country are you in now? Are you doing okay?]

It was her mother. They had been messaging back and forth, sending photos with only the background and her face visible. Hyunseo had told her not to say anything to anyone until he allowed it.

[Yes, Mom. I’m doing well.]

She was about to send it when there was a knock, and the door opened. Hyunseo walked in.

“What are you doing?”

“My mom sent a message. I’m replying.”

He took her phone and set it aside.

“The baby is a boy. His name has already been decided.”

“The baby’s born? A boy? Director, how can you do this? After I saw his mother—how can I raise him pretending to be his real mother?”

Her thoughts tumbled out in panic.

But Hyunseo showed no change in expression.

“His name is Choi Yoonwoo. Remember that. And from now on, tell your mother that you’ve given birth. From this moment, Assistant Manager Min Taeyeon is a postpartum mother. The mother of Choi Yoonwoo. Don’t forget it.”

“That’s ridiculous, Director!”

“Did you forget that you signed the contract?”

His eyes were cold now—completely different from the tender gaze he had shown the dying woman.

“Once you sign a contract, you can’t withdraw within two years. You know that means paying back three times the signing bonus, right?”