Kyrah had learned something about pregnancy.
No matter how carefully she planned her day, her body always seemed to have its own plans.
That morning was no different.
She had barely finished her first meeting when Xiumin asked her to help check some equipment in the HANEUL HOME testing area.
"I'll be there in five minutes," Kyrah said.
She closed her laptop and stood.
For a moment, everything was fine.
Then she felt it.
A sudden wave of dizziness.
She stopped.
Her hand went to the edge of the desk.
"Kyrah?"
She blinked.
"I'm fine."
Xiumin looked at her suspiciously.
"You don't look fine."
"I just stood up too quickly."
She waited a few seconds before walking toward the equipment shelf.
One of the sample devices was sitting on the upper shelf.
"I'll get that," she said.
She reached up.
The room shifted again.
Her fingers slipped.
Before the device could fall, Xiumin caught it.
At the same time, Kyrah instinctively reached for her bag.
Her bag tipped slightly.
The zipper opened.
A small bottle rolled out.
Xiumin caught that too.
He looked down.
Then at the bottle.
Then at Kyrah.
Kyrah froze.
The bottle was clearly labeled prenatal vitamins.
Xiumin slowly raised his eyes.
Kyrah stared back.
Neither spoke.
The silence became painfully awkward.
Xiumin looked at the bottle again.
Then at her stomach.
Then back at her face.
"Are you pregnant?"
Kyrah closed her eyes.
There was no point lying.
"Yes."
Xiumin's mouth fell open.
For two seconds, he said nothing.
Then his entire expression changed.
"Congratulations!"
Kyrah laughed despite herself.
"Thank you."
He looked genuinely happy for her.
"How far along?"
"Far enough for you to stop looking at me like you've just discovered a national secret."
He laughed.
"Does Seojun know?"
Kyrah nodded.
"Flora knows too."
"And Youning?"
"Not yet."
Xiumin looked at the vitamin bottle again.
"So everyone knew except me?"
Kyrah smiled.
"Apparently."
He put a hand over his chest.
"I thought we were friends."
"We are."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't tell anyone at first."
He nodded.
Then suddenly his expression became serious.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."
Kyrah smiled.
"Thank you."
He handed the vitamins back to her.
Then he took the equipment from her.
"I'll carry this."
Kyrah stared at him.
"I can carry it."
"No."
"Xiumin."
"No."
She reached for it.
He moved it away.
"Absolutely not."
She laughed.
"It's a small device."
"I don't care."
"Xiumin."
"You're pregnant."
"And?"
"And you're not carrying anything."
Kyrah folded her arms.
"I'm pregnant, not made of glass."
Xiumin laughed.
"I'm just trying to keep the mother of our project alive."
"The mother of your project?"
"Yes."
"I didn't know HANEUL HOME had a mother."
"It does now."
Kyrah shook her head.
"You're ridiculous."
"And you're sitting down."
"I am not sitting down."
He pointed toward a chair.
"Sit."
She stared at him.
"Who made you my boss?"
He smiled.
"You did."
"When?"
"The moment you told me you're pregnant."
Kyrah burst out laughing.
"You're impossible."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I'll take it anyway."
---
For the rest of the day, Xiumin behaved as though Kyrah had suddenly become the most fragile person in the building.
When she reached for a box—
"I'll get it."
When she stood to adjust a chair—
"I'll get it."
When she walked toward the supply room—
"What do you need?"
Kyrah finally turned around.
"Xiumin."
"Yes?"
"Stop following me."
"I'm not following you."
"You've followed me three times."
"Coincidence."
She stared at him.
He smiled innocently.
Kyrah shook her head.
But secretly, she was amused.
It was nice.
Not because she needed someone to take care of her.
But because Xiumin wasn't treating her like she had become incapable.
He was simply excited.
And slightly ridiculous.
---
Youning found out two days later.
And unlike Xiumin, he didn't find out because of a bottle of vitamins.
He noticed during a technical demonstration.
Kyrah had been explaining a new HANEUL HOME feature when she suddenly paused.
Her hand went to the edge of the table.
Youning noticed immediately.
"Kyrah?"
She straightened.
"I'm okay."
He looked at her carefully.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
The demonstration continued.
But Youning kept watching.
Afterward, when everyone had left the room, he found Flora.
"Is Kyrah okay?"
Flora looked at him.
"She'll be fine."
"That wasn't my question."
Flora smiled.
"Then ask her."
Youning frowned.
"You know something."
Flora shrugged.
"I know many things."
"Flora."
"Youning."
They stared at each other.
Finally, Youning laughed.
"Fine."
He walked away.
Later that afternoon, Kyrah found him waiting outside her office.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes."
She gestured toward the chair.
"Sit."
He did.
"I wanted to ask you something."
Kyrah already knew.
She sighed.
"What did Flora tell you?"
"Nothing."
Kyrah raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly."
Youning smiled.
"She didn't have to."
Kyrah leaned back.
"Okay."
He hesitated.
"Are you pregnant?"
Kyrah smiled.
"Yes."
Youning's eyes widened.
Then his face lit up.
"Seriously?"
She laughed.
"Yes."
"Congratulations!"
"Thank you."
He leaned back in his chair.
"So that's why you've been eating mangoes like your life depends on it."
Kyrah burst out laughing.
"Don't start."
Youning laughed.
"I knew something was going on."
"No, you didn't."
"I suspected."
"You suspected I liked mangoes."
"Exactly."
She shook her head.
"I'm not telling you anything else."
He raised both hands.
"Fair enough."
Then his expression became sincere.
"Seriously, though. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"Do you need anything?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
He nodded.
"Then tell us when you need help."
Kyrah smiled.
That was it.
No dramatic change.
No treating her like she was fragile.
No unnecessary questions.
Just support.
She appreciated that.
"Thank you, Youning."
"Anytime."
He stood.
Then stopped at the door.
"One thing, though."
Kyrah looked up.
"What?"
"If Xiumin starts carrying you to meetings, I'm filming it."
Kyrah laughed.
"Get out."
---
That evening, Seojun arrived home later than usual.
His mother was sitting in the mansion's living room.
She looked up from her book.
"You're late."
"I had work."
"You always have work."
Seojun loosened his tie.
His mother watched him for a moment.
Then she noticed his expression.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Mrs. Park put down her book.
"Seojun."
He looked at her.
She knew him too well.
He walked over and sat down.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he rubbed his hands together.
"Mom…"
"Yes?"
"What if I lose her?"
Mrs. Park's expression softened.
"Kyrah?"
He nodded.
"She hasn't said she wants me."
"She hasn't said she doesn't."
"I know."
He looked down.
"But she's still carrying another man's child."
Mrs. Park didn't interrupt.
Seojun swallowed.
"What if she decides to go back to him?"
His voice cracked.
"What if Peppa is born and she realizes she wants his father in his life? What if she realizes that she still loves him?"
A tear slipped down his cheek.
His mother moved closer.
Seojun wiped it away.
"I know I shouldn't feel this way."
"You're allowed to be afraid."
"I don't know what I'll be to her."
He laughed bitterly.
"I'm not his father."
Mrs. Park reached for his hand.
"You're worried because you love her."
Seojun's eyes filled again.
"What if loving her isn't enough?"
Before his mother could answer, footsteps sounded from the hallway.
Chairman Park entered the room.
He had heard the last part.
He looked at his son.
Then at his wife.
"I heard what you said."
Seojun straightened.
His father walked toward them.
"If you marry her, you understand that the child is not yours."
Seojun looked at him.
"I know."
"And you would be raising another man's child."
"I know."
Chairman Park's expression was serious.
"You have to think carefully."
Seojun's eyes dropped.
His mother looked at her husband.
But Seojun spoke first.
"I already have."
Chairman Park studied him.
"I love her."
He took a breath.
"And I love that baby too."
His father frowned.
"That is exactly what worries me."
Seojun looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because love can make people accept responsibilities that aren't theirs."
Seojun's jaw tightened.
"Peppa may not be my biological son."
He looked toward his mother.
"But when I saw him on that monitor…"
His voice broke.
"I couldn't stop crying."
Mrs. Park smiled through tears.
Seojun continued.
"I saw how much he'd grown. I saw his hands moving. And all I could think about was whether he was okay."
His father said nothing.
Seojun wiped his eyes.
"I don't know what that makes me."
His mother answered softly.
"It makes you someone who loves."
Chairman Park looked at his wife.
Mrs. Park turned toward Seojun.
"Stop thinking about what everyone else says you should feel."
She held his hand.
"Forget about whether the child is biologically yours."
Seojun looked at her.
"Forget about whether her past makes things complicated."
She smiled.
"Focus on your own heart."
Seojun's eyes filled again.
She continued.
"If she's yours, she's yours."
He stared at her.
"And no one can change that."
His mother squeezed his hand.
"Not even you."
Seojun breathed shakily.
"It doesn't matter what the world calls it. If your heart considers Kyrah and her child yours, then that is what matters."
Chairman Park remained silent for a moment.
Then he looked at his son.
"I still don't understand it."
Mrs. Park looked at him.
"You don't have to."
Chairman Park sighed.
"No."
He looked at Seojun.
"But I can see that my son has already made his choice."
Seojun looked up.
His father continued.
"Just don't make a promise you cannot keep."
Seojun nodded.
"I won't."
Chairman Park walked away.
Mrs. Park looked at her son.
"Go and tell her how you feel."
Seojun laughed softly through his tears.
"I'm not ready."
"Then don't."
She smiled.
"Love doesn't become less real because you wait for the right moment."
Seojun nodded.
His mother picked up her book again.
"And Seojun?"
"Yes?"
"Bring that girl home again."
He smiled.
"She already came to dinner."
"I know."
Mrs. Park's smile widened.
"I want her here again."
Seojun laughed.
"Mom."
"What?"
"You really like her."
"I do."
She opened her book.
"And I like the way you look when you talk about her."
Seojun shook his head.
"You're impossible."
Mrs. Park smiled.
"I raised you. I know when my son is in love."
Seojun looked down.
For the first time that evening, the fear in his chest eased a little.
He still didn't know what the future would bring.
He didn't know what Kyrah would choose.
He didn't know whether Peppa would ever call him anything more than Seojun.
But one thing had become impossible to deny.
His heart had already made a decision.
And it was a decision he wasn't sure he could take back.
---
The next morning, Kyrah walked into the office carrying her bag.
Xiumin immediately appeared.
"Don't carry that."
Kyrah stopped.
"Xiumin."
"Yes?"
"It's my handbag."
"I know."
"I can carry my handbag."
He looked offended.
"I'm just helping."
Youning walked past them.
"What's happening?"
"She's refusing to let me help."
Youning looked at Kyrah.
Then at Xiumin.
"Let her carry her bag."
Xiumin frowned.
"But—"
"She is pregnant, not disabled."
Kyrah smiled.
"Thank you, Youning."
Xiumin looked betrayed.
"Why is everyone against me?"
Kyrah laughed.
And from the doorway of his office, Seojun watched the three of them.
He smiled.
His team knew now.
Her secret was no longer hers alone.
And somehow, that made him feel even more protective of the little world Kyrah was building around herself.
A world where she was still respected.
Still capable.
Still Kyrah.
And where Peppa was slowly becoming everyone's favorite secret.