"Yerin."
Do-hyun's voice was the last thing she heard before everything went dark.
He caught her before she could hit the floor.
"Yerin!"
His heart was pounding.
He carefully lowered her onto the bed and immediately reached for his phone.
The room that had felt quiet only seconds ago suddenly felt unbearably small.
He called the doctor.
Then he looked back at Yerin.
She wasn't moving.
"Come on..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Please wake up."
Twenty minutes later, the bedroom door opened.
The doctor walked inside with his medical bag.
Do-hyun immediately stood.
"She suddenly collapsed."
The doctor nodded.
"How long was she unconscious?"
"Not long."
"Any pain?"
"No."
"Did she complain of dizziness before this?"
Do-hyun thought for a moment.
"She said she felt tired."
The doctor walked toward the bed.
He checked Yerin carefully and asked Do-hyun a few more questions.
After several minutes, he stepped back.
"She's stable."
Do-hyun finally released the breath he'd been holding.
"What happened?"
"She appears to be extremely exhausted."
Do-hyun frowned.
"Could it be because of everything that's been happening?"
"It could contribute."
The doctor opened his bag again.
"But I'd like to run one more test."
Do-hyun nodded.
"Whatever you need."
The doctor completed the examination.
Then he looked at the results.
His expression changed slightly.
Do-hyun noticed.
"What?"
The doctor looked up.
"Mr. Choi..."
Do-hyun's stomach tightened.
"Yes?"
The doctor smiled.
"Congratulations."
Do-hyun stared at him.
"For what?"
The doctor looked toward Yerin.
"Your wife is pregnant."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Do-hyun didn't move.
For several seconds, he simply looked at the doctor.
Then at Yerin.
Then back at the doctor.
"Pregnant?"
The word came out quietly.
The doctor nodded.
"Yes. It's still early."
Do-hyun's mind seemed to stop working.
He had expected exhaustion.
Stress.
Maybe something related to the investigation.
But this...
This was something he hadn't even considered.
The doctor continued explaining that Yerin needed proper rest, regular checkups, and should avoid unnecessary strain.
Do-hyun listened carefully.
He asked questions.
He made sure he understood everything.
But his mind kept returning to the same thought.
A baby.
Their baby.
When the doctor finally packed his things, he smiled.
"She should wake up soon."
Do-hyun nodded.
"Thank you."
The doctor left.
The door closed.
Do-hyun remained standing beside the bed.
He looked at Yerin.
His expression slowly softened.
He sat beside her.
For the first time that night, he smiled.
A small, stunned smile.
Several hours later, Yerin slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she noticed was the ceiling.
The second was Do-hyun sitting beside her.
She frowned.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Do-hyun immediately straightened.
"You're awake."
"Obviously."
She tried to sit up.
He stopped her gently.
"Slowly."
Yerin looked at him.
"What happened?"
"You collapsed."
She blinked.
"I did?"
"Yes."
She looked around the room.
"How long?"
"Not very long."
Yerin sighed.
"I'm fine."
Do-hyun didn't answer.
She studied his face.
Something was different.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Do-hyun."
He looked at her.
For a moment, he seemed unsure how to say it.
Then he quietly spoke.
"The doctor came."
Yerin's expression became serious.
"What did he say?"
Do-hyun took a breath.
"You're pregnant."
Yerin froze.
The room went completely silent.
She stared at him.
"What?"
"You're pregnant."
She didn't respond.
Her eyes widened slowly.
"Are you serious?"
Do-hyun nodded.
"The doctor confirmed it."
Yerin looked down at herself.
Then back at him.
Neither spoke.
It was too much to process.
They had spent months dealing with secrets, investigations, family conflicts, and unanswered questions.
And now...
There was a new life between them.
Yerin's hand slowly moved toward her stomach.
Her eyes became softer.
"Do-hyun..."
He covered her hand gently with his.
"I'm still trying to believe it."
She looked at him.
"So am I."
A small smile appeared on her face.
Then his appeared too.
They sat quietly.
Neither needed to say much.
The shock slowly turned into something warmer.
Something neither had expected.
Happiness.
Real happiness.
Yerin leaned back against the pillow.
"We're going to have a baby."
Do-hyun nodded.
"Yeah."
She looked at him.
"You look terrified."
"I am."
Yerin laughed softly.
"At least you're honest."
He smiled.
"But I'm happy."
Her expression softened.
"Me too."
By the following morning, Do-hyun had apparently created an entirely new set of rules.
Yerin discovered the first one when she tried to pick up her bag.
Do-hyun took it from her.
"I'll carry it."
She stared at him.
"It's a handbag."
"I know."
"I can carry it."
"I know."
"Then give it back."
"No."
Yerin sighed.
"Do-hyun."
He walked away with it.
She followed him.
"This is ridiculous."
"You just collapsed."
"I'm pregnant, not helpless."
"I know."
"Then stop treating me like I am."
He looked at her.
"I'm not."
"You are."
He paused.
Then calmly said,
"I'm just being careful."
Yerin crossed her arms.
"You've been careful for ten minutes and I'm already annoyed."
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
She noticed.
"Are you smiling?"
"No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Yerin narrowed her eyes.
"You're enjoying this."
"Maybe."
She shook her head.
"This is going to be a long nine months."
Do-hyun smiled.
"I'm prepared."
"You shouldn't be."
"I am."
Yerin walked away.
"You're impossible."
He followed her.
"You're welcome."
She turned.
"For what?"
"Taking care of you."
She stared at him.
Then smiled despite herself.
"Fine."
They waited until later that day to tell Ji-hoon.
He arrived at the mansion expecting another discussion about the investigation.
Instead, he walked into the lounge and found Yerin sitting beside Do-hyun.
He immediately noticed something strange.
"Why are you both looking at me like that?"
Yerin glanced at Do-hyun.
Do-hyun glanced at her.
Ji-hoon frowned.
"What happened?"
Yerin took a breath.
"You're going to be an uncle."
Ji-hoon froze.
His mouth opened slightly.
"Wait."
He looked at Do-hyun.
Then Yerin.
"Are you serious?"
Yerin nodded.
Ji-hoon's eyes widened.
"You're pregnant?"
Yerin smiled.
"Yes."
For a moment, Ji-hoon looked completely speechless.
Then his face broke into the biggest smile Yerin had seen from him in months.
He immediately walked over and hugged her carefully.
"Congratulations."
Yerin laughed.
"Thank you."
He stepped back and looked at Do-hyun.
"You're going to be a father."
Do-hyun nodded.
"Apparently."
Ji-hoon laughed.
Then his expression suddenly became mischievous.
"So..."
Yerin immediately knew.
"No."
Ji-hoon grinned.
"I haven't even said anything."
"I know you."
He looked between them.
"All those late nights together finally—"
"Ji-hoon!"
Yerin's face turned red.
Do-hyun immediately looked away.
His lips twitched.
Ji-hoon pointed at him.
"Wait."
Do-hyun looked back.
"You're smiling."
"No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Ji-hoon laughed.
"I've never seen you this happy."
Yerin threw a cushion at him.
"Stop teasing us."
Ji-hoon caught it.
"I'm just saying congratulations."
"Then say congratulations normally."
"Fine."
He stood straight.
"Congratulations on your successful teamwork."
Yerin stared at him.
Do-hyun covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
Ji-hoon burst out laughing.
"Look at you two!"
Yerin shook her head.
"I regret telling you."
"No, you don't."
She smiled.
That evening, the mood changed.
The laughter disappeared.
Ji-hoon placed several old documents on the table.
Do-hyun opened one.
Yerin looked over his shoulder.
"We need to finish this."
Ji-hoon nodded.
"Especially now."
Do-hyun looked at him.
"What did you find?"
Ji-hoon pulled out an old photograph.
"There."
Yerin stared at it.
Her grandmother.
Hwang Tae-sung.
And another man.
A man she had never seen before.
Do-hyun took the photograph.
His expression slowly changed.
"I've seen him."
Yerin looked at him.
"Where?"
"In my father's old records."
Ji-hoon became serious.
"That's what I thought."
He placed another photograph beside the first.
It showed the same man.
But this time he stood beside Do-hyun's father.
Yerin stared.
"So our fathers knew him."
"More than knew him," Ji-hoon said.
"What do you mean?"
Ji-hoon opened an old file.
"There are records of meetings between the three of them."
Do-hyun's eyes narrowed.
"When?"
"Years ago."
Yerin looked at the documents.
"Why have we never heard his name?"
"Because someone removed it."
"Who?"
Ji-hoon shook his head.
"I don't know."
Do-hyun studied the photographs.
"Then that's what we find out."
Yerin nodded.
For months, they had been searching for answers.
Now they finally had a name.
Or at least...
the beginning of one.
Later that night, Yerin returned to the old study.
Do-hyun followed.
She carefully opened one of the cabinets.
"There has to be something here."
Do-hyun searched through the files.
Then suddenly stopped.
"Yerin."
She looked over.
He held an old envelope.
There was no name on it.
Only a date.
Yerin looked at it.
"That's before Grandmother died."
Do-hyun opened it carefully.
Inside was another photograph.
The same mysterious man.
But this photograph was different.
It showed him standing with both their fathers.
Yerin's eyes widened.
Do-hyun turned the photograph over.
There was handwriting on the back.
Only one sentence.
"If they ever come looking for me, tell them I was never their enemy."
Yerin stared at the words.
Do-hyun looked at her.
"Who is this man?"
Before either could answer...
his phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
Do-hyun opened it.
There was only one line.
You are getting closer.
Yerin looked at him.
Neither spoke.
Then another message appeared.
Ask your fathers what happened twenty years ago.
Do-hyun's expression hardened.
Yerin slowly placed one hand over her stomach.
The happiness of the morning was still there.
But now it had been joined by something else.
Determination.
Whatever had happened between their fathers twenty years ago...
they were finally going to uncover it.
And this time, they weren't investigating for revenge.
They were investigating because they had something new to protect.
Their future.
Their family.
And the child neither of them had known they were waiting for.
Do-hyun looked at Yerin.
"We'll figure it out."
She nodded.
"Together."
Outside the study, the mansion remained quiet.
But somewhere far away...
someone had already realized that Yerin and Do-hyun were getting closer to the truth.
And that person knew exactly where the truth would lead them.
To their fathers.
...To Be Contiued...