BUP 00

Prologue

“Miss, from now on, you shouldn’t even drink water. Please hand me your belongings.”

Eun-se put the straw from the water bottle between her lips.
Maybe it was because she was so nervous, but even the water tasted bitter. Still, to her dry, parched mouth, it felt like rain in the desert.

Before putting her phone into her clutch, Eun-se checked the last message she’d received from Tae-heon.

—Arrived at the airport. Heading straight to the venue.

A soft smile spread across her lips.
She never imagined a day like this would come. When they first met, CEO Yoon Tae-heon had been nothing but a workaholic, cold and distant boss.

And yet now, he was waiting for her — at the very place where they would be married.

A straw was pushed toward her again.

“One more sip, please.”

She didn’t want to drink anymore, but forced herself to take another swallow.

Before the thick bridal veil was lowered over her head, she briefly met the gaze of the makeup artist in the mirror.

“Today’s makeup… even I think it’s my masterpiece. You look truly… beautiful.”

And indeed, she did. The twenty-four-year-old bride looked dazzlingly beautiful.

Several layers of veil were draped over her face. As the makeup artist followed her out to the waiting car, a strange expression flickered across her face.

An orphan turned secretary —
a bride far below the level expected of a chaebol family’s daughter-in-law.

That was why they had hidden her lovely face so completely under the veil — to avoid unnecessary gossip and reporters swarming like flies.

“Miss, our staff are waiting at the venue. They’ll greet you when you arrive.”

“Yes.” The veil swayed like falling rain. The artist’s face twisted with hesitation.

Even now… even now, maybe she could—!

But she shook her head violently. The thought of the enormous number in her bank account made her swallow the urge.

I’ll just go clean up that water bottle. It’s only a sedative, anyway. I take those all the time myself.

Shrugging, the makeup artist turned back inside the salon.

As soon as Eun-se got into the car, a strange fatigue washed over her. Her body felt so heavy that she couldn’t even move a finger.

Baby… we’re going to meet your father now.

Slowly, she stroked her belly.

Just yesterday, while Tae-heon was still away on a business trip, she had found out that a new life was growing inside her.

Would he be happy? Of course he would.

Tae-heon had wanted a child more than anyone — saying it was also her dream, as someone who’d grown up an orphan, to have a family.

A faint, sleepy smile touched her lips, but then she suddenly glanced outside the window.

“Why are we… going this way?”

“The Olympic Highway is heavily congested.”

“Oh… right. It’s Saturday…” Her voice sounded oddly slurred, like she was half-asleep.

Baby, are you sleepy too? she thought as she rubbed her stomach and closed her eyes. They said the first trimester always made you drowsy.

When she came to her senses again, the car was driving down an unfamiliar mountain road.

Where… is this?

Her blurry vision caught a terrifying sight — a truck barreling straight toward them at full speed.

CRASH!

Even as her body was thrown forward, Eun-se instinctively wrapped her arms around her stomach.

It’s here… Tae-heon… our baby…

And then she lost consciousness.

Three months later.

“Why won’t she just die already? Might as well be dead! That cockroach of a woman—so damn persistent.”

Do-hee paced the hospital room, snapping irritably. Then she turned sharply toward the young man sitting in the corner.

“Do something! Her belly’s going to start showing soon — what are we supposed to do then?”

Without giving him a chance to answer, she spat out more venom.

“There’s only so much we can do to keep the staff quiet! I told you, just bury her in the mountains where no one will find her!”

After spewing those dreadful words, Do-hee tossed something at the man’s feet before leaving.

“And what’s wrong with your face? You look like death warmed over. Anyone who saw you would think you’re the one dying.”

The door shut behind her.

With trembling hands, the man clutched his head — the same driver who had kidnapped Eun-se on her wedding day.

What do I do… what do I do now?

His desperate gaze fell on the envelope at his feet. It had burst open slightly, revealing stacks of 50,000 won bills. A hollow laugh escaped him.

He should never have been lured by that devilish woman. There had been a time when he’d been intoxicated by Baek Do-hee’s touch, unable to escape it — not realizing it was worth less than how one might pet a dog.

Now, all that remained was—

A life branded as a kidnapper and attempted murderer. And—

“Sob… No… What about my parents… My father, my mother…”

Hee-soo began to sob uncontrollably.

At first, he had thought the pain he’d been feeling was from the accident, but a recent checkup had revealed the truth.

Cancer. Rapidly spreading. It had already metastasized to his peritoneum. Too late for treatment, the doctor had said.

The diagnosis had struck like lightning. He couldn’t bear to think of his elderly parents back in his hometown — of having to tell them their only son had just three months left to live.

Through his weeping, a strange sound suddenly cut in.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

The monitor attached to Eun-se’s life-support machine was sounding. The patient, who had been in a coma for months, had started breathing on her own.

“Wh—what? What’s happening?!”

Hee-soo jumped up, just in time to see Eun-se’s eyelids flutter open. The dull glaze in her pupils slowly filled with light.

Looking confused, Eun-se shook her head weakly. Hee-soo, dazed, removed the oxygen mask from her face.

“Haah… Where… am I?”

“You’re awake? You’re in a hospital.”

“Who… are you?”

“I…”

Hee-soo fidgeted, unable to answer.

“Who am I? Who… am I?”

Eun-se looked lost and terrified. In that instant, Hee-soo’s eyes flashed.

Her frail, emaciated body… and that belly, slightly swollen.

“You… you don’t remember? Anything at all?”

“…No. I don’t know. I don’t know why I’m here… or who I am.”

Perfect. This woman — this blank slate of a woman — could take care of his aging parents.

Hee-soo impulsively grabbed Eun-se’s hand, tears streaming down his face in relief.

“I’m… I’m your husband!”