The study had become their second home.
For months, it had been filled with photographs, documents, security reports, old records, handwritten notes, and messages from unknown numbers.
But tonight, there was something different about the room.
Everything was finally organized.
Yerin sat at the large desk, slowly going through the final stack of papers.
Do-hyun stood beside her, checking another folder.
The original document lay open between them.
Every piece they had collected over the past months had finally been placed together.
The old photograph.
The missing staff.
The hidden phones.
The security records.
The mysterious messages.
The altered documents.
The information surrounding her grandmother's poisoning.
And finally, the original records from twenty years ago.
Yerin leaned back slightly.
"We have everything."
Do-hyun looked at the folders.
"Almost."
She looked at him.
"What are we missing?"
"The people behind it."
Yerin was quiet.
They had discovered the truth about what happened twenty years ago.
They had proven that the mysterious man had been framed.
They had discovered that someone had manipulated the records and continued protecting that secret years later.
But they still needed enough evidence to identify everyone involved and prove what they had done.
Do-hyun closed one of the folders.
"We don't confront anyone until we're certain."
Yerin nodded.
"We'll hand everything to the police."
"Yes."
"No revenge."
"No."
She looked at him.
"Even if I want to?"
His eyes met hers.
"Especially then."
Yerin gave him a small smile.
"You're becoming boring."
"I'm trying to keep you out of prison."
She laughed softly.
"Fair enough."
Do-hyun smiled.
Then his eyes dropped toward her stomach.
His expression immediately changed.
"That's enough."
Yerin frowned.
"What?"
"You've been sitting here for hours."
"I'm fine."
"You've said that three times."
"Because I am."
He reached for the folder in front of her.
She immediately placed her hand over it.
"Don't."
"Yerin."
"I'm finishing this page."
"You can finish it tomorrow."
"No."
He stared at her.
She stared back.
Neither moved.
Finally, Do-hyun sighed.
"Five minutes."
Yerin smiled.
"Ten."
"Five."
"Eight."
"Six."
She laughed.
"Fine."
He shook his head.
"You negotiate everything."
"Someone has to."
The months had passed quickly.
Yerin was now eight months pregnant.
Her stomach had grown considerably, and even though she tried to continue her normal routine, everything had become more difficult.
Do-hyun noticed every little thing.
If she walked too quickly—
"Slow down."
If she stood too long—
"Sit."
If she carried something—
"Give it to me."
If she worked late—
"Enough."
Sometimes Yerin wondered if he had secretly taken a course in how to annoy pregnant women.
One morning, she reached for a small box on a shelf.
Before her fingers could touch it, Do-hyun appeared behind her.
"What are you doing?"
Yerin closed her eyes.
"Please don't."
He took the box down.
"I'll get it."
"It's not heavy."
"I know."
"Then why—"
"You don't need to lift it."
She turned toward him.
"I'm eight months pregnant, Do-hyun. I'm not helpless."
"I know."
"Then stop treating me like I am."
He calmly placed the box on the table.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm being careful."
Yerin crossed her arms.
"You've been careful for eight months."
"Exactly."
She stared at him.
He looked completely serious.
She couldn't help laughing.
"You know what? You're impossible."
"I've heard that before."
She shook her head.
But the smile stayed on her face.
That evening, they returned to the study.
Yerin wanted to finish organizing the last evidence file.
Do-hyun didn't like the idea.
"You should rest."
"I rested earlier."
"For how long?"
"Twenty minutes."
"That's not enough."
"It is."
He gave her a look.
Yerin ignored him and opened the folder.
"Do-hyun."
"Hm?"
"Let me work."
He sighed.
"Fine."
But he remained beside her.
Watching.
Waiting.
Making sure she was comfortable.
Yerin eventually smiled.
"You're staring again."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm checking if you're okay."
"I am."
"Good."
She continued reading.
The room became quiet.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
Then—
A sudden pain moved through her stomach.
Yerin froze.
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
She lowered her eyes.
The pain slowly faded.
She took a careful breath.
Do-hyun was still reading.
Yerin said nothing.
She didn't want him to worry.
She looked back at the document.
Another few minutes passed.
She continued working.
But this time, she couldn't concentrate.
Her hand rested quietly against her stomach.
She waited.
The pain didn't return immediately.
So she convinced herself it was nothing.
Do-hyun placed another document on the table.
"This connects the security company to the old records."
Yerin looked at it.
"And this?"
"The access records."
She picked up the page.
The dates matched.
She looked at another document.
"These are the messages."
"Yes."
"And this is the staff information."
"Yes."
Yerin slowly placed everything together.
For months, these had been separate pieces.
Now they formed one picture.
Someone had been protecting the truth.
Someone had been watching them.
And someone had gone as far as poisoning her grandmother to keep the past buried.
Yerin's expression hardened.
"They're responsible."
"We still need the final proof."
She nodded.
"I know."
Do-hyun looked at her.
"That's why we're going to do this properly."
Yerin looked at him.
"No mistakes."
"No."
"No rushing."
"No."
"And no hiding things from each other."
Do-hyun paused.
He knew exactly what she meant.
"You too."
Yerin looked away.
"What?"
"If something happens, you tell me."
"I'm fine."
He narrowed his eyes.
"You said that before."
She remained silent.
He studied her face.
"Yerin."
"I'm just tired."
He didn't completely believe her.
But he didn't push her.
Not yet.
Later that night, Yerin stood near the window while Do-hyun organized the documents.
She suddenly stopped.
Another wave of pain came.
This time it was stronger.
Her hand immediately went to her stomach.
She closed her eyes.
She breathed slowly.
It will pass.
She didn't want Do-hyun to panic.
She didn't want him to stop everything.
The pain eventually eased.
Yerin opened her eyes.
Do-hyun was still facing the desk.
She quietly returned to her chair.
But she didn't say anything.
She looked down at the documents.
Then at her stomach.
"Just a little longer," she whispered.
It wasn't long before Do-hyun noticed something was wrong.
Yerin had become unusually quiet.
He walked toward her.
"Yerin."
She looked up.
"Hm?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
He stared at her.
"You don't look okay."
"I'm just tired."
He reached for the folder.
"We're done."
"No."
"Yes."
"We're almost finished."
"I said we're done."
Yerin frowned.
"Do-hyun—"
He closed the folder.
"Tomorrow."
She sighed.
"You always do this."
"Because you always push yourself."
"I can handle it."
"I know."
He looked at her carefully.
"Then tell me why you've been holding your stomach."
Yerin froze.
She slowly lowered her hand.
"I..."
"How long?"
She didn't answer.
"Yerin."
She looked away.
"It happened earlier."
"Earlier?"
"Once."
He waited.
She remained silent.
"How many times?"
Her silence answered him.
His expression changed.
"How many?"
"Three."
He immediately stood.
"We're going to the hospital."
"No."
"Yes."
"It's probably nothing."
"You don't know that."
"I don't want everyone panicking."
His voice softened.
"I'm not everyone."
Yerin looked at him.
He crouched in front of her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She swallowed.
"I didn't want you to stop."
"Stop what?"
"The investigation."
He stared at her.
"Yerin."
"I know how much this means to you."
His expression softened.
"But you matter more."
She looked down.
"I didn't want to become another reason everything had to stop."
Do-hyun gently took her hand.
"You will never be a reason to stop."
She looked at him.
"You are the reason I'd stop everything."
Her eyes became slightly watery.
He squeezed her hand.
"The documents can wait."
She nodded slowly.
Then suddenly—
Yerin's expression changed.
She felt another strong pain.
She gripped his hand.
"Do-hyun..."
He immediately stood.
"What?"
She took a shaky breath.
"I think..."
Her voice faded.
He looked down.
Then froze.
Yerin's eyes widened.
Her water had broken.
For one second, neither of them moved.
Then Do-hyun immediately grabbed the hospital bag.
"We're going."
Everything happened quickly.
Do-hyun helped Yerin into the car and immediately drove toward the hospital.
He called ahead while keeping one hand firmly around hers whenever he could.
Yerin tried to remain calm.
But the pain was becoming stronger.
Do-hyun kept looking at her.
"Stay with me."
"I'm here."
"Just breathe."
She nodded.
Another wave came.
Yerin closed her eyes.
Do-hyun tightened his grip on her hand.
"We're almost there."
When they reached the hospital, the medical team was already waiting.
They quickly took Yerin inside.
Do-hyun followed until the staff stopped him.
"Sir, you need to wait here."
His eyes remained fixed on Yerin.
She looked back at him.
"Do-hyun."
"I'm here."
The doors closed.
He stood there.
Completely still.
For a few seconds.
Then he began pacing.
It wasn't long before Emily and Min-jae arrived.
Emily rushed toward him.
"Where is she?"
"Inside."
"How is she?"
"I don't know."
Min-jae placed a hand on Do-hyun's shoulder.
"We'll wait."
Soon after, Ji-hoon arrived with Yerin's mother.
Do-hyun's mother came moments later.
Everyone gathered in the hallway.
Everyone was waiting.
But Do-hyun couldn't sit.
He paced from one end of the hallway to the other.
Then back again.
Every few seconds, his eyes moved toward the closed doors.
Then—
A cry came from inside.
Do-hyun stopped.
His face went pale.
He took one step toward the door.
Another cry followed.
He clenched his fists.
Min-jae immediately walked toward him.
"Do-hyun."
He placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She's going to be okay."
Do-hyun didn't answer.
He kept staring at the door.
Another cry echoed through the hallway.
Do-hyun closed his eyes for a moment.
Min-jae gently held his shoulder.
"Breathe."
Do-hyun finally took a slow breath.
But his eyes never left the door.
He continued pacing.
Waiting.
Listening.
And praying.
...To Be Continued...