OMS 61

“That was a close call. Given how weak your body is, you need to be careful of both physical and mental shock. Avoid marital relations for now, and you should mostly stay in bed. Though he’s busy, it’s important that the father stays close by so the baby can be exposed to his pheromones until you stabilize.”

As the doctor spoke to Kim Jun-han, Kim Tae-han kept nodding beside him. Park Dong-sik cursed him with his eyes, thinking he was crazy. Meanwhile, Madam. Song appeared with worry and concern written on her face. After sending the doctor out, she looked Park Dong-sik up and down. Her gaze wasn’t affectionate but rather like someone checking an item for defects.

“Is the baby okay?”

“Yes.”

“Take good care of yourself here for the next few days. A caregiver will be here soon.”

Kim Tae-han suddenly stepped forward.

“Why do we need a caregiver when I’m here?”

“Why would you be here?”

“The doctor said the father needs to be nearby to stabilize with pheromones.”

Madam Song stared at him in disbelief, and Park Dong-sik nearly cursed out loud. Kim Jun-han snorted and smiled menacingly. Watching the three of them made Park Dong-sik’s stomach twist again. Meanwhile, Kim Tae-han refused to back down.

“Mom, you think it’s my child too, right? Right? Sister-in-law? Right? Brother is the only one denying it here. Isn’t that so?”

Kim Jun-han took his hands out of his pockets and turned to face Kim Tae-han directly, looking about ready to throw a punch. Park Dong-sik thought he needed to intervene before things got out of hand.

“Aah!”

All three startled and looked when he clutched his stomach.

“The doctor said to avoid stress…”

“Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor?”

Madam Song asked worriedly, and Park Dong-sik pleaded. 

“Skip the doctor, but please take your two sons out of here.” As soon as he finished speaking, Kim Jun-han threw one cold glance and left. Madam Song also disappeared, dragging along the stubborn Kim Tae-han.

When peace returned to the room, Park Dong-sik finally sighed in relief and rubbed his stomach.

“Six billion won baby, you held up well. Good job!”

Alone now, he could only feel regret. The doctor said the father should stay close for quick recovery…Maybe he should have kept one of them around. But how could he when he didn’t know who the father was? Besides, when all three were together, it felt like his energy was being drained away. If this was what the shaman meant about Lee Hee-soo dying, then she was right on the mark.

As he sat there blankly alone, drowsiness overcame him. He tried to stay awake until the caregiver arrived, but it was useless. How much time had passed? Half-asleep, he heard a sliding sound, and opening his eyes, he vaguely saw the caregiver.

Soon he fell into a deep sleep again, but suddenly felt a warm touch on his cheek. The caregiver? A rich scent settled over him, making his body languid, his anxiety disappear, and even the slight pain in his stomach subside. Who…? He tried to open his eyes, but Park Dong-sik was in too deep a sleep to regain consciousness.

***

“Well…I don’t know…”

The caregiver shook her head and left with the finished meal tray. Park Dong-sik tilted his head to one side. Strange. Someone definitely touched his cheek while he was sleeping…That bastard Kim Tae-han, after refusing to leave, could he have come back?

While lost in thought, the door opened and Kim Yoon-ah appeared. She was in a wheelchair as she couldn’t walk long distances. She had been in physical therapy when she heard about Park Dong-sik’s hospitalization and apparently cried heavily. Her eyes were still puffy like a carp’s.

“Why did you come here? You should be resting.”

Kim Yoon-ah moved her wheelchair next to the bed.

“I’m sorry…It’s because of me…”

As she was about to cry again, Park Dong-sik comforted her. He assured her it wasn’t anyone’s fault, but rather his own carelessness that caused this, and told her not to worry as he’d be more careful from now on.

“I’m strong, so take care of yourself first.”

Come to think of it, while Lee Hee-soo had family, Kim Yoon-ah had no one. Park Dong-sik suddenly became curious about her family story. He’d only heard she grew up in an orphanage but didn’t know too much about the details.

“Aren’t you curious about your family?”

“Family?”

“Your birth parents.”

Park Dong-sik had been curious his whole life. So he ran away and desperately searched, only to find they were utter trash. Someone who cared more about money than mourning their son’s death. Someone who beat, extorted, and threatened young Park Dong-sik. If they had been strangers, he might have resented them less, but because they were family, the hatred grew like a weed.

“I guess not all parents are good.”

Kim Yoon-ah hesitated when he brought up the subject of family.

“Actually, I told you this before you lost your memory, but I tried to find them once. But it was harder than I expected. Since I was abandoned right after birth…”

At least Park Dong-sik remembered his name at age five…Hearing this made him feel even more sorry for her.

“You wouldn’t even have had a name then.”

“No…”

“Those bastards. They could have at least given you a name.”

“The director said they left me wrapped in a blanket at the entrance. It was mid-winter, but they used a summer blanket. She said if they’d found me later, I would have frozen to death. Thinking about it now, maybe they didn’t care if I died…”

Hearing this made his heart heavy, as if this wasn’t someone else’s story, but his own.

“Still, you grew up well. Went to a good university, got a job, though now you’re suffering as my secretary, but just wait a little bit longer. When I get my 60 billion won, I’ll give you a big share. Promise.”

Kim Yoon-ah smiled bitterly. He understood. How thoughtlessly he talked about leaving the child to someone who had been abandoned as a child. Feeling bad about having such a big mouth, he decided to change the subject.

“Tell me the orphanage name. When I get out, I’ll look for your family.”

“You will, Lee Hee-soo?”

“Yeah, I’m quite skilled at finding people who’ve run away.”

“…Since when?”

Park Dong-sik stammered. He had accidentally let slip something from his time as Park Dong-sik.

“Never mind about that. Just trust me. I’ll definitely find them.”

“Um…it’ll be difficult. Actually, the orphanage is gone now.”

“Why? Did the director commit fraud?”

Kim Yoon-ah’s eyes opened wide at his words.

“How did you know?”

Park Dong-sik paused briefly.

“Where…was it located?”

“In XX-dong. Now there’s a shopping center there.”

“…”

“Lee Hee-soo?”

“What was the orphanage’s name?”

“Hope House.”

Park Dong-sik couldn’t hide his confusion. The place Kim Yoon-ah mentioned was the same orphanage where Park Dong-sik had been. The director’s fraud and the shopping center that replaced it, it all matched. Could we have grown up in the same orphanage? There were many children, and the boys and girls were separated, so even if they had been there together, he wouldn’t remember.

Park Dong-sik stared intently at Kim Yoon-ah’s face, wondering if he’d seen her before.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Yes. Beauty.”

Kim Yoon-ah made a rare expression of disgust, and Park Dong-sik laughed out loud. The ladies at the soup restaurant would have swooned at such jokes. As they were talking, someone knocked. He thought it was the caregiver, but it turned out to be Madam Song. Seeing her arrive with her secretary, Kim Yoon-ah struggled to stand.

“You’re here, madam.”

“Sit down. I heard you recently woke up, you look fine. That’s good.”

Kim Yoon-ah smiled sadly at the businesslike tone, saying, “Thank you.” Judging that there was no point in her staying, Park Dong-sik asked Kim Yoon-ah to leave. She soon left the room and Madam Song sat down.

“Did you sleep?”

“Yes, very well.”

“That’s good.”

Madam Song held out her hand to her secretary, who took an envelope from his briefcase. It was passed to Park Dong-sik.

“Read it.”

Taking it out to examine, it was quite thick. These chaebol contracts are always dozens of pages long, he thought. Just thinking about reading it all made him tired. As he started reading the first page, Madam Song’s voice cut in.

“After giving birth, leave immediately after discharge.”

Park Dong-sik nodded casually.

“Yes, as promised.”

“I’ll decide which country you go to, understand?”

Park Dong-sik looked up with a frown on his face.

“But I was planning to go to Hawaii?”

“Who said you get to decide?”

“Isn’t it my choice where I go?”

“Don’t misunderstand. You’re running away. Not going on vacation. I’ll find somewhere you won’t be noticed and can live quietly for at least ten years. Somewhere my child will never find you.”

He was too dumbfounded to speak. Thinking he’d be free to fly wherever he wanted after giving up the baby was a big mistake. Besides, while Kim Tae-han might not, Kim Jun-han would definitely look for him. Did she really think that even though she saw his expression? Sighing, he continued reading the contract when something made his eyes widen.

“W-What is this?”

“What? Were you trying to take my money without being prepared for this much?”

Park Dong-sik couldn’t close his mouth, which was hanging wide open at the moment.

[Upon giving birth, Lee Hee-soo will undergo permanent contraceptive surgery.]

He didn’t know what omega permanent contraception was, something like a vasectomy? No, more importantly, why should he have to do this? While he had no plans for more children, forcing surgery on him seemed wrong. Before he could argue, Madam Song stared at him coldly.

“I won’t tolerate my grandchild having half-siblings. What if they come begging for money claiming to be siblings? We’re preventing such a thing from happening.”

“But to make a perfectly healthy person into a eunu-, I mean, how should I even say this, damn it.”

“There you go again with that vulgar language.”

“And your proposal to me is elegant?”

“More elegant than someone selling their baby for money, so shut up.”

Park Dong-sik was speechless. True, someone selling their baby for money had no right to talk about elegance. As he sat silently clutching the contract, Madam Song got up to her feet.

“Sign the papers and send them with my secretary.”

After Madam Song left, Park Dong-sik looked at the contract in his hand and laughed dejectedly. Well…it’s not like I was planning to have more children anyway…Money was the goal, so for that amount, I should be able to accept anything.