Ga-yeong affectionately passed her hand through Alex's hair, caressing his head on her lap as he slept on the sofa.
Mark came from behind her, and made her lean forward to place a pillow behind her. She turned to him with a sweet smile, and whispered gently:
"Thank you."
"You are welcome."
Mark also responded in a whisper with a smile, before turning to the weight on his wife's lap. He pouted, and complained:
"How can a grown man sleep unexpectedly like that?"
But Ga-yeong didn't seem to mind the situation. If anything, her smile full of sisterly affection had a maternal glow as she looked down at the sleeper.
"He fell asleep while listening to the heartbeat of our son."
Those words quietened Mark down. He looked at Alex, and at the big stomach he was resting his head beside.
Passing her fingers made plumper with the pregnancy through the short brown hair, Ga-yeong laughed softly:
"Look at how peacefully he is sleeping. Like a baby."
Mark looked at Alex face which had none of the usual facade, and sighed:
"He met with the chairman today, and what happened ten years ago must have been brought up one way or another."
Ga-yeong slowed down her movement, and quietly looking at Alex's peaceful face, spoke in a low voice:
"Actually, what happened ten years ago? Neither you nor Leyna really speak about it. You guys always skirt around the subject when it comes up."
Mark kept silent for a moment, before he opened his mouth when Ga-yeong raised her head to him.
"Love happened, and it ended in a tragedy that left behind scars that have failed to heal."
Ga-yeong was surprised:
"What happened? How come it ended in a tragedy? Was it… the chairman?"
The last question made Mark roll his eyes, breaking the solemn atmosphere. He tapped his wife's forehead:
"Don't think so little of the chairman, she is a great woman. She has no need for any adornment for her status, or the one of her family. Moreover, don't you see how her other sons got to choose their wives on their own?"
Ga-yeong covered her forehead and laughed sheepishly.
"Hehehe, I know. I just don't understand the tragedy you are speaking about."
Mark shook his head at her behavior, then lost his smile:
"The chairman didn't do anything. It was love at first sight, but the girl betrayed Alex in one of the worst possible ways. Since then, he changed, and nobody could find fault with that."
Ga-yeong stopped smiling. She turned back to Alex, the ache of her heart was written all over her face as pity came to mix with the glow of affection that came back. Her gentle eyes were so soft that she seemed to want to cradle Alex and heal his scars with her love, even if it was only sisterly love.
Mark shook his head at that scene, and sighed:
"I didn't tell you that to have you spoil him more than before. He is a grown man, he is not that weak."
Ga-yeong laughed, looking at Mark as he went to the kitchen to bring out the food. It was when he came back that she answered, making sure her voice remained low:
"Actually, he is the one spoiling me ever since his mother took me in. That is why I can't help but love him."
Mark rolled his eyes, pausing slightly as he found them a little dry after having rolled too many times in a single day, or rather, in a few hours. He sighed:
"At least, remember to leave some love for me, your husband."
Ga-yeong let out a silent chuckle. Mark finished bringing the meal over. Seeing that Ga-yeong, because of Alex, would find it difficult to eat, he went to sit on the armrest beside her, and started feeding her.
She smiled sweetly at him, making him feel that his efforts were worth it. His dry eyes only softened further as he saw her place her hand on her stomach.
Ga-yeong swallowed the food in her mouth, and softly spoke as she looked at Mark:
"Alex wants me to go live with the chairman."
Mark paused his action of bringing another portion of the food to Ga-yeong's mouth, before he resumed:
"That will relieve me, as my mother will be able to look after you. And I'm sure the chairman misses you too."
Ga-yeong chewed on the food as she gave Mark a long look, before she rolled her eyes at him:
"Just say it, that you don't trust me either."
Mark faltered for a moment. He said helplessly:
"Ga-yeong, you can fool everyone but you can't fool yourself. As you said, Alex loves you very much, and he is doing it for your own good."
Ga-yeong sent another eye-roll her husband's way, then smiled:
"I know. And it is either that, or he said he will hire dozens of housekeepers for me."
"Pfft…"
Fortunately for Mark, he was more focused on feeding his wife than eating, or he might have choked himself.
Ga-yeong blushed, and wanted to slap him on the arm, but then changed her target to his thigh. Even then, she only ended up doing little more than patting him, as she didn't want to disturb Alex.
"Laugh. Laugh all you want. Why do I have to behave like a disabled person just because I'm pregnant? All of this is your fault."
Despite her efforts, Alex moved on her thigh, shifting to change his position and turn his head to the other side. She sighed in relief when she saw that he did not wake up, and softly glared at the silently laughing Mark.
He smiled placatingly, then changed the subject:
"So, have you made a choice?"
Looking at Alex, Ga-yeong nodded:
"Yes, I have."
"Then?"
"I will go with the second choice, but let's wait for some time first. I might stay until a few months after giving birth. I don't want to impose on the chairman for too long, because even if everyone there treats your mother like a family member, we can't overstep the boundaries too much."