Irene looks outside the window and rubs her five months old bump absent-mindedly. Her eyes search for the face that belongs to her partner in crime, her best friend, her first and true love. She wished she had got the chance to explain her decision to him three years ago. She wished she had confessed her love to him, or even voiced out her feelings at least once. She knew that he knew. Hell! Everyone knew they had never been only bestfriends. They always understood and knew what the other was thinking and feeling. Words were never required. But now she realizes that some things need to be expressed in words. Things are not supposed to be taken for granted.

She had thought Namjoon would understand her choice to marry Seokjin and also why it would also be better for him. She was right. Her family business was saved and Namjoon has become a successful, ambitious, hard working man. But the reason behind his determination is wrong. She had never wished that for him. He married her sister-in-law seeking revenge. Everyone has wronged him. Everyone is miserable. She gets to know about Namjoon and Joy from the common maids of both households. She used to visit her niece but that has been stopped. Her husband has forbidden her to step into the Bae state. She cannot blame him. Namjoon has separated his sister from him and worst of all, his wife is still in love with that very person. These are enough to torment any man with self-esteem. Her husband is a good man and he loves her and their child more than anything.

But she does regret her decision of marrying him. It is so unfair to both of them. But then again, there was no other way to save her father's name and hard work. She looks down at her belly and sighs. She wonders if she can love her baby unconditionally as a mother?

Seokjin looks at his wife, sitting at the window and looking outside. He does not have to be told why she is sitting like that. He knows what she is looking for and what she might be thinking. He shakes his head and leaves for his work. He cannot understand what he can do to make her happy.

Joy is humming in the kitchen when two tiny hands hug her leg tightly. She looks down with a smile. Aera is grinning and looking up at her "Jooyy". Little Bae Aera is like a ray of sunshine in her life. She befriended her baby the next day she returned from Ahjumma Cheonsa's.

"Is my baby back from preschool? Did she have a good day?" She gushes taking the girl in her arms.

"Oh Yesh! We drow today! We sing! We co-u-nt!" She cheers.

"Wow! You had done so much today!" Joy kisses a giggling Aera, "Now, let's get you a wash and then some snacks!" She carries her to the bathroom.

"Oh, Ms. Joy! It's okay! I'll take her." The maid, who went to pick her up, suggests.

"Oh, no worries! I will give her a bath. You can check the muffins in the oven for me, please?"

"Stop splashing Aera!" Joy laughs. She takes the child out of the tub and wraps her in a towel. She drains the tub dry. She dries Aera and gets a dress for her to wear. She loves to see her in pretty dresses. Maybe she should learn how to make one. Just like she is learning how to cook from Cheonsa and internet. She combs her hair and thinks of the day when they became friends for the first time.

She gets back from The Lees the next morning. Uncle Lee, Cheonsa's husband, has dropped her. Such a nice man he is! Just like his wife! How Joy wishes her father would have been like him!

Anyways, after he left her outside, she enters the mansion to find a stern-looking Namjoon in the dining room. He looks at her and gestures to follow him. He asks her where she went last night and she answers truthfully. She had gone to meet her new friend, Lee Cheonsa, who was also a mother figure to her. He stares at her closely and then asks her to leave. She gets out of his bedroom only to find a tiny figure peeping behind the wall. She tiptoes and gets a hold on her before she could ran away from her again.

"Good morning Aera, what are you doing here?" She asks.

"I...I come to see if that Unkeel will beat ya like my appa beats me...Unkeel looked verry engry like appa...but he's nice! He not beat you." She smiles.

 She cares. Joy looks at the tiny human being infront of her. How can someone hate their child so much?! Well, she knew they may not love them, like her own father, but this is unbelievable. She is a 3 year old toddler.

"Did you have breakfast?" Joy asks, touched by Aera's concern for her.

She shakes her head.

Joy frowns. Irene has hired a maid for Aera. She is supposed to take care of her after Noel left for her holiday. Where is that woman? Well, this happens when the child is left under an outsider's care. She knows it too well.

"Okay. Let's get you some breakfast."

She sits across the small table in the kitchen and watches Aera eat cereal. An unfamiliar feeling evolves in her heart. It is so overwhelming that it makes her eyes tear up. Tears of happiness and contentment. Maybe this is how a mother feels for her child.

Namjoon drives back home, furious. He did not even wait for the driver. Just took the keys from him. He should not be driving in this state.There had been an important conference of enterpreneurs and young businessmen where he finally saw Irene and Seokjin together after two whole months. Last time Seokjin had threatened to kill him if he did not stay away from Joy. 
 

Seokjin looks like he would have attacked him then and there but cannot. They are in public. Namjoon smirks. The Kim heir will never change. He looks at his Irene instead. She looks even more ethereal. No! He will not think why. He will not allow himself to think about that man's child in his Irene's womb. Does this mean that Irene no longer belongs to him? 

"Oi! Isn't that Kim Namjoon? The charity case of the Baes? He is loaded now." He turns his attention to the two guys talking about him or more like slandering.

"Yep. Yet he married Park Sooyoung. She must have thought that it will secure her future. Good for nothing lass! Or else, why will such a beautiful and hot girl like her marry someone like him? He has no family history and obviously, not good looking!" They prejudiced laughter rings in his ears.

Namjoon gulps and fists his hand. He cannot be rash and violent like he used to be. He has built his reputation and status with great effort. Almost everyone has begun to respect him. These man childs are trying to reel him up for purpose. They are jealous. 

"Oh! Of course, you guys will say like that. After all, his wife showed you your place at that party last month." A reminder from a third guy shuts them up.

"Yeah, whatever..." One of them grumbles.

So his 'wife' had defended him. And he does not know how to feel about it. He drinks a lot at the after-party.

Namjoon stops the car with a great force and jumps out of it. He walks straight into the house. He stops outside the kitchen door to see Joy and that useless Jace's daughter, sitting at the table. She seems to be helping her with her homework.

"Good girl! Now, let's put these in your bag. It's time for your bed." She notices the figure standing at the door. He is still dressed in the same attire she had arranged for him in the morning. His unruly hair and blood shot eyes indicate that something has happened. He looks inebriated.

"Are you...are you fine tonight?" His gaze is fixed on her. 

"Huh? Ummm...yes..." She blushes. He must be asking as she had refused to sleep with him once last month. She was on her periods. He had nodded and left. Joy was impressed that he respected her wish and health. They have not been intimate since.    

"Then come to my room after you are done." He gestures at Aera for a second and walks away with his coldness.

Joy sighs and looks at the girl," Okay, baby. I've to...I've some work. I'll come soon but you must fall asleep. I'll check. Okay? Jooyy is sorry  that she will not be able to read Aera a story tonight." She kisses her.

"It's alright." Aera nods happily.

They walk to Aera's room and Joy prepares her to sleep,"Goodnight, baby." 

They exchange goodnight kisses and hugs.

She knocks and enters Namjoon's bedroom. She finds her husband in his black and grey dressing robe. He is sitting by the fireplace in his rocking chair with a glass. He oberves her closely from the top of her head to her feet for minutes. Joy knows what he is doing. He is trying to unnerve her.

She sighs. Since her talk with Cheonsa one and a half months ago, she has started to get less unsettled by him. She wonders if he can guess that? Can he detect the subtle changes in her? Anyways, she should keep her expectations really low. She should prepare herself as he is again going to call her 'Irene'.

"You know you look nice today...I may have kissed you for that..." He drawls.

Okay, she has not expected that statement. Actually, it is a compliment.

Yes. That would have been shocking for her.

Yes. They never kiss.

Yes. They never kissed during those four months of  'fake' dating. He said he was not comfortable with too much touching. She respected that as she was also not too confident.

Yes. They did not kiss after the registration of their 'marriage' or deal. No seal the deal for her. Okay, bad joke.

Yes. They never kiss during...you know. 

She keeps standing near the bed. Namjoon staggers towards it and lies down. He calls her towards him with his hand.

Joy is back in her room to shower and change. Then she checks on Aera. She tucks her sleeping body properly. Joy notices something on her chinbone in the mirror. A purplish-blue mark. She blushes. It is good start. She guesses.

She comes back to her bed and lies. Tonight he looked very disturbed. May be that is why tonight he... she touches the mark on her face. A bit rough.

Suddenly she sits up. Oh no! He has forgotten to use any protection. She is not on contraceptive pills as she forgot to buy them this month. She has no emergency ones. What should she do? She looks at the clock. It is past twelve in the midnight. Should she go out? Well, she safely reached Cheonsa last month. But can she be so sure about tonight? If she orders, everyone at the mansion will wake up. It will be very awkward receiving the delivery infront of them. She cringes at the thought.

She decides to get EC pills the first thing in the morning. There is nothing to be so worried about. She will get them in time.

But how can she be so sure?