For a moment after Bom awoke she was disoriented.

It took her a few seconds to realize where she was and that she’d fallen asleep. She rolled, searching for a clock, and then breathed a sigh of relief. She’d napped for only an hour.

She sat up, glancing around the dark room. Jiyong was nowhere to be found, but she was starting to suspect he didn’t stick around after .

With a sigh, she got up to look for her clothing, but then she saw that a robe had been laid out on the bed.

Apparently he wasn’t completely thoughtless.

She pulled on the robe and headed for the bathroom to shower and change. Okay, so maybe she shouldn’t have had with him.

It certainly didn’t solve anything, but then again, it hadn’t made things any more complicated than they already were. She wasn’t going to spend any time beating herself up over it because the simple truth was she wanted it.

Her problem was quite a bit more complicated because she’d been stupid enough to fall in love with a man who had no desire to return that love. Worse, she was pregnant with his child so she’d be tied to him forever.

Even when he eventually married someone else.

Her stomach churned and she closed her eyes as she completed her quick shower. She didn’t think she could handle another woman participating in the care of her child. A stepmother for her son.

Okay, she had to stop this because she’d just make herself crazy. For now, there were answers she wanted from Jiyong.

Her lips firmed and she in a deep breath. No one could ever accuse her of taking the path of least resistance. What did she have to lose, anyway? It wasn’t as if she had to worry about him telling her to take a hike.

Laughter bubbled in as she walked out of the bedroom a few minutes later, her stride determined.

Maybe that crap worked with other women, but it wasn’t going to work with her.

She found him in the downstairs office.

His back was to the door and he was staring sightlessly into the night. For a moment she studied his profile, reluctant to intrude even if she was determined to force a confrontation.

His hands were shoved into the pockets of his slacks and there was a bleakness to his expression that made her breath catch in . Then he turned fully and saw her standing in the doorway.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

She was, but that wasn’t what she wanted to discuss.

“I’d like to talk first,” she said in an even voice.

He blew out his breath as if he knew there was no getting around the inevitable.

She started forward, determined she wouldn’t let him shrug this off. “Jiyong, I need to know why the idea of our son haunts you so. You were perfectly happy at the idea of a daughter, and the moment it was revealed that this baby is a boy, you couldn’t get away fast enough.”

He went completely pale, and his eyes became dull, dead orbs.

Then he closed his eyes and his lips tightened. For a long moment he seemed to do battle with himself. At one point she was sure he’d throw her out. He looked furious and devastated by turns.

What had happened to make him this way?

And then finally he opened his eyes and stared lifelessly back at her. She knew she’d won, but why didn’t she feel like this was a victory?

“All right. We'll talk. After dinner.”

She very nearly forced the confrontation here and now, but something held her back.

Maybe he needed the time to prepare himself. She could give him that.

He herded her toward the kitchen, seated her at the island that doubled as a bar and then went to the refrigerator. He grimaced as he glanced back at her.

“I’m afraid our choices are somewhat limited. My housekeeper freezes meals for me and stocks the pantry, but I don’t do much cooking. I eat out a lot.”

She slipped off the bar stool and rounded the corner of the island. She waved him off with her hand. “Let me. I can whip us up something with what you have on hand.”

“And have you think my hospitality ?”

She leveled a stare at him. “Your hospitality does . Sit and I'll make us something to eat. Then you’re going to talk.”

He winced at her bluntness but took the stool she’d vacated while she surveyed the contents of the pantry.

She wanted something quick because she wasn’t going to wait all damn night for this come-to-Jesus moment with Jiyong. Nor was she going to give him enough time to think better of his promise and toss her out without explaining himself.

She found fresh croissants and decided on melted ham and cheese. There was an array of fruit so she made a quick fruit salad while waiting for the croissants to toast up in the oven.

She set the table with honey mustard, mayo and the fruit salad and then went back for glasses.

“What would you like to drink?” she asked after checking on the croissants again.

Jiyong got up and hurried around to the wine cabinet.

Then he paused and turned back around. “I guess wine is out. What do you usually drink?”

She smiled. “Water. Decaf tea. Fruit juice sometimes, but it gives me awful indigestion. Mostly water.”

“I'll have water, too, then.”

She set glasses out and filled them with water from the fridge. Then she went to take the cookie sheet from the