Chapter 11

“Yes. That’s right. I’m terminally ill. So please let me resign!”

Sunwoo exclaimed, quickly holding out the resignation letter he was carrying.

“What? What’s this?”

Director Kang Jinwook’s eyebrows shot up. Sunwoo looked him straight in the eye and answered.

“As you can see, it’s my resignation letter. Director, I apologize for my extremely rude behavior until now. I’m sorry.”

When he looked up, Kang Jinwook was staring at the paper in his hand with a contorted expression.

“What?”

“I’m quitting now.”

Kang Jinwook looked at Sunwoo, who was speaking clearly, with disbelieving eyes.

“After thinking it over, I believe continuing to work without my memories would only cause trouble. A responsible person shouldn’t do that. So I think resigning is the right choice.”

“You’re talking as if you’ve done a proper job until now.”

Kang Jinwook immediately sneered. He was reminded of how Secretary Choi had clung to him like a leech for the past three years.

“Have you done anything besides following me around?”

“Well, I don’t remember that well, but I’m trying to live diligently from now on.”

Sunwoo said with a nonchalant face.

“Live diligently? If that’s the case, do it by my side.”

“No. That’s absolutely not possible. You don’t need to concern yourself with me that much, Director.”

Stay by your side? What a terrifying thing to say! It’s just easier for my life if you’re not around!

Sunwoo couldn’t bring himself to say that out loud.

“What did you say?”

Kang Jinwook’s face hardened. His piercing eyes glared at Sunwoo fiercely.

“Just stop worrying about me, Director. Whatever I do, however I live.”

Sunwoo said this and quickly turned around, walking away briskly lest anyone try to stop him. So he didn’t notice Kang Jinwook standing behind him, mouth agape in disbelief.

Secretary Jo and Assistant Manager Kim, who had returned at some point, were standing at the entrance of the secretarial office, looking at Sunwoo with surprised eyes.

“Thank you for everything.”

Submitting the resignation letter twice was enough. He thought he had done as much as he could. Sunwoo greeted the secretarial staff and picked up the luggage he had prepared in advance.

“S-Sunwoo? What? What’s going on?”

“I submitted my resignation to the Director again. My health isn’t good, so I don’t think I can continue working here.”

“Gasp!”

Assistant Manager Kim next to Secretary Jo covered her mouth. She looked dumbfounded at the sudden development.

It was the same for Secretary Jo. She had hoped it wasn’t true, but to think Choi Sunwoo really had a terminal illness…!

Secretary Jo’s eyes filled with sympathy.

“I finished organizing this month’s receipts as you mentioned earlier. Please check them once. I’m sorry I couldn’t finish everything responsibly until the end.”

Sunwoo bowed his head once more and left the secretarial office.

“Choi Sunwoo!”

Well, he tried to leave, but he flinched and stopped at the sound of Director Kang Jinwook calling him.

‘Why is he suddenly calling my name? He really startled me.’

He always said ‘Secretary Choi,’ but now it’s ‘Choi Sunwoo.’ Of course, he had called him that a few times before, but Sunwoo grumbled inwardly, not even thinking about that.

You need to be careful about everything in early pregnancy, but at this rate…

Sunwoo patted his flat stomach, trying to calm the startled baby, and turned around.

Director Kang Jinwook was standing there with a hardened face.

“Did you call me?”

“You, how dare you…”

What’s with the ‘how dare you’? This isn’t the Joseon era.

Sunwoo pouted and opened his mouth.

“Since I’m no longer an employee here, I’ll say this again: don’t speak informally to me, Mr. Kang Jinwook.”

Now that he had submitted his resignation letter, there was no need to call him Director anymore.

Sunwoo shot back and turned away. It absolutely wasn’t because he was scared. Absolutely not! It was just because he might get caught if he lingered any longer.

Sunwoo’s steps towards the elevator gradually quickened. Fortunately, the doors opened immediately. As soon as he got in and pressed the close button, he saw Director Kang Jinwook and the secretarial staff standing frozen, staring at him.

They all wore shocked expressions. Sunwoo bowed to them. The doors closed.

“Phew…”

He let out a sigh of relief, not realizing how tense he had been. Looking at Director Kang Jinwook’s eyes, he felt it wouldn’t end well if he was caught.

Fortunately, as he leaned against the wall, the numbers on the elevator panel changed rapidly. Finally, the elevator came to a stop.

Sunwoo quickly came out. Unfortunately, there was no waiting taxi like in the morning. He looked around, but it was the same.

Seeing no sign of any taxis coming, Sunwoo opened an app on his phone to call one.

“Choi Sunwoo!”

Just then, his name was called again and one of his arms was suddenly grabbed.

“Ah…”

He was grabbed so forcefully that his body jerked backward. Sunwoo frowned and turned around. Director Kang Jinwook was holding Sunwoo’s arm, breathing heavily.

“What is it? Let go, it hurts.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Kang Jinwook tightened his grip. Sunwoo yelped “Ouch!” and shook his arm. But he couldn’t break free.

“You said you already heard at the hospital! What more do you need to know? If you don’t want to believe it, then don’t.”

“Hey, Secretary Choi!”

“What, Kang Jinwook!”

Sunwoo shot back, not backing down. Surprised, Kang Jinwook looked at Sunwoo with wide eyes.

“I said I’ll disappear on my own, why are you doing this? I hate this. Get out of my life!”

I hate the ‘madman.’ I hate even more the idea of dying because I’m pregnant with the ‘madman’s’ child.

Sunwoo exerted superhuman strength and shook off Kang Jinwook’s hand. Just then, he saw a taxi speeding towards them.

Sunwoo quickly waved his hand. But soon he lowered it, seeing the ‘Reserved’ sign lit up on the taxi.

“You dare to act like this?”

An ice-cold voice was heard from behind. Goosebumps rose from his neck. Sunwoo realized he had pressed the wrong switch on the ‘madman.’@@novelbin@@

Sunwoo’s neck turned slowly, as if creaking. Director Kang Jinwook’s gaze as he stared at him was far from normal.

‘Gasp!’

I should have just apologized politely and said I’d quit. I shouldn’t have said I disliked it!

Sunwoo regretted and opened his mouth to try and smooth things over.

“Um, Director… What I meant was…”

“You dare to say you’re resigning?”

Just then, Kang Jinwook cut off Sunwoo’s words and shouted.

“Stop talking nonsense and stay by my side. You absolutely cannot leave.”

And Kang Jinwook tore the resignation letter he was holding into shreds. Sunwoo unconsciously stepped back.

Otherwise, it seemed like Kang Jinwook, with his eyes gleaming like a madman, would tear him apart like that paper right then and there.

As Sunwoo hurriedly looked back, he saw a taxi approaching. Fortunately, this one was empty.

Sunwoo waved his arms frantically, hailing the taxi. Fortunately, he saw the taxi stopping. Sunwoo ran at full speed and flung open the closed door.

“Choi Sunwoo!”

Director Kang Jinwook, who had torn the resignation letter to shreds and thrown it on the ground, belatedly realized Sunwoo was getting into a taxi and was seen running towards him with an enraged face.

“Driver, please, hurry and leave!”

The driver saw Sunwoo’s urgent face in the rearview mirror and stepped hard on the accelerator pedal.

* * *

In the taxi, Sunwoo’s expression darkened. He was completely exhausted from detaching himself from Director Kang Jinwook, who had been shouting that he absolutely wouldn’t let him quit.

If he had stayed there a moment longer, he might have fainted again.

Sunwoo leaned back against the seat, let out a deep sigh, and turned on his phone. He searched for the doctor’s name and pressed the call button.

“Hello?”

Han Sujin answered the phone before it even rang three times.

“Doctor, it’s me, Choi Sunwoo.”

“Ah! Mr. Choi Sunwoo.”

Han Sujin called out to Sunwoo, sounding pleased.

“I heard Kang Jinwook came to the hospital. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Kang Jinwook? Ah, could that man who came this morning be the one called Kang Jinwook…”

Sunwoo flinched at Han Sujin’s words, which sounded like she was talking to herself.

“Kang Jinwook went to the hospital this morning?”

I thought he just had an external meeting and didn’t come to the office, but that wasn’t it?

“Some man suddenly came and asked about Mr. Choi Sunwoo’s condition. He was so intimidating… I was terrified. So I only told him what we had discussed with Mr. Choi Sunwoo.”

“You said two months?”

“Ah… that…”

Han Sujin paused, seemingly flustered. Sunwoo spoke before she could continue.

“He thinks I’m terminally ill. That’s how you explained it, right? Thank you. For not telling the truth.”

At least the fact that he was pregnant wasn’t revealed. Sunwoo expressed his gratitude for that. Han Sujin then apologized with a long sigh.

“Is that the person? Mr. Choi Sunwoo’s partner?”

At those words, Sunwoo’s breath caught.

“Uh, well, that…”

Sunwoo stammered, flustered. He should say no, but he couldn’t even get those words out.

“If Mr. Choi Sunwoo wants, I can continue to keep silent. But you won’t be able to hide it forever.”

Han Sujin explained in a cautious tone.

“Pregnant omegas constantly emit pheromones due to hormonal changes. The good news is that other alphas or omegas won’t notice Mr. Choi Sunwoo’s pheromones unless they’re very close.”

Omega pheromones are coming from me?

Sunwoo’s expression changed at this unexpected information.

“Mr. Choi Sunwoo. If you’ve remembered who the person who impregnated you is, have a serious conversation with them. About what’s best to do going forward.”

Han Sujin cautiously suggested that it might be better than taking responsibility alone. After a moment of surprise, Sunwoo soon composed himself and replied.

“I still don’t know who it is. And I probably won’t remember in the future either. But I’ll think more about what you’ve told me, doctor. And thank you so much for all your help.”

“Mr. Choi Sunwoo…?”

Han Sujin called out questioningly at Sunwoo’s words of gratitude. It sounded as if he was saying he would never contact her again.

Sunwoo thanked her once more and ended the call.

Actually, Sunwoo had intended to ask Han Sujin to recommend a good hospital if she knew of one. No matter how much he searched, there were limits to what he could find on the internet. But after hearing what Han Sujin just said, he felt he shouldn’t ask for help.

Director Kang Jinwook had even met Sunwoo’s attending physician. There was no knowing when he might visit again, and next time, he might find out about the pregnancy rather than a terminal illness.

“Right. Let’s just run away like this.”

Sunwoo clenched his fist as he looked out the fast-moving window.

He had finally quit.

Now it was time to move towards a peaceful daily life!