The Omega Is Pregnant-Chapter 99

Kang Se-heon was at the same café where Tae-seo had once stopped by for his interview. He, too, was there to conduct an interview as part of promoting the new product.

While waiting for everything to be ready, Kang Se-heon didn’t take his eyes off the book. He thought back to when he’d told Tae-seo that it might be fetal movement. He hadn’t been sure. Saying it was because it hadn’t happened to him was just an excuse. Even obstetricians who haven’t given birth can answer any question, right? Though he wasn’t a doctor, he still wanted to ease Tae-seo’s anxiety.

Because of that, the parenting books had now been replaced with medical books on pregnancy.

Engrossed in the book, Kang Se-heon lifted his head at the sound of someone approaching—and spotted an unexpected figure.

“What brings you here?”

“I had business. You didn’t think I came to gawk at you, did you?”

It was Chairman Kang Hak-jung.

Kang Se-heon, who already had something to say to him, lowered his voice.

“I heard about what happened with my uncle. You acted like you were going to keep him close—so why did you change your mind?”

“I told you from the beginning I’d handle things my way.”

Chairman Kang Hak-jung made it clear he had never changed his stance. Perhaps he’d been waiting all along for Kang Soo-hak to let go of his father’s hand on his own.

Realizing this had been the plan from the beginning, Kang Se-heon let out a breath, as if admitting defeat.

“Shall we begin the interview, then? We’ve prepared separate tea for you, Chairman.”

“Good.”

Reporter Park Soo-hee, who was assigned to the interview, approached with a lively voice, lifting the mood. The failed interview with Yoon Tae-seo had unexpectedly brought her another opportunity.

Perhaps because she was now the envy of everyone, Park Soo-hee seemed more excited than usual—but then she noticed the puzzled look on Kang Se-heon’s face.

“Ah, I forgot to mention. Today’s interview will be conducted with the Chairman present.”

She didn’t forget—she just chose not to say anything.

And it was obvious who had ordered it: Chairman Kang Hak-jung.

With everything already arranged down to the seating, Kang Se-heon simply closed his book in response.

Anticipating that he might get up and leave out of irritation, Park Soo-hee quickly sat down.

“We’ll begin.”

At her signal, the camera light turned on. She switched on the recorder, gave a brief explanation that everything said here would be recorded, and started the interview.

“The concept of the new product was very striking. Could you tell us more about it?”

“We integrated everyone’s input and chose the theme of ‘everyday life.’”

“Is that so? But I heard ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) it wasn’t exactly everyone’s idea—that your influence as Executive Vice President played a big role?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“So your everyday life with that person must’ve been special.”

There was no one who didn’t understand that “that person” Park Soo-hee referred to was Yoon Tae-seo.

“Then in line with the theme of ‘everyday life,’ I’ll ask the Chairman next. What have you been up to these days?”

It was the most ordinary of questions. But as Kang Hak-jung showed, even a simple question could be anything but, depending on the answer.

“I’ve been reading parenting books.”

At his answer, Kang Se-heon’s brow twitched. Parenting books?

“My, now that’s a daily routine I didn’t expect.”

“It’s nothing special. I just read when I have a spare moment at work—not something to brag about.”

If it wasn’t worth bragging about, then why include it in his daily life? Kang Se-heon’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t know why, but it felt like his affection for Tae-seo was somehow losing to his grandfather’s.

“That’s all for Yoon Tae-seo, isn’t it?”

“The baby’s coming soon, so it’s good to prepare ahead. Things have changed since I raised my own children—there’s much more to be mindful of.”

Chairman Kang Hak-jung spoke as if it were nothing, but that only made it seem more elaborate.

“Come to think of it, I heard Tae-seo felt the baby move...”

When had he contacted Tae-seo again? Before Kang Se-heon could interrupt, Chairman Kang Hak-jung kept speaking without pause.

Unable to shake the betrayal that had no clear target, Kang Se-heon gave a hollow smile.

****

The place that sold baby products had become familiar now. It was one of the most important places to him—just like the park. Except unlike the park, he always left here with both hands full.

With his hands behind his back, Tae-seo slowly looked around, but his mind kept drifting.

What is this?

Ever since his face became known, he’d gotten used to people looking at him. But this wasn’t that kind of gaze—neither casual curiosity nor idle glances. It felt like someone was staring at him without letting go, yet hiding behind a black curtain so he couldn’t tell who it was... It made his skin crawl.

Someone’s following me.

He kept pretending to check his surroundings, and then he felt it. Slowly but steadily, someone was tailing him.

Tae-seo kept his composure and looked around. There were a lot of people, which made him feel both safe and uneasy. That unknown person could brush past him pretending to just pass by. And if that happened, he didn’t know how he’d defend himself.

“How much is this?”

He pointed at a row of tiny baby shoes and asked a meaningless question. The employee who came over kindly explained, but nothing registered. Instead, using the shoes as an excuse, he pulled out his phone. He turned on the camera as if to take a photo, but aimed it at his own face, subtly tilting the angle to glance behind him—yet there were too many people to pick anyone out.

He gave up quickly, frustrated. Instead, he opened his contacts, found a familiar name, and left a message.

While he tapped the screen a few times, the employee seemed to wait patiently, but as soon as Tae-seo lowered the phone, she spoke.

“Excuse me, but...”

Tae-seo cut her off, lowering his voice.

“If someone suspicious shows up after I leave, could you give a signal? You don’t have to if it makes you uncomfortable.”

Right now, the only person he could trust was this woman in front of him. Momentarily startled, the employee then gave a solemn nod in response to Tae-seo’s earnest plea.

Tae-seo gave her a grateful look and walked away. He moved slowly, pretending to examine the merchandise. When he turned, he glanced back at the employee. She picked up and set down a pair of baby shoes, then disappeared into the back.

Blue.

It was the color of the shoes the employee had held. Tae-seo, pretending to look around, searched for blue. It didn’t stand out at first glance—except for one person.

The person wore a cap pulled low enough to hide their face, but what caught his eye was the blue stripe running through their black t-shirt. Tae-seo turned away again. He no longer slowed his pace under the pretense of browsing.

Increasing his speed, Tae-seo lifted his phone and pressed the call button right away. Then, without waiting for the call to connect, he slipped it into his pocket.

The person following him sped up as well. They didn’t even care about shoving aside others who stood in the way. At the small scream that rang out from behind, Tae-seo bit down hard on his lip. He changed his mind about trying to hide among people.

Afraid someone else might get hurt because of him, he decided to get out of there entirely.

He moved as if heading for the elevator but instead stepped onto the escalator. As he wove through the crowd, dodging left and right, the murmuring behind him grew louder.

Who the hell is it.

It was hard to identify the person. He didn’t even know who had sent them.

The more ragged Tae-seo’s breathing became, the more tightly his belly began to tense up. It wasn’t from the physical exertion—it was the anxiety.

On the second escalator, he briefly placed a hand on his stomach and tried to steady his breathing. Thinking that Blessing was struggling made him realize he couldn’t just recklessly run anymore. He wasn’t alone now.

What little relief he had came from the fact that the pursuer didn’t seem to be coming any closer—maybe they were catching their breath, too.

Not the parking lot. It’s safer to take a taxi.

The parking garage would be like saying, “Please come abduct me.” Tae-seo, his bangs now damp with sweat, roughly swept them back. His hand instinctively reached toward his phone, but he clenched and unclenched his fist instead.

The phone was his final fallback—for if he was caught.

Getting off the escalator, Tae-seo smoothly yet quickly veered off to the side. He slipped into the event hall, hiding himself among racks of tightly packed clothing and ducked his upper body down.

“Hey! What the hell, why are you pushing?”

Someone’s complaint erupted nearby as Tae-seo held his breath and whipped his body around.

That’s when it happened. A large hand appeared in front of the crouched Tae-seo and suddenly blocked his view.

Before he could react, a hand clamped down over his mouth.

It was happening in a place full of people, and panic sent his hands flailing. He had thought they would wait for a place with no one around.

Buried between rows of clothes crammed onto racks, Tae-seo struggled to break free from the person who had grabbed him from behind.

But the large hand covered both his nose and mouth in one go, and his strength quickly drained. At the same time, the other hand grabbed his belly—and Tae-seo froze completely.

He knew he should resist, but it was like someone had seized his Achilles’ heel. He couldn’t do anything.

Now the only thing left was the phone still on the call.

I have to let someone know I’m in danger...

His trembling fingertips brushed over his pocket. He should’ve felt the phone there—but there was nothing. Panic rising, Tae-seo frantically looked around. His eyes quivered violently.

Just a sliver of his phone’s bright screen was visible beneath the clothing rack. It had slipped out during his struggle. Realizing this, a wave of despair hit him.