The doctor's office felt like a sanctuary after the turmoil of the past few hours. The diagnosis was simple: high stress and a low white blood cell count. There was no life-threatening illness, no hidden tumor. Just the physical manifestation of two years of unspoken grief and emotional turmoil.
The doctor, a kind-faced man in his fifties, explained the course of action. "Mrs. Baek's white blood cell count is low, so we'll prescribe some supplements and vitamins to boost her immunity. She needs to eat a balanced diet, get plenty of rest, and, most importantly, try to reduce her stress. I'd recommend a long vacation, if possible." He wrote out a prescription and handed it to Hyun-woo.
Hyun-woo, ever the diligent husband, listened to every word with laser-like focus, his mind already formulating a new regimen of care for Hae-in. He nodded, thanked the doctor profusely, and then, with his hand gently on the small of her back, guided Hae-in out of the office and into the cool, quiet hallway.
The ride home was a quiet one, but it was a comfortable silence, filled with a sense of relief and profound love. Hyun-woo drove slowly, his gaze occasionally flickering to Hae-in. She was leaning her head against the window, a small, peaceful smile on her face. The tension that had been a constant companion for years was finally beginning to dissipate.
He pulled over to the side of the road, the sudden stop causing Hae-in to look at him, her expression one of gentle confusion. He turned off the engine and faced her, his eyes filled with an intense, unwavering love. He reached out and gently took her hands in his.
"Hae-in," he began, his voice soft and earnest, "I need you to promise me something."
She looked at him, her heart already aching with an unspoken understanding. "What is it?"
"Promise me," he said, his voice raw with emotion, "that you will take care of yourself. That you will eat and rest and be happy. That you will never, ever give up on yourself, on us." His grip on her hands tightened. "Because," he said, the words a solemn vow, "the day Hong Hae-in dies will also be the day Baek Hyun-woo dies."
The words, so profound and so dramatic, hit her with a force she hadn't anticipated. Tears welled up in her eyes, a rush of emotion that was both painful and beautiful. He wasn't just saying he loved her; he was saying that his very existence was tied to hers. That her life was his life. The sheer weight of his devotion was overwhelming, but it was also the most beautiful thing she had ever heard.
A single tear slid down her cheek, and then another, but a gentle, loving smile touched her lips. "You are so dramatic, Baek Hyun-woo," she said, her voice a soft, loving whisper. "The whole office, the hospital, now this? You're going to be the death of me with all your theatrics."
But the tears kept flowing, a gentle release of all the pain and fear she had been holding onto. "But I promise," she said, her voice filled with a fierce, quiet resolve. "I promise I will stay by your side. I will fight for our love and for our life. I will take all my vitamins, and I will eat my vegetables. Because," she said, her smile widening as she reached out to caress his cheek, "I can't leave my sexy, adorable, dramatic dynamite of a husband alone, can I?"
Hyun-woo's face, which had been a mask of solemnity, broke into a wide, teary smile. He leaned in and gently wiped her tears with his thumb. "My dear Hae-in," he said, his voice full of a relieved, profound happiness. He pulled her closer and embraced her, a hug that was a promise, a confession, and a new beginning all at once.
They held each other for a long time, the car a small sanctuary of peace in the middle of a chaotic world. When they finally pulled apart, the air between them was light and filled with a new, quiet hope.
Hyun-woo looked at her, his gaze filled with a fresh, determined fire. "And I have a new promise to make, too." His face, which had been so full of tender love, hardened slightly, a familiar intensity returning to his eyes. "From now on, if your family… if they try to treat you or my family badly, I don't know if I'll be able to hold back. I don't know if I'll be able to keep myself from ripping them a new one. I swear to you, Hae-in, the only people I care about are you and my family."
Hae-in's heart swelled with a proud, fierce love. He was defending her, not just with words, but with a firm, protective vow. She smiled, her own determination firming her resolve. "I understand," she said, her voice low and serious. "And to be honest, I think I'm with you. If they badmouth you or your family… I don't know if I'll be able to stop myself from giving them a piece of my mind either."
Hyun-woo's face broke into a wide, genuine grin, a low, pleased chuckle rumbling in his chest. "My hero," he teased, a playful light in his eyes.
"My hero," she teased back, her own smile matching his.
He had promised to fight for their love, and she had promised to fight with him. He had faced her family, defended her, and shown her a love so strong it was both beautiful and terrifying. And now, she was ready to do the same for him. The past two years had been a dark, lonely tunnel, but for the first time, they could see the light at the end of it. The future was unknown, but it was theirs to build, together.