Contract Marriage 18+ [A Hopekook Fanfiction] ✓

10.2🥀

After getting settled at Eunwo and Soobin's, Hobie decided to give the couple, who were walking on eggshells around her, a break from her presence by taking a nap. She was just slipping into a troubled doze when she heard the unmistakable voice of her husband coming from a distance. She frowned and sat upright, pushing her tangled hair out of her face. She tilted her head, not sure if her imagination was playing on her, until she heard it again. It was Jeon, without a doubt, and he sounded agitated.

She got out of bed with some difficulty before padding to the door on bare feet and opening it slightly. This time she could clearly make out his voice.

"I had nothing to do with that story," he was protesting. "And I'll be damned if you keep me away from my family like this."

"She doesn't want to see you, Jeon," Eunwo informed with obvious relish and there was a moment's charged silence.

"Maybe not," Jeon finally conceded quietly. "But that's because she doesn't know everything. I just need to explain things to her. I need to talk with her..."

"Explain what? How you've been cheating on her with that woman since nearly the day of your wedding? How you've spent every available moment with her since you returned to Japan for the funeral, while your heavily pregnant wife waited in vain for you to call her every day?"

"I haven't cheated on her," Jeon growled after a moment's silence. "Not in deed and not in thought. Not once. She knows that."

"All she knows is that her husband left nearly two weeks ago, supposedly to attend his father's funeral but then hooked up with his mistress and started divorce proceedings once he realised that nothing was tying him to his wife anymore."

"There's a hell of a lot tying me to my wife, Cha," Jeon gritted. "Our baby for one."

"Oh please, we know how little you actually want that baby, Jeon."

"I want him," Jeon said quietly, so quietly she nearly missed it. "I want them both..."

"Stop it," Hobie could stand it no more, she waddled into the living room where Eunwo and Soobin stood on one side of the room and Jeon on the other. The atmosphere was so charged that Hobie was sure her hair was standing on end. Jeon's face tightened at the sight of her.

"Hobie," he whispered. "This was not meant for you to hear."

"It doesn't matter," she shrugged listlessly. "I'm tired... I'm so tired of all this, Jeon."

"I know, hobie but it will get better. I promise you that."

"I don't see how it can..." she shook her head bitterly and he groaned, closing the distance between them in four strides, before gathering her into his arms and hugging her tenderly.

"It can. It will. I didn't file for a divorce, Hobie. I have no reason to divorce you..."

"Jeon please just... shut up!" She interrupted furiously, pushing him away forcefully and his face went ruddy but his mouth slammed shut. "If you won't divorce me then I'll be the one divorcing you. I don't want a husband who feels obligated to be with me. You have no reason to stay with me anymore. I can take care of myself and I can take care of this baby. I don't need you or your guilt anymore. You're free to leave. In fact, I want you to go." He said nothing, merely stared down at her, with one hand squeezing the nape of his neck. His face was inscrutable, his eyes dark with an emotion that she could not read. He looked stunned, incapable of movement and Hobie realised that he needed a harder push.

"For God's sake, go back to the woman you love! Go back to Jungha." She turned away from him, dismissing him contemptuously but froze when he swore shakily.

"God, you are the most contrary little bitch!" He hissed. "I don't love Jungha. I don't think I've ever loved her. Maybe when I married you, for about five seconds, I believed that I did. But I was disabused of that notion pretty damned early on in our marriage. I don't love her... and I have no idea why the hell you're so fixated on her." She turned on him furiously, ignoring Eunwo and Soobin who were watching the exchange in morbid fascination.

"Maybe I'm fixated on her because every time you go to Japan, the papers and Internet are full of pictures of you two attending the same functions, touching, kissing, dancing or hugging! Don't you dare insult my intelligence by saying that it meant nothing. I believe you when you say that you've never slept other women while we were married. But I'm willing to bet you came pretty close with her. I mean, how the hell could she be the other woman? I was the other woman. Your entire family knew it, my father knew it... I know it."

"We're in the same social circle, Hobie. She was always at the same functions as I am. She's an old friend, naturally I hugged her or touched her occasion. Yes I danced with her, dropped a few casual kisses on her cheek... it meant nothing. I treated her as I would one of my friend. I don't desire her, I don't love her and I don't want her! Those are feelings reserved for you... only for you," his voice deepened and his face softened at the admission, his eyes were gentle as he registered the confusion on her face. Was he saying he loved her? And if he was... did she believe him? She wasn't sure of the answer to either question and a second later she didn't really care when she suddenly doubled over in pain.

Jeon, Eunwo and Soobin all surged forward in concern but her husband got to her first, he had an arm around her thickened waist before she could blink.

"What's wrong?" He demanded hoarsely. Hobie grabbed his free hand in both of hers and squeezed it urgently as her entire body quivered in excruciating pain. After an eternal moment, the pain lessened and faded and she pushed her way upright, meeting Jeon's frantic gaze with a panicky one of her own.

"It's the baby..." she whispered in fear. "I think the baby's coming..."

"No, no, no," the naked panic and fear in his eyes did nothing to alleviate Hobie's own terror. "He can't be coming now. He's nearly a month early! Are you sure?"

"I've been cramping all day but I thought it was due to stress," Hobie moaned after the pain had subsided. "But now I think I'm having contractions."

"Okay, it's okay," he soothed, automatically gathering her trembling body into a hug. "We'll be fine. We have to get you to the hospital."