You had rehearsed this presentation a hundred times. As the Executive Strategy Officer of one of Korea’s leading corporations, today’s merger meeting with international investors was crucial. Every eye in the room was on you, including your husband—Lee Heeseung, the notoriously perfectionist CEO of the company.

Heeseung never tolerated mistakes in the boardroom. Sharp, cold, and detail-obsessed, he expected excellence, especially from you. Your marriage, a mixture of business and romance, was kept professional in front of others. No one ever suspected how deeply he actually cared for you behind closed doors.

But today, your body betrayed you.

It started that morning—a dull ache in your lower abdomen. You thought it was nerves. But as the meeting began, the pain worsened. Your vision blurred, and cold sweat dotted your forehead. You shifted uncomfortably in your seat, trying to concentrate, but nausea twisted in your gut. You realized too late what it was.

Your period. And it hit like a freight train.

You forced yourself to stand, pointer in hand, moving to the screen to explain market trends. But halfway through your slide, you froze. Your voice faltered. A sharp cramp rippled through you. Your fingers tightened around the remote, turning white from pressure.

From the head of the table, Heeseung’s sharp gaze narrowed.

“Let’s take a 10-minute break,” he said suddenly, cutting you off mid-presentation.

You blinked in confusion. So did the other executives. Everyone exchanged glances.

“But Mr. Lee, we still have to—” one of the investors started.

“I said, break. Now.” His voice left no room for argument.

The room emptied.

You stayed still, embarrassed and dizzy, until you felt warm fingers on your wrist. Heeseung was beside you, his cold CEO mask gone. His eyes scanned your face, and his tone dropped to something only you ever heard.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked softly, tugging your hand into his.

“I didn’t want to disappoint you,” you whispered, breath hitching. “I know how important this is.”

He scoffed lightly, pressing his hand against your forehead, then letting it trail to your back gently. “You think a meeting matters more than you?”

You looked down, eyes stinging with emotion, only for him to pull you gently into his arms right there, in the quiet of the glass conference room.

“Come on,” he murmured against your hair. “Let’s go home. I’ll reschedule the rest. You’re burning up.”