ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏɴᴅ ᴏғ ʟᴏᴠᴇ || ʟᴇᴇ ʜᴇᴇsᴇᴜɴɢ [✔️]

Special Chapter 03 - Lee Heeseung

Lee Heeseung's POV

It’s been a rough few days for Nina. She’s been preoccupied, her thoughts somewhere else even when she’s physically present. She told me it’s because one of her clients is going through a difficult time, and she feels like she’s not helping them as much as she should.

I know that’s not true. Nina has a gift—a way of making people feel comfortable, seen, and understood. She was made for her profession, and I’ve never been prouder of her. But I also know how hard she is on herself, always setting impossibly high standards.

After some honest conversations we had a few weeks ago, I made a promise to myself and to her—I would do everything I could to make things easier for her. I’ve learned to listen more, even when she’s ranting or scolding me for something trivial because she’s stressed. I know she doesn’t mean it, and as her husband, it’s the least I can do.

Today is one of those days. I’m seated at the dining table, sending out emails while feeding Jaehyun his baby food. Rowoon is beside me, diligently working on his homework. Meanwhile, Nina is in the living room, going through a patient file on her laptop.

Our home has an open floor plan, so there’s no wall separating the dining and living areas. I can see her from where I sit, and every now and then, I glance up to check on her. Each time, she seems more frustrated, her brows furrowed and her lips pressed into a thin line.

I know that look. She’s overworking herself again.

I finish nursing Jaehyun to sleep and gently lay him in his crib. Rowoon finishes his homework and I tell him he can play quietly before bedtime. After bidding them goodnight, I head back to the kitchen.

The sink still has dishes from dinner, so I wash them quickly, swipe the counter clean, and complete the last few emails I needed to send. Once everything is done, I make her favorite drink—a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

Carrying the cup carefully, I walk over to where she’s sitting on the carpeted floor. She never likes working on the couch, claiming the coffee table is too far. She barely notices me at first, too focused on her screen.

“Here,” I say softly, placing the cup next to her.

She looks up, her tired eyes softening as they meet mine. “Thank you,” she whispers, leaning up to kiss my cheek.

I sit down beside her, making myself comfortable on the floor. “What’s got you so worked up?” I ask, glancing at her laptop screen.

“It’s nothing,” she mumbles, but her tone gives her away. Her fingers are moving slower on the keyboard, and her eyelids are drooping. She’s exhausted, but she’s pushing herself to keep going.

I sigh and gently take the laptop from her lap.

“What are you doing, Heeseung?” she snaps, irritation flashing in her eyes. “I was just about to finish—”