How to Run Away from Obsessed Men

Episode 95. Side Story

The very jewel the ladies had been talking about at the tea party earlier was now right in front of her.
The Blue Diamond had ended up in the hands of the one person who had shown the least interest in it.

“I went to the Rohan Empire with Karen. He said it’s a gem every woman dreams of having,” Mikhail explained.

“Karen?” Lindsey asked curiously.

“Yes, he kept pushing me, saying now was the perfect time.”

Lindsey thought of Karen, who served as a physician at the Riken Duchy. He had stayed there for the past two years, claiming it was his way of repaying the harm he had once caused Lindsey.
Karen had also been a close observer of her and Mikhail during that time. She remembered how Karen often shook his head in exasperation when watching Mikhail.
It was clear Karen had given Mikhail some advice.

With a worried look, Lindsey asked, “I doubt Princess Rebecca would have handed over the Blue Diamond so easily.”

Mikhail smiled faintly, recalling the effort it had taken to get the diamond from Princess Rebecca. There had been moments where he narrowly avoided serious danger, but now, those challenges were just memories.

“It wasn’t too hard,” he replied casually.

Lindsey accepted the ring Mikhail handed her. The Blue Diamond sparkled with stunning brilliance.
As she looked, she noticed Mikhail holding a bouquet of flowers in his other hand—her favorite red roses.

“I brought these because they reminded me of you,” he said softly.

Lindsey leaned in to smell the roses. Their sweet fragrance filled her with happiness, and she murmured without thinking, “Oh, Mikhail, they’re so beautiful.”

Mikhail leaned forward and placed a kiss on her cheek. Surprised by his sudden affection, Lindsey’s face flushed bright red.

“I have something I want to say to you,” Mikhail said.

Lindsey clutched the bouquet tightly in her arms. Above them, the night sky sparkled with stars, dazzling in their beauty.
Despite the darkness, Mikhail’s face appeared vividly clear to her.

Taking a deep breath, Mikhail reached out and gently took her hand. Then, slowly, he knelt before her.

His gaze, filled with longing, was fixed on her.
“Lindsey, will you spend your life with me?”

Warmth flooded Lindsey’s heart. In that moment, she realized she had been waiting for this—for a long time.
Perhaps, she had been waiting since the days when she was Han Ji-yoo.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Mikhail. Her fingertips trembled slightly, but her heart was steady.

She knew, with absolute certainty, that this moment would remain unforgettable for the rest of her life.

With a soft but resolute voice, she answered, “Yes.”

Mikhail’s face brightened with joy at her response.
“I love you,” he said earnestly.

Lindsey buried her face in his chest, her voice barely a whisper as she replied.

“I love you too.”

* * *

Lindsey and Mikhail’s wedding was a grand and magnificent affair.

Kalia spared no expense for her daughter’s wedding. It was as if she had lived frugally all these years just to prepare for this moment, pouring an astonishing amount of money into the event.

Countless nobles and royals attended the ceremony, their presence adding to the grandeur of the occasion.

Even Princess Rebecca, who attended the wedding, was left speechless by the sheer extravagance of it all.

Amid the congratulations of all in attendance, Lindsey and Mikhail vowed to spend the rest of their lives together.

* * *

Even after her marriage, Lindsey frequently visited Kalia, thanks to Mikhail’s thoughtful consideration.
At least once every two weeks, the family would gather for a meal together.

During one such gathering, Kalia couldn’t help but notice that Lindsey looked thinner than she had two weeks ago.
Her already slender daughter appeared to have lost even more weight. Concerned, Kalia addressed her.

“Lindsey, how’s married life treating you?”

At Kalia’s question, Lindsey’s face turned a deep shade of red.
Her newlywed life had been wonderfully satisfying—almost to a surprising degree.

“Why are you blushing?”

Kalia turned her disapproving gaze toward Mikhail.
Mikhail, who had been cutting into his steak, froze in place, visibly tense. His face quickly turned red as well, causing Kalia to shake her head as though exasperated.

“You look very tired,” Kalia teased, a mischievous smile forming on her lips.
“You’ve always had a weak constitution, so you need to be careful. Enjoy your honeymoon, but don’t overdo it.”

Lindsey nodded at her mother’s concern. Lately, she had been feeling a lack of sleep catching up to her, so she had already begun to think about taking it easy.

But just as she nodded, Lindsey suddenly felt a wave of nausea rise. She quickly covered her mouth, unable to stop herself.

“Lindsey!”

The meal descended into chaos in an instant. Mikhail’s face went pale as panic set in.
The timing was too unsettling—Kalia had just mentioned Lindsey’s health, and now this.

“Call the physician, now!” Kalia commanded urgently.

Karen arrived shortly after and spent a while holding Lindsey’s wrist, checking her condition with a serious expression.
After what felt like an eternity, Karen finally spoke.

“Have you been experiencing frequent nausea recently?”

“Well… I haven’t had much of an appetite,” Lindsey admitted.

“And you’ve been losing weight?”

“I think that’s just because I haven’t been eating properly…”

Before Karen could respond, Mikhail grabbed his shoulders, his voice filled with desperation.

“Stop dragging this out and tell me. Is there something wrong with Lindsey’s body?”

“From now on, newlywed activities are strictly prohibited,” Karen declared.

Mikhail staggered, his face frozen in shock. He had been worried about Lindsey’s health, fearing there might be something seriously wrong with her. He, too, had been filled with anxiety recently, noticing how Lindsey often skipped meals, saying she had no appetite.

Seeing Mikhail looking as though he might collapse, Karen quickly continued.

“Lady Lindsey is expecting a child.”

“What?”

“You need to be careful for a while. She’s still in the early stages of pregnancy.”

“Pregnant?”

“Yes, you’re going to be a father.”

Mikhail was completely dazed. He tried to process what he had just heard.

He’s going to be a father? And Lindsey will be a mother? They’re having a child?

Lindsey, meanwhile, had her hands over her mouth, her eyes blinking slowly as if struggling to believe Karen’s words. She hesitantly placed her hand over her abdomen, still unable to grasp the reality of it.

Kalia was just as stunned. She muttered in disbelief, “I’m going to be a grandmother…?”

Then, with sudden excitement, Kalia fussed over Lindsey, massaging her shoulders as her expression lit up with joy.

Heis and Gerard weren’t much different. Their eyes sparkled as they stared at Lindsey, their astonishment evident.

“I’m going to be an uncle?”

“I can’t believe it.”

“Big sister Lindsey, if you crave anything, just let me know! I’ll get it for you no matter what it takes!” Gerard promised enthusiastically.

Karen, trying to calm the room’s excitement, addressed Lindsey in a firm tone.

“Lady Lindsey, you need to make sure you’re eating properly. I’ll prepare medicine to help with the nausea.”

Lindsey nodded absentmindedly, still overwhelmed by the news.

* * *

It was late at night, and Lindsey couldn’t fall asleep.

She sat in a rocking chair, gently running her hand over her abdomen. Karen’s words from earlier in the day echoed in her mind.
‘You’re expecting a child?’

The reality that she was going to be a mother felt surreal.

‘Family.’

It was something she had always longed for as a child, something she could never truly have as Han Ji-yoo either.
Although she had discovered the existence of her mother and two younger brothers, this felt entirely different.

This was a family she would have from the very beginning, a family she would build herself. It was the dream she had carried since she was young.

But with that dream came a sudden wave of fear.
‘Can I be a good mother?’

She had never experienced a parent’s love growing up. It was one of the things Kalia always felt sorrowful about.
‘It’s important for children to feel loved as they grow,’ Kalia had often said.

Lindsey wasn’t sure if she could give her child that kind of love. The idea of becoming a mother scared her. She feared not being good enough, not being the mother her child deserved.

Perhaps that’s why sleep wouldn’t come.
‘Karen said I need to sleep well for the baby.’
Eating well, sleeping well—those were the simple things she needed to do. Yet Lindsey bit her lower lip, frustrated at herself for not being able to manage even that.

Letting out a soft sigh, she sat in the stillness of the night.
It was then that a comforting warmth enveloped her abdomen.

“Why are you sitting here alone?”

Mikhail had come up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

After a moment of hesitation, Lindsey decided to be honest with him.
“I’m not sure if I’ll be a good mom,” she confessed softly.

“I feel the same way,” Mikhail admitted, his voice just as quiet. “Sometimes, it scares me too.”

His response surprised Lindsey slightly.
“You think about things like that too?”

“Whether I can be a good father… things like that,” Mikhail said, his tone full of sincerity.

Hearing his words, Lindsey felt a strange sense of comfort. They shared the same fears, the same uncertainties. Together, they could face them.