BR - 23

After hanging up the phone, a lingering unease remained.

It felt like he was hiding something, but since Chief Secretary Won, who was closest to him, said he didn’t know anything, she had nothing to say.

Was it just a feeling?

Ms. Cha called her secretary.

• Yes, ma’am.

“Find out what Lee Eun-chae is doing these days.”

• Are you referring to the young madam?

“Is she still the young madam? Haven’t you changed her title?”

• I’m sorry. I’ll find out about Lee Eun-chae’s recent activities and report back.

She hung up the phone and placed it on the table as if throwing it.

Ms. Cha put her phone in her clutch and took out a mirror to check her face.

She felt depressed when she saw wrinkles on her face, which had become rough from worrying about her husband.

But since there were people watching, she couldn’t go to the dermatologist, so she sent a message to her secretary to call a masseuse to her house.

She was tired but also pleased that everything had to go through her hands.

________________________________________

As Seok-kyung headed to Eun-chae’s house in the private elevator, he tried to force himself to change his uncomfortable mood.

He was confused about his feelings for Eun-chae, and his mother was pushing him to marry Joo-eun, which only made him feel more uneasy.

He didn’t want to show this face.

But his worries were unfounded.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, the smell of curry filled the air, and his face was filled with a smile.

How did she know I liked curry?

They had never had such a personal conversation, so the menu selection felt even more amazing.

“Did you come?”

When he rang the doorbell, Eun-chae, wearing a pretty apron, opened the door. Her cheeks were flushed red from standing in front of the hot pot.

“I made curry and fish cake soup. I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

“I like it.”

“Yes?”

“I said I like curry.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

Eun-chae smiled brightly, as if she was really relieved.

It was the smile she had when they were supposed to meet to get married. A smile he hadn’t seen since they reunited.

Seok-kyung quickly picked up his spoon and ate the curry and fish cake soup, thinking he wanted to kiss those pretty lips.

“Eat slowly.”

Eun-chae said, placing finely chopped young radish kimchi on his spoon.

It was just like a newlywed couple.

It was really troubling.

“It’s delicious.”

“Really? That’s a relief. I’ll make it often...”

“We could have eaten it often.”

When they both said the same thing at the same time, Eun-chae was flustered and closed her mouth.

“That’s a shame.”

It was a sincere remark.

For a moment, they looked at each other without saying a word. An awkward silence passed.

“I, I bought beer. Would you like some?”

“Sure.”

Eun-chae quickly got up from her seat and brought two cans of beer from the refrigerator.

After quenching their thirst with cold beer, they quietly focused on their meal again.

After finishing the meal and clearing the table, she brought out colorful macarons.

“Dessert... I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

Seok-kyung sighed as he looked at her, who was shyly tucking her hair behind her ear.

“Ah, you don’t like it?”

Her hand, which was placing the macaron bowl, hesitated, as if she regretted bringing them out.

“I like it.”

I think I like you.

Seok-kyung was taken aback by the sudden thought.

Do I like Lee Eun-chae?

“You like it?”

“Yes, I like it.”

He quickly avoided her gaze and picked up a macaron.

The sweet cream flavor lingered in his mouth, erasing the bitter taste of the beer he had just drunk.

Yeah, it must be because I drank beer. The alcohol is preventing my reason from functioning properly.

It was very troubling.

This was not in his plan at all. Well, everything that had happened since he met Eun-chae was not in his plan.

“I’ll go now.”

Seok-kyung pushed his chair back and got up after eating all the macarons.

“Ah...”

Eun-chae, who was sitting across from him, looked up at him with a somewhat disappointed expression.

“Why?”

“No, nothing.”

“Did you think I wasn’t going to leave?”

She didn’t answer, her head down. She bit her soft lower lip slightly with her teeth and didn’t open her mouth easily.

This is troubling, Lee Eun-chae.

It was a temptation. A very sweet temptation. A temptation he wanted to just close his eyes and give in to.

She, who had always pushed him away, was now pulling him in.

“Can I sleep over?”

“Yes? No...”

“I’ll just sleep. Next to you.”

I’ll just sleep, but I’ll sleep next to you.

He unconsciously added “next to you,” fearing she might offer him a place on the sofa.

It felt embarrassing, like some childish game, making his hands and feet curl.

“Can’t I?”

When he asked again, he saw Eun-chae’s cheeks turning red as she lowered her head.

“...If I tell you to just go, will you go?”

It was a natural question, since he had forced his way even when she said no.

“If you don’t want me to, I’ll go.”

I’ll give you a choice. You choose.

I don’t want to hold you against your will anymore. But.

“Of course, it’s very late now.”

It was only eight o’clock in the evening.

“I don’t think I can drive because I drank beer.”

Well, he could solve that by calling a designated driver.

He kept making ridiculous excuses.

Eun-chae, who had been listening quietly, probably thought they were ridiculous excuses too, and raised her head.

“You’re really just going to sleep and leave.”

I’m crazy, I’m crazy, I’m crazy!

Eun-chae sat on the bed and stomped her feet. She couldn’t make a loud noise, as Seok-kyung was washing up in the bathroom.

Why did she tell him to sleep over? She should have just sent him away.

That’s what she intended to do. She thought inviting him to dinner was just expressing gratitude for him benefiting her, even if it was just a little, since he acted as he pleased.

But then, that cold, ruthless, and cruel man asked if he could sleep over, making ridiculous excuses.

Cute.

Barely suppressing a laugh at his absurdity, that was the answer I managed to give.

“You’re really just going to sleep and leave.”

“...Alright.”

Seok-kyung’s lips hesitated for a moment before he answered, as if he wanted to say something else.

What did he want to say?

Instead of asking, I said I’d shower first, grabbed my pajamas, and headed to the bathroom.

After I came out, anyway, so, he was now showering in the bathroom.

After showering first, I changed into the silk pajamas prepared in this house. Come to think of it, I hadn’t properly looked around the apartment except for the bedroom and dressing room.

I should look around the house tomorrow. I’ll be staying here for a while.

Click, the door opened, and Seok-kyung came out.

Naturally, this house had underwear, pajamas, casual clothes, and suits prepared for him, and I didn’t object to it.

After all, this house was his.

Seok-kyung walked towards me, wearing only pajama bottoms and drying his wet hair with a towel, his upper body bare.

Please, put some clothes on...

My eyes were drawn to his broad shoulders, firm chest, and sculpted abs. Every muscle was proudly displayed in its full glory.

I was held in those arms.

My face flushed instantly.

“The hair dryer is over there.”

I pointed to the powder room table, and Seok-kyung naturally went there and picked up the hair dryer.

As he moved his arms to dry his hair, the muscles in his sides, waist, arms, and back moved beautifully.

It’s best not to look.

I quickly got into bed and turned my back.

My heart, which had been relatively quiet, started pounding in my ears as soon as Seok-kyung turned off the hair dryer.

Thump, thump.

It felt like going back to our honeymoon.

“I’m turning off the lights.”

At Seok-kyung’s words, I closed my eyes tightly and didn’t answer.

I hoped he’d think I was asleep...

I heard Seok-kyung turn off the bedroom lights and approach the bed. The sound of the blanket being pulled back, the weight of the mattress sinking, made me swallow hard.

Come to think of it, I had turned away from the powder room earlier, so now I was lying facing Seok-kyung.

He wasn’t going to sleep facing me, was he?

As soon as I opened my eyes slightly, I almost stopped breathing. Right in front of me was Seok-kyung’s face, lying sideways towards me.

He was so close that I could feel his faint breath.

Fortunately, he had his eyes closed, so I could admire his face without worry.

Long eyelashes hung down on his cheeks, casting shadows on his eyes with faint double eyelid creases. His high nose bridge descended in a straight line, then dropped sharply as if it had been carved.

And what about his lips? They were red lips that made his white skin stand out even more. They felt wonderfully soft and yielding when they touched mine.

I want to kiss him.

I shook my head slightly at the sudden thought. I must be crazy.

“Can’t you sleep?”

At the sudden voice, I looked up and met Seok-kyung’s gaze, which was staring at me intently.

“Ah, no, I’m fine.”

“If you can’t sleep, I can help you sleep soundly.”

His hot gaze was too clear in its meaning, and my face flushed.

My heart, which had calmed down a little, started beating fast again at the thought of him seeing through my feelings.

“I, I’m going to sleep.”

Thinking it was no use, I quickly turned my back and lay down. I hunched my shoulders slightly and closed my eyes.

“Ah...”

Then, Seok-kyung wrapped his hand around my waist and pressed his body close to my back.

My whole body felt like it was melting from his hot body temperature.

“Want to go on a date tomorrow?”

A date?

I bit my lip at the word from Seok-kyung’s mouth.

A date, something we had never done before or after marriage?

But then, a face suddenly came to mind. Seok-kyung’s fiancée, Joo-eun.

“Listen to what I’m saying...”

“Say something that makes sense.”

I let out a sigh mixed with my answer.

“What if we go out together and get seen by other people and get our engagement broken off?”

Was it just my imagination, or did the hand holding my waist feel cold for a moment?

“Is that so?”

Seok-kyung answered after a long pause.