BR - 7

“…Alright.”

She had no choice but to obey. He held all the power, and she was at his mercy.

Tears welled up at the sheer hopelessness of her situation, but she swallowed them down. There was no escape from this humiliation.

Carefully, she slipped into the large bathrobe he handed her, wrapping it tightly around her body.

As she donned the robe, she noticed the marks he’d left all over her skin. He must have been frustrated too, unable to finish what they started. Yet, while she dressed, he silently changed into fresh clothes himself.

“Where’s another room…?”

“Lie down.”

Eun-chae, now wrapped in the robe, tried to leave the bedroom, but Seok-kyung blocked her path.

“No, I’ll sleep in a different room…”

“We’re both sleeping here.”

“…Why?”

Did he plan to take her again?

The dull ache between her legs returned, and she furrowed her brow. She didn’t want to endure more tonight.

“My desires may burn, but I’ll restrain myself for now. Just sleep.”

“But…”

“Do I need to issue another command? Or should I remind you of our deal?”

At his words, Eun-chae bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

Damn him.

Suppressing the curses bubbling inside, she climbed back onto the bed and nestled under the warm, soft blankets.

As she lay there, Seok-kyung joined her, lying beside her under the covers.

Turning her back to him, she closed her eyes, expecting him to turn away as he always had during their marriage. She thought she’d never see his back again—but then—

Unexpectedly, he pulled her close from behind, cradling her waist and burying his face in the nape of her neck.

“…Mr. Baek?”

“Sleep. You must be exhausted.”

His hot breath against her neck and the gentle caress of his hand on her abdomen sent her heart racing.

How could she possibly sleep like this?

The night she’d longed for—falling asleep in the arms of the man she loved—had finally come, yet it felt so wrong.

Still, lulled by his warmth and steady presence, her pounding heart eventually slowed, and she drifted off into a deep slumber.

Unbeknownst to her, Seok-kyung stayed awake far longer than she did.

---

Seok-kyung hadn’t slept a wink. Watching the pale blue light of dawn creep into the room, he quietly drew the curtains shut.

Gazing at Eun-chae, still peacefully asleep in his bed, his emotions churned.

When he first brought her here, he’d vowed not to show mercy. He’d planned to take her without restraint, just as she’d offered herself.

But staring at her sleeping form, he couldn’t unravel where their tangled fates had gone so horribly awry.

In the end, he quietly left the bedroom, showered in another bathroom, and changed into fresh clothes.

Before leaving the house, he left a small note by her bedside, resisting the urge to stroke her tear-streaked cheeks.

He’d never once believed he’d be her first lover after their divorce. Of course not—there had been that man.

When he returned to Korea, he’d investigated her whereabouts through his former secretary. The news came back: she was living with someone else, sharing a home. Photos showed her smiling brightly at another man.

And yet…

Had their relationship been platonic? Ridiculous. Or perhaps the cohabitation story was false altogether.

As he stepped into the elevator and descended to the waiting car, doubts about everything began creeping in.

“Music.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Seok-kyung’s curt command, the driver activated the sound system, playing one of his favorite cello pieces.

Listening to the heavy, resonant notes, Seok-kyung closed his eyes.

The image of Eun-chae trembling and shedding delicate tears the previous night remained vivid in his mind.

He saw himself—a beast marking her fragile body with hands and mouth.

He’d almost gone further, nearly losing control completely.

“Damn it.”

No solution to this mess presented itself.

---

The distant ring of a phone jolted Eun-chae awake. Her eyelids felt heavy, reluctant to open.

Surveying the still-dark room, she pulled the blanket up to her chin.

It had been ages since she’d slept so soundly, cocooned in such warmth. For once, her aching back didn’t bother her; the mattress provided perfect support.

After the divorce, she’d been thrust into JC Trading, witnessing its collapse firsthand. She’d endured creditors shaking her father and even taken blows meant for him.

People who’d once courted her family turned their backs mercilessly.

Later, she learned Baekdo Group had been the first to withdraw support—because of her divorce from Seok-kyung.

Perhaps if she’d stayed married, JC Trading might not have been destroyed so thoroughly.

How she despised Cha Yeo-sa for pushing the divorce papers before she realized the truth.

But Eun-chae had no time to wallow. With her father in prison and her mother clinging to past glories, she had to earn money.

Her longing for Seok-kyung—the man she still loved—was buried deep within her heart.

For the first time in three years, warmth touched her cold body and soul.

She didn’t want to wake up. If this were a dream, she wished it would last forever.

Then, the phone rang again.

Frowning, Eun-chae fully woke up.

This place…

It was Seok-kyung’s house, where she’d followed him the night before. They’d nearly consummated their agreement.

Startled, she sat up, relieved to find the bed empty except for her.

Though Seok-kyung had held her warmly from behind, he was now gone, as if evaporated like a dream.

Her tangled hair, swollen lips, and the marks on her body confirmed the night’s events weren’t imaginary—but he was missing.

Dragging her sore body out of bed, she stepped onto the cool floor.

Her gaze fell on a note placed on the bedside table.

[Today is marked as sick leave. Rest. -Seok-kyung]

His neat handwriting seared itself into her mind. It was unmistakably his.

She picked up the note, rose, and exited the bedroom.

Instead of scattered clothes along the hallway, her garments were neatly folded on the sofa. A new, expensive blouse replaced the one whose buttons he’d torn off. Still tagged, it made her hesitate—but wearing the torn blouse wasn’t an option either. Reluctantly, she donned the provided outfit and tucked the note into her jacket pocket.

The phone rang again, this time from her bag on the sofa.

Hastily answering, she heard Manager Yang’s irritated voice.

—”Lee Eun-chae?”

“Yes, Manager Yang. It’s me.”

—”Why aren’t you picking up your phone?”

“I’m sorry.”

—”Are you sick?”

“Yes?”

Seok-kyung’s note mentioning “sick leave” flashed in her mind.

“Yes, I’m feeling unwell…”

—”If you’re sick, you should inform your department, not call the CEO’s secretary!”

“I apologize. When I called, that person answered…”

Yang’s accusation stung because it was true. As a mere contract worker, having her sick leave announced by the CEO’s office must have seemed absurd.

—”Taking sick leave when we’re so busy! You really lack responsibility. This is why non-regular employees…”

Eun-chae deliberately moved the phone away, ignoring his rant.

—”Hello? Lee Eun-chae? Are you listening?”

“Yes, yes, Manager Yang.”

—”Ugh, I shouldn’t bother. Rest well and come back tomorrow, okay?”

“Yes, understood.”

After a few more barbed comments, Yang finally hung up.

Why had Seok-kyung left her alone and gone to work?

The memory of his pleading eyes sparked an electric sensation in her chest.

Their unfinished business lingered like a debt. Would they have to resume?

Despite the pain and fear, the memory of pleasure made her cheeks flush.

Go home. Don’t ruin this rare break with pointless fantasies.

Eun-chae quickly left Seok-kyung’s house, memorizing every detail of it before stepping out.

---

A notification popped up on the company messenger app.

[Announcement: The following non-regular employees will transition to regular status next month. Name: Lee Eun-chae (Planning Department) / Kim Se-jung (Sales Team 1) / …]

Eun-chae clapped a hand over her mouth at the sight of her name listed first.

Days had passed since visiting Seok-kyung’s home, and she’d assumed everything was ruined—the regularization and their agreement both lost causes.

She’d lived in dread of being fired any day, but suddenly, the announcement arrived.

“Oh my, regularization?”

Manager Yang’s excited voice echoed, followed by others checking their messages.

“Eun-chae, congratulations! See, I told you it’d work out!”

Hyun-jung approached, beaming with joy.

“It’s great news. Most people are transitioning to regular positions, with only a few staying on contract,” Hyun-woo added, giving her a thumbs-up.