II - 13

Her mind was a chaotic battlefield whenever she thought of I-jun. 

It was as if the entire world revolved around him, leaving her unable to think straight. 

“I may not have a boyfriend, but I do have a husband!” 

Then, the scene from the company cafeteria replayed in her mind. 

Her heart raced, and heat rushed to her cheeks, blooming into a fiery red flush. 

I-jun was the only man who could stir such excitement in her with just a thought. 

“I’m going crazy… absolutely crazy!” 

She shook her head repeatedly, her face still flushed crimson. 

As warmth spread through her chest, a strange sense of exhilaration bubbled up inside her. It felt like his presence alone gave her strength, and with it came a newfound courage. 

I-ryeong decided to grab her shopping bag and leave the house. 

She felt that only in his arms could her chaotic thoughts settle, and to reach that point, she would need to go through with the marriage. 

The streets outside were chilly, nightfall approaching. 

I-ryeong rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself, but the cold air clung stubbornly to her skin. 

Should I stop here? 

Suddenly, his voice—thick with desire—flashed through her mind. 

Thinking of him, flushed with excitement, made her body burn involuntarily. 

It felt as though she had been transported back to that day when she had cried out in his embrace; even the air around her seemed scorching hot. 

“I’m… losing my mind.” 

Whether it was the biting wind or her primal instincts recalling pleasure, her face flushed a deep shade of red. 

I-ryeong inhaled the cold air, trying to cool the rising heat within her. 

“Pull yourself together, please.” 

She shook her head vigorously, attempting to shake off the impure thoughts clouding her mind. Her pace quickened unconsciously, and soon she arrived at the snack shop run by her parents. 

“I-ryeong?” 

Cha Ji-hyun, her stepmother who had been taking orders, looked up in surprise and greeted her with wide eyes. 

Of course, it was surprising. This was the first time I-ryeong had ever set foot in the snack shop. 

“I came because I have something to say.” 

I-ryeong’s tone and expression were stiff, devoid of emotion. 

It wasn’t just today—whenever she saw Ji-hyun, she always became this way, as if it were an ingrained response. 

“Wait a moment! Your father’s out on a delivery. He’ll be back soon!” 

“I understand.” 

I-ryeong gave a curt nod and stood awkwardly in the middle of the snack shop. 

She hadn’t expected there to be customers. If she had known, she would have come at a different time. 

Perhaps because it was late, the shop was filled with takeout orders. Though there were plenty of empty seats, she didn’t sit down. 

The thought that this place belonged to her father and stepmother dominated her mind. 

“I-ryeong, did you wait long? There’s a small room inside. Would you like to go in and talk?” 

Ji-hyun, having finally finished serving the last customer, approached with a faint smile. 

Feeling puzzled, I-ryeong followed her into a small room connected to the kitchen. 

“Did you have dinner? If not, I can quickly prepare something for you.” 

Ji-hyun’s kindness—her gentle smile and considerate words—felt suffocating to I-ryeong. 

“No, I already ate dinner at the office.”

She lied smoothly, covering her tracks. Though she had barely eaten lunch, she wasn’t hungry at all. 

“Honey? Are you in the room?” 

Her father, Kang Tae, had returned from his delivery. I-ryeong was surprised by how affectionate he could be, but she did her best not to show it. After all, they were a married couple, no matter what anyone said. 

“I-ryeong’s father! Come to the room. I-ryeong is here.” 

“I-ryeong? I-ryeong’s here?” 

As her parents fussed over her arrival, I-ryeong glanced at Ji-hyun. It seemed Ji-hyun felt uncomfortable with the term of endearment her father used. 

This awkward scene was entirely her fault. Though it was late, she firmly believed that stepping aside was the right path for everyone involved. 

And so, the three of them sat together in the cramped little room. 

For a while, no one spoke. The heavy atmosphere lingered as silence filled the space. 

“…I have someone I’m going to marry.” 

I-ryeong broke the silence, stating her purpose. 

“I plan to marry him soon.” 

And with that, she dropped the bombshell. 

“I-ryeong, marriage? What are you talking about…?” 

Kang Tae was so shocked that he couldn’t close his mouth. In his fluster, he ruffled his hair wildly. 

“I recently received a proposal.” 

I-ryeong avoided looking at her father’s unfamiliar expression and continued with what she had to say. 

“I prepared this for you.” 

She held out the shopping bag. Inside were clothes she had bought for the upcoming meeting between their families. Given who the other party was, she had spent a significant amount of money. 

“Why the sudden rush to get married? Could it be…?” 

Kang Tae’s gaze dropped, suspicion creeping into his voice. 

“It’s not because of pregnancy or anything like that.” 

I-ryeong casually brushed off the implication, patting her flat stomach. 

“It’s just all very sudden.” 

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.” 

“But still, I-ryeong, this isn’t right. Doing this so suddenly…” 

Her father looked like he had much more to say. 

“Boss! Can we get an order of tteokbokki over here!” 

But just then, a sudden influx of group customers interrupted their conversation. 

With no other choice, I-ryeong promised her parents they would continue the discussion later and left the snack shop. She walked aimlessly down the street, eventually stopping to look up at the crescent moon hanging low in the sky. 

Tonight, it looked especially pale and lonely. 

“Ha…” 

She exhaled a deep sigh she had been holding in, letting it scatter into the cold night air. 

After announcing her marriage, her chest felt even heavier. 

A marriage born not out of love, but out of impure motives. 

She had already anticipated that it wouldn’t be welcomed, given the deception involved. 

Her heart ached, and her insides burned with regret. 

No matter how much cold air she inhaled, it couldn’t ease the suffocating weight on her chest. Just then, her phone rang. It was I-jun. 

“Yes, Senior Managing Director.”

Despite practicing the new way to address him at home, it didn’t go as planned. 

- “It’s not ‘Senior Managing Director.’” 

“…Huh?” 

Startled, I-ryeong stood frozen, unable to hide her confusion. 

“S-Senior Managing Director?” 

She called out to him cautiously again. 

- “I clearly said I’m not ‘Senior Managing Director.’” 

His firm voice tickled her ears. 

What on earth was the issue? 

“Senior Managing Director, what brings you calling at this hour?” 

She tried to maintain a professional tone, suppressing the flutter in her chest. 

- “Your title for me is wrong. Didn’t I already tell you?” 

As she imagined his faint, teasing smile, the emotions she had been holding back burst forth. 

- “Am I ‘Senior Managing Director’ during the day and your husband at night?” 

His playful joke, which seemed to mock her, wasn’t unpleasant at all. 

- “Actually, I’d prefer being called Seo I-jun during the day and ‘darling’ at night.” 

Each short laugh that followed made her heart feel like it might explode. 

“…Are you still at the office?” 

Her lips trembled as she barely managed to ask the question. 

- “I’m not as much of a workaholic as you might think. But… I seem to be addicted to something else.” 

At his unexpected words, her eyes widened in shock. 

- “I’m addicted to you, I-ryeong.” 

Unconsciously, she bit down on her lip. 

This man… he must be crazy. 

- “I’m nearby now.” 

Flustered, I-ryeong couldn’t form any words. 

- “There’s a park near the main road, right? I’m in the parking lot. Come out.” 

The sound of his voice vibrated in her ear, seeping into her chest before she even realized it. 

- “You seem really flustered. Come out and show me. I want to see you.” 

His softened tone felt anything but awkward—it felt good. 

A selfish desire welled up inside her: she wanted to be the only one to see this side of him, a side of Senior Managing Director Seo I-jun no one else ever saw. 

- “I’ll wait here until you come.” 

She didn’t care why he had come. The fact that Seo I-jun was here was enough. 

“Why did you come?” 

Though she wasn’t particularly curious about the reason, she wanted to hear his answer. 

- “Do I need a reason? I came because I wanted to see you.” 

The words “I wanted to see you” sent a rush of excitement through her. 

There was no need to hesitate. 

All I-ryeong wanted now was to run to I-jun as fast as she could. 

I-jun was parked deep within the farthest corner of the park’s parking lot.

Even in the middle of the night, she spotted him immediately. His expensive sports car stood out starkly against the modest neighborhood—it was impossible to miss. 

I-ryeong was once again reminded of his immense wealth. 

“Between ‘Director Seo’ and ‘Senior Managing Director Seo,’ the latter suits you better for the CEO position, doesn’t it? Especially considering your achievements.” 

Back then, she hadn’t paid much attention to the employees’ chatter. After all, she had planned to reject his proposal. 

“His looks are impeccable, his business acumen unmatched. There’s not a single flaw. I fully support Senior Managing Director Seo becoming the CEO!” 

Reflecting on their casual remarks, her earlier excitement quickly faded. 

She had forgotten one crucial fact: he was the second son of AE Cosmetics and a top contender for the CEO position. 

“Once again, I acted without thinking.” 

Her steps toward him slowed as regret over telling her parents about the marriage began to weigh on her. 

“Ha…” 

Her hesitation turned into a heavy sigh that escaped her lips. 

Just moments ago, she had desperately wanted to see I-jun. His mere presence had been enough to calm her chaotic thoughts. 

“Hoo…” 

She exhaled deeply, trying to release the suffocating tightness in her throat. But why did this uneasiness continue to build up inside her? 

“Why do you keep forgetting?” 

“Don’t torment yourself.” 

The sensation of his fingers brushing her lips came rushing back to her. 

She had to admit it—she liked him far more than she had anticipated. 

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t resist being swayed by him, even knowing his intentions weren’t entirely pure. 

“Don’t get hurt without my permission.” 

“React only to me.” 

His words floated around in her mind, drifting aimlessly. 

“Trust me and come to me.” 

That deliberate, impure allure of his was undeniable. 

But what mattered most was the simple truth: just being by his side brought her peace. Even if he saw her only as an escape route or a refuge, it didn’t change how she felt. 

“They say unrequited love is always difficult.” 

Her resolve wasn’t perfect. 

No one could guarantee how their married life would turn out. But building a relationship was ultimately her responsibility. 

I-ryeong steadied her wavering heart, took a deep breath, and climbed into the car. 

“What were you thinking about?” 

“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting so long.” 

She apologized first, leaning slightly toward I-jun, who was resting his upper body against the steering wheel. 

“If you’d taken even one more second, I was about to jump out and find you.” 

His relaxed tone carried a teasing edge. 

“Were you nervous because you were coming to see me?” 

“Huh?” 

Thump. Her heart nearly exploded. 

Though she knew he was joking, it felt so sincere that she couldn’t calm down easily. 

With her nerves stretched taut, I-ryeong gazed at I-jun bathed in the moonlight. 

Looking at his perfectly sculpted features made her whole body burn. She hated how shallow it felt to be so drawn to his handsome face—but she couldn’t deny it.

“Senior Managing Director.” 

She called out to him, trying hard to steady her breath. 

“There are so many other ways to call me, and you’ve already forgotten?” 

Seeing his teasing smile, her heavy heart began to melt just a little. 

“…Mr. I-jun.” 

“Much better.” 

He squinted his eyes in satisfaction, as if savoring the moment. 

Thanks to that, the weight pressing on her chest felt just a tiny bit lighter.