II - 26

I-ryeong was so lost in thought that she didn’t even realize he had come out, and she startled when she heard his voice. 

“You didn’t sleep?” 

“Of course I slept, but just a little.” 

“You look tired. Are you feeling okay?” 

I-jun’s tone and expression felt unusually rough to her. 

The atmosphere suddenly stiffened, and I-ryeong felt a pang of hurt. 

“Are you worried about me?” 

I-jun sat down beside her. 

“What about your meeting?” 

She avoided giving a direct answer by bringing up his meeting as an excuse. 

“There was an issue at the factory. It just wrapped up this morning.” 

I-jun had sternly warned his employees, who were following up on the aftermath of last night’s meeting, not to contact him for the rest of the day. 

He felt guilty for leaving her alone all night. After all, they were technically on their honeymoon. 

“Is there a problem with the new product launch?” 

“It’s all resolved, so don’t worry about it.” 

Dressed casually, his expression softened slightly. 

As he talked with I-ryeong, he felt the heavy burden in his mind from the night before begin to lift, if only a little. 

“Still…” 

Whether he was genuinely concerned or not, she wore a rather serious expression, looking almost ill. 

“Are you feeling unwell?” 

Before he realized it, his thoughts turned into action, and he placed his hand on her forehead as she stared at him wide-eyed. 

“I’m just tired.” 

“Tired? Don’t tell me you’ve caught a cold?” 

Her pale face made him anxious. 

“If you’re sick, tell me properly. I’ll call your personal doctor, or we can go to the hospital.” 

It seemed they would have to postpone the fancy lunch he had planned. 

“I couldn’t sleep well last night. I brought some medicine from Korea, so I’ll take it later and rest. I’ll feel better after that.” 

“You don’t look like you’ll get better anytime soon! No, this won’t do. I’m calling the doctor.” 

I-ryeong couldn’t bring herself to refuse him. 

After all, she had fallen in love with this man who always acted so freely and impulsively. 

Their honeymoon was truly a vacation befitting its name. 

They occasionally left the island to go shopping, but most of their time was spent on the island itself. 

Like an ordinary newlywed couple, they strolled along the beach or sat across from each other at night, sipping light cocktails. 

But that was where it ended. There were no romantic nighttime events for her to look forward to—just sleep. 

I-ryeong, thinking of how busy I-jun must have been in Korea without any rest, didn’t make any special demands. 

Since she wasn’t truly his wife, she believed maintaining that boundary was best for both of them. 

As they relaxed and passed the time like this, the seemingly long honeymoon came to an end. They arrived at Incheon Airport in Korea just as evening fell. 

I-ryeong quickly completed the immigration procedures and followed I-jun at a slow pace. 

While others returned from their once-in-a-lifetime honeymoons filled with cherished memories, they came back to Korea carrying only secrets. 

Watching I-jun’s broad back, I-ryeong felt layers of frustration pile up inside her. She almost thought staying in Greece would have been better. 

“Senior Managing Director Seo, welcome back.” 

Waiting at the VIP gate was the chauffeur assigned by his mother, CEO Lee Jung-ae. 

“I’ll take care of everything.” 

“Alright.” 

I-jun handed over the luggage cart to the chauffeur in uniform. 

As I-ryeong walked, observing the scene, her gaze was suddenly blocked. 

“Your hand.” 

Having handed off his luggage and feeling lighter, I-jun casually extended his hand toward her. 

“In front of Mother’s chauffeur, we need to keep up the appearance of being a married couple, don’t we?” 

He whispered into her ear as she tilted her head in confusion. 

His damp, saliva-laden whisper sent shivers down her spine. 

“Pretend, if nothing else.” 

The sultry sensations that had been building up vanished like magic at his indifferent words. 

Her mouth went dry, and her heart grew uneasy. Unconsciously, she scrunched up her face in irritation.

“Are you telling me to pretend we’re a married couple?” 

“Just play along, alright?” 

I-jun even wiggled his outstretched hand, as if silently urging her to take it already. 

“...” 

I-ryeong stared blankly at his insistent hand before reluctantly placing hers in his and intertwining their fingers. 

She could easily pretend to be an affectionate wife—it was, after all, one of the purposes of their marriage. 

But she couldn’t suppress the frustration bubbling inside her. She was angry with I-jun for ignoring her feelings while worrying about appearances in front of others. 

“How can I not care? We’re married.” 

A marriage with obligations but no consideration. 

Though he had given her expensive gifts and cards, this was an issue of emotions. 

I-ryeong walked quietly, holding his hand. 

“I-jun.” 

After much deliberation, she called out to him in a subtle voice. 

Forcing her lips into a smile, she made sure to look like the happiest person anyone could see. She carefully masked her bitter thoughts with a beautiful smile. 

“Lend me your ear for a moment. Hurry up.” 

She even blushed faintly, her cheeks turning a soft shade of red. 

“...My ear?” 

His steps halted as he turned to her, his gaze warm and expectant, as though anticipating something sweet. 

“If it’s my ear, you can have it anytime.” 

Leaning slightly toward her, I-jun mirrored her smile. 

“Don’t cross the line.” 

Her words came out sharp and spiteful, deliberately shattering his expectations. 

“Me?” 

“Who else is here besides you and me?” 

She tightened her grip on his hand, feeling his irritation seep through. 

She hated how he could be tender one moment and coldly distant the next. 

“I’ve never done that.” 

“I’m telling you not to order me around.” 

Even in a marriage with ulterior motives, consideration was still necessary. 

“Respect me.” 

The emotions she had bottled up since Greece finally erupted at Incheon Airport. 

“As you said, we’re married. So stop ordering me around. I may be your subordinate at work, but not right now.” 

Her voice carried a sharp edge she hadn’t intended when she first called out to him. 

[How dare you destroy my family and then get married?] 

The messages she received in Greece resurfaced, intensifying her emotions. 

If I-jun hadn’t pressured her into posting on social media, she wouldn’t have received those messages after months of silence. 

It was all the result of Seo I-jun’s thoughtless sacrifices—this man who treated her like a tool. 

“I can’t tolerate being looked down on.” 

No matter how much she loved him, this was a separate issue. 

At her old job, she had endured harsh treatment simply because she was lower in rank. 

Of course, that had nothing to do with I-jun, but the messages she received in Greece were clearly related to him. 

So she used him as an emotional dumping ground. After all, he would probably do the same to her anyway. 

“I understand what you mean. It’s my mistake. I admit it.” 

He quickly agreed and added an apology. 

But why did his apology feel so unsatisfying? I-ryeong kept her sharp gaze fixed on him. 

“Do you have anything else to say?” 

“No. I just… found it surprising, that’s all.” 

He studied her with clear interest, showing no signs of displeasure. 

Even that expression irritated her. It made her feel like she was the only villain, just like in those messages. 

“I’ll wait. Go ahead.” 

I-jun gave a faint smile. 

“…Alright.” 

Without asking the reason for his smile, she allowed him to lead her out of the airport.

The destination of the car they boarded together was I-ryeong’s house. 

She glanced briefly at the chauffeur, then stole a sidelong look at I-jun. He was silently staring out the window. 

The word “surprising” lingered in her chest, growing more uncomfortable by the moment. 

“I-jun.” 

Before she realized it, she leaned her head against his shoulder. Startled by the sudden action, I-jun looked somewhat surprised. 

“I’m here for you.” 

Her slightly excited voice spread through the car, and I-jun’s expression hardened. 

“I already miss the Mediterranean. Don’t you? The smell of the sea carried by the wind, the blue waves—they’re still dancing in front of my eyes.” 

In truth, she hadn’t truly enjoyed any of it. 

If anything, the only time she had seen the Mediterranean properly was on their first day in Greece, when she sat alone mournfully by the beach. 

Aside from that day, she hadn’t been able to enjoy Greece during their ten-day stay. The relentless headache that followed her around had left her bedridden most of the time. 

“When do you think we can go back?” 

Closing her eyes languidly and then opening them again, she gazed at him with an enraptured expression, as if saying, Aren’t I just as deserving of an acting award as you are? 

“You’re busier than me, so it’ll be hard for you to find time in the future, right?” 

Then she gave him a subtle glance, reminding him that his mother’s chauffeur was sitting right in front of them. 

“…Already missing it?” 

Fortunately, he caught her hint. 

Without being asked, he gently stroked her cheek, as if to say there was no better way to pretend to be affectionate. 

“It’s not just that, I-jun. It feels like the waves are rippling right here.” 

Not to be outdone, I-ryeong placed her hand on his chest and smiled, as if to say, If we’re going to put on a show, this is how it’s done. 

“All I can remember is you.” 

“…What?” 

For a moment, she thought she had misheard and panicked. 

“The back of your figure as you gazed at the Mediterranean. The way you splashed around in the pool. Your presence on the beach or in the bathtub—it’s all I can see in my mind. You’re all that’s left in my thoughts.” 

This wasn’t fair. 

I-ryeong pressed down firmly on the hand she had rested on his chest, trying to muffle the loud pounding of her heart so he wouldn’t hear it. 

“It’s not bad that only I remember you.” 

He reached out and lightly tapped her cheek with his finger. 

I-ryeong reminded herself not to fall for his act. He’s putting on an incredible performance, rivaling a professional actor, she repeated to herself. Don’t get fooled. 

“Really? I’m glad you remember too.” 

“I also remember the smell of the sea. Your hair was soaked with the scent of the Mediterranean.” 

How could he say such sweet words so casually? 

I-ryeong absentmindedly touched her burning earlobe, lost in thought. 

Feeling conflicted by his different demeanor now compared to when they were alone, she rubbed her head against his chest like a little kitten seeking comfort. 

“For our next vacation, let’s go to Hawaii. They say the sunsets there are breathtaking.” 

With a smile, she gazed at him subtly, her eyes sparkling as if she truly wanted to go. 

“I want to drink a cocktail while watching the sunset.” 

“You can’t even handle alcohol. Cocktails are off-limits.” 

He chuckled softly, pinching her cheek playfully. 

His touch didn’t hurt at all. On the contrary, she felt a strange sense of affection from it. 

She couldn’t tell anymore what was real and what was fake. 

“I promise.” 

His tone was unexpectedly serious, not at all like a joke. 

“I’ll be the genie who grants your wish.” 

Unconsciously swallowing hard, I-ryeong found herself chasing the reflection of herself in his eyes. 

“This summer vacation, we absolutely have to go to Hawaii.” 

“…Alright.” 

Her chest ached at the promise, which was almost certainly a lie. 

She hated herself for clumsily trying to provoke him, only to end up falling for his act. 

And it was painful to see the hopeful version of herself reflected in his eyes.