II - 45

It was the first time I-ryeong had ever heard I-jun say she smelled.

After all, what else could emanate from someone who worked at a cosmetics company besides fragrance?

But his tone had been so serious, as though she truly carried an odd odor, that she instinctively knew it wasn’t her perfume he was referring to.

I-ryeong barely held back tears that threatened to spill over as she looked at him, her heart heavy with confusion.

“Here and here,” he said, tilting his chin toward places that were anything but innocent.

“Your scent has a way of driving me crazy.”

“What do you mean by… ah…”

She hadn’t realized he was practically shoving her chest into his face.

Was it possible for someone to be this oblivious? The tears that had welled up in her eyes vanished instantly as embarrassment overwhelmed her, and all she wanted to do was hide somewhere far away.

“Do you expect me to pounce on you like a madman?”

“N-No, I never thought of that.”

I-jun found it even more agonizing to simply watch her turn beet red.

How could he possibly endure when her soft, tempting chest swayed right before his eyes? Knowing its allure only made it harder to resist.

Thus, he was driven to the brink of losing control, unable to tame the beastly desires raging within him.

“I feel like I’m going insane from the scent you’re giving off right now.”

His voice emerged hoarse, scraping against his vocal cords.

“I-I’m leaving first! You can find your own way out!”

She hastily pulled his arm off her waist and turned to flee. If they had been at home, the situation would have escalated dangerously, but she had no choice but to escape.

The once lively dinner gathering now left I-jun alone.

Canceling his prior engagement had led to relentless pestering from his friend all day. When he avoided calls, a barrage of text messages filled with expletives followed.

“Is your friend more important, or is it this stupid dinner?” his friend had raged.

He felt guilty about unilaterally canceling such an important appointment made before the wedding.

Still, reflecting on the events of the evening, he felt certain he’d made the right decision a hundred, no, a thousand times over.

“I need to properly show you just how intoxicating your scent is.”

Staring at the door through which I-ryeong had bolted, he let out a bitter laugh.

If not for tonight’s dinner, he wouldn’t have heard her heartfelt confession.

“Thank you.”

Though tipsy, her voice had been clear as day.

He had almost opened his eyes when her conversation with Baek Hyun-wook began to bother him, but he decided to wait and see how far things would go, keeping his eyes shut until the end.

“…I’m so grateful.”

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what she was thanking him for, but her calm tone conveyed genuine sincerity.

All he had wanted was to open his eyes, pull her close, and comfort her with a gentle embrace.

“Forget it, Seo I-jun.”

Shaking his head forcefully, he tried to erase the compassion he felt for her. After all, he was nothing but despicable for hiding secrets from her.

The car driven by the chauffeur was so quiet that even their breathing seemed audible.

I-ryeong gazed down silently at I-jun, who was leaning against her shoulder, fast asleep.

She couldn’t shake the image of him mingling with the team members during the dinner.

And then there was the news about moving his office, which brought another deep sigh as she slowly exhaled.

“Do you expect me to pounce on you like a madman?”

His teasing had seemed deliberate, though knowing him, he always knew when and where to draw the line, even under the influence of alcohol.

Her muddled mind couldn’t process thoughts deeply, so she closed her eyes. Her small head gradually rested against his shoulder.

And so, the silence-filled car eventually arrived at Dogok-dong.

“Madam?”

At the cautious sound of Kim the chauffeur’s voice, I-ryeong lifted her eyelids.

Meeting his gaze in the rearview mirror, she offered a small smile—a signal that they would soon exit the vehicle.

“I-jun?”

She gently shook him and tapped his cheek, but he showed no signs of waking up, still leaning on her shoulder.

This time, it seemed he had truly fallen into a deep sleep.

“Just a moment.”

Apologizing to Kim for the delay, she asked for a little more time.

“Shall I assist you?”

“No, it’s fine. Let me try waking him up again.”

With a faint smile, she declined Kim’s offer.

Even drunk, she doubted I-jun would appreciate being handed over to someone else without permission.

“I-jun, I-jun.”

She called out to him louder than before, but still, he didn’t stir.

As she pondered how to wake him, time continued to slip away, and the alcohol in her system grew stronger.

The comfortable seat and mild temperature weighed heavily on her eyelids, and lulled by the drowsiness, she felt herself on the verge of falling asleep.

“No, no…”

She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them while shaking her head vigorously. Just as the room began spinning and dizziness took hold—

Knock, knock. The sound of someone tapping on the window startled her awake.

Believing no stranger would dare approach in Dogok-dong, she rolled down the window without hesitation.

There stood Team Leader Han Yu-seong, dressed in uniform.

“Madam. Allow me to assist you.”

Noticing the couple hadn’t exited the car despite it being started, he had come forward himself.

I-ryeong glanced alternately between I-jun and Yu-seong.

“Could you move our belongings to the annex?”

It wasn’t a matter that required much thought, yet she found herself overthinking unnecessarily.

Hadn’t he repeatedly emphasized that she was Seo I-jun’s wife?

Deciding against accepting Yu-seong’s help, I-ryeong instead cupped her warm hand over I-jun’s cheek.

Through her palm, she could feel him flinch in surprise.

Tap, tap. She lightly touched his cheek, and this time, she felt him recoil as if pricked by a thorn.

“I-jun?”

She called out to him in a sweet, high-pitched voice. Still, he didn’t budge.

“Darling?”

This time, she tried a softer, gentler tone.

It was clear from his startled reaction that he had woken up.

“Oppa, let’s go home now.”

“...What?”

His eyes, which had stubbornly refused to open, suddenly shot wide open—completely startled.

“Can you walk?”

“Chae I-ryeong. Say that again.”

The moment her hand left his face, his head dropped, and he leaned his upper body forward, exhaling the lingering scent of alcohol.

“I must not have heard you right.”

“It’s late. Driver Kim needs to go home too. Hurry up and get out of the car.”

Her shock therapy, though uncertain at first, had worked.

I-ryeong brushed off his outstretched hand and stepped out of the car.

After thanking the chauffeur, who had patiently waited, she entered through the wide-open gate.

Team Leader Han, who had gone ahead, was nowhere to be seen.

“Did he run all the way to the annex?”

As she stepped into the garden, a wave of relief washed over her upon realizing they had finally arrived home. All she wanted now was to lie down on the bed and let go of the heavy burden she’d been carrying all evening.

Feeling an even stronger wave of intoxication than before, she hurried into the annex, thinking she needed to empty herself completely before sleeping. But at the entrance, Mrs. Choi was still waiting despite the late hour.

A mix of guilt and gratitude welled up inside her. And somewhere deep in her heart, a familiar ache grew heavier.

Mrs. Choi reminded her so much of the mother she had longed for during her childhood—a figure far warmer and closer than her stepmother, who had always felt distant even after she became an adult.

“Are you alright?”

Mrs. Choi’s expression was filled with genuine concern, devoid of any pretense. The sincerity choked I-ryeong, leaving her unable to respond as if a thorn had lodged itself in her throat.

Just then, Team Leader Han Yu-seong, who had carried their luggage upstairs, stood beside Mrs. Choi.

Something about their resemblance made I-ryeong narrow her eyes thoughtfully.

“It seems you’ve only just found out.”

Mrs. Choi covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

“I assumed you already knew since Vice President Lee did. Are you very surprised?”

“…Huh?”

I-ryeong’s delicate eyelashes fluttered.

“I thought you were aware. My apologies for not informing you earlier, Madam.”

“…Ah, no! You don’t need to apologize! There’s nothing to apologize for!”

She quickly reached out to stop Mrs. Choi from bowing deeply and helped her straighten up.

“I was… a little, no, very surprised. I never imagined you two were family.”

Her gaze darted back and forth between Mrs. Choi and Team Leader Han as she spoke.

Now that she looked closely, the resemblance between them was unmistakable. How had she missed it?

“It’s late, Mrs. Choi. Please go inside. You too, Team Leader.”

Realizing how much time had passed, she urged them to leave.

“Madam, I’ve prepared some medicine and honey water in the bedroom for you.”

“Thank you.”

I-ryeong watched the retreating figures of mother and son as they left the annex.

How had they ended up working together in the same house? Regardless of their jobs, their bond as mother and son seemed enviable.

Just then, a commotion arose at the entrance, and I-jun walked in.

His usually immaculate appearance was quite disheveled—even his normally neat hair was tousled.

He hadn’t looked this bad when she left him in the car. What could have happened in such a short time?

“I-jun?”

“What do you mean, ‘I-jun’?”

Was his dazed expression just an illusion?

I-ryeong narrowed her eyes, focusing intently on him.

“I-jun…”

To her dismay, it wasn’t an illusion.

His sluggish gait, slightly slurred speech, and unfocused gaze—all unmistakably his—made him look dangerous.

His once pale face was now flushed red, creating an unsettling sense of unfamiliarity despite it being undeniably him.

As he entered the living room, he leaned against the wall and exhaled deeply, as if the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders.

“Are you okay, I-jun?”

Leaning against the wall, he swayed precariously, as though he might collapse at any moment.

Concerned, I-ryeong moved closer and reached out to steady him—but just then:

“Who’s I-jun?”

“You’re very drunk. Hurry up and wash up…”

Before she could finish, he grabbed her hand, pulling her into his arms as she gasped for breath.

His breath against her face was scorching hot—so hot she felt like she might melt away.

His eyes glimmered with an intense light, leaving her flustered and unsure where to look.

“Were you envious?”

“What are you talking about?”

Confused by his sudden question, she tilted her head.

“Were you envious, is that why you looked at me like that?”

Trapped by his husky voice, she couldn’t tear her gaze away.