II - 53

Since she had left her car at the company, I-ryeong decided to commute with I-jun today.

During her shower, changing clothes, and even while eating a light breakfast, there was no exchange of words between the couple. Only an oppressive silence hung in the air, suffocating like a vice.

I-ryeong knew full well that she had created this situation. She also understood that it was her responsibility to untangle the knotted threads of misunderstanding.

But the prolonged silence only deepened the icy atmosphere.

The commute with Manager Kim and his daughter began. As Manager Kim briefed the schedule on his tablet, he brought up a message from the secretary’s office of EK Materials.

“Mr. Park, the Executive Vice President, contacted us.”

“Park Hyuk-joon?”

I-jun responded while clasping his hands together. He had been avoiding his friend’s personal calls since their last outing, so it seemed the contact had come through the secretary.

Though it should have been a welcome call, for some reason, it didn’t sit well with him today, and he unconsciously frowned.

“Yes, Vice President. Mr. Park Hyuk-joon hopes to meet you today if possible. What would you like to do?”

Manager Kim’s question slowed I-jun’s response.

Having unilaterally canceled their previous meeting, he knew he should agree to meet as per the other party’s request. But his reluctance made it hard to give an immediate answer.

Hyuk-joon had been a close friend since childhood—a bond so tight they were practically inseparable.

Initially, arranging the meeting with his friend hadn’t been entirely innocent. Given the cooperative relationship between EK Materials, where Hyuk-joon served as Executive Vice President, and First Apparel—the source of the rumors—he had set up the meeting out of curiosity.

“What about the alumni gathering?”

After much thought, I-jun shifted gears.

“It’s scheduled for this Friday.”

“Then tell EK Materials I’ll see him at the gathering.”

I-ryeong quietly listened to her husband’s schedule.

It unsettled her that he shared his personal plans only with his secretary. When had he called them a “real couple”? Why did he share his schedule with his secretary instead of her? The contradiction gnawed at her.

“Check if Director Kang Suk-tae from First Apparel will be attending.”

Thud. A name she knew all too well slipped from his lips.

The moment Kang Suk-tae’s name left I-jun’s mouth, I-ryeong felt as though her body had turned to ice.

Kang Suk-tae was a name she could never forget—would never forget—for the rest of her life.

“…Do you really have to attend this gathering?”

Unconsciously, her voice dropped as she shrank into herself.

“It’s a quarterly event.”

“I see.”

Swallowing hard, she turned her gaze toward the passing scenery outside the window.

Her stomach churned, and nausea surged. Bitter bile rose to her throat, which she forced herself to swallow.

Desperate to get out of the car but holding back, she focused on the rapidly shifting landscape outside.

“Do you want to come along?”

“A-ah, no.”

Startled, she turned to meet his gaze.

She hadn’t wanted him to see her unease, but it had slipped through anyway.

“Just a casual question. Why are you so tense?”

Instead of answering, I-ryeong pressed her lips tightly shut and rolled her tongue inside her mouth.

It seemed he already knew everything and was testing her. Not just the rumors—but it appeared he also knew that Kang Suk-tae was involved.

She had never imagined I-jun and Kang Suk-tae would cross paths.

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped her trembling lips.

She now vaguely understood why he hadn’t invited close acquaintances to their wedding.

If she stayed still any longer, she feared she might faint from the shock. Clutching her thighs tightly, she took a deep breath to steady herself.

Still, the impact refused to fade.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Her mind felt broken under the weight of helplessness.

The fractured relationship was entirely her fault. To fix it, she needed to address the rumors first. But no solution came to mind.

Before she could think further, they arrived at headquarters and had to exit the car without delay.

Even though it had been some time since their arrival, employees still showed keen interest in the couple’s entrance. They stared with the same curiosity one might reserve for celebrity spouses.

Today, those curious gazes felt unbearable to I-ryeong.

From the moment they passed through the lobby, every employee they encountered stole glances at them. Their eyes brimmed with insatiable curiosity, a sight all too familiar to her.

It reminded her of the persistent stares that had driven her to flee her previous workplace.

Their whispered gossip and furtive glances confirmed her fear: they believed she was the subject of the rumors. The anxiety of being chased away again without a chance to explain overwhelmed her.

I-ryeong glanced at I-jun, who stood beside her waiting for the elevator. His expressionless face gave no hint of his thoughts.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that he must already know what the employees were whispering about.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you getting in?”

Lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed the elevator had arrived.

Had he not extended his hand to guide her in, she might have remained frozen, listening only to the murmurs around her.

“…”

With great effort, she gave a slight nod, lips pressed tightly together. He wouldn’t know how much strength that small gesture required.

Confirming the pre-selected floor, she moved to the farthest corner of the elevator.

The small, square space was heavy with tension. The oppressive weight felt like it was crushing her head, and she closed her eyes to endure it.

Suddenly, a terrifying thought crossed her mind—to simply let go and fall apart. Startled, she snapped her eyes open.

Without realizing it, she gripped the metal handrails on either side and exhaled sharply, her breath catching in her throat.

“Hah, haa...”

Her face had turned deathly pale. He looked at her strangely as she let out an uncontrollable sigh.

Overwhelmed by indescribable emotions, I-ryeong clamped her lips shut. But her racing heart and feverish breathing betrayed her lingering panic.

In the meantime, the elevator reached the floor where the marketing department was located.

“Wait.”

Just as she was about to step out, he pulled her back into his arms.

Before she could react, she found herself enveloped in his embrace—right there in the office.

Before I-ryeong could fully gather her wits, he rapidly pressed the door-close button, and the elevator doors slid shut.

His office was only one floor above, on the Vice President’s floor.

“Let’s go up first.”

The deep resonance of his voice vibrated against her ear, still pressed to his chest.

Perhaps it was the power of his tone—calm and low—that steadied her previously scattered emotions. She felt a sense of relief, as though she had momentarily escaped the anxiety that had plagued her since yesterday.

She remained silent in his arms, not making a sound. In those mere three seconds it took for the elevator to ascend to the Vice President’s floor, she found a strange sense of stability.

I-jun gently patted her back, holding her close. He wanted to ask what had frightened her so much that her face had turned ghostly pale—but he restrained himself.

Instead, he focused on soothing her, doing his best to dispel her shock.

What felt like an hour passed in the blink of an eye, and the elevator doors opened.

It had been a month since he moved his office to the Vice President’s suite, but this was her first time visiting.

“Let’s get out.”

As I-jun took the first step out of the elevator, he suddenly stopped.

“What are you doing?”

He extended his hand toward her.

“You’re not getting out without holding my hand?”

He even gestured for her to hurry and take it.

Though she had mustered her courage to commute confidently that morning, the thought of stepping into the office filled her with dread. The whispers that had started in the lobby seemed likely to follow her all the way to her desk.

Today, his large, white hand looked like a savior. Even if someone were to insult her, she wanted to hold onto it at that moment.

Without hesitation, I-ryeong firmly grasped his hand and stepped out of the elevator. As if waiting for this moment, he naturally pulled her into his embrace.

“Why do they keep staring at us like that?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Her eyes widened as she sank into his broad embrace. Though startled by his sudden actions, she also felt a wave of relief. It felt as though he was comforting her not as her superior, but as her husband.

Held close, she matched his steps and entered the Vice President’s office.

“Welcome, sir.”

The secretary, who had been organizing the desk, greeted them respectfully.

This was I-ryeong’s first time seeing the secretary assigned to the Vice President’s office. The young man’s youthful face made her smile unconsciously.

“Please bring us two warm cups of green tea.”

“Yes, Vice President.”

After the secretary disappeared into the pantry, I-jun led her into his private office.

I-ryeong took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent that filled the room.

The rich aroma penetrated deep into her lungs, awakening sensations she had forgotten amidst her anxiety.

The scent she had grown accustomed to during their time as a couple felt like a mother’s soothing hand patting a crying child’s back.

Feeling increasingly at ease, she closed her eyes and let herself be enveloped by the fragrance.

The scent, identical to the perfume he always wore, gave her the illusion of being wrapped in his arms—even though she already was. The strange surge of emotion made her feel oddly unsettled.

“Is this your first time here?”

“Yes, it’s my first time.”

The monochromatic office resembled winter. The imposing ebony desk, which dominated the space, added to the cold impression.

It reminded her of I-jun yesterday—his piercing gaze and razor-sharp voice.

“Have a seat.”

At his words, she barely managed to pull herself out of the trance she had fallen into.

I-ryeong brushed her long hair over one shoulder and sat diagonally across from him, close to the head of the table.

With every exhale, his lingering scent seeped into her clothes. Feeling as though she were still enveloped in his embrace, she hugged one arm and rubbed her sleeve absentmindedly.

Sensing how his presence alone calmed her, she shifted her gaze just as—

Knock, knock. The heavy door opened, and Kim, the secretary, entered.

Two perfectly tempered cups of green tea were placed before them.

I-ryeong glanced at her watch to check the time. There were 15 minutes left until work began, and thanks to the air conditioning, the warm tea seemed drinkable without issue.

“I’ll enjoy it, thank you.”

She lifted her teacup and nodded politely to Kim. Just as she brought the cup, its green tea faintly glowing against the pristine white porcelain, to her lips—

“Kim Secretary.”

“Yes, Vice President?”

“What kind of drink do you prefer?”

The playful tone in I-jun’s voice caught I-ryeong’s attention, and her gaze fixed on the two of them.

“A preferred drink? I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, sir.”

The secretary’s perplexed response made I-ryeong nod slightly in agreement.

What was the point of asking about drinks they wouldn’t share? His intentions were completely inscrutable, leaving her expression clouded with curiosity.