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The morning sky was high and clear. It was such a good day that it was almost regrettable not to be able to fully admire the trees bathed in sunlight while passing by in the car.
Jae-hee glanced at Kang-joo’s side profile as he was driving and couldn’t help but feel her face flush slightly. His well-defined face looked even more handsome than usual.
Just as the sky being high seemed like a natural thing, Kang-joo’s handsomeness also felt like an undeniable fact. Now, she was starting to feel shy because the person next to her was so impressive. She used to think that he was an unattainable goal, but now that he was her person, everything seemed even more perfect. The rice cake she had once thought she could never eat now seemed all the more delicious since she could finally have it.
Jae-hee tapped her front foot along with the rhythm of the music playing on the radio.
Everything was going smoothly. The case was progressing quickly, and the direction of things was becoming clear after her mother had reported the case for a re-investigation. Chairman Cha, though delaying things because of health reasons, was bound to fall eventually. It was just a matter of time.
Now, all that awaited him was a dark abyss.
Soon, the company came into view. Jae-hee took out her lip balm from her bag, applied it, and closed the cap again. Kang-joo smiled lightly as he watched her fidget with her bag before they had even arrived.
“Are you already getting ready to leave before we’ve even arrived? That’s a bit disappointing.”
“I just put on lip balm because my lips were dry.”
Jae-hee quickly defended herself, almost like a reflex. Kang-joo looked at her plump lips and chuckled as he turned the steering wheel.
By now, she had gotten quite used to commuting with Kang-joo in his car. Previously, she used to take the subway or bus, but now she was always with him.
In fact, even before their feelings for each other had fully developed, Kang-joo had suggested that she ride with him, but she had firmly declined at the time. She had thought their relationship was temporary, and she didn’t want to make their time together too obvious. She believed it was better to keep some distance, for his sake as well.
But now, things were different.
“Thanks for the ride.”
Jae-hee thanked Kang-joo as they stopped the car. He had mentioned having an external appointment from the morning, so she had planned to take the subway today, but still, he insisted on driving her all the way to the company.
“It’s nothing, I’ll see you later.”
Kang-joo responded casually, and then his lips gently brushed against hers.
Jae-hee was so surprised that she grabbed her bag tightly. They were parked right in front of the company lobby, and since he was only dropping her off, he had stopped where busy employees were walking in and out. There were even security guards standing right in front of the car. No matter how well the tinting was, her silhouette would likely be visible.
Her lips parted in shock as his tongue slipped briefly into her mouth before he pulled away. Her cheeks flushed deeply, and she bit her lip in embarrassment.
“How can you do this here?”
“Then where should we do it?”
“...”
“Would it be okay to go somewhere else and do something else? Should we go to another place?”
He lightly tapped the steering wheel as he joked, and Jae-hee shook her head. Since they had gotten closer, Kang-joo had become more direct, always smiling more and making lighthearted jokes than he did when he was still the executive.
And so, it felt like…
‘I can’t believe Kang-joo oppa likes me. I can hold him like this without worrying.’
Of course, the man in front of her was Kang-joo oppa, but the “Executive Kang-joo” she had known felt like such a different person from the student Kang-joo oppa she had once known. His expression, demeanor, and the way he spoke were all so different that it almost felt like they were two completely different people.
“I really have to go now.”
“Okay.”
The morning sunlight caught in his eyes, making them glisten. His smiling face sparkled so brightly that Jae-hee hesitated for a moment before opening the door, and then suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace by his neck.
‘I can’t believe Kang-joo oppa likes me. I can hold him like this without worrying.’
At Jae-hee’s sudden and bold touch, Kang-joo froze, visibly startled. Jae-hee quickly kissed his cheek and hopped out of the passenger seat.
“I’ll see you later!”
“......”
Only the warmth of her presence lingered in the car as the sunlight filled the space. Kang-joo remained in the car, staring out the window. He watched Jae-hee’s figure walking away without looking back until she disappeared into the lobby. He continued to watch for a while longer before finally turning his head.
What was he thinking? Kang-joo didn’t start the car right away. He sat there for a moment, lost in thought, then slowly caressed the neck where Jae-hee had wrapped her arms. He gently rubbed his cheek where her lips had touched, and a slow, fond smile spread across his face.
“You must have been worried for a long time.”
“Very embarrassed, indeed.”
At Yuseon’s concern, Yeonghyeon set her chopsticks down with a soft clink. She had tried to force herself to eat, but her appetite wasn’t returning, and she pushed the plate aside.
Things were going smoothly. Her husband would soon be her perfect ex-husband, and although his actions had made her face flush with embarrassment, everything had been settled. After dealing with Cha Byeongjun, she would be able to stretch out and rest, and by then, people would have forgotten this current shame.
It would probably just become a piece of gossip that they had once laughed about. Like a chewed-up piece of gum spat out, it would become meaningless. Everything always turned out that way.
Yeonghyeon cursed quietly in her mind. Just thinking of Chairman Cha made her mouth taste bitter. Yuseon, as if sensing her feelings, smiled and poured her some tea.
“Drink this, Director. I tried it earlier, and it made my mouth feel fresh.”
“Thank you, Yuseon.”
Yeonghyeon took a sip of tea, glancing at Yuseon over the rim of her cup. No matter how she looked at it, Yuseon was quite a catch.
‘She really suits our Kang-joo so well.’
But beside Kang-joo, it was not Jeong Yuseon, the granddaughter of the president of the Buyong Group, but Yoon Jae-hee, the maid’s daughter.
“......”
Her mouth became even more bitter. While her family wasn’t particularly prestigious, they shouldn’t have flaws. Her father had passed away early, and she was an unmarried woman with a younger sister. Even her mother had been involved in an unpleasant scandal with her husband.
Wouldn’t it be nice if people could just judge others based solely on who they were? But for marriage, one had to consider not just the individual but also the family background, wealth, and even the family traditions. These were what people called “conditions.” And ultimately, Yoon Jae-hee didn’t meet those conditions at all.
Yoon Jae-hee. Yoon Jae-hee. Yeonghyeon muttered Jae-hee’s name over and over in her head. Yuseon, who had been watching her, smiled warmly.
“Director.”
“Yes, yes?”
Yeonghyeon snapped out of her thoughts and replied.
“Thank you for arranging this meeting.”
“Thank me? I was the one who insisted on introducing you to Kang-joo... You’re the one who didn’t give up on him, so I should be the one thanking you.”
“Honestly, I was confident. I thought if I tried ten times, he’d finally give in, but I was a little surprised that it didn’t happen right away.”
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to give up... Yuseon muttered under her breath and smiled lightly. Yeonghyeon glanced at the clock.
‘He should be arriving soon.’
Kang-joo was about to arrive any minute now. She had asked him to come without telling Yuseon, wanting one final meeting before she made a clean break if things didn’t work out.
Soon, the door to the private room opened. Kang-joo entered and hesitated for a moment upon seeing Yuseon, but then he casually sat next to Yeonghyeon.
“It’s been a while, Kang-joo.”
“Yes, I’ve been doing well.”
He smiled back at Yuseon, who was smiling at him, before turning his gaze to Yeonghyeon.
The mealtime surprisingly passed in a warm, lively atmosphere. Conversations flowed effortlessly, covering everything from the newly arrived artwork at Yeonghyeon’s art museum to the latest trends in the fashion world. Yeonghyeon was pleased to see how smoothly the conversation went between them, but—
“Then, please drive safely.”
“Yes, it was nice to see you today, Kang-joo. Let’s go to an exhibition together sometime.”
“I’m sorry, but I already have someone I plan to marry, so it would be difficult to join you.”
“...I see.”
Unfortunately, that was the end of the conversation.
Kang-joo treated Yuseon with clear-cut manners, and Yuseon, faced with his stiff kindness, was nearly resigned. Even Yeonghyeon, who could read the atmosphere between them, shook her head.
After Yuseon left, only two cups remained in the private room. Kang-joo sat first and picked up his cup. The tea had cooled to lukewarm while he had seen Yuseon off.
“Mother, to be honest, I’m getting a little tired of this.”
Kang-joo calmly expressed his thoughts while sipping his tea.
Although he was smiling, he was clearly exhausted. He had come expecting a meal with his mother, but unexpectedly, Yuseon had joined them. He had made an effort to be polite to his mother, but the situation had worn him out. He had been busy with work and was mentally drained.
Yeonghyeon sighed. She hadn’t expected much, but seeing Kang-joo’s attitude now, she felt somewhat disappointed. Of course, this was how it would turn out.
“Kang-joo, I’m not trying to stop your marriage. I’m not planning on following you around protesting that you shouldn’t marry.”
“That’s an unusual way of putting it, considering the situation.”
“I won’t oppose your marriage, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try to persuade you to follow my wishes.”
“Well... I think it would just tire both you and me out.”
Kang-joo smiled softly. Yeonghyeon, facing his smile, felt a surge of irritation. She was troubled and anxious for him, but he remained so calm and indifferent.
Is this really something he’s doing for my sake? Everything I’m doing, it’s all for him, for his own good.
“Kang-joo, I know Jae-hee isn’t a bad person. But she’s been involved with my husband in an unpleasant way. What am I supposed to do when every time I see her, I’m reminded of Cha Byeongjun? You have to understand my feelings. Even now, when I think of that man, I get chills.”
At that moment, Kang-joo’s eyes narrowed slightly. He then, with a faint smile on his face, said nonchalantly,
“Then you shouldn’t see me either.”
“Huh?”
“I’m more deeply connected with my legal father than Jae-hee is. If you think of my father every time you see me, will you stop seeing me too?”
“......”
Yeonghyeon was momentarily at a loss for words, her excuse promptly cut off by Kang-joo’s statement.
“I want to see you, mother. For a long time, and often, holding hands with Jae-hee.”
Yeonghyeon shook her head at Kang-joo’s words.
Even though he was her son, he was a difficult person to deal with. If he had rebelled loudly, it might have been easier to handle, but since he approached everything steadily without showing any emotion, it wasn’t easy at all.
Yeonghyeon took a big gulp of water. She wasn’t sure how to convince Kang-joo… but anyway, it seemed clear that her efforts hadn’t made any impact.
Thirty minutes before work ended, Jae-hee received a call from Yeonghyeon. She ran to the copy room to take the call secretly, and the message was simple.
Let’s meet once, just the two of us, without Kang-joo.
Jae-hee immediately felt that the time had finally come. She had met with Yeonghyeon alone before, but that had been due to a family emergency, not a conversation about marriage.
But this time was different. Jae-hee instinctively knew that a serious conversation about marriage was about to take place.
Up until now, Yeonghyeon had deliberately avoided talking about marriage. She hadn’t outright opposed it, but she had firmly stated that it was too early, drawing a clear line, and even blocked further discussions, saying they could talk about it later.
Now, with Yeonghyeon bringing it up first, Jae-hee understood that Yeonghyeon was ready to make her move. The question was, what would that move cut through—what would she try to sever?
I just hope I’m not cut off completely.
Jae-hee tried to lighten her thoughts as she climbed into the car waiting in front of the lobby. In the back of the white limousine, Yeonghyeon was already seated.
“Hello, Director.”
“Yes, it’s nice to see you.”
Jae-hee greeted her politely, and Yeonghyeon nodded back with a gesture.
About thirty minutes later, they arrived at a quiet café near the Han River. Jae-hee and Yeonghyeon sat at a seat in the farthest corner. Through the large window, the river flowed gently. The surface of the water, touched by the sunset, sparkled like broken glass. The place had an air of tranquility, as though the wind itself would stay there forever.
As the secretary placed coffee in front of them, Yeonghyeon hurriedly took a few sips. It seemed like she was thirsty. Jae-hee, after giving the secretary a nod as he turned away, also lifted her cup. But just as she was about to say, “I’ll drink well,” Yeonghyeon’s voice interrupted.
“I don’t dislike you, Jae-hee.”
Jae-hee’s eyes moved. She glanced down at the coffee she was about to drink and then set the cup back on the table. It seemed like now wasn’t the time to drink.
“I’ve wanted to praise you since you lived in my house. You’ve grown up really well. You have a good gaze.”
Leaning back on the sofa, Yeonghyeon stretched her long legs and crossed them.
“Jae-hee, you’re very beautiful… very graceful. When I look into your kind eyes, I just want to hug you and comfort you. You took good care of your sick mother. You handled everything well this time. I want to nod my head and praise you.”
Jae-hee didn’t know how to respond, so she whispered, “Thank you.” It was clear that Yeonghyeon hadn’t brought up this topic to praise her, and her expectation was soon confirmed.
“From the outside, it seems amazing how much you’ve overcome, Jae-hee. But… when I think of you as my son’s wife, it doesn’t look the same. It feels like you’re pulling my son into a harsh struggle.”
“……”
“I should have said this earlier, and it would have been more comfortable for both of us. I’m sorry for avoiding it. To be honest, I can’t accept you. If it weren’t for your circumstances, I would have welcomed you with open arms. You’re a really good person, Jae-hee.”
“…Yes.”
“But the kind-hearted person I want to praise, becoming my son’s wife… honestly, I don’t like it.”
Jae-hee barely managed to respond with a short “Yes,” unable to say more.
Yeonghyeon turned her gaze out of the window. Her expression was filled with many thoughts, while the river flowed peacefully outside, unaware of the turmoil within them.
After a moment, Yeonghyeon sighed and turned her head. At the end of her gaze, she saw Jae-hee, her head down and her expression distant, looking only at her hands.
“Jae-hee.”
Jae-hee slowly lifted her head. The area around her eyes was reddish. Her eyes, as though on the verge of shedding tears, were wet, but she seemed to be holding them back, making no effort to show her tears.
“I just want you to be happy, Jae-hee. I hope you find a good person and build a happy family. But... would it be possible for you to live happily with someone other than my son?”
Jae-hee silently stared at Yeonghyeon. The face she saw was so similar to Kang-joo’s.
It would have been easier to deal with if Yeonghyeon had splashed cold water on her face or slapped her cheek like the wives in dramas. If only she had given her money or rejected her, saying she didn’t want any of this. But Yeonghyeon spoke in a calm, cultured tone, which made it hard for Jae-hee to respond.
Living a poor, difficult life often teaches one to understand their place. Jae-hee knew for sure that she wasn’t the right match for Kang-joo.
But even so, she wanted to be with him. After a long journey, her heart had finally found its way to him. Now that their hearts had met, now that they finally saw each other’s feelings, she didn’t want to run away with her tail tucked between her legs.
Jae-hee straightened her back.
“I know I’m not the right person for Kang-joo, Director.”
Yeonghyeon quietly listened, waiting to hear what Jae-hee would say.
“But I really like Kang-joo. I truly love him. And I believe he feels the same. That’s why I can’t give up.”
“......”
“I don’t want to rebel, causing you to dislike me. After all, you’re the mother of the person I love. But if you tell me to break up with him… I can’t agree to that.”
Yeonghyeon remained silent, listening quietly. Jae-hee lowered her head toward the silence.
“You told me to be happy with someone else, but I can’t. I can only be happy with Kang-joo. I’m sorry, but I can’t agree to your words.”
“......”
Yeonghyeon silently crossed her arms. No words slipped through her lips.
When they got home, Kang-joo had already returned. He seemed to have just come in, his hair still wet as he was reviewing some documents. He stood up when he saw Jae-hee had arrived.
“Where did you go?”
Kang-joo naturally took Jae-hee’s bag as he asked. There was a faint scent of body wash from him. It made Jae-hee feel unexpectedly at ease.
When Kang-joo had suggested they leave work together, Jae-hee had declined, saying she had a prior engagement, and went to meet Yeonghyeon. When Kang-joo kept asking who she met, she brushed it off, saying she’d tell him later.
Jae-hee took off her cardigan and honestly answered.
“I met with Director Yoo.”
“...Mother?”
Kang-joo, who had naturally taken Jae-hee’s cardigan, froze. Jae-hee turned to face him directly. The emotions crossing his face were clear: confusion, worry, and concern. He seemed to clearly read that Yeonghyeon had said something to her.
Jae-hee smiled slightly, almost as if brushing past the topic.
“I know what you’re thinking... but don’t worry. I told her I won’t break up with him.”
Kang-joo let out a sigh that seemed to be a delayed smile. He looked relieved.
“Don’t worry about what my mother said to me. She just gave me an objective reason why she doesn’t like me. Honestly, it was hurtful, but... I nodded because it was the truth.”
“Why did you go alone? Next time, you must take me with you.”
“No, if I went around showing off, my mother would just push us further away. She’d think I’m being disrespectful.”
Jae-hee gently stroked Kang-joo’s cheek with her hand. She could feel the tension in his face melt away quietly. The love in front of her was so handsome and so capable. To win someone like him, she’d have to face some obstacles. Moreover, she had already predicted Yeonghyeon’s opposition.
“I don’t want to secretly marry, like a rat, against Director Yoo’s opposition, and I don’t want to make you feel like a sinner in front of her. But I also don’t think my flattery would make her accept us, no matter how much I say ‘Mother, Mother’...”
Yeonghyeon would undoubtedly be repelled by such blatant flattery, given her straightforward nature. She was not unlike Kang-joo in that regard.
“It seems like convincing Director Yoo isn’t something I can do. So I’ll leave it to you. You’re good at negotiating. You’ll charm her and succeed in making it a contract marriage.”
In her playful words, there was a solid belief in Kang-joo.
“...Alright, Jae-hee. Just stay by my side.”
Kang-joo softly replied to Jae-hee’s trust and then hugged her tightly. He was overwhelmed with gratitude, cherishing her, and loving her so much that he couldn’t bear it.
Late at night, Yeonghyeon went looking for her daughter, Si-eun, carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses.
“Sweetheart, are you asleep?”
“No, Mom.”
Si-eun, who had been lying on her stomach reading a book, got up from her bed. She playfully laughed as she took the wine bottle from Yeonghyeon. “Mom must be thirsty for some wine, huh?”
The two set up a small drinking session on the second-floor terrace. The cool breeze gently tickled their ears. After drinking two glasses of wine in succession, Yeonghyeon, her cheeks flushed from the warmth, spoke to Si-eun.
“Si-eun, I met Jae-hee today. I told her to break up with Kang-joo, but she didn’t listen.”
“Really?”
“If I followed my heart, I would’ve used harsh words to drive her away… but when I looked into her eyes, I couldn’t do it. Her eyes were so kind and clear, I couldn’t bring myself to do that. I can be pretty cruel with words.”
“I know, Mom, you’re really good at being harsh with your words.”
Si-eun unknowingly smiled. Her mother, Yeonghyeon, wasn’t the kind of person who would mind her manners, but she wasn’t the type to consider other people’s situations either. She had a tendency to speak her mind clearly, not one to worry about how her words might affect others.
And yet, for some reason, Yeonghyeon couldn’t bring herself to be harsh with Jae-hee, which meant there was still a trace of hesitation in her heart.
“Is it because of her family background that you don’t like Jae-hee?”
“Yes, my son. My perfectly wonderful son. It’s not greed to want the best, most accomplished daughter-in-law. Where can you find someone as upright, handsome, and capable as Kang-joo? When the wives get together, they all talk about Kang-joo. They can’t believe how such a person was raised.”
“Right. Everyone loves oppa...”
Yeonghyeon silently lowered her gaze and poured more wine. The sound of the wine being poured softly echoed in the quiet room.
“If she could at least be someone from a decent family, I could accept it. But the daughter of a housekeeper? And what’s the deal with that guy, Cha Byeong-jun? Why him of all people…”
With a face that showed no sign of being drunk, Yeonghyeon muttered as if complaining. No matter how much she thought about it, it didn’t make sense. Jae-hee wasn’t just poor, her family situation was also troublesome.
Yeonghyeon did like Jae-hee herself, but she worried that if she allowed Kang-joo to be with someone from such an environment, he might get caught up in it and be hindered.
“My precious son. I couldn’t take proper care of him when he was young, so at least I want to give him the best daughter-in-law. That seems like a way to make up for the love I couldn’t give him.”
Right now, he might be blinded by love, only seeing Yoon Jae-hee, but in time, he would realize. There were countless other women, and among them, there were better ones than Yoon Jae-hee.
Si-eun grabbed her mother’s glass and drank from it. With a complex expression, she downed it in one go and set the glass down with a firm motion. Her face, now resolute, lifted as she turned toward Yeonghyeon.
“Mom, do you know what your proud son did in the past?”
“...Huh? What do you mean, what he did?”
Yeonghyeon asked with a confused expression.
Si-eun gripped the glass tightly. She wasn’t planning to fight for Jae-hee and Kang-joo’s marriage, but now that the topic had come up, she had to say what needed to be said.
The words she had always hidden inside. The words that would hurt her mother deeply, and right now, at this very moment.
“Oppa has claustrophobia. You know that, right?”
Yeonghyeon slowly nodded. She had already come to terms with it when the family doctor lightly reassured her, saying that different people have different fears and that Kang-joo’s was something manageable.
“It’s because of the two of you.”
Yeonghyeon didn’t immediately understand what Si-eun meant. She furrowed her brows and asked again.
“The two of us?”
“Mom, and Dad.”
“...What?”
Si-eun’s expression darkened, and she continued speaking, staring directly into Yeonghyeon’s eyes, which were slowly filling with shock.
“Mom, you ignored oppa while you kept him in this huge house. That’s why Dad turned Kang-joo oppa into a big monster.”
“What… what do you mean by that…?”
Yeonghyeon stared blankly at Si-eun. Her heart pounded loudly, uncomfortably. A storm of confusion raged inside her. An overwhelming sense of dread washed over her.
So Kang-joo’s claustrophobia was because of me? And what did she mean by saying Cha Byeong-jun turned into a monster? Si-eun’s voice pierced through the frantic beating of Yeonghyeon’s heart.
“When oppa was young, he was often locked in the storage room. Dad used to abuse oppa behind your back. That’s how oppa got his trauma.”
“...”
Yeonghyeon, in a state of shock, could only stare at Si-eun’s lips. She couldn’t fully comprehend what her daughter was saying. No, she understood it all too well—too clearly. But she couldn’t fully accept it and only exhaled harsh, labored breaths.
“And if Jae-hee hadn’t been there at that time, the oppa you’re so proud of... would be gone now.”
Late at night, Si-eun remembered the night when she had accidentally found Jae-hee entering the storage room. A bitter smile crept onto her face as she recalled that day. The guilt from revisiting the past tore at her, making the memory even more painful.
“What do you mean by that? What... what do you mean...?”
A chill spread through Yeonghyeon’s veins, twisting her entire body. She grabbed the table to steady her swaying upper body. Her fingertips trembled. Her daughter’s words took shape in front of her like a terrifying outline, and she wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. She closed her eyes.
Si-eun’s face twisted with pain.
She saw her mother’s face, filled with shock, confusion, and doubt. When oppa was young, he was locked up a lot. The small body caught by their giant father, shoved alone into the dark room.
That was the reason. As he grew up, oppa became increasingly silent and built a huge wall between himself and the family. It was only natural. How could he accept the man who abused him, and the daughter of that man? With no mother around, his world must have seemed like it was filled with enemies.
Mom always admired oppa. She smiled at his calmness and maturity, which were beyond his age. But if oppa’s life had been smooth, maybe things would have been different. He might have gone through a typical, careless adolescence, just like everyone else.
That fact hurt deeply. Oppa lived a seemingly perfect life, as though it were perfectly planned. Without any emotional turmoil, and therefore never truly smiling.
Si-eun knew well that the only person who had supported oppa was Yun Jae-hee.
One night. Si-eun had sneaked up to the storage room, away from Dad. She saw them inside, and immediately turned and walked away.
Why is he closer to her than to me, even though I’m his little sister? I could comfort him better. As a child, she had felt jealous and pretended not to know the truth. With jealousy and envy, she had even hated Jae-hee. As a young child, she had been a foolish and immature girl.
“That’s why I’ve always lived with guilt. If I had told you, oppa wouldn’t have turned out that way. But as time passed, it became strange to even tell you. I think oppa didn’t want you to know the truth either.”
Tears finally began to fall from Yeonghyeon’s eyes. Once the tears started, it was as if they were unstoppable, and her face began to get soaked with them. Her face, filled with shock, trembled as her lips quivered.
Though everything felt hazy due to the dizziness, at least one thing was clear to her. The fact that she had pushed her son into hell with her own hands.
“Cha Byeong-jun... that bastard...! I won’t let him get away with this, this... this evil...!”
Yeonghyeon cried out loudly, calling Cha Byeong-jun’s name. She grasped the wine bottle with her shaking hands, but before she could pour it into the glass, it tipped over. Yeonghyeon threw the bottle aside and cried out even louder. The bottle rolled on the floor with a loud noise but didn’t break.
“Don’t curse Dad. It was Mom who left oppa alone in the first place. Dad committed the biggest sin, but Mom isn’t innocent either.”
“...”
“Dad is a sinner, Mom is a sinner, and so am I. To oppa, we’re all monsters... ghosts... goblins...”
She tried to continue with a calm tone, but in the end, her words crumbled at the last moment.
Si-eun’s pale face was soaked with tears. The guilt she had carried for so long, all alone, painfully dug deep and stabbed her. She swallowed back the rising sobs and clenched her tears within her.
She couldn’t comfort her sad mother. Both she and her mother were sinners. Even comforting each other would be deceiving Kang-joo oppa. They had to hurt. They had to cry painfully and twist in agony. They had no right to seek comfort.
“The only person who isn’t a sinner to oppa is Jae-hee. For oppa, Jae-hee was everything.”
“...”
“That’s why you can’t oppose Jae-hee, Mom. You really can’t. That would be shameless.”
Yeonghyeon buried her face in her hands, biting back her sobs. Her face, twisted with tears, didn’t stop shedding them. Her palms were soaked with the tears. The voice, almost a wail, echoed in the room as she called Kang-joo’s name like a mantra.
“Kang-joo... Kang-joo...”
Si-eun bit her lip as she watched Yeonghyeon’s uncontrollable sobs. Yeonghyeon’s mourning didn’t cease until the dark garden was painted with the blue light of dawn.
Jae-hee stepped onto the white marble floor as she entered the art gallery. She had just been summoned by Yeonghyeon to visit. It hadn’t been long since they had met, but she was being called again. What could this be about?
Following the secretary’s guidance, she ascended the stairs, where she saw someone waiting at the top. It was Yeonghyeon. As soon as Yeonghyeon saw Jae-hee, she hurriedly came down, almost running. Then she stopped in front of Jae-hee, staring at her with an unreadable expression.
After a moment, Yeonghyeon opened her arms and embraced Jae-hee tightly. She quickly wiped her eyes, which were welling up with tears, as she held Jae-hee.
“…Ah... Excuse me...”
Jae-hee was bewildered, at a loss for words. She tensed awkwardly, only able to look around.
What in the world is going on? Could it be that the director has mistaken me for someone else?
The feeling of not knowing what to do was stronger now than when Kang-joo had first led her to the hotel room. She thought that both he and his mother certainly had a knack for making people feel flustered.
Yeonghyeon exhaled deeply and then relaxed her body.
“Thank you.”
“Pardon? Thank... you? What are you thanking me for?”
The result of Chairman Cha’s trial still hadn’t come out. This meant that there was no reason at all for Yeonghyeon to be thanking her.
But Yeonghyeon didn’t answer to Jae-hee’s question. She simply grabbed Jae-hee’s hand and slowly walked toward the second-floor lobby.
Soon, the two of them settled at a table in the center of the second floor. They were surrounded by a secretive space, enclosed by pieces of white marble. Yeonghyeon, now back to her usual self, looked around and spoke.
“It’s beautiful, right? I’ve only collected sculptures that I like.”
“Yes, it’s beautiful. The atmosphere is really lovely.”
“Whenever I sit here and look at these, my heart feels so content. I’m glad you think it’s beautiful too, Jae-hee.”
They sat facing each other and exchanged idle chatter. Talks of hosting a party here at the end of the year, and how occasionally they held exhibitions for new artists at this place—those kinds of trivial discussions.
Jae-hee nodded politely, responding accordingly. She wasn’t sure why Yeonghyeon was bringing up these everyday topics so suddenly, but she didn’t mind the conversation.
After a while, Yeonghyeon clenched her fist. Then, after some difficulty, she spoke the words that had been building up.
“One year. Just one year apart.”
Jae-hee’s smile gradually faded. She didn’t immediately understand what Yeonghyeon meant by “one year.” What could it possibly mean? However, she vaguely began to get a sense of it and hesitantly asked.
“Do you mean that I should be separated from Kang-joo for a year?”
“Exactly.”
As expected. Jae-hee bit her lip and thought for a moment.
“This is the last offer I can make, bending as much as I can. One year. If your feelings for him remain the same after a year, then I’ll give my permission.”
“…If you say permission... are you talking about marriage?”
“Yes.”
Yeonghyeon nodded easily, her face devoid of any humor.
After learning about Kang-joo’s past, Yeonghyeon had spent much time in deep thought. The girl, Yoon Jae-hee, who was so beautiful and pitiful, had become Kang-joo’s savior. But even so, she couldn’t easily accept her as her son’s partner.
It couldn’t be helped. She had spent her life as the daughter of a chaebol family, and later as the wife of a chaebol chairman. The sense of superiority and elitism she had carried her whole life made it hard to accept someone like Jae-hee.
However, she had decided to leave room for it.
She believed that intense love, and burning passion, would fade over time. Yeonghyeon had no doubt about it. A year of physical separation would be more than enough time for the emotional distance to grow. But if, after a year, their feelings remained the same, she would reluctantly give her consent.
“I always keep my word. If Jae-hee, you don’t contact Kang-joo for a year and don’t waver his heart, that’s all. Should we even sign a contract?”
Seeing that Jae-hee still hadn’t responded, Yeonghyeon asked first. Jae-hee seemed to be lost in thought for a while, holding her cup without moving. Then, as if her thoughts had cleared up, she set the cup down and took a deep breath.
“No, I trust you. But…”
Yeonghyeon resembled Kang-joo in that she would never say one thing and do another. She wouldn’t stoop to such petty tricks. However, there was something bothering her.
“But I have one condition too, Director.”
“…A condition. Alright, tell me.”
For a moment, a faint look of contempt flickered in Yeonghyeon’s eyes before it disappeared. It was natural for people to pursue their own selfish desires, but she hadn’t expected this girl in front of her to be that type. Yeonghyeon’s lips began to curve downward in disappointment, but before it could fully show, Jae-hee slowly opened her mouth.
“Please make sure to reinstate me after one year.”
“…Hmm?”
“I know this might be awkward to say, but… the Seonggang Group is a large corporation, and the work environment is really good, so I’d like to continue working there.”
Yeonghyeon blinked slowly, as if she didn’t immediately understand what Jae-hee was saying. What she wanted... was reinstatement. Reinstatement, really?
“If I take a year off, I’ll be treated as having resigned, and getting a job again is really hard, you know.”
Yeonghyeon let out a small, unconscious laugh, then quickly erased it.
“So, what you want is reinstatement? That?”
“Yes, I’d really appreciate it.”
“…Alright.”
Yeonghyeon lifted her cup, trying to cover her lips as she suddenly felt the urge to smile.
An hour later. The table Jae-hee had left. Yeonghyeon sat alone, tapping the table. The rhythmic sound echoed in the quiet art gallery.
Yeonghyeon recalled the last conversation she had with Jae-hee before she left.
“Jae-hee, you don’t look at all anxious. What if Kang-joo changes his mind? You can’t trust men. Think about Cha Byeong-jun. That bastard... how many times has he...”
“I trust Kang-joo.”
“Really? Well, let’s leave Kang-joo aside. What about your own feelings? Are you sure you won’t change your mind?”
At those words, Jae-hee smiled, as if it was out of the question.
“Yes, I believe in myself. I’ve been in love with Kang-joo Oppa for over ten years.”
Yeonghyeon lowered her head and chuckled quietly.
“What a cute girl.”
So, what she wanted was reinstatement… whether that answer was fabricated or not, Yeonghyeon had to give her high marks for being bold enough to speak it out clearly in that moment. The way she looked directly at her was also quite impressive.
“…So cute.”
Yeonghyeon smiled again, thinking of her son, who liked that cute girl.
Ten days later. Jae-hee handed a neatly organized file to Assistant Manager Lim. Everything had been wrapped up and handed over, so there should be no issues with the work. After marrying Kang-joo in a year and returning to her job, everything would be a happy ending.
“Here you go, Assistant Manager. There was nothing wrong with the materials I gave you yesterday, right?”
“Yeah, Manager Yoon did a great job organizing it.”
Ten days ago, Jae-hee had suddenly announced her resignation. She said she’d be back in a year. The team members didn’t seem particularly surprised by this. The fact that she had worked there this long, given her relationship with the Executive Director, was already a surprising thing.
They said she’d come back, but they didn’t believe she would. In the future, she would probably live as the wife of a chaebol, living comfortably… Everyone nodded knowingly, as if that was the obvious outcome.
“Well then, I’ll get going. See you again.”
Jae-hee gave a polite final greeting and stood up. Honestly, she felt a lot of regret. She had built up this position with great effort, and her career was progressing well.
But at the same time, she was also quite tired. Now, she saw this as an opportunity to take a good rest before returning. Didn’t Yeonghyeon promise to reinstate her?
‘She said if I rest in a good place for a year, I’ll get Kang-joo... Well, it can’t be helped.’
Every situation has its priorities. Jae-hee’s priorities in life were her mother, Hyo-jeong, and Kang-joo. She was prepared to do anything for those priorities.
As Jae-hee entered the departure terminal, her luggage felt light. She had only a small backpack and a suitcase. She stood by a large glass window and called Hyo-jeong.
“Yeah, Hyo-jeong. Yes, yes. No, I’ll come in sometimes to see you and Mom. Don’t tell Kang-joo… Yeah, that’s right.”
Even though she wouldn’t see Kang-joo, she didn’t feel burdened, since he would occasionally come to Korea. Yeonghyeon had kindly arranged a place for Hyo-jeong to stay, so she felt more at ease.
After ending the call with Hyo-jeong, Jae-hee fidgeted with her phone for a while before dialing Kang-joo’s number. “Kang-joo,” she thought, the words that appeared on the phone screen today felt strangely unfamiliar.
It didn’t ring long before Kang-joo answered. As if he had been waiting for her call, he asked where she was.
Where are you, Jae-hee? I’m home, but you’re not here.
Jae-hee fell silent for a moment. Her hand holding the phone twitched. Until now, she had tried to act bold, to smile as if nothing was wrong, but hearing his voice made her emotions suddenly well up.
If she left now, she truly wouldn’t see him for a year. Even when she came back to Korea occasionally, she wouldn’t be able to see him. This gentle voice, the arms that had held her, all of it she would only be able to experience again after a year.
Her heart tightened heavily. Afraid that the emotions she had been hiding would spill out, Jae-hee placed her hand on her chest, pressing down on her heart.
Jae-hee?
Jae-hee took a deep breath, four times, before she was able to respond.
“Kang-joo, we can get married. But... in a year.”
...What?
Jae-hee made an effort to smile, even though it was difficult.
“You’ll get the details from Yeonghyeon. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier. It was a promise, so I had no choice.”
That had always been the deal. To keep a secret from Kang-joo. She could say her goodbyes on the day of her departure, but after that, no contact whatsoever.
Jae-hee didn’t mind. They had trust between them, and such a restriction didn’t seem like a big deal. She nodded, rationalizing it to herself. Without that, she wouldn’t be able to handle the heartache of separation.
There was no response from Kang-joo. It seemed like he was trying to understand what she meant, considering her words through the phone. Jae-hee spoke one last time, facing his silence.
“I trust Kang-joo. I believe you’ll trust me too.”
...I don’t really understand what you’re saying. Where are you, Jae-hee?
“I’ll see you in a year. I love you.”
Before he could reply, she hung up. She opened her bag and pressed the phone to the bottom, feeling reluctant to let go of it as his voice lingered on the device.
Jae-hee, holding her flight ticket, walked toward the gate. With every step, painful regrets seemed to fall from her like raindrops.
She would never forget today. Her step toward the unknown, leaving him behind. Even in this clear reality, it felt like a dream—lonely, unfamiliar, and in truth, very sad.
Among those caught up in the dreams of travel, Jae-hee moved like an outsider. She walked slowly, heading to a place where she would truly be a foreigner. A deep, sorrowful wave stirred in her chest.
That day marked the beginning of a new game that Kang-joo had started—his new way of catching Jae-hee, in a strangely initiated game of tag.
Jae-hee walked along a quiet riverside on the edge of a small town. She passed by a flower shop, then a bakery, and stopped by a fountain where she lingered for a while. An elderly man she often saw waved at her and called out.
“Chaei Chaei!”
He couldn’t quite pronounce her name properly, so he always called her “Chaei Chaei” with a friendly smile. She chatted with him for a while, listening to the refreshing sound of the fountain. Their conversation was nothing more than about breakfast menus and the stars they had seen the night before.
Soon, Jae-hee parted ways with the man and continued on her way. She looked up and saw two pieces of cloud drifting slowly apart in the sky. It was a peaceful midday. Standing in front of a stone wall, Jae-hee thought of someone.
“I wonder how Kang-joo is doing.”
It had been half a year since she arrived in this tiny town in France, a place few Koreans had ever heard of. It was the accommodation that Yeonghyeon had arranged for her. She hadn’t used her phone and had only visited Korea a few times to surprise Hyo-jeong and see her mother. Of course, she hadn’t seen Kang-joo.
She had been living here, disconnected from Korea. The only communication she had with Hyo-jeong was through postcards, which she sent by printing out photos of her surroundings. She hadn’t been able to call Kang-joo, email him, or contact him in any way.
Even when she visited Korea, she was completely cut off from him. She couldn’t even see a single strand of his hair. It was at that moment that she realized how impressive Yeonghyeon’s control was. If Yeonghyeon, the wife of a chaebol, really set her mind to it, someone like her could easily be buried and forgotten.
Jae-hee sat down on a bench that was placed haphazardly by the road. A couple of tourists were taking pictures on a stone bridge.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve never taken a photo like that with Kang-joo.”
There were no selfies with him, nor even a single proper photo of him. In the drawer, her phone only contained pictures of her and Hyo-jeong. When she met him again, she promised herself that she would make sure to take photos. She muttered that empty promise to herself and closed her eyes.
“…I miss him.”
As soon as she thought of him, the longing poured out all at once. She tried to convince herself that it was fine, that they could meet again, but still, the restlessness and sorrow in her heart occasionally felt like it would tear her apart. She silently endured it, but from time to time, the urge to cry grew too strong.
So, she had intentionally avoided thinking about him. Once the floodgates opened, it was impossible to control her emotions, and she had tried to stay unaware of it.
No matter how hard she tried, sometimes emotions could not be controlled. This was one of those moments.
“I really miss him.”
She wanted to see his handsome face, to touch his soft hair, and to see his wonderful smile.
‘I didn’t even get to say a proper goodbye when I left last time.’
What if he resented her for leaving without a word? What if he misunderstood her?
What if he had forgotten about her? What if he had found another woman?
If that last phone call had been their final one...
Six months. It was a short time, but also long. A perfect amount of time to forget about love and seek a new connection. She had told Yeonghyeon that she trusted him, but in truth, Jae-hee was anxious. He was a man that anyone would desire. Temptations were bound to be many, and among them, there would surely be someone truly charming.
A storm surged inside her heart. The peaceful scenery surrounding her contrasted with the raging storm within her.
She had come here to win his heart. But what would she do if, when she returned to Korea, there was someone else beside him? Could she really give him up? But even if she couldn’t, what could she do? After all, she was just a commoner named Yun Jae-hee.
The anxiety gnawed at her with sharp intensity.
‘It can’t be true.’
Jae-hee shook her head, tilting it back. The warm sunlight gently covered her closed eyes. The anxiety didn’t easily melt away.
Just a little longer. If she endured a little more, she would see him again… His broad embrace, his warm touch… She would definitely meet him again. That voice calling her, “Jae-hee,” too.
“Jae-hee.”
That voice. The voice she had so desperately wanted to hear. The words she had longed to hear so much.
Jae-hee froze with her eyes still closed. Was she hallucinating now…? A wave of self-doubt welled up, and she smiled silently, still with her eyes shut.
As soon as his voice echoed in her mind, an overwhelming sense of longing surged up. She wiped her eyes, which were becoming increasingly hot, and buried her face in her hands. She wanted to let all the tears inside her pour out, but the emotions she had barely managed to hold back seemed like they would flood her uncontrollably, so she forced herself to endure it.
No matter how much I cry all day, no matter how much I cry while staying here, I won’t be able to pour out all the longing in my heart.
“Huh... Kang-joo...”
The tip of my nose stung and warmed. I choked on his name. I miss you. I miss you so much... My murmurs continued with the tears. Every sentence was thick with bitter regret, clinging to it.
“I missed you too.”
“...”
Then, as if to answer, I heard the voice again. My shoulders, which had been trembling with sobs, froze. The voice that had seemed to whimper now stopped. Slowly, I lowered my tear-soaked palm. The cold air touched my flushed cheek.
I lifted my tear-drenched lashes. A tear, barely clinging to the tips of my lashes, fell and trickled down my cheek.
For a while, I blinked repeatedly, my lashes fluttering. My vision was blurred with tears. But through the damp remnants of my sight, I could clearly see someone standing there. Kang-joo. He was there, as if a hallucination, right in front of me.
“…Kang-joo?”
“Yes.”
“…Kang-joo?”
My illusion of Kang-joo smiled at me.
“Why are you just calling my name and not saying anything?”
Standing in front of the bench, Kang-joo looked down at me before sitting next to me. I followed his movements with my gaze, and every time my eyes moved, more tears fell from my eyes, pooling down my cheeks.
His hand touched my cheek. As if to wipe away my tears, he gently stroked my face. I flinched, startled, and trembled around my eyes. Kang-joo smiled softly, his eyes narrowing affectionately.
“You just said you missed me, but why are you avoiding me now? Is your heart different now that you’ve seen me? That’s a little disappointing.”
His gentle teasing came to me. Instead of smiling at his joke, I let more tears fall. The tears that had formed a stream were carefully wiped away by him. Between my sobs, I asked shakily:
“Is this really you, Kang-joo?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Is it really you, Kang-joo?”
I repeated the same question like a parrot. Kang-joo kindly answered each time with the same response: Yes, it’s me.
Only then did the sobs burst out of me. Without warning, I clung to Kang-joo’s neck, rubbing my cheek against his collar and crying. My body relaxed, and I held him tightly. My hot breath touched his neck, and the tears that fell down soaked into his collar.
I gripped his clothes more tightly, afraid he would disappear. Kang-joo slowly ran his hand up and down my trembling back, his affectionate touch continuing. It was as if he were comforting a child, gently.
I stayed in his embrace until the tears that had soaked my cheeks had dried up. When only the salt of my tears remained, I slowly lifted my head.
“Kang-joo.”
It wasn’t a hallucination, nor a vision, and reality rushed in. We’re not supposed to meet like this. It’s a joy to see him, yes. It’s so good, but still. Still.
“Kang-joo... We shouldn’t meet like this...”
Anxiety clung to my eyes, which were already tangled in tears. Didn’t the director say? That they would only approve after a year apart.
But Kang-joo, unaware of my anxious heart, smiled casually.
“I’m allowed to meet you.”
“Huh?”
“I never made such a promise.”
“…What...”
“It was just a promise between you and my mother in the first place. I never accepted such a proposal. You’re telling me I wouldn’t be able to see Jae-hee for a whole year; there’s no way I would have agreed to such a ridiculous suggestion.”
“……”
Kang-joo rubbed her wet lips.
“So don’t worry. It’s not that Jae-hee found me; I came to find Jae-hee. It means this contract that you two conspired is still valid.”
Jae-hee blinked listlessly. Young-hyun’s voice suddenly came to mind.
‘Jae-hee just needs to not contact Kang-joo for a year and not waver. Should we even write a contract?’
Kang-joo was right. There was only the condition that she shouldn’t contact Kang-joo; Young-hyun hadn’t said anything about Kang-joo not being allowed to find her.
But… would Director Yoo accept such a playful argument?
“Still, what if we get caught… She told me not to see Kang-joo-ssi…”
Fearing that she might lose Kang-joo like this, sad tears welled up again. Kang-joo stopped Jae-hee’s sobs.
“If you’re really worried, just close your eyes. It’ll be enough if Jae-hee doesn’t see me.”
A large palm covered her eyes. Jae-hee’s world went dark. A warm warmth gently touched that dark world.
“Ah……”
Jae-hee opened her mouth in surprise. His tongue entered through her tear-wet lips. It stroked her inside densely and softly, and then violently rushed in. As if the emotions he had desperately suppressed had burst, Kang-joo pounced on Jae-hee. He fiercely sucked on her lips and painfully wrapped his tongue around hers.
Jae-hee leaned into him with a groan. Her cheeks, flushed with tears, became heated with excitement.
The kiss with him after half a year was both familiar and unfamiliar. Jae-hee accepted him clumsily, moaning like someone having their first kiss. She was breathless from the kiss that ravaged her inside. Even the breath she barely managed to exhale was completely sucked in.
His hand very naturally slipped into the gap of Jae-hee’s clothes. It touched her bare waist and stroked her soft skin. Jae-hee bit his tongue tightly in surprise. Although there were hardly any passersby, this was still outside.
When she shook her head, tightly holding Kang-joo’s wrist, their lips finally parted.
Kang-joo raised the corners of his lips and smiled faintly. Their breaths still mingled through their close lips.
He whispered to reassure Jae-hee.
“Don’t worry, Jae-hee-ssi. If my mother had wanted to stop it, she would have taken action starting with my departure from the country. She probably would have hidden you far, far away. The very fact that I can be here means it’s allowed.”
His voice was rough and low, suppressed by his excited agitation. Jae-hee pulled Kang-joo’s neck again and embraced him.
“…Why are you telling me that now? You should have told me sooner.”
“I was a little sulky because Jae-hee left me alone.”
Jae-hee silently rubbed her face in his arms. Her heart tingled from the continuous pleasant trembling.
After their reunion on the bench, they chatted about their recent lives. In response to Kang-joo’s question about what she had been doing, Jae-hee replied that she had been living like a nun, and in response to Jae-hee’s question about what Kang-joo had been doing, Kang-joo replied that he had been living like a workaholic and exercise fanatic.
He had been immersed in work to forget his longing, and he had exercised exhaustively because he still missed her. Even though he had chased after her, he couldn’t find her whereabouts, so he had been filled with longing every day. Thanks to that, he said with a smile that his physical strength seemed to have improved even more.
At those words, Jae-hee was slightly scared. His physical strength was already overflowing; what would happen if it improved even more?
It was only when the wind touching her ears became cool that they got up. And they returned to Jae-hee’s accommodation, chatting in low voices.
Kang-joo’s attitude changed drastically immediately after that.
Kang-joo, who had entered the accommodation peacefully holding hands, became a beast as soon as the accommodation door closed.
“Eut, Kang-joo-ssi, wait, just a moment…!”
As soon as the door closed and it became a private space, he pushed Jae-hee against the entrance wall and buried his face in her neck. Jae-hee, flustered, tried to push him away, but his hand, which had already begun to enter her clothes, was unstoppable.
Kang-joo’s excited breaths scattered over Jae-hee’s neck. The hand gripping Jae-hee’s neck was even forceful. As if he couldn’t let Jae-hee go, Kang-joo pulled her close and pressed their bodies tightly together. Blocking Jae-hee’s wriggling movements, he hurriedly pressed his lips against her skin.
“Heueut...”
Pushed by his large frame, Jae-hee’s body recoiled against the wall. A basket that had been on the table in front of the entrance fell to the floor from their movements. There was a shattering sound, but Kang-joo paid no attention.
Jae-hee groaned, crushed between Kang-joo and the wall. Then, she was startled by his hand suddenly lifting her skirt and grabbed his wrist. She felt the cold metal of his watch.
“Kang-joo-ssi, we’re still in the entrance— eut.”
Her words trailed off at Kang-joo’s hand touching her below. As if hurriedly inducing excitement, Kang-joo rubbed Jae-hee’s opening over her underwear and gently rubbed her swelling clitoris. Every time the protrusion rubbed against the fabric of her underwear, a moan escaped Jae-hee.
“Ah-eung...”
The excitement she faced after several months was intensely stimulating. Shivers ran down her spine from the bursting pleasure. Without even having the time to go inside, she barely took off her shoes and melted under his touch. She was even ashamed of the lewdness of her private parts easily becoming wet under his touch.
“Ha-eut, Kang-joo-ssi...”
Jae-hee’s thighs trembled. His long fingers entered through the thoroughly wet fabric. He lifted the damp cloth and rubbed her even more moist vagina. Her legs lost strength at the obscene touch. She couldn’t stand properly and her body collapsed.
“Ah, ah-heuk!”
Her lower abdomen twitched.
His arm caught her waist as she was about to slump down. Kang-joo wrapped his arm around Jae-hee’s waist and forcefully pressed her against the wall. A small clanging metallic sound followed. The sound of his pants zipper being undone also followed.
Jae-hee easily realized what the sound was. She lowered her head in embarrassment, but when she saw his member that had been heavily pulled out, she turned her gaze away again. Pre-ejaculate was dripping from the tip of his penis, which had swollen to its limit.
Jae-hee swallowed a groan. Her lower part felt even more itchy than when he touched her with his hand. The sight of the man, neatly dressed in a suit, with only his member exposed was extremely obscene.
Kang-joo rubbed his dark red member against her fair thighs. He heavily rubbed the shaft with bulging veins and poked at her with the tip from which fluids were seeping. He let out excited breaths, as if wanting to thrust into her immediately, rubbing his glans against the fabric of her underwear.
Jae-hee wriggled finely. After a long time, the feeling was strange, and her body was filled with lewd anticipation. In the meantime, her panties were pulled all the way down. A thin thread stretched between the thickly wet cloth and her vagina and then snapped.
Cool air touched her fully exposed lower part. Jae-hee shook her head with a renewed sense of shame. To have her private parts exposed in front of the entrance, with only her lower half completely naked. And even with her crotch thoroughly wet.
Her body was already ready to accept the huge intruder. Kang-joo, who had put his hand under Jae-hee’s thighs, suddenly lifted one leg. Her red flesh completely revealed her entrance. Each time her wide-open entrance gaped, fluids flowed down her thighs.
As if he couldn’t even afford to wait, Kang-joo violently plunged his member in.
“Ah-heuk!”
“Huuh...”
Jae-hee threw her head back and tightened her vagina. The member she had accepted after a long time thrust in more heavily than she had expected. It felt like her stomach was full. She barely accepted his member, breathing heavily.
Kang-joo stopped moving with his member thrust in. A deep sense of satisfaction scattered as a long sigh. The sensation of the walls of her vagina tightly holding his member filled him with pleasure to the brim. The wriggling inside was hot and narrow. It wouldn’t be strange if he ejaculated like this.
He moved his hips greatly. Jae-hee’s body was pushed up. A heavy foreign object filled her completely. His member, which had penetrated from below to above, as if piercing through her body, dug deeply inside.
“Ah, ah-eut!”
Jae-hee’s moans, filled with half pain and half pleasure, burst out. His arms, which were holding Jae-hee, were full of strength.
After that, a dizzying hip movement continued. Kang-joo began to stir inside her mindlessly. After holding her body in place, he thrust his member in and out repeatedly. With the fast reciprocating rhythm, a squelching sound began to spread.
“I thought I was going crazy with longing.”
A voice, roughly cracked with excitement, whispered in her ear.
Kang-joo pressed her body tightly against his and lifted his hips like a beast. Jae-hee, who had nowhere else to retreat, swayed and clung to him.
“Ah! Ah-eung, eut! Haa…….”
She felt like a small bird clinging to a large tree. Due to the height difference, it was difficult for her to fully accept him, and her feet, barely touching the ground on tiptoe, trembled.
Jae-hee struggled to maintain her balance and hugged him tightly. Kang-joo’s arms suddenly came under her thighs. As his strong force lifted her up, Jae-hee clung to him like a child.
Each time Kang-joo thrust his hips, her body, lifted high into the air, shook violently. Because she was held with her legs wide open, her vagina was stretched to its limit, tightly swallowing his member.
His member, inserted all the way to the root, reciprocated breathlessly. Each time their flesh rubbed together, lewd fluids splattered thickly.
“While I was gone, huu… how did you… endure it?”
“Ah, ah-eut, en, endure… heuk.”
Even in her dazed state, Jae-hee answered obediently. She felt like her mind would fly away from the violently penetrating pleasure.
Jae-hee finally burst into tears. Her breath caught in her throat at the movements that felt like they would lift her internal organs, and a pleasure that felt like fainting violently crashed in.
“Accepting me this well. How could you even think of leaving?”
The member that had been fully withdrawn thrust back inside again.
“Did you ever do it alone?”
Jae-hee shook her head, tears falling in drops. Sobs burst out as if pouring. She was on the verge of losing her mind. She couldn’t even hold back the honest reaction starting from inside her body, and a high-pitched moan flowed out.
Kang-joo tightly grasped her buttocks with his large hands and roughly spread them. Her vagina, filled with Kang-joo’s member, was stretched to its limit. He pressed down on Jae-hee, thrusting his member inside as if hitting her.
It was inserted deeply enough to touch her groin. The fluids that flowed from their joined gap wet even her rough pubic hair. Fast and strong hip movements followed. He thrust all the way to the root, digging into her deepest point.
“I thought of Jae-hee every day while I did it. Thinking of thrusting and ejaculating inside here. Heut.”
He let out a low groan.
“But it’s even better than I imagined, it’s even scary.”
The beast-like whispers echoed in her ear. Jae-hee couldn’t even give a simple answer.
“Ah! Heueung, eung…!”
His member repeatedly moved in and out between her dangling legs. Each time he banged inside her, an intense pleasure swept through her entire body.
Held firmly by him and fixed in place, Jae-hee breathlessly accepted the fierce member. She clearly felt the movements of it coming in, stirring her inner walls, scraping her vaginal walls as it went out, and then thrusting back in hard. The wet sounds spreading from their joined gap became even more intense.
“Tell me you like it.”
He kissed Jae-hee’s cheek and thrust his member in deeply. He thrust deeply and then whispered as he pulled out.
“Tell me you like me, that you like being with me. Tell me there’s no one else but me.”
“Ah, eu… heuk. Ah-eut.”
“Tell me you missed me, that you longed for me and felt like you were going crazy. That you will never leave like this again.”
Jae-hee’s waist trembled with pleasure. Kang-joo grabbed her thighs with force. He held Jae-hee upright and forcefully thrust his member in. A wet sound rose from her vagina holding his member and struck her ears.
“Tell me, Jae-hee. …Eung?”
“I like you. I like Kang-joo-ssi. I like you so much… ah……!”
Jae-hee answered in a crying voice. She barely pulled out her true feelings through the clearly surging pleasure and whispered pitifully.
At that moment, Kang-joo’s member penetrated deeply. His member, which had entered violently, reached climax and twitched, digging deep inside.
“Ah! Ah-eueung……!”
With pleasure that exceeded her limits, Jae-hee screamed as if she was fainting. The pleasure that he had thrust in deep spread like bursting fireworks. Her climaxing body trembled in his arms. The orgasm she experienced while floating covered her entire body intensely.
Kang-joo’s lips touched her swollen lips, which he had bitten. He held her and thrust his waist up tightly, mixing his tongue intimately with hers. He stirred and sucked inside her mouth just like his member that was heavily ravaging her vagina.
Jae-hee accepted him, panting. Her climaxing body kept slumping downwards. Kang-joo, as if it wasn’t enough to suck, lick, and bite Jae-hee’s lips, never parted them. The same was true for their intimately joined lower parts.
Even after ejaculating, he stayed inside her for a long time, endlessly kissing her. Even as her body became limp, Jae-hee struggled to move her tongue. She wrapped her tongue around his, which pressed and licked hers, and slowly sucked on his lips.
It seemed that his laughter scattered between their lips for a moment. Feeling very good about that, Jae-hee laughed through her tears.
It was the time when the dawn light was dimly seeping in. Jae-hee squinted her eyes. She was dazzled by the sunlight that leaked through the curtains. Normally, she would have thrown off the blanket and stretched, but today she only fidgeted in the blanket.
“Kang-joo-ssi, your arm a little...”
It was because of a man who was sleeping, holding her tightly. As she inadvertently moved to get up, the arm that was wrapped around her waist like a rope tightened even more. Jae-hee lay down again.
His eyebrows had just twitched slightly. It was certain that he was awake. His appearance of only closing his eyes as if he didn’t hear her was cute, so she intended to humor him.
She stared blankly at the ceiling. The spreading sunlight looked even warmer today. That was probably because his warmth filled this space.
After turning over, she gazed intently at Kang-joo. His smooth face, without any expression, looked cold like ice that had been frozen solid for a long time. She touched his cheek with her fingertip. At the playful touch, the corner of his lips moved slightly.
Her heart tingled at that smile. Jae-hee smiled faintly. She knew now. The man in front of her, who always looked so cold, when he lifted his eyelids and looked at her, how kind and affectionate his eyes were.
“Kang-joo-ssi.”
“......”
“Kang-joo-ssi.”
She called him two more times, as he pretended not to hear. Only then did he slowly open his eyes. Jae-hee met his quiet eyes that were staring at her calmly.
“But how did you find me here?”
She hadn’t had a chance to ask yesterday because she was out of her mind. She hadn’t been able to ask him on the bench in front of the bridge because they were enjoying their passionate reunion, and when they returned to the accommodation together, there was no opportunity because they had an even more passionate encounter.
She had been so caught up in the joy of meeting again that she had forgotten. Since Young-hyun had set up a perfect defensive wall, she was now living a life completely cut off from Korea. Her cell phone was useless, and everything related to Korea had been completely blocked.
But how had he found her all the way here?
“No matter how much I searched for Jae-hee’s trail, I couldn’t find anything, so I searched for Hyo-jung instead.”
“Hyo-jung? I hadn’t even called Hyo-jung. Because I was worried about being tracked.”
“I did a little bit of stealing.”
“Stealing?”
“A postcard with no sender written on it came to Hyo-jung, so I stole that. I’m sorry.”
He said he was sorry with an expression that didn’t look sorry at all and in a tone that didn’t sound like he was apologizing at all.
Jae-hee’s eyes blinked slowly. A postcard. A postcard, she said. It seemed like he was talking about the postcards she had occasionally sent to Hyo-jung. But that was really just a postcard. It only contained the scenery of this place.
Could it be that he searched all the regions using that photo as a clue…? Jae-hee tried to imagine his persistence but soon decided to just let it go. He must have come because he could. She felt a little good because she was able to face him like this thanks to that.
Jae-hee wrapped her arms around Kang-joo’s neck and hugged him tightly. As soon as their bodies touched, she felt his lips pressing down on her cheek.
If she sent this much affection, this much affection would return. That fact was so overwhelming that laughter kept leaking out from Jae-hee.
Kang-joo’s actions and eyes were fully revealing his love. The affectionate heart was easily felt even without him putting it into words.
She couldn’t bear the happiness of receiving that heart completely now.
“Director, here is the data.”
Younghyun took the tablet handed over by the secretary. On the screen was a photo of a man and woman facing each other, set against a background she found very familiar.
“Is this a photo from yesterday?”
“Yes, it’s from when they first met, but after that, I had the security footage removed for the Executive’s privacy.”
“Good work. There’s no need to see all of my son’s romantic antics. Thank you. You can leave now.”
The secretary nodded and left. Younghyun let out a small laugh, resting her chin in her hand and flicking through the photos with her finger.
“…Well... he held out for a long time.”
A few days ago, she had obtained flight ticket information under Kang-joo’s name. From the circumstances, it seemed like he had figured out where Jae-hee was. Despite all her efforts to block him, somehow he had found out.
Younghyun didn’t act on the information immediately; she simply waited and watched. In fact, it was more accurate to say that she had partially given up. She had begun to think that blocking him was pointless. If he was so desperate to see her, surely it would be hard to stop him.
For a while, Younghyun had secretly assigned someone to follow Jae-hee. After all, she was at an age where passions ran high. Living abroad with no connections often brings a sense of freedom. As a result, it wasn’t unusual for someone in that situation to become more liberated in their actions.
So, Younghyun kept a close watch, anxious that Jae-hee might meet someone else. If she were to do something like that, Younghyun had planned to use it as an excuse to push her away.
In other words, the foreign accommodation Younghyun had arranged was really just a trial for Jae-hee.
But Jae-hee’s life there had been very simple.
In the quiet town with the convent, Jae-hee lived like a nun, even more so than the nuns themselves. According to reports, she would always take a walk by the river near her accommodation after breakfast. Afterward, she’d sit at a café drinking coffee and reading a book, then return home after another stroll by the river.
The only person she spoke to was a middle-aged man in his fifties, a Frenchman with a beer belly and a neatly groomed mustache. When they met on the street, they greeted each other warmly, then parted ways sharply.
At first, Younghyun thought it was just a strange environment she would get used to. But after a week, a month, and then half a year, seeing Jae-hee continue living the same life, Younghyun couldn’t help but mutter to herself.
“She’s not even a nun...”
And her son Kang-joo, who had a nun-like partner, was living in the same way, maintaining his chastity. Even though he could have felt lonely without Jae-hee, he only went between his company, home, and the gym in the mansion. His life was remarkably disciplined and ascetic, almost as if he were a priest.
She had tried to set him up with other women, but Kang-joo didn’t show the slightest interest.
So, in the end, after half a year, Younghyun gave up. If they were both living like this for six months, would a year really be any different?
I’ve lost.
That’s also why she hadn’t stopped Kang-joo from flying out to find Jae-hee.
Younghyun flicked through the photos, smiling. There was a picture of the couple embracing each other. She muttered at the sight of them.
“Youth, youth... you’re so happy, my son...”
Then, as she looked at the close-up of Kang-joo’s face, she wiped the smile off her face. There was something slightly bitter and sad in his eyes as she traced his image on the tablet screen.
It was a smile she had never seen before, an expression she had never seen before.
Her son, Kang-joo, looked happy beside Jae-hee.
So, Kang-joo could smile so gently.
His cold gaze had softened, and the sharp atmosphere around him had mellowed. The affection shimmering in his eyes could even be felt outside the screen.
Her son, who had never received her full love. That was why she had wanted to give him the perfect daughter-in-law. She wanted to make up for the love she couldn’t give him in his childhood, even if it was in that way.
And now, it seemed like she had found that perfect daughter-in-law.
“Yeah, who else could make my son smile like this?”
Younghyun touched the couple on the screen with her fingertips and leaned back into her chair. A small smile lingered on her lips.
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