Kangjoon arrived home a little after 2 AM. Opening the front door, he recalled that his wife had left work early. She must have been very excited today. Soaking in her rare alone time, she would have completely forgotten about her husband. And she would have fallen asleep comfortably. He had wanted to give his wife that freedom for one day and hoped she would sleep well. At the same time, he didn’t want to give her even a single day of freedom, and he had hoped that tonight, at least, his wife would sleep cold. Then she might think of her husband at least once. It was the moment he passed through the entrance lobby and entered the living room. A small figure curled up on the sofa caught his eye. It was his wife, whom he had naturally assumed would be sleeping comfortably in bed. Kangjoon’s gaze slowly drifted to his wife’s side. A mug with water that had gone cold, an open book, a blanket that had slipped under the sofa. Of course.

“It couldn’t have been that she was waiting for me.”

Approaching the sofa, Kangjoon carefully observed his sleeping wife’s face. Her delicate eyelids with unusually long eyelashes lowered. Her slightly parted, plump lips exhaling soft breaths. Her small, oval face half-hidden by her soft hair. Even with makeup on, his sleeping wife looked fragile, as if she might break. When he gently touched her cheek, the warmth he felt strangely made him sigh. Should he leave her like this? Wake her up? Carry her to bed?

“I decided to be good to her.”

Before he could even consider it, Kangjoon was already heading to the bedroom with his wife in his arms. Looking at his wife asleep in his embrace, a chuckle escaped him. So defenseless. *** After showering, Kangjoon stared blankly at his sleeping wife. She was wrapped tightly in the blanket, curled up like a shrimp. She seemed to be very sensitive to the cold. He lay down on the bed, but Kangjoon couldn’t fall asleep. He felt a strange emptiness, but he was frustrated because he didn’t know what it was. Just then, something wriggled and burrowed under Kangjoon’s legs.

“......”

Turning his head, he saw his wife lying diagonally from her original spot. Kangjoon quietly watched, wondering what she would do next. They had slept embracing each other since their first night together. But it was the first time he had witnessed his wife snuggling into his arms. Her feet were just the beginning. His wife approached him little by little, slowly and carefully. Seeking a cozy embrace, as if captivated by the warm heat, while still asleep. The moment his wife burrowed into his embrace, Kangjoon realized. The emptiness was in his arms, and what was missing was his wife.

“So this is it.”

Letting out a resigned murmur, Kangjoon pulled his wife into his embrace. This was why habits were scary, and physical intimacy was even scarier. But before long, Kangjoon had to open his eyes again.

“......”

This time, his wife’s lips were the problem. Holding her while she was awake, the feeling of her breath touching his bare chest was too vivid. Was she telling him to sleep or not? Having no choice, Kangjoon gently shook his wife.

“Hey, Yu Taeryeong-ssi.”

He shook her to wake her up, but his wife, who had burrowed into his arms, was now even rubbing her soft lips against his chest. The heat that had started in his chest spread all over his body and concentrated in his lower half. Feeling like it was getting too dangerous, he tried to pull his body back. But even in her sleep, his wife intertwined her fingers with the hand that was around his waist.

“Not like some Samsung-dong Nongae.”

In the end, Kangjoon gave up on escaping. If this was also one way to be good to her, he had no choice but to willingly offer himself. But he felt he should at least warn his sleeping wife so he wouldn’t feel so wronged.

“This is as far as we go.”

Whispering in her ear, Kangjoon pulled his wife closer into his embrace.

“Let’s just sleep purely.”

He sighed because his wife was burrowing in even more, as if she had been waiting for him. Sleep was getting further and further away because of the explosive heat spreading all over his body. But he didn’t dislike this moment. His body was suffering, but it felt like something warm was filling the emptiness in his heart. It felt strangely good to watch his wife sleeping comfortably in his arms. *** Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! The heavy sound of a ball hitting a wall and rough breathing filled the indoor tennis court from early morning. It had been an hour already.

“Haa, haa, haa.”

But Kangjoon maintained a steady rhythm of breath, swinging his racket with powerful shots and light footwork. It was hard to contain the bursting energy within him. If he didn’t release it through intense exercise, it would become uncontrollable, so he had to pour it out somehow. Sweat streamed down his sharp jawline incessantly. But Kangjoon’s mind was still filled to the brim, all because of his wife who had kept him awake until the bluish dawn light appeared.

“Please.”

The power in his grip as he swung the racket was explosive.

“Just.”

The ball flying around the tennis court and his rough breathing became faster and more intense.

“Disappear.”

From my head. But the more he tried to forget, the more his wife burrowed in, gnawing at his brain. Kangjoon, who had even thrown his racket against the wall, bent over, complaining of pain in his lungs.

“Damn it.”

He had been thinking ridiculous things all night. If his wife wasn’t Alicia Barton, if she wasn’t, then he would have held her. Just then, the phone on the small table buzzed. Slowly straightening up, Kangjoon checked the caller ID and answered the phone.

“Report.”

It was the competent private investigator he had hired to look into his wife’s background.

[I went to the men Alicia Barton met and spoke to them directly.]

The report on Alicia Barton that Secretary Yoon had provided was based on information gathered through objective channels. So he had asked the private investigator to investigate through subjective channels.

[There was a reason for her remarkable history with men. She was a woman with chameleon-like charms, as if she could have been an actress. Every man she met remembered her differently, so much so that if you only heard their descriptions, you wouldn’t think they were talking about the same person.]

This wasn’t in the report. What the men who had met Alicia Barton thought of her.

[Alicia Barton has a fiery personality, is fun-loving, intelligent, and has outstanding artistic talent. She’s a good conversationalist, laughs easily, and is honest with her emotions. They all said they fell for her at first sight for different reasons. But she always used prepaid phones and never revealed anything about herself...]

Kangjoon was no longer listening to the private investigator’s impassioned report.

‘She was a woman with chameleon-like charms, as if she could have been an actress.’

That phrase alone kept echoing in his ears. Finishing the call, Kangjoon sat down on the chair with a blank expression.

“So that’s how it was.”

He kept wanting to laugh in disbelief. It was ridiculous that he had mistaken his wife’s acting as being due to Ino’s pressure. His wife had simply nonchalantly revealed one of the many facets within her. Like a nine-tailed fox wagging one of its tails. Kangjoon called Secretary Yoon.

“Arrange a one-night, two-day business trip to Jeju Island for this weekend, matching my wife’s schedule.”

The suspicion had lifted, and the truth that had been deeply submerged had risen to the surface. Now there was nothing to hold back, no reason to hesitate. He just needed to recall the original purpose of the marriage and proceed as planned. There was no need to worry or feel guilty. But why.

“Feeling like shit, aren’t you.”

Slowly closing his eyes, his wife came to mind again. Her soft eyes, her pretty smile, her captivatingly still figure. Things he had thought were his taste now made his stomach churn just by thinking about them. *** The Jeju HK Shopping Mall successfully concluded its weekend opening. The after-party held at the Jeju Hotel banquet hall was attended by about 100 key figures related to the mall. Among them was Taeryeong, along with Kang In-hye, the lady of Hyun Jin Enterprise and the director of the Art Center Sun.

“This is CEO Yu Taeryeong of Ino Fashion. You all know her from me, right? The capable person who turned my stocks, which were about to become worthless, into a jackpot.”

Director Kang, who introduced Taeryeong to her acquaintances, was the largest shareholder of Ino Fashion after Madam Jo. She was also Madam Jo’s closest friend, to the extent that she knew about Taeryeong’s marriage. However, their relationship soured after Madam Jo was caught trying to dispose of Ino Fashion’s plummeting stocks on her own. Director Kang was now Taeryeong’s strongest supporter, having cleverly seized that opportunity. Director Kang linked arms with Taeryeong and whispered in her ear.

“Taeryeong-ssi, isn’t that tall man over there your husband?”

Turning her head casually, Taeryeong saw a man even from a distance who was clearly her husband. A physical size that stood out a head above the others, not simple. Distinct features that were unmistakable even from quite a distance.

“He even brought a partner?”

As Director Kang said, her husband had a partner. Han Sara, a top actress recognized for her outstanding beauty and acting skills, and the promotional model for HK Shopping Mall. This situation, this meeting, couldn’t possibly be a coincidence. Taeryeong thought back to her recent husband. Kind, reliable, well-mannered, and with a quiet private life. He was the very definition of a perfect husband. So what change of heart had caused him to act like this again? When her husband took something out of his inside jacket pocket, Han Sara smiled shyly.

“My goodness, isn’t that a hotel room key card?”

Unlike the flustered Director Kang, Taeryeong remained calm. Just then, her eyes met her husband’s. His gaze, fixed on Taeryeong, was intense. More so than at the wedding, more so than when they reunited at the airport, more so now. With his gaze fixed on Taeryeong, Han Sara quickly linked arms with the left arm her husband offered. That arm looked so light.

“Director, may I sell you off a bit to my husband?”

Just in time, her husband and Han Sara were leaving the banquet hall like a loving couple.

“Sure, sell me off as much as you want.”

Director Kang had an intrigued expression. Taeryeong, who was not only indifferent but even cynical despite her husband being with another woman.

“Taeryeong-ssi is like the calm before a storm. She quietly bides her time and then suddenly lashes out and swallows everything. You’re probably planning to do that to your husband too. Right?”

Instead of answering, Taeryeong rose with a quiet smile, thinking. There was nothing to lash out at or swallow. What had moved Taeryeong was her husband’s eyes. The intention revealed by his intense black pupils. He had been moderately nice, so he wanted Taeryeong to be moderately hurt. At first, she was bewildered and curious about the reason. Why was her husband suddenly acting like this again? She still didn’t know the reason, but she thought she now knew her husband’s purpose. He was being so blatant to see her reaction. Thinking that since he had been nice to her so far, she might not be hurt like before. If that was the case, she had to show him, even if it meant gritting her teeth. Yu Taeryeong, the wife who still wore a smooth and composed mask and was completely indifferent to her husband. At the sound of her stiletto heels echoing on the floor, the two people standing in front of the elevator looked at Taeryeong. But Taeryeong didn’t even glance at her husband and instead greeted Han Sara.

“Hello, Han Sara-ssi.”

“What’s going on?”

“I have something to ask you. Is the place you’re going with this gentleman perhaps a hotel room?”

“I can’t believe this. What business is it of yours?”

Having been hit right on the mark, Han Sara showed a rather sharp reaction.

“This gentleman and I have quite a bit to do with each other. So I’m just trying to confirm.”

Taeryeong made it clear that she had no intention of fighting. Nevertheless, Han Sara scanned Taeryeong up and down with a spiteful gaze.

“Judging by your looks, you must be a daughter from some rich family. Does being a rich family’s daughter mean you can cut in on other people’s men?”

“He wouldn’t be Han Sara-ssi’s man.”

“Hey!”

“It seems like you’re misunderstanding, so let me just ask you directly. Does Han Sara-ssi know that this man is married?”

Only then did Han Sara avoid her gaze and shut her mouth. Taking it as an admission that she knew, Taeryeong continued speaking gently.

“This person promised me. Even for a fleeting one-night stand, he would definitely disclose his marital status. That’s the courtesy towards me and the other woman.”

She must know now that I’m the wife. As if proving that, Han Sara’s wide eyes were trembling. It was the moment when her demand for her husband to reveal he was married was paying off.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t come to interfere.”

Finding it quite amusing, Taeryeong smiled sweetly and continued as if whispering.

“It’s good to have fun, but if the other person is married, shouldn’t you be careful about public attention? We’re all people who need to manage our image.”

Taeryeong’s gaze now shifted from Han Sara to her husband. Because what she was about to say was a warning to him.

“If you just keep that in mind, I’ll try to be understanding and respect my husband’s private life. Right, dear?”

At the word “dear,” which he was hearing for the first time, Kangjoon, who had been expressionless until now, narrowed his eyes. Regardless, Taeryeong slightly raised her heels and whispered in her husband’s ear.

“I was with Director Kang of Hyun Jin.”

Someone who knows about our marriage, so I had no choice but to come. Taeryeong lowered her long eyelashes and slowly extended her hand. Lightly stroking her husband’s chest down to his abdomen with the tip of her index finger, she felt his firm muscles twitch. It seemed like an insignificant gesture, but its implied meaning was significant. A declaration of war to Han Sara and a confident display of possessiveness towards her husband. This man is my husband, and I’m generously lending him out for one night, so don’t get any ideas.

“Then have a good night, you two.”

After even offering a kind farewell, Taeryeong turned around without any lingering feelings.