She could have avoided it. But the intoxication concentrated in his downward-cast eyes seemed to have transferred to Taeryeong as well. She was momentarily captivated by those eyes, unable to even budge. Just before their lips touched, Taeryeong barely regained her senses and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

“Where is Han Sara-ssi?”

There was only one reason she brought up Han Sara. To reject her husband’s kiss.

“I don’t know either.”

At her husband’s low murmur mixed with a sigh, Taeryeong softly creased her eyes in a smile. There was no way a man with such stamina, who had even mentioned staying out overnight, would have sent a woman back after only a few hours. Had he left her asleep in the room out of regret and come down? And now he was trying to kiss her again. Just as she was seized by the urge to kick her husband, Kangjoon slowly continued speaking.

“I just gave Han Sara-ssi the wine at the door and sent her right back.”

Taeryeong slowly blinked. Thinking back, Han Sara had reappeared at the banquet hall not long after. She seemed to have been showing off the wine shopping bag in her hand to people. Then she disappeared again, and Taeryeong had naturally assumed she went to meet her husband. Whether it was a hotel room or a date at some other fancy place. But that was the end of their meeting?

“That was the plan from the start.”

Taeryeong almost let out a hollow laugh. She had been so disgusted by her husband’s blatant intentions that she had acted even more brazen and harsh. And all of that had been a show for appearances? Instead of suspicion, a rough murmur swirled in her mouth at her husband’s words. That damn Seo family man. She could understand why Yeonsuk often said that to her mother-in-law. But you don’t love me. So why are you bothering and provoking me? Just as a sigh was about to escape her, her husband’s large hand pulled Taeryeong’s waist, drawing her into an embrace.

“Now...”

A strangely calm whisper that reached her ear.

“Can I kiss you?”

Captivated by that whisper, she couldn’t avoid the lips slowly approaching hers.

“......!”

The moment their lips met, a potent intoxication flickered in his downward-cast, deep eyes. She felt like she would be swallowed whole, burned alive. More than the unfamiliar sensation of someone else’s lips, it was those eyes that kept Taeryeong completely still. Unable to bring herself to push him away, the small hand she had placed on her husband’s chest trembled.

A dizzying and strange anticipation slowly spread through her body. But her husband, who only pressed his lips against hers without delving deeper, was terribly abstinent. Was it because she, his wife, had no charm? Or was this man simply being proper? Just as those thoughts arose, her husband’s lips slowly slid down. Across her flushed cheek to her clean nape.

“You smell sweet.”

The moment she felt his lips touch her nape and found it ticklish, Taeryeong pushed against her husband’s chest with her hand.

“......!”

He said she smelled sweet, had he mistaken her for candy? The nape of her neck, where he had quickly sucked and bitten, stung. It was unbelievable, absurd, and ridiculous. But she couldn’t exactly argue with someone who was heavily drunk. All Taeryeong could do now was glare.

“I’m still seeing things.”

Her husband, who had rubbed his face roughly and chuckled, began to walk down the hallway, staggering. As if he would now ignore any illusions. She wasn’t sleepy, it was unusually cold today, and her husband and Han Sara kept coming to mind. She had come down craving alcohol, but her husband had completely erased that desire. Returning to her room, Taeryeong checked the mirror first. A clear red mark was visible on her nape. It was unfair that she had been bitten, but what was even more unfair was...

“......My first kiss.”

Even as she huffed and lay down on the bed, the memories became increasingly clear. The eyes flickering with intoxication, the softly wet lips, the breath heavy with the scent of alcohol. And the drunken truths her husband had let slip.

‘That was the plan from the start.’

That was the most unsettling thing he had said. Had her husband been doing this all along? Acting out situations to mislead her without actually doing anything?

“Why do you keep making me worry?”

Taeryeong muttered like a sigh. Why hadn’t Han Sara just been sent back? Why had he said so many strange things? Why had he only given her a fleeting kiss when he said he would kiss her?

“......”

Aaaah. Taeryeong let out a silent scream, pulled the blanket over her head, and buried her face in the pillow. It was ridiculous that she was feeling disappointed that her husband hadn’t kissed her properly. It had been her first kiss, but it probably wasn’t his. Much later, the small face she peeked out from under the blanket was bright red.

“But would he even remember?”

He had said he was very drunk. The sleepless night deepened. *** A bolt from the blue struck early in the morning. Chairman Seo was coming to Jeju by private jet. He had canceled all his schedules to have lunch with his grandson and his wife. The chief secretary’s purpose in conveying this was clear. So please cancel your schedules as well. Taeryeong arrived at the restaurant, the meeting place, first. Just as she was wondering if she should go in first, her husband appeared. The man who stopped in front of Taeryeong showed no trace of last night’s intoxication.

“Did you sleep well?”

His tone, as he offered a calm, formal greeting, and his steady gaze both showed nothing.

“So-so. How about you, Kangjoon-ssi?”

“Me too, so-so.”

She waited for her husband to continue, but that was it. Could it be that he didn’t remember? Last night’s encounter, the drunken truths, the fleeting kiss, the bitten nape, the red mark. Memories she had tried so hard to forget all night. Taeryeong’s hand naturally went to the nape of her neck, where she had wrapped a scarf.

“We ran into each other in the hallway of the basement bar last night, do you perhaps not remember?”

She hoped her husband wouldn’t remember. But she was still bringing it up to confirm. It was her natural personality. Better to prepare in advance than to be caught off guard after making assumptions.

“Did I perhaps make a mistake?”

But her husband smoothly returned the question. Without giving Taeryeong the answer she really wanted.

“A mistake like...”

Taeryeong trailed off, biting her lower lip tightly. ...We did. Both you and I. If she just blurted that out, would his poker face even waver?

“Don’t worry, you didn’t.”

But Taeryeong chose to lie. She was convinced that her husband didn’t remember. Even if he did, she thought he would want to bury last night’s memories just like she did. It was the wisest answer and the most suitable for their current relationship. Cover it up, forget it, pretend not to know.

“That’s a relief.”

His low, slow voice was subtle. The fleeting downward glance seemed to trace the mark on her nape. But ignoring all of that, Taeryeong smiled sweetly.

“I think so too.”

Your convenient memory loss when you drink heavily. But her husband also chuckled. It was a strangely sarcastic laugh.

“You smile so well at times like this.”

A reply that subtly grated on Taeryeong’s nerves. Even though it bothered her, Taeryeong maintained the smile on her lips. Just as your smile and tone bother me, I hoped my smile bothered you too. She hoped there wouldn’t be any more moments like yesterday, where they were both swayed and shaken. She hoped their relationship would be one that bothered each other for the rest of their time together. *** Chairman Seo watched the grandson and his wife in front of him with intrigued eyes. Regardless, his doting grandson diligently carried food to his wife’s plate. Embarrassed and shy, Taeryeong quietly accepted her husband’s kindness.

“Kangjoon-ssi, you should eat too.”

Briefly taking care of her husband’s food as well. Chairman Seo had come down with the thought of divorcing them if things were truly not right. But watching the grandson and his wife, he felt strangely pleased. He could see them trying to hide their emotions from each other. It was as if a ticklish spring breeze was flowing between them. Especially after really looking at her, he really liked his granddaughter-in-law. She ate well, was pretty, calm, and demure. He hadn’t noticed because her made-up appearance was flashy, but looking closely, the atmosphere she exuded in her speech and actions was surprisingly similar to his wife, Hye-soon. It was as if the Seo family men’s taste in women was hereditary. Taeryeong might not know, but his grandson clearly had feelings for his wife. Even to his family, no, to everything, that indifferent fellow couldn’t hide his emotions and was so anxious. Remembering Hye-soon and his daughter-in-law, who had more days of secretly crying than smiling, Chairman Seo made a decision. No matter what, he wouldn’t let his granddaughter-in-law become like that.

“You do realize that what grandfather did today was unilateral, right?”

At Kangjoon’s words, Chairman Seo roared.

“Where do you think you’re throwing your weight around, you brat! You only manage two measly affiliates, are you busier than me, who runs the entire group?”

But Chairman Seo, who had been as fearsome as the Grim Reaper, softened the moment he turned to Taeryeong.

“Isn’t that right, my dear?”

Just then, Chairman Seo’s eyebrows shot up. Taeryeong’s scarf, which she had around her neck, shifted slightly, momentarily revealing a red mark. Wait a minute. Could that be... that thing. A ki... kiss mark! Chairman Seo tried his best to suppress his lips, which were trying to curl upwards in delight, and put on an even more stern expression.

“Ahem, but my dear, you eat so well, why do you look like you’ve lost more weight?”

“I’ve had a lot of things to worry about at work recently.”

Even at Taeryeong’s reply, Chairman Seo suddenly glared at the innocent Kangjoon.

“It’s not because this rascal is bothering you, is it?”

“Grandfather!”

“Why are you calling me! You uselessly smart grandson!”

Chairman Seo was frustrated. He could be considered a stubborn old man, but his grandson was a man of this era. He had heard that men these days would give their hearts and livers to the woman they loved. But this guy was just doing childish things.

“I can see right through you. You must be nagging my dear every single day.”

“Grandfather, let’s talk about that when it’s just the two of us...”

Visibly flustered, Kangjoon glanced at Taeryeong.

“Quiet! Look at my dear, she looks exactly like our Hye-soon!”

Kangjoon tried his best to stop him, but Chairman Seo was on a one-way street.

“I cherished our Hye-soon like gold and jade, never letting her do housework! But my dear here even works!”

Taeryeong didn’t know, but Kangjoon understood. Chairman Seo liked Taeryeong because her atmosphere was exactly like his late wife.

“My dear. If this rascal doesn’t listen to you or bothers you, tell me. I’ll give him a good scolding. I’m absolutely on your side, not his.”

Kangjoon had a resigned look on his face after being severely reprimanded by Chairman Seo, but Taeryeong found this situation amusing. Was this why people said you had to experience things yourself? Chairman Seo, whom she had found so difficult and scary, now felt as warm as a neighborhood grandfather.

“Can I really tell you anything, Grandfather?”

“Of course, tell me anything! I’ll drop everything, work and all, and rush over today!”

Taeryeong had never envied Madam Jo’s daughter before. But now, there was one thing she envied. A kind and warm mother-in-law, and even a friendly and reliable great-grandfather-in-law. With a family-in-law like this, she even thought marriage might not be so bad. Just as Taeryeong, feeling a sudden thirst, brought the water glass to her lips, Chairman Seo carefully asked.

“But my dear, when are you planning to give me a great-grandchild?”

“Cough, cough!”

Taeryeong, who had choked on her water, coughed.

“Grandfather, please stop.”

Kangjoon couldn’t stand it anymore and said a word, but Chairman Seo was still going his own way.

“My dear, if you just give me a great-grandchild, I’ll give you my private jet. No, should I give you the Hanshin Motors car I was planning to give that rascal?”

As expected of the head of a large corporation, Chairman Seo’s generosity was truly grand. *** Getting off the elevator, Kangjoon called his wife, Taeryeong. After a short ring, her calm voice answered.

[Yes, Kangjoon-ssi.]

“Are you in your room now?”

[......Yes, why?]

Checking her location, he could sense a subtle tension in his wife’s voice. She was probably wondering if she should run away. But too bad for her.

“I’m in front of Taeryeong-ssi’s room, could you open the door?”

Instead of an answer, a faint sigh came through the phone.

“Should I ring the bell?”

[Wait there.]

The call ended, and soon after, the door slowly opened, and his wife peeked out, only showing her face.

“What brings you here so late?”

Late night? It was only 8 o’clock.

“Surely, you didn’t come here to sleep together?”

Seeing the suitcase in Kangjoon’s hand, his wife gripped the slender fingers holding the door even tighter. As if to say she would absolutely not allow it. But Kangjoon hadn’t just barged in without a reason.

“Grandfather will be here within 30 minutes.”

“So suddenly?”

“He said it would be a waste to eat such fresh sashimi alone, so he brought some. That’s why I told him your room number.”

Chairman Seo had been laughing heartily throughout the meal, but he was also suspicious and meticulous. Especially after receiving a call from Kyungjin, he couldn’t feel at ease. This whole mess was his fault, and if he sensed anything strange, he would tell them to divorce immediately. Even if Kangjoon resisted, he would contact Ino Group.

“As you saw today, Grandfather can be quite headstrong. He especially ignores my words with ease.”

“The sashimi is just an excuse, isn’t it? He wants to check if we’re really living well as a married couple.”

It sounded like she was talking to herself, not to Kangjoon. After a moment, as if having made up her mind, his wife stepped aside.

“Come in.”

The forbidden door had finally opened.

“But once Grandfather leaves, you have to leave too, Kangjoon-ssi.”

His wife looked at him as if expecting an answer. But Kangjoon remained silent and walked past his wife into the room. What to do, Yu Taeryeong-ssi. I was planning on having a conversation with my wife and spending the night.