He charged in menacingly and knocked out the champion-level boxing club manager. Even after arriving at the coffee shop, his silent, dark gaze was fierce. Kangjoon had been like that for a whole week now.

“Give up on the jealousy-inducing tactics and test if Taeryeong is rejecting you.”

“What test?”

Kyungjin, unable to watch any longer, threw out the words, and even the low voice that suddenly burst out was fierce.

“This is why smart guys are a problem. They overthink everything.”

The two men actually felt more sorry for Taeryeong, his wife, than for their friend Kangjoon. Especially seeing their friend digging a dry well without even realizing that love had begun.

“If you can’t communicate with words, try communicating with your body first. The order is there to be changed, you know?”

Seo Kangjoon, who was dense and stubborn, was obviously trying to go in order. So, he was probably trying to confirm her feelings by inducing jealousy. After confirming her feelings, then skinship, in order. Trying to do love like studying or business, in order? What a frustratingly smart idiot! They couldn’t bring themselves to say that though.

“Married seniors and friends say this. The best place to reconcile with your wife is the bed, or something like that.”

Jaewoo actively added to Kyungjin’s words.

“I’ve heard that story too. They say it’s really effective.”

It was a secret between the two men that they had made a deal with Chairman Seo, who desperately wanted a great-grandchild.

‘It seems Kangjoon listens to you guys, so try to coax him well. If a great-grandchild is born, I’ll try to persuade Chairman Jang and Director Kim again.’

Sorry, friend. We don’t have any plans for marriage yet.

________________________________________

The last night in Jeju Island, before the door closed. The contempt in his usually composed wife’s eyes pierced Kangjoon’s heart like a nail. Just thinking of those eyes made his brain stop and his mouth freeze. Having sinned, he didn’t know how to approach his wife, what to say, or how to say it. It was his first time experiencing this, so he had been avoiding his wife for a week. But to communicate with their bodies? Not only had he been kicked out, but he would probably get slapped by his wife. That’s why he thought his friends’ advice was crazy. Until he encountered his wife in the first-floor bedroom bathroom. Before his wife, wearing only a flimsy gown, blushed with trembling, wet eyes. He had sent his wife a message saying he would arrive home in 20 minutes. Yet, this situation, timing, and appearance had unfolded. It was clearly a seduction. No, even if it was a coincidence, Kangjoon wanted to misunderstand it that way. He kept thinking about her, wanting to see her, missing her, his head filled with her. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, hold her. It was all Yoo Taeryeong’s fault for driving him crazy all week.

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

He wanted to give his wife, who remained silent even when given a chance to explain, a choice. He didn’t want to become a beast consumed by desire, even if he seemed like a madman. But his wife had answered with her body instead of words—by burying her face in Kangjoon’s chest and wrapping her small arms around his waist. It was the moment when the last thread of his reason snapped.

“I’m...”

He pressed his lips against his wife’s softly trembling ones. Devouring the words she was about to say and her trembling breath, Kangjoon thought. He wished his wife would push him away, even slap him. It was a strange duality. But his wife didn’t push him away. Her soft lips parted slightly. The honey-sweet breath that flowed between her lips. The shy trembling that spread from her small hands clutching his waist tighter. It was the first time he had realized the faint sincerity his wife had been carefully hiding. That was the trigger. Kangjoon kissed her even more deeply, embracing her tightly, delving in and stirring her. Surprisingly, his wife was delicate, soft, sweet, and moist. Holding her soft body, which was less than half the size of his, warmth spread through him. It was his always cool wife’s body. That’s why she had always clung to him at night, as if drawn by his warmth. It must mean that his wife was also aroused, just like him. That’s why this moment felt maddeningly good. Kangjoon whispered in a hoarse voice, their lips still touching.

“The rest... in bed.”

If he had his way, he would have wanted to stop time forever. But now that he had a little understanding of his wife’s feelings, he wanted to cherish her. Like his pure wife, with his own pure body. Not leaving her standing in the bathroom, but in a wide, soft bed. He was about to tell her to wait while he showered. Kangjoon held his wife, who was collapsing in his arms, tightly.

“......Taeryeong-ssi?”

Her tightly closed thin eyelids, her long eyelashes, didn’t even flutter. The breath escaping her lips was hot. When he placed his hand on her forehead, it felt like fire. It was the moment he understood his wife’s burning warmth. His wife hadn’t made excuses simply because she wasn’t feeling well, and she had leaned on him because she was ill. He was the one who had misunderstood and pounced like a beast.

“Damn it.”

It was the moment when the tidal wave of hot desire that had engulfed Kangjoon turned into cold self-loathing.

________________________________________

When Taeryeong opened her eyes, she realized she was in someone’s arms. Lifting her eyes slightly, she saw her husband’s face. It was a moment she wanted to fall back asleep. As she let out a soft sigh, his dark eyes, which had descended like a hawk, met hers gently.

“Did you wake up? How are you feeling?”

“......Yes.”

Feeling like she wanted to hide in a mouse hole, her voice came out as small as a mosquito’s. Only then did her husband move and carefully lay Taeryeong on the bed.

“Excuse me, but could you please explain the situation? I don’t remember.”

She felt mortified, embarrassed, and ashamed to death, but it wasn’t a situation where she could pretend she didn’t know. Whatever the problem, Taeryeong preferred to confront it head-on and resolve it quickly rather than avoid it.

“It’s not that you don’t want to remember?”

At his cynical tone, Taeryeong looked at him quietly. He reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Your fever went up to 40 degrees, so I called a doctor to the house. Your fever went down after the IV drip, but you kept saying you were cold and asked me to hold you.”

Wait, me, to you? Taeryeong looked at him with a bit of suspicion, and he chuckled.

“Shall I be more honest?”

No, I’d rather not hear it.

“You wouldn’t let go of me from the bathroom, saying you were cold.”

She wished she couldn’t remember. But she really did remember. Her fever was raging, but she was so cold that she had desperately clung to her husband.

“So, I had no choice but to hold you.”

His gaze slowly lowered to below Taeryeong’s face.

“That’s why I put my shirt on you too.”

When Taeryeong noticed her husband’s shirt she was wearing over the towel, she apologized first.

“I’m so sorry.”

“I’m the one who should be sorry.”

Turning his head to the side, he murmured as he slowly brushed her hair back with his hand.

“I was the one who misunderstood and pounced like a horny dog.”

Kangjoon, who had gotten off the bed, looked down at Taeryeong.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t even realize you were sick and unilaterally kissed you because of a misunderstanding.”

She wished he was being sarcastic. But her husband was genuinely sorry.

“I’m also grateful that you endured my kiss, even though it must have been unpleasant with your sick body.”

Taeryeong bit her lower lip. Should she say it or not? That even while she was sick, she liked his kiss. That’s why she had stayed still.

“I will never, ever act this rudely again.”

It sounded like he was talking to himself rather than Taeryeong. It was instinct that made her grab the hem of his shirt as he turned away. She was surprised after grabbing it, but she didn’t want to let go.

“......”

Her husband’s gaze reached her hand, but Taeryeong gripped his shirt even tighter.

“I think we need to clear up a misunderstanding.”

At least that much.

“I wasn’t upset. What I mean is...”

Her heart pounded as if it would burst, but Taeryeong looked straight into Kangjoon’s eyes and continued, “That kiss with you... I liked it too.”

She knew it was crazy, but for this moment, she wanted to be honest. After a brief silence, Kangjoon leaned back against the headboard and plopped down on the bed.

“You said you would hate me.”

Her husband’s soft sigh stung Taeryeong’s heart.

“Then why didn’t you just let me blame myself?”

She had hated him, she had resented him. But not anymore.

“Why would I hate Kangjoon-ssi?”

“Because I wasn’t a good husband.”

“Well, I wasn’t a good wife either.”

Perhaps Taeryeong’s reply was funny. She felt him chuckle.

“That’s a bit of a comfort.”

That wasn’t what she had intended to say to comfort him. Just then, her husband turned his body and quietly reached out his hand. His index finger touched the tip of her chin, and his thumb touched her lower lip. His deep gaze followed the slow touch of his hand as it brushed across her tender lips. Caught in an unknown heat, Taeryeong’s long eyelashes fluttered as she closed her eyes.

“Would you allow me to stay out tonight, just for today?”

When she slowly opened her eyes at his low voice, their eyes met. A whirlpool was forming deep within her husband’s eyes.

“My head is a bit complicated, so I’m going to do some thinking.”

“......”

“Somewhere Taeryeong-ssi isn’t.”

It was the same for Taeryeong. When she looked at her husband, she remembered the kiss that had felt so good she had even forgotten her pain, and her face would unnecessarily flush. So, she quietly nodded.

“Thank you for allowing me. Don’t go to work tomorrow, just rest well.”

“......We’ll see.”

“I’m worried about you.”

With those last words, her husband left the bedroom. Left alone, Taeryeong quietly closed her eyes and murmured, “Seo Kangjoon-ssi, please don’t do this to me.”

His selfish consideration, his cold kindness—she wished he would stop now. She felt like she was starting to waver towards him little by little, and that scared her.

________________________________________

Kangjoon stayed out for the first time yesterday. His wife had said it was okay, but the self-loathing and guilt he felt towards himself didn’t easily disappear. Even while she was sick, his wife had probably put on an act to comfort him. His head was also complicated, but that was why. He felt like his presence wouldn’t allow his wife to rest comfortably. But now, after speaking directly with his wife’s secretary, he was regretting it. He should have just stayed by her side instead of staying out.

‘The president has gone to work as usual and has entered the quarterly performance report meeting.’

His wife had only taken effervescent vitamins in the morning and didn’t look well, the secretary had said. She was like a docile cat, but she could be incredibly stubborn at times like this. She never listened. Kangjoon was on his way to personally deliver porridge to that disobedient cat. He was even planning to stay and watch her eat it if possible. Just then, Kangjoon’s phone rang.

[President, this is Kim Ga-yeon, Secretary at Inno Fashion. I know this is an impolite request, but could you please come to Inno Fashion right away?]

Secretary Kim’s voice was trembling.

“What’s the reason?”

[Inno’s Madam suddenly came to visit, and the atmosphere isn’t good. I was told not to let anyone in, but I’m too worried about the president.]

Why would his mother-in-law visiting her daughter be something to worry about? But like Secretary Kim, Kangjoon also felt uneasy.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Ending the call, Kangjoon sped up even more.

________________________________________

Her head had been spinning and she had felt dizzy all morning. Her stomach felt queasy, and she seemed to have a slight fever. Yet, Taeryeong remained composed until she finished the meeting and arrived at her office.

“Maybe I should have rested for the day like Kangjoon-ssi said.”

She desperately wanted to rest. But this afternoon was the first broadcast of Judith Kids Line on Taesan Home Shopping. Perhaps that was why a strange tension flowed within the company. A significant amount of capital had been invested, so expectations were high. Above all, as it was their exclusive PB brand, failure in the first broadcast would jeopardize future prospects.

“Just hold on a little longer.”

...Then it will be okay. Just then, the door burst open without a knock, and Madam Jo barged in. Staring at Taeryeong as if to kill her, the sound of the door clicking shut sent a chill down her spine. Swallowing her trembling breath, Taeryeong’s gaze went to the CCTV installed somewhere on the bookshelf. It’s working properly, right?

“Mother, what brings you here without any notice?”

Madam Jo, who had approached quickly, struck Taeryeong’s head with the bag she was holding. When Taeryeong collapsed to the floor, her brain rang and her vision blurred.

“If you’re angry, please talk to me...”

With trembling fingertips, she barely tried to push herself up from the floor. But the structured tote bag in Madam Jo’s hand fell on Taeryeong’s body like indiscriminate bombing.

“Talk with your filthy mouth! You said it wasn’t true, but you were coveting this position, weren’t you!? Did you think that if my daughter died, I would really take someone like you as my own daughter?”

Even at this moment, Madam Jo was cunning. She avoided her face and aimed only for her body. Taeryeong’s senses became dull, so much so that she couldn’t even feel the pain. She couldn’t even scream. Her hair was grabbed so violently that it felt like it was being pulled out, and Taeryeong’s face was lifted.

“After meeting you, my daughter refused to eat! And she told me to keep it a secret from me, so I only found out now. I only found out after my daughter collapsed! Tell me, what exactly did you say to her!”

“Aunt, please...”

That whisper, born from the instinct to survive, fueled Madam Jo’s rage.

“How are you and your mother so alike! Trying to take other people’s places and steal other people’s men!”

Taeryeong’s body swayed back and forth from Madam Jo’s rough handling, precariously like the last leaf clinging to a tree. Now, even her hair was grabbed and shaken violently, and her eyes closed. In the deep darkness, her consciousness slowly faded.

“Let go of my wife right now.”

A low voice filled with rage cut through the air.