Walking down the hallway, getting on the elevator, going down again and walking. Slumping against the wall. Until that moment, Kangjoon had conflicted countless times. It felt like what he was about to do was truly terrible, like something a piece of trash would do. So, he had intended to let her go. If his wife went back, he had decided he wouldn’t ask anything, wouldn’t check anything, and would even grant her a divorce. But his wife hadn’t gone back, had said she didn’t dislike it, and had willingly surrendered herself into his arms. Now it was too late, irreversible, and he couldn’t stop. Because it was her who hadn’t left, even though he had tried to let her go.

“I’m not going. I don’t dislike it. So...”

He trapped his wife in his arms and showered her with kisses as if he would devour her. For Kangjoon, all of this was a first. Touching a woman, kissing her, all the actions he was taking now. But he wasn’t clumsy just because he lacked experience. It was because when God created humans in the beginning, when he separated man and woman, he made them that way. So that they could share love even if they were ignorant. He was awkward, so very awkward. Cautious, so very cautious. Yet, his wife responded like a red rose. Even the slightest, fleeting reaction made his heart stop and then beat intensely. His body would heat up fiercely and then cool down, only to become even more intensely preheated. His brain was being consumed by the fiercely surging sensations. Hoo. Pulling away from her lips, Kangjoon gasped for breath, trying to cool his burning brain. In his lowered vision, he saw a woman who drove men mad. Wet eyes, swollen, plump lips, flushed cheeks. Her usually neat gaze and face were disheveled, and that made her look devastatingly alluring. No wonder I’m going crazy. I can’t think straight.

“Tell me if you don’t like it.”

It was the reins Kangjoon had given his wife himself. Because only this woman could control the rampaging beast within him. So that he wouldn’t lose his reason and go wild. So that he wouldn’t hurt or torment this woman.

“I’ll try to stop.”

Though he couldn’t promise. This time too, his wife replied with her hands instead of her lips. And quite boldly at that. Unbuttoning his jacket, loosening his tie, unbuttoning his shirt. Looking down with slightly opened eyes, his wife smiled shyly and moved her hand lower. Taking the small hand that had reached his pants buckle, Kangjoon couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t know what to do with this bewitching woman. Quickly taking off his top, Kangjoon sat on the bed and lifted his wife with him. Startled, his wife, now sitting on his lap, wrapped her slender arms around his neck. With their lips touching, Kangjoon whispered,

“I can’t stop anymore.”

Even if the sky fell and the earth crumbled. Heo Kyung-soo, his conscience, his restraint, his reason. You, like a witch, have shattered them all to pieces.

“Why are you so unnecessarily beautiful?”

Even in this moment of devouring his wife, he was desperately thirsty. The soft skin touching his lips, the sensation that heated his entire body, the rich scent of her flesh, it was sweet, so very sweet.

“You’re turning me into a beast.”

His right hand, traveling up her slender spine, loosened his wife’s hair. The richly flowing hair was soft and fragrant like water plants. She’s even prettier with her hair down. Kissing his wife’s forehead, he lowered the zipper of her dress and slipped it off her arms. As the dress slid down and caught on her slender waist, Kangjoon laid his wife down again just like that. Even in the dim darkness, his milk-white wife was dazzling. No matter how many times he slowly blinked and looked, he couldn’t find a single blemish.

“......”

His heart began to pound fiercely. The reverberation that spread from his chest was shaking his brain. This woman isn’t Alicia Barton, she isn’t Yoo Taeryeong. Then who on earth are you? What’s your identity, what’s your purpose? The alternating relief and confusion washed over his heated chest like cold water. A cool silence spread into the hotly rising air.

“......”

“......”

Watching the heat drain from her intently staring husband’s eyes was painful for Taeryeong. I don’t want to. His hesitation, his returning reason, his cooling gaze. Taeryeong cupped his dry cheeks, pulled him down, and pressed her lips to his. Trying to erase this man’s hesitation, to bring back his instinct, to reheat his cooled eyes.

“Don’t stop.”

What courage she had mustered with what feelings, what a deviation this was for her. So, don’t turn away from her. Just for tonight, let her be greedy too. Looking into her husband’s wet eyes, she showered him with small kisses. His straight forehead, his arrogant nose, his sharp cheeks, his soft lips. She knew it was clumsy and awkward, but she wanted to convey her feelings even like this. Don’t let me go. Hold me. Just for tonight, hotly. Heat rose again in his dried eyes. The moment that heat became a burning flame, a deep kiss followed. Running her fingers through his hair, Taeryeong closed her eyes. She felt like she understood now. The reason she had been wary and afraid of her husband since the wedding. The reason she had secretly stolen glances with a pounding heart, the reason she had imprinted his cold but burning gaze in her heart. It felt like she was embracing this un-affectionate man in her heart for the first time. Like a first love that had belatedly found its way, cautiously, quietly, slowly seeping in without her even noticing. If he hadn’t returned, it would have been a love that ended without her knowing. She hated and resented the you who had returned. And yet, she loved him. Feeling his warm breath on her neck, Taeryeong whispered faintly,

“I want Kangjoon-ssi.”

So that she could remember this moment, you, in her heart forever. So that she wouldn’t forget that she had also experienced such a passionate love.

“So, love me.”

Her husband lifted his face. Eyes emitting an intense light, raw desire laced in his unrefined breath. Taeryeong fully took in the sight of her husband, disheveled because of her. Long fingertips approached, parted her wet lips, and breathed in a whisper.

“From this moment on, you’re my woman.”

As if imprinting it on every cell of her body.

“Don’t ever forget it.”

It was instantaneous. The remaining clothes fell to the floor beneath the bed, and a hot, firm body pressed down on her. His wife tightly embraced the rapidly approaching Kangjoon with all her might. As if not wanting to let go, as if telling him not to stop. Wet red eyes, sweet breath, deep fragrance, hot and soft touch. All of his wife engulfed Kangjoon like a downpour, imprinting on every cell of his body. He was the one penetrating, but he was also the one being filled to the brim by his wife. He wanted to savagely devour his wife, who was so lovely she drove him crazy. At the same time, he wanted to handle her as preciously as glass, imprinting her onto his entire being. You’re my woman. Caught in the grip of dual, intense emotions, Kangjoon devoured his wife’s red lips.

His wife dug her fingernails into Kangjoon’s back, leaving marks even as he sucked in her moans that sounded like screams. The muscles that unleashed explosive energy bulged, and his tendons stood on end. Sweat that dripped down his sharp jawline soaked Taeryeong. She loved everything about this man. This unrestrainedness, this roughness, this heat, this desire that was sharpened towards her. Darkness was fading, and dawn was breaking. But the hot and feverish first night of the two continued.

________________________________________

The party was slowly winding down. As Chief Secretary Youngman approached and whispered, the corners of Chairman Seo’s lips subtly lifted. He still hadn’t come out. Good, his plan had worked. Just then, Yeon-sook approached Chairman Seo, grumbling.

“Everyone has eyes. I don’t understand why they keep trying to make our precious child their daughter-in-law.”

Everyone acknowledged that her son was the best groom material in both the political and business worlds. His paternal side controlled the business world, and his maternal side controlled the political world. His background was perfect, and he was also handsome and capable. That unique perfection was both her son’s strength and weakness. They coveted him as a son-in-law but didn’t dare to readily offer their daughters. But Taeryeong, the granddaughter of the manageable Inno Group, was a different story. A suitable family background, good looks, capable at work, and a sharp personality. Everyone openly coveted her as a daughter-in-law, so she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“Father, shouldn’t we subtly leak the news of Kangjoon’s marriage to a friendly media outlet? Since he is married, he won’t deny it, and since he has feelings for Taeryeong, Kangjoon will acknowledge it too, right?”

So Yeon-sook was impatient. She wanted to brag about her daughter-in-law and also wanted to treat her well.

“I want to treat Taeryeong well, but I can’t. What’s the use of having so much money if there’s nowhere to spend it?”

Other families used the inheritance of wealth to control their children, she heard. But her son had been sharp with stocks and real estate since he was young and was richer than Yeon-sook. He wasn’t particularly extravagant either.

“Just wait a little longer. Soon enough, that boy will be anxious and reveal it first.”

Yeon-sook, who had briefly worn a pouty expression, soon looked around with bright eyes.

“But where’s Taeryeong? There’s no way she would have left without seeing me. You know too, Father, right? That we decided to get along like a mother and daughter.”

Time had flown by as the group members gathered, greeted each other, and conversed.

“No, I have to call her.”

“Call her tomorrow. Those two are probably having a good time right now, so don’t disturb them.”

Chairman Seo whispered to Yeon-sook, who widened her eyes as if asking what he meant.

“How smart are those two? Do you think they would fall for such an obvious ploy?”

Still suspicious, Yeon-sook made Chairman Seo chuckle.

“If you don’t believe me, why don’t you take some herbal medicine and barge into their new home tomorrow? You’ll find out then.”

________________________________________

Checking the time, it was 5 AM. For the first time, Taeryeong woke up before her husband. No, it was more accurate to say she hadn’t slept at all. Her whole body ached, but her heart was pounding. Even though she was confused, her heart fluttered at the warm spring breeze that had spread through her. The massive storm called Seo Kangjoon had swept over her and over again all night. It hurt but felt good, felt good but was tiring, tiring but strangely good again. The result of the night she had surrendered her body to that storm was devastating. She knew she had to get up and leave right away, but she didn’t have the strength to move a single finger. Her husband was beyond imagination. His polite manners and elegant face were just a mask. He was like a rampaging male beast that wouldn’t stop. How could a person be like that...? Recalling her husband who had relentlessly pursued her from night until dawn, Taeryeong murmured,

“His body wasn’t good for nothing.”

Where did he learn the technique of coaxing and cajoling her, who was trying to escape, to finally embrace her again? The husband who had swept over her like a storm all night was now holding Taeryeong in his arms like a calm lake. His strong arms and legs were wrapped around her body as if he would never let go. She didn’t dislike her husband’s embrace. It was embarrassing, but being held like this felt nice too. Their arms and legs touching and intertwined. The warmth was nice, the sensation was nice, the scent was nice. Everything about her husband was nice. But the magical time was over, and it was time to return to her place. Even though Taeryeong carefully slipped out of his embrace, her husband was still asleep. He would be a monster, not a human, if he wasn’t tired. Taeryeong looked at her husband.

“You are a beast, aren’t you.”

I thought I was going to die from being eaten alive.

“But I like you so much I could die. No, I think I like you even more.”

She shouldn’t be doing this. Love was a luxury for her, and he was even more so. Her cautious fingertips brushed up the strands of her husband’s fallen hair.

“Thank you for giving me good memories. But I still won’t be greedy for you.”

Thank you for letting me know how happy it is to be loved. Thank you for making me remember that I also had a passionate love. It was a feeling I would never have known if it wasn’t for you. In return for that, Taeryeong willingly gave herself to Kangjoon.

“So, you can meet other women and love them.”

Thanks to her husband, she had learned what true love was. Even if she couldn’t be happy, she hoped he would be. She hoped he would have an ordinary marriage, love, have children, and live that way. Instead of her, for her share.

“But, I hope you’ll love them a little less than you loved me. Be less kind and less considerate. And only kiss them a little.”

It felt like they had kissed the most last night. As if they were possessed by a ghost who had died without kissing enough. When their lips parted, they desperately sought each other again. In the end, they must have fallen asleep while kissing. She still didn’t know why they had done that. It just felt good, and she felt like she wanted to.

“I hope Kangjoon-ssi won’t remember our first night.”

Because she was afraid that the you who remembered would shake her again. Because she was afraid that her plans would go wrong because of the you who could find out everything if you set your mind to it. She had become this weak, so she had tried not to love, she had absolutely hated it.

“Only I will remember.”

I love you, but my life is more precious to me. Grandma, revenge, my plan. If this love is an obstacle, I will gladly break it and throw it away. After hesitating for a moment, Taeryeong whispered softly in her husband’s ear.

“My name is Joo Se-hee.”

She had said it, her real name. He wouldn’t be able to hear her since he was asleep. That’s why she was telling him. Just for this night that only she would remember, she didn’t want to be Yoo Taeryeong.

“Good night, my love.”

Taeryeong, who had lightly kissed her husband’s cheek, got up. Holding that hot memory in her heart, it was time to return to being Yoo Taeryeong again. The door quietly opened and closed, and the bedroom was plunged back into darkness.

“......”

Only then did Kangjoon slowly open his eyes. There was no sleepiness in the half-closed black pupils beneath his thin eyelids. As he raised his upper body, the sheet slid down, revealing his perfect upper body with prominent muscles. Slowly brushing back his fallen hair, Kangjoon murmured,

“Joo Se-hee.”