Leaning deeply into the back seat of the car, Kangjoon closed his bloodshot eyes for a moment. Ever since he took on the position of Vice President at Hanshin Mobis, he had been in a continuous cycle of a killer schedule. So, even Kangjoon, with his natural stamina, was bound to be exhausted. In the midst of all that, something would pop into his mind persistently.

‘He didn’t eat his manners with his rice; he’s just honest, so his way of speaking is direct.’

‘Isn’t that the ultimate in manners?’

His wife that night was full of questions. The Alicia Barton that Kangjoon knew was a very sensitive and fiery woman. She would complain and get irritated over the smallest things, and she always made sure to return what she received tenfold. Especially towards women who flirted with the men she was with, she was a woman of action before words, even slapping them across the face and showering them with curses. The guy who told those anecdotes had sugarcoated it, saying Alicia was like a pouting child, that it was Alicia’s jealousy. But it was clearly atrocious behavior. However, the wife he had encountered in the restroom hallway was utterly unfamiliar. Arguing back calmly with words, siding with her husband who treated her badly, not grabbing the bar owner by the hair for pushing her shoulder. Even when he wasn’t around, she was calm and composed. It felt like more than just acting; it felt like possession. Perhaps that was why, the more he thought about his wife, the more confused he became.

“President?”

At Secretary Yoon’s call, he opened his eyes; they were in the parking lot of their marital home. Getting out of the car, Kangjoon headed for the elevator. The down arrow was visible. Kangjoon stood quietly in front of the door, waiting for the elevator to open.

“......Ah!”

But then, a small groan erupted from somewhere below his chin. His casually lowered gaze met his wife looking up at him, her hand covering her nose.

“The person getting off goes first.”

It wasn’t him; she was the one at fault. Kangjoon quietly looked down at his wife, who was calmly arguing with her eyes. Standing this close, he felt it again anew. Unlike him, who hadn’t even flinched, this woman, who had swayed, was so small and frail. Seeing her even thinner than their last meeting, useless thoughts surged within him. Had she skipped a meal again today? Just a minor curiosity, something like that.

“Sorry.”

It was his wife who rushed into Kangjoon’s arms when the elevator doors opened and he hadn’t moved. Instead of pointing that out, Kangjoon offered a clean apology.

“But where were you going?”

“I came to pick up Kangjoon-ssi. That’s my duty as your wife.”

Kangjoon’s gaze towards his wife, who gave a rote answer, became subtle. The more he looked at her, the stranger she seemed. She was lenient towards the woman who flirted with her husband, yet she argued back calmly as if she didn’t want to lose even the smallest thing with him. And the fact that he didn’t find that entirely hateful bothered him too. As Kangjoon leaned forward to press the elevator button, their bodies drew closer. Even though their fingertips hadn’t touched, his wife’s lowered long eyelashes fluttered. That trembling felt like a rejection towards him, making him feel slightly unpleasant.

“After you.”

Holding the elevator door open, Kangjoon continued curtly, “So you don’t bump into me again.”

*** Even though this was probably his first time in this house, Kangjoon seemed very comfortable navigating the spacious area. In the moment when Taeryeong looked at Kangjoon, who had casually glanced around the living room and sat on the sofa, her phone rang.

“That’s Kangjoon-ssi’s mother. Would you mind if I take this call?”

He nodded briefly, and Taeryeong went out to the terrace to answer the phone quietly.

“Hello, Mother.”

[I figured if I called Kangjoon, he’d just say he’d take care of it and hang up, so I called you. You must be very surprised?]

It was the first time. Kangjoon’s mother, Yeonsuk, had called her.

[Is Kangjoon by any chance next to you?]

“Kangjoon-ssi is in the living room, and I came out to the terrace to take the call. So please speak comfortably.”

Only then did Yeonsuk speak cautiously. [The reason I’m calling is to tell you that my son is a bit peculiar. No, I should say all the men in the Seo family have peculiar genes. He’s just big, but he’s worse than a child, and he’s the most contrary person you’ll ever meet!]

Seo Kangjoon was worse than a child and contrary? Taeryeong listened quietly, unable to imagine it.

[What I want to say is, Taeryeong, I want you to keep an eye on our Kangjoon.]

“Me?”

[Even if you and your mother understand, I don’t. I can’t stand seeing my son act like that. Why get married, and what’s the point of a lawful wife?]

Yeonsuk was clearly talking about the conversation they had during the meal—about agreeing to overlook Kangjoon’s affairs for a year.

[So, what I’m saying is, make sure Kangjoon never goes back to that hotel.]

“By telling him not to go back to the hotel, do you mean he shouldn’t stay out overnight?”

[Yes, that’s the right way to put it! First, don’t let him stay out overnight, and then start little by little. Spend some friendly time together as a couple, build affection, and talk a lot.]

Taeryeong’s head began to ache at Yeonsuk’s words.

[Kangjoon hates being interfered with, so he’ll probably try to go back to the hotel. Or he might even say he’ll go back and forth as if he’s keeping two households. Even if he doesn’t say that, you should be the first to firmly say no to overnight stays. He might not be afraid of his mother, but he’ll be afraid of his wife.]

Oblivious to Taeryeong’s inner turmoil, Yeonsuk’s voice brightened. “I’d like to do that too, but do you think Kangjoon-ssi will listen to my request?”

Taeryeong would actually welcome Kangjoon staying out overnight. But she was being asked to prevent it.

[Oh, you! Haven’t you heard that it’s up to the woman how a man behaves? And I guarantee you, Kangjoon definitely has feelings for you. That’s why, with his personality, he hasn’t even mentioned divorce.]

No, that’s not it. Why was even his mother doing this? Taeryeong wanted to cry.

[If you’re worried that your mother-in-law will criticize you for acting like a narrow-minded wife, leave that to me. I’ll talk to her right away...]

“I will, Mother.”

The moment Yeonsuk mentioned Madam Jo, Taeryeong quickly replied. Until she hung up the phone and sat across from Kangjoon in the living room, Taeryeong’s mind was working busily. How should she bring up the topic of overnight stays?

“I was hoping to alternate between the hotel and here. What do you think, Taeryeong-ssi?”

At her husband’s words, which broke the silence first, Taeryeong felt goosebumps all over. She had seemed as delicate and innocent as a young girl, but Yeonsuk was also a mother. She had seen right through that man who never showed his true feelings. Was this why they said mothers were great?

“It’s a nuisance to come in too late after work. I thought that might be better for both of us.”

Kangjoon chuckled and continued, “I’d prefer it if Kangjoon-ssi came home even if it’s late.”

“Even if doing so makes me uncomfortable?”

Kangjoon asked back as if the answer was unexpected.

“Are you perhaps insisting on the hotel for the purpose of meeting other people?”

“If so, will you interfere?”

“Now that you’re home, I have no intention of interfering with Kangjoon-ssi’s personal life. But overnight stays are absolutely not allowed. That’s the most basic courtesy we should observe as a married couple.”

Rather than being anxious every day that Yeonsuk might call Madam Jo, it was better to have a showdown right away and then call Yeonsuk.

“That’s strange logic. How am I supposed to enjoy my personal life if I can’t even stay out overnight?”

His voice lowered further, and his gaze turned cold; it was clearly her husband’s warning. Hadn’t she agreed not to interfere with his personal life?

“You’re not in your twenties, but you seem to have good stamina. Judging by your wanting to stay out overnight.”

“If I have that much stamina, will you concede?”

But Seo Kangjoon was not an easy opponent after all. He leaned his upper body over the table, closing the distance, and whispered lowly, “If you don’t believe me, I can prove it to my wife first.”

His relaxed gaze, like his leisurely tone, clearly showed he was enjoying this situation. What a distasteful hobby. Though her insides were boiling, Taeryeong sighed and confessed the truth.

“My mother is very anxious. She’s worried you’ll go back to the hotel.”

“......”

“Then all the adults will think it’s my fault, and that could lead to a rift in the alliance between Ino and Hanshin.”

She felt like she could never persuade this man with clumsy words.

“As promised, I will never interfere with your personal life, so please at least observe the basic courtesy as a married couple. So that I won’t be criticized. Then I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?”

Kangjoon showed interest, as if the last condition piqued his curiosity.

“Anything. If you grant me just one more request.”

It was like a series of realizations once she understood one thing. If preventing overnight stays was Yeonsuk’s wish, then this was Taeryeong’s wish.

“I’d like Kangjoon-ssi to make it clear to your partners that you’re married.”

The only weapon she could wield in front of people who knew they were married, or in front of her husband’s women. To protect Taeryeong’s last bit of pride and allow her to hold her head high. Proof that her husband was playing around with his wife’s permission and within the allowed boundaries.

“I thought if I just came home, you’d agree to everything and understand. Your words are a bit different.”

He chuckled as if amused by Taeryeong’s brazen demand.

“In return, I’ll only look at Kangjoon-ssi.”

The flow of air surrounding her husband changed. Cold yet heavy, quiet yet swirling, like the eve of a storm that could strike at any moment.

“In this world, it’s common for married couples to have lovers. But for me, Kangjoon-ssi will be the only man. No matter who you’re with or what you do...”

“I accept.”

Her husband replied before she could even finish her sentence. Taeryeong blinked slowly, wondering if she had misheard, and he met her eyes nonchalantly.

“Wherever I go, I’ll make it clear I’m married, and I absolutely won’t stay out overnight.”

A fierce whirlwind was brewing within his dark eyes, all playfulness gone.

“In return, you’ll have to keep your promise to only look at me and listen to everything I say.”

From his calm voice, which reiterated for confirmation, Taeryeong sensed danger. When Taeryeong hesitated to answer, he asked again, softly yet indifferently, “Are you not confident?”

He would overturn everything if she said no.

“I keep my promises.”

Taeryeong finally answered, knowing that her current reply would bring a backlash.

“I have a lot of documents to look through, so could I go upstairs and finish them?”

“Alright.”

This time too, he let her go too easily. As soon as she entered the bedroom on the second floor, Taeryeong sank down. She had only been with Kangjoon for about twenty minutes, but she was already exhausted. For the first time, she felt like she wanted to rest and sleep. *** Reviewing the overdue documents in the study on the second floor, Taeryeong covered her nose with her hand. Blood was dripping between her fingers. Checking the time, it was already 2 AM. Coming out into the hallway, she looked down at the first floor below the stairs; it was quiet and dark.

“He must be asleep?”

Only then did Taeryeong walk with light steps towards the bathroom at the end of the hallway. Taking off her stifling makeup and untying her hair, which had been pulled back so tightly it was giving her a headache, she felt a sense of relief as she showered. Knowing she would go to bed soon, she just put on a gown and came out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel. Walking silently down the long hallway and opening the bedroom door, Taeryeong froze.

“......!”

The first thing that caught her eye was the man’s back, as broad and solid as the Pacific Ocean. As if sensing her presence, Kangjoon turned, and his well-defined, delicate muscles rippled. Her husband stopped in front of Taeryeong, who stood there with a dazed expression.

“Oh, clothes.”

Perhaps it was because she had been ambushed in such a defenseless state, but her mind was blank, and she couldn’t speak well. She had even forgotten that she was bare-faced.

“I didn’t know where the pajamas were.”

Her husband, who replied like that, had a calm gaze and expression. Why was this man so unperturbed even in this situation? Why was the embarrassment all hers? This man was naked, and this was clearly her room.

“But I did come up with pants on.”

Could he really say that? Raising slightly indignant eyes, she met his gaze, which was as wet as his hair, making it appear even darker. He must have been showering, thinking she was asleep.

“I’ll go downstairs to get my pajamas. So...”

“You want me to leave this room?”

Cutting off Taeryeong’s words, her husband asked back nonchalantly. As if it were the obvious thing.

“Because this is my bedroom.”

Thinking there must be some misunderstanding or misconception, Taeryeong calmly informed him again.

“I know.”

But Taeryeong was dumbfounded by her husband’s reply, which was even more brazen than his naked upper body. This sudden situation, her naked husband’s upper body, the overwhelming presence that filled the small room. It slowly intertwined and swelled, finally swallowing Taeryeong whole.

“Why, knowing that?”

Why would you dislike it? Taeryeong asked in a trembling whisper.

“To sleep together.”

Her husband replied calmly, his eyes chillingly cold.