06 Because There’s a Woman in the House

Haejoo’s hands gripped the collar of Dojun’s t-shirt. Even after waking from the dream, Haejoo couldn’t shake off the moment she had slipped on the 7th-floor railing.

“Scary.”

Her swollen heart pounded violently.

Her chest ached and throbbed, and Haejoo squeezed her eyes shut.

Foolishly, tears welled up.

It was just a dream about something that happened years ago, so why was she still like this?

Haejoo had believed that she was different from the person she was back then, but she wasn’t.

The moment she was thrown back into the hell she had forgotten, her limbs convulsed as if paralyzed.

“Calm down.”

It was then that Haejoo recognized the firm embrace holding her.

Her body, which had sprung up from the bed, was in Dojun’s arms.

She clung to him mindlessly.

She tried desperately to escape the swamp of death, but she still couldn’t distinguish between dream and reality.

In this extremely private space, away from the cameras, Haejoo had become a child.

“I’m here beside you.”

“Haa, haa!”

The situation in the dream, cut off at the end, and the present moment overlapped strangely.

An unfamiliar yet comforting embrace and scent awakened Haejoo’s consciousness.

Belatedly, embarrassment washed over her. Perhaps because of the lingering feeling in her chest, she couldn’t calm down easily.

Then, Haejoo barely managed to lift one trembling hand.

“I’m okay now… let go.”

“Not yet.”

Dojun’s arms tightened further around Haejoo.

It didn’t hurt. The beating of his heart against her chest reached her as well.

Haejoo’s lips were pressed between his shoulder and neck. Her plump skin, which had been pale blue, began to warm with Dojun’s body temperature.

“I had a dream. I almost fell from a rooftop railing…”

Why now?

She couldn’t understand why she had this kind of dream on her first night sleeping in Dojun’s house.

She thought she had completely forgotten, but she hadn’t. The hell that had revived in her dream stretched out its tentacles, trying to swallow Haejoo whole.

The only explanation was that she had become that sensitive.

“Wait!”

Haejoo, who had been sobbing in confusion, suddenly widened her eyes.

A momentarily forgotten scene unfolded in her mind.

At that time, Haejoo had been in a daze due to a headache and dizziness.

She remembered someone grabbing her when she had stumbled in the wind on the railing she had somehow climbed onto.

If he had been just 0.1 seconds late, Haejoo would have fallen and had an accident.

“Could it be…”

“You’re alive, that’s what matters. Are you calm now?”

The man who had saved Haejoo in her dream existed in reality as well.

Dojun’s actions were so similar to the man in her dream that it felt like he had peered into her dream.

A chill ran down Haejoo’s spine at the sense of déjà vu.

Warmth returned to her stiff body, accompanied by weak tremors, as if breathing life into a dead body.

“You asked me if I remembered you, didn’t you?”

Dojun’s gentle gaze flowed over Haejoo.

As if trying to heal the wounds torn open by painful memories, his embrace tightened around her fragile frame.

“In my dream, I saw a man who looked like you.”

Her sweat-drenched face looked pitiful.

Only then did he lay Haejoo back down on the bed, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips.

“Was it you?”

“……”

“Was it you, Mr. Dojun, who grabbed me when I almost fell from the rooftop railing?”

The bewildered look in the stranger’s eyes, seen through her hazy vision, finally came back to her.

Short hair, nicely tanned skin, and sharp eyes with deep-set double eyelids…

“Yeah.”

His calm yet deepened gaze held a firm resolve.

Even though his style had changed, what remained unchanged was his unconditional embrace.

At that time, Haejoo had fallen onto the man who had grabbed her. She had faintly looked at the person who had saved her before fainting.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in the hospital. Beside her, Kyung-ae was making excuses to the police.

“It really was you, Mr. Dojun?”

She had heard that a young man had carried her on his back.

He had even prepaid her hospital bills and then disappeared silently when Kyung-ae arrived.

Because of the situation, she hadn’t even been able to thank him.

For Haejoo, that moment had been so painful that she had focused only on forgetting it ever since.

“I’m telling you again, you’re alive, that’s what matters.”

Belatedly, her eyes felt hot.

How could she explain this situation, as if she had been bewitched by a will-o’-the-wisp?

The husband she thought was dead had appeared and held her, then let her go, repeatedly. Even in a situation where they had to live together overnight, he had consistently maintained a calm demeanor. For Haejoo, whatever he did only aroused her resistance.

However, even though he seemed to have no lingering attachment to the world, Dojun’s grip on Haejoo was this strong.

That day she saw in her dream was like a fiery pit of hell for Haejoo. The one person she secretly wished would remain from the memories she wanted to erase turned out to be Dojun.

It was her duty to thank him now, but the words wouldn’t leave her lips.

“It’s still early. Sleep more.”

The digital clock had just struck 6 AM.

Today was Saturday, the start of the weekend.

Dojun, who had gone out for drinks last night, didn’t smell of alcohol at all. Haejoo uselessly rubbed the tip of her nose, where his scent had permeated.

“I’ll go.”

He stood up and turned his back to her.

His broad shoulders and the solid upper body that followed reminded her of this house.

She saw Dojun grabbing the doorknob.

Just as he was about to leave the room, pushing aside the morning air, Haejoo called out.

“Th, thank you.”

“Hmm?”

“Back then. On the rooftop…”

Dojun’s head moved slightly.

Haejoo, holding in her quickened breath, spoke with embarrassment.

“For saving me.”

“I thought it was something else.”

He turned his gaze back towards the door.

He was about to take a step as if to leave immediately, but then stopped.

“Your one-year expiration date is still more important to you, isn’t it?”

For Haejoo, the divorce after one year was unavoidable.

It hadn’t been a normal marriage in the first place, and seeing Dojun brought back memories she wanted to forget.

When signing the contract with her agency, Haejoo hadn’t mentioned her marriage.

As Jinhan had said, that was clearly a breach of contract.

Her contract with GN Entertainment still had four years remaining. For smooth activities, she couldn’t disregard her promise with the agency.

“Hasn’t that part already been settled?”

“Think carefully. Whether a divorce after one year will really benefit you.”

Dojun left the room.

Only then did Haejoo, her strength gone, collapse onto the bed.

“The person who saved me was Mr. Dojun.”

Her mind was in turmoil.

For Haejoo, reliving the past again wasn’t something she wanted to do.

She struggled to calm the emotions that had been stirred up by the painful memories.

After catching up on her insufficient sleep, she opened her eyes just before 9 AM.

________________________________________

Last night, Dojun had a tough time surrounded by people at the drinking party demanding an explanation.

Everyone had been quite shocked to learn that he was married, as they had all thought he was single.

Especially CEO Kim, who had the most influence, was in an uproar.

“CEO Park Dojun! Is it true that you married that actress?”

“Yes.”

“Weren’t you living well on your own until now?”

“As I officially announced today, I was simply waiting for Haejoo’s dream.”

This was all the explanation Dojun could offer.

Everyone’s reaction was one of bewilderment. Some sighed, and CEO Kim wore a look of disbelief even after hearing it.

“I’ll buy everyone a drink today. So please, ease your minds.”

“I’m just flabbergasted. Not even dating, and suddenly marriage.”

“There are circumstances I can’t discuss.”

“Is it because of your father?”

Instead of answering, Dojun poured expensive whiskey into CEO Kim’s glass.

CEO Kim, accepting the drink, downed it in one gulp and grumbled.

“My daughter was so smitten with you, she kept nagging me.”

“……”

“She’s a precious daughter, and I thought someone like you wouldn’t be bad.”

“I see.”

“Why an actress of all people?”

“What do you mean?”

“Frankly, entertainers aren’t usually considered good wives.”

Dojun’s mood was slowly being irritated. Unaware of this, CEO Kim continued talking.

“Among businessmen, entertainers are no different from the entertainment industry.”

“……”

“It’s beneath your dignity. It’ll only tarnish your image.”

“Haejoo and I have already been married for three years.”

“Really? I thought you got married this time, but that wasn’t the case.”

“……”

“Don’t handle things like this in the future. You’ll lose trust.”

It was a ridiculous piece of advice.

They were barking up the wrong tree and meddling in Dojun’s private life.

In the past, he would have flipped the table over.

But Dojun wore a cold smile and continuously poured strong liquor into their glasses.

‘Drink up and get lost.’

In the early days of his company, the wealthy individuals gathered here had been helpful.

But as their influence grew, they became tiresome, acting as if they were something special.

Now, even if you combined the wealth of everyone in this room, it would be difficult to catch up to Dojun.

Jino Group was expected to become the number one in the industry soon. At this rate, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the flow of money in South Korea passed through Dojun.

The company he had painstakingly grown was preparing for its full-fledged takeoff.

All that was left was to cut off the rotten ties and move forward.

“It seems you’ve had too much to drink, so I’ll wrap things up here.”

Dojun hadn’t had a single drink.

Being the only sober one, he left the drunken individuals in the care of the bar manager and exited.

Then, he deleted all the contacts of the people who had gathered today from his personal phone.

“Secretary Song, in the future, if these people contact us, have the secretary’s office handle it.”

“Understood.”

He had intended to maintain the relationship out of consideration for their past association.

However, they had mocked Haejoo while pretending to give advice, which had infuriated Dojun.

“Should I have put a gag instead of alcohol in their dirty mouths?”

“Please bear with it.”

He knew that while they valued Dojun’s abilities, they secretly judged his education and background. He felt relieved that he had used this opportunity to 정리 his surroundings.

“I’m tired. Let’s go quickly.”

“Yes, CEO.”

He pretended not to, but just the fact that Haejoo was in the house made Dojun feel strange.

It was a ticklish feeling, like downy feathers brushing against his throat and chest.

He rubbed his innocent throat, then loosened his tie and even unbuttoned his shirt.

“Are you hot?”

“It’s strange because there’s a woman in the house.”

Dojun’s mother had passed away early due to complications after giving birth to twin brothers. Raising two sons, CEO Park hadn’t even considered remarriage.

He could have hired a nanny or housekeeper to ease his burden, but he didn’t. He personally changed diapers, fed them formula, and raised the brothers himself.

Growing up, thanks to dividing household chores, there wasn’t even a shadow of a woman in the house.

Having gone through all-boys middle and high schools, Dojun was sick of men.

To make matters worse, he had majored in engineering in college and then enlisted in the military.

It was only around the time of his discharge that he found out he was a married man.

“Madam isn’t just any woman, is she?”

Secretary Song’s lips subtly curved into a smile. In the rearview mirror, Dojun’s serious face was reflected, and he tried hard to suppress his laughter.

“A wife to me… Secretary Song, does that even sound believable?”

“I’m also a bit taken aback. I never thought this day would come.”

He drove home on the night-covered road.

Dojun quietly went up the stairs and changed his clothes.

Before washing up, he lingered in front of Haejoo’s door.

Hearing no sound, indicating she was asleep, he washed up and lay down in bed.

He couldn’t fall asleep tonight. Just the thought that Haejoo was beyond that wall made him feel strange.

He finally fell asleep but woke up again.

Feeling thirsty, Dojun left his room and heard Haejoo whimpering.

“……!”

Opening the door and going in, he saw that she was struggling, having a nightmare.

Then, when she sobbed in her sleep, Dojun’s heart sank.

“Lee Haejoo, wake up.”

Dojun tried to wake her, but it was no use. Roughly guessing what kind of dream she was having, a fire ignited within him.

It felt like something would happen to Haejoo any moment.

In his desperation, not knowing what to do, he suddenly hugged her tightly.

It was the first time since he had caught her fragile body when she almost fell from the rooftop years ago.

Then and now, Haejoo was…

“How can you be this light?”

Back then, Haejoo was famous in the neighborhood for her beauty and was well-known among the men. Dojun had only heard rumors about Haejoo.

Then that incident happened on the rooftop.

Coincidentally, that day was the day his older brother Yijun was diagnosed with blood cancer.

Due to the building’s location, the rooftop was particularly windy. Dojun usually used it as his hideout and always went there when he felt suffocated.

“Divorce in a year, huh…”

Back then, Dojun had carried Haejoo on his back and ran like a madman to the hospital emergency room. Even as he laid her down on the bed, she hadn’t let go of his clothes.

He had managed to gently pry her hand away, but her small hand trembled. That sight was like seeing a pure white angel who had fallen from the sky.

After returning from the hospital, Dojun was in a daze.

He had first revealed his inner thoughts to Yijun, who had remained calm even after being diagnosed with blood cancer.

‘I saw a girl today.’

‘Really?’

‘I was scared she might die.’

‘Aren’t you scared of me dying?’

‘Park Yijun won’t die. Don’t worry.’

From that day on, strangely, bad wolves began to circle Haejoo, wanting to prey on her.

They would make bets on who would sleep with Haejoo and win.

This happened because Kyung-ae treated Haejoo carelessly.

At first, Dojun only warned them verbally.

Telling them not to do it.

But the foolish guys boasted and even made specific plans.

It was something that couldn’t happen. At least not to Dojun.

So, in the only way he knew how, he crushed their limbs.

This fact spread in the neighborhood, earning him the nickname of a crazy bastard. People also said that the son of a loan shark was hopeless, and they only pitied his deceased mother.

‘Dojun, what’s wrong with you these days? You brat, if you’re going to be like this, just go to the army!’

CEO Park had him forcibly enlisted. Even then, Haejoo didn’t seem to know about Dojun’s existence.

He had even considered confessing his feelings. But with his enlistment approaching and Haejoo’s life already a struggle to manage on her own, he shook his head, thinking it would only add to her burden.

Dojun tried to forget her and acted like a madman in the army.

Then, he received a letter from Yijun with an incomprehensible message.

—Lee Haejoo is under my temporary protection. Take responsibility for her when you get discharged. And please take care of Father.