* Please be advised that this novel contains parts that are set differently from reality for dramatic fun, and that the stories, organizations, and characters that appear are fictitious and have nothing to do with reality.
Chapter 1
The watch that gently wraps around the wrist with the cuffs folded twice on the sinewy wrist. The tailored shirt with two or three buttons undone and a strange sense of oppression. The dark eyebrows that are neatly trimmed and the eyelashes that are coldly drawn. Even the pitch-black eyes that wander between them.
Although he had a flawless appearance, the secretaries assisting Yoon Lee Hyun sensed subtle changes in him.
The Breguet watch on his wrist instead of Richard Mille or Audemars, the black shirt that fit him perfectly, and the bangs that hung down to cover his eyebrows were all the tastes of his wife, Jin Seo-hee.
“Next.”
Secretary Jeong Seung-ho swallowed dryly at the monotonous
voice that sounded in the spacious office.
“… … .”
Hyun Lee, who couldn’t wait for a short silence, knocked on the desk at a steady pace.
All that Lee Hyun was persistently looking at were traces of Jin Seo-hee. He read them, again and again. Even though he had already read them dozens of times, his black eyes did not get tired.
He scanned it sharply and gave a cold rebuke to see if he had missed anything. If there was anything that could be used as a clue.
“I asked if there was anything else.”
He added only one word, but the atmosphere in the CEO’s office froze in an instant. Seungho lowered his head as if he was ashamed.
Hyun Lee, who returned from a business trip, felt something strange when he saw the empty house. It was true that he had told her to leave, but instead of leaving, he felt a strange feeling as if only one person had disappeared.
And Lee Hyun’s feeling was correct. He couldn’t find the traces of his wife anywhere.
It’s been a week since Jin Seo-hee disappeared.
Yoon lee-hyun’s work began with engraving the report on Jin Seo-hee in his mind’s eye and ended with chewing and swallowing each word.
The places she’s been, the people she’s met, the music she likes, the clothes she likes to wear. Even her preferred toothbrush and toothpaste.
People who knew the past of these two people, who seemed bland on the outside, would never have imagined how much Yoon lee-hyun clung to Jin Seo-hee.
It’s been two weeks since Jin Seo-hee disappeared.
Half of the secretarial staff directly under YH CEO Yoon lee-Hyun were fired or demoted.
Behind the pretense of not being able to properly assist his superior, but to be exact, there was a hidden anger at their incompetence in not being able to protect Jin Seo-hee and not even being able to figure out her whereabouts.
It’s been three weeks since Jin Seo-hee disappeared.
Yoon lee-hyun was obsessed with what Jin Seo-hee liked. He, who never touched sweets, placed Natra Truffle Chocolate in the middle of his work desk, and changed his espresso to a latte.
It’s been a month since Jin Seo-hee disappeared.
“Director Jeong.”
Lips that were covered in Natra Truffle Chocolate called out to Seungho coolly.
“Yes, sir.”
“One day. Just one day, If I don’t see any results within that time, I’ll fire the entire secretariat.”
The soft voice had no way of spitting out lies. Just as a small crack in a glass gradually widened, Yoon lee-hyun’s patience reached its limit.
“I will find her.”
Seungho pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses and bowed his head politely.
The next day, Yoon lee-Hyun heard the news he had been waiting for.
“Sir, I found your wife.”
Without even having time to pick up his jacket, Lee Hyun got up in one breath. Seungho, who had been watching him closely, followed him with his jacket on one arm.
The destination was a general hospital in Ganghae City, which borders the East Sea.
“She is here?”
Lee Hyun frowned as he stopped running before entering the hospital room. Displeasure was evident on his expression.
The fact that his missing wife had been left unattended for a month, that she was in a crowded six-person room, and more than anything, that she was in the hospital itself was suffocating to him.
“It took a long time to find her because she was processed as an unclaimed person. I apologize.”
When Seungho lowered his head as if he was ashamed, the bodyguards and secretaries next to him also bowed their heads.
No connection? How could that be? Did Seohee hide her identity? Come to think of it, I think I heard something similar on the way here. My hand gripped the handle with all its might.
Lee Hyun’s doubts were soon answered.
“Who are you?”
Because of that one word that made her seem wary as if he was a stranger.
A soft and sweet voice, as if walking on clouds. Pure eyes that showed no sign of hostility. Long, plump red lips.
Since everything was the same, Hyun thought he had misheard something.
“Do you know me?”
She looked at the bodyguard standing behind her and asked with frightened eyes.
“Your wife has lost her memory.”
Only then did Lee Hyun recall Seungho’s report, and he couldn’t hide the sigh that was leaking out. His gaze, which had been
falling to the floor, then landed on Seohee’s stomach.
Seo-hee, who had been following Lee Hyun’s gaze, placed both hands on her flat stomach. Her eyes, clearly tense as if she was guarding something, were directed at Lee Hyun.
Huh! Lee Hyun chewed the mucous membrane in his mouth at the unfamiliar gaze. His eyes, which covered her pupils, were darkly colored.
“… … Are you with a child… … .”
Child. Lee Hyun’s eyes shook at those words. She really is pregnant. She is carrying my child.
My blood boiled as I read that Seohee had been in a car accident and was recovering in the hospital after surgery.
Then, when they said she was pregnant, Lee Hyun dropped the report he was holding.
“Are you perhaps… the father?”
Lee Hyun, who answered with a nod, added a word.
“To be exact, you are my wife Jin Seo-hee… … .”
The low and mid tones settled heavily.
“Jin… Seohee.”
She chewed over her name as if it were a strange word for her.
Lee Hyun stood there, unable to get closer to her or step back. His gaze was directed to Seohee’s right hand.
That ring again.
Seohee, who always wore a wedding ring with a luxurious diamond setting, instead wore a simple ring with a small stone as if it were a part of her own body.
Lee Hyun’s lips parted in satisfaction as he stared blankly at her hands.
Suddenly, he felt delighted that he and she were wearing the same ring.
“So you are my…. husband.”
The lips, deeply drawn into a line, were firmly nailed together.
Yeah, husband.
What was it that made me ignore you so much? How heavy must the weight of just this one word be? Lee Hyun bit his lip.
The black pupils rippled like waves.
* * *
Lee Hyun, who had been holding meetings in the annex until late at night, entered the main building after midnight.
The footsteps that continued unconsciously only stopped when they reached the bedroom where Seohee was asleep.
Lee Hyun lifted his gaze blankly and swallowed a sigh.
When did it start? I started acting like a dog that keeps coming into my house.
The veins on the back of his hand, which he had put in his pocket, bulged. He turned around and entered the study, where a marriage certificate greeted him.
Lee Hyun’s hand, which was holding the familiar paper, gained strength.
Was today our wedding anniversary?
Lee Hyun touched his forehead.
On their wedding anniversary, there were no gifts or meals exchanged between them. Seo-hee didn’t try hard to remember it, and she didn’t blame Lee-hyun for not remembering the anniversary.
However, she stubbornly pushed in the documents towards him. The proof that the two were a married couple.
“I guess I should stop.”
I really have to end this.
The hand that turned the paper over was rough as if it was meaningless.
4:59 am.
Hyun Lee, who had not been able to sleep at all, rubbed his sore neck. His steps from the study to the dressing room were heavy.
After showering, Lee Hyun put his hair up neatly as always. He came out of the dressing room wearing a dark gray suit jacket and an Audemars Piguet watch with a sparkling sapphire glass on his wrist.
〈Mr. Lee Hyeon.〉
With bloodshot eyes and dark circles under his eyes, Hyun Lee frowned at Seohee’s appearance, as if even she had stayed up all night, like him.
Seohee followed him, carrying the carrier she had left in the dressing room. She left the bedroom, went to the living room, and eventually to the entrance.
<What about breakfast …….>
<It’s okay.>
It was a reaction that she had expected. Seohee did not suggest it again, nor did she show any expression of regret.
〈I didn’t pack much because it was a two-week business trip. I thought you might not like it.〉
He would have just bought something from outside and worn it. Lee Hyun’s throat trembled.
〈I told you there was no need to do it.〉
These are the little things. Even though Lee Hyun swallowed his
last words, Seo Hee quickly figured out his intentions.
〈It’s been five years. It’s about time you got used to what I do.〉
He meant to say don’t do anything useless. But he unknowingly was anticipating for it from her.
Seohee lightly accepted it. A satisfied smile spread across her red lips.
Lee Hyun froze for a moment.
Because it’s true. I feel empty without Jin Seo-hee’s touch.
Because her actions, which had seeped in without a sound, colored my entire daily life.
Since when did I become accustomed to this? Lee Hyun bit his lip as if it was very unfamiliar.
It has to be completely different from this.
Something felt terribly wrong. Not just wrong, but as if something was holding me back.
Lee Hyun’s gaze soon turned to the handle of the carrier Seo Hee was holding. Soon, he turned his gaze straight ahead and stared at Seo Hee through the hallway mirror.
Before Jin Seo-hee’s existence becomes as natural as breathing. Before that.
“I have to cut it off.”
A firm monologue fell out. The twisted lips drew a semicircle.
The comfort and affection that small hands give him, the warmth that seems like it could melt me.
So he decided that he had to throw away all this comfort and familiarity.
〈I returned your stock. It was a mandate to begin with, so there was nothing to do but return it.〉
Weren’t they in a give-and-take relationship? Lee Hyun’s eyes sparkled rationally.
〈There is no need to repay the investment in J International.〉
J International’s usefulness has ended, so there is no reason to be with her any longer.
Seohee just blinked quietly. She wasn’t moved by his words that he would return the company and the stocks to her.
“The bodyguards have been withdrawn and Secretary Shin won’t be coming either.”
Breaking up also included freedom. Seohee’s lips moved as if poking at her delicate mucous membrane.
Lee Hyun’s straight eyebrows slightly furrowed as he looked at her through the mirror.
Once the succession of the Gayoon Group is confirmed, the delegated authority will be returned and everything will go back to them.
As originally planned, Lee Hyun carried out the plan faithfully. Without a single moment of hesitation.
〈Pack your bags and leave within two weeks.〉
He said it without difficulty, even though he knew that it was not enough time to organize for their five years.
Seohee was quiet. It seemed as if she was listening to what was being said.
As Lee Hyeon, who had been blankly staring at the sight, turned around, Seo Hee quickly grabbed his wrist.
Thud, the carrier slipped from her hands and made a loud noise.
〈Do you really want to end it?〉
It wasn’t a long, heartfelt statement like, “I don’t like it, how can it end like this, please give me a little more time.”
Lee Hyun raised his eyebrows sensitively. Seohee added while she was brushing her throat.
“Is that what you want?”
It was a calm voice. Seohee was as calm as a lake covered in the morning fog.
<……Yes.>
“Then please do one thing that I want too.”
Seohee tightly wrapped her arms around Lee Hyun’s neck. Her brown eyes caught Lee Hyun’s gaze.
Jin Seo-hee. As I swallowed the name that was coming out on the tip of my tongue and tried to push her shoulder away, the small tongue that had been tickling the tip of my lips deeply entangled with my tongue.
Lee Hyun suppressed a moan as her slender fingers brushed the area between the back of his head and his neck.
After five years of being in a relationship, it was not impossible for her to not to know my erogenous zones.
It was a clear provocation from her.
