Chapter 1
5 o’clock in the morning.
Even without the alarm, Su-a’s eyes opened automatically at this time.
As she got used to the darkness, she glanced to the right of the bed.
“Sigh….”
A faint sound of breathing. A man with strong shoulders caught her eye.
“Today is a day off from work. Let’s leave him to sleep in.”
Even though she slightly sat up, her husband Hyun-oh was sound asleep without any movement.
He must be exhausted.
Two months ago, Hyun-oh was promoted from the head of the PY Chemicals to the CEO. PY Chemicals was currently making a name for itself in the cosmetics and household chemical industries. After taking office, he worked tirelessly day and night to break into the Chinese market.
Was all that hard work worth it? Finally, a big contract with a Chinese company was signed last week.
Su-a bowed her head and quietly looked at his face.
His usually neat hair was disheveled and flowing over his forehead. Below that, a sharp nose, red lips. His face never get old no matter how much I look at it.
I wanted to take a picture of him sleeping, but I didn’t have the courage. She looked at him for a while and finally took her eyes off him and got up from her seat.
“I need to prepare breakfast.”
It’s been half a year since they got married. Still they couldn’t eat dinner together often, Su-a always prepared breakfast with care.
She went to the bathroom to wash up and put on some makeup before heading to the kitchen. She boiled the seafood she bought yesterday and quickly stir-fried some dried shredded vegetables. When she tasted the seafood soup with a spoon, it had a deep and rich flavor.
“Delicious.”
A smile formed on Su-a’s lips. Before getting married, she had never cooked a meal with her own hands.
“In life, people get used to things. If you make an effort, you can become good at things you couldn’t do before.”
Looking at the bubbling soup, Su-a smiled helplessly.
About half a year ago, she suddenly decided to marry Hyun-oh. It was a strategic marriage. The sudden marriage between Han Dong Group, run by Su-a’s father, and PY Group, run by Hyun-oh’s grandfather, turned the business world upside down.
A marriage out of necessity.
Hyun-oh needed the support of Su-a’s family, the Han Dong Group, for the growth of PY Chemicals, and as for himself…
“Finally up, huh?”
A low, deep voice came from behind. Su-a turned her body around to look back. After washing up, a man wearing his bathrobe loosely and combing his wet hair came in.
Hyun-oh needed the Han Dong Group, and I…
The sight of the man who had just woken up and come out of the shower was incredibly stimulating. Water droplets fell from his hair, dripping down onto his broad and firm chest. Following the water flowing between the rugged muscles, she quickly averted her gaze, as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have, and blushed.
Hastily, Su-a turned her eyes away.
“Yes, Mr. Hyun-oh, you’re up early too. You came home late yesterday.”
There was an executive dinner last night as a celebration for securing the Chinese contract.
“I was waiting for you and ended up falling asleep first.”
Saying that, she smiled at Hyun-oh, who furrowed his brow.
“You could have gone to bed first.”
“I ended up falling asleep. Will you have breakfast? Everything’s ready.”
“Sure.”
He stretched widely. Hyun-oh, much bigger than Su-a, became even more imposing as he stretched, revealing his strong arms and chest. A sweet scent and a faint shower cologne filled Su-a’s lungs.
Her insides tickled. No matter how many mornings she faced him, she never got used to it.
She liked him that much.
No, she loved him.
Just the scent of him made a corner of her heart warm, and she couldn’t bear it.
Stop thinking about useless things and get breakfast ready.
Su-a shook her head and set the prepared food on the table in front of the window overlooking the garden.
Seafood soup, rolled omelet, freshly cooked rice, and seasoned vegetables.
“Have some. Did you drink a lot last night?”
“So, you made seafood soup?”
Yes, I thought you’d like it since you had it last time.
Hyun-oh looked down at the food without saying anything and then raised his head to look at her.
“Han Su-a.”
“Yes?”
“There is no need to try this hard. It’s easier when people are just relaxed.”
“No, I want to do it because I like to.”
“I’m saying this because it makes me uncomfortable.”
A beautiful and large house. The interior of the house is decorated according to Su-a’s taste. After getting married, she could do everything she wanted.
A handsome, capable, perfect husband.
He even kindly told her not to do the household chores.
Being able to spend time with him like this made her happy.
For the past 6 months, she had been really lucky.
“Are you busy today?”
“No, the Chinese distribution deal is now settled, so I’m planning to take a break.”
“It looks like you have some free time.”
He narrowed his eyes at the sound of Su-a’s voice, which seemed to be wondering if he had some free time.
“Do you have something you want to do? If there’s something you want, just tell me.”
“Is there something you want to do? “If there’s anything you want, let me know.”
“No, there’s nothing I want to say, I have something to tell you.”
“What?”
She had the opening line ready, but it wasn’t easy for her to get to the point.
She had been agonizing over it for days.
She was so happy to be sitting face to face with Hyun-oh, she wanted to look into his eyes for a very long time, she want to protect this peace…
That’s why it was difficult to speak.
I loved him so much that I couldn’t find the courage to speak. If I opened her mouth, everything would be over.
But, I have to make up my mind because I love him.
“Mr. Hyun-oh.”
“Uh?”
“We…”
Su-a moved her dry lips with tension.
“We’re getting a divorce.”
Under the dazzling sunlight,deep wrinkles formed on Hyun-oh’s forehead.
“What are you saying all of a sudden?”
Hyun-oh’s smile twisted at Su-a’s sudden declaration.
“A divorce?”
Although they only got married politically, he seemed somewhat angry at the idea of getting a divorce. I was happy with that alone. Thankfully, I thought she would easily ask for a divorce.
Su-a took off her apron and looked away.
“There’s no reason for us to stay married.”
“…”
“So I want a divorce.”
Hyun-oh and I were a show-window couple. This isn’t a real marriage.
“I want to leave this house.”
At Su-a’s firm words, he finally realized that she was serious and put down his chopsticks.
“I just want to go back and live as just Han Su-a, not the Han Su-a of Han Group, not the wife of CEO Ji Hyun-oh of PY Chemicals, just… me.”
Just, Han Su-a.
If there had been such a thing.
Since birth, Su-a had grown up as her father wanted. Good grades, exceptional looks, and a docile personality under her authoritarian father.
That’s how she grew up.
Even after marrying Ji Hyun-oh, it was the same. She had played the role of the lead actress in this tiresome play.
But not anymore. She was twenty-five this year. Maybe it was time to start a new life.
Forget the company, forget you, and just be Han Su-a.
She spoke.
“I don’t need anything else. Just… just give me the divorce. I won’t ask for alimony or anything like that.”
The man’s lips remained closed as she delivered the shocking news.
“I’ll leave the timing of the divorce up to you, Mr. Hyun-oh. So just…”
Just give me a divorce.
I wanted to say those words, but tears welled up, and I couldn’t speak.
To love him and demand a divorce. What an ironic situation.
Hyun-oh didn’t back down.
“Just live as Han Su-a. You can live as my wife. What’s so wrong with that?”
“…”
“Tell me.”
She hadn’t thought that far ahead.
She bit her lip and listed off things she had pulled from her head.
“Just… things that women in their 20s and 30s do. I want to get a job, travel, and date…”
I didn’t intend to say the word “date,” but Hyun-oh’s lips twitched at those words.
Oh, how trivial and ridiculous.
Su-a hurriedly got up from her seat, not wanting to show her true feelings. she mumbled as he headed to the fridge, pretending to go get some water.
“These are just trivial things. I haven’t thought deeply about it yet. But I want to live a different life from now. That’s why I want to break up.”
She kept rambling in response to his unexpected question, nervously biting her lips.
Drrring.
Hyun-oh’s sound of getting up was heard as he chased after her. Holding the handle of the fridge, Su-a took a deep breath. In the air filling her lungs, she could sense his scent, making her heart flutter.
Still looking towards the fridge, he approached her steadily. Then, he grabbed her shoulder and turned her towards him. It was a gentle gesture, but his fingers brushing her neck made her flinch.
As she looked up at him, his sharp, piercing gaze fell on her face. With twisted lips, Hyun-oh murmured,
“No, we can’t get divorced.”
“…”
“Do whatever you want. Get a job? Where do you want to work? Han Group, PY, or any other company. Pursue your desired career. What was your major again? Korean literature? Then joining the editorial team would be good. You want to travel? Go wherever you want.”
Strangely, there was a mix of anger in his words.
“Hyun-oh…”
Suddenly, not knowing why he was getting angry, Su-a’s eyelashes trembled.
“That’s why.”
He murmured with a twisted expression.
“We can’t get divorced. Not until I die.”
The man’s words were firm.
