•WDHKD Chapter 1
― “I’m truly sorry. I didn’t realize you were his wife and spoke so carelessly…”
“It’s alright, manager. Don’t worry about it.”
Hong Iseo hung up the phone and stared out the window for a moment.
The sky was heavily overcast seeming it might rain at any moment.
A day like this seemed fitting—a day to learn of her husband’s affair.
Iseo’s husband, Kang Yuri, had apparently purchased two tickets to Iceland in secret. Along with a diamond ring.
The meaning was obvious without needing to see more.
“Can we talk after the concert?”
So, that was the conversation he wanted to have.
A child of “Seonjin,” one of the country’s leading conglomerates—a logo you could spot with just a little effort wherever you turned.
A pianist who started as a hobby and, at the young age of 18, won prestigious international competitions. He then pursued a long period of study abroad, rarely performing in Korea, adding to his mystique.
With striking looks, even those uninterested in classical music flocked to his concerts, making tickets almost impossible to obtain, even on the resale market.
Despite his glamorous background, there hadn’t been a single scandal—leading some to spread rumors questioning his sexuality.
This man, Kang Yuri, was Hong Iseo’s husband.
“One year already…”
Early next month would mark their wedding anniversary.
Though Iseo’s background wasn’t exactly ordinary—she was the daughter of “Jeongan,” a famous domestic food company—she lived a relatively modest life compared to her family’s reputation. She worked as a film columnist and was the only child of a homemaker mother. Nothing too remarkable.
A marriage where one side tilts is bound to invite whispers.
Iseo had grown used to those whispers. She also had no doubt that one day, Kang Yuri would eventually ask for a divorce.
“The terms of the marriage contract are simple: If either party requests a divorce, the other will comply without asking for a reason.”
Iseo had agreed to the terms without hesitation and one year had passed.
The living room, where the two of them had never really spent time together, was steeped in silence.
And then, suddenly, she had a thought.
Since this would be the last time…
Should I watch him perform?
For some reason, Kang Yuri’s manager seemed to believe the two of them were a happy couple.
Although they appeared together at public events when absolutely necessary, Kang Yuri’s famously sharp and icy demeanor didn’t require them to pretend to be a loving couple.
Wasn’t it Channel 7? That’s what they said.
It was supposed to be a live broadcast.
“Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 8, Pathétique.”
Sitting on the sofa, she hugged her knees and curled up.
The sight of him seated at the piano looked like a scene straight out of a movie.
She didn’t know much about romantic feelings, but as someone who loved films, she had a keen sense of what was beautiful.
And Kang Yuri was beautiful.
For a pianist, he had an unusually solid build and a large frame, yet every note he played was intricate and precise.
He brought intense focus to every moment, leading the music with unparalleled conviction.
His emotions translated vividly, and as you immersed yourself in his performance, you found yourself forgetting where you were.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were here.”
“I’m sorry.”
Hearing the sound of the door open, she turned around to see the housekeeper, who usually handled the chores, standing there.
She’d never met her directly before and was momentarily unsure of how to react.
“It’s alright.”
She felt like someone caught doing something wrong, even though all she had done was watch her husband perform.
If anything, not watching might make her seem like a more indifferent, unfaithful wife.
“I left my wallet behind earlier.”
“Would you like me to help you find it?”
“No, no! I’ll be out quickly. Please, keep watching.”
“Oh… alright.”
“Um… ma’am.”
“Yes?”
Iseo was still unaccustomed to being called ma’am.
It felt strange every time.
“Do you happen to have a favorite kind of wine?”
“…What?”
“I don’t know much about wine, so I just asked for something expensive and good. But they said wine is all about personal taste.”
“Ah…”
Had Kang Yuri sent her on this errand?
But why ask me about my favorite wine?
If she was someone responsible for cleaning and taking care of the house, she would naturally know better.
After all, Kang Yuri and Hong Iseo had never once shared a bed or even had a meal together at home.
His demanding concert schedule kept him frequently overseas, and Iseo was always racing against deadlines.
Her room was on the second floor, while his practice room, likely chosen for its soundproofing, was at the end of the hallway.
Even after long overseas tours, Kang Yuri would sit down to play the piano as soon as he came home in the early hours of the morning. Such was his passion as a pianist.
Oddly enough, listening to his music gave Iseo a sense of comfort, helping her drift off to sleep.
“Still, you do seem to enjoy cheese and fruit, so I’ve stocked the fridge for you.”
“Oh… yes, thank you.”
“Have a good evening. Gosh, I say the most unnecessary things, don’t I?”
With those words, the housekeeper quickly retrieved her wallet and hurried off.
Iseo stood awkwardly until the front door opened and closed again, only exhaling softly once she heard the click of the door shutting.
Perhaps it was an encore piece, but by the time she looked back, the concert had ended.
There was no need to prepare wine.
Or maybe there was—perhaps he expected her to leave soon and had it arranged in advance.
What kind of person, she wondered, was the one Kang Yuri loved?
She had no right or reason to be curious. After all, she had lived quietly in a house without even a single wedding photo hanging on the walls. But a pure, undeniable curiosity arose.
When had they met? Abroad?
How much longer would it be until he returned?
Their shared home, “Byeolujae” was a secluded villa perched at the edge of a mountain outside the city, while the concert had taken place in Seoul.
If he rushed, it would take about two hours.
Even so, she didn’t want to be caught in a shabby state when he broke the news of their divorce.
“I should get ready.”
She went upstairs to her room and touched up her makeup.
Looking around, she suddenly realized how few possessions she had brought with her.
Leaving her family home in high school and starting life in a tiny studio apartment had made it almost impossible to accumulate much. The few indulgences she allowed herself were books and DVDs, which now filled two bookshelves to the brim.
“It’ll be hard to carry all this on my own.”
She decided to call a car. A moving truck would be too conspicuous, but a taxi wouldn’t be sufficient either.
This was one of those moments when she regretted not having a driver’s license. She rarely needed to drive, so she never bothered to learn.
Lost in thought, she realized time had slipped away.
She went back downstairs.
Outside, it had grown dark, and rain was falling.
Through the window, she could see the well-manicured garden.
“I think I’ll miss this place,” she murmured to herself, glancing idly at the television.
She thought it was off, but apparently, it had just been muted. The screen was still on.
The live broadcast had ended, replaced by a romance reality show. Coincidentally, it was at the moment when a couple was being paired.
She didn’t know much about emotions like love, but she was well-versed in the depictions of love from films.
“Is that really love?”
Some might laugh at the thought, but was love truly essential to everyone’s life?
There were plenty of people too busy surviving to think about love.
It was better to change the channel.
Just as she picked up the remote—
“Breaking news: World-renowned pianist Kang Yuri in a car accident while returning home.”
The remote slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor.
The voice of the news anchor followed.
“Breaking news: It has been reported that the car of world-renowned pianist Kang Yuri, who won the OO Competition, crashed into a guardrail and plunged off a cliff. Police have retrieved the vehicle but have not yet found Kang Yuri. A search is currently underway, and our reporters are on the way. We will provide updates shortly.”
“…Ah.”
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.
Thump, thump.
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears.
***
“Let’s get married.”
Kang Yuri’s proposal was simple.
It came during their second encounter after meeting at an event hosted by the Seonjin Foundation.
“Hmm?”
“Just to be sure, may I ask if you are currently planning to marry someone?”
Iseo was bewildered.
Though they had briefly crossed paths at the event, they had never had a real conversation before.
Furthermore, rumors were circulating that “Kang Yuri is either asexual or impotent.”
Such wild and baseless claims only seemed to enhance his enigmatic appeal, making him even more popular among the public.
“I don’t, but…”
Caught off guard, Iseo struggled to find an answer, her words trailing off as her hand slipped and the coffee cup she was holding fell.
“Sorry! Don’t move!”
In a rush, she bent down to pick up the shards.
Kang Yuri, still wearing his gloves, removed them slowly. Then, as if reaching for her wrist, he extended his hand.
Iseo instinctively pulled her wrist back. She then carefully grasped a napkin and gently held his fingertips.
One of his eyebrows arched slightly.
“Are you hurt?”
A café staff member rushed over to ask.
Iseo let go of his hand and took a step back.
“Yes, sorry. It slipped.”
“We’ll clean it up right away,” the staff said, disappearing to fetch cleaning supplies.
During that moment, she examined him, checking for any injuries. His low voice broke the silence.
“You know, don’t you? That you’re the best option for me, despite my… issues. So, together, we make the most logical choice.”
“…What do you mean?”
“You’ll understand soon enough what that means.”
He spoke with certainty.
But those words remained a mystery forever, as he died.
Of course, this is the story up until the dead Kang Yuri returns.
