On the window darkened by deep shadows, the reflections of Hyun passionately devouring Yura’s lips and Yura struggling to receive it were visible.

The moment they entered the empty suite room under Hyun’s name, their lips locked before the door could even close.

Yura’s body was helplessly pushed back by his impatient movements devoid of patience. Unable to keep up with his pace, her feet tangled and her body staggered.

Hyun seemed to wrap around her slender waist, then supported her buttocks and lifted her up in one breath.

Even as he removed the high heels that had been hindering her steps and tossed them carelessly, their intertwined breaths did not separate. Arriving at the reception room where the night view could be appreciated through a large window, Hyun sat Yura on a wide table.

Thus, as their rapid breaths intertwined, they were busy savoring each other’s breath.

Hyun dropped his suit jacket on the floor and Yura’s trench coat was also thrown carelessly onto the table. Hyun loosened his already loose necktie while moving his Adam’s apple as if growling.

“It might be a bit rough tonight.”

Yura could not give any answer to Hyun’s words. From the movement that stirred inside her mouth more persistently than usual, it was threatening. It felt as if reason had been cut off and only desire was dotted.

As if representing roughness, Hyun who had been unbuttoning his shirt frowned and tore it violently. The powerlessly torn buttons flew here and there, but neither of them was curious about their whereabouts.

Yura bit her lip as she looked at the muscles that were writhing as if enraged. Even though it wasn’t the first time seeing it, the firm flesh that repeated contraction and relaxation caused a burning thirst in Yura every time she saw it.

Yura placed her hand on his chest as if bewitched. Soon, Hyun’s hand that had been reaching out towards her stopped in mid-air.

“If you touch me like that, I might really go crazy.”

Yura slowly raised her eyes and stared at Hyun. Having always succumbed to him, a unnecessary provocation sprang out.

“What happens if you go crazy?”

“Ha, Jin Yura.”

“What happens, I asked?”

It was then that Yura was raising the corners of her mouth strangely. He grabbed the front of her blouse and pulled it to both sides in one breath.

As the blouse tore helplessly, a moist breath wedged in. As Yura’s lips parted in startled surprise, he whispered lowly.

“You won’t be able to go to work tomorrow.”

Their entangled breaths were rough, making obscene noises. The persistent fondling turned Yura red. Hyun’s movements were intense as he took in the sight of Yura, who was dazzlingly seductive.

The air in this sealed space became hot with only their breaths. Droplets of sweat, unsure whose they were, wet Yura’s cheeks and her short hair clung in clumps.

Hyun’s clouded gaze followed along Yura’s delicate facial lines as he stroked with his hand. All these moments were engraved in Hyun’s mind, spreading a thrilling sensation as if shuddering.

Hyun kissed her eyes, which were red with unshed tears.

This time of persistently yearning for each other did not end easily, and they rushed endlessly until the darkness deepened and deepened and a bluish light was created.

Hyun whispered in Yura’s ear as she opened her eyes with difficulty, groaning.

“Good morning.”

“You’re crazy.”

Yura found her own hoarse voice unfamiliar, as if it were someone else’s voice.

As if putting into practice his words that it would be rough, last night’s Hyun was like a beast. He was fierce and limitless, enough to make her mistakenly think that all their countless previous encounters had contained their own consideration.

Having unnecessarily ruminated on last night, it was awkward to face Hyun.

Although it wasn’t the first or second time, she still didn’t know what expression to show him. As she squirmed while covering herself up to her head with the blanket, she vividly felt his movement of getting up from the bed.

As he raised his upper body, the blanket lifted slightly, and she could faintly hear the sound of his feet touching the floor. His movements, perceived through hearing, had neither haste nor hesitation. It was just a series of graceful and gentle movements like a swan.

This grace and gentleness was the usual Hyun. Then what was last night’s Hyun? Which appearance is the real him? Which appearance do I yearn for more? Yura’s thoughts chased one after another.

“I contacted the company.”

Hyun’s voice followed over the fluttering of silk as he put on a robe. Realizing belatedly what she had been missing due to being so full of thoughts of him, Yura abruptly raised her upper body.

“Ah, the company.”

As soon as she got up, Yura collapsed weakly to the side due to the pain screaming throughout her body. As she bent over and groaned, his warm presence descended over her head.

“I told them you couldn’t come in because you’re sick, so rest.”

“The cat’s thinking of the mouse.”

It felt good to have her head caressed, but it also made her feel irritated.

Clearly they had been together, but it was still an incomprehensible area that only she was suffering. Yura turned her eyes towards Hyun with a face full of displeasure, as if trapped in an unsolvable mystery.

“Porridge?”

“I don’t even have the strength to move a finger.”

“I’ve drawn hot water.”

“I don’t even have the energy to talk, how can I bathe?”

Yura tried to lie back down on the bed, grabbing the blanket as if everything was bothersome. At that moment, Hyun’s hand suddenly came under her knees and lifted her up effortlessly.

“Ah! Oppa!”

Yura was startled and worried about falling, but couldn’t grab onto Hyun. If she grabbed him, the blanket she was struggling to hold would fall to the floor. She didn’t have the courage to show him her slip-clad form yet.

Unlike Yura, Hyun walked briskly towards the bathroom, dragging the blanket along. He was determined to put her in the bathtub.

Entering the steam-filled bathroom, Hyun said in a voice full of amusement:

“How far are you planning to take that blanket?”

“That’s why you should have just left me alone.”

Yura pouted her lips and looked down at the bathtub full of warm comfort. Now that she saw it, she felt the urge to soak in it and relax the tingling pain into drowsiness.

“Shall I put you in like this, blanket and all?”

At the prodding question that followed, Yura bit her lip and furrowed her brow.

“I-I’m embarrassed.”

“Isn’t it too late to say such things?”

She knew it was late, far too late. But she wasn’t bold enough to walk around in just a slip.

“I’ll do it alone, so put me down and go. Please.”

As the embarrassed Yura muttered while avoiding his gaze, Hyun pressed his lips to her forehead and advised in a gentle voice:

“Warm water will help ease the pain a bit. Take your time.”

When Yura nodded slowly, Hyun relaxed the arms that had been tightly holding her.

Yura carefully placed her feet on the bathroom floor and let out a sigh of relief. She thought it was fortunate enough that Baek Hyun, who usually had to do exactly what he wanted, was backing down like this.

“Leave the blanket there, I’ll take care of it.”

Yura, clutching the blanket tightly, waved her hand as if telling him to stop nagging and leave quickly.

After Hyun left the bathroom, Yura spent a long time in the hot water, easing her pain. Feeling weak, she showered roughly and exited the bathroom, only to find Hyun leaning against the wall.

“Come here.”

At Hyun’s beckoning gesture, Yura narrowed her eyes. Hyun let out a chuckle and then pulled Yura by the shoulder. He sat Yura, who was looking at him suspiciously, on the sofa.

“I’ll just loosen up your tight muscles. I won’t do anything else.”

He said as if reassuring Yura, and took a seat behind her.

“If you do anything more here, you’re not human.”

“Haha.”

At the end of her prim retort, Hyun’s laughter spread faintly. After hearing it a few times, now she could picture his smiling face just from the sound. Yura was displeased with her own growing feelings.

Baek Hyun’s kindness, friendliness, and consideration that showed moment by moment made Yura fall into a delusion. It was a delusion that this might be more than just a relationship bound by a simple contract.

However, his indifferent expression when agreeing that this was a business-like relationship based on necessity made her realize it was truly just a delusion.

Yura shook off her thoughts at the touch of hands massaging her shoulders. She wanted to fully savor this moment now.

A groan involuntarily escaped at the pressing sensation that started from behind her ears. The touch that kneaded her stiff neck and pressed her tense shoulders with thumbs was quite skillful.

As the stiffness and muscle pain subsided, she felt drowsy. Perhaps due to lack of sleep, her eyes closed on their own.

“…It feels so good, I’m getting sleepy.”

“Sleep.”

“I need to… dry my hair.”

Her mind had already taken out the hair dryer, but her body was still in Hyun’s arms.

As she tried to force her half-closed eyes open, Hyun’s large hand gently pressed on Yura’s forehead. Yura’s head naturally rested on Hyun’s shoulder. Before her gaze could be drawn to the distant ceiling, his hand blocked it.

“Shh, sleep if you’re sleepy.”

Unable to resist the drowsiness with the warmth gently covering her eyelids, Yura gradually fell asleep.

“Sleep well, my wife.”

She seemed to hear Hyun’s whisper calling her ‘wife’ in her ear. She wanted to tell him to stop calling her that, but her lips wouldn’t move in the end.

After Baek Hyun took Yura away, Sejin’s anxiety grew like a snowball. The Yura that Sejin remembered was clumsy in love and not the type to easily accept those emotions.

He couldn’t remember how much effort he had put in until they started dating, how many times he had revealed his heart and tried to win her favor. Yet in the end, he had to run away due to Baek Hyun’s threats, which were sharper than Yoo Geon’s intimidation.

And now that he had returned, he believed without a doubt that she still loved him.

He could tell just by her trembling gaze at their first meeting or the way she avoided eye contact. He was certain their love was still valid from the fountain pen she still kept.

If only Baek Hyun hadn’t interfered in between, Jin Yura would have become his woman. Baek Hyun was getting in the way between him and Yura both then and now.

“Baek Hyun, that bastard.”

Sejin didn’t think Yura loved Baek Hyun. He thought she was just expressing her resentment towards him in that way. But Yura’s unwavering appearance was more than a little unsettling.

She was a woman who had loved him so much and hadn’t let go of him even while cutting ties with her family. Such a Yura couldn’t have changed her heart over just a brief separation.

Above all, Jin Yura was supposed to be the woman who would become his strong support.

He concluded that there would need to be a small incident to separate the two. And if that incident could deal a blow to Baek Hyun, it would be even better.

“You’ll have to endure this much. To have you and get rid of that bastard.”

Sejin took out a business card he had received when entering Korea and smiled maliciously.