A Marriage So Lethal (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8

  1. Home
  2. A Marriage So Lethal (Completed Main Story)
  3. Chapter 8
Prev
Next

Upon receiving word that the caregiver had arrived, the couple returned to Hyun Sook’s hospital room.

Se Ah had even considered staying behind to watch over the room herself, but fortunately, the caregiver appeared amiable.

Kang Woo stood before the caregiver.

“I’m sorry for contacting you in the middle of the night. I’ll pay you generously.”

“When you do this kind of work, last-minute assignments are quite common. It’s fine.”

The middle-aged caregiver smiled kindly, covering her lips.

“It won’t be too demanding—she isn’t critically ill. Just help her with meals and keep an eye out to prevent falls due to anemia. Also, her attending physician will check in about three times a day. If anything unusual comes up, please contact me.”

Kang Woo handed his business card to the caregiver.

Se Ah was once again surprised by Kang Woo’s rigid tone—polite and respectful, yet exceedingly impersonal. To others, he showed no opening whatsoever, making the comparatively warmer attitude he’d shown her seem almost gentle by comparison.

“Just contact me instead.”

Unable to stay silent, Se Ah interjected. Kang Woo’s gaze shifted toward her. *Why are you getting involved? Didn’t you say handling family matters makes you uncomfortable?* His unspoken words seemed almost legible.

“You’re busy with work, Kang Woo. I’ll handle it.”

Se Ah wrote her mobile number on the back of Kang Woo’s card and handed it to the caregiver.

“Her health is fragile, so episodes like this happen from time to time. She’s usually hospitalized for about ten days—to restore her strength and double-check for any symptoms missed in earlier examinations. I’ll visit daily, but please don’t hesitate to call if anything arises.”

“Yes, I will.”

The caregiver smiled, looking far more relaxed than before.

“It’s quite late already—you two should head in soon. I heard they lock the connecting door to the VIP ward after midnight.”

Checking the time, Se Ah saw fewer than ten minutes remained until midnight. She picked up her handbag from the table.

“By the way, where did Father go?”

“He returned home—with the younger man who was beside him and the housekeeper who helps with domestic matters… to prepare Congressman Cha’s breakfast, apparently…”

As the caregiver spoke, she glanced cautiously between the couple. Instinctively, Se Ah worried about Kang Woo. A faint crease briefly appeared between his brows before vanishing silently.

“Should I stay here?”

He had to go to work in just a few hours. Even if he went home, washed, and lay down, he’d probably only get two hours of sleep before leaving again. Despite the caregiver’s pleasant demeanor, entrusting a complete stranger—someone they’d only just met—still left him uneasy.

“No need.”

Kang Woo cut her off sharply.

He had hired the caregiver through a reputable agency that served only VIP clients. Their fees were several times higher than elsewhere, and thorough background documentation was provided immediately—identity verification wasn’t a concern.

Still, the furrow in his brow persisted—not due to the caregiver, but his father’s attitude.

“Then we’ll leave her in your care.”

After a brief bow, Kang Woo turned away. Se Ah quietly followed her distant husband.

They descended to the underground parking lot.

Kang Woo opened the passenger-side door and gave a light nod. She rarely rode in his car—and this was the first time she’d seen him display such courtesy.

She didn’t provoke him by insisting on sitting in the back. Obediently, she slipped into the seat he’d opened—and *thud*, the door shut.

A quick glance revealed his drawn, weary face. He’d even forgotten to start the engine, lightly gripping the steering wheel instead.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

Noticing her gaze, he turned to meet her eyes.

“No.”

“I thought you’d remembered some clause in our contract.”

Kang Woo let out a weak, humorless chuckle. Slowly, he leaned closer.

“Why are you coming nearer?”

Flustered, Se Ah pulled back as his upper body invaded almost to the point of touching her in the passenger seat.

“To fulfill the default setting.”

Eyes questioning his meaning, Se Ah leaned further away.

“You’re pulling back too obviously—it’s disappointing.”

With a wry smile, Kang Woo reached over, clicked her seatbelt into place, and secured it.

“I never asked for this.”

“Normally, the one in need knows better than to be demanding.”

Having spoken, he returned to the driver’s seat, reversed smoothly, and exited the parking lot.

The confined space made their shared presence awkward. Unable to bear the silence, she stole another glance at him. Instinctively, all her nerves fixated on him.

Even under such pressure, her emotions remained unsettled and wavering—excessively sentimental, really.

“I’ll think about what you mentioned, Kang Woo.”

Trending

He nodded, turning the steering wheel.

“Your answer came faster than I expected. I thought you’d make me wait much longer.”

His gaze, briefly meeting hers, had softened considerably.

“It’s not something I can avoid indefinitely. I need to decide and settle this.”

“Think carefully. I intend to accept all your terms.”

“What if I end up wanting something big?”

She voiced a thought she didn’t truly mean. Even if he had no such intention, he never failed to stir her emotions—while remaining utterly composed himself.

Before she realized it, they’d reached the parking lot of their newlywed home. Only after engaging the parking brake and turning off the engine did Kang Woo finally give her his full attention.

“How much would satisfy you?”

His question was as blunt and direct as his gaze.

“Whether we separate or not, I’ve always intended to ensure your fair share. If you continue living with me, your portion will only increase.”

Speechless, Se Ah pressed her lips together.

“I don’t want to see you scraping by miserably if we part ways—that’s beneath you, and I won’t have you branded that way.”

Should she thank him? Should she tell him how impressive he thought he was? Her emotions tangled into something complex and indistinct.

Having observed him for eight years, she’d believed she knew him fairly well—but clearly, she’d been presumptuous.

Lately, conversations with him left her mind blank and her chest inexplicably tight.

Kang Woo stepped out of the car—and moments later, the passenger door opened. His scent suddenly flooded in, overwhelming. He lifted his lowered eyelids, fixing his gaze on hers—motionless, intense. Their breaths nearly mingled.

*Click.* The instant he released her seatbelt stretched like an eternity.

Finally blinking, Se Ah’s wide eyes registered what had just happened. His gaze, one hand resting on the hood, pinned her in place.

“Get out.”

Suddenly, she wondered about his past—whether it was truly true that he knew nothing of women.

That captivating gaze, the faint smile lingering on his lips, the way his tone began rough but always ended tenderly—even within those one or two minutes of opening her door and unbuckling her seatbelt, sensuality erupted.

Whether he was instinctively mastering seduction—or deliberately withholding it until now—he undeniably excelled at captivating women.

When she hesitated, he gently extended his hand, even offering a naturally warm smile. Ignoring him, she grabbed her handbag and stepped out of the car.

The moment she entered the house, Se Ah headed straight for the bedroom—only for Kang Woo to lightly catch her wrist.

“Didn’t I ask why you’re doing this, knowing it only brings you loss?”

He gently brushed aside a stray lock of hair that had fallen across Se Ah’s cheek.

“I said I detest troublesome matters—but honestly, nothing in life has ever truly unsettled me… except for once.”

“…When was that?”

“The time before our marriage, when you slipped away while I was asleep and refused to answer my calls.”

A furrow deepened between Se Ah’s brows.

“For the first time in my life, you’ve stirred my emotions—and I don’t dislike it.”

Her hand, clasped in his, trembled faintly.

“I’ve said it many times—the contract terms are yours to set.”

Her handbag slid off her rounded shoulder and began falling—only for him to catch it with his palm before it hit the floor.

“I’ll abide by whatever you decide.”

Kang Woo’s intense gaze settled on Se Ah’s face. To hide the heat flushing her cheeks, she turned away first.

His heavy gaze followed her all the way until the bedroom door closed.

The next morning, Se Ah returned to Hanyang University Hospital to visit Hyun Sook.

As she parked in the underground lot and prepared to leave, a woman walked directly in front of her car. Heavy footsteps followed shortly after.

“Why on earth are you doing this?”

A young man’s voice echoed—a man in a doctor’s coat and a woman radiating unmistakable sophistication. They happened to be causing a scene right in front of her car, making it difficult to exit. Assuming it would end soon, she decided to wait.

“Out of nowhere, divorce? Is this kind of unilateral announcement even acceptable?”

The woman had even turned off her heavily tinted car—perhaps why they seemed unbothered by potential eavesdroppers. Though she’d unintentionally overheard their private affair, the story sounded so familiar that Se Ah let out an involuntary chuckle.

Soon, the woman’s cool voice drifted over: *I know you’re busy; I’ve tolerated much already, but I’m done—let’s each go our own way.*

Maybe she should’ve just left earlier? As the argument dragged on, Se Ah found herself stuck—leaving now would make it seem as though she’d deliberately eavesdropped, an awkward situation for everyone.

She checked her phone—just in case the caregiver had messaged—but only found multiple texts from Kang Woo:

*Are you up? Did you eat breakfast? Reply.*

Short messages, spaced exactly one hour apart.

“Since you’ve said all you needed to, prepare the divorce papers and send them. I’ll stay at my mother’s.”

ads

As the woman’s firm declaration reached her ears, Se Ah slipped her phone back into her handbag. The woman turned sharply—the scene, apparently, concluded.

Se Ah reached for her door—only for the man to suddenly pull the woman into a tight embrace. The encounter grew increasingly intimate, leaving her increasingly uncomfortable.

“You know I can’t live without you, right? I’m sorry for neglecting you—I’ll do better from now on, okay?”

Pleading, he tried to turn her body toward him.

“I’m tired of sacrificing myself for your ambition. How many times a week did you even come home? You kept delaying having children, obsessed with becoming an associate professor—I was always left waiting, shoved aside by your work.”

“I’m sorry—but you know I have no one but you. I love you—just give me one more chance.”

The woman’s resistance weakened. Her shoulders heaved—she was crying. Moments later, their clasped hands disappeared from view.

Watching them blankly, Se Ah wore a bitter smile. The inexplicable heaviness that had weighed on her lifted, unexpectedly.

*“I have no one but you—I can’t live without you… I love you.”*

She repeated the stranger’s words aloud, tasting them.

Now, it was clear—why every conversation with Kang Woo left her so confused.

For eight years, not a single day had passed without her loving him.

From the moment she signed the contract with Nam Tae, through their one-year marriage with its preordained endpoint, up to this very juncture—yet another potential contract renewal—

Underlying it all had been her unwavering love for him.

It wasn’t just fear of Nam Tae or gratitude for his patronage that drove her into marriage. Ultimately, it was simply her desire to be with Kang Woo.

She’d convinced herself it was fortunate he didn’t love her—if he had, the contract would have been void. She’d strived to earn Nam Tae’s approval, and even accepted the divorce, terrified Kang Woo might face threats.

*“For the first time in my life, you’ve stirred my emotions—and I don’t dislike it.”*

Kang Woo’s stubborn, piercing eyes haunted her thoughts all night—leaving her tossing and turning, utterly sleepless.

He’d grown unusually tender and bold—yet she still clung to the belief that this was merely fleeting obsession, or a sudden impulse.

Because, all this time—he had never once said he loved her.

Not once had he said he needed her, or declared with certainty, *I can’t live without you.*

Most Commented This Week
Prev
Next

YOUR COMMENT

1. Please write comments in English.
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.