Thanks to Kang Woo’s consideration, the wedding reception ended shortly with brief greetings. However, Hee Won had no memory of how even that brief time of less than 30 minutes had passed.

After exchanging endless greetings, Hee Won boarded the plane to America in a daze.

If the reception had been any longer, Hee Won might not have been able to board the plane.

“It will take about 15 hours to New York. Get some sleep.”

“Thank you.”

Hee Won was in an almost half-asleep state.

Kang Woo brushed Hee Won’s hair aside as she mumbled a reply and asked.

“Do you want to eat?”

“…Yes.”

“Then I’ll wake you when it’s time.”

Kang Woo said as he covered Hee Won with a blanket he had received from the flight attendant.

“…What about you, Kang Woo?”

“Ah, I have some documents to review. Don’t worry about me and rest.”

“…Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I’m your husband now, aren’t I?”

Hee Won’s heart fluttered at Kang Woo’s words.

“I’m going to sleep now. I’m so sleepy.”

“Alright.”

Unable to hold out any longer, Hee Won closed her eyes.

Though it was a dream, it felt like reality.

In her dream, Hee Won was once again having a wedding ceremony with Kang Woo.

The behavior of Chairman Seong, her legal family, Choo Hyun Jung, and Seong Yu Na, whom she had seen at the wedding venue, continued in her dream.

Even in her dream, Hee Won realized anew how futile family was and felt empty.

Throughout the wedding, her father acted as if he was somebody important, receiving greetings from people. Choo Hyun Jung showed discomfort whenever their eyes met, even while smiling. Seong Yu Na stared openly at Kang Woo, not caring about the gazes around her.

The behavior of those called family was a complete mess.

But.

‘Seong Hee Won, are you alright?’

‘If you’re tired, lean on me.’

‘You look beautiful.’

‘I don’t like seeing Seong Hee Won struggling. So it’s fine if the reception is short.’

‘Shall I get you some water? Tell me if you’re uncomfortable.’

Even in her dream, Kang Woo said the same things as in reality.

If it weren’t for Kang Woo, Hee Won might have collapsed.

Even knowing it was a dream, seeing the same situation as reality unfold made her want to cry.

She liked Cha Kang Woo.

No, she loved him.

She had never given her heart to a man before, but now she had fallen for none other than her contract husband.

‘Can I hide my feelings for 3 years? What would Cha Kang Woo say if he knew? It’s a relationship that will end anyway. Why did I end up liking Cha Kang Woo?’

Was it because she had acknowledged her feelings for Kang Woo, or was it because he was treating her so well even though it was just a contract?

I like you, Cha Kang Woo.

Forcibly swallowing the words lingering in her mouth, she smiled at Kang Woo.

Strangely, her emotions welled up.

Tears formed in the corners of Hee Won’s eyes as she slept.

Hearing her stir, Kang Woo took his eyes off the tablet and turned to Hee Won.

His eyes wavered when he saw her tears. He put down the tablet and called for a flight attendant.

What was handed to him was a tissue.

Kang Woo carefully wiped away her tears so as not to wake Hee Won.

“If you’re in pain somewhere, don’t hold back and tell me.”

Kang Woo said as he cupped Hee Won’s pale cheek with his large hand.

“Hee Won.”

“…”

“You don’t have to think too much. You’re my person now, and no one can touch you.”

Even as he turned his attention back to the computer to work, Kang Woo’s mind was on Hee Won.

As if having nightmares while sleeping, she would occasionally frown or flinch.

Each time, Kang Woo would touch her cheek and quietly wait until she calmed down.

When her face became peaceful, Kang Woo would focus on work again.

It was consideration that the sleeping Hee Won could not know.

When the in-flight meal arrived, he didn’t wake Hee Won. He didn’t want to disturb her when she had finally fallen asleep.

“Cha Kang Woo.”

Hee Won, who had woken up at some point, said without properly opening her eyes.

“Why did you wake up?”

“I heard a noise. Is the food here?”

Kang Woo felt strange as he looked at Hee Won.

Hee Won had never shown weakness even once. No, she rather tried not to show weakness.

But that image left a deeper impression on Kang Woo.

Cha Kang Woo had never had any altruism, and had never felt protective instincts towards anyone in his life.

Hee Won was different.

He wanted to protect her and keep her safe.

Whatever this feeling was, Kang Woo was confused every time he looked at Hee Won.

And at the end of that confusion, the conclusion was always the same.

Since we’re living together anyway, to get along well during the contract period.

Yes, just that, Kang Woo decided as he said to Hee Won.

“I’ll ask them to bring the in-flight meal again.”

“Yes, thank you.”

[This is the timeline separator]

15 hours later.

[Ladies and gentlemen, our flight will be arriving at New York Airport shortly. Please keep your seatbelts fastened and window shades open until the plane comes to a complete stop. Please return your seat backs, tables, and any luggage to their original positions.]

As the pre-landing announcement came on, Kang Woo gently shook Hee Won awake.

“Hee Won, it’s time to wake up.”

When Hee Won couldn’t come to her senses, Kang Woo moved a little closer and whispered in her ear.

“We need to get up now.”

Hee Won opened her eyes groggily. As their eyes met, Kang Woo tidied up the blanket she had been using and said,

“We’ve arrived.”

“What?”

“It’s New York.”

“Already?”

It felt like she had only slept for an hour or two.

To think they had already arrived in America.

Feeling the saying ‘time flies’ in reality, Hee Won blinked her eyes.

“I’m glad the flight time felt short to you. I was worried you might get bored.”

At Kang Woo’s words, Hee Won stared at him blankly.

Was it because she had been living under so much tension all this time?

Or was it because of the thought of escaping from that house?

Except for one trip to the bathroom and once when the in-flight meal came, she had slept, and while she knew she had done something in her sleep, she couldn’t remember exactly what.

In fact, she remembered going to the bathroom, but it was while she was half-asleep, and she seemed to have eaten something but couldn’t remember exactly what.

“Let’s gather our things. We should check if we’ve missed anything since we need to get off first.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Hee Won received her cross bag from Kang Woo, then put the book Joo Ah had packed for her, saying she might get bored, back into the bag without even opening it.

That’s when Kang Woo held out a new phone in front of her.

“You can use this phone.”

“This phone?”

“Yes. It’s set for automatic roaming, so you can use it in America too. My number is also saved, so contact me if you need anything.”

Hee Won stared blankly at the phone Kang Woo handed her and asked again.

“Why this phone…”

She had been thinking of buying a new phone as soon as they got married.

The phone she currently had was given by Chairman Seong. The phone had a tracking device installed, and all call contents and even messages were set up so that her father could know everything.

‘There’s no way Cha Kang Woo would know that.’

Hee Won thought as she looked at Kang Woo.

Kang Woo’s expression darkened at Hee Won’s reaction of staring at him without saying anything.

“Did I make a mistake?”

Kang Woo asked in a slightly subdued voice without realizing it.

At his words, Hee Won was startled and waved her hands.

“What? Ah, no. It’s not that, it’s just sudden. I don’t dislike it. It’s just…”

Hee Won continued speaking as she looked at Kang Woo staring at her.

“Actually, I was thinking of buying a new phone. But you giving me one first makes me feel very surprised and grateful.”

Kang Woo’s face brightened at Hee Won’s answer. He spoke in a much brighter voice than before.

“That’s good then. I was actually worried since I hadn’t gotten your consent.”

“Is there a reason you gave me the phone?”

Hee Won was surprised and curious that Kang Woo had given her a phone when she had never mentioned changing phones to him.

“There’s no particular reason. I have a friend at KJ. He gave me phones as a wedding gift. He said they were expensive because of the high specs. There’s even an engraving on the back.”

“…Ah.”

Kang Woo turned the phone over to show her.

As he said, each of the two phones was engraved with ‘C.K.W’ and ‘S.H.W’ respectively.

The moment she saw it, Hee Won felt strange.

“It’s still a pre-release product. If you don’t need it, we can return it.”

“What? No. It’s not that. I like it!”

Hee Won snatched the phone from Kang Woo’s hand.

As he said, they were couple phones.

Kang Woo’s was gold, Hee Won’s was pink.

It was hers with her initials engraved on it.

Although only a short time had passed since meeting Kang Woo, she now had two things that she could call completely her own, which she had never had in 22 years.

Just as her heart was fluttering, it happened.

[Ladies and gentlemen, our plane has now arrived at New York Airport. Please keep your seatbelts fastened and be careful not to drop anything when opening the overhead compartments after the plane has stopped. We sincerely thank all passengers for using our flight. Have a nice day.]

The landing announcement flowed through the speakers.

Kang Woo, who stood up first, held out his hand to Hee Won.

Her heart, which had been beating fast, began to leap like an unbridled colt.

As Hee Won took his hand, Kang Woo smiled.

To anyone who didn’t know, the two looked like a harmonious couple.

[This is the timeline separator]

Hee Won and Kang Woo arrived at the hotel.

The hotel was in the center of New York, and New York was a much more modern and beautiful city than it looked in photos.

Her first trip, first overseas trip was already exciting, but having Kang Woo by her side made her feel even more elated.

Being in the same space with Kang Woo, Hee Won felt a wave of tension.

Seong Hee Won. It’s not like you’re going to do anything right now.

Hee Won composed herself as she organized her suitcase.

“What’s this?”

There was an unfamiliar gift bag in her luggage.

It was something Hee Won had never put in.

[I put a wedding gift in your suitcase. You should thank me later!]

The words of her only friend, Joo Ah, flashed through Hee Won’s mind as she held the gift.

She thought it was truly a happy thing to have a friend who would prepare a wedding gift.

Hee Won smiled as she untied the ribbon on the gift, but her smile didn’t last long.

“Ahh! What is this?”

Hee Won couldn’t help but scream and throw away the gift Joo Ah had given her.