Secretary Ha was a competent secretary.

“Yes, madam. I will take you to a better place.”

Secretary Ha, who had quickly grasped the situation, protectively wrapped an arm around Hee Won and turned around.

Both Hee Won and Secretary Ha felt the piercing gaze on their backs, but neither of them turned around.

After hurriedly leaving Carnegie Hall and get ting into the car, a quiet silence settled.

Even without trying to think about it, Stacy’s words kept echoing in Hee Won’s mind.

[We’re a bit closer than just acquaintances, but it feels awkward talking about this in front of his wife. It seems Kang Woo didn’t tell you about me, so I’ll just drop it.]

Hee Won unconsciously bit her fingernails.

Of course, she knew that she and Kang Woo were just a contract couple.

She also knew well that she had no right to ask about whatever relationship Stacy and Kang Woo had.

Even if it was ongoing…

Her aching heart felt more painful than ever before.

It was then.

“Madam.”

Secretary Ha, who had been driving, stopped the car and turned to look at Hee Won.

“Yes?”

Hee Won, lost in thought, came to her senses at Secretary Ha’s call.

“It’s a call from the managing director.”

“…Kang Woo?”

“Yes. Please answer it.”

Hee Won took the phone, swallowed hard, and then put it to her ear.

[Hello.]

“Yes.”

[I’m sorry for leaving you alone.]

“…It’s okay.”

Hearing Kang Woo’s voice, something welled up from deep inside Hee Won’s heart.

[I’d like to have dinner together tonight. Is your schedule okay?]

“Dinner?”

[Yes.]

Yesterday, before going out, Kang Woo had told Hee Won she would have to eat dinner alone.

She had felt disappointed but forced herself to understand since it was because of work.

Hee Won felt her mood improving, as if her hurt feelings from meeting Stacy were a lie.

“Aren’t you busy?”

[You’re more important.]

Hee Won tried not to get excited.

‘He’s probably just saying that. Kang Woo and I are just a contract couple, so his words can’t be sincere. I shouldn’t get excited…’

But her heart was already racing uncontrollably like a runaway horse.

“Okay. I’d like that. Let’s have dinner together.”

[I’ll send the location to Secretary Ha. See you at 5.]

“Okay.”

The dark shadow on Hee Won’s face had disappeared.

Behind Kang Woo and Hee Won’s dinner plans was Secretary Ha’s quick report.

[They ran into Stacy at Carnegie Hall.]

Secretary Ha contacted Kang Woo after putting Hee Won in the car, before getting into the driver’s seat.

[Stacy? Why did she meet her.] [There seemed to be a concert today. It looks like that woman approached madam first. Madam’s expression wasn’t good.] [I’ll call again.]

It was a moment that could have gone wrong due to a misunderstanding.

* * *

At 4:40 PM, there were about twenty minutes left until five o’clock.

Hee Won arrived at the meeting place before Kang Woo.

It was a formal restaurant, different from the pub she had gone to with Kang Woo last time.

Five minutes later, Kang Woo entered the reserved room.

“You’re here?”

Hee Won stood up quickly, happy to see Kang Woo. Seeing her reaction, a smile appeared on Kang Woo’s face.

“I’m sorry. I’m late.”

“No, you’re not. There’s still 15 minutes left. I just came early.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Kang Woo ordered a course meal.

Before the food arrived, an aperitif was served.

Hee Won sipped the drink served as an aperitif.

“Even though it doesn’t seem like it, it’s alcohol. So it’s better to drink moderately.”

“This is alcohol? It’s so sweet. It tastes like juice.”

“Even if the alcohol content is low, it’s still alcohol. Since you have a low tolerance, it’s better to just have one glass.”

Somehow, it felt like Kang Woo was worried about her.

Hee Won’s heart fluttered for no reason. She lowered her head, unable to look at him.

A brief silence fell between the two.

“If you have something you want to ask, you can.”

It was Kang Woo who broke the silence.

Hee Won raised her head at his words.

At Kang Woo’s words, Hee Won first thought of the woman named Stacy.

I’m just a contract wife.

She knew well that she had no right to ask.

Moreover, if she mustered up the courage to ask and the answer came back.

[It’s none of Seong Hee Won’s business.]

If Kang Woo said that, she thought she would be hurt.

Just imagining it made her heart ache.

Her lips wouldn’t easily part, so Hee Won just fiddled with the innocent glass.

Watching her, Kang Woo said.

“Then may I say what I want to say first?”

Hee Won nodded at Kang Woo’s words.

“I heard you met Stacy at Carnegie Hall.”

Hee Won’s face stiffened.

“…Yes, I did.”

There was conflict in her heart.

She wanted to ask.

But she became afraid that Kang Woo might say what kind of relationship he had with Stacy, or that they were still connected by some special bond.

She hesitated on how to react.

She didn’t want to say it was okay.

But she couldn’t honestly say she felt bad either.

With her feelings welling up, Hee Won bit the soft flesh inside her mouth.

As Hee Won unknowingly lowered her head again, Kang Woo placed his hand on top of hers on the table.

“Hee Won, won’t you look at me?”

“…”

“I want to see your face.”

Hee Won raised her head at Kang Woo’s words.

Hee Won’s heart fluttered at his deep black eyes that seemed to pull her in.

“I don’t know what Stacy said to you, but we’re not in any kind of relationship.”

“…”

Hee Won just stared at Kang Woo, not knowing what to say.

“So I hope you won’t worry or feel upset because of a woman like that.”

Hee Won’s eyes shook roughly at Kang Woo’s words.

“Because you’re my wife now.”

She didn’t know what to say.

She couldn’t choose the right words.

The intense eyes directed at her contained Kang Woo’s sincerity.

That’s why Hee Won was more confused.

‘He’s saying this because of the contract.’

Kang Woo just said ‘wife’.

He just called her ‘wife’ like any married man would call a married woman, nothing special.

Hee Won recalled her first meeting with Kang Woo.

They had been intimate without even knowing each other’s names.

Of course, she knew he wouldn’t think of her as that kind of woman.

It might be an inferiority complex.

But it was certain that Cha Kang Woo didn’t think of Seong Hee Won as a woman in any way.

Hee Won’s eyes grew hot as she bit her lower lip hard.

So, don’t give it any other meaning.

Don’t expect anything, Seong Hee Won.

Hee Won bit the soft flesh inside her mouth as she looked at Kang Woo.

You know better than anyone how vain expectations can make a person miserable.

After being treated like that by your father, are you going to repeat the same mistake?

Hee Won recalled her past experiences with Chairman Seong.

As she recalled her past scarred by wounds, her excited feelings subsided in an instant.

Hee Won, who had composed her expression, asked Kang Woo.

“…Why are you explaining this to me?”

Why do you dislike me getting hurt?

Hee Won couldn’t bring herself to say the last words.

“You didn’t have to explain. I wasn’t… upset.”

Even if she had been upset, she might have forgotten about the woman named Stacy after sleeping and waking up.

She might have felt a bit uncomfortable, but it wouldn’t have mattered if he hadn’t explained about Stacy to her.

He had no reason to explain to her, and she had no grounds to ask him.

“Just…”

Kang Woo, who had been stroking Hee Won’s hand, caressed her pale cheek.

“I wanted to explain. Even if you didn’t want to hear it, I didn’t want to be misunderstood.”

Kang Woo emphasized each word.

“You’re amazing.”

“…How so?”

“How should I put it, you’re someone who makes me not be myself. You.”

Making Cha Kang Woo not be Cha Kang Woo…

Hee Won didn’t fully understand what Kang Woo meant.

But she seemed to know what he meant by those words.

A strange atmosphere flowed between the two. Hee Won looked at Kang Woo, and he looked at her silently.

Hee Won felt strange.

Her heart tingled, and her face felt hot.

Somehow, Kang Woo’s face seemed closer than before.

Kang Woo had come close enough that their lips would touch if he just tilted his head.

Hee Won couldn’t breathe with his hot breath on her face.

“When I look at you, I become strange.”

“…”

Kang Woo’s eyes deepened.

Hee Won had seen the emotion in those deepened eyes before.

It was the same look and emotion she had faced when he embraced her the first time they met.

The woody scent that lingered at the tip of her nose, the hot and soft something that invaded her mouth.

His actions that made her whole body heat up.

Hee Won’s feelings became increasingly strange as she unknowingly recalled the memories of that day.

Just then, an employee intervened between the two.

“Excuse me.”

If the employee hadn’t come in to serve the food, they might have been swept up in the strange atmosphere that seemed endless.

She might have said words she would regret later.

The thought made her head dizzy.

“Let’s… eat.”

Hee Won said, coming to her senses.

Although the employee had come in, Kang Woo only widened the distance a little, but still didn’t remove his hand from her cheek.

“This hand…”

Hee Won felt embarrassed belatedly at the thought of the employee watching.

As she turned her head, Kang Woo let out a chuckle.

He tucked Hee Won’s fallen hair behind her ear before withdrawing his hand.

Under his intense gaze that seemed to pierce through her, Hee Won couldn’t tell if the food was going into her nose or her mouth.