Beautiful.

So this is what it was like.

It was even more beautiful than the pictures could capture.

Hee Won still felt the moments with Kang Woo were surreal.

So even now, seeing the night view of Hamilton Park with her own eyes, it didn’t feel real at all.

Each day was happy, yet each day was anxious.

Is it okay to be this happy?

Worried that it might be a dream she created, she would wake up in the middle of sleep to check her surroundings.

Every time she opened her eyes, Kang Woo wasn’t there.

Each time she was about to collapse from anxiety, the sparkling wedding ring lifted her out of the abyss.

It was a first in her life.

To choose something of her own will, to act on her own will.

For some, eating what they want and going where they want is ordinary, but for Hee Won it was only possible in her imagination.

“Hee Won.”

Kang Woo called out to Hee Won, who was lost in thought.

When Hee Won remained dazed, Kang Woo took out his phone.

Surprised by the click of the camera shutter, Hee Won turned her head and looked up at Kang Woo.

Kang Woo was taking pictures of Hee Won with his phone.

“Is it not okay to take pictures?”

“…No. That’s not it, but I’m worried I didn’t look good.”

Thump thump, Hee Won’s heart beat rapidly.

“You’re pretty.”

“Pardon?”

“Hee Won, you’re pretty.”

Her heart was now like an unbridled colt.

To Hee Won’s eyes, the night view behind Kang Woo, who looked perfect like a sculpture, was like a painting.

She was grateful that Kang Woo was here, that she could have this marriage.

Thinking that if she had married someone else, she wouldn’t be this happy or fond, Hee Won’s emotions welled up.

Kang Woo approached Hee Won.

“May I make a request?”

Kang Woo said.

His low voice that tickled her heart made Hee Won both excited and at ease.

Hee Won nodded instead of answering.

“I want to take a picture together.”

“With me?”

“Yes. With you, Hee Won.”

“Why with me…”

A picture,

Seeing Hee Won’s blank look, Kang Woo said.

“We’re a married couple, aren’t we?”

In truth, she too wanted to record her time with him.

Though she might suffer from the leftover memories when the short 3-year contract period ends.

She wanted to preserve it so that the happy moments wouldn’t fade.

Unable to say it first, she had to forcefully swallow those feelings down her throat every time.

So she was happy.

That Kang Woo said it first.

Hee Won nodded while gazing at Kang Woo.

At that, the corners of his mouth rose.

Hee Won was dazzled by Kang Woo’s smile as their eyes met.

She fell for him once again.

Kang Woo came very close to Hee Won’s side.

He raised his arm and placed it on her shoulder.

She could clearly feel Kang Woo’s breath. Her head spun from the deepened woody scent.

Hee Won’s heart raced at his touch gently embracing her shoulder.

“I’m going to take it.”

The first picture with Kang Woo,

The first commemorative photo saved on his phone.

Hoping that Kang Woo would remember this moment even a little when he looked at this photo later, Hee Won smiled at the phone screen showing the selfie view.

Following her, a smile appeared on his face as well.

Click.

“I’ll take one more.”

Click once again.

With the sparkling night view of the Hudson River reflected in the background, the image of the two people looked like a happy newlywed couple to anyone who saw it.

* * *

Hee Won entered the hotel with Kang Woo.

“I’m sorry. I have to go out again.”

Only then did Hee Won realize that Kang Woo had postponed his schedule to spend time with her.

“No, Kang Woo. I’m sorry for making you work late because of me.”

Hee Won said.

Kang Woo put his finger to Hee Won’s lips and shook his head.

“I wanted to be with you, Hee Won. So don’t apologize.”

“…”

“For the first time, I thought it was enjoyable to be with someone. I hope it was the same for you.”

“…Yes.”

It happened in an instant.

Kang Woo’s lips touching Hee Won’s forehead.

As the soft flesh touched and left, Hee Won’s heart beat rapidly.

Kang Woo’s eyes that met hers were so warm.

It was a first in Hee Won’s life.

The feeling of happiness…

[This is the timeline separator]

After that, Kang Woo was extremely busy, and before they knew it, the day came for him to return to Korea after his business trip ended.

Hee Won and Kang Woo got in the car together with the secretaries who came to pick them up at the airport.

And the place they arrived at was a penthouse in Hannam-dong.

“Please go in. We’ll take care of the luggage.”

At Director Kang’s words, the secretaries each took a suitcase or two and went inside.

“This is…”

Hee Won turned to Kang Woo in surprise.

Instead of answering, Kang Woo nodded.

The reason for Hee Won’s surprise was nothing else.

“This isn’t… the main house, is it?”

It was because the place they arrived at wasn’t the LS Group’s main house.

Before the marriage, Hee Won had been to the LS Group’s main house in Yeonhui-dong with Kang Woo.

It was the first time she had seen such a large and spacious house.

She heard that Kang Woo used only the second floor.

Kang Woo hadn’t said anything separately about the house they would live in.

Hee Won naturally thought they would live in the main house.

‘In dramas, women who marry into chaebol families live with their in-laws in the main house.’

She actually thought it would be uncomfortable, but a home was never a comfortable space for her in the first place.

Hee Won had no thoughts of moving out.

Moreover, since it was a contract marriage anyway, she thought there was no reason for Kang Woo, who lived in the main house, to move out.

“We’ve moved out. You and I will live here.”

“…”

“It would be uncomfortable for you, and inconvenient for me in many ways.”

“…”

Hee Won’s pupils trembled slightly.

Why are you being so considerate of me when it’s just a contract?

Hee Won fell for him even more helplessly at Kang Woo’s consideration that could have been overlooked.

“So, only the two of us will live in this house.”

Kang Woo’s dark black eyes rippled.

“…”

Just imagining being alone with Kang Woo made Hee Won’s heart beat fiercely.

“Let’s go in now.”

“Huh? Yes.”

When Kang Woo spoke, Hee Won, who had been standing blankly, came to her senses and moved her feet.

“Wow…”

Hee Won exclaimed as she opened the front door and entered.

The house was ridiculously large for two people to live in.

A living room where the end couldn’t be seen.

‘So houses like this really do exist in reality.’

Hee Won was once again reminded that Kang Woo was a chaebol. At the same time,

“It’s too spacious. It’ll be hard to clean.”

Hee Won blurted out without realizing as she looked at the endless living room.

Kang Woo, standing beside her, chuckled.

“Is that so?”

It seemed she had spoken her thoughts out loud. Hee Won’s face turned as red as an apple.

“You don’t have to worry about cleaning. There are people who have worked at the main house for a long time. They will take care of this place now, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Ah…”

Hee Won looked at Kang Woo, cupping her heated cheeks with both hands.

“It might sound cliché, but.”

Kang Woo turned to Hee Won and continued.

“I won’t let a single drop of water touch your hands.”

“…Why do you say that?”

Even though she tried not to expect, hope kept blossoming.

She gave her heart to him knowing she would get hurt.

“Remember that you are on equal footing with me. You don’t have to bow your head to anyone. Even if it’s me, do what you want, eat what you want without worrying about my reaction. Do you understand?”

He was the first person to say those words to her.

Hee Won’s eyes grew hot.

‘Why does this person only say the things I want to hear? How does he see through my heart that even my family doesn’t know?’

Something welled up from deep inside her heart.

“Aren’t you curious about the bedroom?”

Kang Woo leaned in close and whispered in Hee Won’s ear.

“It’s the space I put the most effort into in this house. I wanted to show it to you first.”

As he spoke, Kang Woo took Hee Won’s hand.

Looking into his eyes, she had a thought, even though she knew it was absurd.

‘Are Kang Woo and I really just a contract couple? Does Kang Woo have no feelings for me at all?’

Following Kang Woo, Hee Won thought.

The bedroom was a space with a large floor-to-ceiling window.

The bed was a spacious king size that could fit four people with room to spare.

The room had a perfect harmony of white and gray, reminiscent of Northern Europe.

Hee Won’s gaze stopped at the dressing table.

An elaborate yet classic dressing table.

“Do you like it?”

Kang Woo approached Hee Won from behind and spoke.

“…How did you…”

Hee Won turned around to look at Kang Woo.

Except for the ring and dress, she had left all the wedding preparations entirely to Kang Woo.

On the day they went to look at rings, Hee Won had stared at something in the furniture display at the department store for a long time.

It was this dressing table.

At home, Hee Won’s room was the smallest and shabbiest space. All that was in her room was a bed and a wardrobe.

Choo Hyun Jung didn’t give nice things to Hee Won. When Seong CEO bought luxury goods for Hee Won to send her on blind dates, they ended up in Choo Hyun Jung’s hands.

[I’m lending it to you.]

Even though it clearly belonged to Hee Won, Choo Hyun Jung said.

[Hey, unni. Can I take this?]

Despite having dozens of nice luxury clothes and bags that Hee Won didn’t have, Yu Na took everything Hee Won owned.

There was nothing she could call her own.

She was used to having things taken away, and didn’t hold much attachment to things she couldn’t have.

That day too, Hee Won only looked at this dressing table from afar, not trying to have it.

But,

“It’s a gift for you, Hee Won.”

Kang Woo placed in her hands what she had wanted.

It was a feeling that couldn’t be fully expressed with just words of gratitude.

Hee Won’s heart wavered.

An indescribable emotion swept through her heart.

She wanted to do it.

“Kang Woo.”

Right now.

Hee Won wrapped her arms around Kang Woo’s neck and kissed him.

With a soft chuckle, the faint woody scent and hot, soft flesh entered her mouth.