Even the time to breathe felt precious. The scent of Kang Woo filling her mouth made Hee Won’s heart and body hot.

Her head went blank and she felt like she was floating on clouds.

And it felt as if only he and she were left in this world.

Suddenly, the night of their first meeting flashed in her mind.

Even then, his kiss was as soft and sweet as if given to a loved one, despite lacking emotion.

So she kept getting confused.

As if she had become someone special to him.

She wanted more of him.

She even thought she wanted him to truly love her.

Hee Won clung to Kang Woo more. As she clung, Kang Woo supported the back of her head and pulled her waist to hold her tighter.

Her breath reached her chin.

She needed to breathe.

The moment she thought this, Kang Woo’s scent lingering in her mouth disappeared.

Towards Hee Won who opened her eyes with a regretful heart, Kang Woo spoke in a voice full of laughter.

“You need to…”

Kang Woo continued speaking while caressing Hee Won’s cheek.

“…breathe.”

“…”

It was the first time Kang Woo had spoken casually to Hee Won.

She had imagined it before.

How would it feel if Kang Woo, who always used formal speech, spoke casually to her?

Would she feel bad?

Or would she be happy thinking he was treating her comfortably?

In reality, Kang Woo’s casual speech was neither for Hee Won.

His voice lower and thicker than usual made her heart feel like it would burst.

His hot breath touching her face made her whole body tingle as if electricity was flowing.

Hee Won’s eyes met Kang Woo’s. The deep emotion swirling in his eyes, she had experienced it before.

Hee Won bit her lower lip hard as she looked at Kang Woo.

She thought it might become the second night today.

But then there was a knock at the door.

As Hee Won froze like she’d been caught by her parents doing something naughty, Kang Woo kissed her cheek and said.

“They have no sense of timing.”

Kang Woo sighed and stood up to fling open the door.

The person who had knocked was Director Kang.

“What is it.”

“The Chairman said to come right now.”

Kang Woo snapped irritably at Director Kang’s words.

“Didn’t I say I’d go tomorrow. Tell him I’m not going.”

“Well.”

“What is it.”

“If you don’t come, the Chairman said he’ll come here…”

“Hah.”

Kang Woo roughly messed up his own hair.

“Always so selfish.”

Director Kang did not agree with Kang Woo’s words. But he didn’t defend Chairman Cha either.

“Fine. Tell him I’ll go. But tell him I don’t want to have dinner together. And check if I can pick up what I had reserved for today.”

“Understood.”

Director Kang bowed his head to Kang Woo before turning around.

As Kang Woo closed the door and turned around, he met eyes with Hee Won who had already approached him.

“Why did you get up instead of just sitting?”

“I heard the sound.”

Hee Won’s face was full of worry and concern that wasn’t there earlier.

“I suppose I need to go too?”

As she asked in a voice full of worry, Kang Woo naturally took her hand and said.

“You don’t need to worry. No one will dare to treat you carelessly.”

* * *

Hee Won and Kang Woo got in the car to go to the LS Group main house in Yeonhui-dong.

Her heart was uneasy with worry.

She had heard that the most important thing in wedding preparations was the eunbae.

Eunbae was sent from the woman’s house to the man’s house after the honeymoon, with the meaning of asking to take good care of her.

[What eunbae? You’re marrying into that family all thanks to us, you should be doing things for us before you go!]

Choo Hyun Jung had said when she brought up the eunbae food.

‘Normally the bride’s mother takes care of it, but my mother wouldn’t bother for someone who’s not her real daughter.’

She had heard eunbae was a must.

Hee Won had planned to prepare some meat or fruit, if not a full meal, after returning from the honeymoon.

It was unexpected. She didn’t think Chairman Cha would call them on the day they returned from their honeymoon.

After some thought, Hee Won remembered a mart in Yeonhui-dong.

She turned her head to ask if they could stop by briefly, and met Kang Woo’s eyes.

“Is it alright if we stop somewhere for a moment?”

The car was passing Yeonhui IC.

“Huh? Yes. That’s fine. I have somewhere I want to go too, Kang Woo.”

“Where?”

Hee Won decided to be honest with Kang Woo.

“Do you know eunbae? It’s food the bride sends to the groom’s house. Actually… my family couldn’t prepare it. It’s something we should have done properly, I’m sorry we couldn’t prepare it. But I think it would be impolite to go empty-handed, so I think we should stop by a mart to buy some meat or fruit.”

Self-blame showed on Hee Won’s face. As she lowered her head, unable to meet Kang Woo’s eyes, a small sigh was heard above her head.

“Hee Won.”

“…Yes, Kang Woo.”

Was he perhaps disappointed?

In the wedding preparations that excluded formalities, there was no place where Hee Won’s money was spent.

Kang Woo took care of everything, and didn’t create situations for Hee Won to add her input.

He had been so considerate, and I…

Thinking it was a matter of sincerity rather than money, Hee Won couldn’t raise her head and bit the soft flesh inside her mouth hard.

Kang Woo cupped Hee Won’s cheeks and lifted her face.

“I told you, didn’t I? Don’t bow your head to anyone. Even if it’s me.”

“…Kang Woo.”

“What’s the big deal about not doing some eunbae. There’s nothing you absolutely must do. Just do what you want to do, Hee Won.”

Kang Woo continued speaking as he rubbed Hee Won’s eyes.

“So don’t make this kind of expression.”

At Kang Woo’s words, Hee Won’s heart swelled up.

[This is the timeline separator]

The car stopped at a store in Yeonhui-dong.

Director Kang and Kang Woo went inside the store. Shortly after, things wrapped in luxurious bojagi were being loaded into the car one by one.

It wasn’t just one or two, so Hee Won was surprised and couldn’t close her mouth.

“Kang Woo.”

Hee Won got out of the car and approached Kang Woo.

She looked at Kang Woo.

“Is all this…”

“Now you’re not upset about not being able to prepare the eunbae, are you?”

“Kang Woo…”

“We’re a married couple, so if you don’t do it, I can do it. What does it matter who does it?”

The things loaded full in the trunk were eunbae food that Kang Woo had ordered secretly without Hee Won knowing.

“The person who prepared this is you, Hee Won. Understand? Let’s keep this a secret between you and me.”

Hee Won felt like she would cry at Kang Woo’s consideration.

Hee Won let out a small sigh as she stood in front of the iron gate so high the inside couldn’t be seen.

Kang Woo and Director Kang were double-checking the items ordered as eunbae food.

[Tsk tsk, is it because you’re uneducated that you can’t even do this one thing properly?]

As Hee Won looked at the iron gate, the words of Madam So, the mistress of the LS Group and Kang Woo’s stepmother, came to mind.

From their first meeting, Madam So made no effort to hide her dislike of Hee Won.

She intended to find fault with Hee Won somehow. And the arrows of blame aimed at Hee Won were directed at Kang Woo several times.

[That boy is bringing shame to the family. Are there no other women that he brings this vulgar woman from a family with no background? I’m so embarrassed I can’t even speak to people.]

Madam So had spoken as if wanting Hee Won to hear.

She acted as if Hee Won couldn’t relay what she said to anyone.

[So why did you bring an insane guy like Cha Kang Woo to Korea and cause all this trouble? We have our Seok Hoon. I don’t understand what the Chairman is thinking.]

So Hee Won tried desperately not to give Madam So anything to find fault with, but it was useless.

It was only one meeting, but Madam So’s impression was etched in Hee Won’s mind as the worst.

They say you get stronger the more you endure, but that wasn’t true for violence.

It didn’t matter if it was mental, physical, or verbal abuse.

The more you endure, the bigger the wounds become.

Having suffered abuse since childhood, she was bound to be more sensitive to someone’s contempt and hatred.

Although it was an unavoidable fate now that she had married him, honestly she was very afraid.

Hee Won’s body trembled with fear and tension.

Hee Won gripped her right elbow with her left hand.

‘If I make a mistake, all the arrows will go to Kang Woo. For the 3 year period, even if I can’t be of help, at least I shouldn’t cause harm to Kang Woo.’

Hee Won bit her lower lip hard as she steeled her resolve.

Just then, a faint woody scent wafted around and she felt warmth enveloping her shoulder.

“I told you, didn’t I? That no one will treat you carelessly. You don’t need to do anything. Just stay by my side.”

It was instantaneous.

The moment Kang Woo’s touch reached her, Hee Won’s trembling body calmed as if by magic.

[This is the timeline separator]

Kang Woo held Hee Won’s hand as they entered the house. Chairman Cha and Madam So, who were sitting in the living room, turned around at once at the sound.

“Ahem. You’re here.”

Chairman Cha stood up and approached Kang Woo and Hee Won.

“Welcome.”

“Hello.”

As Hee Won greeted Chairman Cha, she thought.

‘Kang Woo will probably change to look exactly like this when he gets older.’

Chairman Cha and Kang Woo looked so alike that anyone could tell they were father and son.

“Sorry to do this as soon as you arrive. I’d like to have a word with Kang Woo for a moment.”

“Huh? Ah, yes. That’s fine.”

As Hee Won spoke, Chairman Cha nodded and turned around. Before following his father, he approached her and whispered.

“Let my stepmother’s words go in one ear and out the other.”

As soon as Kang Woo and Chairman Cha entered the study, Madam So approached Hee Won and said in a cold voice.

“Follow me.”