She clearly remembers the day she got married.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Joo Tae Sung.”

The groom in a suit entered a busy cafe in Jongno, too hectic for a wedding ceremony.

“Ah, hello. I’m Lee Ji Wan. We spoke on the phone…”

She stood up to greet her groom, whom she was seeing for the first time.

A few days ago on the phone, his deep bass voice had left an impression, but seeing him in person for the first time, he had such an overwhelming presence that she could instantly tell he was the owner of that voice.

Thinking he looked like a well-built luxury sedan, Ji Wan extended one hand towards him.

Her cold groom merely raised the corner of his mouth slightly in a perfunctory manner, looking at her hand without taking it.

“You’re already familiar with the contract terms, but I’ll state them once more. From today, Lee Ji Wan, you will become my legal spouse.”

He pulled out the contract prepared in place of marriage vows.

Ji Wan carefully reviewed the contract she had already received by email once again.

“And we’ll go through divorce proceedings in 3 years, right?”

“That’s correct. Let’s set the date for the Saturday of that week.”

“In exchange for putting my name on the marriage registration, I receive 1 billion won. And the 5% deposit you promised will be transferred today, correct?”

He nodded heavily.

Confirming that it contained what she wanted, Ji Wan nervously stamped the contract.

“And this one too.”

He revealed the marriage registration form below the contract.

His name and personal information were already neatly written in the husband’s section.

Ji Wan took a deep breath, loosened her stiff hand, and pulled the marriage registration form towards her.

“Um… I don’t have a pen.”

At Ji Wan’s words, he pulled out a pen from inside his jacket. It was engraved with “Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office”.

“I was half-doubting, but you really are a prosecutor. Unintentionally, I’ve ended up with a ‘professional’ husband.”

It was an attempt to ease the awkwardness, but he showed no particular reaction.

Ji Wan filled in her personal information without breaking the tense atmosphere at all.

“I’ve… filled in all the necessary parts here. And stamped it too.”

Ji Wan turned the completed marriage registration form towards him.

He quickly scanned it and immediately put the marriage registration form into the bag he had brought.

His gaze was so businesslike that the customers at the surrounding tables would never imagine we were getting married.

“Lastly, I have one thing to emphasize.”

Said the man who had just become her husband.

Ji Wan was about to drink the cold coffee on the table, but stopped and looked at him.

For the first time since coming here, he looked directly into Ji Wan’s eyes, and soon spoke in a firm voice.

“As I’ve repeatedly stressed during the contract review, I’ll say it once more. From today, for as long as this marriage lasts, Lee Ji Wan, you are not to come to me or contact me.”

“Ah, about that clause. What if a problem arises and we absolutely must meet…”

“If a problem arises, I will be the one to contact or come to you.”

“So we really just stamp this and live like strangers? Not even attending family events or anything?”

“You understand correctly.”

Ji Wan didn’t understand at all, but he stood up as if he had nothing more to say.

“Next weekend we’ll take wedding photos and pictures that look like they were taken while dating. I’ll prepare the outfits, so Lee Ji Wan, you just need to be seated here next week as well.”

“Ah… yes.”

“Then, goodbye.”

The groom who had met her 30 minutes ago and gone straight to marriage exited the cafe with a cold back turned to her.

All that remained in the seat where he had sat was her copy of the contract and an unfamiliar musk scent.

Left alone, Ji Wan soon fell into serious contemplation.

“He ordered green tea but didn’t even touch it. I wonder if it’s okay for me to drink this…”

That day, that was truly the only thing she thought deeply about.

Living as the spouse of a stranger for 3 years.

The fact that no one in the world knows about this.

And on top of that, the fact that in 3 years she would suddenly become a divorcee – none of it mattered.

[Notification: Joo Tae Sung has deposited 50,000,000 won.]

“Finally…!”

After all, the only thing she needed was money to protect her one and only family.

.

.

.

And 3 years later.

No, not quite 3 years. On a day exactly 2 weeks before the 3 years they had agreed upon.

“Lee Ji Wan! Are you crazy?! Where do you think you’re going to publish this?!”

In the meantime, having graduated her final semester of university and become a social affairs reporter at the major newspaper Seyoung Ilbo, Ji Wan was once again having the worst day.

Manager Jang Dae Chul, infamous for his dog-like temper, was slamming his desk and unleashing his fury, but Ji Wan’s expression showed not the slightest sign of intimidation as she listened.

“Is there perhaps a part you’re not satisfied with, senior?”

Ji Wan’s smiling inquiry as she asked was enough to turn Manager Jang’s stomach inside out.

“How many times did I tell you not to touch the Kim Young Jae story! And yet you go and write the trial date in big letters?! Why! So the whole world can come and watch how many years he gets sentenced to?!”

“Come on, given the nature of the case, if I hadn’t written it, someone else would have…”

“In the entire social affairs department, you’re the only one who dared touch Kim Young Jae! You’re the only one! Got it?!”

Kim Young Jae was the protagonist of the hit-and-run case without a license that was currently the hottest topic in the social affairs department, but the reason for deliberately avoiding such a newsworthy story was surely because he was the son of a member of the National Assembly.

Whenever she faced such injustice, Ji Wan felt her stomach twist.

However, these days it caused her no stress at all.

In two weeks, she would be divorced.

In two weeks, the huge sum of 950 million won would enter her bank account.

That would be enough not only for hospital bills, but also to continue treatment until her father fully recovered and even buy a house to live in together.

This fact was making Ji Wan’s daily life happy.

She was acutely realizing how powerful money is by observing herself recently.

“Get rid of this article right now and bring me something else. If you miss the deadline, you’ll really be demoted, you know!”

Unaware of Ji Wan’s happy inner thoughts, Manager Jang, quite displeased with Ji Wan’s constant smiling, scolded her more fiercely than necessary.

Finding and writing a new article two hours before the deadline was an unreasonable demand, but Ji Wan, whose condition was soaring so high, was filled with confidence that she could somehow pull it off.

“Yes, I’ll do as you say!”

Ji Wan answered proudly and left Manager Jang’s desk with light steps.

“Ji Wan, are you okay?”

“Did you get scolded a lot? I told you to be careful…”

Colleagues who had witnessed the situation with their own eyes and ears offered occasional words of comfort to Ji Wan as she returned to her seat.

Ji Wan smiled brightly at them as if to show off, and waved both hands vigorously as she answered cheerfully.

“Yeah, I’m totally fine. It doesn’t affect me at all. Not at all. I’m fine, everyone!”

The gazes of her colleagues watching her became even more pitying.

They all seemed to think she had gone strange, unable to withstand the pressure from the department head, but Ji Wan didn’t bother to explain further.

After all, she couldn’t very well say, ‘I’m fine because 950 million will be deposited in my account in two weeks!’

* * *

Finally, after working overtime as usual today too, she returned home just before midnight.

“Ah, taxis really are convenient. I got home in just 30 minutes.”

Humming a tune as she took off her shoes, Ji Wan had indulged in the luxury of a 30,000 won taxi fare, trusting in the money soon to come.

In her hands was her second luxury of the day, bought at the convenience store in front of her house on the way home – expensive canned ham and jjajang ramen.

Spending 40,000 won in one day…

This was something unimaginable until recently, but today’s Ji Wan somehow felt like doing it.

For the day she had faithfully fulfilled the contract for 3 years, and for the future days when she would have to live as an accidental divorcee, she could give herself this much of a gift.

Ji Wan roughly tied up her long hair and immediately stood in front of the sink.

A late dinner for her who had been starving all day running around here and there – jjajang ramen with ham.

This combination had been lingering in her mind ever since she discovered it on YouTube a month ago.

Ji Wan took out a pot with a peeling bottom that stuck easily and put water on. While waiting for the water to boil, there was a phone call she never missed making every day.

She pressed and held 1 on her cell phone, and after a short wait, soon came the voice she loved most.

―Sweetie! Are you just getting off work now?

“Dad, you answered right away? Don’t tell me you were still up waiting?”

―I was waiting, thinking it must be about time for my sweetie to call.

Judging by his good voice today, it seems Dad’s condition is okay too. Ji Wan’s already upturned mouth corners curved even more pleasantly.

“Did you eat well? Nothing unusual happened today?”

―I’m not sure if I ate well. The hospital food is so bad, you know. But I did take a walk.

“Dad, walks are good but you need to eat well too. You need food power to fight cancer cells, don’t you?”

―Aiyoo, I clean my plate just so I don’t have to hear that nagging. Don’t worry about things like that.

“You always say you eat it all, but every time I visit, you’ve lost more weight.”

―Maybe I was originally this sharp? With a well-defined jawline and all.

“As always, I can’t beat Lee Dal Hyun’s quick wit…”

Although it was all frivolous talk, this time talking with Dal Hyun was Ji Wan’s favorite part of the day.

No matter how difficult a day she had, just hearing Dad’s voice made her feel like her stiff body was loosening up and her body temperature was warming.

Sometimes Dal Hyun would feel sorry about unpaid hospital bills, and Ji Wan would exhaust herself trying to comfort him, but now that wouldn’t happen anymore.

Bring on any treatment, any medicine! In two weeks, I’ll have a bank account with 950 million won in it!

No more money worries. Happiness starts now!

“Dad, you know what? I’m going to make you live in luxury from now on.”

Ji Wan said as she put jjajang ramen and ham into the pot. Dal Hyun, who had heard such talk occasionally, immediately asked back.

―Did you drink a lot?

“What are you talking about? Do I sound like I’m drunk talking? I’m really going to do it, I tell you!”

―Good job! Where did my little girl go drinking until midnight without fear…!

“I told you I didn’t drink!”

The daughter speaking sincerely and the father taking it all as nonsense.

Just as the affectionate phone conversation between father and daughter was about to turn into bickering.

Ding dong―!

The doorbell rang in the house filled with the smell of jjajang ramen.

Ji Wan looked at the entrance with a puzzled expression, checking the clock that had just passed midnight.

―What? Who is it at this hour?

“Huh? I know, right?”

―Sweetie, did you perhaps get a boyfriend?

“Forget boyfriend, I don’t even have friends. Wait a moment. I’ll check and be right back.”

Ji Wan put down her phone on the sink and approached the intercom.

From behind came Dal Hyun’s cry of ‘Don’t open the door carelessly! If it’s a stranger, call the police!’ but after checking the intercom, Ji Wan couldn’t define whether the person at the door was a stranger or a familiar face.

That’s because the person standing in front of the front door looking at the intercom screen was none other than…

“…Husband?”

It’s a bit hazy since she only saw him a few times 3 years ago, but it’s probably right.

Even in the low quality of the intercom, the features that stand out sufficiently show that it’s definitely that man she saw at the cafe back then and never saw again.

After confirming the identity of the visitor, Ji Wan unconsciously took a step back.

“There’s still two weeks left, why…”

At that moment when her mind went blank for a moment due to the unexpected visit.

Ding dong―

The doorbell ringing once more pierced her eardrums and shook her consciousness. Ji Wan, regaining her senses, first grabbed the phone that was still on the call.

“Ah, Dad. I’ll call you back later.”

―What? Who is it?

“Ah, it’s just… a, a friend came! Then good night! Love you!”

―Ji Wan! Ji Wa…!

The unnaturally cut-off call might make Dal Hyun worry more, but it was better than revealing the existence of the groom.

Ji Wan took a deep breath to calm her startled heart, and approached the front door with careful steps.

As she was about to unlock it, the thought briefly crossed her mind that he might have come to terminate the contract today.

Does that mean I’ll get 950 million right away today? Am I becoming rich so suddenly like this?

Her face began to flush at the prospect of sudden wealth right before her eyes.

Still, I shouldn’t show how happy I am too much. I don’t want to look poor.

With these thoughts, she opened the front door.

“Lee Ji Wan…?”

Through the opened door, his voice, heard for the first time in 3 years, resonated low. Soon after, she was enveloped by the same deep musk scent as back then.

Ji Wan raised her head to take in the face of her husband, still unfamiliar.

His gaze meeting hers rippled faintly.

That look was so different from the temperature she remembered that Ji Wan unconsciously held her breath.

The man’s lips, which had been exhaling trembling breaths, moved stickily.

“I…”

“…”

“I…”

His voice, unable to continue and fading. At that moment, as she was focusing on that, unable to even make a common greeting.

He dropped the leather bag he was carrying with a thud.

At the same time, his outstretched hand embraced her back with breathtaking desperation.

At the temperature of her husband touching her for the first time in her life, tension filled Ji Wan’s entire body.

The more she did so, the more forcefully he pulled Ji Wan into his arms and uttered one sentence filled with indescribable emotion.

“If you leave me… did you think I wouldn’t be able to find you?”

His lips burrowed into Ji Wan’s nape.

Unfamiliar embrace. Unfamiliar scent. Unfamiliar body heat.

Overwhelmed by all of this, she felt helplessly defenseless.