“Do you lose track of time when you’re with me?”

Why is this person suddenly here?

Tae Yeon stepped back in surprise.

Getting away from Do Joon was the priority.

With that thought, she moved backward without looking properly, perhaps tripping on something protruding from the floor. Tae Yeon let out a short scream as she stumbled backward.

‘Ha. Now I’m going to fall embarrassingly in front of Do Joon.’

As she thought this, attempting to brace herself with her hands.

Do Joon grabbed Tae Yeon’s waist with a strong grip and pulled her.

Fortunately, she didn’t fall flat on the floor with a thud, but the real problem was just beginning.

Their gazes intertwined intensely in midair. Tae Yeon’s pupils trembled slightly.

“Oh?”

Realizing she had unknowingly grasped Do Joon’s arms tightly to prevent falling, she abruptly let go.

As Tae Yeon’s back was about to arch backward, Do Joon wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, causing their bodies to press even more tightly together.

Every point of contact with him felt like it was burning hot.

Do Joon used his strength to set her upright. Tae Yeon bowed her head deeply, catching her breath.

“Thank you.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, thanks to you catching me.”

Tae Yeon straightened up and checked her clothing. Then she raised her hand to smooth out Do Joon’s suit jacket, which had been crumpled when she grabbed it tightly earlier.

Pat pat-

She must have grabbed it quite hard. The wrinkles weren’t coming out easily.

In fact, smoothing out the wrinkles might have already become secondary.

The memory of Do Joon’s toned upper body, glimpsed when he came out with just a towel around his waist after showering last time, was still vivid.

His arms, which she had actually touched, were beyond expectation. Feeling the firmness even through the suit, Tae Yeon gently bit her lower lip.

This man, his entire body was a weapon. Not only did he make explosive statements every time he opened his mouth, but he also had an impressive physique.

‘I shouldn’t have just marveled at his handsome face.’

While she was briefly lost in thought about Do Joon, he called out to her softly.

“Jin Tae Yeon.”

“…Yes?”

Tae Yeon quickly raised her head. Do Joon gestured with his chin towards his arm.

“Oh my.”

She must have been unconsciously kneading Do Joon’s arm.

Tae Yeon stepped back in shock. She needed to explain.

“No, I grabbed your suit tightly when I was falling.”

“And?”

“It got wrinkled, so I was trying to smooth it out.”

Do Joon’s eyes narrowed sideways. Did her excuse work?

But that hope was shattered in an instant. Do Joon crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly.

“Jin Tae Yeon, I didn’t think you were like this, but you seem to like everything about me.”

“Pardon?”

Do Joon touched his nose, cheeks, and lips with his own hand, then moved to the arm where Tae Yeon’s hand had been moments ago.

“From last night until now. These are all the places you’ve touched.”

“……”

There was no room left for excuses now.

‘Why have I been acting like this since yesterday?’

As Tae Yeon could only move her lips silently, Do Joon asked,

“Are you usually this touchy? With other men too?”

“No!”

This was truly unfair. Do Joon was the person she had spent the most time with in her entire life, and he was the only one she had touched so frequently.

Seeing Tae Yeon’s irritation, the corners of Do Joon’s mouth twitched.

“How can I believe that?”

“It’s true. I’ve never been like this with anyone but you.”

“Let’s say that’s true.”

Do Joon stepped closer and asked,

“Then why do you keep touching me like this?”

“……”

“I’ve been really curious about this since yesterday.”

Should she apologize? Should she run away?

After considering various options, Tae Yeon opened her mouth. With a very brazen face.

“Because you’re my husband.”

“…What did you say?”

This time, it was Do Joon who was taken aback. Tae Yeon looked straight at Do Joon.

“Is it a problem for a wife to touch her husband a little? I thought you said yesterday that as a married couple, we could do even more than this.”

Tae Yeon wasn’t unaware of Do Joon’s intention to keep teasing her. So she decided to be brazen instead.

But she immediately worried if she had made too unreasonable an excuse.

‘Why isn’t he saying anything? Did my excuse work?’

After being lost in thought for a while, Do Joon smiled slightly.

“That’s right. This kind of touch is nothing between a married couple.”

Thankfully, was he going to let it slide without making an issue of it?

Tae Yeon also smiled awkwardly, following his lead.

“Of course.”

Just as the conversation seemed to be ending and Tae Yeon was about to leave, Do Joon’s voice caught her ankle.

“I’m thinking of doing what I couldn’t do yesterday, today.”

“Pardon?”

Tae Yeon turned around to look at Do Joon. The red sunset sky was visible behind his face.

“When I came back after showering and exercising, you were sleeping so soundly that I couldn’t touch you. It felt somewhat criminal to disturb someone sleeping.”

“……”

“So today, while you’re awake. Let’s proceed.”

He spoke as if he were about to start a project. Tae Yeon bit her lower lip slightly.

“I think I’ll be working overtime today.”

“That’s great. I’ll be working overtime too.”

Should she just not go home at all?

As if reading her thoughts, Do Joon approached and whispered in her ear.

“If it gets too late, we can do it at the company.”

Do Joon raised one eyebrow and made a sly expression.

Tae Yeon could only stand there dumbfounded with her mouth wide open.

At the company, of all places.

As Do Joon was about to leave first, Tae Yeon approached and grabbed the hem of his suit.

“We agreed to hide the fact that we’re married at the company, didn’t we?”

“We did. But you broke it first.”

“Me?”

Do Joon pretended to stroke his own arm, teasing Tae Yeon.

“Just now, when you were here.”

“Ah. That was a mistake.”

“A mistake, you say.”

“So please… keep it a secret from the company people for now that you’re my husband.”

That was the plan. Do Joon also didn’t want to be bothered with questions about married life.

But why was Tae Yeon trying so hard to hide the fact that he was her husband?

Perhaps there might be more than just the one man in the photo he had received, the thought briefly crossed Do Joon’s mind.

Do Joon asked,

“Do you have a man hidden at the company?”

Tae Yeon looked bewildered.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m curious why you need to hide the fact that I’m your husband at the company.”

“I don’t want to be the subject of office gossip.”

Tae Yeon quickly added,

“And as you can see, I’ve always worn my ring. Everyone knows I’m married. So please don’t misunderstand that there might be another man.”

Do Joon nodded.

“But what about your ring… did you lose it?”

Tae Yeon glanced at Do Joon’s left hand. There wasn’t even a ring mark visible, as if he hadn’t worn it since the wedding.

Disappointment filled Tae Yeon’s eyes.

This time, it was Do Joon who was flustered. He apologized without dragging it out.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t take it off on purpose.”

Tae Yeon looked at Do Joon curiously.

“It was stolen at the airport the day I arrived in America.”

“Ah…”

“I kept meaning to buy a new one or get it fitted, but I was so busy that I forgot.”

Do Joon kept apologizing, rubbing the back of his neck as if he was truly sorry.

“I see your ring has a lot of wear and tear too. How about we get new ones made together?”

“What?”

Tae Yeon looked down at her own ring. Then she shook her head.

“No, I’m fine. If you really want to get one made, just for yourself…”

“Let’s go on a date this weekend and get new wedding bands while buying your birthday present.”

“……”

This Sunday was Tae Yeon’s birthday. The fact that Do Joon knew was surprising in itself.

Just as she was about to ask him how he knew,

The phone in Do Joon’s suit pocket rang. It seemed Secretary Choi was looking for him, probably because he had been away from his desk for too long.

“We’ll continue this conversation later. Oh, and don’t think about running away first.”

After Do Joon left, Tae Yeon kept staring at the rooftop garden door where he had disappeared.

She felt strange.

“He knows my birthday…”

When Dong Pil called her today, Tae Yeon had secretly hoped.

Maybe he would ask her to come home for a meal since it was her birthday week.

But there was no such mention at all.

Dong Pil’s purpose was to arrange a dinner with Do Joon as soon as possible to discuss business that could benefit Cha Shin Industries. And he only thought of Tae Yeon as a means of connection.

Tae Yeon shifted her gaze to the sky where the sunset was deepening.

Usually, this would have been a time when she felt lonely.

Tae Jin and Tae Yeon, born on the same day, just one minute apart. But that one minute created a lot of discrimination.

Even when they made the same mistake, only Tae Yeon was scolded, and the good clothes and good food always went to Tae Jin since childhood.

Marriage was the same. They needed someone for Cha Shin Industries, but it was too precious to send the eldest daughter Tae Jin, so they sent Tae Yeon instead.

Still, it was okay. If she did her best within the set marriage period, wouldn’t her family be grateful to her?

She had such thoughts at one time, but it was far from reality.

“When did it all go wrong?”

She couldn’t tell. Even if she knew, there was nothing she could change.

The remaining six months.

Doing her best to endure by Do Joon’s side and then disappearing from their lives.

That was the only happiness she could secure for herself.

As soon as Do Joon entered the office, Secretary Choi followed him in quickly.

“Director, where have you been?”

“Just went to the rooftop for some fresh air.”

“Did you go alone?”

He couldn’t say he was there with Tae Yeon. Do Joon quickly changed the subject.

“Yeah. What’s the matter?”

Secretary Choi checked that the door was tightly closed and handed Do Joon an envelope. It was a familiar envelope.

“Don’t tell me.”

“That’s right. That bastard has started contacting us again.”

Do Joon hurriedly opened the envelope. As expected, there was a single photo inside.

Tae Yeon with heavy makeup, and next to her, a man boldly showing his face.

The two were walking down the street arm in arm. Do Joon’s brow furrowed deeply.

“When was this photo taken?”

“I don’t know. Just this one photo was delivered again…”

“What on earth is he trying to gain?”

Then Do Joon noticed something and widened his eyes. He brought the photo closer to look at it, then started searching for something on a portal site.

Then, as if something was strange, he tilted his head.