Why deliberately.

Tae Yeon looked around, wondering if there were eavesdropping devices in this space and someone was listening to the conversation.

“There are only you and me in this space right now.”

Then why is he saying things he doesn’t mean.

While Tae Yeon was harboring this curiosity, Do Joon took another step closer, narrowing the distance.

“Usually, when a newlywed couple reunites after being apart for so long like this.”

“……”

“Do you know what they do?”

How would I know.

Although she was 25 years old, she had no choice but to not know what to do in this situation because she had built a wall between herself and dating and men.

As if intending to directly show her the answer, Do Joon approached closely and stared at her. With cold eyes that were quite far from a gentle gaze.

“They’ll probably hug and kiss while saying cliched things like ‘I thought I was going to die from missing you’.”

“Do what?”

Tae Yeon covered her mouth with her hand, looking surprised. And without realizing it, she took a step back.

The emotionless kiss they shared on their wedding photoshoot day came to mind.

While Do Joon, who was rumored to be popular with women, was naturally experienced, that was Tae Yeon’s first kiss.

It was still very upsetting to think that her precious first kiss, which should have remained a cherished memory, was used for the purpose of a mere photoshoot. She looked at that photo from the moment she woke up until she fell asleep every day.

Scoff-

Do Joon let out a mocking laugh at the sight of Tae Yeon, who was extremely tense.

“I’m not saying I’m going to do that to you right now.”

“Ah, yes.”

“We’re not a couple who got married out of love like those people. Aren’t we.”

“That’s right. We’re not in that kind of relationship.”

Do Joon glanced at the clock on the wall and gestured towards the door with his chin.

“I think it would be good to discuss the many things piled up between us later at home after work.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Alright. Ah, and if the employees ask you why I called you, what will you say?”

“……”

Unable to think of an excuse, Tae Yeon couldn’t answer. She couldn’t say that her husband who suddenly appeared after 1 year and 6 months called her.

After contemplating for a moment, Do Joon came up with an excuse for her instead.

“Say that you resemble my first love so much that I mistook you for someone I knew and called you.”

“What?”

Before she could ask what he meant by that, Do Joon waved his hand, gesturing for her to leave quickly. Tae Yeon bowed her head politely and opened the door to his office.

Giving a useless excuse and telling her to go out. He might as well have not said anything.

As Tae Yeon trudged back to the office, sure enough, everyone was looking at her with curious faces.

“What did you talk about?”

“We had a light meeting.”

“Really? Why did he call Jin Tae Yeon first?”

“Who knows.”

Tae Yeon shrugged her shoulders and sat at her desk, pretending to be unperturbed. Fortunately, the others didn’t ask Tae Yeon any further questions and focused on their own work.

Her mind was in a complete tangle. Not only was it a shock that he had suddenly returned, but she was even more worried that her life ahead would not be smooth.

Rrrrr.

While lost in thought, Tae Yeon’s cell phone rang. The caller was her father, President Yoon Dong Pil.

Tae Yeon glanced at Team Leader Park and headed to the women’s lounge.

“Yes, Father.”

-Tae Yeon, did you know?!

As soon as she answered the call, she heard him shouting. It was always like this. Tae Yeon closed her eyes tightly and continued the conversation.

“Know what?”

-Son-in-law Cha, he came to KK Foods today.

“Ah, rumors sure spread fast.”

Dong Pil yelled at the top of his lungs. Tae Yeon lowered the call volume and let out a deep sigh.

“Father, I also found out just a little while ago.”

-Haha, that’s a very flustered thing to say for someone with no sense of responsibility. I don’t think I raised my daughter like that.

“Even if I had known beforehand, nothing would have changed.”

-Have you forgotten that you promised to assist Son-in-law Cha well by his side?

“I know very well.”

From the beginning, she was a substitute doing what her twin sister Tae Jin didn’t want to do. She had never been loved equally to Tae Jin throughout her life.

The marriage with Do Joon was the same. It was a marriage proposal that came to the daughter of Cha Shin Dairy, and Tae Yeon was naturally designated as Do Joon’s match because Tae Jin strongly disliked him, who was rumored to be promiscuous and have a strong affinity for women.

Cha Shin Dairy needed KK Foods, and Tae Yeon was used for this marriage as if she was being sold. With the condition that they could divorce after living together for 2 years.

Of course, it wasn’t a marriage where Tae Yeon gained absolutely nothing. It was the only opportunity to escape from Dong Pil and Hye Sook, who had been comparing her to Tae Jin for 25 years and subjecting her to neglect and abuse.

Once, when she was over twenty, she had even run away from home under the pretext of independence, but Dong Pil used all his connections to find her in just an hour.

Thinking of that time still made her dizzy. Because she was locked in her room for a week and received harsh rebukes that were hard to accept.

That’s right. If it weren’t for marriage, Tae Yeon wouldn’t even be able to dream of independence.

So Tae Yeon decided to use the arranged marriage that came to her. Although she had to suffer her parents’ and Tae Jin’s mistreatment at her family home, Do Joon would be staying overseas for a long time after getting married, so it was a preview of the freedom she would truly enjoy alone.

Whether the man who would become her husband, Do Joon, had many women or not was of no importance to her at all.

Of course, this deal was a secret from Do Joon.

6 months remaining.

If she could just endure well without any issues, she could be liberated from everything that had been tormenting Tae Yeon.

Tae Yeon tried to have a conversation with Dong Pil in a gentle voice while barely suppressing her anger.

“I’ll try my best from now on.”

-Of course you should. Bring Son-in-law Cha home with you sometime soon.

Tae Yeon knew very well that it wasn’t with the intention of warmly welcoming her son-in-law who had returned to Korea after a long time.

Persuading Do Joon well to do business in a way that would benefit Cha Shin Dairy. That was the big picture Dong Pil was drawing.

“I can’t be away from my seat for too long. I’ll contact you again later.”

-Do whatever Son-in-law Cha says and follow him unconditionally. Got it. Men like obedient women like that.

“Yes, Father.”

After ending the call, Tae Yeon let out a deep sigh.

Somehow, everything seemed to be going too smoothly. There was no way they would let her live alone easily for 2 years and end this life.

“Other than living in the same house, not much will change.”

Comforting herself, Tae Yeon tried her best to stay strong.

When it was time to get off work, Tae Yeon left the company first. She was thinking of stopping by the house and tidying up a bit before Do Joon arrived.

“Tae Yeon!”

“Oh? Min Hyun.”

Tae Yeon stopped walking as soon as she saw a familiar face upon exiting the company entrance. It was her close friend Min Hyun, whom she had known since college.

“What brings you here?”

At those words, Min Hyun made a sad expression.

“You forgot, didn’t you?”

“…Ah!”

Belatedly, Tae Yeon took out her cell phone to check her calendar. And she had a very apologetic look on her face. She had planned to have dinner with Min Hyun, but she had completely forgotten due to Do Joon’s sudden appearance.

“I’m sorry. Today has been really hectic.”

“I figured as much. I sent you a message but there was no reply, so I came all the way to your company.”

It seemed she wouldn’t be able to have dinner with Min Hyun. She had to go to the newlywed house and tidy up quickly.

Min Hyun was someone Tae Yeon had been close with since college, before marrying Do Joon, and was one of the few people who knew about Tae Yeon and Do Joon’s relationship.

Min Hyun’s unique cheerful personality made those around him feel very comfortable. Because of that, Tae Yeon didn’t keep in touch with other friends well, but she had been getting along well with Min Hyun.

Just as Tae Yeon was about to tell Min Hyun that Do Joon had unexpectedly come to Korea, a familiar voice poured over her head.

“What are you doing here.”

Tae Yeon lifted her head to confirm the face. It was Do Joon.

Do Joon looked at Min Hyun, who was talking to Tae Yeon, and asked.

“I asked what you were doing.”

While Tae Yeon hesitated, Min Hyun greeted first.

“Hello. I’m Kim Min Hyun, Tae Yeon’s friend.”

“Yes.”

That was the end of it. Without revealing who he was, Do Joon continued to stare intently at Tae Yeon. As if he wanted to hear an explanation for this situation directly from her.

“We had dinner plans today.”

Do Joon crossed his arms and tilted his head obliquely.

Tae Yeon first sought understanding from Min Hyun. She thought it would be faster than trying to convince Do Joon with a lengthy explanation.

“Min Hyun, as you can see, I don’t think I can have dinner with you today.”

“I see. I’ll call you.”

As Min Hyun left, Do Joon growled in a low voice.

“You said you didn’t have any hidden man. Did you lie to me?”

“No. He’s really just a friend.”

Do Joon looked angry, as if he really couldn’t believe it.

“If I was in that kind of relationship with Min Hyun, I would have told you to step aside.”

Do Joon raised one eyebrow as if telling her to try harder.

“Fortunately, the one still standing in front of me is you, Do Joon.”

Do Joon didn’t say anything else, seemingly quite satisfied with that fact. Tae Yeon asked.

“Do you happen to know the house address?”

“Secretary Choi knows. Let’s go together in my car.”

Tae Yeon refused.

“No. It would be troublesome if someone from the company saw and strange rumors started.”

“I don’t even know the password to the house.”

She was about to tell him but gave up.

“You see the coffee shop over there?”

After making sure Do Joon’s gaze was fixed there, Tae Yeon added.

“I’ll be waiting in front of it. Let’s meet there.”

It was a house that had been very quiet even just this morning. A house where she was used to coming home alone and turning on the lights, but today was different.

She entered the newlywed house with Do Joon and Secretary Choi, who had brought his luggage.

It was a two-story house with only necessary furniture and not a single common picture frame. Do Joon looked around the house and said.

“Starting tomorrow, a live-in helper will come to assist with household chores.”

“Yes.”

Tae Yeon briefly explained the structure of the newlywed house. While Secretary Choi moved Do Joon’s luggage to the dressing room, Tae Yeon asked.

“There’s also a guest room on the second floor. I’ll use that one.”

Do Joon approached her silently, closing the distance.

“I think it would be better for you to use the larger room that was used as the bedroom.”

“I don’t think you understood what I said earlier.”

“What?”

“The live-in helper is someone sent by Chairman Cha, and we need to act like a perfect couple even at home.”

“Yes, I know.”

“That’s good.”

Do Joon curled up the corners of his mouth and suddenly grabbed Tae Yeon’s hand. Startled by his abrupt action, Tae Yeon flinched and stiffened her shoulders.

“Let’s go.”

“Where…?”

“To our bedroom.”

“What?”

“The live-in helper will arrive first thing tomorrow morning.”

With his other hand that wasn’t holding Tae Yeon’s, Do Joon loosened his tie by pulling it.

“You might be strong in real combat, but I’m not, so…”

“……”

“I’d like for us to match our rhythm beforehand.”

“What?”

Tae Yeon exclaimed loudly in surprise. This man keeps mentioning kissing at any given moment.

The rumors she heard before marriage flooded Tae Yeon’s mind with imagination. She couldn’t forget the words deeply etched in her mind that he wouldn’t stop women from coming or going.

Seeing Tae Yeon’s expression, Do Joon laughed with satisfaction.

“Looking at it, I think it would be better to go with the concept of me being crazy about you rather than you chasing after me.”

Every time he opened his mouth, words that were hard to handle poured out.

“We don’t have much time given to us, honey.”

Tae Yeon was still too stunned to say anything.

“I thought you would naturally help me.”

“What do I… need to help you with?”