Yoo Kwon had always wondered what his intense and persistent feelings towards Da Eun were. He thought he would know if he kept her by his side. After all, possessiveness tends to fade once you possess something.

However, even now that he had Da Eun by his side, he still didn’t know. Far from fading, his desire had become even clearer, and his thirst was not easily quenched.

“…Cha Yoo Kwon.”

Suddenly hearing her call his name, he thought she had woken up, but her eyes were still closed. Mmm, Da Eun smacked her lips and rolled over. She was talking in her sleep.

What on earth are you eating in your dream?

A chuckle escaped Yoo Kwon’s lips. He kissed her forehead and then got up.

It seemed he would need to take another shower.

Da Eun woke up early in the morning, feeling refreshed. She had complained that the pillow was too hard, but it turned out to be Yoo Kwon’s arm.

To think she had slept so soundly, using his arm as a pillow and nestled in his embrace. At this rate, should she be called wife material, or perhaps an ideal wife candidate?

His disheveled bangs covered his forehead. Da Eun suddenly felt embarrassed by the firm chest muscles visible through the gap in his shower robe and turned her body to look at the ceiling.

Then she slightly turned her head to sneak a glance at Yoo Kwon.

His long eyelashes cast shadows. Lips unusually red for a man. Remembering their warmth, her cheeks flushed hot.

Is this how the first night mission ends?

Da Eun carefully got up and took a shower.

That’s right, this was Jeju Island. Da Eun quickly opened the terrace door and went outside. The emerald sea sparkled in the sunlight.

Da Eun sat in a chair and admired the sea for a long time, forgetting what she had to do.

I didn’t know Jeju’s sea was this beautiful.

It’s beautiful.

Suddenly, she thought she wanted to see it with Yoo Kwon.

When she went to the bedroom to call Yoo Kwon, he had already finished showering.

“You’re up? Let’s go see the sea quickly.”

As Da Eun pulled Yoo Kwon’s arm, he pulled her body into his embrace. The scent of body wash filled her nostrils.

“There’s something we need to do before going out.”

At his suggestive whisper, Da Eun’s body trembled slightly.

“No. It’s too bright. At least close the curtains.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t wait.”

Is he really sorry? Somehow, Yoo Kwon looked rather pleased. And a bit impatient.

“I’ve been losing sleep for days in anticipation.”

“Is this why we got married?”

“That’s right.”

Da Eun glared at Yoo Kwon.

Come to think of it, he’s quite foxy. Yet far from disliking it, anticipation welled up in her chest.

She had been tamed by Cha Yoo Kwon. To be true to her instincts.

Now she no longer startled at light skinship, and her hand naturally sought his. It felt as if they had become real lovers while acting.

Light kisses followed, as if to ease her tension. Their bodies pressed together so closely it seemed impossible.

Why did it feel so unfamiliar when it wasn’t the first time?

Da Eun held her breath and tightly gripped the sheets, in pain beyond words.

Yoo Kwon kissed Da Eun gently. He persistently sought out her hand gripping the sheets and intertwined their fingers.

As the pain subsided, an unfamiliar sensation arose.

The creaking sounds, ragged breaths, and inaudible heartbeats all tangled together.

It felt dreamy, as if it weren’t real. More intoxicating than being drunk on alcohol. Even as her vision blurred from the heat, Yoo Kwon remained clear.

She felt so embarrassed she wanted to hide, yet also wanted to reveal everything. It was such a contradictory emotion.

Something ticklish pounded in her chest, as if it were not just a simple act of pursuing desire, but an exchange of hearts.

Soon, an indefinable emotion welled up deep in her chest. Her heightened senses burst with a pop.

A scorching hot breath settled on Da Eun’s shoulder.

Even after the pleasure passed, Yoo Kwon’s gaze remained affectionate. Enough to give the sweet illusion of being loved.

She resolved not to attach the grand name of love to what might just be a game of physical relations.

Nevertheless, her already softened heart was swept along and tossed about by his movements.

She felt self-mocking, wondering how love-starved she must be to assign such meaning.

She fell asleep as if fainting from the continued acts, and woke up in the evening. Her whole body ached as if she had been beaten. It was only natural. She had been tormented for hours without rest. This was a violation of the contract.

But she couldn’t complain. Far from refusing, she had clung to him instead.

It felt like she couldn’t control her own body. She was helplessly dragged along as he wielded her, and she trembled at the pleasure he gave. Though they didn’t love each other, she felt guilty for this act of merely craving bodies, but it was only for a moment.

It wasn’t just Yoo Kwon trying to fulfill his selfish desires, but Da Eun as well. Her body burned with the constant desire to touch him.

As a result, the tightly packed plans had all gone up in smoke. They couldn’t go around tourist sites while groaning in pain.

Even the food Yoo Kwon ordered through room service didn’t appeal to her.

“Are you really not going to eat?”

“I have no appetite.”

Yoo Kwon looked at Da Eun as if he couldn’t believe it.

“…Because someone was too rough.”

The stinging, burning pain, plus the muscle aches that made it hard to move, were more painful than her first time.

Yoo Kwon sat Da Eun on his lap and fed her. Though she said she had no appetite, when he brought the food to her mouth, she opened it like a baby bird.

While she chewed the food, he caressed the softest and weakest parts of her body.

“Ah.”

Da Eun frowned and tried to pull away from Yoo Kwon.

“I’m sorry.”

He said, still not looking sorry at all.

“Are you really sorry?”

“No. I just thought I should apologize in advance.”

In advance?

Da Eun’s eyes darted back and forth. As if sensing the danger to come.

Yoo Kwon hugged Da Eun and laid her on the bed. He kissed the forehead of his lovely wife glaring at him and opened the gap in her shower robe.

“I really feel like I’m going to die…”

Even as she said this, Da Eun didn’t resist. She just closed her eyes tightly.

She was still far from accepting his already grown greed. But he could wait as long as it took. He had waited 8 years for this moment, so this much was nothing.

Yoo Kwon patiently kissed Da Eun’s nape.

Da Eun’s grand plans were completely ruined. Considering Yoo Kwon had been especially busy with work lately, she had set a 2 night 3 day travel itinerary. But they had wasted two days. They spent two days just inside the hotel.

There was plenty to enjoy inside the hotel too, but Yoo Kwon wouldn’t let Da Eun leave his body.

Heaving a long sigh, Da Eun entered the bathroom. She washed off the traces of Yoo Kwon all over her body. Looking at the bruises on her fair skin, another sigh escaped.

Part of her wanted to rest, but knowing Yoo Kwon would pounce on her again, it seemed better to go outside. Above all, she wanted to experience Jeju.

Unlike the impatient Da Eun, Yoo Kwon just looked relaxed.

“Aren’t you going out?”

“I want to stay in the hotel.”

“There’s so much to do. We don’t have enough time to do it all.”

“We can come again next time.”

They could come anytime with just a plane ride. In fact, a day trip was possible if they wanted, so Yoo Kwon didn’t understand why Da Eun was acting like this was their last trip.

“Next time? With me…?”

Da Eun looked at Yoo Kwon with surprised eyes.

The honeymoon was like a detailed condition of their contract. Most couples go on a honeymoon after marriage. There was no reason for two contract spouses to travel separately. There was no need either.

“Yes, next time.”

But Yoo Kwon not only suggested it, he even planted certainty.

Yoo Kwon had always lived looking just one step ahead. When he learned that the worst accident that ruined his life was intentional.

More precisely, from the moment his grandfather told him to cover up that accident, Yoo Kwon had lived with a desire for revenge. He knew that revenge would ruin him, but he couldn’t help it.

He planned to get his hands on Myung Il Group, which his grandfather cherished and loved more than his own children, and then sell it at a high price. If possible, he wanted to sell it to Myung Il’s lifelong rival company.

There were no plans after that. Yoo Kwon’s life was designed only up to that point.

But today he promised a next time. Yoo Kwon himself was surprised by this fact.

“Really?”

Da Eun asked, clutching Yoo Kwon’s arm tightly. Her light brown eyes sparkled like the sun-drenched sea.

Suppressing his complicated feelings, Yoo Kwon stared at Da Eun and nodded.

“Wow.”

Da Eun’s cheeks flushed pink as she exclaimed softly.

Finding her lovely, Yoo Kwon pulled Da Eun into his arms.

As Da Eun’s soft skin touched his body, his already sensitive body reacted as if it were only natural.

“But are you really okay with living in Hyanglimjae?”

“I’m fine with it… Are you uncomfortable? Did I thoughtlessly say I’d move in?”

Da Eun asked with a worried face.

There wasn’t much for Yoo Kwon to be uncomfortable about. Anyway, Yong Hee spent more days at the Pyeongchang-dong mansion than Hyanglimjae, so they wouldn’t run into each other.

Unless they deliberately made plans to meet, Hyanglimjae wasn’t small enough to easily bump into each other.

Myung Il said they would prepare the guest house where Yoo Kwon’s parents used to stay. It was almost as big as the main house where Myung Il stayed, but relatively far away, ensuring privacy.

He knew that Myung Il secretly hoped for them to live together.

“I’m really fine with it…”

Yoo Kwon gazed at Da Eun intently.

She did seem like she would get along well with Myung Il in many ways.

His mother was the same. Despite her delicate frame, she loved delicious food and got along well with Myung Il.

Unlike Yoo Kwon who reluctantly attended every Wednesday, Hee Seon looked forward to that day. It was the day she could taste her father-in-law’s cooking.

She also resembled him in being clear and warm like the spring sun. When she was nearby, it felt like her warmth transferred to him, making him warm as well.