“You…… you, have already…… got, marr, ied……”

“What do you mean, grandmother? I got married?”

“If you sleep with…… sleep with that man…… you…… you……”

Song Bok Soon’s hand, like old tree bark, dropped limply below the faded hospital bed.

“Grandmother! Grandmother! Grandmother!!!”

With a flash, Eun Seo opened her eyes to the midday sun high in the sky.

In the room where winter’s bitter cold seeped through the opaque window, Eun Seo pulled the blanket tightly to chase away the chill wetting her neck.

What kind of dream was that? Me, married, when I’ve never even had a boyfriend, let alone been married.

‘Is it because of grandmother’s last words?’

Eun Seo tried to erase the lingering images of her grandmother’s absurd last words, spoken while suffering from dementia, and turned her eyes to the wooden clock on the wall.

1:25 PM.

She had been putting it off for nearly a month, but she decided it was time to file the death report for her grandmother.

Eun Seo lowered her feet from the low bed, if it could even be called that, made of a few wooden boxes joined together.

The icy cold instantly pierced through her soles and climbed up her shins, making her hair stand on end.

To save on heating costs, Eun Seo carefully covered every corner with blankets before opening the door. The bathroom and shower are reached by stepping into the yard and going down two more steps.

After washing hastily with cold water, she opened a jar of cream while looking in the mirror hung on an old pillar nail.

“Ah…… this is empty too.”

With nothing left to apply to her skin, Eun Seo wiped her face once more with a towel, then removed the pale expression from the mirror.

As it was quite cold, she put on the thickest jacket and muffler she owned and left the house.

At the edge of the village, in front of a small store, the bus to the township office stops.

Just as Eun Seo was passing by “Solnae Market,” the sliding door opened with a harsh sound.

“Eun Seo?”

The one who called her loudly was the store owner, the head of the women’s association.

“Hello, ma’am.”

“Are you doing alright?”

“……Yes.”

“Your face is half gone, just like that.”

Knowing she was asking about her grandmother, Eun Seo just gave a faint smile. She wasn’t sure herself if she was alright or not.

“Aigoo, how can you be so unlucky? Such a young person. Tsk tsk. Bok Soon was so fine, how did she end up like that in just a few days? Come in for a bit. It’s cold out, have some tea. You’ll have to wait 15 minutes for the bus anyway.”

Unable to refuse the deliberate invitation, she went inside. At the low table in the store, village people were gathered playing Go-Stop.

As Eun Seo bowed slightly in greeting, the woman called Jung Sil, who had come from the southern region, poured jujube tea and asked:

“How about it? Are you really not interested?”

“What do you mean?”

As Eun Seo blinked her eyes, the village chief’s wife, who was playing Go-Stop with one leg folded, put down her cards on the floor with a thud and scooted closer to Eun Seo.

“You know, Sung Tae.”

“……Sung Tae? Mr. Jo? Why Mr. Jo……”

As she trailed off, realizing the intention, her words faded.

That tiresome meddling, trying to match the village’s only unmarried woman, Eun Seo, with the 44-year-old bachelor Jo Sung Tae.

Sung Tae’s mother occasionally gave snacks and side dishes, currying favor with grandmother. Grandmother, grateful at first, only quieted down after realizing her ulterior motives and having a loud argument with Sung Tae’s mother, saying Eun Seo already had someone to marry, enough to shake the whole village.

It seems grandmother is truly gone from this world.

“Um, I’m planning to leave here soon after tidying up the house.”

“Why? This is your home, where are you going?”

“I want to study again.”

“Study? No matter how well you studied before, it’s easier said than done. I know you think Sung Tae is too old. But twelve years is really nothing.”

“Sixteen years.”

Eun Seo spread her hands twice then folded them, smiling through gritted teeth. This smile was a kind of courtesy to those who had cared for and looked after her ailing grandmother a few times.

“That’s all the same, isn’t it? Girl, how will you live with your grandmother gone? A woman needs a man to have a strong foundation in life. What? You look down on him because you went to a prestigious university and Sung Tae couldn’t even set foot in college?”

“That’s not it. I’ve never once thought of him as……”

Too embarrassed to say it, Eun Seo bit her lip, swallowing her awkwardness, then continued.

“I’ve never once thought of him as, you know, a man, or had any such thoughts at all.”

“Look at the cold wind blowing. If things go well for you, we’ll have a village feast, the village will be excited for once, and we might even get some clothes from the big sister thanks to that. Most of all, it would be a huge loss to the village if you leave.”

“That’s right. Eun Seo, there’s no guarantee you’ll meet a good man in Seoul, and Sung Tae has saved up some money. He says supporting just one person like you is no big deal. You’ve seen those strong arms of his, right? For a man, as long as he’s strong, even at night……. Isn’t that right, sister?”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

“How naughty. There’s nothing you won’t say in front of a young lady.”

Only then did the women’s association head try to stop the other women, noticing Eun Seo’s stiffened expression.

“Um, I should get going.”

“There’s still time before the bus, isn’t there?”

Eun Seo put down the cup she hadn’t even taken a sip from on the tray and opened the door. Behind her, Sung Tae’s mother, who had been watching silently, hurled her anger like swinging a sickle.

“Why?! What’s wrong with our Sung Tae?! Eun Seo, you shouldn’t be like that. An orphan with nothing to her name, you should be grateful for our Sung Tae!”

A solid, heavy lump rose from her core. Eun Seo barely managed to swallow the welling emotion, her throat aching as she pushed it down.

* * *

The township office was quiet.

The clerk at the counter was quite friendly, suggesting it would be good to get a few copies of family relation documents in advance since they couldn’t be issued for a while after filing a death report.

Even though every hundred won was precious in her situation, it was worth paying to maintain the illusion that grandmother was still alive.

This strange relationship where grandmother was her mother on paper but grandmother in reality.

“Here you are.”

Eun Seo carefully read through the document handed to her by the clerk. And as her dark eyes moved past the large print into the table’s frame.

What’s this?

Eun Seo closed her eyes, shook her head slightly, and opened them again. Having not eaten properly for days, she thought she must finally be seeing things.

Eun Seo scrutinized the document carefully from the top again.

But…….

Eun Seo’s crescent-shaped eyes widened greatly on the paper. She stumbled backwards, losing her footing. The ground seemed to sink several meters below, making her dizzy.

Spouse? What is this? Spouse!

Then a dry voice struck Eun Seo’s head.

It can’t be. Grandmother’s words can’t be true. It can’t be.

What on earth is going on?

“I had a husband. When on earth!”

* * *

Seoul, Cheongdam-dong.

Thump thump thump thump. Loud music filled the lavish party venue. Young men and women dancing between the many tables. Noisy glasses clinking here and there.

People dressed in sophisticated outfits were busily moving about, looking for acquaintances or networking.

The party that started in the early evening was for the birthday of Seo Un Construction’s eldest son.

Although the party was full of young entrepreneurs, celebrities, and influencers of similar age, the table attracting the most attention was elsewhere.

Kwon Tae Ha, the only son of GK Group, Korea’s top hotel company, and CEO of GK Hotel.

He was undoubtedly the center of attention at the table surrounded by quite a few people. In just two years, he had raised GK Shopping, which had long struggled, to 3rd place in the industry and was appointed as the hotel’s president.

The only words that came out of his mouth were “Yeah,” “Later,” but when he raised his glass, everyone followed and raised theirs, and when he smiled, everyone smiled along.

Tae Ha didn’t particularly enjoy these kinds of gatherings where gossip about the secret hobbies of the Yu Gang Group circulated, but he didn’t avoid them because there were often people who leaked sources helpful for business, given the nature of the event.

“But why does Chairman Kwon reject every marriage proposal that comes your way? Is it you or the chairman?”

“Who knows.”

“You got rejected too?”

At someone’s words, the face of Miseong Investment’s second daughter turned red.

“And you still want to be here? Isn’t it awkward? Do you like Tae Ha that much?”

“That oppa even rejected the esteemed daughter of Taejin, the top chaebol. If we’re talking about embarrassment, that unni is more embarrassed. But Tae Ha oppa, why did you really reject her? Where else can you find such good conditions as that unni?”

As Tae Ha raised his glass with a faint smile, a man in a black coat approached from behind and whispered discreetly. It was Tae Ha’s bodyguard and chauffeur.

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“It seems the nurse saw her come to the house and informed us. She said if she couldn’t see you today, she’d call the police. She says she must see you today because it’s important. We let her in for now to avoid causing a disturbance. I’m sorry.”

As Tae Ha turned his gaze, a woman hesitantly appeared through the translucent glass wall.

A thick black padded jacket, a cheap-looking muffler tied clumsily. A worn eco bag hanging on her shoulder, not a trace of makeup, and fidgety fingers brushing back carelessly lowered bangs.

The smell of poverty and misfortune emanating from her entire body. The only thing masking that smell was her eyes.

Like a cornered mouse, ready to bite at any moment.

“Who is Kwon Tae Ha…?”

“Why are you looking for Kwon Tae Ha?”

The group looked with interest at Tae Ha, who didn’t bother to reveal his identity.

“I have business with him.”

“You can tell me. It seems you don’t even know Kwon Tae Ha’s face.”

“I want to speak directly with that person.”

The eyes of those present were now fixed on the woman. Her shabby appearance, too plain to even call “ordinary,” didn’t fit the party venue.

To come to a party dressed like that looking for Kwon Tae Ha. Curious eyes scanned the woman intently.

“Tell me. I seem to meet that condition, so.”

“Then you’re…… Mr. Kwon Tae Ha?”

The woman’s two hands, tightly gripping the eco bag, tensed to the point of turning pale. Tae Ha nodded slightly, affirming that she didn’t seem to be completely stupid.

“Do you perhaps not know me?”

“Were we acquainted? Or are you someone I should know?”

“I had hoped…… Excuse me, but I have something to say.”

“Go ahead.”

“Not here, somewhere else.”

“Here. As you can see, I have company, we’re in the middle of an important conversation, and above all, I’m cautious of people who don’t even reveal their identity.”

Tae Ha deliberately glanced at his companions. The people at the table were barely holding back their laughter.

“My name is Song Eun Seo. Is that enough now?”

The woman was unyielding.

Huh, it’s already unbelievable that she came all the way to the party venue to interrupt the business talk that was about to start.

This is driving me crazy.

With a soft laugh, Tae Ha rose from his seat.

Black shoes pressed firmly on the floor, and soon after, long, slender legs gracefully exited the table.

A man in an all-black suit with his hair neatly slicked back with pomade.

His height must be just under 190 cm.

Eun Seo, who had never seen a man with such an aura, finally froze like a tree, overwhelmed by his imposing presence. His facial features, shadowed, were distinctly handsome without a single flaw.

His eyes were sharp, and his gaze was chilling enough to freeze a person. His lips were cool and composed, but his demeanor was relaxed. His straight nose bridge, along with his sharp and distinct jawline, exuded a strong masculine scent.

“You’re quite stubborn. You hear that often, don’t you? But what can we do? I’ve injured my ankle, so it’s a bit difficult to go far right now.”

Tae Ha rolled up his slacks to show his left ankle wrapped in a white bandage. It was an injury he got recently while skiing, trying to avoid someone who was slipping.

It was a minor injury, but not minor enough to leave his seat to hear what the woman had to say.

The woman’s identity could possibly be a job seeker who failed to get employed at GK.

“Then, don’t blame me for whatever I say. Since you won’t leave, I’ll say it here. I have nothing to lose right now.”

What flitted across Tae Ha’s face was doubt. The woman’s expression was quite desperate.

“I’m not sure how to say this, but you.”

Eun Seo bit her lower lip hard, then sighed out the rest of her words.

“You seem to be my husband.”

The loud music stopped abruptly.