“I’m sorry.”

A slender arm wrapped around Tae Ha’s waist.

As Eun Seo buried her head against his chest, Tae Ha’s firm chest muscles tensed where her wet hair touched.

“I’m sorry, I made a mistake.”

A faint vibration transmitted through his chest.

Tae Ha looked down at Eun Seo’s round crown resting on his chest, not daring to wrap his arms around her.

Complete disarmament.

Blood surged in his unguarded heart, pushing hot blood as if no vessels would remain.

He thought the woman would be angry. Maybe he had hoped she would be angry like him.

If he told her to embrace him,

He thought she would angrily say, “Where? Here? Or in the car, or maybe the bed?” He thought she would storm off pouting, and he would chase after her.

It wouldn’t be bad to spend the night following her, walking when she walked.

But this response was completely unexpected.

“Don’t be angry. Okay?”

Eun Seo tilted her head back to look up at him, clinging to his chest with a small voice full of concern.

Making pretty little dimples.

His heart melted into those dark eyes.

This makes it impossible to be angry.

Ridiculously, his lips parted and a soft laugh escaped.

As Tae Ha’s expression softened, Eun Seo loosened her arms and said,

“I’ve repaid my debt.”

Debt?

A cold wind rushed back into his chest.

The price for comforting her when she was whimpering from a bad dream not long ago.

Debt. Just a debt. A bitter laugh escaped.

“Who said so.”

In an instant, an arm snatched her and spun her around. Strong force was applied to the arm around her waist, and their bodies pressed together without a gap from the powerful momentum.

Thump thump, their two hearts collided noisily in the tight embrace.

“Repaying debts will be done my way.”

Tae Ha grasped her slender nape and cheek at once, and gently stroked her lips with his thumb.

On a street where even the sound of wind was completely erased, it was a night when turbid gazes intertwined and red passion blossomed.

Soft lips parted and warm moisture wet his finger.

“Haa.”

As he lowered his lips as if to devour even the faintest breath, hot breaths mingled chaotically between their lips.

Should I embrace her like this?

His intensely hot eyes hungrily traced her pomegranate-like lips. As if to devour every bit, here and there.

But her trembling eyelids and wavering eyes softened his taut grip.

Almost touching, quiet words scattered like wind between their lips.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Barely suppressing his strong impulse, Tae Ha straightened his upper body.

As their bodies separated, Eun Seo’s shoulders sank down a span.

“Have you eaten?”

Tae Ha asked, averting his gaze. Though what he really wanted to taste was something else, he felt like he needed to eat something to satisfy this hunger.

“No.”

Eun Seo answered, lowering her gaze.

“I haven’t eaten either. Shall we eat together?”

“Now?”

“Now. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Janchi guksu.”

Eun Seo didn’t refuse. It wasn’t just because she was hungry.

“Is there somewhere open now?”

Tae Ha trailed off as he turned his eyes to the watch on his wrist.

* * *

The lights on the second floor terrace of Seo Taek’s main building flickered on. Ha Eun, wrapped in a shawl, stood at the railing watching the hired staff for the banquet exit through the front door.

Song Eun Seo wasn’t among them. Was she only kicked out of the banquet hall?

She hadn’t entered the hall at all, did she leave early? Surely she didn’t meet with Kwon Tae Ha?

The moment she realized Tae Ha’s eyes had been fixed on Eun Seo the whole time, an uncontrollable jealousy arose.

She had only intended to drive Eun Seo out, but she didn’t expect Tae Ha to leave as well. Moreover, people were whispering lowly that Tae Ha left because he disliked marriage.

That must be it, her conditions would seem truly absurd in their eyes.

The only fortunate thing was that Tae Ha didn’t take Eun Seo with him right then and there.

That meant either she had misread Tae Ha’s gaze, or his feelings weren’t deep yet.

There was still hope. She needed to act more aggressively. To the point where he couldn’t think straight.

How should she captivate him?

Creeak. At the sound of the door opening, Ha Eun turned around.

It was Jung Woo. He leaned his back against the terrace railing where Ha Eun had been and snickered.

“Childish and vicious.”

These weren’t words one would normally exchange after meeting only twice, so Ha Eun’s eyes twisted momentarily.

“What do you mean?”

“Your feigning ignorance is all wrong, and your acting is terribly bad.”

The sound coming from the man’s mouth was nothing short of vile. Ha Eun stepped back from the terrace railing and examined Jung Woo’s expression.

A sneering mouth devoid of any goodwill.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Ha Eun smiled, wrapping her earlier hasty attitude in a gentle voice. She couldn’t afford to lose points with his family until things worked out with Kwon Tae Ha. Not even one point.

“Are you showing off how stupid you are? Well, judging by your antics earlier, you don’t seem very smart.”

“Why are you treating me like this?”

“So you think you can have Kwon Tae Ha?”

Ha Eun flinched at the words “Kwon Tae Ha.” He had certainly seen through her intentions.

“Excuse me.”

Feeling instinctive wariness at his persistently clingy gaze, Ha Eun turned to leave.

“Feet aren’t meant to be used like that.”

The feet that had taken about three steps away became glued to the floor. Unable to calm her trembling body, Ha Eun only bit her lip and dared not turn around.

Could he have found out?

She was even afraid to meet the man’s eyes.

“Your feet seemed quite light. Tae Ha is too good for you.”

Ha Eun still didn’t turn around, but clenched her fist tightly.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of telling anyone.”

The tension flowing down her nape disappeared in an instant.

“What do you want?”

“You don’t remember me, do you? Ah, besides the department store.”

Ha Eun finally turned around then. His words were ominous. It meant they had met sometime before the department store.

Where could she have seen him?

Though his appearance in a neat gray suit was certainly eye-catching, she couldn’t remember.

He wasn’t one of the men she met in America either.

“You don’t need to know. But, I know a bit about you. Be careful. I don’t know what I might spill if I get upset.”

Jung Woo raised one corner of his mouth crookedly and winked.

“Could it be that you’re interested in me? Is that why you’re acting this way? Because I’m marrying Kwon Tae Ha?”

“What? Ha, hahahaha.”

A cheerful laugh echoed across the terrace and into the garden.

“It’s amusing, but I’m not interested. It seems Tae Ha doesn’t want you.”

Jung Woo’s words struck Ha Eun’s mind sharply, making her narrow her eyes.

‘What Tae Ha wants?’

“If you want to appeal to Tae Ha, approach him properly. Tae Ha isn’t easy.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Don’t mess with good people. I usually let things slide, but this time I’m feeling disgusted.”

“Is that all?”

“Catch Tae Ha well. Don’t let him go somewhere else. It would hurt to see him find a better place. He has everything, so you can give up one thing, right?”

Ha Eun’s eyes finally brightened. Jung Woo wasn’t on Tae Ha’s side.

It was the opposite.

Of course, she knew Jung Woo’s words were looking down on her, but he was an ally.

One she could use moderately and discard when the time came.

Ha Eun approached Jung Woo with light steps. And held out her hand.

“I can’t do it alone.”

Jung Woo scanned the hand Ha Eun offered with his eyes, then ignored it.

“I don’t shake hands. But someday we might be able to help each other, right?”

After saying that, Jung Woo turned off the terrace lights and opened the door.

* * *

“Enjoy your meal.”

Two bowls of janchi guksu, a bottle of soju, and some pickled radish were placed on the blue plastic table.

Tae Ha split the wooden chopsticks in two and handed them to Eun Seo.

“Eat.”

The steaming hot noodles made them forget the cold.

Hungry, Eun Seo picked up a large chopstick-full and brought it all to her mouth. Tucking her fallen hair behind her ear, she blew on it, hoo hoo, and ate eagerly.

One chopstick-full, two, up to five.

Tae Ha paused with one chopstick-full, watching her.

Perhaps feeling his intense gaze, Eun Seo looked up with her mouth full of noodles.

“What?”

Her eyes asked, not her mouth full of noodles.

Because eating looks pretty, because I’m curious. But fearing Eun Seo might choke if he told the truth, Tae Ha lied.

“It’s hot.”

Gulp, Eun Seo swallowed the noodles and made a sympathetic expression.

“You can’t eat hot food? It tastes best when it’s hot.”

“I can’t eat it. But Song Eun Seo eats hot food well.”

“I had to eat quickly and work, you know.”

Eun Seo answered nonchalantly and lowered her forehead again.

That answer seemed to bother only Tae Ha.

Just how has she lived? What kind of life doesn’t even allow time to cool hot food?

Worried she might really choke, Tae Ha pushed his noodle bowl in front of Eun Seo.

“Blow on it for me.”

“What?”

“It’s hot.”

“Uh…”

“Are you thinking ‘blow on it with your mouth’?”

Tae Ha crossed his legs and gave an eye-smile to the hesitating Eun Seo.

Without a word, Eun Seo placed Tae Ha’s bowl in front of her and pursed her lips to blow “hoo hoo.” Then she picked up the bowl and set it down in front of Tae Ha.

“Here you go.”

Vowing to eat it all up including the broth, Tae Ha finally picked up a chopstick-full. After confirming Tae Ha was eating, Eun Seo resumed her meal as well.

“Would you like some soju?”

“No. I have to drive.”

“But you ordered alcohol. Weren’t you going to call a driver?”

“No. It’s more convenient if I take you myself.”

Eun Seo only poured alcohol into her own glass.

The woman’s fingers resting on the bottle somehow looked empty. He had given her a ring, but he hadn’t seen her wear it even once.

“Don’t you like the ring?”

Eun Seo stroked her finger with her other hand, looking apologetic.

“I like it very much. It’s an expensive ring. I really like it.”

“I’m even more expensive.”

Tae Ha retorted without even raising his head as he picked up some noodles.

“I know. Kwon Tae Ha, you’re expensive.”

“Then you must really like me too.”

“But you have someone to marry, don’t you?”

“Me?”

“Yes, I heard earlier. That you’re getting married.”

“Is that why you spilled the wine?”

Feeling like she’d been caught, Eun Seo drank her soju and poured another glass instead of answering.

“I’m already married, to Song Eun Seo. What more is there to do?”

“This isn’t a joke.”

“Am I joking?”

Tae Ha’s eyes sank deeply.

It feels like he’s coming closer. But I have no immunity.

The moment he invades, my whole body will be dyed by him, and when I can no longer push him away, I know it will hurt like crazy.

I need to block him before I’m dyed any further.

“Kwon Tae Ha. A hill can be climbed and descended easily, but Everest is climbed prepared to die.”

“I won’t let you die. I’ll crumble for you.”

Tae Ha poured a glass of soju and downed it.

“I’m going to withdraw the lawsuit.”

“……”

“Let’s be husband and wife. I like Song Eun Seo.”