In Ho sat motionless on the sofa.

A good while had passed since Hye Kyung left, yet his mind couldn’t recover.

The incessant barrage of verbal abuse and the hands slicing through the air.

In that violence, Su Yeon’s body crumbled miserably and trembled in fear.

In Ho numbly hung his head.

He couldn’t escape the shock of that moment.

It didn’t seem like a one-time incident.

Because of that, the shock was even more amplified.

Just looking at his trembling hands pitifully was enough.

His anxious heart had settled somewhat, but the spasms in his fingers wouldn’t stop.

He tried clenching and unclenching his fists, took several deep breaths, but it was futile.

Su Yeon’s body faithfully reacted to the verbal and physical abuse, and couldn’t calm down for a long time.

“What in the world…….”

In Ho’s lips quivered, but he couldn’t finish his words, overwhelmed by despair.

Suddenly, he remembered an upcoming charity event he had to attend.

Despite not wanting to go, he adjusted his schedule due to Yeong Seon’s insistence that he must come, but Su Yeon looked like she was being dragged to hell.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Su Yeon’s complexion was excessively pale.

That’s why he asked without thinking.

“…Huh? Why do you ask about my health all of a sudden?”

Caught off guard, Su Yeon asked back after regaining her senses.

Her expression still wasn’t great, but it didn’t seem to be due to illness.

“Your face looks very unwell.”

“Oh, no. It’s just that I’m not feeling very well.”

Su Yeon’s claim of not feeling well was puzzling.

Up until lunchtime, before mentioning the charity event in the evening, her condition didn’t seem bad.

Her complexion started to worsen exactly after she was told that the Tae Shin Group would also attend.

He felt uneasy watching Su Yeon’s expression darken without any clear reason.

“Feeling really bad?”

In Ho asked again.

Perhaps sensing his genuine concern, Su Yeon finally met his gaze.

She tried to smile but then shook her head.

“No. Just… honestly, it’s not a comfortable setting, is it? Maybe that’s why I’m a bit tense.”

“Ah, why be tense about it. It’s not your first time at such events.”

While it wasn’t countless times, it wasn’t so few as to be counted on one hand.

He replied nonchalantly.

Yet, Su Yeon’s complexion showed no signs of improving.

“If you’re too nervous, stay with your sister or mother-in-law.”

“Ah…….”

It was a suggestion out of kindness.

Perhaps being with her sister or mother would make an uncomfortable setting a bit more bearable.

It was his own way of showing care and consideration for his nervous wife.

But as soon as those words were out, Su Yeon’s expression turned even more rigid.

“…Did you have a fight with your sister when you met her a few days ago?”

He asked, noticing her unusually stiff reaction.

She denied it, yet her expression remained unrelaxed.
It was only much later that she regained her usual smile.

Su Yeon looked bright, as if she had returned to her normal condition.

The signs of tension had completely disappeared.

So, he thought she was alright now and lightly passed it off.

It was only after repeating similar situations several times that he vaguely guessed the reason behind Su Yeon’s dark expression that day might have been due to her sister or mother-in-law.

Still, he didn’t think of asking for the exact reason.

No matter how much he and Su Yeon became a couple and a family, he believed there were lines to be respected.

So, he pretended not to know.

Since it involved her family, it could be a sensitive issue, so he decided not to ask until she brought it up first.

Perhaps it was his complacency, not realizing it was a signal from Su Yeon.

“I thought, I thought that was respecting you, but, ha…….”

Now he seemed to understand.

Under the guise of respect, Su Yeon was struggling and withering in pain every day.

“Ha, Su Yeon. You, you’re really, truly…….”

In Ho’s hands, still trembling, covered his face.

He knew he had been a terrible husband to Su Yeon, but it was more than that.

It wasn’t just being terrible.

He was indescribably helpless and irredeemable.

Suddenly, Su Yeon’s trademark expressionless face came to mind.

“How much have you suffered, you…….”

Facing Su Yeon, who had erased her expressions completely since some time, was too difficult.

Back then, he thought ignoring her struggles was respecting her, so he couldn’t understand her more.

He thought she was increasingly becoming depressed despite all the care he thought he was giving.

But it wasn’t something to think lightly of.

He was convinced that their marriage was ruined solely because Su Yeon had changed.

Realizing that he, too, had contributed significantly to her change, In Ho felt unbearably suffocated.

“What should I do now… What can I do at this point, really…….”

He had said he would try. He said he would do his best.

At least to make her not regret choosing this marriage, he had promised.

But there wasn’t a single promise he had kept among those he had made.

“Ha…”