The Day I Quit Being a Wife (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
He must be going to see that woman.
The moment Hyuk Joo saw the message saying she’d sleep at the hospital tonight, he immediately got ready to go out, as if he’d been waiting for it.
To spend the night with that woman.
Eun Soo bit her lip.
But soon, she lifted her head with a blank expression, pretending nothing had happened.
She saw Hyuk Joo looking flustered.
She’d already told him it was fine, that he could help that woman as much as he wanted…
Yet seeing Hyuk Joo so unnerved—as if he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t—made Eun Soo feel pathetic. But she couldn’t let that emotion show.
After all, this was a marriage she’d entered into with full awareness.
“Where are you going?”
Casually, Eun Soo removed the scarf wrapped around her neck, her face expressionless.
“…I can’t sleep.”
“Be careful on your way.”
Eun Soo walked past Hyuk Joo and entered the bedroom.
She took off her coat and placed it, along with the scarf, on the chair by the dressing table. She changed from her outdoor clothes into pajamas and climbed onto the bed.
Hyuk Joo was still standing by the bedroom door.
Did he feel even a trace of guilt?
Should she now push him on the back and tell him to hurry up, since that woman must be waiting?
She didn’t want to do that.
As if trying to ignore the situation, Eun Soo turned onto her side.
“You said you were going to the hospital?”
Hyuk Joo’s voice came from behind her.
“I’ll go tomorrow afternoon.”
“…”
“I just thought it might be too late if I go now.”
“You made a good decision.”
She’d expected him to say something like, “But you’ve gone to the hospital quite often at this hour,” yet he’d said, “You made a good decision.”
Surprised by his unexpected words, Eun Soo sat up.
Hyuk Joo was taking off his outer coat and heading into the dressing room. She briefly heard the sound of him undressing.
When Eun Soo saw Hyuk Joo return in pajamas just like her, her eyes widened.
“You weren’t going out after all?”
“It’s too late.”
“Oh…”
Eun Soo glanced sideways at the digital clock on the console beside the bed.
It was just past 11 p.m.
It wasn’t exactly too late to call it night, yet it was certainly too late to be considered early.
Was he just tired?
Now that she thought about it, she thought she could even see a faint redness in Hyuk Joo’s eyes.
She almost said she didn’t mind, but Eun Soo clamped her mouth shut.
He would take those words as interference.
Moon Hyuk Joo, Oh Eun Soo’s husband, hated it when anyone meddled in his affairs.
And as someone who lived meticulously along the path he had set for himself, he especially disliked that.
Come to think of it, Oh Eun Soo herself was like a meteor that had abruptly crashed into Moon Hyuk Joo’s orbit.
A useless lump of rock destined to fall and vanish someday.
She couldn’t understand why such melancholy thoughts kept coming to her.
Breakfast was always simple.
Just fruit, salad, raw food, and juice.
Eun Soo, who hadn’t eaten breakfast before marriage, liked these light meals.
“The house is too quiet.”
The moment her mother-in-law clicked her tongue and spoke, Eun Soo heard a crisp crunch—her teeth biting into an apple.
Embarrassed, Eun Soo took a sip of juice.
Sitting with her mother-in-law always made her uncomfortable.
Every time they met, Eun Soo couldn’t shake the strange feeling that even her smallest actions were being judged. She guessed Hyuk Joo and her father-in-law probably felt the same way.
Twenty-odd years ago, when Myungjin Group had faced possible collapse during a management crisis, her mother-in-law had stepped in to save it. Since then, her mother-in-law had become the true owner of Myungjin Group.
After Hyuk Joo’s mother, who had suffered from a chronic illness, passed away, her mother-in-law moved into the mansion—now without a mistress—and took charge of the household.
The center of power, both in the company and at home, rested with her mother-in-law.
No one ever dared to disagree with that fact.
Not even her father-in-law or Hyuk Joo. So Eun Soo had grown used to watching her mother-in-law’s every cue.
When no one responded, her mother-in-law smiled as if imagining something pleasant and said,
“If only there were a child, the atmosphere in this house would change.”
“…”
Eun Soo couldn’t bring herself to lift the fork holding her salad.
They’d started trying to conceive right from the beginning of their marriage.
Having a child as soon as possible had been a condition of their union.
Maybe it was because she didn’t want a child born into a loveless marriage.
Despite their constant efforts, no child came.
Now that two years had passed, her mother-in-law no longer hid her longing for a grandchild.
Eun Soo understood exactly why her mother-in-law was pushing this.
It was all for her own sake.
She believed that if there were a child, even if that woman came back, Hyuk Joo wouldn’t be able to do anything.
But that calculation was wrong.
That woman had appeared before they even had a child.
Or perhaps it wasn’t that she’d appeared—maybe Moon Hyuk Joo had gone looking for her first.
“I’m going to work now.”
Her father-in-law stood up first.
He must have sensed an awkward conversation was about to unfold.
Eun Soo wished her husband would also leave early, using work as an excuse. But Hyuk Joo remained seated, as still as a wooden totem.
“You’re perfectly healthy—so why haven’t you had any news yet?”
“…I’m sorry.”
At her mother-in-law’s words, Eun Soo lowered her head.
Looking down, she saw Hyuk Joo’s hand gripping the fork.
His knuckles were taut, veins bulging from how tightly he held it.
His profile looked harder than ever.
“People always talk when a married couple doesn’t have a child. You know how it is.”
“I don’t care about gossip from people who have no business meddling in our marriage.”
“Hyuk Joo!”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d stop making Eun Soo and me uncomfortable about this child business.”
Hyuk Joo rose sharply from his seat, his voice low and firm like a command.
Eun Soo sat with her hands clasped tightly together, head bowed like a guilty criminal.
This only made things harder for me.
It would have helped more if you’d just said you’d keep trying, or asked for a bit more time and patience.
Eun Soo bit her lip.
“Get up.”
She’d expected Hyuk Joo to storm off alone, but instead he stood there and spoke to her.
When she turned her head toward him, he gave her a look that clearly said, “What are you waiting for? Get up already.”
Confused by his gaze, Eun Soo only gripped her hands tighter.
“I have a morning meeting.”
“…”
“Eun Soo.”
Hyuk Joo called her name, urging her silently to rise.
He looked ready to grab her wrist if she didn’t move soon.
Reading the mood, her mother-in-law took a sip of water. With a soft sigh, she said to Eun Soo,
“Go help Hyuk Joo get ready for work.”
“…Yes, Aunt.”
With her mother-in-law’s permission, Eun Soo stood up.
She followed Hyuk Joo up to the second floor.
His broad shoulders looked stiffer than ever, as if he were furious.
Watching his solid, almost stern shoulders, Eun Soo entered the bedroom.
Hyuk Joo turned to her, furrowing his brow.
“If Aunt brings up the child thing again, just ignore her from now on.”
“I will.”
“That means stop saying things like ‘I’m sorry’ like some fool.”
“…She’s just thinking about it.”
“Thinking?”
His forehead creased deeply.
As Eun Soo unfolded his suit jacket, she said,
“I do want to have a child.”
“…”
“I think it’d be nice to have one.”
For a moment, Hyuk Joo’s eyes flashed brightly.
Did he think she was trying to use a child to tie him down?
But Eun Soo pretended not to notice that look.
She felt his gaze fixed on her. Facing him directly, she gave a faint, dry smile.
“But I probably won’t be able to have one.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing I’ve ever desperately wished for has ever come true. So I doubt I’ll ever have a child.”
So you can rest easy.
She couldn’t bring herself to say that last part aloud.
Eun Soo wanted to be a good mother, just like her own.
Her longtime dream had been to look into the eyes of a beautiful child who resembled her and give that child all the love she could.
But precisely because she wanted it so desperately, she knew it wouldn’t happen.
“Don’t just say you desperately want something with words alone.”
Hyuk Joo stepped closer and tilted his head slightly toward her.
Their faces were so near she could feel the faint tremor of his breath. The subtle sensation against her skin made Eun Soo’s cheeks slowly flush.
She lowered her gaze—but Hyuk Joo cupped her cheek with his hand and gently lifted her face.
“While avoiding me like this…”
He continued in his arrogant tone,
“…we should make a child.”
“…What?”
“You said children weren’t possible?”
“That’s…!”
Before Eun Soo could finish speaking, her voice vanished into Hyuk Joo’s mouth.
He pulled her into his arms, one hand firmly around her waist.
The suit jacket she’d been holding dropped with a soft thud to the floor.
“Hyuk Joo…”
“You’re the one who said you weren’t generous enough to raise a child born to another woman.”
“…”
At his demanding tone, Eun Soo slowly nodded.
Hyuk Joo unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and picked up his phone. He dialed someone.
“This is Moon Hyuk Joo.”
After identifying himself, he continued without pause,
“I won’t be able to attend the morning meeting. Something came up at home, so please reschedule my morning appointments.”
After hearing the other party agree, Hyuk Joo set the phone down.
Eun Soo turned her head aside, unable to look directly at him.
Hyuk Joo cupped her cheek again, this time more firmly, making her meet his eyes.
“You said you desperately wanted a child?”
“…”
Eun Soo swallowed hard.
Hyuk Joo slowly looked at her—her fair forehead, clear eyes, delicate nose, and full lips—as she gazed up at him.
Just from his eyes meeting hers, Eun Soo’s skin burned as if touched by something scalding.
“For someone who says they desperately want a child, you’ve been awfully passive.”
He brushed a finger lightly over her lips.
That finger, lingering around her plump, red lips, soon began caressing her cheek.
Eun Soo stayed silent, letting Hyuk Joo have his way.
When they were truly alone together, Hyuk Joo’s eyes were always gentle and thoughtful. Whenever she looked into those eyes—filled only with her—her heart would flutter.
His subtle finger movements, combined with their locked gazes, focused all her senses on that single touch.
So much so that her shoulders trembled slightly.
Must have sensed her intense focus.
Hyuk Joo’s eyes, gazing down at her, grew deeper.
Those eyes—usually so firm, arrogant, and cold—now quivered softly, lazily.
“So I’ve decided to make an active effort until your wish comes true.”
He pulled her tightly into his embrace.
The forceful pressure made Eun Soo squeeze her eyes shut.
Through her closed lids, the morning sunlight poured in, bright as shattered glass.
The hospital room was empty.
Seeing the humidifier’s water tank was gone, Eun Soo guessed Madam Sang Joo, the live-in caregiver, had gone to refill it.
“Mom, I’m here.”
As she took off her coat, Eun Soo greeted her mother, who lay in bed.
Was it because she was in deep, worry-free sleep?
Her mother looked as if she might rub her eyes and sit up any second.
For years, Eun Soo had resented her mother for not waking up. But now, she’d rather her mother stay like this—ignoring reality altogether.
If her mother ever woke again, Eun Soo hoped she’d lost all her memories.
Especially the horrifying truth that her closest friend and husband had betrayed her.
“Oh, Madam! When did you get here?”
“Just now.”
“Oh dear, this one gets so sweaty—I was just giving her a bath.”
Madam Sang Joo chattered rapidly in her usual cheerful tone.
Eun Soo liked Madam Sang Joo’s lively presence.
Because of her, the hospital room—which could have felt heavy from long illness—always felt brighter.
“Oh, Madam.”
At Madam Sang Joo’s call, Eun Soo turned her head.
“Vice President Moon gave me a bonus this morning.”
“Him?”
“Yes. He told me not to mention it to you, but he gave me so much…”
Eun Soo was startled to hear Hyuk Joo had given her money separately.
Why suddenly?
Even though they lived together as husband and wife, Eun Soo sometimes found Hyuk Joo strangely unfamiliar.
Especially when someone so indifferent and unfeeling suddenly did something like this.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
The extreme miscommunication is getting on my nerves now.
I wish he could actually say what he fully means for once
Hyuk Joo does not mess around. When dealing with someone like this you have to be direct!