But shouldn’t I tell Jeho what happened?

Yuri, returning to the bedroom, picked up her phone to call him. However, she couldn’t bring herself to press the call button. Although she needed him more than ever, she found herself unable to contact him.

With trembling hands, Yuri held her phone, staring at Jeho’s number, but eventually, she lowered it without making the call.

The next day, Yuri arrived at the office earlier than usual. Perhaps her telepathy worked because Jeho also entered the office early. Since their relationship was a secret, they couldn’t show it at work, but as no one else had arrived yet, Jeho approached Yuri, who was already seated.

“Did you rest well at home yesterday?”

He asked while gently brushing Yuri’s hair.

“How’s your health?”

Yuri let him touch her head as she pretended to be asleep. In reality, she had intended to turn away but, her heart disagreed, and her body followed suit. Annoyed at her own ease of crumbling under such a touch, she couldn’t help it.

Jeho bent over and naturally embraced Yuri, who was sitting on the chair. It was maddening. Yuri felt like her heart sank just from his light embrace. Perhaps she missed him so much that she couldn’t sleep without him throughout the night. If it weren’t for the sleeping pills, she would have stayed up all night. So, she had to say it now.

“I have a favor to ask…”

Yuri closed her eyes and spoke with difficulty.

“Can you refrain for a while?”

Upon hearing this, Jeho released the arms that had been around her and stepped back, meeting her gaze. He raised his eyebrows as if asking for the meaning behind her words.

“Last night, it was surprisingly comfortable to sleep alone. Even when you were on a business trip, I could sleep well.”

Although Jeho’s expression subtly changed, Yuri continued without caring, “Lately, I’ve been feeling tired, so until my condition improves, I’d like to sleep comfortably alone. And now that Minwoo knows about my independence, he needs to be careful. My father told him the address of the studio. Since our marriage isn’t officially annulled yet, my father told us to maintain a good relationship until we formally announce the cancellation.”

He remained silent and just stared at Yuri. When Yuri, feeling uncomfortable under his penetrating gaze, turned her head away, he whispered softly.

“Look me in the eyes and say it. Yuri, do you really want that?”

Yuri took a small breath and turned her head back to face him.

“Yes.”

She answered with a brief but firm expression.

“Okay. I’ll refrain from coming every night for a while. But on weekends, you have to spend time with me. At my place.”

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

Yuri thought she could endure two days out of the week. If she maintained her mental composure during the weekdays, it should be bearable. When she agreed without resistance, Jeho gently smiled, wrapping Yuri’s cheek with one hand.
And then, he raised himself and returned to his own place. With a businesslike expression, he placed his bag on the desk, turned on the computer, and wore glasses that he only used when working.

After a while, the office door opened, and Sunyoung entered.

“Good morning.”

Following her, other employees began to arrive. While exchanging morning greetings with colleagues, Jeho coincidentally met eyes with Yuri. He had an expression as cold as the day they reunited at the shopping mall. Why? Suddenly, Yuri wondered if that expression was his true self. If that were the case, she might not have easily fallen in love. She laughed bitterly at the useless imagination.

A longer and more tedious week than usual was passing. Although it was difficult to sleep alone without Jeho, she endured it just fine, thanks to her firm determination.

Since it was a secret relationship, they couldn’t show any signs in the office. Thus, they rarely had the chance to make contact, even when sharing the same space.

Occasionally, they would bump into each other in the elevator, exchanging smiles. Due to the CCTV, they had to be cautious even inside the elevator.

Jeho seemed more composed in accepting the situation than Yuri. He always maintained a cold expression in the office and treated her with a nonchalant attitude.

While Yuri felt fortunate, she also felt a slightly bitter emotion. Simultaneously, she disliked her own rebellious self even more.

On a Thursday morning, leaving the house, Yuri saw the next-door neighbor carrying luggage with the door wide open. A few days ago, they moved out, and it seemed a new resident had arrived. The moving center staff were busy, and she couldn’t see the new neighbor.

Without much thought, Yuri passed by the next-door neighbor and took the elevator. When she arrived at the underground parking lot and just stepped out, someone suddenly blocked her way. Startled, she raised her head, and it was Jeho, smiling brightly at her.

“What’s going on here?”

“I came to work at the site today. And probably, I’ll be working there until I finish work.”