The next day, as he said, Seong Jun gifted her the most expensive and elaborate ring among those Seo Yeon had seen.

That ring was now on her finger. Seo Yeon raised her hand to look at the ring.

‘I definitely lost it before… How did it end up here…’

Sitting in the passenger seat, lost in thought while looking at the ring, Seo Yeon asked:

“Why did you give me such an elaborate and expensive ring?”

And she immediately tensed up. It felt like talking to a ghost. Just then, Seong Jun, who had stopped the car at a red light, turned to look at her. Seo Yeon spoke again.

“Even for a wedding ring, it seems too flashy.”

His slightly double-lidded eyes narrowed as if trying to read her thoughts.

Seeing that vivid expression up close made Seo Yeon feel more confused as time passed, as if she were really conversing with a living Seong Jun. She seemed anxious. After a moment of silence, Seong Jun opened his mouth.

“To escort a princess, this much is only fitting.”

It was the most absurd joke she had ever heard. Seo Yeon’s eyes widened.

“Are you… making fun of me right now?”

“Of course not.”

Seong Jun’s expression as he looked at Seo Yeon, as if it wasn’t a lie, showed no trace of playfulness.

Seo Yeon felt even more flustered by Seong Jun’s serious attitude, but thinking about it, she seemed to have heard something similar before their marriage.

He had said at their first meeting that he needed to marry her.

To secure the interests of the Han Kyung family, which flowed according to the will of Honorary Chairman Tae Seok Hyun, the head of Han Kyung Group, and to gain an advantageous position in the upcoming succession plan. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to his wishes.

It was probably something along those lines.

It was a marriage that proceeded for each other’s circumstances and pursuit of benefits.

At first, her in-laws who treated her politely turned against Seo Yeon like an enemy when Han Kyung shouldered dishonor due to her elder brother’s betrayal. It was natural. After all, it was a false scandal created out of one person’s desire for success.

Only one person, her grandfather-in-law, remained unchanged in his attitude. He was still strict and intimidating, but he didn’t discriminate against Seo Yeon either.

She felt comforted and relieved by just that level of attitude. That’s why when he suddenly passed away due to illness, Seo Yeon was more shocked than anyone.

“Is grandfather doing well? Is he healthy?”

Seo Yeon’s voice trembled slightly. For some reason, she was afraid to hear the answer.

“You saw him at the main house a week ago, remember? He’s not just fine, he’s overflowing with energy. He’s probably healthier than you or me.”

“…!”

Surprised, Seo Yeon rummaged through her bag to find her phone. Then she checked the date on the screen.

July 1, 2020.

Seo Yeon’s eyes trembled violently.

If this wasn’t a dream, if it wasn’t really a misunderstanding… She had returned to the past before Seong Jun’s death. And with her memories of the future intact.

How could this be possible?

“We’re here. Get out.”

“…”

“What are you doing not getting out? Do I need to unbuckle your seatbelt too?”

“Ah, no, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself.”

As she hurriedly unbuckled her seatbelt, a question arose in her mind. If she had really returned to the past, she should know this situation too, but no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t remember.

Because Seong Jun was a person who was so engrossed in company work that he seemed anxious when he couldn’t work overtime, let alone come home early.

Seo Yeon raised her head again to look at Seong Jun. And she asked, as if finding it strange:

“Shouldn’t you be at the company right now? How did you come?”

“I got a call from the company. They said you collapsed.”

“…”

“That’s why I told you to go to the hospital yesterday. Why did you stubbornly hold out and waste people’s time like this? It’s quite a talent to nurture illness like that, you. You’re not a child.”

The tone that made the other person uncomfortable and the coldly stern gaze. It was exactly like her husband in her memories. In the past, she had been hurt by Seong Jun’s cold words, one by one.

Not wanting to show that she was hurt, conversations with him became increasingly awkward, and as time passed, her words decreased due to not wanting to create conflicts, to the point where there were days when she didn’t say a single word just before deciding to divorce.

But now, it was ironic that she found comfort in such prickly tone of Seong Jun, seeing it as proof that he was alive.

“You’re right that it was my fault for not going to the hospital when I was sick. As an adult, I should have managed my condition myself, but I didn’t. I’m sorry. But please don’t speak so harshly.”

“What?”

“I don’t know what to say every time you talk like that. It’s frustrating talking to you. Sometimes it makes me angry too.”

“…”

They say people change when they face a big event, and it seemed to be true.

Seeing herself say things to Seong Jun that she would never have said in the past.

As if to prove it, a faint light of shock rose in Seong Jun’s eyes as he looked at Seo Yeon.

Seo Yeon had never seen such a surprised expression on Seong Jun’s face in their 5 years of marriage. No. She had never even seen Seong Jun’s posture disturbed. Because he was a person who sat with perfect posture even when heavily drunk.

Seo Yeon, who had been staring intently for a while, finding it fascinating to see such a man flustered, turned her head away.

“I’ll get out.”

Seong Jun followed her out, frowning.

Seo Yeon looked around the quiet hospital parking lot and clasped her hands together. It clearly didn’t seem like a dream, and what was happening now seemed to be reality, but she still wasn’t completely sure.

If she woke up from this dream after parting like this, she would have missed the chance to talk with Seong Jun in vain.

Even if it was a dream, it was fine. She wanted to talk with him a little longer. She wanted to hear his voice and know his thoughts.

“Are you going straight back to the company?”

“Yes. I have a meeting scheduled in an hour.”

“Then let’s go up together.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to go up alone. You said you have an hour to spare, right? Invest 30 minutes in me.”

“…”

“Do you dislike it because it seems like a waste of time?”

Deep wrinkles formed as Seong Jun’s brow furrowed. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that last part. I thought it might have sounded sarcastic, contrary to my intention.

She wanted to retract her previous statement, feeling that he seemed to be bothered by her tone, but it couldn’t be helped. She already knew Seong Jun’s personality and tendencies too well.

He was a person who valued time the most. And he invested most of that time in work. Conversations with Seo Yeon were always the last option among his choices.

Then what should I say to make him not refuse? Should I throw a tantrum saying I’m sick?

Even if she complained about being dizzy, feverish, and sick, it wouldn’t be a lie, but somehow it didn’t feel right.

Then what should I do?

Just as Seo Yeon was pondering this, Seong Jun’s voice was heard close by.

“What are you doing not coming? You said let’s go together.”

“Ah.”

He gestured towards the elevator with his eyes. Seong Jun, who she had expected would definitely refuse, was walking ahead.

Seo Yeon, who hadn’t thought he would go along with her suggestion so easily, was inwardly shocked by Seong Jun’s choice, but she tried not to show it as she carefully got into the elevator.

And she fixed her gaze on Seong Jun.

A high nose bridge, a chiseled jaw, and cool eyes.

Dressed in a meticulously tailored black suit, Seong Jun’s appearance was flawlessly elegant and perfect.

Seo Yeon raised her eyebrows, surprised by her own thoughts.

Before their marriage, during their formal dates, Seo Yeon would often stare at her husband, entranced.

Ironically, for him, they were just formal dates to smoothly proceed with the marriage of convenience, but not for Seo Yeon.

Remembering her past immature and clumsy emotions that fell in love so quickly, she snapped back to her senses.

Flustered, Seo Yeon quickly turned her head away.

And she put on an expressionless mask again.

Noticing Seo Yeon’s movement, Seong Jun’s gaze fell on her.

He felt annoyed in a corner of his heart at her behavior of turning her head away as if displeased, when she had been secretly looking at him just moments ago.

Seong Jun had received a call from the housekeeper that Seo Yeon had collapsed just after lunchtime.

His wife had already seemed unwell since last night.

Right after their marriage, Han Jung Hyuk had created the Han Kyung corruption scandal, causing Seong Jun’s position within the group, which he had carefully built up over years, to crumble and fall to the bottom in an instant. To make up for this, he had been living an extremely busy life.

He barely had time to eat, let alone sleep.

Because of this, normally he would have sent someone to check on his wife’s condition and instruct them to send her to the hospital, but for some reason today he wanted to check on her condition himself. So he postponed all the appointments he could and stopped by the house.

However, his wife’s condition was worse than what he had heard from the housekeeper.

Her skin was pale and her forehead was burning hot.

“Han Seo Yeon.”

He had actually intended to call someone after just looking at her face, but he found himself calling her name without realizing it. It was because of a strange thought that she might never wake up like that.

“…Seong Jun?”

Maybe it was because of the fever making her delirious. When she opened her eyes, unlike usual, she didn’t avoid Seong Jun’s gaze but met it straight on. His heart felt strange when his wife, who had always been quick to avoid his gaze, stared at him intently.

‘Are you frustrated?’

He had made those nagging comments because it was obvious she would say frustrating things like she didn’t need to go to the hospital or could endure if he didn’t speak harshly, but now he felt a bit wronged to be treated as a frustrating person by his wife.