Seong Jun, who had finished the evening meeting, went to the roof. An employee who recognized his face bowed and greeted him.

Seong Jun nodded to them in greeting and found a secluded corner where he leaned against the wall leisurely. Then he took out a cigarette from his suit pocket, put it in his mouth, and took a deep drag as he fell into thought.

His wife is acting strange.

She was definitely the wife he knew until last night. But it was as if she had changed in an instant.

For example, when he pointed out that she should take care of her body.

‘Every time I talk to you, I feel frustrated. Sometimes I even get angry.’

She clearly expressed that her feelings were hurt, criticizing Seong Jun’s words and actions instead. He was really taken aback at that moment.

He was so uncharacteristically at a loss for words that he narrowed his eyes to check again if the woman in front of him was really his wife.

The wife Seong Jun knew was not that kind of woman.

She was quiet and calm, enjoyed contemplation, and sometimes enjoyed spending time playing the piano, her major. And besides that, she was the kind of woman who had no interest in anything else, difficult to explain.

Even when he got angry at her or pointed out her behavior, she nodded as if agreeing to anything.

In fact, not agreeing with his words at all.

Like a woman who had committed some kind of sin.

‘Frustrating.’

In fact, this was what Seong Jun had wanted to say to Seo Yeon all along since they got married. But when he was criticized for being frustrating instead, Seong Jun felt very wronged. Frustrated and angry? Who has the right to say that.

‘Was she always that thin?’

Seong Jun put a second cigarette in his mouth. Fixing his gaze on the Seoul skyline spread out on the roof, he exhaled cigarette smoke a couple of times and recalled his wife’s frail arm on the hospital bed just before.

‘It looked like it might break if not careful.’

His wife was a woman taller than average but weighing less.

He hadn’t thought about it carefully before, but when he saw the needle stuck in his wife’s thin arm, he suddenly realized it. It was an arm so thin that calling it weak wasn’t enough.

‘Is she eating meals properly?’

Perhaps because of that, when the nurse was removing the needle from his wife’s arm, he couldn’t take his eyes off it, worried that the delicate arm might be scarred.

Somehow, recalling that scene made Seong Jun frown again, feeling inexplicably displeased. It was pathetic that he was still thinking about his wife’s arm even though the nurse had finished her work very skillfully.

It was when Seong Jun took out a third cigarette and put it in his mouth. The phone he had put in his jacket pocket vibrated.

−Sir, I’ve safely escorted Madam home. Should I return to the company now?

“No need. There’s nothing more to do today, so go home.”

−Huh? Really? You’ll drive yourself? Is that okay?

“Who was it that was singing about being tired from working overtime yesterday? Saying their only wish was to rest for just one day even if it meant not earning money. Am I remembering wrong?”

Even with Seong Jun’s question, Jin Sung didn’t let go of his suspicion.

−Of course, that’s true, but… It’s suspicious when you suddenly say it’s okay to rest when you usually tell me to stay home if I’m not happy with overtime. Is this some kind of trap card? Or a hidden camera?

“On second thought, it seems overtime suits you. If you want, go back to the company right away. There’s plenty of work to do.”

−Ugh.

Jin Sung said seriously, as if it was terrible, in response to Seong Jun’s retort.

−No, that’s not it. Going home suits me!

“Then put aside the chatter and go straight home. I’ll process it as a week’s vacation, so go on that trip you were singing about. Don’t answer even if I call you.”

−…Paid leave?

Seong Jun rubbed his eyes as if tired and answered.

“Yes.”

Simple Jin Sung didn’t hide his joy.

−Oh? Really? For real? Thank you!

And soon his trademark endless chatter unrelated to work began. Seong Jun frowned.

Jin Sung’s father was the driver who drove Seong Jun’s father’s car. Having grown up like brothers in the same space since childhood, he seemed to think of Seong Jun as a comfortable older brother, unlike other employees.

Perhaps because of that, he sometimes failed to distinguish between public and private matters. Without permission, he would often go back to childhood alone, pouring out his personal stories candidly and seeking advice or demanding empathy.

He had only grown older but still didn’t know society. If his grandfather, the chairman of Hankyung, found out that he was treating himself so casually, he would be shocked on the spot.

Usually, if there were signs of Jin Sung’s meaningless chatter starting, he would have ended the call without any response, cutting it off sharply.

But realizing that the subject of his nutritionless chatter was his wife, Seong Jun found himself listening without realizing it.

−I was worried because I accidentally played loud pop music, but she kindly said it was okay.

The reason Jin Sung raised his voice as if boasting about such a trivial thing was because his wife was basically kind and thoughtful to subordinates. She dealt with people sincerely, so she often gained favor with people like Jin Sung.

Jin Sung would often praise her, saying that she was the most beautiful and kindest woman he had ever seen. Jin Sung continued.

−I quickly found the classical music she said she likes to listen to and played it. Then, with a more relaxed expression, she enjoyed the music.

It must be a piece she’s listened to all her life, doesn’t she get tired of it? She must have focused with her eyes sparkling this time too.

Somehow, her expression was vividly imagined in his mind, and Seong Jun smiled unconsciously, lifting the corners of his mouth.

Strangely, just for today, he didn’t feel that time was wasted or that it was boring even with Jin Sung’s one-sided rambling.

As he was listening intently to Jin Sung’s voice, he heard the footsteps of employees nearby. Ending the call with Jin Sung at that point, Seong Jun moved into the building, recalling his wife’s face looking at him gravely.

‘I’ll talk to you at night. It’s an important conversation. So I’d like you to come home early if possible.’

For some reason, the conversation continued for a long time.

Usually, Seo Yeon would hastily flee the scene with a hardened face.

‘What kind of conversation is she going to have with such a grave expression?’

Seong Jun’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and expectation.

*

Meanwhile, Seo Yeon smoothly completed her mental preparation to gain her husband’s cooperation. Her husband was a businessman.

Seo Yeon’s calculation was that giving him something corresponding to her demands would increase the chances of success in persuading him, even if only slightly.

Seo Yeon intended to give the man named Tae Seong Jun what he wanted.

Just then, the sound of the door opening was heard.

“You’re home?”

Seo Yeon, who had been waiting by the door first, greeted Seong Jun.

“Where’s Mother?”

Seong Jun’s gaze, which had been scanning the living room, turned back to Seo Yeon. Matching this, Seo Yeon answered.

“I told her to leave work early. Because I have an important conversation to have with you today. Remember? I told you earlier that I had something to talk about.”

“I remember. What is it?”

“Shall we sit down and talk?”

Seong Jun sat in the dining chair that Seo Yeon pointed to. Seo Yeon sat across from him. Although she tried not to show it, her mouth was about to go dry from the tension and pressure spreading throughout her body.

This wasn’t just a matter of her own wishful thinking. If her husband rejected her proposal, she might lose the chance to meet that child forever. She didn’t want to think about such a despairing assumption if possible.

Seo Yeon’s mind was already full of hope that she could meet the child she couldn’t carry to term due to her mistake.

This time, I will definitely meet my precious angel.

‘I can do it.’

With that determination, Seo Yeon’s eyes shone resolutely.

Seong Jun patiently waited for Seo Yeon, who remained silent. Today, her husband’s particularly black eyes were staring at her more persistently and deeply than ever, not looking away.

“Seong Jun. Do you know how long we’ve been married?”

“3 years.”

“That’s right. It’s a short time if you say it’s short, and a long time if you say it’s long.”

Seong Jun nodded lightly as if to say go on. Seo Yeon looked at him for a moment and then spoke in a deliberately calm voice.

“I’d like our relationship to be different from before.”

“…”

As she said this, Seo Yeon stared intently at Seong Jun. Her husband looked a bit surprised, but it was only for a moment before his expression became more serious than ever. He asked without taking his eyes off Seo Yeon’s.

“How would you like it to be different?”

Seo Yeon answered.

“I’d like us to share a room.”

At those words, Seong Jun’s eyes widened slightly. Seong Jun examined Seo Yeon’s expression and asked.

“Do you really want that?”

Seo Yeon nodded vigorously. And carefully brought up the main point.

“…And if possible, I’d like to have a baby too.”

“…”

Seong Jun’s expression, which had been listening to her words, became even more serious. She couldn’t know exactly what her husband was thinking, but at least he didn’t seem to have an aversion or find it ridiculous.

With this atmosphere, she had a hopeful thought that persuading Seong Jun would just be a matter of time.

Seo Yeon handed over the contract she had prepared and said.

“In return, I won’t demand or expect anything from you as a wife, Seong Jun. If you have a woman you love, you can meet her as much as you want. I’ve even written a contract.”

And for a moment, Seo Yeon doubted her eyes. Because her husband’s expression, which had clearly been looking at her favorably until just now, had turned cold.