#50.

Kim Eun-ju lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Closing her eyes, the scene of her kissing Lee Han-ssi in the management office vividly flashed before her. Her chest felt heavy with regret and guilt.

,Why did I do that… Why did I do that with Lee Han-ssi… How can I explain this to Hyun-woo…?

Tears welled up in Kim Eun-ju’s eyes. She felt ashamed and embarrassed for kissing a man who wasn’t her husband.

At the sound of the front door opening, Kim Eun-ju quickly wiped away her tears and got up. Lee Hyun-woo came home late. He looked tired as he took off his shoes and headed to the living room.

,I’m home. I’m so tired today.

Lee Hyun-woo greeted her briefly and plopped down on the sofa.

Kim Eun-ju approached her husband, trying to hide her guilt. She wanted to treat Lee Hyun-woo well, but it wasn’t as easy as she thought.

,Can we talk today?

She asked cautiously.

Lee Hyun-woo shook his head, his face etched with fatigue.

,I’m too tired right now… Let’s talk later.

Kim Eun-ju’s heart grew cold at his indifferent attitude. The reality that she couldn’t even have a conversation with her husband made her even sadder.

Kim Eun-ju swallowed her tears and hung Lee Hyun-woo’s coat on the hanger. Just then, a strange perfume scent brushed past her nose, and her heart sank.

,This scent… It’s that scent again. Is Hyun-woo really hiding something from me…?

Anger and frustration surged within her, but Kim Eun-ju gritted her teeth and endured it.

She approached Lee Hyun-woo and placed her hand on his shoulder.

,Let’s talk…

But before she could even speak, Lee Hyun-woo shook off her hand and stood up.

,I need to rest. I’m exhausted.

Kim Eun-ju sighed as she watched him walk towards the bedroom.

Returning to her room, Kim Eun-ju lay face down on the bed and sobbed. Tears soaked the pillow. The kiss with Lee Han-ssi, Lee Hyun-woo’s cold attitude, and the strange perfume scent. Everything was tangled together, throwing her into confusion.

,Why did it turn out like this… Why is our relationship falling apart like this…?

Kim Eun-ju buried herself in the blanket and wept.

Her heart was full of wounds. The pain of feeling like she was growing further apart from her beloved husband, the guilt and shame from the kiss with Lee Han-ssi. Kim Eun-ju was struggling in this whirlwind of emotions. She couldn’t see an answer to how to overcome this situation.

Wiping her tear-stained face with her hands, Kim Eun-ju let out a deep sigh. She dragged her tired body to the bathroom. Washing her face with cold water, Kim Eun-ju decided to pull herself together. She had to work to protect her family and restore her relationship with Hyun-woo. Even if the process was painful, Kim Eun-ju couldn’t give up. She took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror. A long and dark night awaited her.

–

Han Su-jin was in Lee Han-ssi’s arms, gasping for breath. Their naked bodies were pressed against each other, and their sweat-soaked skin glistened in the afternoon sunlight. The soft light coming through the window illuminated their intertwined silhouettes.

Lee Han-ssi stroked Han Su-jin’s hair with a satisfied expression. Han Su-jin leaned her cheek against Lee Han-ssi’s chest, feeling complex emotions. Along with physical pleasure, self-loathing and confusion were engulfing her.

The bed sheets were crumpled from their intense lovemaking. Scattered clothes were lying messily on the floor. The air was filled with heat, a faint smell of sweat, and the scent of the two people mixed together, creating a blissful atmosphere.

The afternoon sunlight was gradually fading, but Lee Han-ssi and Han Su-jin were oblivious, holding each other in their arms. As if the intense afterglow hadn’t faded, they didn’t seem to want to let go of the embrace. Han Su-jin gasped for breath and leaned her head against Lee Han-ssi’s chest. His heartbeat echoed in her ears.

Han Su-jin was still in Lee Han-ssi’s arms, but her expression was filled with complex emotions.

,Su-jin-ssi, please tell Kim Eun-ju and her husband to have dinner with us this weekend.

Lee Han-ssi said. Han Su-jin frowned and looked at Lee Han-ssi.

,Do I have to listen to you even on the weekend?.

Her voice was laced with annoyance. Lee Han-ssi pulled Han Su-jin closer and explained.

,I’ve made a reservation at a hotel restaurant. The four of you should go.

,Do we really have to go that far?

Han Su-jin asked, sounding dumbfounded.

,Wouldn’t it be nice to go eat something delicious with Tae-young-ssi?

Lee Han-ssi said with a smirk. Han Su-jin gritted her teeth in anger.

,Don’t talk about Tae-young-ssi! I don’t want to hear it from your mouth.

,I’ve also booked a hotel stay for the two of them that night. It’s a gift for them to have a good night.

Han Su-jin scoffed at Lee Han-ssi’s words.

,Hmph, that’s just ridiculous.

Han Su-jin snuggled deeper into Lee Han-ssi’s arms and closed her eyes. While repeating her love for Tae-young in her heart, she was also getting drunk on Lee Han-ssi’s body heat. She was falling deeper and deeper into this contradictory situation. The thought that she had to maintain a relationship with Lee Han-ssi for her beloved husband, an idea she couldn’t even understand herself, was becoming more and more entrenched in her mind.

–

The restaurant had an elegant interior and soft lighting, creating a luxurious atmosphere. Kim Eun-ju smiled at Han Su-jin and expressed her gratitude.

,Su-jin-ssi, thank you for inviting us to dinner.

Han Su-jin replied with a smile.

,The management office provided us with restaurant vouchers. Please enjoy yourselves.

There was a hint of guilt in her tone, but no one noticed.

Dinner began, but a cold atmosphere flowed between Kim Eun-ju and Lee Hyun-woo. The two chewed their food in silence, and Kim Eun-ju focused on taking care of their son Jin-woo’s meal. Lee Hyun-woo muttered briefly.

,The food here is delicious.

Kim Eun-ju nodded and said to her son.

,Yes, Jin-woo, let’s eat well.

Han Su-jin sensed the awkward atmosphere between the couple and tried to keep the conversation going. She spoke kindly to Kim Eun-ju to shake off the guilt of helping Lee Han-ssi.

,Eun-ju-ssi, Jin-woo has grown a lot lately. He’s so cute.

Kim Eun-ju smiled brightly and nodded.

Then, Park Tae-young looked at Lee Hyun-woo and spoke.

,Hyun-woo-ssi, my wife and I are trying to have a baby these days. I’m sure that if Su-jin becomes a mother, she will be a good mother like Eun-ju-ssi.

His face was filled with deep love for Han Su-jin. Lee Hyun-woo showed interest in Park Tae-young’s words and replied.

,I see. It’s not easy to have a child. There are many times when it’s hard to raise our Jin-woo too.

He smiled bitterly as he looked at his son. Park Tae-young smiled and looked at Han Su-jin.

,Raising a child won’t be easy, but I’m sure we can do it well together with Su-jin. If we love and understand each other and work hard.

He gently took Han Su-jin’s hand. Han Su-jin nodded and held Park Tae-young’s hand tightly.

,Thank you. Honey.

She gave Park Tae-young a sweet smile. Kim Eun-ju looked at the affectionate Han Su-jin couple and became pessimistic about her own situation.

,Why did our couple turn out like this… Su-jin-ssi and her husband look so happy…

Her heart was filled with jealousy and resentment. Lee Hyun-woo’s indifferent attitude disappointed her even more.

After dinner, Kim Eun-ju and Lee Hyun-woo approached Han Su-jin and Park Tae-young.

,We had a pleasant dinner today. Thank you for inviting us.

Kim Eun-ju greeted Han Su-jin, but her voice lacked energy. Lee Hyun-woo also said to Park Tae-young in a dry tone.

,Thank you for arranging such a nice occasion. Thanks to you, we had a delicious meal.

On the other hand, Han Su-jin and Park Tae-young responded with bright smiles.

,No, we were happy to have dinner together. It would be nice to have another occasion like this next time.

Han Su-jin said in a warm voice. Park Tae-young also received Lee Hyun-woo’s thanks and said.

,Let’s have dinner together again next time. It would be nice to talk in a more comfortable setting then.

Kim Eun-ju and Lee Hyun-woo gave them a slight smile in response to their kindness, but soon turned away with a lonely expression.

,Then, we’ll be going now. Thank you for today.

Kim Eun-ju said goodbye. Lee Hyun-woo also bowed his head briefly and said.

,Have a good time.

The two left the restaurant with heavy steps. Their faces faintly revealed the complex emotions they had been hiding throughout the meal.

–

Kim Eun-ju lay next to her sleeping child, staring at the ceiling. Faint moonlight streamed in through the window, softly illuminating the room. Her heart was heavy. As her relationship with her husband Lee Hyun-woo deteriorated day by day, she was overcome with deep frustration at how their married life had turned out like this.

,How did our couple turn out like this… Could it be that I ruined everything because of my suspicion…?

Hot tears streamed down Kim Eun-ju’s eyes.

She blamed herself for whether her 의부증/uibujeung (morbid jealousy) had worsened their marital relationship. She resented herself for not being able to let go of her suspicion of Lee Hyun-woo, even though she loved him. Kim Eun-ju buried her face in the pillow and cried silently. Only the child’s even breathing filled the room.

In another room, Lee Hyun-woo lay in bed and let out a deep sigh. He recalled Kim Eun-ju’s recent appearance and reflected on his own actions.

,Eun-ju must have had a hard time… I was too indifferent. I should have understood and helped her…

Lee Hyun-woo deeply regretted not being considerate of his wife, who was exhausted from raising their child.

Lee Hyun-woo sat up in bed. In the darkness, he made a decision. From now on, he would understand Kim Eun-ju more and show her his true love. He realized that while working hard for his family was important, cherishing his wife’s heart was even more precious.

Kim Eun-ju also looked at her son and made a promise in her heart.

,Next time, I have to show Hyun-woo my true feelings. I have to make an effort first to restore our relationship.

She reaffirmed her love for Lee Hyun-woo and decided to dispel the shadow of suspicion.

Before falling asleep in their respective rooms, the two reaffirmed their affection for each other. Lee Hyun-woo closed his eyes, engraving his apology and love for his wife in his heart

,We can start over… He murmured in a small voice.

Kim Eun-ju also fell asleep, recalling happy memories with her husband.

,Tomorrow will be better… A faint smile appeared on her lips. By her child’s bedside, she fell asleep with new hope.