#73

The morning sunlight streamed warmly through the kitchen window. Kim Eun-ju watched her husband, Lee Hyun-woo, and her son, Jin-woo, sitting at the table. Her fingertips trembled slightly, but she tried to maintain an expression as normal as possible.

,Yeobo (honey),” Kim Eun-ju said cautiously. “I think I’ll have to work late at the office today.”

Lee Hyun-woo put down his coffee cup and looked at Kim Eun-ju. “Really? Is something up all of a sudden?”

Kim Eun-ju avoided his gaze and replied, “Yeah, there’s an important project deadline…”

Her voice trembled slightly, but Lee Hyun-woo didn’t seem to notice.

“Okay. Then I’ll come home early today and take care of Jin-woo.” Lee Hyun-woo said with a smile.

Kim Eun-ju breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

At that moment, Jin-woo suddenly spilled his milk. Kim Eun-ju quickly got up and grabbed a tissue. Her hands were still shaking.

“It’s okay, I’ll do it.” Lee Hyun-woo took Kim Eun-ju’s hand. His touch was warm.

Kim Eun-ju was suddenly overcome with guilt. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly composed herself.

“Jin-woo-ya, Mom will be late today. Dad will pick you up from daycare today. Okay?” Kim Eun-ju said, stroking Jin-woo’s hair.

Jin-woo nodded slightly, not fully understanding the situation. “Mom, Dad, go?” he asked in a small voice.

“Yes, Mom and Dad both have to go to work. Jin-woo has to play well at daycare.” Lee Hyun-woo replied.

Jin-woo pouted for a moment, but soon turned his attention to the toy car his dad handed him.

Kim Eun-ju and Lee Hyun-woo looked at each other. Both were ready for work.

“Yeobo (honey), I’ll head out first. I have an important meeting today.” Lee Hyun-woo said.

Kim Eun-ju nodded. “Okay. Be careful on your way.”

Lee Hyun-woo went to Jin-woo and kissed him. “Son, Dad’s going to work. I love you.”

“Dad, bye-bye!” Jin-woo waved his hand with a bright smile.

After Lee Hyun-woo left the house, Kim Eun-ju looked at the family’s dining table one last time. A corner of her heart ached. But at the same time, a strange excitement arose as she thought of Lee Han, whom she would meet soon.

“Jin-woo-ya, let’s go now too.” Kim Eun-ju stood up.

She took Jin-woo’s small hand and walked out the front door. While waiting for the elevator, she sighed deeply. Jin-woo was still playing with his toy car.

“Our Jin-woo, let’s have fun at daycare today too.” Kim Eun-ju said.

“Yeah! Car, vroom vroom!” Jin-woo replied innocently.

Kim Eun-ju’s heart ached at her son’s pure appearance. She didn’t know how the day would go. But at this moment, she had to pretend to be living an ordinary life with her son.

—

Kim Eun-ju dropped Jin-woo off at daycare and started walking. Her heart was beating fast. Standing in front of the door of the management office, she hesitated for a moment, but soon took a deep breath and opened the door.

Lee Han was sitting at his desk. His eyes turned to Kim Eun-ju.

“Lee Han-ssi…” Kim Eun-ju’s voice trembled. She nervously fidgeted with her clothes.

“Oh… today…?”

Lee Han slowly raised his head. His eyes were cold and indifferent. “It’s okay today too, so go home early.”

At those words, Kim Eun-ju’s expression darkened for a moment. Disappointment flashed in her eyes, and her lips trembled slightly. But soon, as if determined, she took another step closer.

“Did I…” Kim Eun-ju bit her lip. Her voice cracked. “Did I… do something wrong?”

Her eyes wandered over Lee Han’s face. In those eyes, there was a mixture of desperation, fear, and faint expectation.

“If… if I did something wrong and you’re angry…” Kim Eun-ju’s right hand unconsciously fidgeted with the wedding ring on her left ring finger. “I want to… fix that mistake somehow.”

Kim Eun-ju held her breath, waiting for Lee Han’s reaction. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her palms were sweating. At this moment, guilt and desire swirled in her heart.

A smile spread across Lee Han’s lips. There was a dangerous air in that smile. He slowly got up and approached Kim Eun-ju.

Lee Han’s hand gently grabbed Kim Eun-ju’s chin. Her breath quickened. Lee Han slowly lowered his head and matched his lips to hers.

Kim Eun-ju craved Lee Han’s lips like someone who had been thirsty for a long time. Her arms wrapped around his neck. Desperation could be felt in her body.

After the kiss, Lee Han whispered in Kim Eun-ju’s ear. “Then look forward to your punishment today.”

Expectation filled Kim Eun-ju’s eyes. At the same time, deep in her eyes, there was guilt and fear.

“Yes…” Her answer was almost inaudible.

Kim Eun-ju slowly stepped back. Her cheeks were flushed red. After giving Lee Han one last affectionate look, she hurried out of the office.

On the way to work, Kim Eun-ju’s steps were lighter than usual. Her face was filled with anticipation, but at the same time, guilt and anxiety were deeply rooted in her eyes. Her heart was already fluttering, wondering how tonight would go.

—

The evening sunset streamed softly through the windows of the wedding fitting room. Jung Seo-yeon stood in front of the mirror wearing an elegant wedding dress. The dress’s lace decorations flowed along her delicate neckline, and the silk material perfectly hugged her figure.

“Wow, you look so beautiful!” an employee exclaimed.

“You look like an angel!” another employee said excitedly.

Jung Seo-yeon looked at Kim Tae-woo with a pure and elegant smile. Tae-woo kept pressing the camera shutter, capturing Jung Seo-yeon’s appearance.

“Seo-yeon-ah, look over here once. Wow, you’re so pretty.”

‘He’s probably going to post it proudly.’ Jung Seo-yeon thought to herself, not losing her smile. Her expression was perfect. She was the very image of a bride-to-be soaked in happiness.

“I’ll go change now.” The employee led Jung Seo-yeon to the dressing room.

Inside the dressing room, Jung Seo-yeon slowly began to take off her dress. At that moment, a message notification rang on her cell phone. It was a message from Lee Han.

‘I’m going to skip today due to personal matters. I’ll give up one day.’

Jung Seo-yeon’s expression hardened for a moment. She bit her lip without realizing it. ‘Why do I feel like this?’ She was confused. It was a situation where she should be relieved, but for some reason, a sense of disappointment washed over her.

‘Am I getting dumped?’ Her pride seemed hurt, and she let out a deep sigh. But soon, she shook her head and composed herself.

When she opened the dressing room door and came out, Kim Tae-woo approached her. Jung Seo-yeon quickly changed her expression and gave a bright smile. Tears streamed down her eyes.

“Oppa (older brother/boyfriend)… I’m so happy.” Jung Seo-yeon said in a trembling voice.

Kim Tae-woo looked at her in surprise. “Seo-yeon-ah, why are you crying?”

Jung Seo-yeon hugged Kim Tae-woo. “Because I’m happy. I never imagined that such a perfect day would come.”

Kim Tae-woo hugged her tightly. “I’m really happy too, Seo-yeon-ah.”

Jung Seo-yeon closed her eyes in Kim Tae-woo’s arms. Her tears contained complex emotions. Happiness, anxiety, disappointment, and perhaps even regret. But perfectly hiding all of that, she was playing the role of a happy bride-to-be.

—

Late in the evening, the lights of the management office illuminated the dim interior. Kim Eun-ju stood by the window, holding her cell phone to her ear. Her expression was complicated, but she tried to keep her voice calm.

“Yeobo (honey), did Jin-woo eat dinner well?” Kim Eun-ju asked.

Lee Hyun-woo’s voice came over the phone. “Yeah, don’t worry. Jin-woo ate well and is playing now. Don’t worry too much and finish your work and come home.”

A slight tremor passed over Kim Eun-ju’s eyes. “Thank you, yeobo (honey). I really love you.”

At that moment, Jin-woo’s cheerful voice was heard. “Mom!”

A warm smile spread across Kim Eun-ju’s lips. For that moment, a sincere sense of happiness enveloped her.

“Okay, I’ll hang up now. Be careful on your way.” Lee Hyun-woo said.

“Okay, I understand.” Kim Eun-ju hung up the phone.

Kim Eun-ju stared at her cell phone for a moment after hanging up. Complex emotions filled her eyes.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered in a small voice. That one word contained deep guilt towards her husband and son.

Kim Eun-ju slowly raised her head and looked out the window, taking a deep breath. Her shoulders trembled slightly. For a moment, hesitation flashed across her face.

But soon her eyes changed. Expectation rising from guilt, excitement hidden in fear, sparkled in her eyes.

Kim Eun-ju slowly turned her body and raised her head towards Lee Han. Her lips parted slightly and then closed. She seemed to have a lot to say, but no words came out.

Instead, her eyes were telling everything. Complex emotions mixed with guilt and desire, regret and expectation, filled her eyes.

And then, without hesitation, she approached Lee Han. There was no hesitation or fear in Kim Eun-ju’s steps. Rather, her eyes were filled with intense desire.

Kim Eun-ju stood in front of Lee Han and looked up at him for a moment. Tears welled up in her eyes, but at the same time, there was a determined will. And then, she slowly bent down and hugged Lee Han.

Her lips met Lee Han’s. The kiss was cautious at first, but soon became passionate. Kim Eun-ju’s hands rummaged through Lee Han’s hair, and Lee Han’s arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

The room was filled with the rough breathing of the two. The city lights visible through the window were quietly watching their secret meeting.

—

Kim Eun-ju and Lee Han hurriedly threw off each other’s clothes. Their touches were hasty, but at the same time, they moved gently, as if exploring each other’s bodies. Kim Eun-ju’s fingers stroked Lee Han’s firm chest, and Lee Han’s hands went down along her soft waistline.

Kim Eun-ju knelt in front of Lee Han, who was sitting on the bed. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, but soon, as if determined, she bent down towards Lee Han’s penis. When her red lips touched the tip of Lee Han’s, Lee Han inhaled.

Kim Eun-ju’s tongue slowly began to move along Lee Han’s penis. She gently stroked it from the tip to the root. Lee Han let out a satisfied sigh and gently stroked her hair with his fingers.

Kim Eun-ju moved more and more passionately. Her lips embraced Lee Han’s, and her tongue constantly stimulated him. Lee Han’s breathing became increasingly rough, and his fingers gripped Kim Eun-ju’s hair more tightly.

As Lee Han reached his climax, Kim Eun-ju accepted his even deeper. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to swallow everything Lee Han had. Hot liquid filled her mouth, but Kim Eun-ju tried not to spill a single drop.

Lee Han’s satisfied groan filled the room. Kim Eun-ju slowly raised her head and looked at Lee Han. A subtle smile appeared on her lips. That smile contained pride as well as desire.

Kim Eun-ju was gradually falling into Lee Han’s deep eyes. His gaze was hot and intense, as if piercing through everything about her. The image of herself reflected in Lee Han’s eyes was still an attractive woman, and she felt her forgotten charm again.

Her heart began to beat rapidly at this sensation she had felt in a long time. A hot heat rose from her chest. Her skin gradually turned red, and chills ran through her body. Kim Eun-ju felt as if she had returned to a woman with the hot passion of a twenty-year-old.

At that moment, as if cold water had been poured on her, the faces of Lee Hyun-woo and Jin-woo flashed by. Guilt constricted her chest. She felt suffocated, and her vision blurred. ‘What am I doing now?’ The thought overwhelmed her.

But at that moment, Lee Han’s hand gently stroked her cheek. His hot gaze grabbed Kim Eun-ju again. Lee Han’s eyes were still craving her. The desire contained in those eyes was so intense that it pushed away all of Kim Eun-ju’s thoughts.

Kim Eun-ju was completely absorbed in Lee Han’s eyes. Her reason gradually collapsed, and she only focused on this moment, this sensation. Guilt, regret, fear… all of those things melted away and disappeared in Lee Han’s hot gaze.

Her hand slowly rose and touched Lee Han’s chest. Kim Eun-ju knew that there was no turning back now. And she felt a sense of relief at that fact. Now, her heart was filled only with desire for Lee Han.

Kim Eun-ju slowly, but without hesitation, climbed onto Lee Han’s body, her knees wrapped around either side of Lee Han’s thighs. The two people’s eyes met, and intense desire was evident in those eyes.

The moment Kim Eun-ju lowered her body and their genitals touched, a strange moan escaped from her lips. “Ah…” That sound was mixed with expectation and desire.

She slowly began to accept Lee Han, and little by little, her body embraced Lee Han. Kim Eun-ju closed her eyes and bit her lip. A fullness she had long forgotten enveloped her.

Her skin trembled in response to Lee Han’s touch, which grabbed her waist. Kim Eun-ju slowly lowered her waist, and Lee Han gently lifted his waist in time with her rhythm.

When Lee Han finally entered her completely, Kim Eun-ju’s whole body shuddered. An intense sense of fulfillment and happiness swept over her. A deep exclamation flowed from her lips.

“Eueu…” Kim Eun-ju’s moan was low and deep. That sound contained the desire she had suppressed for a long time.

At that moment, there was no guilt or regret in Kim Eun-ju’s heart. She was only focused on this moment, this sensation. All of her senses were focused on this moment when she became one with Lee Han.

Kim Eun-ju began to move slowly. Her waist moved up and down, and in circles. Lee Han’s touch went up and down her back. The two people’s breathing gradually became rougher, and the room was filled with their heat.

Kim Eun-ju and Lee Han’s bodies became one and began to move slowly. Kim Eun-ju rhythmically raised and lowered her waist on top of Lee Han. Her long hair fluttered along her back, and beads of sweat flowed down her neckline.

“Ah…” A small moan escaped from Kim Eun-ju’s lips. Her eyes were half-closed, and her lips were slightly parted. A blissful expression was on her face.

Lee Han’s hand grabbed Kim Eun-ju’s waist tightly. Kim Eun-ju’s skin trembled in response to his touch. Lee Han lifted his waist from below in time with Kim Eun-ju’s rhythm.

Gradually, the two people’s movements became faster. Kim Eun-ju’s chest rose and fell, and Lee Han’s muscles stiffened with tension. Rough breathing and the sound of skin hitting skin filled the office.

“Eueu…” Lee Han groaned lowly.

Kim Eun-ju’s fingernails dug into Lee Han’s back. Her whole body stiffened with tension. Lee Han’s hand repeatedly gripped and released Kim Eun-ju’s buttocks tightly.

It was a chilly early autumn night, but the heat emanating from their bodies warmed the air in the room, and the windows began to fog up faintly, and the two people’s skin glistened with sweat. Kim Eun-ju’s moans grew louder and louder, and Lee Han’s breathing also became rougher.

As the moment of climax approached, Kim Eun-ju’s whole body stiffened with tension. Her waist movements became even faster, and her waist, gripped by Lee Han’s hand, became so tight that it hurt.

Finally, the moment Kim Eun-ju felt the hot heat being released inside Lee Han’s body, her vision turned white. A wave of intense pleasure ran through her entire body.

“Aaaah…!” A long exclamation burst from Kim Eun-ju’s lips. Her neck was thrown back, and her back arched like a bow. She couldn’t even breathe from the intense sensation that seemed to focus all the nerves in her body on one point.

At that moment, the image of Lee Han stroking Han Soo-jin’s pregnant belly came to mind. Complex emotions mixed with jealousy and possessiveness stabbed Kim Eun-ju’s chest.

Unconsciously, Kim Eun-ju’s legs tensed. She hugged Lee Han even deeper, even harder. She held him tightly as if not wanting to let him go, or as if trying to confirm that he was hers.

“Eueu…” A low moan escaped from Kim Eun-ju’s lips. Her fingernails dug even deeper into Lee Han’s back. Complex emotions mixed with pleasure and jealousy, guilt and desire, swept over her.

Kim Eun-ju was completely immersed in this moment, this sensation. Forgetting everything in the world, she only focused on this sensation of becoming one with Lee Han. Her reason was completely paralyzed, and only instinct was dominating her.

As the afterglow of the climax subsided, Kim Eun-ju lay weakly against Lee Han’s chest. Her rough breathing gradually stabilized. Her sweat-soaked skin trembled slightly as it touched the cool air. Lee Han’s hand gently stroked her back. Kim Eun-ju felt an unspeakable comfort and happiness in that warm touch.

But that peaceful moment was only temporary, and the faces of Lee Hyun-woo and Jin-woo came to mind clearly. Guilt overwhelmed her as if cold water had been poured on her. Kim Eun-ju’s body stiffened for a moment, and she unconsciously cringed. She felt suffocated, and her chest tightened.

Then Lee Han whispered in her ear. “This is a punishment to ask for forgiveness.” His voice was soft and sweet.

Kim Eun-ju felt as if she had been saved when she heard those words. The tension left her body. ‘Yes, this is a punishment.’ She repeated in her mind. ‘I’m receiving punishment for our happy family.’

She desperately tried to imprint this thought on herself. Complex emotions mixed with guilt and pleasure, regret and satisfaction, stirred her heart. Kim Eun-ju struggled to accept this contradictory situation somehow.

Faint tears welled up in her eyes. She herself didn’t know whether those tears were tears of regret or tears of relief. But at the same time, a smile was on her lips.

Kim Eun-ju snuggled deeper into Lee Han’s arms. His body temperature, the sound of his heartbeat, seemed to comfort her.

—

Late at night, Kim Eun-ju dragged her tired body home. The living room was plunged into darkness. She quietly headed to the kitchen and poured water. Each time the cold water went down her throat, the heat still remaining in her body seemed to cool down.

Kim Eun-ju sat on the living room sofa for a moment and took a deep breath. Her hand unconsciously stroked the inside of her thigh. At that moment, the hot moment with Lee Han came to mind, and her cheeks turned red again.

When she quietly opened the door, she saw Lee Hyun-woo and Jin-woo sleeping. The moment she saw their peaceful faces, hot tears flowed from Kim Eun-ju’s eyes.

‘I’m sorry…’ A small voice echoed from Kim Eun-ju’s inside. Her hand trembled unconsciously, and her chest tightened.

Guilt embraced her whole body, but soon another thought sprang up from a corner of her mind.

‘No, this is to protect our family. It’s the punishment I’m receiving.’ This thought grabbed her like a hand of salvation.

Kim Eun-ju’s heart fluctuated violently between guilt and self-justification. Her breathing became rapid, and cold sweat formed on her forehead. On the one hand, the desire to justify her actions, and on the other hand, endless guilt drove her into conflict.

Kim Eun-ju stood in front of the mirror and looked at her own eyes. Her eyes were shaking, and her lips trembled slightly. She said slowly, but firmly.

“The relationship with Lee Han is punishing me. It’s to protect our family…”

The moment she uttered those words, the strength left her shoulders. It was as if those words gave her some kind of absolution. Finally, a faint smile spread across her lips. That smile was tinged with sadness along with happiness.

Kim Eun-ju quietly lay down on the bed. The traces of Lee Han still remaining inside her excited her. At the same time, that feeling aroused guilt. These complex emotions mixed together and blurred her consciousness.

Closing her eyes, Kim Eun-ju whispered to herself once again.

“This is for our family… Yes, it’s for our family…”

In that way, she slowly fell asleep in complex emotions.