#72.

Late at night, the soft lighting of the hotel bar created a luxurious atmosphere. Seo-yeon Jeong was sitting among Kim Tae-woo and his friends. Her elegant figure caught the eyes of those around her, and her hand gently swayed, causing the red wine to sparkle in the light.

Kim Tae-woo smiled brightly at his friends and said, “Hey, I’m the first one to go among us. You gotta live life like me.”

His friends laughed in response to his words.

“Ah, this bastard, bragging again.”

“What do you want us to do? You’re really something.”

Kim Tae-woo shrugged and wrapped his arm around Jeong Seo-yeon’s shoulder.

“Still, you gotta let me brag a little. Where else would I meet a woman like this?”

His friends laughed and replied, “Wow, how did you end up dating such a stunning beauty?”

Jeong Seo-yeon smiled and lowered her head. There was shyness in her eyes, but no one noticed the sharp observation hidden behind it.

A female classmate asked in a slightly sharp voice, “Seo-yeon-ssi, how did you meet Tae-woo?”

Jeong Seo-yeon gave an elegant smile and answered naturally. Her voice was filled with softness and confidence.

“I was working as a flight attendant when Tae-woo oppa boarded as a passenger. Near the end of the flight, oppa asked for my contact information.”

She gave Kim Tae-woo an affectionate look.

“At first, I hesitated, but I was moved by oppa’s sincere eyes. That’s how it started, and it’s led to where we are now.”

Jeong Seo-yeon’s answer was perfect. Her expression and tone seemed genuine, so the men around her were impressed, but some of the women still had suspicious looks in their eyes.

Kim Tae-woo’s hand suddenly wrapped around Jeong Seo-yeon’s waist, and his fingers gently stroked her side. His actions seemed to be blatantly showing off to others.

“To think I’d get such a pretty wife,” Kim Tae-woo said with a grin. “Our Seo-yeon is not only beautiful on the outside but also kind at heart. Except for the cooking… well…”

Jeong Seo-yeon didn’t bat an eye and naturally snuggled deeper into Kim Tae-woo’s arms. Her hand gently stroked Kim Tae-woo’s chest. Her movements were elegant yet subtly sensual.

“Oppa…” Jeong Seo-yeon whispered in a sweet voice. Her eyes sparkled with shyness and playfulness. “I’ll study cooking hard from now on. Until I become the chef oppa likes.”

The people around them were impressed and envious of their intimate appearance. Everyone seemed to be fooled by Jeong Seo-yeon’s perfect acting. But deep in her eyes, a calculated coldness was hidden.

As the night deepened, Jeong Seo-yeon’s acting shone even brighter. She perfectly quelled everyone’s doubts, showing the image of an ideal bride.

—

Late at night, Kim Tae-woo’s bedroom was quiet. Kim Tae-woo was sound asleep, and only his even breathing filled the room. Jeong Seo-yeon lay next to him, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. Her body was still flushed, but there was no particular disappointment.

In her eyes, Kim Tae-woo was just a perfect spouse candidate. A stable job as a surgeon at Seoul National University Hospital, a wealthy family, and a decent personality. All of these were conditions that Jeong Seo-yeon was looking for.

‘What I have to do is simple. Become Kim Tae-woo’s perfect trophy wife.’ Jeong Seo-yeon slightly raised the corners of her lips. She was confident that she could play this role perfectly. A pure yet intelligent image, a kind yet elegant attitude. She could act everything out as calculated.

But if there was one regret, it was the desire she would have to give up after marriage, and Jeong Seo-yeon sighed.

‘But this is a necessary sacrifice.’ She thought realistically. ‘I’ll get old someday too, and my current looks and charm won’t last forever. Now is the perfect time to marry under the best conditions.’

There was also a reason why she didn’t aim for the son of a chaebol family. ‘Too much wealth is dangerous. They have the ability and the will to dig into my past and my records. Kim Tae-woo is just right. He can live well enough, but he has no reason to pry into my secrets.’

Recalling the meeting with her future in-laws, Jeong Seo-yeon sighed once more. ‘I’ll probably have to give up my job, but I expected it to some extent anyway.’

Jeong Seo-yeon slowly closed her eyes. In her mind, her future life was drawn like a scene from a movie. A perfect wife, daughter-in-law, and someday, a mother. No one would know her true self hidden behind that. A faint smile lingered on her lips.

Suddenly, her contract with Lee Han came to mind. A strange excitement and anticipation surged, but Jeong Seo-yeon’s heart ached strangely at the fact that about half of the contract period had already passed. She bit her lip slightly and calculated the remaining time.

‘Has it already been this long…’

The hot moments she shared with Lee Han flashed by.

‘This can’t be happening…’

Jeong Seo-yeon shook her head. Unlike her initial plan, she felt it was dangerous because she seemed to be falling for Lee Han more and more.

‘I keep feeling like I’m getting attached. This isn’t good. It’s dangerous, too dangerous.’

She let out a deep sigh. ‘It’s because I can’t relieve it outside. Yeah, that must be it. It’s just a release of desire.’

But deep down, her thoughts about Lee Han didn’t subside easily. She was tormented by the anxiety of how she could control her feelings for the remaining contract period, and whether she could easily forget Lee Han after the contract ended.

Jeong Seo-yeon closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Get a grip, Seo-yeon. You’re just using him to eliminate the danger. Nothing more, nothing less.’

But her heart was still beating fast, and Lee Han’s image wouldn’t fade easily.

She closed her eyes and calmed her breathing. She tried to calm her excitement, but memories of Lee Han kept coming to mind. His touch, his breath, and the intense moments they shared…

‘Please, just let me sleep.’ Jeong Seo-yeon vowed inwardly. But her fingers unconsciously scratched the blanket, and her breathing was still irregular.

—

Late in the evening, the apartment complex, darkened by the night, was visible through the window of the management office. Lee Han was sitting at his desk doing paperwork, and Han Soo-jin was leaning comfortably on the sofa. Classical music softly filled the room.

Lee Han looked up at Han Soo-jin. A question crossed his eyes.

“Aren’t you going home yet?”

Han Soo-jin squinted and replied, “Tae-young-ssi is working late tonight. I’d be alone even if I went home.”

Lee Han’s expression changed subtly. He was silent for a moment before turning his head towards the source of the sound.

“But why here of all places? You could listen at home…”

A playful smile spread across Han Soo-jin’s lips. “It’s cool and nice here. If I listen at home, I’ll have to pay the electricity bill.”

Lee Han’s eyes widened. His expression was a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment.

“…Electricity?”

Han Soo-jin giggled. “I’m just kidding, just kidding. I just like the atmosphere here.”

Lee Han sighed and shook his head. He pondered for a moment, then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

“I don’t know…”

As the music continued to play, the two were lost in their own thoughts. Lee Han’s expression still looked complicated, but he gradually became more comfortable as he soaked in the music. Han Soo-jin glanced at Lee Han and smiled.

A moment later, the door to the management office opened and Kim Eun-joo entered. Her eyes flashed with surprise when she spotted Han Soo-jin, but she quickly changed to a nonchalant expression.

Han Soo-jin said with a bright smile, “Oh, Eun-joo-ssi! Are you off work?”

Kim Eun-joo replied with an awkward smile, “Ah, yeah… I just got off work.”

Lee Han watched this situation and let out a deep sigh.

Han Soo-jin asked again, “Is Jin-woo still at daycare?”

Kim Eun-joo nodded, and a bright smile spread across Han Soo-jin’s face. “Oh, then bring Jin-woo here to play! I want to play with Jin-woo too.”

Kim Eun-joo glanced at Lee Han, looking flustered. Lee Han sighed once more and nodded.

“Ah… okay. Then I’ll come by.” Kim Eun-joo quickly left the management office.

As the door closed, Lee Han asked Han Soo-jin in an annoyed voice, “What are you thinking?”

Han Soo-jin replied with a nonchalant smile, “It’s good to be friendly with each other.”

A while later, Han Soo-jin greeted Kim Eun-joo, who had returned with Jin-woo, with a warm welcome. She hugged Jin-woo and repeatedly said how cute he was.

“Oh, Jin-woo is so pretty! Our Jin-woo has grown so much~”

Kim Eun-joo seemed to be adapting little by little, but she still watched Lee Han’s reactions.

Han Soo-jin said to Lee Han, “Lee Han-ssi, come here too. Play with Jin-woo.”

Lee Han approached the sofa with a reluctant expression and took Jin-woo. Han Soo-jin cheerfully started chatting with Kim Eun-joo, and Kim Eun-joo awkwardly joined the conversation.

The management office was now filled with three adults and one child. Han Soo-jin’s bright laughter, Kim Eun-joo’s cautious answers, Lee Han’s sighs, and Jin-woo’s innocent laughter mixed together, creating a strange atmosphere.

Lee Han played with Jin-woo while constantly watching the two women. His expression was filled with complex emotions. Han Soo-jin continued the conversation brightly as if nothing had happened, and Kim Eun-joo seemed to be relaxing more and more, but she still remained cautious.

In this bizarre situation, the three were superficially spending a peaceful time, hiding their true feelings.

—

Kim Eun-joo hugged Jin-woo and entered her home. The moment she closed the front door, the scene from the management office just now vividly came to mind. The strange atmosphere between Han Soo-jin and Lee Han made her uncomfortable.

Entering the living room, Kim Eun-joo sighed. ‘Soo-jin-ssi… said she was pregnant.’ A seed of doubt began to grow in her mind. ‘No way… it can’t be.’

Kim Eun-joo sat Jin-woo on the sofa and sat next to him. Her eyes were blankly staring into space.

‘They definitely seemed to have a good relationship…’ But at the same time, memories of the discord Han Soo-jin had mentioned before came to mind, and her suspicion grew more and more.

Suddenly, a strange jealousy arose in Kim Eun-joo’s heart. ‘She told me that… and she’s acting so nonchalantly…’ Her hand unconsciously clenched into a fist.

Han Soo-jin’s attitude of treating Lee Han as if he were her own came to mind. Kim Eun-joo’s face slightly contorted.

Kim Eun-joo hugged Jin-woo and stood by the window. Her eyes were directed towards the management office. Her fingers repeatedly gripped and released the window frame.

She returned to the living room and sat on the sofa.

“Jin-woo, shall we go play at the management office tomorrow?” There was a suppressed impatience in her voice.

She stood in front of the closet for a long time, hesitating. In the end, she chose clothes that she put a little more effort into than usual. She sighed as she fixed her hair in front of the mirror.

“How foolish…” Even as she muttered, her eyes looked determined.

Kim Eun-joo tidied up Jin-woo’s toys and said to herself, “We made a promise first. Right, Jin-woo?”

“Mommy…” Kim Eun-joo was startled and came to her senses at Jin-woo’s whining.

“Oh, my baby…” She quickly picked up Jin-woo.

Holding Jin-woo made her feel ashamed of her thoughts. ‘What was I thinking?’ Hyun-woo’s face came to mind, and she was overcome with guilt.

“I’m sorry, Hyun-woo…” She muttered in a small voice.

But her fingers were unconsciously fiddling with her wedding ring. The cold touch of the metal seemed to calm her down.

Kim Eun-joo let out a deep sigh. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions. On one hand, she was ashamed of her thoughts, but on the other hand, she still couldn’t completely shake off her suspicion and jealousy towards Han Soo-jin and Lee Han, and she felt anxious that she might lose Lee Han.

“Jin-woo, let’s take a bath and go to bed.” She said in a forced bright voice as she hugged Jin-woo and headed to the bathroom. But in her heart, the vortex of complex emotions was still not subsiding.

—

Late at night, the management office was filled with the intense breathing and secretive sounds of two people. Jeong Seo-yeon moved more passionately than usual on top of Lee Han. Her hair flew around, and beads of sweat ran down her back.

Lee Han’s hands gripped Jeong Seo-yeon’s waist tightly. He lifted his hips to match her rhythm. As their bodies moved together as one, Jeong Seo-yeon’s face was filled with an intense desire that was different from her usual self.

As the climax approached, Jeong Seo-yeon’s movements became even more violent. Her fingers dug into Lee Han’s shoulders, leaving red marks on his back. Lee Han gritted his teeth and held her waist even tighter.

Finally, the moment came. Jeong Seo-yeon’s body arched like a bow, and a suppressed groan escaped her lips. Lee Han also reached his climax with a low, deep groan. Their bodies tensed up at the same time and then slowly relaxed.

When everything was over, Jeong Seo-yeon lay limply on Lee Han’s chest. Only their rough breathing filled the room. Lee Han’s fingers gently moved along Jeong Seo-yeon’s back. Jeong Seo-yeon’s skin trembled slightly at his touch.

After a while, Jeong Seo-yeon silently got up. Her expression was difficult to read. Without saying a word, she slowly got up and headed to the shower room.

As soon as Jeong Seo-yeon entered the shower room, she turned on the faucet. Cold water poured onto her hot skin. She flinched for a moment, but soon gave herself over to the coldness.

Water droplets ran down her face. Jeong Seo-yeon closed her eyes and took a deep breath. But despite the cold water, heat was still swirling inside her.

‘What if…’ A dangerous thought surfaced in her mind. A deeper relationship with Lee Han, the imagination of his being exploring her most intimate places. Jeong Seo-yeon’s breathing became rough.

Her fingers unconsciously moved towards her stomach. But soon she came to her senses and shook her head violently. Water droplets splashed everywhere.

“Get a grip, Jeong Seo-yeon.” She muttered, gritting her teeth. Her voice was trembling.

Jeong Seo-yeon covered her face with both hands. The water continued to soak her body, but the inner spark was not easily extinguished. She stood there in that position for a while. She seemed to be experiencing a fierce internal conflict between desire and reason.

Finally, she let out a deep sigh and turned off the faucet. Water droplets slowly trickled down her body. Jeong Seo-yeon’s eyes were filled with complex emotions.

Jeong Seo-yeon came out after showering. Her hair was still wet, and the fragrant scent of shampoo lingered faintly. Unlike her usual elegant appearance, she dressed in a slightly hurried manner.

Jeong Seo-yeon turned her head towards Lee Han. Her eyes were complex. She opened her lips as if to say something for a moment, then closed them again. In the end, she gave a short nod and walked towards the door.

Her pace was faster than usual. It was as if she wanted to get out of this space quickly. But the moment she placed her hand on the door, she hesitated for a moment. In that fleeting moment, regret and annoyance flashed across her face.

With the sound of the door closing, Lee Han took a deep breath. A smile spread across his lips. He slowly got up and walked to where Jeong Seo-yeon had been. Her scent still lingered.

“Not much time left.” Lee Han muttered in a low voice. His voice was filled with confidence.

Lee Han walked to the window and looked outside. He saw Jeong Seo-yeon walking away in the darkness. His eyes shone with victory. Like a hunter who has his target in sight after a long hunt, Lee Han’s expression was filled with satisfaction.