Mi-soo slept very little.
Young-han's face flickered behind her eyelids every time she closed them, distorted with anger, wounded pride, and something deeper she couldn't identify. Wondering how her life had become more like a cage than a home, she pulled her blanket more over herself and gazed up at the ceiling.
Her phone was back by morning, neatly set up on her bedside as a reminder that I had only taken it once, but I can take it again:
She wore gray trousers and a basic cream top, the type of attire that conveyed calmness even when the wearer wasn't. As she poured coffee in the quiet kitchen, her hands shook a little.
The housekeeper's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Ma'am." "Someone has come to visit you. It was urgent, he said. A shadow occupied the doorway before Mi-soo could reply.
"Young-jae! ".
In the same instant, her heart leaped and fell. "Are you crazy?" she growled. "He's upstairs."
"I understand," he replied quietly. However, I needed to see you. After last night, I had trouble falling asleep.
Eyes darting along the corridor, Mi-soo stood. "You don't understand because if you did you ought not to have arrived here."
He approached cautiously. "I had to know you were all right. I had to look at your face.
She gasped. "I'm all right."
"No, you're not," he said, staring into her eyes. "You don't think I noticed how you recoiled when he grabbed your arm last night?" She blinked quickly and averted her gaze. "I don't want to discuss it." "Then allow me to speak," he said. "You and him don't belong in that mansion. His identity and the marital vows he never kept are irrelevant to me. Being a pawn in some sick game of family pride is not fair to you.
"Young-jae—"
"I love you."
The words struck her chest like a clap of thunder. His voice trembled as he said, "I know I shouldn't say that." But I can't continue to act like this. Mi-soo, you are the only person on my mind. Every night, every day. And it's killing me to see you suffer in quiet.
Her breath was shallow as she gazed at him.
"You believe that my feelings are different?"
His gaze expanded.
"I have not felt seen in years until I met you. who has restored my humanity and made me giggle. However, what we currently possess is hazardous. Gently, he reached for her hand. Allow me to pose a threat to you. Let me be the risk you ultimately decide to take".
They heard activity upstairs before she could respond. Her gaze expanded. "Go," she said in a frantic whisper. "He's coming down."
Young-jae gave her hand a squeeze. "I will not allow him to shatter you."
Just as he turned, he heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs and Young-jae vanished through the backdoor.
Young-han came into the kitchen with his hair disheveled from sleep and his shirt half-buttoned. When he noticed her standing at the window, still holding her coffee cup, he stopped.
"You get up early."
She answered, being sure to speak in a neutral tone, "I couldn't sleep."
He went by her to get a drink of water for himself. "Did you cry?"
"No," she answered hastily. "Just worn out."
After taking a big gulp of water, he turned to face her and gave her a half-smile that stopped short of his eyes. Next weekend, we have a gala planned. I need you to come.
She blinked. "When did you ask that?"
"I'm not," he said, putting down the drink. "My wife is you. You'll be there. We must demonstrate to the board that everything is stable.
"So I'm an accessory now?" Silently, she said.
"You've been one all along," he stated bluntly. "Don't pretend that you married me out of love." She recoiled as if he had given her a slap.
He went on to say, "And remember, I saved your father's business." You owe me,
"whether you like it or not. "As soon as I said, 'I do,' I paid back that debt," she yelled, her eyes darting. "You purchased my silence, not love or loyalty."
His mouth tightened. "You're becoming bolder." "No," she said in a whisper. "I'm growing weary."
After a long moment of staring at her, he shook his head and left the room while saying something to himself.
Her vision was blurred by tears as she slid into a chair. She took out her phone with shaking hands. Young-jae had left no messages. Obviously not. It was too dangerous.
However, she felt the impact of what had been conveyed without the need for texts. "I love you." She had not heard those words in years. words from him that she shouldn't have heard.
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The only spot on the estate that seemed like hers was the rose garden, where Mi-soo sat that evening. Softly, her phone vibrated. Young-jae: "Come see me tomorrow." noon. Kyung Park, back entrance. Please."
Her fingers hovered as she gazed at the message. Her heart said "yes" before her thumb even moved, despite the logical half of her screaming "no."
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She blended in among the visitors and students at Kyung Park the following day, sporting sunglasses and a face cap. When she arrived at the secret bench behind the tall bushes, her heels crunched gently against the gravel walk.
He was there already, leaning forward with his hands clenched and his gaze fixated on the floor. His whole face altered at the sight of her, a mixture of relief and longing.
"I didn't think you'd come." He said
"I didn't think I would either."
He softly touched her fingers with his outstretched hand.
"I don't wish to play in the background all the time." Her eyes were glistening as she shook her head. Additionally, I don't want to be the lady who destroys a family.
"Long before we arrived, that family had already been broken.
She gave him her full attention. How come we're acting, "Young-jae?
After he paused, he added, "For once, something feels right.
Her walls collapsed in that instant. With gentle, urgent lips that were filled with all the words she was unable to express, she leaned forward and gave him a kiss. And there wasn't any conflict for a time.
'No husband.
'Nothing scandalous.
Simply them. As they separated, he pressed his forehead to hers. "Come run away with me."
She was frozen.
"What?
"Let's get out of this mess. Go somewhere new to start. Somewhere nobody is familiar with our names.
She blinked quickly. "That isn't the answer. That's just fantasy".
"It's liberty," he declared. "There is a chance."
Her heart pounding, she stood. "You have no idea what he'll do. He will ruin my family if I go. "He will ruin you."
Young-jae stood as well, holding onto her hands. Then give him a chance. I have outgrown my fear of him.
But I haven't," she muttered. "Not just yet."
Reluctantly, he let go. "I'll wait after that. For you. No matter how long it takes.
Before she broke entirely, she turned away and vanished back into the crowd as tears streamed down her face.
*****************************************
She sat at her vanity that night and gazed at her image.
The woman in the mirror was unfamiliar to her. She had aged eyes. Her heart was heavier. But she was more determined.
She thought about everything Young-jae has said to her in the park earlier that day. If she was honest with her self, she loved the idea, the possibility excited her and made her blood hot and that's what terrified her.
How would she ever face her parents? How will she face her friends? The media backlash would shatter her little paradise if anything.
She looked out from the window, her so called husband had not returned yet, he claimed she was his but he was never hers in ways a husband should be, he was just a husband in name only.
Perhaps she was unable to go today.
However, she was no longer a permanent fixture.
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