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Chapter 6
Even without Hajoon continuing, Eunjae understood.
She had clearly confessed that her heart trembled for him, yet he still looked at her as though she were just a child who had obediently accepted an arranged marriage without any opinion of her own.
With a hurt expression, Eunjae muttered softly to herself.
“…I’m still an adult.”
“You are an adult, but still young.”
At his cool reply, Eunjae bit her lip tightly.
Even when he had called her his wife, it seemed he had never once thought of her as a woman.
Quietly staring at his expressionless face, she impulsively asked,
“Do you… perhaps have another woman you’re seeing?”
Not just because he was her first love and longtime crush—Hajoon was genuinely an attractive man.
So it wouldn’t have been strange if he was seeing someone more mature and sophisticated than her.
She had only guessed carefully, but a faint crease appeared between Hajoon’s brows, as though the idea wasn’t even worth denying.
Oddly enough, that reaction reassured Eunjae, and she let out a relieved sigh without realizing it.
“I-If it’s not something like that… then I’m okay.”
At her words, Hajoon let out a dry chuckle.
“I’m not sure you fully understand what an arranged marriage is.”
Even that amused tone sounded charming to her, which she thought was truly dangerous, when he continued speaking.
“Is that the only thing you wanted to ask?”
“……”
“We’ll probably have to have children right away, too.”
The moment the word “children” left the lips of the man staring directly into her eyes, Eunjae’s face burst into flames.
Even though it was obvious he had no real interest in her, just imagining the possibility of physical intimacy with him made her heart pound wildly.
Afraid he might notice her thoughts, Eunjae quickly lowered her head.
“You said you were trembling.”
“……”
“So this is me giving you one last chance.”
As the heat in her face gradually subsided, Eunjae vaguely understood what Hajoon meant.
Marrying the man who would eventually lead Kwonil Corporation meant that, rather than focusing on her own future, she would likely have to devote herself to childbirth and raising children.
The fact that he was considering her feelings at all made her heart flutter again, overlapping with memories of how he had helped her in the past.
“Promise me you won’t see other women after we get married. If you do that, then I’m fine with everything.”
“Everything? And you don’t even know what else I might say.”
A faint breath slipped from between Hajoon’s lips as he looked at her.
Seeing him speak so indifferently with those endlessly dark eyes stirred up her stubbornness.
Eunjae grabbed the wine glass and drained it in one gulp.
Apparently that wasn’t enough, because she filled another glass and emptied that one just as quickly.
After downing nearly three glasses in a row, Eunjae parted her reddened lips.
“Please… don’t treat me like a child.”
She had never had a boyfriend before, so she had never kissed anyone or made love, but she wasn’t completely ignorant either.
Even after her confession, Hajoon’s expression didn’t change. He still looked at her like a child, as though he couldn’t believe her at all.
Eunjae wanted him to see her as a woman.
“…I’m going to become your wife soon, so please treat me accordingly.”
Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke sincerely.
With hazy eyes, she reached to refill her wine glass again, but a large hand stopped her.
“Ah…”
Without hesitation, Hajoon lifted Eunjae’s glass to his own lips.
And until he finished the wine, he never once took his eyes off her.
“Let’s get married.”
After setting down the now-empty glass, he spoke.
“I’ll treat you like my wife.”
“……”
“So look forward to it.”
Blink. Blink.
Eunjae’s heavy eyelids slowly opened and closed.
Maybe because she had drunk the wine too quickly in an attempt to feel less embarrassed in front of Hajoon, the alcohol had suddenly hit her all at once.
She had tried desperately to stay conscious because she didn’t want to appear drunk in front of a man who already treated her like a child…
But the last thing she remembered was getting into the backseat of Hajoon’s car.
Startled, Eunjae abruptly straightened her slumped body.
“You’re awake.”
Before she could even brush the hair from in front of her eyes, a deep voice sounded beside her.
Turning her head, she saw Hajoon focused on a tablet, apparently working.
“I’m sorry.”
The car engine was off, and the driver was nowhere to be seen. Looking outside the window, she realized they were already in front of her house.
“You must be busy, but because of me… Thank you for bringing me home.”
“We weren’t here that long, so there’s no need to apologize.”
When Hajoon lowered the tablet and met her eyes, Eunjae unconsciously held her breath.
He felt completely different from how he had looked under the bright restaurant lights.
More sensual, somehow.
Becoming aware of how close they were in the dark, narrow car—close enough for their breaths to mingle—made her face heat up, and she no longer knew what to say.
If she stayed any longer, she felt like he’d see how flustered she was and treat her like a child again.
Quickly grabbing her bag, Eunjae spoke hurriedly.
“Then I’ll go inside now.”
Unfortunately, there was no need to ask him to contact her later. The adults were already handling everything related to the marriage.
Just as she greeted him and was about to get out of the car—
Hajoon’s low, slightly husky voice stopped her.
“I heard you’ve never dated before.”
“…Yes.”
“Then I guess you’ve never kissed anyone either.”
His deep gaze traveled from her eyes to her nose, finally settling on her slightly parted lips.
Under Hajoon’s dark, unfathomable stare, Eunjae swallowed nervously.
What was he trying to confirm?
Not wanting to be treated like a child even now, she gathered her courage and cupped his face with both hands.
Then, without waiting to see his reaction, she closed her eyes and pressed her lips against his.
The soft feeling of their lips touching made Eunjae hold her breath.
After pressing gently against him, she carefully pulled away.
As she barely lifted her trembling eyelids, her eyes immediately met Hajoon’s.
His gaze was so deep and unreadable it felt as though he could strip away every layer of her.
His expression looked as if he were asking what exactly she thought she was doing—yet at the same time, there was a thick, burning desire in his eyes.
Eunjae instinctively tried to lean back.
But Hajoon wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her toward him.
Held tightly against his firm arm, Eunjae was startled by the intense heat radiating from his body and fumbled in panic, unable to move at all.
Hajoon’s breath grew closer and closer, hot enough to seem like it would consume her entire face.
The sharp masculine line of his neck as he tilted his head was beautiful.
The moment Eunjae squeezed her eyes shut again, Hajoon’s warmth completely swallowed her lips.
“Mmph…”
His tongue slipped lightly between her lips, parting her teeth. Hotter than breath itself, it traced across the inside of her mouth, stealing away the saliva that gathered there.
As Hajoon relentlessly explored her mouth—her palate, the insides of her cheeks, her teeth, her tongue—Eunjae trembled, clutching tightly at her pounding chest.
“Haah… ha…”
Perhaps sensing her breathing become ragged, Hajoon briefly pulled away.
After confirming that she was gasping desperately for air, he tilted his head the other way and captured her lips once more.
Inside the dark, cramped car, the messy sounds of Hajoon sucking at Eunjae’s lips and tongue echoed loudly.
Overpowered by the man’s strength, Eunjae’s body gradually gave way until she finally fell backward against the seat.
