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CHAPTER 01
The woman standing in front of her husband was dazzlingly beautiful.
No, rather, it was her husband’s face—gazing down at the woman with a faint smile—that looked even more beautiful. The sight of the two of them smiling at each other was enough to make her feel dizzy for a moment.
“Then that concludes the report…… Madam.”
The sound of rain striking the window was loud and relentless. As if announcing the beginning of a sweltering summer, the downpour that had started last night showed no sign of stopping.
Even the scene she had accidentally witnessed that morning refused to leave Ju-hye’s mind.
“Madam?”
Blinking blankly as she stared out the window, Ju-hye suddenly realized that tomorrow was her wedding anniversary.
To witness her husband’s affair on the eve of their anniversary—how could such a farcical situation exist?
“Madam, is something the matter?”
A middle-aged man who had been reporting beside her spoke cautiously. He was the chief secretary, dressed in a neat suit.
Only then did Ju-hye flinch and turn to him.
“Oh…… I’m sorry, Director Jung. What did you say?”
At her flustered expression, the man adjusted the documents in his hands. He had suspected it earlier—she clearly wasn’t paying attention to his report.
“I said the east wing renovation of Jinju Arboretum has been completed, and a commemorative ceremony will be held. Perhaps my explanation was lacking……?”
Ju-hye pressed her right hand to her forehead and offered an apologetic look.
“No, it’s not that. I was just distracted for a moment.”
The chief secretary carefully examined her face. Normally he would have let it pass, but today her complexion was unusually pale.
“You don’t look well.”
“I feel a bit nauseous. I haven’t been sleeping well lately…… I’m fine.”
“If you are unwell, I will immediately call Professor Kim.”
The director spoke in a worried whisper, as though ready to summon her doctor at once.
“It’s not that serious.”
Ju-hye shook her head, forcing a faint smile onto her pale face. She didn’t want to cause unnecessary commotion.
If her condition reached her overly worried father’s ears, she might end up telling him about what she had seen today. And that could interfere with her husband’s work.
‘Even now I’m worried about him…… I really am foolish.’
Is love perhaps a disease?
A severe illness that buries sound judgment in a pit of ruin.
Even though she had known from the beginning that this marriage was the product of one-sided love, she had still chosen to walk into hell blindfolded…… like a trap.
“Please leave the report. I’ll go over it again.”
“Yes, Madam. Also, the chairman has arranged a dinner reservation tomorrow evening in Cheongdam-dong.”
It would be a celebration for their wedding anniversary. The chief secretary, unaware of Ju-hye’s darkening expression, placed a lavish flower basket on the table.
The roses inside swayed luxuriantly. Their rich fragrance brushed sweetly against her nose, but Ju-hye averted her gaze.
“……What is this?”
“It’s a bouquet sent by the chairman. He said he would be late returning home due to a dinner appointment with Chairman Chae of Rowoon Hotel, so he insisted I deliver this to you first.”
The chief secretary smiled innocently, unaware of her turbulent emotions. His expression suggested he believed his boss adored his wife deeply.
After a moment of hesitation, Ju-hye picked up the card in the bouquet.
[Happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary]
Just looking at it, one might think it was sent by someone else—so plain and impersonal.
But Ju-hye knew this was the best he could do. He had always been poor at expressing himself, lacking in emotional warmth.
“I can feel how much the chairman cherishes you,” the secretary said warmly.
At his words, Ju-hye lowered her gaze even further.
“Director Jung.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“Director Jung, are you……”
She hesitated.
Are you on my husband’s side, or mine?
It was a childish question, she knew. He had been appointed as her secretary through her husband’s recommendation, so strictly speaking, he belonged to her husband.
In other words, even if she told him what she had seen today, there was no guarantee he would side with her.
“You may leave now.”
In the end, she sent him away with an awkward smile. The secretary left the room, and Ju-hye stared at the closed door before setting the card down.
Outside the window, the heavy rain still painted the city in shades of gray. The gloomy weather mirrored her own heart.
“……”
Her wandering fingers brushed against a photo frame on the table. It had been placed there by her personally since her first day working in this office.
Unlike Ju-hye, who smiled brightly in her wedding dress in the photo, the man beside her looked at the camera with a calm expression.
Seo Dae-hyun.
He was the CEO of Jinju Construction, the director of Jinju Arboretum, the youngest son-in-law of Chairman Jin of Jinju Construction—and her husband.
And also her one and only first love.
‘First…… I should get a lawyer.’
Ju-hye pushed the frame over and stood up unsteadily. Seeing their wedding photo lying on its side filled her with despair, yet strangely her mind remained calm.
As if she had already foreseen this moment from the day she promised to marry Seo Dae-hyun.
“Miss Jin Ju-hye, I’ll speak frankly. I need backing right now.”
She still remembered that day vividly.
The party held after the Jinju Construction commemorative ceremony. On a terrace overlooking the sea, he had spoken in a cold, dry voice while holding a glass of wine.
“I don’t have the time or luxury to waste on simple romantic games. I have a duty to continue the family business and ambitions to rise higher.”
From the day they had sat beside each other in a university lecture, to when they met on a hiking trail on Inwang Mountain—that was their third encounter.
“If I were to date a woman, she must be someone beneficial to me.”
Why did it have to be that day?
Ju-hye had already been exhausted by blind dates her father relentlessly pushed her into. She had also secretly envied her cousin Jin Joo-young’s love marriage, and her heart had already dropped at the sight of Seo Dae-hyun at the party.
“Are you a woman who can be beneficial to me?”
What an arrogantly absurd question it was. She had merely asked if they could meet privately again, yet his response had been unnervingly serious.
“That is……”
“I just need an excuse.”
Of course, Ju-hye hadn’t approached him lightly either. She had gathered her courage over several glasses of champagne before speaking to him on the terrace alone.
And when she realized he didn’t even remember her, she needed even more courage.
“Even without an excuse like that…… I am not in a position to meet you lightly, Miss Ju-hye.”
He didn’t remember their past encounter. But he knew who she was socially.
Her reckless answer to his strange question had been given in a moment of nervousness—or perhaps foolish love.
“Yes, I can be beneficial to you.”
She shouldn’t have believed in fate, but she had always been vulnerable to coincidence. And she still regretted every missed chance to get closer to him.
“If I give you an excuse…… I want to meet you seriously, Seo Dae-hyun.”
Fear that she might never get another chance again had tightened around her heart.
And so that foolish choice was made.
The sound of the front door closing echoed softly.
As soon as Ju-hye sensed his presence, she slowly stopped crying.
The last sob might have reached his ears, but she didn’t care anymore. Just controlling her exhausted emotions took everything she had left.
Dae-hyun, assuming she was already asleep as usual, quietly removed his shoes and loosened his tie. As he placed his watch on the edge of the cabinet, he paused.
Because he finally saw her.
Sitting alone on the dark living room sofa, a wedding photo frame resting on her knees, staring blankly at the floor.
“……”
Footsteps drew closer. Ju-hye sensed him but did not look up.
She hadn’t said anything, yet Dae-hyun immediately realized something was wrong and reached out.
His fingers hovered briefly before touching her pale cheek. Only then did he notice her face was soaked with tears.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
Ju-hye finally lifted her tear-filled eyes to him. At the sight, Dae-hyun’s expression hardened.
He had only ever seen her cry on their wedding day.
“What happened?”
His lowered voice asked, but all she could produce was a broken sigh wrapped in sorrow.
With difficulty, she murmured.
“Dae-hyun……”
Her voice was fragile, heartbreaking.
“Do you love me?”
Her swollen, tear-stained eyes looked up at him. Dae-hyun frowned at the sight.
“Of course. You know how I feel.”
No.
I don’t know.
I still don’t know.
Not your feelings—right now, I can’t even read your mind……
“Why are you acting like this? Did someone come by?”
Even at his question, she couldn’t answer. Fear of the truth kept her silent.
If that woman really was his mistress, then what?
“I don’t have the time or luxury to waste on simple romantic games.”
Was that woman someone worth his “romantic game”?
“Ju-hye.”
His low voice struck painfully at her heart. She felt ashamed of the time she had foolishly believed there was affection hidden somewhere in that indifferent tone.
If he directly admitted to having a mistress, this moment would become an eternal nightmare for her.
It would be the same as confirming he never loved her from the beginning.
“Dae-hyun.”
If that was the case, then rather than endure it……
“Let’s get divorced.”
Ju-hye chose to close her eyes to the truth she had witnessed.
To avoid feeling any deeper despair.
