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Chapter 9
If she said she had never imagined the birth of a child, that would have been a lie.
Juhye sometimes imagined having a child with Daehyun.
After Juyoung gave birth, she found herself imagining it even more often.
Daehyun wasn’t the affectionate type, so he probably wouldn’t become a doting father. But socially, he would undoubtedly be a father worthy of immense respect.
It was a detailed fantasy she had never dared speak of in front of him. Small and ordinary perhaps, but precious to her.
“There’s no chance we’ll ever have a child.”
“How can you say that so certainly?”
“Because… there will never be another Friday night between us.”
At her indirect rejection, a crease formed between Daehyun’s brows.
But only for a moment. His expression soon returned to its usual blank calm as he raised a hand.
A firm grip settled on Juhye’s shoulder.
“You agreed to the reflection period too, which means you’re planning to give me your answer in a month.”
“……”
“Then you should give me a chance as well. A chance to work on restoring our relationship.”
It was the exact same conversation they’d had before.
Faced with this endless loop, Juhye lowered her eyes quietly.
She was exhausted, but she had no confidence she could break Daehyun’s stubbornness right now.
He looked like the type of man prepared to wait forever until she accepted.
“Otherwise… who knows.”
His dry, cracked whisper slipped into her ear.
“In my impatience… I might end up telling Father myself.”
Juhye violently shook off his hand from her shoulder.
The indifference in Daehyun’s gaze made him seem even crueler.
“Are you….”
Her voice trembled.
Looking utterly unable to believe him, she asked,
“Are you threatening me right now? Telling me to do what you say if I don’t want Father to be shocked?”
“It’s not a threat. It’s persuasion.”
Daehyun answered leisurely before tossing his loosened tie onto the floor.
As he casually kicked it aside and strode toward her, Juhye stepped backward.
The wall against her back felt cold, while Daehyun’s body pressed hot against hers.
“I gave you the choice, so this isn’t a threat.”
“It sounds like one.”
“That’s only because there’s no composure left in my voice.”
Juhye nearly scoffed. For someone claiming to lack composure, his attitude was far too relaxed.
Mistaking her faint laugh for something else, Daehyun closed the distance even more.
His large hand wrapped around her pale thigh, roaming there secretly.
“You were really shocked today, weren’t you?”
“……”
“He’ll recover soon. He’s always been healthy.”
Even while his desperate concern for her father’s recovery could be felt, it was absurd that his hand still continued stroking her skin.
What on earth was wrong with this man?
Juhye looked up at him with a conflicted expression. His lips brushed her ear, making her shiver.
When he gently bit down, a dizzying sensation shot through her waist.
“I’ll comfort you.”
Comfort her? The words were laughable.
The very person who had caused her greatest distress was offering comfort.
“For the next month, I’m going to do everything I can to hold onto you.”
But before she could mock him, his lips captured hers.
The way he slowly sucked on her lower lip was strangely intoxicating, enough to tie up all her senses.
“No, don’t… mmph….”
“Don’t think about anything tonight.”
I’ll make sure of that.
His firm whisper carried certainty.
Juhye already knew she would end up exactly as he said.
Whenever she slept with him, she always collapsed into sleep afterward, unable to wake properly.
“Open your lips.”
With that calm command, the kiss began—one that had lost even the slightest bit of restraint.
When she opened her eyes again, Daehyun was gone, just as expected.
Juhye woke in the cold bed and instinctively reached toward the empty space beside her before clenching her fist.
Daehyun had left the house at dawn because of a golf appointment with an important client.
“I’m heading out.”
Before leaving, she vaguely remembered hearing his voice.
The hand that had gently stroked her hair felt almost unreal.
Because Seo Daehyun had never been that kind of person.
He was someone who merely informed her in a dry tone that he had plans, then disappeared without a trace like fog on the day of the appointment.
“……”
Absentmindedly, she tightened the sash of her robe.
As she staggered out of bed, the mirror on the vanity caught her eye.
Her exhausted face reflected back at her. So did the reddish bite marks trailing down her neck and shoulders.
“I told him not to leave marks.”
Juhye sighed as she rubbed her shoulder with her right hand.
In the end, yesterday too, she had faithfully carried out their Friday-night arrangement.
Daehyun hadn’t backed down, and midway through, Juhye herself had become consumed with anger.
Deliberately, unlike usual, she dug her nails harshly into his firm back and even bit the arm reaching toward her.
“Juhye.”
“Hng… ah….”
“Lift your legs.”
But the more she resisted, the more relentlessly Daehyun pressed on.
Looking up at him as he moved tirelessly, she had gasped for breath until she eventually passed out into sleep.
“Did he at least have some conscience left? Since he put my robe back on….”
Leaving the vanity behind, she entered the bathroom. The cold air greeted her.
As warm water poured from the showerhead, her appearance—having been worn out by her husband all night—was exposed far too clearly.
Especially her arms and legs, which were covered in chaotic red marks as though she’d been bitten by a dog.
“I’d like to think of these as proof of his effort to win my heart back.”
To put it simply, Seo Daehyun hadn’t gone all the way with her last night.
Instead of focusing on himself, he had devoted himself almost entirely to her pleasure, as though serving her.
So in a way, he had kept his promise, and for Juhye, it had been an entirely unfamiliar experience.
“……I’m hungry.”
After showering, she dried her hair and changed into comfortable clothes.
Only after she had cleaned herself up did the hunger finally hit her.
“I don’t want to eat alone.”
The housekeeper would come by in the afternoon, but it was still dawn.
Everyone would still be asleep, leaving no one she could reasonably contact. For someone who didn’t want to eat alone, it was unfortunate.
“What should I do….”
Taking a sip of freshly warmed black tea, Juhye turned on her phone.
Messages she hadn’t checked the night before had piled up.
[Juhye, did you get home safely?]
Juyoung’s text appeared first.
She was probably still asleep with the baby, so replying after sunrise seemed better.
As Juhye moved on to the next message—
[Sunbae, it’s Junhwi.]
The title “sunbae” felt familiar. Kang Junhwi’s name was displayed at the top.
Moving to the sofa, Juhye carefully read the message.
[Let me know once you decide where to place the congratulatory flowers for the ceremony. I want to check the layout beforehand.]
[Or better yet, come by and show me yourself when you have time.]
Thinking about the arboretum ceremony eased her depression a little.
It was disappointing that her father wouldn’t be able to attend, but the thought of showing it to her brothers still made her heart race.
‘It’s before work hours, but he’s probably awake by now….’
After some hesitation, Juhye sent a reply.
She apologized for texting so early and asked if they could meet to discuss the ceremony in person.
When she said she would come directly to the arboretum, he readily replied.
[I’m all for it. A great restaurant opened near the arboretum. Want to go?]
Since Seo Daehyun was away, Secretary Jung likely wouldn’t follow her either.
Usually, she visited the arboretum alone without any staff anyway.
[How about tteokbokki?]
Pfft—Juhye let out a small laugh.
The word “tteokbokki” instantly brought back memories.
She remembered all the times she’d eaten it with this man at the snack bar near their university.
[I’d love tteokbokki. Let’s get sundae too.]
After sending the message, Juhye immediately rose and headed to the dressing room.
As she picked out and wore a neat shirt dress, her heart pounded for no reason.
Because she intended to leave without informing Daehyun.
In the past, she always told him where she was going and who she was meeting, almost like reporting to him even without being asked.
But today, she had absolutely no intention of doing that.
[Let me know your estimated arrival time.]
Juhye needed a little change of mood too.
[I’m leaving now, Junhwi.]
After sending the reply, she grabbed her car keys and hurried to the front door.
Her steps felt unusually light as she left the house.
