ABMC 55

CHAPTER 55………………………………….

“So then what isn’t true?”

When Hyukjin didn’t seem inclined to back down, Seoyoung quickly changed the subject.

“More importantly, since when have those two been dating?”

Seeing right through the obvious change of topic, Hyukjin looked at her quietly.

Her ears had turned red in embarrassment, and her wavering eyes nearly made him laugh.

The way she didn’t know what to do was rather cute.

He pressed his twitching lips together and decided to let the conversation go where she wanted it to.

“He said it’s someone he dated in Korea. They met at a club in Itaewon. He complained endlessly about not being able to spend his vacation with his boyfriend because of our honeymoon.”

“Ah…”

At the mention of a club in Itaewon, Seoyoung parted her lips slightly.

So that’s why he felt familiar.

Only then did she recall the male couple she had seen at the queer bar.

Since it was a contractual relationship, she hadn’t thought much of the honeymoon being special. Still, seeing the two of them had left her feeling uneasy.

Putting Hyukjin’s identity aside, the bigger shock was that Minwoo already had a lover.

But he really did behave in a way that invited misunderstanding.

It was absurd, yet in a way, unfair.

She felt almost hollow thinking about why she had jumped to such conclusions from the start and suffered over them on her own.

Then that means…

Suddenly, Seoyoung recalled the morning after the night she had spent with him.

She wondered if she should ask now, so she wouldn’t misunderstand anymore, about what had actually happened.

But as she opened her mouth slightly, the marriage contract she had once written flashed through her mind.

Her lips closed at once.

They were destined to divorce in two years anyway. Maybe that was why he hadn’t said anything—because he knew that too.

Once that thought took hold, she no longer had the courage to ask.

If he answered as if it were nothing, she wouldn’t be able to act calm about it.

So Seoyoung hid her shrinking heart away.

Since he hadn’t chosen to speak, it didn’t feel right to ask first.

She was merely a contract wife. He had no obligation to tell her everything just because he was her husband, and she didn’t have the right to demand it either.

She decided to be satisfied with the fact that his identity wasn’t what she had assumed.

It had been a bolder, more impulsive night because of the alcohol, but even now she didn’t regret it.

She was only grateful that he hadn’t held back for her sake.

If anything, she worried that he might regret it.

“Would you like some fruit?”

Seoyoung’s smiling voice sounded gentler than before.

The results of Hyukjin’s detailed medical examination came out.

Even after confirming that there were no serious issues, the two decided to give up on any further site inspections.

Partly because Hyukjin was injured, but also because the accident at the construction site seemed too suspicious to justify staying any longer.

At Hyukjin’s suggestion that they head straight back to Seoul, Seoyoung agreed and once again gave instructions by phone regarding the work environment and safety.

Watching Hyukjin struggle with the inconvenience of having injured his right arm, Seoyoung felt her gratitude deepen yet again.

She couldn’t bring herself to say it, but even after the accident her heart was still pounding.

If it hadn’t been for Mr. Hyukjin, it wouldn’t have ended with just minor injuries.

Though she tried not to show it, the accident had been a major shock to her as well.

Compared to Hyukjin, she had only a few insignificant bruises, but afterward she found herself flinching at small noises and tensing up easily.

Noticing this, Hyukjin took even more care of her than usual.

It was the same now, as they boarded the plane back to Seoul.

“Have some water.”

Hyukjin handed her a cup of water he’d received from the flight attendant as she stared blankly out the window.

Seeing how he checked on her first every step of the way, from the hospital to the airport, Seoyoung felt something warm well up in her chest and lifted the corners of her lips.

“Thank you. You’re the one who’s hurt, but I’m the one being looked after. It’s a bit embarrassing.”

“Injuries to the body heal with time. But injuries to the heart—you never know when those will heal. You looked pretty shaken earlier. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”

“Ah…”

Caught off guard by his response, Seoyoung’s eyes lowered slightly as she parted her lips.

Feeling tears threaten to spill, she quickly lifted the cup of water.

She knew he was being more attentive than usual, but she hadn’t expected him to think that deeply.

Overcome with emotion, she pretended to drink and turned her head, blinking rapidly to hold back her tears.

It had been a long time since she’d received such care and concern—since her parents passed away.

His consideration softened her heart.

The unfamiliar feeling of being protected brought a sense of calm to her previously anxious mind.

“I didn’t expect you to think that way. Thank you—truly.”

“There’s no need to thank me. A husband thinking about his wife is only natural.”

Her eyes widened at his words.

With a gentle smile, Hyukjin placed his hand over the back of hers, warmth spreading through her skin.

Today, the way he looked at her felt especially intense, making it hard for her to keep meeting his gaze.

At a loss for words, Seoyoung opened and closed her mouth once, then forced a small smile and turned away. Her ears felt hot.

But as she looked out the window, a shadow soon fell across her face.

She had thought of it as nothing more than a contract relationship—a husband in name only.

After all, he was a husband for just two years.

So why did she keep caring about him?

So many things had changed since the night they spent together.

Even trivial touches made her tense, and Minwoo’s relationships weighed more heavily on her mind.

That alone was enough to make controlling her emotions difficult, so his tenderness after the accident felt even more burdensome.

As a contractual relationship, they should maintain some distance for the sake of the future, yet a corner of her heart kept tingling.

She could feel his gaze on her, but still flustered by her racing heart, Seoyoung pretended to be tired and closed her eyes.

After arriving at Incheon Airport, Seoyoung sent Hyukjin home first and then headed to the Carlos Hotel herself.

She couldn’t shake the suspicion that someone was trying to sabotage her work.

Her own injury was a problem, but an even bigger issue would be anything that influenced the shareholders’ meeting.

With the meeting just around the corner, what if this incident were splashed across the newspapers…?

The thought alone made her feel dizzy.

No matter what, she had to seize this opportunity tightly.

Once Jung Minhyung became president, the chances of her reclaiming that position would be extremely slim.

There’s no time anymore. I have to be as aggressive as possible.

It pained her that Hyukjin was injured, but this wasn’t the time for her to rest comfortably at home.

Although they had signed an MOU with Hanho Construction, they needed something more tangible.

She thought about what she could do right now.

“Can we secure a model with high recognition and a good image right away?”

“For advertising? But there isn’t much time—it’ll be tight.”

Jinho tilted his head, furrowing his brow.

“Since time is short, let’s just make a simple poster.”

“I’ll relay it to the marketing team immediately.”

“Make sure the posters are highly visible—outdoor billboards, buses, that sort of thing—and promote the new event as well.”

“Understood. I’ll push them to move as quickly as possible.”

By raising the hotel’s profile while simultaneously promoting the Jeju resort they would develop with Hanho Construction, she could build anticipation among the shareholders.

The shareholders will look on us more favorably, too.

It would take time to finalize the ad design, secure a model, and produce the posters, but this was the best she could do right now.

“Let’s also think about what else we can do, Manager Oh.”

“Understood. You must be exhausted after the accident—why don’t you head home early today?”

Jinho looked at Seoyoung with concern, noting her pale complexion.

“No. I think working without letting my mind wander is better than sitting still. Don’t worry about me—just proceed with the work.”

At Seoyoung’s quietly stubborn reply, Jinho nodded without further protest and picked up his phone.

Both of them sensed that things were moving urgently after the construction-site accident in Jeju, and without another word, they focused on their tablets, spending a busy stretch of time.

Which model would be best?

More than anything, Seoyoung pondered who would be the most suitable choice.

As she browsed potential candidates on her tablet, one person immediately caught her eye.

Yes. This person will do.

On the tablet screen, the man from the standee she had cherished since before her marriage was smiling brightly.