Chapter 1

Her hand, clutching the bed sheet, trembled slightly.

The man’s tongue, filled with desire, softly licked Seung-ah’s lips.

As if savoring a sweet fruit, he kept tasting her lips until he could no longer endure it and swallowed her mouth whole.

“Mmgh….”

A faint sound escaped her throat.

Perhaps he liked it, because she felt the corners of his lips curl upward.

He greedily sucked on her wet tongue before finally letting it go.

Before she knew it, tears had welled up, staining the corners of her eyes red. The man responsible for this, Yujin, spoke with a voice so alluring it seemed to suck her soul away.

“So sensitive. Already this wet.”

He lightly brushed his fingertip against the corner of her eye, wiping the gathered tears as his hand slid downward.

“Here too…”

“Ah!”

As his long, pale fingers swept down her body, a hot wave spread instantly.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s still daytime.”

Seung-ah twisted her waist against his tight grip. The faint sunlight that slipped through the blackout curtains fell across Yujin’s beautiful face.

“Who says it has to be only at night? My sheets are fine being wet anytime.”

“Let me go.”

“Where would you go? This is your house.”

Even if she ran, the only place she could go was upstairs—to her own room.

“You want to do it in your room? I don’t mind. It’s cute there, after all.”

Yujin grabbed behind her knee, stroking the tender flesh inside, then bent it and slowly lifted her leg.

Rustle. The hem of her skirt rolled upward.

“But part of me wants to lock you in my room all day too.”

His husky voice made her heart jolt. Seung-ah hurriedly pulled her skirt back down.

“You’ve got some perverted tastes.”

“And your tastes are adorable. If you want, you can stain my room however you like too. It’ll be your house anyway.”

One day, this luxurious mansion would become Seung-ah’s.

The price was one year—living as his woman.

During that time, she belonged to Yujin. That’s why she was here now, lying in his bed, playing her role.

“It’s a good deal, isn’t it? I’ll give you the house, and everything else to satisfy your desires.”

Yujin lowered his upper body to kiss her again. His jet-black hair slid smoothly down with gravity.

His intoxicating scent nearly made her reason fly away.

Just before his greedy lips touched hers—

Bzzz.

Her phone vibrated.

Bzzzz. It kept buzzing endlessly. Someone was calling.

Before Seung-ah could reach it, Yujin snatched the phone.

Seeing the caller ID, he smirked.

“Kim Tae-jun?”

And without asking, he pressed the answer button.

“W-wait…!”

—Hello? Seung-ah?

At the sound of the man’s voice, her lips clamped shut.

Yujin turned on the speaker and held out the phone to her, silently mouthing—

“Answer.”

How she wanted to smack those sly, grinning lips of his.

Taking a breath, Seung-ah opened her mouth.

“Hello? Oppa?”

—I texted but you didn’t reply. You’re home, right?

“Huh? Why do you ask…?”

—Want to come out for a bit? I’m in front of your house.

At those words, Yujin hooked a finger under the curtain and peeked outside, raising his brows. Seemed he really was out front.

Of all times…

Helplessly, Seung-ah lied.

“I’m outside right now.”

—Doing what?

“Sex,” Yujin whispered softly.

Seung-ah shot him a glare, but he chuckled mischievously.

Fearing his voice might’ve carried through, Seung-ah held her breath for a moment.

Thankfully, Tae-jun just waited quietly for her reply.

“I came to meet a friend.”

—Ah… then, when will you be back?

“Today… ugh!”

Yujin yanked her into him.

His firm waist slid between her thighs.

Her thin skirt bunched up weakly, and the pale sunlight revealed her thigh.

Seung-ah struggled slightly, but it was useless. Yujin jerked his chin toward the phone.

“Answer him.”

Truthfully, Tae-jun wasn’t even worth answering. He was the man who had trampled her heart and left.

Yet he had the nerve to show up at her house and call her now—while she was caught in Yujin’s grasp.

When she couldn’t answer right away, Tae-jun’s worried voice came.

—Hello? I can’t hear you well.

“Y-yeah, Oppa. I can’t today. And don’t just… ahh…”

Yujin’s lips pressed against her nape, sucking hard as if to devour her.

Seung-ah pushed at his shoulders, but he didn’t budge—like trying to move a boulder.

The more she resisted, the harder he pinned her down.

Caught between the soft bed and Yujin’s lust-filled body, her breath was stolen away.

“Not… like this, mmgh…”

At the sound of her moans, Tae-jun went silent. Did he hear? Her heart pounded violently.

—Are you okay? Your voice sounds…

At that moment, Yujin thrust his hips forward.

His muscular body rubbed lewdly against her.

“Ahh! Ngh… I’m just tired. Don’t worry. Actually… stop calling me like this.”

—Seung-ah…

“I’m hang—”

Before she could finish, Yujin pressed the end call button.

He tossed the phone aside and, as if he’d been holding back too long, covered her lips again.

As though even the breath she’d spent on Tae-jun was wasted.

“Mmmh… ngh…”

Only after indulging in her sweet sounds did he finally pull back.

“Haah… He’ll think it was strange!”

“Just tell him you were sick. Look at how hot you are.”

Shamelessly, Yujin stroked her flushed cheek.

His sticky touch trailed down her slender neck, caressing her collarbone, and lower.

“I’ll help you. Until you’re fully satisfied.”

* * *

It hadn’t been long since she moved into this mansion.

It was the first day Seung-ah had invited a friend over.

Miyoun, a friend since high school and also a colleague, craned her neck in awe at the mansion glowing under the sunset.

“Wow… this is way more amazing than I imagined.”

“Compared to the rooftop room I used to live in, right?”

The white mansion exterior and neatly maintained garden were beautiful enough to catch anyone’s eyes.

Miyoun, following Seung-ah inside, stopped in her tracks.

“Knew it. This is so you, Seung-ah.”

Unlike the modern exterior, the inside was decorated softly.

Because of the countless teddy bears.

Collecting teddy bears was Seung-ah’s joy and romance. Not just dolls—carpets, mats, and cushions were also bear-shaped.

Miyoun hugged the plush bear Seung-ah handed her.

“You said this was a rental. If you decorate the whole place like this, won’t the landlord complain?”

“As if.”

“Didn’t you say it wasn’t the grandma’s house before?”

“Yeah. It was her grandson’s, but he’s abroad now. She let me rent it cheap, said to use it comfortably.”

“You really lucked out with her. See? I always said you’ve got good fortune with people.”

Miyoun’s admiration was genuine. Seung-ah had secured the nicest home among her friends, so they couldn’t help but envy her.

Picking up the mail from a bear-shaped basket, Miyoun read aloud.

“Addressee: Han Yujin?”

“Yeah, the grandson I mentioned.”

“Imagine what he’d think if he saw his house turned into a bear den.”

Miyoun giggled.

“It’s cute though. He’d probably like it too.”

There were a lot, sure, but Seung-ah had never met a woman who hated teddy bears.

Smiling, she straightened a bear-shaped cushion on the sofa. Round ears, soft fur, little black bead eyes—was there anything more lovable?

Living with bears was something she could never dream of in her old rooftop room.

In winter, condensation on the windows and walls, or the damp summer air, could easily ruin her dolls with mold. She had kept them in boxes, taking them out only to air them in sunlight.

Now, she could finally decorate her own space as she wanted. Miyoun’s housewarming gift was perfect for her.

“Here! A mood lamp.”

“In the shape of a bear?”

“Of course!”

As Miyoun pulled the box from the shopping bag, a white envelope slipped out.

Startled, she hesitated, but Seung-ah picked it up first.

“This is… a wedding invitation?”

The envelope had a phrase written on it that made her stomach twist.

< You are invited to our wedding. >

When she read the names beneath, Seung-ah let out a bitter laugh.

< Kim Tae-jun | Shin Yu-mi >

Kim Tae-jun. A man she didn’t even want to see the name of anymore.

He was her ex-boyfriend who had abandoned her.

Miyoun groaned.

“Sorry, Seung-ah. I was going to give it to you later, depending on the mood.”

“It’s fine.”

“He knew I was close to you and still gave it to me. He’s got a face thicker than steel!”