Chapter 38……………………………………..
[It looks like I’ll have to work late tonight. Could you bring me some underwear and a clean shirt? Since you’re coming anyway, let’s have dinner together.]
A smile curved Seoyoung’s lips as she read the text.
It was something he could’ve easily asked his secretary to do, yet Hyukjin had deliberately texted her.
It was nothing more than a request to bring a change of clothes—but adding that they should have dinner together made her heart flutter for no reason, like they were dating.
Unaware of the torment she was putting Hyukjin through, Seoyoung simply thought he must be extremely busy.
She had felt him tossing and turning at night a few times, but being completely oblivious to such matters, she still didn’t realize why he left at dawn and came home late.
She even misunderstood, thinking he stayed out late to spend time with Minwoo—not because of her.
She’d thought they would just live separate lives as a show-window couple, each focused on their own routines. Yet lately, she found herself occasionally missing him when he wasn’t around.
She didn’t know why.
Maybe it was because he cared for her more than even blood relatives ever had. Or maybe the tension from his sly smiles and sudden skinship had slowly seeped into her without her noticing.
Either way, she couldn’t deny that she was happy to receive his message.
They hadn’t even spent their first night together yet, but the presence of her affectionate in-laws and Hyukjin, who actively supported her, seemed to fill a space inside her that had long felt empty.
Though they were a contract couple, there were moments when they genuinely felt like a real married couple.
She hadn’t forgotten Minwoo’s existence—someone who was constantly by Hyukjin’s side—but since she’d entered the marriage knowing about their relationship, she didn’t feel resentful or distressed.
She was satisfied as long as things stayed just as they were.
Glancing at the time on her phone, Seoyoung replied immediately, as if there was no need to think further.
[Okay. I’ll stop by the house to get the clothes and head over. I’ll text you again when I leave.]
Checking the time again, Seoyoung quickened her pace.
If she wanted to leave early, she had to finish the remaining work quickly.
Even if she left on time, it wouldn’t be that late—but for some reason today, she wanted to see him sooner.
Closing the final approval document, Seoyoung stood up right away.
“I’ll be heading out first today. Call me if anything comes up.”
“Yes, ma’am. Don’t worry, and have a nice time.”
Jinho followed her out with the documents, smiling.
Leaving behind the employees’ cheerful voices teasing that newlyweds were different, Seoyoung hurried her steps.
Work finished later than I expected. I should get there faster.
On the drive home, Seoyoung called Madam Yoon and asked her to prepare the clothes.
Madam Yoon happened to be waiting in front of the gate already.
“Here, the clothes bag.”
Lowering the car window, Seoyoung took the bag through it and headed straight to Hano Construction.
As if she were really going on a date, the drive felt strangely exciting.
After parking on B2, Seoyoung went straight up to the executive director’s office.
“Madam, you’re here?”
“Yes. It’s been a while. Is Executive Director Cha inside?”
“Yes, he is.”
“Thank you.”
Returning the secretaries’ greetings, Seoyoung immediately opened the office door.
“Hyukjin?”
Stepping inside and finding no one there, Seoyoung tilted her head.
They said he was inside.
She walked straight to Hyukjin’s desk and placed the clothes bag on top.
“Where did he go?”
She’d texted before leaving and even received a reply telling her to come carefully. The secretary had also said he was inside.
Yet there was no one in the office.
As she looked around, Seoyoung noticed a door farther inside.
“Is he in there?”
Just as she reached for the handle, there was a thud from inside. She quickly opened the door.
“Hyukjin?”
Her eyes widened in shock as she looked inside.
The small room, like a storage space, held a narrow cot—just big enough for one person.
And on it, Hyukjin and Minwoo were lying with their bodies intertwined.
The pupils of the two men looking up at her trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
Seoyoung’s eyes shook just as violently. She had known—but seeing it with her own eyes was a far greater shock than she’d expected.
A brief silence followed.
“Madam… uh… this is—”
Minwoo, straddling Hyukjin, stammered in a flustered voice. But Seoyoung spoke first.
“I brought the clothes you asked for, Hyukjin. And I’m sorry, but let’s have dinner another time. I suddenly don’t feel well.”
Without even looking at him, Seoyoung turned around and closed the door.
Her legs trembled as she leaned briefly against it. She could hear voices calling her from inside.
Then came the sound of the two of them arguing—but she ignored it and hurried out of the office.
“Ah!”
“Oh—I’m sorry!”
She almost collided with a female secretary standing by the door in her haste.
“Madam, are you leaving already?”
The secretary was holding a tray of refreshments.
“Yes. I’m not feeling well. The executive director is busy, so it’s better I leave.”
With a quick nod, Seoyoung closed the door and went straight down to the parking lot.
As she started the car, her phone rang.
It was Hyukjin.
After steadying her breath, Seoyoung hesitated—then turned off her phone.
She didn’t want to answer right now. She had nothing to say.
Knowing something in her head and seeing it with her own eyes were entirely different matters.
She had already known who the man she held every night really was—yet her shocked heart still wouldn’t calm down.
The impact was greater than she’d expected, and even she was taken aback by her own reaction.
“Why did I run away like an idiot?”
She should’ve just pretended nothing was wrong.
By now, the two of them were probably even more flustered by her sudden appearance.
Starting the engine, Seoyoung took a few deep breaths, shifted gears, and pressed the accelerator.
The excitement she’d felt on the way there now seemed like nothing more than a fleeting dream. Realizing she’d indulged in wishful thinking, she let out a hollow chuckle.
As Seoyoung’s car reached the exit, Hyukjin came running out, having just gotten off the elevator.
“Seoyoung!”
He waved his hand and shouted loudly as he chased after her car.
Though he called out with considerable volume, her car turned the corner without stopping.
“Damn.”
Hyukjin frowned deeply and ruffled his hair, letting out a sigh.
Minwoo approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“She didn’t misunderstand anything… did she?”
“No way.”
Hyukjin scoffed, letting out a dry laugh.
Despite his words, he couldn’t fully shake a lingering doubt.
But he soon shook his head.
Judging by how startled she’d been when she ran out, she must’ve misunderstood something—but not what Minwoo was thinking.
If she knew why he couldn’t sleep at night, she’d probably feel more apologetic than anything.
“Her phone’s off too. I guess I’ll have to explain later. Let’s go back up for now.”
Not knowing that Seoyoung had misunderstood from the very beginning, Hyukjin dismissed it as nothing more than a minor incident.
Watching him, Minwoo frowned slightly, unsettled.
Still, when Hyukjin turned first and headed toward the elevator, Minwoo followed without a word.
It’s their business. They’ll sort it out themselves.
That’s what he told himself—but an inexplicable unease lingered.
The two of them had spent most of their honeymoon practically apart. It was a contract marriage, after all, and he’d thought it held little meaning.
Hyukjin had even said it would be good to tour the resorts there and conduct advance inspections.
But when the time came, Hyukjin treated him like a nuisance, snapping at him for packing the schedule too tightly—as if he’d never given such instructions.
It felt unfair, but even in a contract marriage, Minwoo had been worried about Seoyoung being left alone the entire time.
Still, since the itinerary was already set, he’d dragged Hyukjin around despite seeming heartless.
Now that he thought about it, maybe that was when he first began to sense something was off.
Even while saying she was fine on her own, Seoyoung had seemed to watch him closely, as if gauging his reactions.
Now that I think about it, the way she looked at me back then was a little strange.
What if his insistence on “respecting their time together” hadn’t been about work at all—but something else?
Minwoo’s brow furrowed deeply.
