Chapter 44………………………………………
The moment their soft bodies intertwined, Seoyoung gripped Hyukjin’s waist tightly.
Her body stiffened from the tension, far beyond any previous kiss they had shared.
Her hand pressed against his bare skin burned with heat.
The sudden shift in the atmosphere seemed to change the entire air in the bedroom.
Watching the fleeting expressions on Seoyoung’s face, Hyukjin’s eyes, usually sharp, slowly closed.
Seoyoung, who had been clumsy at first, now followed his lead quite well.
In fact, her tense, trembling movements seemed to stimulate him even more.
Though her lips remained cautious despite repeated kisses, her careful breaths and awkward tongue movements only made him thirstier.
Hyukjin pulled her head closer and tilted his own further.
Seoyoung let out a small gasp as the kiss deepened.
He drew her waist closer, holding her even more tightly, and a tiny shiver ran between their pressed bodies.
She flinched slightly.
Letting out a quiet laugh at her reaction, he gave her a moment to breathe, then plunged his tongue deeper.
Seoyoung’s hand, which had resisted slightly, rested on his chest, and the warmth of her touch began to stir his heart.
The sounds of wet breaths and lips inclined toward each other filled the quiet bedroom.
Even the passive Seoyoung began to respond gradually.
Hyukjin grabbed her hand from his chest and lowered it.
As her eyes met his, he suddenly pushed her back and swiftly moved on top of her.
Seoyoung’s eyes widened as she looked up at him.
Pinned beneath him and gasping, she barely managed to speak.
“This… this is breaking our promise.”
Her voice was husky, as if her throat were caught.
“We haven’t broken any promises yet.”
Hyukjin’s wet lips curled into a crooked smile.
The corners of his eyes twinkled mischievously.
Leaning close with his elbows beside her face, he whispered as if she hadn’t understood.
Seoyoung’s heart raced faster as his breath brushed against her.
“The promise was that we wouldn’t have our first night together without permission, right?”
“Oh…”
Her eyes widened as she recalled that night.
“Either you sleep properly next to me, or we spend the night together like a real married couple—even now.”
“Then I’ll choose the first option.”
“The first option? You mean to sleep tightly pressed against me?”
“I don’t want to do anything until I get your permission.”
“That just means you need permission…”
His eyes, sparkling with mischief, lingered in her mind.
So…
‘As long as I don’t cross the line, it’s okay?’
Hyukjin’s eyes reflected the moonlight streaming through the window.
Her intuition proved correct, and his glistening lips descending toward her made her anxious.
She pushed against his bare chest to prevent him from getting closer.
Feeling the firmness and warmth of his skin, her face flushed even more.
In that awkward in-between state, unable to pull her hand away or push him off, Seoyoung’s face was bright red, like a balloon about to burst.
The tension radiated from her face and fingertips.
Watching her, Hyukjin’s smirk grew wider.
He leaned down again, eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and tension, and whispered to her.
‘No matter what, this will end in a kiss again. So there’s no need to be nervous, Hyun Seoyoung.’
Feeling his lips, Seoyoung slowly closed her eyes and relaxed her hands on his chest.
He had promised he wouldn’t go further without her consent; he was a man who kept his word, so she could only trust him.
Seeing her close her eyes, Hyukjin cupped her face with both hands.
Their night was just beginning.
Ding ding ding.
Seoyoung slowly opened her eyes to the alarm.
It was harder than usual to wake up today.
She reached for her phone to turn off the alarm and turned her head to check the space beside her.
The indentation left by someone else was now empty and cold.
Realizing she was alone, Seoyoung recalled the events of the previous night.
Hyukjin’s bare body, the surprise kiss, and the natural progression into brief intimacy.
Her face instantly heated at the memory.
She placed her hand over her loosened pajamas near her chest.
The warm breath tracing along her collarbone down to her cleavage had caught her off guard, and she had been unable to push him away.
Once his warm lips reached her chest, she finally jolted back to create distance.
His eyes, looking at her with a hint of longing, were dreamy in the dim bedroom light.
As if he truly desired her.
“This is impossible.”
Seoyoung shook her head vigorously.
She recalled Hyukjin lying on the office cot with Minwoo.
Thinking back, her fleeting desire to misinterpret the situation slowly faded.
As always, this was just Hyukjin’s smokescreen, using the in-laws and Mrs. Kim as an excuse.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to behave this way the day after that night.
Hyukjin briefly glanced at Seoyoung, who had pushed him away, then silently rolled over in bed.
Seoyoung also turned away as if fleeing.
Yet her heart still raced from his kisses and deeper touches.
Even knowing his nature, she always felt tense with physical contact.
At that moment, quiet footsteps moved cautiously outside the bedroom in the hallway.
She wasn’t sure if they were real, but perhaps, as Hyukjin had said, Mrs. Kim had visited the newlyweds’ room early while they were asleep.
“Good job. That’s how it should be for now.”
Perhaps Hyukjin had also heard that, saying it aloud.
Seoyoung already began worrying about how the night would go.
She even considered just getting through their first night together, as the tension was making her heart race uncontrollably.
Later, near the end of the workday, her phone vibrated on the desk.
[I have a business trip scheduled and won’t be home for a few days. I’ve informed the elders, so don’t worry.]
It was Hyukjin.
Relieved, Seoyoung let out a small sigh without realizing it.
‘He’s not avoiding me on purpose, right?’
Hyukjin had left early again that morning.
She didn’t know whether it was due to embarrassment from last night or genuine work obligations.
Perhaps he even felt some guilt regarding Minwoo.
But one thing was certain:
‘For the next few days, I can sleep comfortably.’
Aside from catching the internal information leak, the hotel business was running smoothly.
Aunt Jinkyung couldn’t buy more Calros Hotel stock because she had to defend Shinwha Foods’ shares, and incompetent Minhyung hadn’t achieved anything notable.
It was the perfect opportunity to make progress.
Glancing at the clock, Seoyoung noted it was nearly the end of the workday and stood up.
A knock came, and Jin-ho entered with a panicked expression.
“This is serious, Director.”
“What happened?”
Seoyoung’s heart raced at the unusually furrowed brows of Jin-ho, who rarely wore such expressions.
She had a bad feeling.
“Vice President Minhyung secured the entire Hwayoung Group workshop.”
“What? Really?”
“They just signed the contract a moment ago.”
Seoyoung’s premonition was right.
Hearing “Hwayoung Group,” she immediately thought of Oh Ye-ran, the one Chairman Kang Seong-chan favored most.
She recalled Ye-ran, dressed glamorously when visiting Minhyung, her haughty expression seeming to mock Seoyoung.
