Chapter 59

Growing closer to him gave her a momentary sense of delight, but then his hand slid onto her knee and began to move under her skirt. As her tweed skirt crept higher bit by bit, Yaein clutched it with both hands and flashed Taeheon a panicked look.

After all, one of Taeheon’s subordinates was sitting in the driver’s seat. Carrying on with such an embarrassing display of affection in front of someone else was simply unthinkable.

Taeheon, acting as though he didn’t understand anything, slid his hand up her stocking-covered thigh.

“Feels nice.”

He murmured as though savoring it, lightly grazing over the front of her underwear. Yaein’s gaze darted between the rearview mirror and the driver’s seat.

“What are you looking at?”

Taeheon took Yaein’s chin in his hand and turned her face toward him.

“Why do you keep playing around?”

“Yesterday—”

Taeheon trailed off, glancing at the front seat, then crooked his finger at Yaein.

“If you’re worried someone might hear, come over here.”

They were already side by side, so how much closer could she get? Yaein fidgeted anxiously, trying to pull Taeheon’s hand away, but in the end, she ended up pressed against him.

He didn’t seem satisfied with just having their thighs touching. Taeheon wrapped his arm around Yaein’s waist, pulling her so close that she could feel his firm body through his suit.

Bringing his lips near enough to brush her ear, Taeheon whispered, 

“I wanted to have s*x with you in that dress last night, but you seemed tired, so I didn’t.”

“…I wasn’t that tired.”

She denied it in a small, half-whisper, and Taeheon let out a low chuckle.

“I couldn’t just climb on top of someone who passed out as soon as we got home. Still, I was curious how you’d look waking up, already filled.”

Heat rushed through her all at once, making her dizzy.

Why do such explicit scenes flood her mind whenever she hears Taeheon’s words, as if it’s really happening?

His fingers, which had been toying persistently with her underwear, kept at it. Every time his fingertip pressed in, a subtle tremor ran through her lower back. 

She wondered what it would feel like to wake from a hazy sleep to the jolt of penetration—handling both the pleasure and that lingering drowsiness, looking up at Taeheon looming over her. 

 His fingertips found her aroused cl*toris and teased it. She worried that, at this rate, her stockings might end up damp. 

 Suppressing the faint moan threatening to escape—*Mmm*—Yaein clamped a hand over her mouth. 

 Determined not to miss even the smallest reaction, Taeheon watched her without blinking.

 “Show me you finishing.” 

 “No…” 

 “I’ve held back, haven’t I? Yesterday, this morning too. I’m not saying we should go all the way here, so just show me that cute face.”

 She couldn’t tell whether it was persuasion or a command. Lately, she’d realized: her husband was the kind of man who would inevitably take what he wanted. 

 With tears forming in her eyes, Yaein glared at Taeheon, then pulled his hand toward her mouth and bit it. In that moment, she saw a spark in Taeheon’s eyes.

 *Sh*t.* She imagined the muffled curse ringing in her ears. From the look on his face—like he’d lost his composure—she felt at any moment he might devour her. The hand stimulating her below grew wetter, more insistent. 

 Rather than forcing him away, she accepted it, and the pleasure soared with terrifying speed. The palm pressing against her now-soaked underwear delivered a thrill far different from penetration. 

 A climax rattled her, as though she were plunging into deep water. It felt like that rush of panic you get when there’s nowhere to put your feet while standing on a high ledge. 

 As Yaein twisted her legs in confusion, Taeheon held her tight. At the end of that peak came a huge sense of relief. 

 “You’re beautiful.” 

 It was more like an exclamation of awe than a compliment. A gentler, steadier sense of joy spread through her body, leaving her incapable of any movement.

As Yaein slowly came back to her senses, she removed Taeheon’s hand and wiped away the spot where her saliva had been. Taeheon watched her flustered movements as though he found them endearing. Yaein, cheeks burning, busied herself by fixing her lipstick.

“Hah… We’ve arrived.”

Closing her bag, Yaein pointed out the window. She recognized the area since she’d been here before, where Serin worked.

“Circle around one more time before we go in.”

With his lips gently biting at her earlobe, Taeheon made the suggestion. There was no need to ask what he intended to do while the car drove aimlessly in circles.

If she was being honest, Yaein wanted it too.

“But I can’t show up late on my first day…”

“Really can’t?”

She felt an impulse to say yes, to push everything aside and spend time with just the two of them, letting him do as he pleased. But she restrained herself.

“They’re probably waiting to see when I come in. No.”

No matter how she behaved, her stepmother and stepsister would find a way to criticize her, but she didn’t want to give them extra ammunition.

Mustering all her resolve, she refused. Taeheon withdrew his hand, looking disappointed.

They pulled over at the side of the road. Yaein knew she needed to get out, but she hesitated for no real reason. She wanted to at least say goodbye with a kiss, yet she missed her chance as she lingered.

From the driver’s seat, Taeheon’s subordinate got out first and opened the back door. Yaein stepped out, waving a little.

“See you later.”

There was no response from Taeheon. She wished he’d at least told her to have a good day.

Desires truly knew no end. Lately, she found herself wanting more and more from him. Maybe it was because he indulged her so much. Feeling embarrassed at her own latent clinginess, she walked away with extra determination.

Finding the foundation building wasn’t hard, so she headed straight for it. Walking along the sidewalk, Yaein stopped. She saw two shadows on the road.

Before she could even turn around, Taeheon was kissing her. He bent his upper body down as if pouncing, wrapping his arms around her.

A large palm slid down her back. The lingering aftershocks of her earlier climax warmed the bare skin under her clothes.

His hand drifted down to her waist, seeming ready to grab her rear at any moment—she could practically feel his grip kneading her flesh and rubbing her thighs. Just as his hand threatened to slip further, his lips pulled away.

“If I went any further here, we’d definitely get scolded, right?”

A subtle question, lightly laced with mischief. Hiding her heart that was still pounding as if it might burst from her chest, Yaein went up on tiptoe.

“Your lips are all red. The lipstick rubbed off.”

“Does it suit me?”

Instead of wiping it away, Taeheon played innocent. Yaein rubbed his lips with her thumb.

“Yes. I’ll buy you one later.”

It’s only recently that Yaein realized how playful her husband could be. Before, he sometimes tossed out cynical jokes or acted petulant, but back then he’d seemed frightening and cold.

“Have a good day.”

“I will. You too—come back safe.”

“If it’s too hard, just quit anytime.”

He spoke those last words with the utmost seriousness.

She knew that if she faltered now and said she couldn’t do it, Taeheon would tell her she didn’t have to go. He’d protect her in every way he could.

With a smile, Yaein waved to show she understood.

Exactly because Taeheon said she could quit at any time, Yaein wouldn’t stop even in the hardest moments.

Even right up until she turned away, Taeheon kept his eyes on her. She got the feeling he wouldn’t look away until she disappeared from sight. He’d be watching over her. Yaein felt reassured enough to move forward.

It was all so different from before—such a tender moment, she was still in a daze.

When she was with Taeheon, it felt like there was no danger at all. As if they could pass the time with playful banter forever.

Yaein touched the back of her hand. Where she’d once been stabbed by chopsticks, the flesh had been cut, leaving it with a different texture from the surrounding skin.

If she pressed it firmly, she could feel the pain lurking beneath the healed flesh.

That must be how Taeheon’s scars formed as well. She wondered if Taeheon ever touched his own scars, if they still hurt.

They couldn’t change the past, but at least from now on she could protect him. And thinking so somehow dissolved her fears, instead filling her with resolve.

Strengthening her determination, Yaein entered the foundation building. She passed the reception desk and went upstairs to her destination.

The nameplate outside the Director’s office was different from the rest. Yaein knocked first. Her stepmother despised people coming in without knocking. Whenever Yaein had done so, she’d unleash an unending tirade about how Yaein had no manners.

“Come in.”

The voice inside wasn’t her stepmother, Sojeong—the Director—but someone else.

When she opened the door, Serin was the first to greet her, arms folded. The way she stood made it clear she’d been waiting, loaded for bear. Yaein wasn’t surprised and simply greeted her.

“Good morning, sister.”

Serin didn’t answer, only glaring in Yaein’s direction.

“So, you just snatched up that job offer and came to work? Are you an idiot or what?” 

Serin made a spiteful remark, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

It was likely Sojeong’s ploy to offer the position of “secretary to the chair.” 

On the surface, it sounded like a low-key job in line with Taeheon’s request – the kind of post where Yaein could just pretend to work. But being directly under Sojeong also meant they could make her life miserable anytime they wanted.

“I came because she asked me to.” 

Yaein expected it to turn out this way, and she wanted exactly this position. 

Serin had no idea, but Yaein’s goal was already achieved.

“Just wait and see. You’ll regret coming here. Your husband’s not around this time.”

If Yaein said there was nothing to regret, Serin would surely get mad. At Serin’s blustering threat, Yaein merely gave an indifferent smile.

Back when Yaein stayed at her father’s house, whenever Serin intimidated her, she would cower in fear. 

Even as she grew older, she had clung to a faint hope that Serin might one day treat her like a real younger sister.

Now, to Yaein, she was simply a meaningless person. Less than a stranger.

“Yes, I understand.” 

Yaein responded in a flat tone, and Serin’s face twisted in anger. Serin must have hoped Yaein would squirm like she used to.

Yaein hadn’t taken the job because she actually intended to keep working. She didn’t care about getting on Serin’s good side, either.

“Are you going to keep hanging around here then, sister?”

“Even if I do work, I’ve been here a lot longer than you have – obviously I’ll stay!”

In truth, Serin had no official position at the foundation. Sojeong would invite her as a “guest artist” to various events and let her hang around, but never assigned her any real duties. 

Probably because she knew her own daughter’s capabilities. Giving Serin an actual position would mean giving her responsibilities – which would inevitably lead to problems if Serin were in charge of anything.

Even now, she only showed up because she heard Yaein was coming in. Most of the time, Serin lazed about under the pretense of “working on her art.”

Though it was all an open secret, Yaein refused to confront Serin about it. She focused on why she had come instead.

Yaein’s gaze settled on a stack of foundation brochures in one corner of the chairwoman’s office. 

She’d received them at the time of printing, so she’d read them before. The top line of the foundation’s introduction section featured a photo of her stepmother, the chairwoman, smiling. Further in, there was a page about the honorary board members, including a picture of Yaein’s father-in-law.

A commemorative event photo, led by her mother-in-law, showed Serin and her father present as well. All of them were connected in one tangled web. 

Yaein had been the sacrifice forced into a blind date, yet everyone else reaped the rewards.

“When does the chairwoman come in?”