Side Story 1.1

Yoon-jae looked around the house with a dazed expression. 

Was there really an apartment this spacious? 

Her mind felt empty, almost dull.

It was the first time she had seen an apartment over 100 pyeong. And it was a duplex, no less. Of course, Baek-geon’s mansion was vast and luxurious, but stepping into an apartment like this was a first for her, leaving her astonished.

She unconsciously let out a small gasp at the towering ceiling height and the wide-open view that stretched out before her.

Everything was already set up, so it was a situation where she could move in with just herself. Yoon-jae looked around this new house, so different from her current one, with curiosity.

Through the large curtain-covered window, the view of the river, forest, and cityscape was visible in its entirety. She stood by the window for a long time, marveling at the scenery.

“If you want, we can live here after the wedding. Technically, the main house is still under the Chairman’s name for now. He’s been pestering me to transfer the ownership soon, but I think that would be too shameless.”

Baek-geon spoke in a casual tone. Yoon-jae shook her head.

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to stay where we are? The butler might feel lonely…”

“Butler Song would probably prefer us not being there.”

Baek-geon shook his head firmly. Yoon-jae pressed her lips together in embarrassment. Thinking about it, everyone in the household hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep lately because of their daughter, Yoo-na.

Yoo-na, born a hundred days ago, had been quite a handful even before her birth. After being born through a difficult cesarean delivery, the baby cried incessantly and demanded milk constantly.

Yet, when given a bottle, she would often drink only half before pushing it away with her tongue. She needed human contact to fall asleep.

She cried day and night, leaving Yoon-jae and the babysitters with dark circles under their eyes. Half of the babysitters quit within a month.

While hurriedly recruiting new help, the ones who suffered the most were Yoon-jae, the senior employee in charge of the kitchen, Ms. Yoon, and Butler Song.

Thankfully, Ms. Yoon was a veteran who had raised three children herself, but Butler Song had been single his whole life.

The two of them practically lived in the main house instead of the separate staff quarters in the back. During this time, Butler Song grew noticeably thinner, worrying everyone.

Yoon-jae always felt guilty and worried whenever she saw him, but Butler Song reassured her that he was fine.

‘The sound of a baby crying in the house is so wonderful. I never realized it before.’

After two months, Yoo-na’s fussiness decreased. Her feeding habits stabilized, and things became slightly easier. Once the hundred days passed, Baek-geon began pestering Yoon-jae to see the apartment he had for her.

Finally catching her breath, Yoon-jae reluctantly agreed to his request and got up. Leaving the baby behind weighed on her mind, but she had to make compromises to maintain peace with her husband.

Baek-geon was still stoic and busy, but he made an effort to stay home more often, knowing how lonely Yoon-jae could get.

Thanks to his presence, enduring Yoo-na’s tantrums became a little easier, Yoon-jae often thought. Yet, she felt awkward expressing her gratitude to him, often pretending not to notice.

This wasn’t right.

She resolved to do better, but for some reason, she always felt shy around Baek-geon. Why was that? There was no lingering resentment in her heart, yet she acted clumsy and awkward around him.

She acknowledged that her behavior was strange but didn’t dwell on it. Watching Yoo-na kept her busy every day.

Now, being alone with Baek-geon made her heart race, as if she were falling in love with a stranger for the first time.

Regardless of Yoon-jae’s feelings, Baek-geon meticulously inspected the apartment before taking her hand and showing her the rooms.

He opened the door to the largest room. Yoon-jae, who entered absentmindedly, widened her eyes. The study, designed with care, had walls lined entirely with large bookshelves.

“The shelves aren’t fully stocked yet. If there’s anything you want, make a list. I’ll get it for you immediately.”

Yoon-jae didn’t register Baek-geon’s words. She stood there, mouth agape, staring at the study.

The large leather sofa and the heavy table on one side of the room gave off a sophisticated vibe. On the desk, big enough for two people to lie down on, were a laptop and a tablet.

“You don’t go into the study often, so I thought of making a new one for you, but I decided to set it up here instead. It’s your study, so feel free to change it however you like. Just tell the secretary, and they’ll take care of it. Don’t stress over it alone.”

Yoon-jae felt like she could spend months in this study, reading books. The thought that all of this belonged to her made her blink in disbelief. It felt like a dream, and she couldn’t fully grasp it.

It was a study she had only imagined in her life. Watching professors, she had once envied the idea of studying in a place like this.

She had never thought that such a place would become hers. Her mind went blank, leaving her speechless.

“Let’s head to the bedroom.”

Baek-geon pulled her hand, leading her to follow him obediently.

The bedroom was fit for a princess. On the soft carpet lay a canopy bed draped with translucent curtains, covered entirely in linen and lace.

And that wasn’t all. The room was filled with flowers. Roses in large vases bloomed vibrantly. Yoon-jae stared at the sight, entranced.

“This is…”

Things she had only seen in fairy tales as a child were now real. She touched the bedspread gently, still in disbelief.

Baek-geon knelt on one knee before the dazed Yoon-jae, who was sitting on the bed. He took out a box and presented it to her.

“You already gave me a ring before.”

Yoon-jae said with a flustered expression, but Baek-geon shook his head calmly.

“That was something I bought in a rush, and I wasn’t satisfied with it. Besides, if we’re going to have a wedding, I need to propose properly.”

Yoon-jae’s face turned red. It was true that they had agreed to have a wedding after the baby was born, but she had secretly assumed Baek-geon had forgotten about it.

That assumption had been convenient for her. Having never trusted anyone to do something for her, she thought it wouldn’t matter if Baek-geon forgot.

But it seemed that wasn’t the case. Baek-geon’s words brought her a sense of comfort. It was just confirmation that he hadn’t forgotten, yet it made her feel at ease.

Yoon-jae wondered if she was acting strangely. Even before the baby was born, she had been leaning more and more on this man.

Her reliance on him felt unfamiliar yet not entirely wrong. Perhaps this was how people tamed each other over time.

She couldn’t imagine being with another man now. Only Baek-geon gave her the sense of security she needed. Yoon-jae looked at the man who had captured her heart with a gleaming gaze.

“Give me the ring.”

Han Baek-geon took out a ring from the box. After removing the ring he originally wore, he slid a diamond ring onto her finger and then pushed the box aside.

So Yoon-jae raised her hand to gaze at the ring. The jewel sparkled beautifully under the light, radiating a brilliant glow.

“Come here.”

Han Baek-geon’s hand cupped the back of her head and gently pulled her closer. So Yoon-jae willingly surrendered herself to him. Their faces drew nearer until their lips finally met.

Their breaths mingled. As their lips touched, Han Baek-geon lightly licked hers, absorbing her breath through the slight gap between them.

Even with just that, her mouth filled with saliva. His tongue pried open the barely parted lips, delving inside.

His tongue brushed against the tender inner skin, exploring and tangling with hers as it trembled.

“Mmnh….”

A soft m*an escaped her lips. He teased her tongue slowly, tantalizingly, before beginning to s*ck it gently.

Han Baek-geon’s arm wrapped around So Yoon-jae’s waist, pulling her closer. Before she realized it, she was perched on his thigh.

A seductive sensation enveloped her entire body. Each time his large hand roamed over her back, goosebumps ran down her skin.

Unconsciously, So Yoon-jae parted her lips. Han Baek-geon sucked her tongue more firmly, rubbing his lips against hers. The deep kiss left her breathless, her mind spinning.

His tongue plunged deeper, brushing against her teeth and caressing the soft flesh inside. Her breathing grew ragged as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

His hand slid down, unzipping the back of her dress. Clinging to him, she clumsily returned his kisses, her actions driven purely by instinct.

Han Baek-geon found her response pleasing. It delighted him to see her gradually opening up to him.

His hand slipped inside her loosened dress, cupping her chest. He felt her body tremble faintly under his touch.

Sliding his lips down to her chin, he kneaded her chest. Her br*asts, fuller than before childbirth, overflowed in his hands.

Even her n*pples had darkened and grown more enticing. Han Baek-geon found these changes appealing. It felt as though he was finally holding a woman who had fully blossomed.

This was the first time they were engaging in proper intimacy without any conditions. The thought alone made his mouth water. He pulled her dress down, exposing her chest, and buried his face in her soft skin.

“Ahh…”

So Yoon-jae shivered. The long-forgotten sensation sent tingling waves through her body, reaching the top of her head. Tears welled up from the intense pleasure.

Each time his tongue and lips teased her n*pples, sucking firmly, her hips twisted involuntarily. The overwhelming sensation left her gasping for air.

Her hands gripped his neck tightly as she arched her back, letting out soft cries. Han Baek-geon frowned slightly, feeling the heavy pressure below whenever she twisted her waist.