“Director. Shut the hospital down.”

“W-What? S-Sir… w-what do you mean by—”

…It was noisy.

“A person hasn’t woken up for over a week—what’s the point of a hospital? I’ll tear it down and build a hotel instead.”

“S-Sir… I’m sorry. I’ll call the doctor again—”

“Save your apologies for somewhere else. Do I look like I came here just to hear you say you’re sorry?”

I didn’t know who this “sir” was, but just hearing his voice was enough to make me feel afraid. The man called the director couldn’t even stand up to him.

But…

Who were these people, making such a racket?

Frowning, I slowly opened my eyes.

…Where is this?

The unfamiliar surroundings filled me with fear, and I instinctively held my breath.

“S-Sir! Madam has woken up! I’ll call the doctor right away!”

The frantic footsteps of a man quickly faded into the distance.

“Lee Jae.”

As I looked around, trying to figure out where I was, someone called my name—clearly.

How does he know my name?

It was a voice I had never heard before. That alone made me afraid.

Slowly, I turned my head toward the sound.

“…Who are you, mister?”

He was a frightening-looking man. His eyes widened in surprise—then, as if angered, his face twisted sharply.

That alone made my shoulders stiffen, and my tongue felt dry and burned at the tip.

He looked dangerous.

The kind of man I would never want to get close to—the kind I hated most.

“What? What did you just say?”

I didn’t understand why a stranger was reacting like that. But I was too scared to say it out loud.

Instead…

“M-Mister… w-who are you? Do you… know me?”

“Who are you… to look at me like that? And why are you calling my name like you know me…?”

I asked in a timid voice.

“Lee Jae, you right now…”

As if at a loss for words, the man’s lips pressed tightly together.

Out of habit, I lowered my gaze and fidgeted with my hands—only to notice the IV needle inserted into the back of my hand.

Come to think of it… I was wearing a hospital gown.

What…?

With puzzled eyes, I looked around.

“Why am I… in a hospital…? Why am I here?”

I didn’t know who he was, but he looked like someone who knew me well.

So, for now, I directed the question at the man standing in front of me with that terrifying expression.

There was no one else I could ask but him. But he kept his mouth shut, as if he had no intention of answering, and all sorts of thoughts began to run through my mind.

“…Did I get into a car accident or something?”

It made me uncomfortable—the way he just stared at me without saying a word when I was clearly asking him something.

Thinking I should go outside and figure out what was going on myself, I started to move but doctors and nurses rushed into the room in a panic.

A moment later—

“Th-That is… I mean… I…”

Frowning as if I couldn’t believe it, I swallowed dryly.

“So you’re saying that I—I’ll be thirty next year?”

The doctor nodded, confirming that what I said was correct.

Clearly, my last memory was…

I had gone to school yesterday, came home, got scolded harshly by my stepmother, and was driven down to the basement.

I fell asleep crying…

And yet—in just one day, the world had completely changed.

“Could I… have a mirror?”

The nurse standing beside the doctor took out a small hand mirror from her pocket and handed it to me. Before looking, my throat felt dry for no reason, so I bit down on my lips.

I felt like I was going to go insane from the anxiety. There was no way to calm it, and my fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

“Gasp!“

The moment I saw my reflection, I inhaled sharply in shock. I squeezed my eyes shut, then forced them open again and looked.

Horror flooded in.

If this was a dream, I wanted to wake up immediately.

I pinched my cheek as hard as I could but the sharp pain told me it wasn’t a dream.

“Don’t hurt yourself.”

As I kept pinching, unable to believe it, someone grabbed my wrist. I lifted my gaze and stared blankly at the person holding me.

It was shocking enough that I was twenty-nine, but the most shocking thing was—

“Did I really… marry you, mister? This isn’t a lie, right?”

I was married.

And not just to anyone, but to a man so frightening that just meeting his eyes made me scared.

This wasn’t a dream?

How could that be?

Becoming twenty-nine overnight was already unfair enough, but I was married too?

I froze.

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, I…

Right now…

“Why am I… not stuttering anymore? And I have someone I like… so why would I be with you…?”

“Someone you like?”

The man murmured the words under his breath and goosebumps spread across my entire body. It felt as if I had suddenly become someone guilty of a crime.

Without realizing it, I started watching his reaction.

Our eyes met and the sharpness in his gaze made it feel like I might get cut, so I quickly lowered my head, my shoulders flinching.

I married someone like him?

What in the world happened?

“Jae…”

As I dug my nails into the back of my hand out of fear, his voice suddenly softened.

Not only that, as if he had never been scowling at all, his face turned gentle, and he pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Um… this… please—”

Was I mistaken earlier?

The arms holding me were trembling.

Yes… that was why.

That was why I didn’t push him away.

A man who looked like he would never waver was now unable to hide his anxiety, as if he might collapse at any moment.

“Please… let go.”

“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You must have been startled. I was worried—you wouldn’t open your eyes.”

The man who claimed to be my husband looked deeply shaken.

At first, he had only seemed frightening.

But now…he didn’t.

The way his eyes drooped made him look almost pitiful.

Even when I moved for a detailed examination, and when I spoke with the doctor, he stayed right beside me as if guarding me.

Somehow…

I felt reassured.

I felt safe.

After finishing all the examinations, I returned to the hospital room to rest. When he tried to massage my legs, I firmly refused.

After that, I found myself sneaking glances at him, his shoulders slumped.

“I… still can’t believe I’m married.”

“That’s understandable.”

“So it feels awkward. A lot… actually.”

He nodded and gave a lonely smile.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“That person you said was your first love. Who was it? Do you remember the name?”

He spoke gently but why did it sound so unsettling?

When I lifted my eyes, he smiled with an innocent expression, as if it had all been my imagination.

“Why are you curious about that? I don’t remember the name.”

That’s strange.

Why can’t I remember?

I saw him not long ago, didn’t I?

Not just his name—even his face had become blurred, like it was covered in fog.

“I said he was my first love… but maybe he wasn’t.”

It seemed like I had… lied and gotten married.

‘What in the world did you do, Lee Jae…?’

“It can’t be helped.”

He stared at me as my eyes shook uncontrollably, then gently patted the back of my hand.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to feel sorry.”

…Excuse me. You don’t look okay at all.

This man…

He’s actually kind.

Despite how he looks, he seemed thoughtful. And on top of that, he was handsome.

At first, I had been too disoriented, too afraid of him. But looking more closely now…he was more handsome than a celebrity.

I really married a man like this?

I just couldn’t believe it.

What on earth happened?

“What did we call each other?”

He told me we got married in the spring. That I was a veterinarian, and he was the president of Kangho Group. That I had stopped stuttering not long after we got married.

As he answered everything I asked sincerely, another question suddenly came to mind.

“I called you by your name, and—”

Just as he was answering, the door opened, and a large man I had never seen before walked in.

“You called me ‘honey.’”

He smiled brightly as he said it.

I didn’t miss the man standing behind him flinching slightly.

“Really? You’re not teasing me just because I can’t remember?”

“Of course not. I’m someone who could never lie to you.”

His large hand brushed against my ankle, and I inhaled sharply.

“Do I look like I’m lying?”

“…No.”

When I wiggled my toes, he suddenly startled and pulled his hand away.

“Sorry. It’s just a habit.”

The way he said it made it sound like he had touched me often, without hesitation.

My face flushed bright red.

It felt like heat was rising from where he had touched me, so I quickly hid my feet under the blanket.

“Secretary Park, make yourself comfortable. If you want something to eat, take it from the fridge.”

So the man behind him must be Secretary Park.

“…Yes? Ah… understood.”

Watching how kind he was even to his secretary, I realized I had almost misunderstood him.

Secretary Park gave an awkward smile and looked at me with pity.

Maybe it was because I was sick.

“You should sleep. It’s time to rest.”

“Ah…”

“Can I lie down beside you and help you sleep?”

My eyes widened at his words.

“Sorry. It’s just become a habit without me realizing.”

He smiled faintly and ran a hand over his face.

The same bed as him…

Well, of course.

We were married. It made sense we shared a bed.

But why did it feel so embarrassing?

I felt like I was going crazy.

My whole body felt restless.

“You couldn’t sleep without me. And I couldn’t either.”

I held his sorrowful smile in my gaze.

“But you… you’ve forgotten me. I wonder if you’ll be able to sleep now?”

He looked exhausted, as if he hadn’t slept at all.

So this was the life of twenty-nine-year-old Lee Jae…

She had married someone like this.

“I’ll stay by your side until you fall asleep.”

The world had changed overnight, and it had frightened me.

But having him here…made me feel relieved.

“What did they say about the test results?”

He gently patted my shoulder.

The touch felt familiar, and I closed my eyes.

“They said it’s short-term memory loss. Your memories will come back little by little, so don’t worry. I’m right here with you.”

At his soft voice, the corners of my lips lifted.

“…I’m sleepy.”

I didn’t know why the way he was playing with my fingers felt so intimate. But I found myself thinking—it was a relief that he was both handsome and kind.

And before I knew it, I drifted off into sleep.