Se-hyeon inspected each evening dress hanging on the rack, her expression indifferent. To anyone else, they might have seemed unremarkable, but Ji-an could tell that they were special.

He was displeased. She stood beside him, feeling anxious and nervous.

She had arrived at his office at exactly 6.30pm. When she stepped into the room, he was engrossed in his work. After giving her a brief, silent, unreadable glance, he finished what he was doing and left with her.

Their destination: this boutique.

As he hadn’t said a word on the way there, she hadn’t realised anything was amiss. But now, ten minutes later, he was still browsing wordlessly through dresses.

Ji-an hesitated, her lips parting slightly before she whispered in the softest possible voice — just loud enough for him to hear.

“If I’d known the dress code, I would’ve worn something more appropriate… I should’ve asked.”

Even as she spoke, she could feel the eyes of the boutique staff on them, forcing her to keep her expression carefully composed.

From the moment they stepped outside together, Yoo Ji-an and Woo Se-hyeon had to pretend to be the world’s most loving couple.

Despite her attempts to engage him in conversation, Se-hyeon gave no reply.

“Um… Se-hyeon.”

She tried again, her voice wavering slightly.

What was this unease? Was it because she had met Yoo Jung-ho earlier that day?

Guilt clawed at her chest. A nagging fear rose: what if Jung-ho had gone to see Se-hyeon after meeting her?

She’d lived the last three years in peace, not knowing anything. But now that she knew, every thought and possibility led back to him.

This must be why they say guilt eats you alive.

A heavy breath escaped before she could stop it.

“Hm.”

Just then, Se-hyeon picked up a dress and held it up in front of her. His eyes scanned her slowly, from head to toe.

It was a deep black evening gown with a daring design—one leg completely exposed and a single off-shoulder sleeve that left her collarbone and shoulder bare.

“This might be… a bit of a problem.”

His gaze lingered on her exposed neckline as he murmured.

This was probably a reference to the marks he had left on her skin that morning, which had forced her to change before going out.

Se-hyeon usually preferred elegant styles to bold designs like this one. She’d dressed with that in mind today, but he had become upset about something.

Yet rather than voicing his opinion, he just kept scanning the dresses in silence. It was maddening.

“Then this one.”

It was an ivory dress with a high lace collar that reached her neck. The upper half covered her completely, while the lower half revealed her long, bare legs beneath the short skirt.

Se-hyeon handed the dress to a nearby staff member, then turned back to Ji-an with a soft smile.

“I’ll be right out.”

Catching his unspoken cue, Ji-an followed the attendant into the fitting room.

With his hands buried in his pockets, Se-hyeon stood outside, his eyes fixed on the curtain behind which she had disappeared. As he waited, his thoughts drifted back to his call with Seong-rim.

—”Quit fussing over my rice cakes and start worrying about your wife, you rascal!”

Near the end of the call, his grandmother had suddenly scolded him. She always told him to treat his wife well, so he’d brushed it off—until today, when the words felt oddly pointed.

‘Why now, Grandma?’

Seong-rim clicked her tongue.

—”That sweet girl was crying in front of me. It must be your fault. What else could have made her cry?”

‘Who?’

—”Who else? Your wife. Been giving her grief, haven’t you?”

He’d pressed for details.

—”She was preparing my lunch when she suddenly started crying. She wouldn’t tell me why. It took me ages to calm her down.”

It had happened only a few days ago. Feeling uneasy, Se-hyeon hung up and immediately ordered his secretary to find out what Yoo Ji-an had been up to lately. Contract marriage or not, he’d never bothered to track her movements before.

“She really has her hands in everything, doesn’t she?”

At that moment, Ji-an stepped out in her new dress. Se-hyeon gave her a slow once-over, then turned and placed a matching pair of heels at her feet. Without a word, she slipped them on.

He draped a white fur stole over her shoulders and took her small hand in his.

“We’re late. Let’s go.”

Only then did he curve his lips into a satisfied smile. Ji-an bowed her head and walked out beside him.

Her killer heels felt as though they might break with one wrong step, but Se-hyeon matched her pace, steadying her with their joined hands.

Once inside the car, Ji-an realised that her tight dress had ridden up when she sat down, exposing more of her thighs than she had intended. She tugged the hem down and used her clutch bag to shield her bare thigh.

She wanted to ask where they were going, but swallowed the question. They would be there soon.

Watching Seoul’s nightscape glide past the window, Ji-an sank into thought.

***

As Ji-an stepped through the entrance of the hotel, a sign caught her eye.

[Charity Auction.]

This marked her third year attending the event.

As the year drew to a close, everyone associated with Se-hyeon was busy organising year-end gatherings. Tonight’s event was a charity auction organised by some of the most influential figures in the business world. All proceeds would go towards helping those in need during the winter months — a noble cause that is supported every year.

“Ji-an, you’re here?”

The moment she stepped into the banquet hall, Yoon-young approached her with a practiced smile. Standing beside her was Kyung-jin.

Ji-an recognised several other familiar faces from previous gatherings — people she had come to expect at events like these.

“Oh my, Ji-an! You look absolutely stunning tonight!”

Yoon-young’s gaze swept over her as she gushed with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Ji-an usually wore conservative outfits with minimal exposure, but the dress that Se-hyeon had picked out for her today revealed much more than usual. She could feel eyes flicking towards her from all directions.

“Thank you.”

She replied with a modest smile, trying to hide her discomfort.

“You’re late.”

Kyung-jin said, stepping up to greet Se-hyeon.

“There was something I had to take care of.”

Without elaborating, Se-hyeon offered a smooth, businesslike smile. Then, with a subtle glance toward Ji-an, he joined Kyung-jin and disappeared into the crowd.

Left standing awkwardly, Ji-an found herself alone with Yoon-young.

“Here, have a drink.”

Yoon-young picked up a glass of champagne from a nearby tray and offered it to Ji-an. It would have been rude to refuse, so Ji-an accepted it with a polite smile.

“Thank you.”

“By the way, who picked out your dress tonight?”

Although she spoke casually, she openly scanned Ji-an’s figure.

As they talked, a few regular attendees of these gatherings began to gather around them, exchanging curious glances and murmurs.

“Oh, this?”

Ji-an said, brushing her hair behind her ear.

“Se-heon picked it out himself.”

“Really? That doesn’t seem like his taste at all.”

‘How strange.’

Yoon-young and the woman beside her exchanged a knowing glance and smiled enigmatically.

Whether she had noticed or not, Ji-an took a small sip of champagne and turned her head slightly as she searched for Se-hyeon.

He stood in the middle of a group of people, wearing that same gentle, composed smile. Effortlessly perfect, as always — everything was in its right place.

“…”

Their eyes met in the air — hers from across the room and his as if he had been scanning the room for her. For a moment, Se-hyeon studied Ji-an curiously, but then he quickly turned away and greeted someone else politely, as if nothing had happened.

Moments later, the emcee’s voice rang out through the hall, signalling the start of the event.

She would have to endure at least an hour or two like this.

The heels she was wearing today were especially high, making standing still painful. Even worse, they were brand new, and her feet were already suffering.

When she discreetly glanced down, she saw it: both heels red and raw, the skin split open.

“Ah…”

A sharp pain forced a quiet gasp from her lips. Ji-an bit down on them, determined not to show it.

Determined to appear unfazed and stay calm, she searched for a quiet corner where she could rest her feet. Just as she began to move—

“Look over there—over there!”

“Oh my God! Isn’t that Chae Gyu-eun?”

“It is! Is she back in Korea? When did she return?”

Startled by the sudden commotion caused by Yoon-young and the other women, Ji-an instinctively followed their gaze.

There he was — Se-hyeon.

He stood not far from a woman whose beauty could only be described as utterly arresting.

Even in high heels, it was clear that she was naturally tall. She was only about a handspan shorter than Se-hyeon.

She wore a form-fitting black evening dress to perfection, and her sharp features were paired with long, sleek hair — every part of her was stunningly beautiful and perfectly balanced. Without question, she was stunning.

“Kyung-jin said she was coming. I guess she’s here to see President Woo.”

Yoon-young commented with pointed emphasis—making sure Ji-an heard every word.

“And come to think of it… she kind of looks like Chae Gyu-eun.”

“Who?”

“Yoo Ji-an.”

Their whispers were quiet, yet loud enough to be heard. The irony was that everyone could hear them, especially Ji-an.

She had to admit it, too. The resemblance between her and that woman was uncanny.

“…”

The woman standing in front of Se-hyeon — Chae Gyu-eun — looked at him with a familiar warmth, and he responded in kind.

A bright smile of recognition passed between them.

That quiet, intimate smile filled Ji-an’s entire field of vision.