“Honey, you’re really drunk. Let’s go to the bedroom and get some rest.”

Se-hyeon slowly lifted his head and locked eyes with Ji-an.

He said nothing; he just stared at her.

Her eyes wavered anxiously under his cold gaze.

That innocent expression, that helpless look on her face—

Even though it had been a contract marriage, he had believed that she was sincere in her role, at the very least.

He had never imagined she would betray him like this.

Now, even her concern seemed like nothing but another layer of pretence.

A bitter smile curved his lips.

“Anyone would think you actually cared.”

With that, he brushed her hand away once again.

It was rare for Woo Se-hyeon to drink this heavily.

Although they weren’t the most affectionate couple, their relationship had never sunk this low before.

“I… I was worried.”

Ji-an finally managed to say. She was worried that he hadn’t come home.

She was worried that the growing distance between them might become irreversible.

At least, that was how she truly felt.

“Worried, you say…”

He scoffed, repeating the word as though it were laughable.

“Ah, of course. My wife must be desperate to get pregnant right now.”

His voice dripped with sarcasm and it seemed as though something had finally clicked for him.

“That’s why you’re so desperate, isn’t it? Hmmm?”

His twisted tone made Ji-an bite her lower lip hard.

In that moment, she could almost hear Yoo Jung-ho taunting her again.

If she kept silent, things would only get worse.

And if Yoo Jung-ho actually went to Se-hyeon himself…

The thought made her dizzy with fear.

“But unfortunately for you, I have no intention of going along with your plan.”

“Actually… the truth is…”

Ji-an tried to speak.

“Yoo Ji-an.”

Se-hyeon cut her off sharply, calling her name. Startled, Ji-an instinctively looked at him.

“Just continue living as Yang Jin-hee’s little dog. And spare me this disgusting act of yours.”

With an icy glare, Se-hyeon brushed past her without another word.

“……”

‘A dog. Yang Jin-hee’s dog. This disgusting act.’
His razor-sharp words pierced her chest like a blade, leaving a deep wound.

Ji-an bit her lower lip, forcing her stinging eyes wide open. But a moment later, tears slid down her pale cheeks.

While Se-hyeon walked into his study, Ji-an stood frozen in place, unable to move a single step.

***

Ji-an’s gaze darkened as she stared at the sheet of white paper before her.

The marriage contract. Clearly written on it were the titles: Party A and Party B.

She had forgotten. Forgotten that her relationship with Woo Se-hyeon was nothing more than a clear-cut contract between superior and subordinate.

She had let herself be deceived by his perfect act. By the warmth in his eyes as he looked at her. By his dazzling smile. By the heat of his embrace.

She had fooled herself into believing they had become a real married couple. Or perhaps, she had simply wanted to believe that someday they could be.

Looking at the contract again after so long, she finally felt herself crash back into reality.

“……”

Ji-an furrowed her brows slightly and squeezed her eyes shut.

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t slept in days; her headache was pounding mercilessly. Even last night, she had stayed up all night and only managed to doze for about 20 minutes, after which she was haunted by a nightmare.

She felt trapped. It was as if someone were tightening a noose around her neck, suffocating her a little more each day.

—” I’ll give you some time to come up with the money. 200 million won by next Friday. How’s that?”

The deadline Yoo Jung-ho had mentioned was now only four days away. Slowly opening her eyes, Ji-an stared quietly at the contract laid before her.

She stared at it for a long while—until finally, she made up her mind.

***

“President, Madam is here.”

Even at the secretary’s report, Se-hyeon didn’t respond. With a deep furrow between his brows, he remained focused on the documents in front of him.

Standing behind the secretary, Ji-an silently watched him.

It was the secretary, not Ji-an, who grew flustered at the complete lack of reaction.

“Um, President…”

“You may leave.”

Before the secretary could finish speaking, Se-hyeon curtly cut him off.

“Understood.”

“Ah, bring me some tea.”

“Yes, President.”

The secretary bowed respectfully to Ji-an, then quietly left the office after receiving permission from Se-hyeon.

Se-hyeon still didn’t spare her so much as a glance. Of course, Ji-an had grown accustomed to such treatment.

Whenever they were alone, he always treated her this way.

But ever since the misunderstanding, Se-hyeon’s attitude had become even colder.

Now, he didn’t even treat her like a person.

“If you’re just going to stand there, you can leave.”

She didn’t know how much time had passed as she silently stood, watching him work. Eventually, Se-hyeon was the one to break the silence.

As Ji-an finally moved and sat down on the sofa, the secretary walked back in, carrying tea.

If she had arrived even a moment later, she would have had the awkward misfortune of bumping into him at the door.

“Thank you.”

Ji-an flashed a soft smile and offered a polite nod toward the secretary. After the secretary quietly exited, silence once again settled over the office.

Ji-an let out a bitter smile. She found it almost laughable how naturally she had taken on this role.

As though none of this were an act.

As she watched Se-hyeon review his documents, her thoughts briefly wandered.

Woo Se-hyeon had always been an impressive man.

When he first approached her with his marriage proposal…

And even after their wedding, when he played the devoted husband, he had remained unchanged.

But Yoo Ji-an had changed so much. She was the Yoo Ji-an who had once clung desperately onto him because she had no money.

The Yoo Ji-an who wore worn-out, threadbare sweaters, that woman no longer existed.

Now, she was the wife of Woo Se-hyeon, the CEO of W Electronics.

And with that title came considerable privilege.

“A life others envy. I’ll make sure you live it.”

Se-hyeon had faithfully kept the promise he had once made.

Just as he said, it was a life that others would envy.

As Woo Se-hyeon’s wife, Yoo Ji-an had achieved a rare kind of social elevation in today’s world.

Like the heroine of a drama, she had fallen into fated love with the man whose life her father had saved.

She never realised that it was all an illusion.

“What do you want?”

His voice echoed in her ears, snapping Ji-an back to reality.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

Tap.

He closed the file he had been reviewing and finally lifted his gaze.

Se-hyeon looked directly at her, expressionless.

It had been a long time since they had last sat face-to-face like this.

Ji-an nervously licked her dry lips as their eyes met.

She had rehearsed this moment countless times before coming here.

But now, with the words on the tip of her tongue, she hesitated once again.

Click.

Se-hyeon put his pen down and leaned back in his chair.

“What on earth could it be that my wife is taking so long to say?”

His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Ji-an gripped the handle of her bag tightly on her lap, finally forcing herself to speak.

“I want… a divorce.”

She straightened her back intentionally, refusing to avert her gaze from his.

Even after hearing her words, Se-hyeon’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest.

It was as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“Why… all of a sudden?”

At last, Se-hyeon asked.
Why did she want a divorce?

“There must be a reason.”

A reason. There were countless reasons. But while Ji-an hesitated, unsure of where to even begin, Se-hyeon tapped his index finger lightly on the table and spoke first.

“Looks like you don’t need me anymore.”

“……”

“Grandmother has passed. That beloved younger sibling of yours is gone too.”

As he coldly listed each one off, Ji-an’s gaze hardened.

“That’s probably the main reason, isn’t it? There are no more big expenses to cover. Right?”

He looked at her, curling his lips into a twisted smile.

Biting down hard on the soft flesh inside her cheek, Ji-an tried to keep it together.

“Or maybe… is Yang Jin-hee scheming up something new again?”

Se-hyeon mocked, as though he already knew the answer.

Even though she had denied it before, he clearly didn’t believe her.

“This has nothing to do with Mother.”

“Well, that’s what you have to say. You couldn’t exactly admit it if it were true.”

‘What would I have to say for you to finally believe me?’

Her chest tightened as he brought the subject up again.

“You look so wronged. If there’s another reason, then go ahead. Let’s hear it.”

Despite everything, he offered, as if he were generously giving her a chance to speak.

Was she grateful that he was willing to listen?

Even if she spoke up, nothing would change.

Besides, there were things she simply couldn’t say in her position.

Her empty gaze remained fixed on him as her eyes reddened faintly.

“Everything you said is true, Se-hyeon.”

As though she had given up entirely, Ji-an confessed softly.

In response, Se-hyeon raised an eyebrow mockingly.

“There’s no one left to support, no family and no expenses.”

Those were the very reasons she had accepted his proposal in the first place — to pay her grandmother’s and younger sibling’s medical bills.

That was why she had agreed to become his wife.

“And?”

He pushed her, as if demanding more.

Although she had rehearsed this conversation countless times in her head, she was still nervous.

She had never spoken to Se-hyeon like this before.

Until now, she had only ever stood quietly by his side, playing the role of a loving wife.

Why was it so hard to get the words out?

Biting her trembling lips, Ji-an finally forced herself to continue.

“Taking care of Grandmother… it’s exhausting.”

She was talking about his maternal grandmother.

In truth, it was merely a provocation.

While it could be tiring at times, being with Seong-rim never truly weighed on her.

In fact, being with her was the only place in this suffocating household where Ji-an could breathe freely.

“It’s draining, constantly having to adjust to everyone’s moods. I don’t even know how much longer I’ll have to keep doing this.”

Se-hyeon listened in silence, then scoffed as if amused.

Seeing his sarcastic smile made Ji-an grip the handle of her bag even tighter.

“You really are a good actress. What is it? Did Yang Jin-hee promise you a bigger payout if you divorce me?”

Se-hyeon remained leaning back lazily in his chair, staring at her without the slightest flicker of emotion.

“You’ve got everything you wanted, and now you’re saying you can’t do this anymore? Amazing. How did you even manage to endure these past three years if it was so hard?”

His faint smile vanished in an instant.

“But you seem to be misunderstanding something.”

His voice sharpened, and a faint trace of anger flashed in his eyes.

“In this marriage, you don’t get to make choices. Divorce included.”

The message was clear. This was not a contract that someone like her could simply walk away from.

From the moment she signed that paper, every decision belonged to Woo Se-hyeon — and Se-hyeon alone.

Without hesitating, Se-hyeon stood up and grabbed his jacket from the coat rack.

“I have a meeting. You can leave.”

His voice rang in her ears, cold and absolute.

As if the matter weren’t even worth reconsidering.