Ji-an, who had been sitting there crying, slowly lifted her head.

Three men stood before her.

Two of them were wearing black suits and looked like bodyguards. Another man stood between them.

His face was covered in wounds. His left arm was wrapped in bandages, and his right leg was in a cast.

Their gazes met in the air.

“…”

“…”

In that moment, all the sounds of the world vanished. The noise that had filled her ears disappeared, as if only the two of them remained in the room.

For a long while, they simply stared at each other without saying a word.

He didn’t introduce himself, but she recognised him the instant she saw him. Strangely, she just knew.

With eyes full of restrained emotion, the man lowered his head to hers.

“My condolences.”

Hearing this, fresh tears rolled down Ji-an’s pale cheeks.

He’s the man my father saved.

Although many people had come to the funeral, no one had approached her directly like this.

Despite his injured body and worn face, he stood before her and bowed. There could only be one reason why.

“I’m truly sorry.”

Ji-an couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

In truth, it wasn’t even his fault. It was simply an accident.

This tragedy had happened because her father had always been so earnest about saving others and had felt such a strong sense of duty.

Her mind understood this, but her heart still ached.

“Dad, I’m heading out now!”
“Ji-an, wait a second!”

Even now, she could clearly hear In-hwan’s voice calling to her as she stepped out the front door.

“It’s cold. Take this with you, okay?”

He had pressed the hand warmer into her hand—warm with his love and care, making it feel even cozier. Remembering it made her tears pour down again.

“Be careful today too, okay? You promise?”
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll be careful. Watch out for cars too.”

“Yeah!”
She had never imagined that would be the last time she’d see her father waving at her like that.

Images of her father kept surfacing in Ji-an’s mind: him making a warm breakfast and suggesting they go out together at the weekend. Overwhelmed by these memories, Ji-an began to sob quietly.

Burying her face in her hands, she felt tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, she felt a warm sensation gently settle on her shoulder.

Startled, Ji-an lifted her head. Her vision was blurred by tears, but as she blinked repeatedly, the man in front of her gradually came into focus.

The black padded jacket that had been draped over his shoulders earlier had disappeared.

Bowing his head to her once more, he turned and walked away.

***

“Hngh—”

Se-hyeon tilted Ji-an’s chin and devoured her red lips in a single breath.

It had been so long since they had kissed that she couldn’t remember when it last happened. Ever since he caught her being summoned by Yang Jin-hee, he hadn’t touched her.

Shortly after signing their marriage contract, and before holding the ceremony, they had shared a bed.

From then on, Se-hyeon had embraced her almost every day.

Though he was always cold, he was different in bed. Ji-an couldn’t resist it. It was the only time she could feel that her gentle, loving husband wasn’t just an illusion.

How foolish she was.

Although their relationship was purely contractual, perhaps she clung to these moments even more desperately because, during these moments at least, he made her feel wanted.

She feared that he would become distant again once it was all over, as if nothing had happened.

“Ha, ugh.”

She tried to turn her head, suffocating from the kiss, but it was useless. He seized her lips again, tilting her chin higher.

As always, his large hands slid up from her waist and pulled her tightly against his broad chest.

Whether it was the intensity of the kiss or the way he held her so tightly tonight, Ji-an found herself breathless.

Her hands clutched at his shirt instinctively as his movements became fiercer and almost devouring, lighting up her nerves and sending a tingling sensation up her spine.

Even as his tongue mercilessly explored her mouth, mingling their breath and saliva wildly, Ji-an pressed herself closer to him.

It was only a kiss, yet her entire body was already hypersensitive. After three years of conditioning, her body was quick to react.

“Ugh… mmh.”

After tormenting her lips for a while, he moved straight down to her neck. The moment his hot breath and slick tongue grazed her most sensitive spot, a moan escaped her lips.

Her breath quickened, and she could barely move her trembling lips.

“Haaah… Se-hyeon, wait… please.”

Curling her body, Ji-an finally pulled away from him, burying her head against his chest.

At her sudden resistance, Se-hyeon’s gaze sharpened.

Her chest rose and fell heavily as she gasped for breath.

“You haven’t answered me yet.”

They were so close that the slightest movement would bring their lips together. Even without looking into his eyes, Ji-an could sense Se-hyeon’s expression as he stared at her.

Where had she found the courage to say this?

Even after speaking, her heart pounded so fiercely that it felt as if it might burst. She had never done anything like this with him before.

A small, dry chuckle escaped Se-hyeon’s lips as he stared at her.

“About what?”

He asked, even though he already knew exactly what she meant.

“For the last six months… please treat me the same way you do in front of others, even when we’re alone. Even if it’s just acting, please pretend we’re truly married, like we’re in love.”

Those were the words that Ji-an had spoken earlier. For some reason, seeing her make such a bold request had aroused him strangely. It was an odd and unfamiliar feeling that he had never experienced before and could not identify.

Now, she was stopping him, saying that he hadn’t answered her yet.

“You know what I mean.”

Ji-an said, her voice trembling.

Why was she acting like this? He couldn’t understand what had got into her.

A deep frown formed between Se-hyeon’s brows.

“Ah…”

Running his hand up her stiff spine, Se-hyeon examined her face carefully.

Despite her bold words, Ji-an couldn’t even look him in the eye properly.

“If you want me to understand, Yoo Ji-an, you need to speak more clearly.”

When he refused to respond directly, Ji-an, half-buried against his chest, slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. Her gaze was filled with anxiety, but she spoke calmly.

“Even if it’s just acting…”

“…”

“Pretend we’re in love. Pretend we got married because we were in love.”

Struggling to continue, Ji-an furrowed her brow and gently bit her lower lip. Tears began to well up in her large eyes.

Se-hyeon took in every detail of her expression.

“Please treat me like that. Like we’re really in love.”

“…”

“Gently, like you are with other women you date.”

“What?”

At her barely audible words, Se-hyeon raised an eyebrow and his expression twisted.

Despite her voice trembling, Ji-an managed to tell him exactly what she wanted.

‘Like when I was in love.’

Se-hyeon repeated the words he had just heard in his head.

In essence, she was asking him to treat her the same way he had treated his ex-girlfriends.

Unbelievable!

It felt like he was being hit on the head.

She didn’t even know if he had ever been in a relationship, yet she had already jumped to conclusions.

However, there was no need to explain, so Se-hyeon swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

As he continued to stare at Ji-an, he gently tucked her long hair behind her ear.

Her lowered eyelashes trembled faintly under the tension.

‘You say all these bold things, yet you’re so easily nervous.’

Se-hyeon brushed her swollen, red lips. Having bitten and sucked on them earlier, they were even more swollen than usual now.

“Ah…”

Ji-an inhaled sharply, unable to help herself.

Perhaps because of what she had said earlier, Se-hyeon, who had been so aggressive before, deliberately slowed his pace.

The quiet atmosphere in the bedroom became unbearably stifling.

Her attention was entirely focused on the tips of his fingers; everywhere his hand touched, it grew hot.

Unable to endure the tension any longer, Ji-an reached out and grabbed his wrist.

“…..!”

At that moment, Se-hyeon tilted his head and captured her moist lips in a deep kiss.

Unlike his previous, desire-driven actions, this kiss was slow and intense, creating a dull ache in her heart.

As he sucked on her lower lip, his hot tongue slipped back between her parted lips.

“Mm…”

When Se-hyeon’s tongue coiled around hers and began to caress it, a faint moan escaped from between their joined mouths.

‘Driving me crazy.’

Se-hyeon moved his tongue deliberately as he slowly slid the silk robe off her delicate shoulders.

The gown fell to the floor with a soft thud, sliding down her smooth body.

Se-hyeon gently cupped her slender shoulder with one hand, hooking the strap of her slip with his index finger.

Breaking off their kiss for a moment, he whispered softly against her lips.

“I’ll do as you asked.”

“…”

“But from today on, make sure you handle birth control properly.”

The final six months with Woo Se-hyeon —

—the countdown to the end of their time together had begun.