When Yeon-woo woke up, she stared blankly at the spotless white ceiling.

She had an appointment with her mother-in-law to get ready for, but she was too weak to move.

When she tried to get out of bed, she groaned in pain.

It was not just exhaustion.

Her whole body ached, probably because she had tensed up so much. She had not done it deliberately; her body had tightened entirely of its own accord.

Yeon-woo suddenly stopped brushing her hair.

Blink.

Blink.

‘You’re fainting deliberately, aren’t you? I’ve never seen anyone lose consciousness before we even went all the way. Never.’

What was that memory?

Come to think of it, she had fainted on the sofa.

Tae-cho must have whispered those words while carrying her to bed.

Yeon-woo stared silently at her hand; then her face turned scarlet.

She slowly curled her fingers into a loose circle.

Had it been about this? No, it had seemed far more overwhelming. Yeon-woo flinched.

“I’ve lost my mind! I must be insane!”

What in the world was she thinking?

She hunched her shoulders like someone caught doing something forbidden, her pupils trembling violently.

She repeatedly clenched and opened her fist, but her hand tingled as though it had cramped.

Her palm was covered in sweat.

“……I truly am insane.”

She had to be.

Otherwise, the scene she had seen just before passing out would keep coming back to her.

The mere memory of it caused an unfamiliar heat and restlessness to spread through her body.

Would they truly become intimate someday?

Gulp.

Yeon-woo swallowed dryly and lowered her gaze.

Her eyes trembled even more violently than before.

Taecho’s sudden transformation was confusing, to say the least.

It was almost frightening.

Until recently, he had thrown away her handkerchiefs, ignored her messages, and refused to speak to her.

Could his heart truly be turning towards her?

Yeon-woo had loved him for so long and had never imagined that something like this could happen.

She could not stop the corners of her mouth from slowly curving upwards.

“……What am I going to do? I’m so nervous.”

She had never experienced emotions like these before.

She felt almost delirious. Her heart raced and tingled strangely, as if ready to burst.

Despite her whole body aching, the memory of those overwhelming sensations stopped the heat within her from subsiding.

Yeon-woo buried her face in her palms.

Goodness!

Even her fingers had turned red.

Then, suddenly, a fragment of the memory returned, causing her to lift her head.

“D-does everyone…… do things like this? Other people really do this too?”

“Yes. Everyone does. So stop looking at me as though I should feel guilty. That expression makes it seem as if I’m doing something cruel.”

Taecho had seemed remarkably familiar with such intimacy.

“If we went any further, you would probably faint.”

Far too familiar.

He knew that such behavior was common between lovers, and every movement had seemed confident and practiced.

“……”

Yeon-woo’s shoulders suddenly drooped as melancholy settled over her.

“You’re far too greedy, Lee Yeon-woo.”

Considering his age, what did she expect? That he would have experience?

Moreover, Taecho had spent many years studying abroad.

It was likely that he had been intimate with someone before.

Had she secretly hoped that she would be his first?

She shouldn’t expect the impossible from a man who already loved another woman.

The thought of the woman who had received Taecho’s love filled Yeon-woo with envy, dragging her spirits down further still.

Nevertheless, she could not remain trapped in sadness forever.

“I am happy!”

As always, Yeon-woo decided to think positively.

She lifted the corners of her lips into a brilliant smile and repeated the words like a spell.

‘……If I hadn’t fainted, would we have gone all the way?’

Her curiosity was piqued, but she was in danger of being late for her appointment with her mother-in-law.

Yeon-woo quickly got up and went to the bathroom to shower.

Her cheeks remained bright red.

***

Yeon-woo was on her way to meet her mother-in-law and brother-in-law.

〈I heard you’re coming back to Korea. Aren’t you going to see me? Are we not friends anymore? If you ignore me again, I swear I’ll never speak to you for the rest of my life!〉

She sent the message to Jiwoo, her childhood friend.

The mere thought of her made Yeon-woo’s blood boil.

Of course, she knew that announcing her marriage so suddenly had been wrong. But what kind of friend would refuse to speak to her for years because of it?

Jiwoo ignored every attempt Yeon-woo made to contact her, leaving her with nowhere to direct her frustration.

“Just wait until you come back. I’m really not going to let you off easily.”

Initially, Yeon-woo had humbled herself and apologized repeatedly. However, she no longer felt the slightest need to apologize by now.

The moment she saw Jiwoo, she kicked her squarely in the shin.

The mere thought of Kim Jiwoo made her blood boil and the inside of the car suddenly felt unbearably warm.

After glancing briefly at the chauffeur, Yeon-woo lowered the window.

The autumn wind was noticeably colder than the day before, reminding her that winter was approaching fast.

The sound of her mother’s worried voice echoed in her ears, but Yeon-woo shook her head and pushed the thought firmly from her mind.

Before long, she arrived at one of her favorite restaurants.

Her mother-in-law had deliberately chosen it as the venue for their meeting.

“Mother!”

“Yeon-woo!”

Anyone watching might have thought that they hadn’t seen each other in years. In truth, Yeon-woo had recently gone shopping with her mother-in-law.

Nevertheless, she was genuinely overjoyed to see her again.

Her mother-in-law appeared to feel the same way.

As soon as Yeon-woo approached, the older woman pulled her in for a hug.

Whenever Yeon-woo saw her, she was reminded of just how much love the woman had in her heart.

She felt profoundly grateful to be the recipient of even a small part of her boundless affection.

“We already ordered. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Why did you arrive so early?”

Yeon-woo had not arrived late, but she still felt guilty that her mother-in-law had been forced to wait.

“……Can’t you see me, Sister-in-law?”

“Oh, Taehyun. You were here?”

Her answer was partly teasing and partly sincere.

Claiming that his feelings were hurt, Taehyun pretended to get up.

Yeon-woo knew he was joking, but played along and held out a shopping bag towards him.

“What is this?”

“A handkerchief. I embroidered it with roses because I know they’re your favorite.”

“No…… If you give me something this wonderful, I should be the one buying lunch.”

Taehyun sat back down and accepted the shopping bag, handling it with great care.

Yeon-woo smiled radiantly at him.

There were certain people whose mere presence made her happy.

For Yeon-woo, those people were her family.

“Yeon-woo!”

“Sister-in-law!”

Just as Yeon-woo was about to sit down next to her mother-in-law, the room suddenly started to spin around her.

Her legs nearly gave way beneath her and she almost fell.

She only just managed to keep her balance — it was very close indeed.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, Mother. I’m fine.”

“Let’s go to the hospital.”

Seeing the concern on her mother-in-law’s and Taehyun’s faces, Yeon-woo smiled bravely to reassure them.

“No, there’s no need. I was only dizzy for a moment.”

However, the worry did not disappear from their expressions.

Yeon-woo’s heart grew heavy at the thought that she had troubled them again.

She truly had only felt dizzy for a moment.

She was already fine.

“This won’t do. Yeon-woo, you’re starting an exercise program today.”

“……Pardon?”

Yeon-woo’s eyes widened.

“I’ve been considering it for a while, but I held myself back because I was afraid of making life difficult for my daughter-in-law.”

“……”

“The personal trainer who teaches me is excellent. I’ll introduce you, and you can begin exercising today.”

Whenever her mother-in-law decided upon something, she took action immediately.

“Mother, I don’t really like exercising……”

“Yeon-woo, I’m only saying this because I’m worried about you.”

The moment her mother-in-law said she was worried, Yeon-woo could no longer bring herself to refuse.

“Wait a moment. Let me call and ask whether the trainer can see you today.”

Her mother-in-law took out her phone, searched through her contacts, and pressed the call button.

She quickly spoke to the trainer and arranged an appointment.

When Yeon-woo stared at her in bewilderment, her mother-in-law smiled sweetly.

The warmth and kindness in her smile filled Yeon-woo’s heart.

“If travelling to the gym becomes difficult, the trainer can come to your house. Discuss it together and decide what works best for you.”

“Yes.”

Her mother-in-law was even paying for an exercise program because she was worried about her.

How could Yeon-woo possibly refuse?

“Let’s build your stamina so we can travel and enjoy as much shopping as we want.”

Yeon-woo had already wondered whether she should exercise because of her weak stamina.

Without her mother-in-law’s intervention, however, she probably would have done nothing beyond thinking about it.

“She’s right. Mother used to have poor stamina too, but she became much stronger after training with that instructor.”

With Taehyun’s support, Yeon-woo was determined to exercise regularly and boost her stamina.

However, in truth, shopping required almost no stamina at all.

All Yeon-woo had to do was sit comfortably while models walked in front of her wearing the available clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories.

She merely had to point to whatever caught her eye and the items were delivered directly to her home.

There was absolutely no reason for her to need greater stamina for shopping.

Nevertheless, Yeon-woo decided it would be wiser not to mention this to her mother-in-law.

They enjoyed the meal that her mother-in-law had ordered in advance.

Every dish was one of Yeon-woo’s favorites.

After lunch, Taehyun went back to the office while Yeon-woo and her mother-in-law went to a café together for tea.

As Yeon-woo gazed out of the window, she felt a sudden warmth settle over the back of her hand.

Her mother-in-law had reached across the table and clasped her hand tightly.

“Yeon-woo, please stay healthy.”

“Yes. I won’t get sick.”

Yeon-woo smiled and nodded.

This time, she placed her other hand over her mother-in-law’s.

“Um…… Yeon-woo.”

“Yes?”

When Yeon-woo looked at her, her mother-in-law hesitated as though struggling to say something.

At last, she carefully spoke.

“……Taecho isn’t making things difficult for you, is he? Your face has become so thin……”

“……”

“I raised that boy to treat his wife properly.”

Her mother-in-law had clearly misunderstood, startling Yeon-woo.

“No, Mother. My husband treats me very well.”

The rims of Yeon-woo’s ears began to burn.

When her mother-in-law still looked unconvinced, Yeon-woo did not know what else to say.

It was true that Taecho had been exhausting her lately, but Yeon-woo could never explain that it was not in the way her mother-in-law imagined.

“If he ever makes things difficult for you, don’t endure it alone. You must tell me.”

“I told you—he treats me well.”

“You’re far too kind for your own good.”

Yeon-woo did not think she was nearly as kind as her mother-in-law believed.

“I worry that I made you suffer…… Perhaps I became too greedy and forced the two of you into this marriage.”

“No, Mother. I…… I like Taecho very much. You already know that.”

Her mother-in-law had not acted out of greed.

If anything, Yeon-woo had been the one who stubbornly insisted upon marrying him.

Her parents-in-law had merely helped her.

Every decision had been her own.

“Come to our house after exercising. Taecho always returns home late anyway. Have dinner with us, spend some time there, and go home later.”

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

Yeon-woo nearly explained that Taecho had been coming home early lately.

However, whenever she was alone with him, he became far too intense……

Therefore, she simply agreed.

A short while later.

“This gym is enormous.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Yes. But there doesn’t seem to be anyone exercising here.”

After arriving at the gym, Yeon-woo first underwent an InBody body-composition assessment.

While they sat in the office waiting for the trainer, she voiced the question that had suddenly occurred to her.

“Yes. Only members of wealthy families use this facility. They probably arrange everyone’s schedules to prevent appointments from overlapping.”

“Oh…… I see.”

That was when it happened.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”

A man opened the office door and stepped inside.

“Mr. Choi.”

Judging by the warm way her mother-in-law greeted him, he appeared to be the personal trainer.

Yeon-woo rose and bowed politely.

“Please take good care of my daughter-in-law.”

“Don’t worry.”

The trainer turned his attention toward Yeon-woo.

“Shall we begin with a physical fitness assessment?”

“Oh, yes.”

The mention of a test made her strangely nervous, and she swallowed dryly.

“Yeon-woo, I’ll leave first. Work hard and come home afterward.”

“Yes. I’ll come over as soon as I finish.”

After repeatedly asking the trainer to take good care of Yeon-woo, her mother-in-law finally departed.

“Please change your clothes and come out first.”

“Oh…… All right.”

“You’ll find exercise clothes in the changing room. Put them on and return when you’re ready.”

“Yes.”

Yeon-woo entered the changing room he had indicated and closed the door.

What would the fitness assessment involve?

It would not be too difficult, would it?

More importantly, she had expected the trainer to be a woman.

But he was a man.

She felt uncomfortable.

A sigh escaped Yeon-woo’s lips.