Episode 23
Jaehyun remained silent, not answering.
Yoo Chaerin followed his gaze. And soon, her eyes narrowed.
The way he looked at Seo-eun—his eyes were completely different from the Jaehyun she had always known.
Is he… really in love with her?
She couldn’t believe it. He was the man who had never even spared her a glance. But she’d accepted that, thinking he treated all women that way.
She had believed that one day, he would finally see her. To become the woman he wanted, she’d pursued perfection and stayed near him for years. But in the end, that position—his side—had gone to a woman as ordinary as Han Seo-eun.
She convinced herself there must be some hidden story behind it. But what she saw now was just a man who had fallen completely, irreversibly in love with his wife.
Yoo Chaerin snapped bitterly, as if lashing out.
“But don’t you think your wife is a little… strange?”
Jaehyun’s gaze turned sharp. The chill in his eyes was something Chaerin had never seen before. Flinching slightly, she nevertheless pointed toward the balcony.
“Look, right now she’s practically glued to another man…”
Before she could even finish her sentence, Jaehyun’s eyes landed on the scene.
Mackenzie was standing behind Seo-eun, whispering in her ear.
His grip on the wine glass tightened. A cracking sound followed as his fingers squeezed the stem with too much force.
“Jaehyun… I think your wife might—”
Chaerin never got to finish.
Jaehyun moved before he could think. It was pure instinct—more like a primal impulse than reason.
Clatter.
The sound of the chair scraping echoed as he abruptly stood and strode toward the balcony—faster than usual.
Seo-eun looked visibly flustered.
Jaehyun reached her and immediately pulled her behind him.
“Get away from my wife.”
It was a short, quiet warning—but carried deadly weight.
His eyes locked with Mackenzie’s in midair. Jaehyun’s hand, which was wrapped protectively around Seo-eun, was faintly trembling. It felt like his rational mind had shut down at the mere thought of someone else taking her from him.
He wasn’t even sure if it was anger—or something else entirely.
But one thing was clear:
He absolutely could not stand seeing her close to another man.
“CEO Cha, this is… quite a scene. If you cared for your wife this much, shouldn’t you have stayed by her side instead of leaving her alone?”
Mackenzie’s mocking words sharpened the air. Jaehyun’s eyes turned glacial.
His usual composure was nowhere to be found, replaced by a cold fury that chilled the space.
Sensing the tension escalating, Seo-eun quickly grabbed his arm.
“Jaehyun, please…”
Thankfully, her voice seemed to reach him.
Still holding her wrist, Jaehyun turned and crossed the ballroom with her in tow. The VIP guests stared, surprised—but he didn’t care.
This was supposed to be an important business event. But the only thing echoing in Jaehyun’s mind was the image of Mackenzie whispering into Seo-eun’s ear.
The elevator doors opened.
Jaehyun ushered her inside.
In the confined elevator space, only the sound of their breathing could be heard. Seo-eun glanced at him nervously.
What is happening…?
He had never lost control like this. It felt like the walls of his self-restraint were crumbling.
All it took was seeing her with another man.
All he could think about was pulling her back to him.
The silence continued even as they reached the hallway.
Jaehyun’s increasingly fast steps were the only sign that he was anything but calm.
Seo-eun hurried to keep pace with him.
At the end of the hallway, their suite appeared. Jaehyun took out the keycard and opened the door. Once inside, he locked it behind them.
Click.
A heavy sound echoed—cutting them off from the world.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights twinkled.
Jaehyun turned to face her.
He was still holding Seo-eun’s wrist tightly. She winced slightly, and he quickly released her—but then stepped even closer.
Seo-eun instinctively took a step back—only to feel the cold surface of the door against her back.
“Why were you trying to get his attention?”
His voice was low—but it pulsed with tension.
“Attention? I… I was just trying to help. I did it for you.”
Her voice trailed off. His intense gaze was too much to bear.
“So if I told you to, would you let another man touch you?”
“What…?”
She was hurt by the absurd accusation. Jaehyun took a sharp step forward, eyes piercing into her.
It felt like even the love she’d tried so hard to hide was being exposed.
She instinctively turned her head.
But Jaehyun grabbed her chin and turned her back toward him.
“Look at me.”
It was more of a command than a request. Seo-eun’s eyes met his, trembling.
The scent of his cologne tickled her nose. Her knees weakened.
“How did it feel… when he whispered in your ear?”
Jaehyun’s breath grazed her skin.
Her hand clutched the hem of his shirt without realizing.
“Answer me.”
“…What’s your relationship with Yoo Chaerin?”
“What?”
The question caught him completely off guard.
“I’ve never seen you so familiar with anyone. But when you looked at her…”
“The way I looked at her…?”
“It was… special.”
Seo-eun’s voice trembled. Her eyes were misty.
The look she gave him was almost accusing.
Why… is this woman…
Jaehyun could almost hear the thread of reason snapping inside him.
“Special, huh?”
He repeated her words softly, voice dangerously low.
He gently brushed his fingers across her lips and whispered,
“Is that why you were jealous?”
Instead of replying, Seo-eun’s eyes turned red.
The moonlight from the window reflected off her tears.
That sight sent a ripple through Jaehyun’s chest.
“…Why…”
A vein pulsed at his temple. His reason, built over years, was collapsing.
“…why do you keep shaking me like this?”
Seo-eun’s lips parted slightly, then closed again. Jaehyun’s eyes followed every movement.
“Don’t hold it in. Say it.”
“You’re the one who keeps shaking me, Jaehyun.”
“I didn’t think I had the right to ask things like this. But you keep making me want you. More and more.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but her sincerity struck him harder than any shout.
Something flickered in Jaehyun’s eyes.
Moments like this—when reason and desire collided—were dangerous.
“Jaehyun, I…”
Before she could finish, his lips crashed onto hers.
Seo-eun’s shoulders stiffened at the unexpected kiss.
“Mm—wait…”
He didn’t give her time to react.
Her eyes shut tight, and her other senses sharpened.
The slick sound of lips, his breath against her skin, his large hands wrapping tightly around her waist.
Seo-eun slowly melted into him.
The kiss, rough at first, grew deeper and more desperate.
Her hands clung to his shirt. She could feel his wild heartbeat through the fabric.
Breathless, she eventually pushed lightly against his chest.
Their lips parted for a moment.
“Haa… haa…”
Jaehyun leaned his forehead against hers.
His eyes, locked on her, were filled with unmistakable desire.
“…Is this why I’m losing it?”
Images flashed in his mind.
Mackenzie leaning into her, the stares of men as she walked into the party earlier—
How dare they…
Jaehyun’s voice dropped to a growl.
“You’re mine.”
Seo-eun’s heart pounded at those words.
It was the first time he had tried to claim her so fiercely.
Even though she knew it was fueled by desire, the heat in his gaze made her breath hitch.
But she couldn’t let her feelings show.
She tried to push him away.
“…Where do you think you’re going?”
His eyes flashed dangerously.
I’m like this… because of you.
He hadn’t expected to be drawn to her this much. The rational part of him never imagined such emotions could consume him like this.
“You think we can stop now?”
It wasn’t a question.
Jaehyun’s lips found hers again—rougher, hotter, more desperate than before.
As if he was going to devour her whole.
