Episode 5
“I… I can pay for the treatment!”
At Je-woo’s words, Seo-eun’s breath caught in her throat.
“Dad said he’ll help us. Noona, everything’s going to be okay!”
In that moment, everything became clear to her.
Han Kang-sik had used Je-woo. If she refused now, Je-woo wouldn’t be able to receive the new medication, and he would fall into even deeper despair.
“Noona? Are you listening?”
Anger surged in Seo-eun at Han Kang-sik’s dirty trick of using even the sick Je-woo. But not wanting to worry her brother, she forced a bright tone into her voice.
“Yes, Je-woo. If you get treated and have surgery, you’ll be healthy again, just like Seon.”
After hanging up the phone, Seo-eun buried her face in her hands.
There was no turning back now.
The next morning.
“I’ve prepared breakfast.”
Housekeeper Suwon-dak quietly set the table, and Seo-eun nodded politely.
“Thank you, as always.”
Suwon-dak bowed respectfully and stepped aside.
A heavy silence hung over the dining room as Seo-eun’s gaze kept flitting toward Jae-hyun.
Despite the early hour, his face was flawlessly sculpted. His neatly brushed-back hair emphasized his sharp features even more.
And not just his face—
Under his freshly ironed white shirt, his broad shoulders and firm build showed.
Jae-hyun used to love wine. Especially red wine…
How can someone be so perfect?
Even while observing him, she tried to recall all of his preferences and habits from memory.
She dug into her past memories—
back when she had tried so hard to win his heart after their marriage.
Bit by bit, the things he liked came back to her.
He preferred woody scents, liked classical music—especially Bach.
Seo-eun wondered how she could use this information.
She had to find a way to open his heart. But guilt also crept in.
Is it okay to go this far…?
But thinking of Je-woo, she tried to steady herself.
She had to win back Jae-hyun’s heart and have his child.
If that was the only way to save Je-woo…
—
That afternoon, Seo-eun busied herself preparing for Jae-hyun’s return from work.
She opened a bottle of red wine he liked, grilled his favorite steak, and set the mood with soft classical music in the background.
The room was filled with a romantic atmosphere.
“Is this too much?”
But she soon shook her head.
“What does it matter if it is?”
She had no pride left to hold onto.
If doing all this could open even a sliver of his heart, it was worth it.
Standing before the mirror, she checked her appearance one last time.
She had pulled out a mini dress she once received as a gift and had shoved into the back of the closet because it wasn’t her style.
The tight material clung to her body, revealing her curves.
She didn’t know if this was Jae-hyun’s type,
but surely, as a man, he wouldn’t be able to look away.
Her heart pounded at the thought of doing something so bold.
Before he lost his memory, she could never have done this.
Then, the sound of the keypad echoed, followed by the front door opening.
Tension spread across Seo-eun’s face.
When Jae-hyun entered, she forced a smile and walked toward him.
“You haven’t eaten yet, right? I cooked today. It’s steak—your favorite.”
Jae-hyun paused and looked around the room.
Then his sharp gaze pierced through her.
Seo-eun swallowed nervously but couldn’t take her eyes off him.
Dressed perfectly in a tailored suit, his deep-set eyes, sharp nose, and masculine aura were irresistibly attractive.
Finally, Jae-hyun loosened his tie and slightly furrowed his brows.
“Is it a special day?”
His question carried clear suspicion.
“No… I just thought it might be nice to change the mood, especially after the recent accident.”
His piercing gaze made her feel like she was being stabbed.
The atmosphere was sharp enough that it wouldn’t have been surprising if he just walked away.
But instead, Jae-hyun looked at her once more and silently moved to the dining room.
Seo-eun quickly followed him.
“Please, sit here.”
Jae-hyun sat at the table with an expressionless face.
With practiced ease, his long fingers picked up a knife and began slicing the steak.
“How’s the wine? It’s the one you like.”
Seo-eun forced herself to keep up the conversation brightly, but his response was indifferent.
After taking a sniff and a sip of the wine, he gave a short reply.
“It’s not the worst.”
But Seo-eun could tell—he was satisfied.
Jae-hyun was someone with high standards.
This meant he was fairly pleased.
As the meal came to an end, Seo-eun grew anxious.
I have to do something…
Watching his reaction, she leaned forward slightly.
Then she reached toward his hand on the table.
“Your hand… is it okay now? I was worried after the accident. You had scraped it when you fell.”
The moment her hand touched his—
Jae-hyun frowned and pulled away.
“What are you doing?”
His cold voice made her flinch.
Embarrassed, she pulled back and stammered,
“Oh, I was just worried… from the accident, your hand got cut, so I—”
Jae-hyun’s sharp eyes seemed to see through her.
Seo-eun unconsciously averted her gaze.
Had it not been for Han Kang-sik’s threat, she wouldn’t have tried this,
but she really had been worried about him.
A moment later, the sound of him putting his glass down broke the heavy silence.
“I looked into your claim about being my wife. I just couldn’t believe it.”
“A woman named Han Seo-eun is listed as my wife in the family registry.”
Seo-eun held her breath, waiting for what he’d say next.
“So yes, I accept that you’re my wife. But—”
He paused, slowly tracing the rim of the wine glass with his long fingers.
“Accepting it and embracing it are two different things.”
“What do you mean?”
Seo-eun looked up at him with trembling eyes as he stood.
“To me, marriage is nothing more than a business deal. So the fact that I married you three years ago… must mean I saw some value in you. But I don’t get it.”
His cold gaze stabbed right through her.
“I don’t understand why I would have made that choice.”
Seo-eun lowered her head to avoid his eyes.
Only Han Kang-sik, the chairman of the Seo-won Group, Jae-hyun, and herself knew about the arrangement.
The chairman believed if the truth got out, it would tarnish the family’s honor.
He also thought it wouldn’t benefit Jae-hyun and thus kept it hidden.
So, with his memory gone, Jae-hyun had no idea about it.
“Prove your worth. Until then, I’ll watch this relationship from a distance.”
His words were cold, but Seo-eun felt that he was giving her a chance.
The Jae-hyun she knew would have ended things coldly without a word.
Then he turned and left, rejecting any further conversation.
Only when she heard the door close did Seo-eun exhale the breath she’d been holding.
“Is there still hope?”
Or… could this even be called hope?
Whether he remembered or not, facing him was difficult.
“But I can’t give up like this.”
She immediately began planning her next move.
She had to come up with something better.
And her second plan began that very night.
Standing in front of the study, Seo-eun looked more dejected than nervous.
It was late, but Jae-hyun often worked past midnight.
With trembling hands, she knocked on the study door. As expected, a low voice came from within.
“Come in.”
She pushed open the door and stepped inside.
For the first time in three years, she was seeing the inside of his study.
Her eyes darted around, taking it all in.
A large wooden desk, leather sofa, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with professional books.
Everything was meticulously arranged, a reflection of his perfectionist nature.
But one thing in particular caught Seo-eun’s eye—
A painting on the wall.
An abstract piece with heavy brush strokes in dark tones, evoking a strange sense of emptiness.
Her eyes unknowingly trembled.
The darkness in the painting felt just like her current life.
“What is it?”
