Damn wishing fountain.
It was the same route I took to and from work every day, but I’d never seen that fountain before.
‘When did that get built? I never saw any construction.’
I figured it was just my mood and tossed in a 500-won coin, making a wish.
That my husband would become a decent human being.
But when I got home…
“Babe! T-This is all a misunderstanding!”
“Yeah, Jaehee! Let me explain everything!”
My husband had turned into a filthy bastard, sleeping with my best friend—in my bedroom.
“…What? A misunderstanding?”
“Yeah, a misunderstanding! We… No, I—I’ll explain everything! Okay? J-Just calm down and hear me out…”
My husband rushed toward me, scrambling to pull on his underwear.
Exactly three days ago, he’d failed again to debut as a movie director.
I’d bought those designer briefs for him that day, hoping to cheer him up and keep his spirits high.
‘…And now he’s standing in front of my best friend in those very briefs?’
And to think I’d supported this guy—never complaining, earning money, cooking meals, giving emotional support…
I worked myself to the bone to help him chase his dreams, and this was how he repaid me.
A fury rose from deep inside my gut.
“So you wanted to be a movie director, huh? Guess you meant adult films?”
“I get that you’re mad, but do you have to say it like that? You know I’ve been working toward becoming a blockbuster director. Once I make my debut, all the stuff that hurt you—”
“Blockbuster director? You haven’t even made ten million won in five years of marriage, and you’re dreaming about ten million tickets?”
Even in this moment, he was trying to dazzle me with more empty promises.
I gritted my teeth. I’d had enough.
“You bastard! Maybe you couldn’t make a movie like Parasite, but the least you could’ve done was not live like one!”
The second the words left my mouth, his face twisted with rage.
“Hey! You done yet? You think you’re all that because you make some money? I’ll pay you back tenfold once I land a hit! What the hell is your problem?”
“Jaehee, I know you’re upset, but don’t you think you’re being a little harsh on Wonho oppa?”
Snap.
That was the sound of the last string of reason snapping in my head.
‘Of course. It’s a stretch to treat people shooting the animal kingdom in my bed like actual humans.’
I cast off my remaining shred of civility and lunged at my husband’s hair.
“Ow! What the hell?! Are you insane? Let go!”
“Oh, so you do have manners? That’s why you’re rolling in bed with your wife’s best friend?”
“I said cut it out! You keep this up and we’re really getting divorced!”
“Divorce?”
I laughed.
My rage gauge had already hit the max.
With one hand gripping his hair, I raised the other as high as I could.
I would deliver one final blow—something unforgettable.
“Fine, let’s get divorced! You bastard!”
SMACK—!
…
I slapped him so hard his body nearly turned.
Breathing heavily, I opened my eyes.
‘…Am I seeing things from shock?’
The first thing I saw was an ivory marble floor.
Next, antique European-style furniture and a fireplace.
Then, portraits that looked like paintings of unknown aristocrats.
‘What… is all this?’
Maybe I’d passed out from sheer fury.
This had to be a hallucination.
‘No! I need to wake up. That girl’s mouth needs slapping too!’
Panic set in.
I shook my head to snap out of it—and that’s when I heard it.
A charming but unfamiliar man’s voice.
“I didn’t realize your hand was so strong.”
A low voice, deep enough to carry authority.
I slowly turned my head toward the voice.
Sleek, jet-black hair styled with pomade, flawless features, broad shoulders.
A sharply tailored black suit in aristocratic style, and an expensive-looking silk pocket square.
A breathtakingly handsome man stood before me.
He looked down at me with icy eyes, gently rubbing his cheek as he sneered.
“That’s quite enough of your outrageous behavior.”
His cheek was red and swollen as if he’d just been slapped.
Someone hit that face…?
‘…Wait. Just got slapped?’
Avoiding his piercing stare, I tried to assess the situation.
‘He’s saying I slapped him? That can’t be. I slapped my cheating husband. And where the hell even am I?’
No matter how I turned it over, I couldn’t make sense of the situation.
A whirlwind of question marks swirled in my head.
And then I remembered something important.
‘Oh, right. I blacked out, didn’t I?’
This had to be a dream. God must’ve pitied me and sent this handsome man as a little treat.
How did He know my type was a medieval duke-looking guy?
‘Thanks, really. But I still have unfinished business in the real world. I need to shut that cheating witch’s mouth. Once I’m done, please send this man back to me tonight in my dreams.’
Normally, I’d beg not to wake up from a dream like this. But not this time.
I’d just caught my husband and my best friend naked on my bed.
With renewed determination, I turned to the man and said,
“Sorry, I’m kinda busy right now. Let’s meet again tonight.”
The man looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“What’s with that strange tone? That’s not like you.”
Even in a dream, the man stuck to his character. Admirable. But I really didn’t have time for this.
“Don’t talk to me. I need to get back to reality, like, now.”
His expression twisted further at my firm tone.
Ignoring it, I pinched both cheeks hard to force myself awake.
Pinch!
“Ugh… Aaaagh!”
I screamed in pain.
Clutching my throbbing cheeks, I blinked wide eyes.
It hurt. A lot.
This was weird… If I was dreaming, why did it… hurt?
Even a light touch to my cheek burned like fire.
Stunned by the vivid pain, I froze in place—until I heard a low sigh.
“What now? Are you pretending to be insane because you can’t handle the situation? Or trying to gain sympathy?”
The man looked down at me with a weary expression, stroking his thick eyebrows.
As I blankly stared at his fingers brushing through his eyebrows… I realized something strange.
‘I can see every single strand of hair… Can dreams be this detailed?’
I took a closer look at him again.
Though he looked like a dream, the man was undeniably alive.
His slowly fluttering lashes and sharp blue eyes were vivid and real.
‘Wait… This isn’t a dream?’
I needed confirmation.
Carefully, I reached out and poked his abs with my index finger.
They were every bit as solid as I imagined.
More importantly… they were real.
‘This isn’t a dream. This is real.’
The realization hit as I blinked slowly—
And the man’s large hand suddenly snatched my wrist.
“I believe I told you not to touch me without permission.”
His gaze had turned even colder than before.
“Was slapping my cheek not enough?”
His voice carried a frosty edge.
For a moment, I froze at his intensity.
Then I forced myself to calmly assess the situation.
‘He thinks I slapped him. And wherever this is—it’s real.’
If I wanted to survive this, I needed to calm him down first.
I mean, if I were him, I wouldn’t let someone who randomly slapped me walk away.
First things first… apologize.
“Um, I don’t know how this happened… but slapping you upon first meeting was definitely wrong. I’m very sorry. You have every right to be angry.”
“…First meeting? ‘Sir’?”
“But really! I’m just as confused! Just moments ago, a pathetic excuse of a husband was in front of me. I slapped him to bring him to his senses, and somehow you—”
The more I explained, the more distorted his expression became.
He even let out a baffled laugh.
‘Yeah… I wouldn’t believe me either. He’s probably thinking I’m crazy.’
But his disbelief didn’t seem to come from what I said… It seemed to be from something else.
