Chapter 2
This can’t be happening.
Ban Sa-hee shut her eyes tight.
It was impossible. How could Kang Chi-kyung come here? How?!
Her pale hands covered her face, rubbing as if washing it. Her soft skin quickly turned red.
From the moment Chi-kyung opened the office door until he walked out just now—none of it felt real. It was like a dream.
No. It can’t be real. He can’t find me.
She groaned, slammed her forehead against the table, and muttered,
“He must have found out.”
“Of course he did,” one of the Vanishing company bosses, Beom-gyu, replied. “Didn’t you hear? He even offered 6.3 billion won.”
“Damn it. Then we’re screwed, right?” said Seung-cheol, the other boss.
“Not we. It’s Sa-hee who’s screwed.”
While Sa-hee lay on the table in despair, the two men talked calmly.
“Should we take this job?”
“I think we should.”
“Uncle!” Sa-hee snapped, lifting her head.
“Take the job? What do you mean take it? Do you want me to hand him my neck on a plate and say, ‘Yes, I’m the con-artist wife who disappeared seven years ago’?”
Beom-gyu and Seung-cheol exchanged looks. Seung-cheol asked carefully,
“But Sa-hee… that necklace he mentioned.”
He tilted his head, speaking slowly.
“Did you… really manage to steal it back then?”
At his words, sharp memories stabbed into Sa-hee.
If I had stolen it, would I still be living like this now? No. Because I didn’t steal it, I ended up like this.
Grinding her teeth, she answered in a low voice.
“I didn’t steal it. I said, I didn’t.”
“Then why does your hus—”
“He’s NOT my husband!” she shouted.
Her sharp voice filled the office. Silence followed.
“…I don’t know what happened to the necklace,” she said finally, her voice small.
The memories she had pushed down for seven years suddenly spilled back, black and heavy like ink spreading on white paper.
She remembered the date clearly.
October 31.
From the tall apartment windows, she could see Central Park in New York. The trees were red and yellow with autumn leaves. It had rained the night before, so the park looked even more beautiful than usual.
It was an ordinary, peaceful morning.
But for Ban Sa-hee, who had been living as Kang Chi-kyung’s wife for one year, that morning shattered when she received an order.
– Today is the day. While you keep Kang Chi-kyung distracted, Team B will steal the necklace. Then you just shake him off and escape. Team A will be waiting outside.
A long mission—one whole year—was finally ending today.
But the words today is the day stabbed in her throat like thorns.
She couldn’t eat breakfast. Or lunch. No food would go down.
By evening, Chi-kyung came home.
He had been trained as the heir since childhood. After graduating from Columbia University in Business, he started work as a team leader at Myeongseong Holdings, New York branch, the company owned by his family.
That day, he returned in a suit, holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a gift box in the other.
Sa-hee ran to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face in his chest. He pressed a warm kiss on her head.
“Hello, Nia.”
Nia.
Hearing the false name he gave her, Sa-hee shut her eyes tight and rubbed her nose against his chest.
“Hello,” she whispered.
She breathed deeply. His scent—a mix of citrus cologne and his own warmth—soothed her troubled heart.
She was twenty-two. He was twenty-six.
The young couple had lived the past year like a fairy tale—caring for and loving each other deeply.
Tears pricked her eyes. She pressed closer to him, listening to his heartbeat.
“I like your smell, Kang Chi-kyung,” she whispered.
Her chest ached.
“I like your heartbeat, too.”
It wasn’t a lie.
She loved his scent, his heartbeat. She could recognize him just by those alone.
She loved his broad chest, his strong arms, his warm body heat, his big hands stroking her back, his lips pressing gently to her forehead and ears.
She loved his gentle voice asking,
“What did you do today?”
“…Hmm, I bought groceries and cooked. Because my husband worked hard today and came home hungry,” she answered playfully.
“Wow. I’m touched.”
She loved his silly face when he looked at her with eyes full of love.
She loved him. Madly.
Ignoring the painful twist in her chest, she smiled brightly and pulled his hand.
“Go shower and change first.”
“Wait, wait.”
But Chi-kyung didn’t move. Instead, he pulled her back into his arms.
“Today is our wedding anniversary, remember?”
Exactly one year ago, after only three weeks of knowing each other, he had taken her to Las Vegas. They stood before a random witness and married.
At first, she thought it was just youthful impulse. Maybe he would regret it later, once the passion cooled.
But no—he only loved her more with time. He became a devoted husband who filled her every day with warmth.
And today was no different.
He handed her a huge bouquet made only of flowers she loved—ranunculus, lisianthus, roses.
“Happy anniversary.”
She was the one receiving the flowers, yet his face looked happier than hers.
Blushing, Sa-hee hugged the bouquet tight like a doll and pressed her face into it.
“Thank you.”
“…And this, too.”
While she smelled the flowers, he unwrapped the gift box and held out a wooden case.
Sa-hee’s eyes filled with despair.
The dark-lacquered box decorated with mother-of-pearl patterns was something she knew well.
Inside was the problem: the sapphire necklace.
