Chapter 3
Sa-hee’s heart dropped to the floor. Then it shot back up, choking her throat.
It was exactly as the instructions said.
– Kang Chi-kyung will give you the necklace as a gift.
“Impossible. Why would he give me something so precious…?”
– That necklace has always been given by the heir of the Myeong family to his wife on their first wedding anniversary. After the event, it goes back into the safe, but on the anniversary, he’ll definitely put it around your neck. That’s the chance. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to steal it while it’s outside the safe.
Then the instructions gave her the name and address of the restaurant where she and Chi-kyung would eat dinner.
– Make sure he reserves this place. We’ve already run the simulation, and the staff are all people we placed from Team B.
Hearing this, Sa-hee swallowed down the fire burning inside her. She prayed desperately.
Please.
Chi-kyung, please don’t take the necklace out of the safe.
As long as it stayed in the safe, the one-year-long mission would be delayed forever.
Chi-kyung would protect the necklace, and she could stay by his side a little longer.
She begged and prayed.
She knew Chi-kyung loved her, but hopefully he wouldn’t be reckless enough to treat her as the true owner of the necklace…
But then, in front of her, a wooden box opened, revealing the brilliant sapphire necklace. It felt like the ground crumbled beneath her.
She swayed, and a surprised Chi-kyung grabbed her.
“Are you okay? Dizzy?”
“…Just too happy.”
She stared at the necklace so he wouldn’t see the despair in her eyes. He thought she was simply too amazed to look away.
“You’re this happy, just for this?” He chuckled.
“Then for our 10th, 20th, 30th anniversaries…”
He lifted the necklace from the box.
“For the rest of our lives, I’ll fill our anniversaries with surprises like this.”
Then he clasped it gently around her neck.
“I hope you smile like this every time.”
The cold touch of the necklace on her skin felt like putting her neck into a guillotine—never knowing when the blade might fall. Still, she smiled as if happy.
Chi-kyung led her to a large mirror in the living room so she could see herself wearing it.
“You look beautiful.”
Beautiful?
Sa-hee looked at her reflection. She had dressed up, wanting to look pretty for him—maybe because it was their anniversary, or maybe because it could be their last night together.
She wore a lavender dress with a square neckline, one Chi-kyung had always liked. It matched her pale skin and felt nice to touch, he once said. The buttons in the front, he had once laughed, made it fun to take off.
Her clean neckline, soft shoulders, delicate collarbone, and slim waist—all the parts of her body he loved—were reflected like a fragile flower in the mirror.
And below her collarbone hung the massive sapphire, over 100 carats, surrounded by diamonds.
It sparkled like sunlight gathered into one jewel, dazzling and mysterious.
But it didn’t look beautiful to her.
It looked terrifying.
Too heavy, too luxurious—something that didn’t suit her at all.
It was just like Chi-kyung.
A treasure far too expensive for her. Something she could never truly call hers, no matter how much she desired it.
Pain faintly crossed her face, but Chi-kyung didn’t notice. He was kissing her neck instead.
He pressed his lips deeply against her soft skin, whispering warmly,
“Nia.”
Her true name—his wife’s name.
His hand slid up, cupping her chest, squeezing through the silk fabric. The dress crumpled under his grip.
“Shall we eat dinner a little later?”
Her body shivered, and she nodded faintly.
With her permission, his hands unbuttoned her dress, revealing pale skin and the line of her chest inside her bra.
His hands grew bolder, pulling up the skirt, revealing her matching silk underwear under the stockings.
He moved against her slowly, and Sa-hee let out a sound of pleasure. He pushed her upper body toward the console table by the mirror.
She held on, trembling, while his movements became rougher. Their reflection in the mirror only fueled his desire.
The sound of his belt unbuckling and zipper lowering filled the room. Just that sound made her breathe heavily.
Their eyes met in the mirror—his full of hunger, hers clouded with desire.
Her stockings ripped with a sharp sound, and she trembled as cold air touched her skin.
Kissing her back, he whispered,
“If we want to enjoy our dinner later, we can’t wrinkle your dress too much.”
But then he lifted her skirt high and entered her deeply.
For the past year, her body had known only him. She welcomed him completely.
The table shook, ornaments clattered to the ground, drawers came loose. The room filled with the sounds of their bodies.
Still unsatisfied, he carried her to the bedroom, laying her on their bed. He stripped off her dress and underwear, then removed his own clothes.
Her bare body glowed against the white sheets.
He touched her slowly, savoring her trembling. Every small caress made her shiver, already so sensitive from desire.
She spread her legs, whispering faintly,
“The food will get cold…”
“No, it’s still hot,” he smiled.
“Our real feast… is this.”
He moved deep inside her, and she cried out, tilting her head back.
“See? You’re enjoying it,” he whispered, meeting her gaze.
The room filled with shameless sounds. Her body welcomed him again and again, and her heart pounded wildly with his.
For the past year, she had given everything to him.
And on this night—perhaps their last—she poured out all of herself, completely.
