CHAPTER 18……………………………………………..
His steps were neither fast nor slow.
He simply didn’t stop.
The elevator doors opened, and Geonwoo stepped inside. The face reflected in the glass wall looked no different than usual, but his eyes had changed.
Cold, unprocessed emotions flickered within them.
Geonwoo’s car came to a stop in front of Seoga Food’s headquarters.
As soon as the engine shut off, the inside of the car fell into instant silence. But his mind was anything but quiet.
“I even heard rumors that they’re still seeing each other.”
Serin’s voice echoed in his ears. Geonwoo inhaled deeply, but the heavy pressure weighing down the center of his chest didn’t ease.
He got out of the car and walked into the building. Employees in the lobby bowed in greeting, but Geonwoo didn’t spare them a single glance.
His steps were mechanical, his expression hardened coldly.
Inside the elevator, he clenched and unclenched his fist. His palm was damp with sweat. He couldn’t understand exactly why he was this irritated.
No—he didn’t want to understand.
“Everyone knows it wasn’t a marriage for love. They just pretend not to talk about it.”
It was true.
Geonwoo knew it too. That Hana didn’t love him.
That this marriage was nothing more than something tangled up in his grandfather’s absurd sense of loyalty.
So what?
The thought brushed through his mind, and his gaze darkened.
He took a deep breath and slowly walked down the hallway.
The elevator doors opened. This was the floor where the executive office was.
His steps didn’t stop. Only his focus—fixed solely on Hana—guided him forward.
In front of the office, Miju startled and jumped up from her seat.
“C-CEO!”
But Geonwoo didn’t even look at her. He quietly grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open.
“At this hour, what brings you—!”
Before Miju could finish, Geonwoo was already inside, closing the door behind him.
Bang—
The sound echoed through the room, and the air instantly grew heavy.
Hana was standing at her desk, reading documents.
“Miju, about the 자료 I mentioned earlier—”
Her words stopped.
The person standing there wasn’t Miju.
Hana’s eyes widened, her body stiffening.
“Why… why are you here…?”
Before she could even finish, Geonwoo slowly approached.
His steps were unhurried, but there wasn’t the slightest hesitation in him.
Hana instinctively pushed her chair back, trying to create distance. But Geonwoo’s gaze was firm, and his presence alone was overwhelming.
“What is this about—!”
Before Hana could finish, Geonwoo grabbed her chin.
And pulled her face toward him.
Their lips met.
Hana’s eyes widened instantly. She reached out on instinct and shoved against his chest, but he didn’t budge.
Instead, he pulled her in even deeper.
“Ugh…!”
Hana struggled, but it was useless.
Geonwoo’s arm wrapped tightly around her waist, and his other hand still held her chin.
His kiss wasn’t gentle.
It was rough. Persistent.
As if he were trying to confirm that she belonged to him.
Hana trembled. She couldn’t breathe. She struck his shoulder hard, but he still didn’t stop.
How long had it been?
Geonwoo finally pulled away slowly.
Hana gasped for air and shoved him back. Her chair scraped backward and hit the floor.
“What… what are you doing?!”
Her voice shook. Her face was pale, her lips stained red.
Geonwoo didn’t answer.
He only stared straight at her.
Inside his eyes swirled emotions that couldn’t be explained—anger, disappointment, something else… all mixed together.
“…What is it that I lack?”
His voice sank low.
“What am I missing, that I can’t even enter your eyes?”
Hana lifted her head, confusion filling her gaze.
That face—always blank, cold, indifferent—looked completely different now.
“…What are you suddenly talking about…?”
She barely managed to speak, her voice still trembling.
“I’m your husband.”
Geonwoo looked directly at her.
“Contract or not, right now, your husband is me. Isn’t it time you stopped clinging to that man?”
His voice was calm, but something suppressed simmered beneath it.
Hana’s eyes wavered.
This wasn’t jealousy.
It wasn’t love.
It was possession. Twisted, warped.
“You’re mine.”
Geonwoo grabbed her chin again, stronger this time—though not enough to hurt.
“I’m not giving you to anyone.”
Hana froze, holding her breath. His face was too close.
She could see the tremor in his eyes.
“Yoo Tae-oh.”
The moment he spoke that name aloud, Geonwoo’s grip tightened.
“Don’t ever let that name reach my ears again.”
Hana tried to pull away, but she was overwhelmed, her limbs refusing to move.
“If…”
Geonwoo’s voice lowered further.
“If I find out you meet him again…”
His gaze dropped cold.
“Then I really won’t let it go.”
Hana’s lips trembled slightly.
She needed to say no. That it wasn’t like that.
But the words rose only to her throat, never becoming sound.
Geonwoo stared at her for a long moment.
Then slowly released his hand.
And stepped back.
Only then did Hana exhale sharply, her heart pounding.
“Don’t forget.”
Geonwoo adjusted his jacket.
“You’re my woman. Not Yoo Tae-oh’s.”
With that, he turned, opened the door, and left.
Click—
The door shut behind him.
Hana stood there, dazed. Her hands trembled, her swollen lips still red.
She slowly touched them.
It felt as though Geonwoo’s warmth still lingered.
In front of the elevator, Geonwoo stopped and looked down at his hand.
The hand that had gripped her chin.
It felt like her soft skin still remained at his fingertips.
He clenched and unclenched his fist.
His chest felt tight, as though something heavy pressed down on him.
He lifted his head toward the ceiling. The fluorescent lights shone coldly above.
…What is wrong with me?
Even he couldn’t understand.
Since when had the thought of her thinking about another man become this unbearable?
Since when had he started not wanting to miss her smile, her voice, every moment she moved?
Maybe…
Since three years ago.
Since that day.
Three years ago.
The first time he saw Seo Hana was at Nayeon’s birthday party.
Nayeon was the younger sister of Suho—Geonwoo’s closest friend.
He normally didn’t attend gatherings like that.
He disliked crowded spaces, and birthday parties always felt awkward.
But Nayeon’s relentless pleading, combined with Suho asking him to at least show his face, finally brought him there.
Geonwoo entered with a slightly tired expression.
“You came?”
A bright voice called out, and Nayeon ran over with a radiant smile.
“Happy birthday.”
Geonwoo handed her a small box—luxurious wrapping with a ribbon.
“What is this?”
“A gift.”
“Of course you have good taste.”
Nayeon laughed as she accepted it. Geonwoo gave a faint smile and shook his head.
