Chapter 1 – Prologue
Sweat-soaked skin pressed against her back, and a searing heat spread across Tae-yeon’s entire body. His scorching breath and merciless movements left her unable to think straight.
‘Why… why is this so…’
Just as he had warned, he devoured her roughly. And she had willingly allowed it.
Just for tonight—she didn’t want to be alone. Even a hollow shell needed warmth.
“How did you hold it in?”
Even his chilling voice, one she had never heard before—
“Like this.”
Smack. Each time their skin met, it burned.
“While wanting it.”
“Ah…”
Even when his obscene words made her feel ashamed, she couldn’t say anything. She was the one who agreed to give him what he wanted.
Starting with a low curse, his movements grew increasingly aggressive. Each thrust pressed her chest against the hard desk.
“Ugh!” Tae-yeon’s arms were suddenly yanked back, arching her upper body in pain. She had no strength to stand—his strong arms held her up.
“Look at me.”
At his rough command, she forced open her tightly shut eyes. In the glass of the display case, her naked body was clearly reflected.
And behind her, those unblinking, dark brown eyes.
His hand grabbed her chest violently. It wasn’t the pressure but the contempt in his gaze that made her heart ache. She bit her lip and stifled the moan born of shame.
A faint scoff sounded by her ear, and his hand slowly slid downward from her waist.
The moment his fingertips brushed a sensitive spot, a jolt ran through her like electricity.
“Ah… s-stop!”
The relentless stimulation made her body collapse helplessly.
“Kim Tae-yeon.”
His low voice echoed in her ear. With a dazed expression, Tae-yeon slowly turned her head.
“You better wake up.”
His merciless eyes looked down at her.
“Do you even know who you’re doing this with right now?”
Why was he saying these things? She didn’t know. There was no time to think—his thrusts never stopped.
“Shouldn’t you at least know that much?”
“Why are you… saying something like that…”
Again. Like someone who already knew the answer, he didn’t care to listen. Tae-yeon panted, receiving his heated breath as tears welled in her eyes.
“Kang Eun-ho…”
She barely managed to call his name between shallow breaths.
“…Yeah. Remember this clearly.”
His pace quickened. Heat spilled into her, and ragged breaths filled the silent study.
“You’re my wife.”
The eyes that had only shown lust and disdain suddenly turned cold. Tae-yeon swallowed the words rising in her throat as she saw the slight furrow in his brow.
Just as she tried to hide the ache in her heart and mask her expression—
He gripped her waist with both hands and effortlessly lifted her into the air.
“What are you doing?”
Startled, her voice trembled. He smirked.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to stay with me all night?”
His dark eyes, which had seemed to cool, ignited once more with fiery desire.
As the destination neared, a wave of unease suddenly weighed on her chest. Tae-yeon rolled up her sleeve and checked her watch, then turned her gaze from the window.
“Mr. Kim, please stop here.”
“You’re not going to the main entrance?”
Surprised by the sudden request, the chauffeur glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
It’s cold, his voice said—worried, but also slightly confused.
“I just want to walk. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere else.”
To ease his concern, Tae-yeon added gently. The car eventually pulled to a stop in front of the Iwon Hotel’s main gate.
She had been here three or four times, but this was the first time she hadn’t entered through the usual side entrance.
Turning away from the departing car, she faced the hotel. From this angle, it looked every bit the global landmark it claimed to be.
‘Tae-yeon, it’s time to forget Iwon.’
For a moment, she admired it—but the bitter words of her uncle suddenly resurfaced. Guilt crept in; she must’ve felt some shame about being here.
With a sigh, Tae-yeon started walking along the tree-lined path. The sky darkened, as if a heavy downpour was imminent.
Passing neatly trimmed hedges, sculptures, and the central fountain, she finally reached the hotel entrance—just as raindrops began to tap against the asphalt.
She brushed the droplets off her coat as she entered. The lobby was bustling with people—no surprise, it was a Saturday afternoon during check-in hours. The café was likely full.
She crossed the polished marble floor and headed toward the café when a staff member approached.
“Han Tae-yeon.”
The staff checked the reservation list, then glanced at her. When their eyes met, the employee smiled brightly and led her not to the café—but to the VIP elevator.
‘Is this the wrong place?’
Hyun-joo, her foster mother, hadn’t mentioned anything specific. But Tae-yeon followed.
When she exited onto the lounge floor, her mouth opened slightly in awe.
Now she understood—this was Iwon Hotel, after all.
She had expected something flashy, but the space was refined, elegant. Under soft lighting, classic sofas, tables, and walls adorned with famous artworks and expensive sculptures created an overwhelming atmosphere.
Her gaze stopped at the center of the hall.
A dazzling white grand piano, shimmering like it had been dusted with pearls, completely captured her attention. Her stiff fingers twitched instinctively.
“This way, please.”
The staff’s voice pulled her back. Tae-yeon turned away from the piano and followed.
Seated and looking out the window, she noticed that the drizzle had turned into a downpour.
“I’ll order once the other guest arrives.”
She longed for a hot lemon tea but decided to wait.
She wrapped her hands around the cool glass of water the staff had left. The warmth from the glass began to thaw her cold fingers. As Debussy’s Clair de Lune gently filled the air, her tangled emotions slowly began to settle.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t say anything better.’
By now, the memory should’ve faded—but she still remembered the look on her uncle’s face when he said those words. He was the only one who had believed her back then, when she was just a high schooler.
Her uncle had been a lawyer for Iwon Group’s legal team.
That was already 11 years ago.
When she was suddenly branded as the daughter of a “drunk-driving murderer.”
Her father, a taxi driver, had been accused of causing a fatal accident while driving under the influence. The passenger died on the spot.
She couldn’t believe it at first. Her father, who couldn’t drink even a sip, had driven drunk?
But the blood alcohol level was high enough to warrant an immediate license suspension—there was no way to argue.
‘That’s impossible! I was on the phone with him! If my dad wakes up…!’
Her testimony—that she had spoken to her father before the accident—wasn’t enough to disprove drunk driving. Still, she believed everything would be cleared once he woke up.
But her desperate hope was in vain. Her father, now in a vegetative state, still hadn’t regained consciousness.
It was only after meeting her uncle that she learned the passenger killed in the accident was from Iwon Group. She had wanted to apologize directly, but they were out of reach.
So, she continued to meet with her uncle. He would often ask about her well-being—and perhaps, behind the scenes, he’d been investigating the irregularities in the accident.
‘Tae-yeon, forget Iwon. Live your own life. That’s all I ask.’
Even before leaving, he had worried about her. He never said it outright, but she felt like part of the reason he left was because of her. So she decided to listen.
And yet—
‘Kang Eun-ho, Executive Director of Iwon Chemical. This Saturday, Iwon Hotel. 3 PM.’
She wasn’t going to let the opportunity she had walked into slip through her fingers.
‘I’m sorry, Uncle.’
He wouldn’t hear it, but she offered the apology in her heart. She wouldn’t be foolish this time. He needn’t worry.
“Han Tae-yeon?”
A deep, soft voice pierced through her thoughts.
Her relaxed body tensed instantly. She took a quiet, steadying breath and slowly turned her head.
But the breath she’d taken was useless—her chest tightened painfully.
A step away, dark brown eyes stared straight at her. That indifferent gaze felt like it held her in place.
“Ah…”
A sigh slipped through her parted lips. Only then did she realize she hadn’t been breathing.
He tilted his head slightly and stepped forward. His movements felt slow, as if time itself had stretched. A heavy woody scent filled her senses like a fog, wrapping around her thoughts.
His red lips parted slowly.
“You’re Han Tae-yeon, right?”
His voice sounded muffled, like it came from deep underwater.
“Sorry I’m late. I’m Kang Eun-ho.”
Yes—Kang Eun-ho.
Why are you here?
