"What the hell is going on here...!"

The door burst open with a deafening crash, and Centre Director Han Joon burst in like an enraged bull.

His eyes scanned the large bandage on the back of Heeju's head, the scratches on her hand and the bits of gauze peeking through her loose hospital gown. His expression hardened as he came closer.

"H- Heeju, what have you been through..."
Heeju gestured slowly, "I'm fine. Just lucky.

"You almost died, for crying out loud!"
"But I wasn't seriously hurt. It's all right.'
"They said you needed stitches - more than ten on your arms and legs! And these scars here and here..."

As Han Joon gently touched the back of her hand and stroked her cheek in concern, the door suddenly opened without warning.

A gust of cold air swept in, carrying with it an icy sharpness.

"......!"

His eyes darted between Heeju, who was sitting quietly with her head slightly bowed, and the man who was gently holding her face. Centre Director Han's jaw dropped as he recognised the man in front of him.

Standing in the doorway, Baek Sa-eon raised an eyebrow in silence. His piercing gaze fixed on them as if to confirm what he saw. Without breaking eye contact, he closed the door behind him and locked it with an audible click.

"Good evening."

He greeted them with measured politeness, then reached out to take Han's hand from Heeju.

Han Joon's eyes widened.

"B- Baek Sa-eon? The Blue House spokesman?"
"A pleasure to meet you."
"Aah.."

Rubbing his now sore wrist, Han stammered awkwardly as a heavy silence fell over the room.

The unexpected confrontation seemed to stun all three of them. Eventually, it was Han Joon who tried to break the silence.

"Heeju, my dear, why would the Blue House spokesperson visit an ordinary employee..."
"My dear?"

Baek Sa-eon's sharp voice cut him off mid-sentence. The cold tone sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room.

"Why do you call her that?"
"What?"
"Calling a woman twelve years your junior 'my dear'? Even if it's just a habit, it's inappropriate, especially for someone of your standing."
"..."

Han Joon's face twitched, obviously caught off guard by such direct criticism.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't address her like that in the future."
"Speaker Baek, this matter doesn't concern..."
"As her husband, I don't approve of it."
"What? Wait... What did you just say?"

Han Joon's face contorted in confusion; his brain wasn't working at the moment.

"A husband? A husband?! When did you get married, dea-"
"You're making me repeat myself," Baek Sa-eon interrupted again, his gaze darkening. "Heeju is not your 'love'. She is my wife. So watch your words."

Sa-eon ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

Director Han quickly turned to Heeju and signed with his hands: "What's going on, Heeju?
'T- That...'

Heeju scratched her cheek and avoided his gaze. Baek Sa-eon's emotional display left her so confused that she couldn't help but steal a glance at him.

Suddenly, Baek Sa-eon grabbed her hand, which was fluttering lightly like a butterfly.

"She still needs to rest. The visitors should leave."

Han Joon frowned in confusion, still struggling to process the situation. He couldn't understand the circumstances.

"Speaker Baek Sa-eon, are you really... our Heeju's husband?"
"Our Heeju?"

Baek Sa-eon cut him off again coldly.

"Can't you even read the room?"
"What did you say?"

Director Han's eyes widened in anger.

"How could a Blue House spokesman lie about something so serious? If what you're saying is true, I'm sorry, but I can't accept it. You've never shown up before, so how can you claim to be Heeju's husband...!"

The more Han Joon spoke, the darker Baek Sa-eon's face became.

"Heeju, I don't know about you, but I can't accept this man as your guardian.
"Speaker Baek, I've watched this girl grow up since she was little. For me, Heeju isn't a woman, but a little sister I want to take care of. That's why I've always looked after her like an older brother..."
"Older brother?"

Baek Sa-eon cut him off again with a mocking laugh.

"And yet this so-called older brother of hers wanted Heeju to translate lyrics she felt uncomfortable with."
"That's..."
"Heeju doesn't need a brother like you. She deserves someone better."
"What are you saying?"
"Brother, father or whatever title you want to claim -"

The two men locked eyes, sparks flying between their gazes.

"They all belong to me."

***

The tense exchange finally came to an end when the doctor arrived to examine Heeju. Han Joon was led out of the room, still gesturing angrily in sign language and promising, "We'll talk about this later! Heeju nodded with a sigh of resignation.

Now alone, Baek Sa-eon leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he gestured to her phone with a tilt of his chin.

"What did he say with all that flailing?"

Heeju pulled out her phone without a word, her fingers tapping angrily on the screen.

Moments later, two lines appeared on the screen:
[Don't call him 'that guy'. Shouldn't you be worried about your image?]

Baek stared at the screen for a moment, then scratched his neck. His eyes flicked to her, a hint of amusement tugging at his lips.

"Preserving your image is all well and good, but how about concentrating on not defending other men in front of your husband?"

He brushed his hand over a spot on Heeju's cheek, as if erasing something, roughly where the centre director had touched earlier.

"......!"

She hadn't decided how to react when she met Sa-eon again. But now she was forced to stare at him.

Disappointment, betrayal, discomfort and embarrassment seemed to dominate her mixed emotions. On top of that, she had to keep her eyes from wandering to the front of his trousers.

"Why are you sulking now?"
"Haah...Hmm.."
His unfamiliar moan overlapped his words, creating a strange dissonance.

For someone who always seemed so cold and distant, how could he moan like that? Heeju tried to keep her composure, but anger unexpectedly surged through her.

I never knew that Baek Sa-eon was like this!

She had thought she knew him best, from his teenage years to his thirties. But she was completely wrong.

Not only was his devious nature beyond her comprehension, but she also realised that she knew nothing about his private life. They had not even been intimate since their marriage, which only made things worse.

She hadn't even seen the body of the man who was supposed to be her husband, yet she had been blinded by her unrequited feelings.

The moment she heard him moan, she realised how naive she had been.

I've only ever kissed him, but 406...
Wait. 406 is me... But Baek Sa-eon doesn't know who 406 is!
Does that mean he did it in front of a stranger?!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. What a despicable pervert! Her frustration threatened to boil over.

"If you've got something to say, just say it."

Baek Sa-eon watched her face change rapidly and finally spoke. He looked as if he hoped - no, rather expected - that she would answer.

What do you want me to say? That I'm curious about your s3x life, you perverted b*stard!

Honestly, there were so many things she wanted to ask.

Is this the real Baek Sa-eon? Was he always like this? How often did he act like this with strangers?

"......."
"......."

Their gazes locked, neither revealing their thoughts.

Heeju looked at him with wide eyes.

"Impressive, Hong Heeju. I didn't think you'd have the nerve to huff and puff like that in front of me."

As he flicked her nose playfully, a loud slap rang out. Heeju had slapped his big hand away, her movements sharp and determined.

Baek Sa-eon blinked in surprise before letting out a low chuckle. He rubbed his chin to hide a faint grin.

For a moment, the corners of his eyes seemed to soften, but when she looked again, his expression was as stoic as ever.

Only Heeju's temper continued to flare.

How should I deal with her angry husband?

Since last night she had been consumed by one thought: How to scare him, divorce him cleanly and, if possible, humiliate him in the process.

"If you have nothing to say, I'll leave."

Just then, Baek Sa-eon checked his watch and got up.

She wanted to give him a piece of her mind, but held her tongue.

"I'll be back early in the morning. I have something I can't skip."

She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed made her heart sink.

Her hand moved almost instinctively. Heeju hesitated, but sent him a message to test the waters.

[8:04 PM] [ I've been bored all day... Stay the night. ]

He checked the message, tapping the edge of his phone against his chin as he stared at her. For once, he looked slightly taken aback.

But then, with a small huff, he raised an eyebrow.

"I'll keep you company."
"......!"
"If that's what you want."

Despite his words, he turned and walked out of the hospital room.

The intense disappointment and frustration felt towards the man who had always seemed so calm was inexpressible.

Heeju's lips trembled with anger.

Her mood was in complete disarray.