A Turbulent Pregnancy
Ever since Seo-woo became pregnant, her feet rarely touched the ground. That was how devoted Eon-hyeok was to her. After the incident with her mother-in-law, Eon-hyeok’s grandfather—who had begun paying her special attention—grew even more overjoyed at the news of the pregnancy. Now Seo-woo’s nickname had changed to “our little puppy.” Eon-hyeok watched with clear displeasure as the grandfather who used to raise his voice the moment he saw him now laughed heartily and kept calling her “puppy, puppy.”
“Unlike that blockhead of a grandson of mine, how does she only ever do such pretty things?”
“That’s not true. Eon-hyeok is such a gentle person.”
Seo-woo smiled playfully, as if coaxing the old man who was badmouthing her husband. After that, whenever she mentioned wanting something to eat, Eon-hyeok would bring it to her even if he was returning from a business trip at dawn. When she said she wanted strawberries in the middle of summer, he simply bought an entire orchard. Day or night, he handled his work as quickly as possible so he could spend every possible moment with her, then rushed straight home. While listening to Seo-woo chatter away, Eon-hyeok checked his watch and spoke.
“I have a meeting after this, so I should get going now. Let’s go.”
“Already? Then I’ll tell you more about Seonmul next time.”
Though she sounded reluctant, Seo-woo rose to follow Eon-hyeok. Because the child had come to them like a gift, they decided on Seonmul as the baby’s prenatal name. It was the one Seo-woo had chosen out of the dozens Eon-hyeok had suggested. Eon-hyeok’s grandfather looked flustered as he naturally began to take Seo-woo away and asked,
“If it’s a meeting, shouldn’t you go alone? I can have the car take Seo-woo home. Why bring the child?”
“Separation anxiety.”
Eon-hyeok’s grandfather turned to look at Seo-woo. Before the pregnancy, she had wandered about freely without worrying about her husband’s whereabouts, but now that she was carrying a child, it seemed she only felt at ease when he was near. Chairman Kim let out a pleased chuckle and asked,
“Is that what Seo-woo says?”
“It’s me.”
Eon-hyeok answered with a dry expression. At that moment, his grandfather stared at him as if he had seen a complete madman. The grandson who had once declared at the wedding that marriage was nothing but business must have died. He looked as though he were facing a ghost wearing his grandson’s skin.
“He’s incredibly sweet, isn’t he?”
What was even more frightening was Seo-woo asking if that wasn’t sweet, as if she were proudly showing off an enormous dog twice her size and saying, “Isn’t our baby so cute?” In that sense, Chairman Kim thought the two really were a perfect match.
The early stages of pregnancy were quite difficult. She began each day with pineapple juice to suppress the terrible morning sickness and would sit in the living room whenever nausea hit in the middle of the night. Each time, Eon-hyeok would sit beside her and read incredibly boring books aloud. They were books on management and Charles something-or-other; the moment he began reading the specialized terms, Seo-woo would forget her queasiness and fall into a deep sleep. When she woke, she would feel refreshed in the bed he had carried her to.
“Are you awake?”
Seo-woo loved it when Eon-hyeok, fresh from the shower with only a towel around his waist, would approach her half-naked and kiss her. He smelled strongly of shampoo and body wash, and the warmth of his hand threading through her hair felt wonderful. Eon-hyeok made a soft “puhuhu” sound like escaping air and pressed several quick kisses onto her defenseless, smiling face as if stamping his claim.
“Yeees… ah, it tickles, hehe…”
Just hearing the sound of Seo-woo’s laughter made Eon-hyeok’s insides flutter with unbearable tenderness. His child was inside her, and she was in his bedroom. Yet it still wasn’t enough. He always felt a hunger as if he could never get enough of her. If only he could put Yoon Seo-woo in his mouth and swallow her whole. Swallowing that wish he would never voice aloud, he gently stroked her hair.
“Your father sent over some things. Shall we open them?”
“Ah, the photos I asked for?”
Seo-woo opened her eyes belatedly at his words. She had asked her family’s secretary to send childhood pictures of her. She wanted to guess what their baby might look like. For that, she wanted to look at photos of herself and Eon-hyeok as children. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she tried to get out of bed.
“Okay. But first, I’ll wash up.”
“I’ll wash you. Put your arms around my neck.”
“No, no, I’ll… I can do it myself…”
“I can’t leave you alone.”
Eon-hyeok lifted her effortlessly and carried her to the bathroom. Even though it had happened dozens of times, after becoming pregnant she still felt embarrassed and awkward whenever he washed her. She hadn’t reacted this way even during their first time having sex. Whenever he pulled off her pajamas, she would blush and try to cover herself. She hadn’t been this shy even during her first experience with the man who had suddenly climbed on top of her before marriage, yet now that she was carrying his child she had become so bashful that he couldn’t keep up with her emotional curve. Seeing her keep trying to pull the fabric back up, Eon-hyeok asked,
“If you can’t undress in front of your husband, who can you undress in front of? Is there some reason you can’t show me?”
“There isn’t… There isn’t.”
Only then did Seo-woo lower her hands, fidgeting. How long had it been since they last had sex? Because she had only ever shown him her naked body when their stomachs were pressed together, exposing herself now made her lower belly tingle. After the baby came, her husband had turned into a perfect gentleman who only kissed her while carrying her around, yet she felt like the only perverted one having dirty thoughts. With one hand covering her sex and the other arm pressing over her breasts, her large chest was squeezed even more prominently. Eon-hyeok felt a pull in his lower abdomen at the sight but didn’t show it.
“The tub is slippery, so hold my forearm and step in carefully.”
He offered his arm like a handrail and helped her into the tub he had already filled. The moment Seo-woo sank into the warm water, the tension left her and her face grew languid. Eon-hyeok let her lean against the edge, washed her hair, and even cleansed her face thoroughly. As she rested against the tub’s rim, the water began to drain and the foamy shower puff approached; she immediately tensed again.
“I can do the rest… mmh…”
When the shower puff brushed down her neck and began to lift and wash beneath her heavy breasts, a soft moan escaped her. She didn’t want him to know she was feeling pleasure while he washed her. After the baby, he had become a gentleman who carried her around and only gave her little kisses, yet here she was, a lewd woman who whimpered when he washed her with a shower puff. She couldn’t let him find out. The puff slid down her chest, along her belly, then headed between her legs. Even as she stubbornly kept her thighs pressed together, Eon-hyeok washed her legs first. Still, her legs refused to part.
“Open them.”
Eon-hyeok spoke as he looked at her thighs, which were still clenched tight. The more she trembled and blushed, the more he felt his towel-covered groin rising uncomfortably. When she finally parted her legs and revealed her glistening folds, he pushed the foam-covered puff inside without hesitation. The memory of thrusting his tongue and cock into that place made his movements faster. The moment his fingers holding the puff brushed the folds of her sex, Seo-woo grabbed his forearm and gasped.
“Hng… uhh…”
She had only been sitting in a warm tub receiving a bath, yet her cheeks were burning red. Eon-hyeok was only washing her, but she desperately tried to push his arm away so he wouldn’t notice her arousal. He didn’t budge. The gentle husband was gone; with a mischievous look, Eon-hyeok fixed his gaze on her flushed cheeks, slowly licked his lips, and murmured in a low voice, “That’s strange.” Then he set the puff aside, slipped his hand between her legs, and rubbed her there. Feeling the slick, viscous fluid coating his fingertips, he whispered,
“You’re wet.”
“…Please pretend you didn’t notice.”
Seo-woo rolled her eyes around before finally pleading. She wanted to deny it, but he had already drained the tub so there was no water sound to hide behind. Every time he flicked his finger against her sex, the wet slapping sound rang out, making her want to hide from the shame. Eon-hyeok finally understood why she had kept refusing his offers to wash her. Her body had grown so sensitive that she leaked like this every time, yet she had somehow managed to hide it until now. With laughter in his voice, he said,
“I really didn’t notice.”
“…Ahem. I’ll wash the rest myself. Please leave me alone.”
“That won’t do, Seo-woo. I have to get a taste.”
When she hurriedly turned on the faucet to rinse away the soap, Eon-hyeok pulled her by the waist. Lifting her into the air, she wrapped her legs around his hips and was soon placed on the wide marble vanity. He pressed the insides of her thighs apart, revealing her flushed, glistening flesh. It looked as if she had been secretly rubbing her thighs together and grinding her sex while he washed her—her clitoris was swollen and plump.
“You were secretly rubbing your pussy between your legs the whole time I was washing you.”
“It tickled… hng…”
“You should have asked me to lick it. What’s the point of having a husband’s tongue?”
With a lewd scolding, Eon-hyeok lowered his body. He buried his lips between her legs. The moment his tongue touched the soft flesh, his Adam’s apple bobbed. It was sweet. How long had it been since he last tasted her? Like a beast driven mad, he crushed his nose against her flesh and tilted his head, desperate to suck up the fluids pooled inside. The instant he sucked her clitoris between his lips, Seo-woo grabbed his hair and shuddered violently.
“Haa… there… ngh… uhh…”
“Don’t squeeze your legs.”
He pressed down on the insides of her thighs as they tried to close and sucked her clitoris again. After the first wet chuuup sounded like a starting signal, the continuous slurp, slurp of him devouring her flesh made her waist twist. Every time he sucked on that tiny sensitive pearl, her mind went blank and her hips jerked wildly.
“Huu… ngh… ah, it’s coming… hng…”
She begged, panting that she was about to come. Her body, starved for stimulation for so long, was eagerly trying to spill her fluids between her legs. Each time, Seo-woo fought for control and tried to push his head away. But Eon-hyeok refused to move, as if daring her to squirt into his mouth. Instead, he looked up at her while sucking noisily—tsuuup, chup—as if waiting for her to flood his mouth.
“Wait… ah… haa… hng…”
Locked eyes with the man crouched between her legs, Seo-woo trembled. His face, buried in her sex and drinking every drop of her flowing juices, was burning with lust. The sight peeled away another layer of her reason. The climax she had been barely holding back finally burst; a stream of fluid gushed out as her body convulsed. Eon-hyeok, with his tongue still pressed against her, swallowed what flowed into his mouth, licked over her sex, and gulped loudly.
“Hng… hah…”
Even after the aftershocks passed, Seo-woo’s spread opening twitched. It wasn’t enough to have her clitoris sucked; it seemed to crave the familiar stimulation of being scratched inside. They shouldn’t put it in. The doctor had said to be careful with intercourse, so she knew they shouldn’t. She knew they could have plenty of sex after the baby was born and there was no need to act like a beast in heat. Yet when Eon-hyeok stood and his towel fell away, revealing his massive erection, the last corner of her reason crumbled.
“Ah…”
The man’s rigidly erect cock twitched heavily. The same man who had relentlessly filled her belly with that thing now looked like a beast again. His thighs were relatively pale compared to hers, making the dark, blood-engorged, purplish cock look even more ferocious. The thick shaft was so swollen it looked heavy, veins bulging prominently, and clear precum dripped from the tip. Seo-woo swallowed hard without realizing it.
“Don’t mind it.”
Eon-hyeok spoke as he noticed her gaze fixed on his cock. In truth, he could have grabbed her hand right now and made her stroke him roughly until he came. But he no longer wanted to do such things to her. Even if he had to act like a perverted creep and lick the inside of her bra or the crotch of her panties while masturbating, he refused to treat her like a convenient outlet for his lust. Instead, he was about to move her to the bedroom like a convenient tool that only satisfied her desires.
“Eon-hyeok… rub it against me down there… just a little.”
The moment she grabbed his arm, his mouth went dry. With her chin tucked low as if embarrassed, she looked up at him with cat-like eyes, yet showed no intention of closing her legs. Seeing her flushed face still burning with heat and excitement as she urged him, Eon-hyeok approached as if spellbound. Seo-woo moved her lips, then lost her words the moment he pressed his hard shaft against her sex.
“You can’t put it in, but… against the front… hng…”
“You want me to rub my cock on you?”
Eon-hyeok asked crudely, confirming her wish again. Seeing her nod vigorously, unbearable arousal surged through him. When had she become this lewd? Was this the version of her he had created, or had she always been this insatiable? The uneasy question poked at his mind. At the same time, his excited lower body eagerly rubbed his rigid cock against her sex. The friction against her sensitive flesh sent sparks of pleasure shooting through her, and Seo-woo unconsciously squeezed her thighs together.
“Uhh… ah, hng… mmm…”
“Haa, now you’re even squeezing my cock with your thighs.”
When she clamped her thighs tight, Eon-hyeok pressed them together completely and began thrusting his hips. Smack, smack. His movements were far rougher than when he was inside her. His heavy, swollen balls slapped against her perineum with savage force. They clung wetly as if wanting to burrow between her thighs before pulling away again and again. Each time he thrust between her legs, Seo-woo tensed her thighs and clung to his neck.
“Hng… ah, Eon-hyeok… faster… please…”
“Haa, huu… you want me to fuck you harder?”
At her urging, he pulled her close and thrust wildly. The precum flowing from his cock acted as slick lubricant. With every snap of his hips came wet, sticky sounds—schlick, smack, thwack. The dark red cock plunging between her pale thighs prodded fiercely at her navel. It was so thick and long that Seo-woo could hardly believe she had once taken it all inside her; her legs kept trying to spread wider. Even as he ground against the mound of her spread sex, the vanity shook nonstop.
“Hng… ngh… ah, hick! Uhh…”
“Haa, fuck… haa, Seo-woo… Seo-woo…”
They reached climax almost simultaneously. Seo-woo soaked his shaft with her fluids. With a spurt, his semen shot out in an arc, splattering not only her chest but her cheek as well. Several more powerful jets coated her breasts and finally sprayed across her belly. Eon-hyeok gripped his cock and slowly stroked the remaining cum onto her navel. The shallow dip couldn’t hold it all and it trickled down. It looked perfect against her white skin. Satisfied, he looked at the sight before speaking to Seo-woo, who was panting with flushed cheeks.
“From now on, if you go into heat, you have to tell your husband.”
“Huu… you have to tell me too, Eon-hyeok.”
She spoke while catching her breath. Her body covered in his semen felt both lewd and embarrassing. She knew she ought to feel ashamed at being drenched in the fishy smell of his cum, yet somehow it excited her. Seeing him look so satisfied, like a male who had marked his female, made her feel ticklish inside. Eon-hyeok shook his head firmly and said,
“I have to hold back.”
“Will you do it if I beg you?”
Seo-woo blinked as she asked. Eon-hyeok bit her cheek—completely unconcerned that it was smeared with his semen—and whispered with a smile, “Of course.” After that, their peaceful daily life continued: he would clean his semen off her body, they would look at photos together, and then take a nap. From that day on, lewd activities were naturally added to the routine whenever he showered her.
“Your tits are so swollen it looks like milk will come out before the baby. They’re going to fall off if you keep shaking them—huu, slurp…”
“Haa… gently… ahh!”
When her belly grew large enough for him to rub stretch-mark cream on her, he would suck her nipples until they turned bright red. When he put socks on her and tied her shoelaces, he would lick her sex beneath her swollen belly. Unlike before, Eon-hyeok never initiated first. Even when his cock stood so rigidly it worried her, he did nothing. It got to the point where she would touch him first and trigger his desire. Only then would he let her hold his cock.
“If I touch it like this… will it come out?”
“Haa… harder.”
Even with her clumsy touch, Eon-hyeok’s voice dropped with intense arousal. Seo-woo looked up at the man who still gave her morning kisses easily but no longer stripped her and thrust inside like before. Lately he had returned to the neat, ascetic expression he wore when they first met. Every time she felt like she was the one breaking him, a dizzying thrill ran through her. When he gripped her fist with both hands and thrust into it, he was far rougher than when he was inside her.
“Huu… kuh… haa… squeeze tighter…”
The man who used to scold her for relaxing her grip now begged her to squeeze when it was her thighs or fist. Each time she tightened around the slick trail he left, he would frown and thrust harder. It was a sight Seo-woo had never seen while always being pinned beneath him and swept away by his pace. The way he shook his hips like a male in rut, tightening his abs and making his prominent Adam’s apple bob, was wildly primal.
“Your pussy is tighter than this. Wetter, hotter… huu…”
Eon-hyeok kept his eyes fixed on her as he thrust. The way he openly shared his crude impressions of being inside her was so obscenely erotic that Seo-woo unconsciously tightened her fist around his cock. With a grunt, he sucked in a harsh breath and erupted, filling her fist with thick semen. There was so much she couldn’t contain it all; it poured between her fingers and dripped onto the floor with wet plops.
“Give me your hand.”
Eon-hyeok wiped the semen from her fist with a towel. She stared at it blankly, then unconsciously brought her semen-coated fingertips to her mouth. It was an unconscious act, remembering the first time he had put his cock in her mouth and filled it with cum. When their eyes met, she swallowed hard without thinking. The man’s gaze darkened instantly at the sight of her swallowing his seed. As if he wanted to shove his cock into her mouth right then, he pushed his fingers between her lips and scraped her palate.
“After you give birth, I’ll let you suck my cock as much as you want, Seo-woo.”
“Mmph… hng… uhh…”
Her mouth naturally closed around his fingers as they scraped her palate. When his fingertips swept the inside of her cheek and rubbed over her tongue, she sucked on them greedily.
“Haa…”
“Huu… are you hungry for cock?”
Eon-hyeok frowned as he watched her suck his fingers as if they were his cock. The air around them grew hot. Blood rushed downward, and he grabbed her swollen breasts with impatient hands. When he kneaded her sensitive, enlarged chest, her body trembled violently and her waist twisted frantically.
“Ehh… uhh… mmph…”
She had been sucking his fingers but let out a shallow moan when he massaged her breasts. Seeing her nod at him, Eon-hyeok pulled his fingers out and kissed her. He couldn’t understand how he had failed to realize how lovable she was and had treated her so carelessly. The moment their lips parted, he spoke to her as if making a promise.
“I’ll fill your mouth completely later, so swallow it all then, okay? Don’t drive people crazy by sucking like this.”
“Mmm… yes…”
Her face, eyes glazed and nodding, was so beautiful he couldn’t look away. Eon-hyeok gave her several quick kisses before wrapping her in a blanket. He didn’t know how relieved he had felt upon seeing through the ultrasound that the baby between the child’s legs had a little penis. If their first child had been a pretty daughter who resembled Seo-woo, he would have been so anxious he might have interfered with everything and been shut out by her before she even reached puberty.
“Ah, our son is so handsome I’m already worried. He looks like he’ll take after you, Eon-hyeok.”
Seo-woo, who had a strong tendency to dote, said the same thing while looking at the ultrasound where the baby’s shape was barely visible. Whenever she held his face for prenatal education, he couldn’t resist kissing her. The way her round belly swelled as she laughed with that “puhuhu” sound was adorable. He cut her toenails since she couldn’t bend down, tied her shoelaces, and stayed by her side as she ate a plate of winter strawberries every day. Furthermore, he wanted to be with her at the moment of birth, so he attended the underwater delivery together.
“You have to breathe. We practiced together, remember, Seo-woo?”
“Huu… uhh…”
Eon-hyeok held her as she panted and swallowed her cries in his arms, patting her gently. Every time she screamed in pain from the contractions, he wanted to beat his past self to death—the one who had rushed to impregnate a body half his size. Seeing how hard it was for her to even breathe, he realized how horrific he had been, showing only selfishness without understanding the noble sacrifice behind the birth of life. Seo-woo was in so much pain from her body splitting open that nothing but agony registered.
“Huu… Eon-hyeok… Eon-hyeok…”
“Yes, I’m right here. It’s okay. Breathe in.”
Every time she called for him again, she took shallow breaths while listening to his whispers in her ear. It felt like walking through a pitch-black tunnel. She had never known hardship in her life, so she hadn’t expected childbirth to hurt this much; tears flowed endlessly. Whenever her mind grew faint, her mouth moved on its own, and when she couldn’t hear the doctor’s voice, Eon-hyeok relayed it for her. At the end of the pain, as she panted, Seo-woo suddenly felt warmth on her belly and murmured to him,
“It’s strange… my belly feels warm.”
“Yes. It’s our baby.”
Only after Eon-hyeok told her did she realize the child she had given birth to was lying on her stomach. She had been so consumed by pain that she hadn’t even heard or felt the baby come out. Instead of her exhausted arms, Eon-hyeok gathered them so she could hold the child. A squishy lump like molded clay was whimpering as it nestled against her. The more Seo-woo blinked her tear-filled eyes, the clearer the baby’s features became, and the moment she saw them, laughter spilled out.
“They say boys resemble their mothers, but he looks exactly like you, Eon-hyeok. It’s amazing.”
She murmured in a hoarse voice. To Eon-hyeok, the baby looked astonishingly like Seo-woo, but both of them were simply finding the face of the person they loved in their child. However, during the nearly two months in the postpartum care center, as that clay-like face grew clearer, Eon-hyeok had no choice but to admit the child resembled him. Even Chairman Kim laughed heartily and brought several expensive names he had prepared, saying the baby was Eon-hyeok’s spitting image. The two put their heads together and chose the prettiest one with the best meaning. Hui-ho. Kim Hui-ho.
“Because Hui-ho looks like you, Eon-hyeok, I feel like I’ve done something patriotic. I’ve passed this face on so future generations won’t forget it.”
Seo-woo repeated such things while lying in the postpartum care bed. Even as she gazed into Hui-ho’s bright, sparkling eyes, she could already see the future in which this child would grow into a cold, handsome man like Eon-hyeok, radiating a chilly aura. How proud and happy she felt that she could predict the child’s future just by looking at her husband’s face. With an excited expression, she said to Eon-hyeok,
“If his personality is like yours too, it would be too cute.”
“Then I’d be in trouble if he takes after me and you end up liking him too much.”
Eon-hyeok said as he held her tightly. Although they lived in a palace-like house and he could have gone straight there when tired from work, he visited Seo-woo every single day. Seeing how he followed her around like a puppy, it seemed the future held nerve-wracking competition if the child took after his mother in clinging to her. People said you never tire of your own children, but just thinking about it made petty jealousy boil inside Eon-hyeok. Seo-woo, unaware of his feelings, smiled brightly and said,
“That would be wonderful.”
It would be a little later before they learned that Hui-ho’s personality resembled not Eon-hyeok, but the endlessly gentle and soft Seo-woo.
Hui-ho was an astonishingly quiet child. So quiet that he wouldn’t cry unless he was hungry or had soiled himself. Even when Chairman Kim tried to amuse the baby with silly faces—making ridiculous “aarrr, peekaboo” sounds—it was the same. A normal child would have burst into tears at the sight of such antics coming from his fierce-looking face, but Hui-ho simply grabbed and touched the old man’s nose, blinking his eyes.
“He has the face of Eon-hyeok, who is sensitive and fierce beyond words, yet how can a child be this gentle? He’s practically Seo-woo’s clone.”
Chairman Kim uttered words that could have been either criticism of his grandson or praise for his granddaughter-in-law. It wasn’t that the baby had no reactions at all—if given a favorite toy, he would smile brightly and clap his hands. At that, Chairman Kim would laugh heartily, saying “Aigoo, aigoo,” matching the rhythm of his great-grandson’s joy. Eon-hyeok spoke to his grandfather, who was completely enchanted by the baby.
“Today I came to show you Hui-ho and also to tell you that I will be taking Seo-woo with me to the Sanghwa Group event.”
“Sanghwa Group? That one where they’re only inviting VIPs this time?”
Chairman Kim asked in a nasal voice, his nose still caught by Hui-ho. Seo-woo looked somewhat surprised to hear about the Sanghwa Group event. It was a gathering held at a rented old castle in Paris, inviting a two-Michelin-star chef and his staff to serve the guests. The fact that it was purely for socializing and not a business occasion made it even more curious. Eon-hyeok had expressed a desire to travel alone with her before Hui-ho grew any bigger.
“Since we ended up having a child right away without any time to spend just the two of us, I think we should start over from a proper honeymoon.”
Eon-hyeok said as he held Seo-woo’s hand. He had heard there was never a time when children didn’t need their parents’ hands. Newborns required a lot of care, but once they started talking and thinking, childcare became even harder. So he wanted to correct the first button that had been put in wrong, even now. The moment Seo-woo received Hui-ho from Chairman Kim and held him, she felt her heart warm at the cozy heat and unique baby scent and said,
“Ah, but I don’t think I can bear to leave Hui-ho. My feet won’t move.”
“Still, it’s better to go now as Eon-hyeok says. You should travel together while you still have time to be alone.”
Chairman Kim gently pushed her, as if urging her forward. After receiving such warm consideration from her in-laws, she felt rather excited about the trip. She had accompanied Eon-hyeok on overseas business trips countless times, but this was their first time traveling abroad together. Moreover, the place they had been invited to was a very old palace. The castle, which had once belonged to a duke, had been beautifully renovated inside, showcasing its grand yet elegant charm.
“Do you like it?”
Eon-hyeok asked with a smile throughout the meal, seeing how excited Seo-woo looked. She had asked him to take photos of her with a dreamy expression by the window, then burst into embarrassed laughter. Eon-hyeok, who captured every moment with his camera lens, felt regret over how many moments he had missed. Seeing Seo-woo—who he had once confined to a modern apartment—particularly fond of old castles, he said,
“I actually told you I booked a hotel, but I also reserved a remodeled castle that’s been turned into a hotel. I thought you might like it.”
“Really?”
Seo-woo looked surprised before breaking into a wide smile. She was constantly amazed that the always-busy Eon-hyeok would carve out time to run to her and think of her. Even at dawn, when Hui-ho cried, it was Eon-hyeok who woke first. If she tried to get up, he would stroke her hair and tell her to sleep, then go soothe the baby himself. She had thought she would be the only one to know what a gentle person he was her whole life, but the fact that a child who resembled him would also know filled her with fresh excitement.
“This is my first time at a place like this. They said they’ve hosted it several times—how do they keep it going?”
Seo-woo asked as they walked through the maze garden made of ivy-covered walls in front of the palace after dinner. Eon-hyeok was well aware of how she had been treated in her own family. Her father had only seen his daughter as marriage material and hadn’t cherished her enough to let her attend such social events. So Eon-hyeok wanted to fill in her empty experiences one by one, and when Hui-ho grew up, he thought they would come here together as a family. He believed the reason the Sanghwa Group continued hosting events like renting a castle and inviting people—which others might call excessive—was the same as his own desire to give the two of them special memories.
“We have to keep showing it this way. That we cherish them especially, that we want the relationship to continue. If you don’t express it, it doesn’t get across.”
Eon-hyeok said while looking into her eyes. People went crazy for premium experiences because they looked extraordinary. That was why premium services at department stores usually went to those who spent the most money. The more service was provided, the fewer people it reached. Eon-hyeok thought the same principle applied to relationships when flipped. People spared no money or time only for the precious few, expressing, “I value you this much.”
“Some people say one sincere word is enough and flowers or perfume aren’t needed, but I think if there’s no action, the words don’t truly land.”
Looking at Eon-hyeok, Seo-woo newly realized why he had wanted to come on this trip again. The past that had already gone by could simply be let go, yet he had deliberately wanted to recreate something like a honeymoon because he cherished her. He had brought her here as if making a vow that he would continue to treasure their relationship.
“It really lands. Truly, so much.”
It wasn’t the first or second time Seo-woo had been moved by the sincerity she felt in every moment living with Eon-hyeok. At some point she had noticed that he had quit the cigarettes he used to enjoy. He never made a show of it or said anything, but she knew it was for her and their child.
“Seo-woo.”
Eon-hyeok suddenly stopped in front of her and bent one knee. Seo-woo lowered her head, thinking he was going to tie her shoelace, but she was wearing dress shoes today. When she looked up, she saw him take out a ring box from the inner pocket of his jacket. Startled, she opened her mouth but couldn’t finish her sentence.
“When did you…”
“I wanted to get you a new one in the design you like.”
It was summer, so the days were long. Even after dinner, in the garden bathed in a serene sunset, the man knelt and took her hand. It wasn’t that she didn’t have a wedding ring. But Eon-hyeok had considered the marriage a mere formality and hadn’t worn his properly, while Seo-woo had worn hers faithfully until she nearly lost it once, after which she kept it safely in her jewelry box. Besides, the ring had never really matched her taste to begin with. Eon-hyeok had commissioned a new ring closer to the accessories she usually wore and slipped it onto her empty finger.
“You can lose it. I’ll buy you another.”
The grand words he had prepared didn’t come to mind. He simply wanted to say what would make her feel most at ease. Unlike the past when he had dismissed everyday moments as useless because he was busy, he had learned the value of those small daily times. Loving Seo-woo had taught him that working so hard to make someone happy and make them smile had meaning. Seo-woo, who looked like she would smile brightly, instead scrunched her face as if holding back tears and said,
“I’ll wear it all the time. I’ll wear it every single day.”
“Put one on me too.”
Eon-hyeok held out his hand, looking at the sniffling Seo-woo as if she were adorable. Though her shoulders trembled, she took the ring from the box and slowly slipped it onto his finger. Eon-hyeok almost laughed at how intently she concentrated, afraid she might drop the ring even in that short moment. When she looked up, her eyes were wet, and she rose on her tiptoes. She pressed a quick kiss to the man’s lips, and soon he leaned in, deepening it. It was a romantic evening in the garden of a castle at sunset. At least, until night fell.