Young bride

The car was filled with silence.

Kangwoo tapped the round steering wheel with his index finger, expressing his discomfort. Seoa, sitting in the passenger seat, fidgeted anxiously while looking out the window.

Watching her with cold eyes, Kangwoo let out a quiet sigh and checked the back seat.

Thud— A jacket fell onto Seoa’s lap.

“Ah.”

The familiar citrus scent from Kangwoo’s jacket brought her back to her senses. Seoa clutched the sleeve of his jacket tightly.

“Mr. Kangwoo, if we go back now, it’ll be fine. If Kyuhyun gets angry—”

“So, are you planning to give everything—your body and mind—until you’re completely broken?”

At Kangwoo’s sharp words, Seoa bit her lip.

The truth was, forcing herself to stay out of pride only made sense if her marriage to Kyuhyun had any chance of happiness. But, of course, it was bound to be miserable.

Seoa’s defiance faded away as if she had never once stood up to Kyuhyun before.

Watching her silently, Kangwoo let out a deep sigh from the depths of his chest.

“I heard Choi Kyuhyun was getting remarried, but if I had known it was you, I would have opposed it.”

Kangwoo ran a hand through his hair in frustration. His eyes, faintly twisted in annoyance, showed he was lost in thought.

“Of course, you had no say in this marriage, did you?”

Not really expecting an answer, he continued speaking.

“But still, wouldn’t it be better to marry me instead of a man 17 years older than you?”

Kangwoo muttered bitterly.

The age gap wasn’t even the real issue.

Kyuhyun had sadistic fetishes, and among his past flings, some had nearly ended up crippled. It was a truth carefully hidden from the media.

Instead of using fear to persuade Seoa, Kangwoo kept his words simple and to the point.

Seoa, lost in thought, hesitated before asking, “Are you serious about marrying me?”

“Do I sound like I’m joking?”

“No, but… I just don’t understand what you gain from this.”

Seoa cautiously observed him.

Compared to marrying Kyuhyun, marrying Kangwoo—who, at the very least, wouldn’t abuse her—was obviously a better choice.

But it wasn’t as simple as just going through with it. Marrying the person who had been set up as her fiancé’s older brother would surely bring complications.

Not to mention, if things didn’t go as planned, the fallout could be devastating.

“I’m not doing this out of charity.”

Kangwoo’s response showed he saw right through her thoughts.

“You don’t need to know the details. Right now, I need you just as much as you need me. That’s all that matters. It’s a mutually beneficial contract.”

Did Kangwoo need something to stand against Kyuhyun?

She had seen Kyuhyun being overly wary of Kangwoo many times before. It wasn’t uncommon for siblings in wealthy families to compete for power.

Suddenly, her mother’s face came to mind.

This was the last chance she had to choose her own partner, but if she made the wrong choice, even her mother’s life could be at risk.

Seeing her hesitation, Kangwoo snapped his fingers, drawing her attention.

“I’m not asking you to decide right now.”

“…”

“This is about your future. Think carefully before making your choice.”

The decision was simple: live as nothing more than a possession, or be treated as a person.

Hearing that she didn’t have to decide right away made her mind feel clearer.

Her mother wouldn’t want her to suffer under Kyuhyun just to protect her.

“No. I will make sure you don’t regret this decision.”

Seoa’s voice was filled with newfound determination as she looked straight into Kangwoo’s eyes for the first time that night.

“I’ll make sure I become someone you truly need.”

“You sound confident.”

Seeing the firm resolve in her big, round eyes, Kangwoo’s stiff expression softened slightly, as if pleased.

“And even if I become your wife, I won’t interfere in your personal life. Don’t worry.”

But her sudden remark made Kangwoo look puzzled.

“My personal life? Like what?”

“Anything. Whether it’s having a lover or… your sex life… Whatever it is, I won’t cause you any trouble. Since we’re not marrying for love.”

Kangwoo stared at her for a moment before letting out a short laugh.

He flicked her forehead lightly.

“Ow!”

“You overthink things too much.”

Unlike Kyuhyun’s indiscriminate violence, his touch was nothing more than playful.

“You must think I’m a complete piece of trash, but I have enough morals not to cheat on my wife.”

“But even if you marry me, you can’t go your whole life without it.”

“I’ll deal with that myself.”

“If needed, I can fulfill that role as a wife.”

Seoa said boldly.

Kangwoo folded his arms and met her gaze.

She had changed a lot in just a few years.

The once youthful girl, who had seemed just like a high school student, had grown into a mature woman. Her innocent charm had been replaced with an undeniable femininity.

Back in school, she had drawn the attention of many male students with her beauty.

But that was all.

Back then, Kangwoo was a teacher, and Seoa was a student. That fact remained unchanged.

“Do you even know what a wife’s role means?”

“Yes. I’m not saying this lightly.”

“Do you even know what sex is?”

Kangwoo’s blunt question made Seoa freeze.

She looked up at him in shock.

The word sounded too crude coming from his mouth.

“See? You can’t even handle the word ‘sex,’ yet you talk about a wife’s duties?”

Kangwoo smirked.

It was only a few seconds, but the way he stared at her made Seoa’s heart pound wildly.

His gaze wasn’t like before—it felt dangerous, as if he could devour her at any moment.

She knew she was nothing but a child to him, yet he was the only one who had ever treated her like something precious.

That realization sparked a defiant feeling within her.

“I—I can do it. It’s not a big deal.”

“You? Do it?”

Seoa clung to his sleeve, stopping him.

“Ah…”

Kangwoo stared at her hand gripping his jacket.

Before she could react, he suddenly leaned in.

The scent of citrus from his jacket filled her nose.

Their sudden closeness felt different from before.

If either of them moved even a little, their lips would touch.

Her heart pounded so loudly she was afraid he would hear it.

Seoa’s long lashes trembled.

It was just a kiss—just lips touching. If she thought of it that way, it shouldn’t be hard.

She tightly shut her eyes and began leaning in.

But just before their lips met—

“You’re too nervous. Forget it, I have no interest in little girls.”

Kangwoo was the one who pulled away first.

The tense atmosphere instantly disappeared.

Still, Seoa felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Situations like this only happened in her secret daydreams from when she had a crush on him.

Back then, just imagining it would make her feel guilty.

“You’re still all talk while shaking like a leaf.”

Kangwoo glanced at her and reached out to turn on the heater.

“Get some sleep.”

“What?”

“Your dark circles are awful. You need sleep at your age.”

“I’m not a teenager anymore.”

Despite the earlier tension, their conversation became casual again.

Seoa closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.

Everything felt like a dream.

If she opened her eyes, she feared she would find herself back in Kyuhyun’s violent grasp.

But as long as Kangwoo was beside her, she felt like everything would be okay.

She shouldn’t fall asleep.

But as her tense body relaxed, she slipped into slumber.