Chapter 1. The Wife Who Stopped Waiting

It was their third wedding anniversary.

By the time the candle shaped like the number three had melted halfway down, Kang Jaeheon still hadn't come home.

His favorite dishes sat cold on the long dining table, and the wine Seoyun had set out for them to share had long since lost its chill.

When the clock passed eleven, Han Seoyun pulled out the half-melted candle and replaced it with a fresh one.

[What time will you be home? I'll warm up the food.]

No reply.

[You said you'd come home early tonight.]

She couldn't even tell if he'd read her messages.

Seoyun turned her phone facedown.

For the past three years, Jaeheon had always been busy, and somehow, waiting had always been her part to play.

Then the front door opened.

Seoyun rose from her chair—and froze.

A woman soaked from the rain came in leaning against Jaeheon's chest.

Jaeheon pulled his coat more securely around her shoulders before wrapping an arm around her waist with effortless familiarity.

It was a tenderness he had never once shown his wife.

"Oppa... I'm so cold."

The woman burrowed deeper into his arms.

The loose neckline of her wet dress slipped lower, revealing a stretch of pale skin, but she didn't seem to notice. Instead, she pressed herself even closer against him.

Seoyun's fingers tightened around the back of the chair.

"Who is she?"

Only then did Jaeheon look at his wife.

"Cha Yuri."

"Why did you bring her to our house at this hour?"

"I brought her here. It's none of your concern."

He had walked into the home he shared with his wife with another woman in his arms, yet there wasn't a trace of apology on his face.

When Yuri's eyes met Seoyun's, she clutched Jaeheon's sleeve and rested her forehead against his chest.

The corner of her mouth curved up for the briefest instant before falling again.

"I'm sorry, unnie. Cough, cough... If having me here makes you uncomfortable, I'll go to a hotel."

Despite her words, she made no move to leave Jaeheon's arms.

"Don't even think about it."

Jaeheon tightened his hold around her waist.

"No one is throwing you out of this house."

Seoyun's gaze lingered on their bodies pressed together before lifting to her husband's face.

"Was that supposed to be a warning to me?"

Jaeheon didn't answer.

Instead, he called for the butler.

"Butler Kim. Get a room ready for Yuri. Seoyun's room."

Butler Kim's expression stiffened.

"Sir, that's Madam's—"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

Seoyun cut in immediately.

"Why exactly do I have to give her my room?"

"Yuri has a weak heart. She needs to stay close in case something happens."

"Then I suppose I can bring home a sick man, put him next to your bedroom, and spend the whole night taking care of him."

Jaeheon's eyes narrowed.

His arm tightened around Yuri.

"Watch what you say."

"So when you do it, it's caregiving. But if I did the same thing, it'd be cheating?"

Jaeheon didn't answer.

"I'll compromise on the guest room next door. But she is not taking my bedroom."

"It's only for tonight."

"Because it's only one night to you, I'm supposed to be fine with another woman taking my bedroom?"

This time, Jaeheon didn't even bother responding.

He simply took Yuri upstairs, his arm still firmly around her.

Seoyun stood there watching her husband lead another woman toward his wife's bedroom.

Halfway up the stairs, Yuri suddenly glanced back.

"You two actually got married, so... I thought Oppa must really love you."

Seoyun's fingers slowly curled into her palm.

Then Yuri's eyes widened as though she'd only just noticed the cake on the table.

"Oh. Is today a special day? You even prepared a cake."

Jaeheon's steps stopped.

His gaze moved over the half-melted number-three candle and the untouched food that had long since gone cold.

Only then did he seem to remember.

But no apology came.

"Oppa..."

Yuri tugged lightly on his arm.

Jaeheon looked down at Seoyun standing alone beside the dining table.

Just for a moment.

Then he turned away.

And continued upstairs with Yuri.

A short while later, Yuri's coughing drifted faintly down from the second floor, followed by Jaeheon's low voice soothing her.

Butler Kim approached Seoyun, his face tense.

"Madam... what should I do with the cake?"

Seoyun looked at the fresh candle she had put in.

Only minutes ago, she'd planned to light it when he came home.

She pinched the wick between her fingers.

Hot wax clung to her fingertip, but she didn't wipe it away.

"Throw it out."

Butler Kim hesitated.

"All the food too."

Seoyun picked up the cardigan hanging over her chair and headed for the front door.

Butler Kim hurried after her.

"Madam, where are you going this late?"

Seoyun stopped.

She looked once at the tightly closed bedroom door upstairs before turning away.

"Don't prepare dinner for me anymore."

"Madam..."

Seoyun opened the front door.

Cold night air brushed across her face.

"Because starting tonight, I'm done waiting for him."

And that night, the wife who had spent three years waiting for Kang Jaeheon finally walked out of his home.