Please be my wife for just one year.

EP.13

It had been two months since the wedding.

Seongho and Yeoju had naturally come to share the same space before they knew it.

They ate together in the mornings and talked a little about their day in the evenings.

To anyone looking, they were an affectionate couple.

...At least on the surface.

But there was one secret only the two of them knew.

That this marriage was a contract.

And there was someone who was after that secret.


---

SH Group headquarters.

Kim Wunhak was skimming through documents in his office when he snorted a laugh.

Wunhak "Isn't that weird."

The secretary asked cautiously.

Secretary "What do you mean?"

Wunhak "Park Seongho."

"..."

Wunhak "They're married, but there's not a single trace of dating."

Wunhak spread several photos across the desk.

A CCTV capture from the hotel where Seongho and Yeoju first met.

A photo taken in front of the hospital.

The marriage registration date.

Everything had happened too fast.

Wunhak "...It reeks."

He curled up the corners of his mouth.

"This."

"..."

"A contract marriage, isn't it?"


---

A few days later.

The newlywed home.

After dinner, the two of them were watching TV together in the living room.

Yeoju burst out laughing.

Yeoju "Sir, isn't that guy way too funny?"

Seongho was looking at Yeoju, who was laughing, rather than at the screen.

Seongho "...Yes."

Yeoju "Aren't you watching TV, Sir?"

Seongho "...I am watching."

Yeoju "Liar."

As Yeoju laughed playfully, Seongho too unconsciously gave a faint smile.

Unaware that someone was photographing them from outside the window with a telephoto lens camera.

Click.

Click.

It was someone hired by Wunhak.


---

The next day.

Wunhak received the investigation report.

Employee "The two of them act like a perfect couple when they're out."

"..."

"But there's something strange."

Wunhak "Say it."

Secretary "At the newlywed home, they each use separate rooms."

Wunhak's eyes turned sharp.

Wunhak "Are you sure?"

Secretary "Yes."

"..."

"And they hardly ever even touch each other."

Wunhak slowly leaned back against his chair.

A moment later, he let out a low laugh.

Wunhak "As I thought."

"..."

"I was right."

He picked up his phone.

"Contact Moon Hana."

Secretary "...Pardon?"

Wunhak "Tell her we've got something interesting to watch."


---

That evening.

Seongho got home and Yeoju was reading a book in the living room.

Yeoju "You're home?"

Seongho "Yes."

Unlike usual, Seongho's expression was a little stiff.

Seeing that, Yeoju asked worriedly.

Yeoju "...Did something happen at work?"

A brief silence.

Seongho loosened his tie and said,

Seongho "...Wunhak has started making a move."

Yeoju "...!"

Seongho "He's investigating us."

Yeoju's face hardened in an instant.

Yeoju "Why?"

Seongho "It seems he's suspecting that this is a contract marriage."

The air in the living room sank heavily.


---

Seongho sat down on the sofa and said,

Seongho "From now on, we need to be more careful."

"..."

"Outside the house, of course."

"And inside it too."

Yeoju nodded.

But her mind was in turmoil.

Then Seongho quietly continued,

Seongho "...I'm sorry."

Yeoju looked at him, startled.

Yeoju "Huh?"

Seongho "Because of me."

"..."

"For making you go through something like this."

There was genuine remorse in Seongho's voice.

Yeoju looked at him for a moment, then gave a small smile.

Yeoju "...Sir."

"..."

"We're a married couple."

"..."

"Isn't it what married couples do to bear the hard things together?"

Seongho couldn't say anything.

Yeoju kept smiling as she said,

"Don't try to shoulder everything by yourself."

"You're not alone anymore, Sir."

At that moment.

Seongho's heart thudded hard.

Those words sank into him far deeper than he'd expected.


---

That night.

The two of them went into their separate rooms.

Seongho couldn't fall asleep.

'You're not alone anymore, Sir.'

Yeoju's words kept echoing in his ears.

It was the first time in his life.

That someone had told him they were on his side.

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Wunhak was staring at an envelope with a meaningful smile.

Inside the envelope were photos of the two of them and investigation materials.

Wunhak "...Just a little more."

"..."

"Once I secure proof."

He slowly closed the envelope.

"This marriage too."

"..."

"Park Seongho too."

"...It'll all be over."

Black clouds began to gather beyond the window.

The secret the two of them had desperately protected was slowly walking into danger.