"Next time you're free, why don't you come visit us at home, alright?" Bo-ra's mom said sweetly, her voice filled with that unmistakable warmth only mothers can pull off.
"It would be so nice for the whole family to bond together," she added, practically beaming with joy.
Bo-ra and I just nodded obediently, forced smiles plastered on our faces like interns trying to impress their CEO. We had just stepped outside to escort my mother-in-law to her car after her sudden visit.
"Alright, I'll get going now. Yul, take good care of my daughter, okay?" she said, flashing me a knowing smile.
All I could do was bow in response, a little shy and awkward under her gaze. Then, as if we were in some overly dramatic TV drama, she pulled Bo-ra into a tight hug. It was overly theatrical—like they were parting ways for a year instead of a day—but it was... sweet. And maybe, just maybe, it made me miss having a mom around.
"Sweetie, be kind to your husband, okay?" she said to Bo-ra like she was handing over a prized pet to a neighbor.
"I'm always kind to my husband, Mom," Bo-ra replied with a saccharine tone. Then she looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "Right, honey?"
Oh no. It was a trap.
"Of course, Mom. My wife's so sweet she hasn't grown horns… yet," I said with mock sincerity, earning a playful glare from Bo-ra.
"That's good to hear. I'll head off now," her mom chirped.
I opened the car door for her like a true gentleman. As she settled in, she called out, "I'm counting on you, Yul. You too, Bo-ra!"
"Yeah, yeah, Mom, drive safe!" Bo-ra waved her off like she was shooing away a pigeon.
"Okay, adios!" her mom sang before the car door finally shut.
"Take care!" Bo-ra called again, louder this time, as the car disappeared down the road.
And just like that, the queen had left the castle—and reality came crashing back.
At long last, the nightmare was over. Or was it?
Back inside the house, we wordlessly migrated to our separate corners like seasoned roommates after a long day of pretending they liked each other. Finally, I could sleep in my own bed again—no more symphony of Bo-ra's thunderous snores and mouth-wide-open sleeping habits. Peace, glorious peace.
I made my way to my room and sighed in relief. "At last. The nightmare is over," I muttered dramatically, throwing a sarcastic glance at Bo-ra.
She scowled at me with mock offense. "Serves you right! I was getting creeped out by all your cringey 'honey-honey' lines and that arm-over-shoulder nonsense! You looked like you were in a toothpaste commercial!"
I laughed as I walked inside. Honestly, teasing her was becoming one of my favorite pastimes. There was something about the way she flared up—it made my whole day.
Since we woke up earlier than usual thanks to the unexpected visit, I went ahead and took a shower, got dressed, and prepared to head to the office.
Another day, another stack of paperwork. The thrilling life of a fake husband-slash-heir.
Bo-ra left the house shortly after me, dressed like she was off to a photoshoot instead of work. Not that she even had a job. Where does she go all the time anyway?
When I opened the door to my office, I stopped dead in my tracks.
Sitting on my chair like he owned the place—which, technically, he did—was my grandfather. He looked sharp in his gray suit, his back perfectly straight, hands folded over his cane. The very image of authority.
I quickly bowed. "Grandpa? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?"
"Sit," he said curtly.
I obeyed without hesitation.
"I just wanted to visit you here in your office," he said, scanning the room like he was inspecting the feng shui. "How was the honeymoon with Bo-ra? You haven't come to the house since then."
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "Sorry, Grandpa. We were supposed to visit, but then my mother-in-law showed up out of nowhere. Things got… busy."
But something felt off. My grandfather never came by unannounced, especially not this early. He trusted me. So why was he here?
"I've started the process of transferring the company and our other properties to your name," he said, his voice calm but serious.
My heart skipped. This was it. The end of the charade. Was he really giving me the company this soon?
But before I could even smile—
"Don't get too happy yet," he cut me off. "Just because it's in process doesn't mean you'll get everything right away."
I froze. Of course. There was a catch. There's always a catch.
"You need to give me a grandson first."
I blinked. "W-What?!"
"Don't act so surprised. You and Bo-ra are married. Isn't this the natural next step?"
"Yeah, but… we're not ready for a baby, Grandpa."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why not? You have the house, the money, the marriage. What's missing?"
"Consent," I muttered under my breath.
That night, I came home looking like someone just kicked my puppy. Bo-ra was in the kitchen, plating up a dish of braised tofu. The smell filled the room, but my appetite was somewhere in the Mariana Trench.
"What's with the face?" she asked, setting the plate down. "Did something happen at the company?"
I sighed. "It's nothing."
"Yul."
I looked at her. There was no escaping it.
"I need your help," I admitted.
Her eyes narrowed. "What kind of help?"
I hesitated. Should I tell her? What if she threw the tofu at me?
"S-spit it out already!"
I inhaled sharply. "Grandpa wants us to have a baby."
She choked on her water and spit it right into my face.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
She jumped up, pacing like a panicked cat. "A baby?! You want me to snap every bone in your body one by one?!"
"I told him we're not ready! But he said I won't get the company unless we give him a grandson!"
She stopped pacing and stared at me like I had grown two heads.
"That is not in the contract, Yul Kang! Baby-making is not part of this deal!"
Her aura darkened. For a second, I could almost see literal horns growing from her head.
"I know, I know! But what do we do now?"
"That's your problem. Don't drag me into this!"
Before I could say another word, her phone buzzed. A text.
She glanced at the screen, and just like that, her entire mood shifted. The fire in her eyes dimmed, and she calmed down like someone pressed a reset button.
She grabbed her bag and walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
She didn't answer.
Just walked out.
I stared at the door for a long second. "What the heck just happened?"
To be continued...