The morning sun cast a soft, golden light across the rumpled bed, illuminating two figures intertwined in a peaceful embrace. Hong Hae-in woke first, a quiet contentment settling over her as she realized she was still in Hyun-woo's arms. Her head was tucked against his chest, his arm a secure weight around her waist, and her leg draped comfortably over his. The pillow fortress was a distant memory. The rawness of their confessions last night had dissolved the unspoken barrier between them, leaving behind a profound sense of peace and intimacy.
She raised her head slowly, her eyes tracing the peaceful lines of his face in sleep. He looked younger, softer, without the weight of the world on his shoulders. A gentle, affectionate smile touched her lips. She leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, a silent "good morning" that spoke more than words ever could.
Hyun-woo stirred, his own smile forming even before his eyes opened. "Good morning, my dear wife," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. He tightened his hold on her, pulling her even closer. "I could get used to waking up like this."
Hae-in's heart did a little flutter. "You could, could you?" she teased, her voice light and playful.
"Oh, absolutely," he said, his eyes finally opening. He looked at her, and the raw, unadulterated love in his gaze was so powerful it took her breath away. "And this is how it will be from now on. Forever." He punctuated his vow by wiggling his fingers at her ribs.
Hae-in's eyes widened, and a surprised giggle escaped her lips. "Hyun-woo, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I'm making sure you know who you woke up next to." He began to tickle her, and she erupted in a fit of laughter, squirming and twisting to get away. It was a simple, playful act, a stark contrast to the formality of their relationship for so long. It was the joy she had been missing, the light and laughter she had so desperately craved.
After a long, laughter-filled session of tickling and playful wrestling, they finally got up, the air between them light and filled with a new kind of energy. They got ready in comfortable, easy silence, their movements synchronized.
The ride to the office was also different. There was no cold silence, no professional distance. They talked and laughed, a genuine ease between them. The office, usually a place of stress and tension, felt different today, more like a shared adventure.
Later that morning, Hae-in was conducting a routine inspection of a new retail floor. Her sharp eyes scanned every detail, from the lighting to the placement of the products. She was in her element, a force of nature in her professional world. She wore her signature high heels, a symbol of her power and authority. As she rounded a corner, her foot caught on a loose cable that was carelessly left on the floor. Her ankle twisted, and a sharp, searing pain shot up her leg. She cried out, her balance giving way, and she stumbled, falling awkwardly. Her foot scraped against a sharp edge of the floor display, and a long cut opened, drops of crimson blood welling up.
At that exact moment, Hyun-woo was on his way to the break room with his legal team. He was laughing at a joke one of his colleagues had just told when he caught sight of Hae-in. He was about to go over and say hello, a playful grin on his face, when he saw her fall. Time seemed to slow down. The laughter died in his throat, and the world around him went silent. All he could see was her.
He didn't hesitate. He dropped the coffee he was holding and sprinted toward her, his mind a panicked blur of fear. He saw the grimace of pain on her face, and his heart clenched. When he finally reached her, he saw the beads of blood on her leg, and a cold, primal fear took over.
"Hae-in!" he said, his voice a panicked, strained whisper. He knelt beside her, his hands hovering over her injured foot, afraid to touch her. "Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?" His eyes were wide with a raw, panicked fear she hadn't seen in years.
"I'm fine, Hyun-woo," she said, her voice soft, a gentle smile on her face to try and reassure him. "It's just a shallow scratch. I'm okay."
He didn't listen. His mind was racing, a kaleidoscope of dark, terrifying images. He saw the grief, the loss, the pain. He saw her fragility, and the sight of her bleeding, no matter how small the cut, sent a fresh wave of terror coursing through him. He couldn't lose her. Not again. Not ever again.
He scooped her up in his arms, a sudden, swift motion that took her completely by surprise. She gasped, her arms instinctively going around his neck. It was a princess carry, a scene straight out of a romance drama, and a tiny, breathless thrill shot through her.
He held her close, her body light and fragile in his arms. He stood up and began to walk, his stride purposeful and fast. "Someone call an ambulance!" he yelled, his voice raw with a panicked urgency that startled everyone around them. "Get out of the way!" he ordered, his eyes blazing with a fierce, protective fire. He was no longer the charming, mischievous Hyun-woo; he was a terrified husband, a man who had almost lost his wife once and was not about to let it happen again.
Hae-in, held securely in his arms, looked up at him. She saw the stress lines on his forehead, the panicked look in his eyes, the way his knuckles were white from clenching his fists. She saw his fear, his love, his profound care for her. The sight of it made her heart ache with a gentle, loving pain. She felt a wave of guilt for making him so worried, but also a deep, abiding joy that he cared so much. She gently placed her hand on his cheek, her thumb stroking his skin in a calming motion.
"Hyun-woo," she said, her voice soft, "I'm okay. It's a very shallow cut, I promise. I'm okay."
He looked down at her, the panic still in his eyes, but a touch of his usual tenderness returned. "I know, I know," he whispered, his voice still shaky. "But you're bleeding. You're hurt. I can't…" He trailed off, the unspoken fear of losing her again hanging in the air. He just held her tighter, his stride a determined rhythm as he carried her to safety. And as he carried her, she just leaned into him, her heart filled with a silent vow. This man, so terrified and so full of love, was hers. And she would never, ever let him go.