Hyun-woo watched as Hae-in's face transformed from furious to mortified, a deep, frustrated pout settling on her lips. It was a look that had, for years, been her signature expression of annoyance and defiance. But now, after all they had been through, it was also a sign of her complete surrender. She had dropped her guard, and in that moment of raw, unedited jealousy, she had confessed the truth of her feelings.
He didn't laugh. Not really. A low, gentle chuckle rumbled in his chest, a sound of pure, unadulterated affection. He took a slow step towards her, and another, until he was close enough to see the flush on her cheeks, the way her eyes, still wide with shock, refused to meet his. He reached out and gently cupped her face in his hands.
"My dear wife," he said, his voice soft, a loving murmur that was meant for her and her alone. "Look at me."
Hae-in's eyes slowly, reluctantly, rose to meet his. The look she gave him was a mix of embarrassment and defiance. She was a CEO, a master of control, and he had just stripped her of all of it with a few simple words and a playful smile.
"You look so beautiful when you're jealous," he whispered, a tender smile on his face. "And so, so adorable when you pout."
He pulled her into a gentle, but firm embrace, her body going stiff for only a second before she melted into him, her arms wrapping around his waist. He held her close, his chin resting on the top of her head. He knew what she needed to hear. The truth. All of it.
"She was a legal representative for the German brand," he began, his voice a low, soothing murmur that calmed the storm in her heart. "We were just talking business. We were talking about the contract and the terms. But she… she said I reminded her of her husband. And we were just laughing about that."
He paused, a soft, loving smile on his face. "You asked if I was enjoying it. The truth is, I was. I was enjoying watching you. I saw you from the corner of my eye. I saw the look on your face. The way you got so angry. The way your knuckles went white. It wasn't about her, Hae-in. It was about you. It was about seeing that you still get jealous. It was about seeing that you still care. It was about seeing you reclaim what's yours. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Hae-in's body was a tight knot of conflicting emotions. Her anger was gone, replaced by a profound sense of shame and an overwhelming surge of love. He had seen through her. He had understood her. He had seen her raw, unfiltered jealousy and, instead of being repulsed by it, he had loved it. He had loved her for it.
"I just…" she began, her voice a small, muffled whisper against his chest. "I just don't like it when other women look at you. And she was… she was beautiful."
"She was," he agreed, his voice a calm, steady presence. "But she wasn't you. And she wasn't my wife."
He pulled away just enough to look at her, his hands still on her arms, his gaze intense and unwavering. "Hae-in," he said, his voice dropping to a serious, heartfelt whisper, "that woman, that German representative… she was just a ghost, a passing shadow. The only woman for me is Hong Hae-in. The woman I fell in love with at the aquarium. The woman who landed a helicopter in my parents' field to propose to me. The woman who came back and fought for us. The woman who has a pout that makes my heart flutter and a jealousy that makes my soul soar. It's you. It has always been you. And it will always be you. You're the only one."
Hae-in's eyes welled up with tears, a powerful mix of relief, joy, and a quiet, profound love. He was no longer just her husband. He was her hero, her protector, and her everything. He had seen her at her worst, at her most insecure, and he had loved her through it.
He kissed her then, a soft, lingering kiss that was a promise, a vow, and a complete, utter surrender to the beautiful, imperfect reality of their love. He kissed her until her tears dried, until her heart was so full of love it ached, until the pout was gone and a profound, peaceful smile was back on her face.
He pulled back, his forehead resting against hers, his eyes closed. "My dear Hae-in," he murmured, his voice a low, contented hum, "I am yours. Completely and utterly yours. Now and forever."
She smiled, a wide, genuine smile that reached her eyes. She knew. With a certainty that settled deep in her soul, she knew that he was right. They were going to be okay. They had faced their past, confronted their pain, and had finally found their way back to each other. And this time, she wasn't going to let him go. This time, she would hold on. Forever.