One Year Marriage

Chapter 5

A meticulously prepared set meal was placed on the table.

“Enjoy your food.”

Moon-young spoke in a gentle voice in front of the man she hadn’t seen in two whole days.

The man responded with a silent nod, and, not wanting to disturb his meal, Moon-young quickly retreated to the kitchen.

Why didn’t you come yesterday?

The question pushed to the tip of her lips, but all she could do was prepare the dessert she had made early that morning. This man, who hadn’t left her mind since last night, loved one thing most: late-summer peaches candied with sugar.

Her mother’s time working at the mansion had been a great help to Moon-young. She had naturally learned the foods Kang-jae enjoyed, and she could now prepare meals he liked, hoping to make his evenings happy.

The constantly changing menu was labor-intensive and not particularly profitable. Even so, if it led to meals that pleased Kang-jae and kept him coming back, it was worth it. She didn’t know how long this would last, but she hoped he would keep coming around for a long time.

Moon-young matched her movements to Kang-jae’s eating pace. She took out a lotus-shaped porcelain dish, arranged the prettiest peach slices in the dish, and poured just enough syrup with slivers of ice to surround them.

Her mother had once told her, “There are canned peaches, but unless they’re simmered at home and not too sweet, he won’t eat even half a slice. He put his spoon down!”

Moon-young wanted to use this moment to strike up even a bland conversation, but she knew better. She knew she couldn’t approach Kang-jae with words. Moon-young was afraid he might find her burdensome or annoying, which could result in him not coming again, so she limited herself to saying, “It’s just dessert.”

Before she knew it, Kang-jae was finishing his meal. Moon-young quietly prepared the dessert and stepped out of the kitchen. However, before she could approach him, the doorbell rang, announcing an unwelcome visitor.

“Moon-young! Moon-young Suh!!!”

A man desperately called out to Moon-young, his speech slurred from alcohol.

It was Sun-jae.

Even at a glance, it was clear he was completely drunk.

Moon-young glanced at Kang-jae and set down the tray holding the dessert plate. Worried that Sun-jae might disrupt Kang-jae’s meal, she quickly crossed the hall toward the entrance.

“Moon-yooouunng...!”

Sun-jae was so drunk that he didn’t even notice Kang-jae there. He approached Moon-young. His eyes were glazed over, and he reeked of alcohol—it was as if he’d bathed in it.

“I’m having such a hard time...” he mumbled.

Sun-jae extended his arms, trying to lean into her.

“What are you doing?!”

Moon-young gasped and quickly stepped back. Unfortunately, she ended up stopping right in front of Kang-jae’s table. If Kang-jae turned his head even slightly, their eyes would meet.

“I’m struggling... Moon-young. Do you know how much I miss you?”

Oblivious to Moon-young’s discomfort, Sun-jae pouted and rambled on. With all her attention on Kang-jae behind her, Moon-young gritted her teeth and spoke firmly.

“Sun-jae. If you’re drunk, just go home.”

“You’re so mean... Everything is mine, so why aren’t you? All I need is you...”

This wasn’t the first time this had happened. Whenever Sun-jae was drunk, he would show up and ramble about unwanted declarations of love.

Before his wedding, he’d stormed in, asking if she knew how it felt to marry someone he didn’t love, before leaving in a tantrum. During his honeymoon, he’d bombarded her with messages, saying he’d be miserable forever because she didn’t like him back. Even on the day his son was born, he’d gotten drunk and come to her, crying that it was all over between them before finally leaving.

Scumbag. An absolute scumbag.

She’d thought it would come to an end when his son was born. That had been six months ago.

But of all days, why today? Just when Kang-jae reappeared after two days...

What if Kang-jae misunderstood her relationship with Sun-jae, a married man, as something improper? Her heart raced with worry at the thought of being judged by Kang-jae.

“Moon-yooouunng...!”

“Stop it!”

In the end, she lost her composure and raised her voice in front of Kang-jae. She had always wanted to only show the best side of herself...

But Sun-jae, oblivious as always, continued to pester her. Moon-young frowned and pushed him away. Even then, she could not help but glance over her shoulder at Kang-jae.

Her gaze met Kang-jae’s detached, unreadable stare as he watched her and Sun-jae. Before she could guess what he might be thinking, he let out a faint scoff.

Thud. It felt like her heart had dropped.

Unable to hold his gaze, her head turned stiffly back to the front like a robot. It was as if she had just admitted how conscious she was of Kang-jae.

“Moon-young Suhhhh...!”

Why did you have to come to my restaurant...?

Moon-young looked at Sun-jae disapprovingly and opened her mouth to speak. “This is a restaurant. If you’re not here to eat, then leave!”

“Oh, fooood. Gotta eat food...”

Despite her firm tone, Sun-jae mumbled and plopped himself down at a table. He seemed to be getting even more drunk—he let his arms dangle over his thighs and lowered his head.

She had planned to send him away, but now that he had taken a seat, she felt hopeless.

Moon-young placed her hands on her hips and let out a heavy sigh.

Creeeak.

The sound of a chair being pushed could be heard. Moon-young quickly turned to see. Kang-jae had already finished his meal and was ready to leave.

“Thanks for the meal.”

Before she could even think to stop him, he brushed past her. Her desolate gaze followed his retreating figure. To Moon-young, he appeared flawless, without a single gap in his defenses—a man so composed that she could not find a way to approach him.

The person she wanted to stay vanished without a trace, while the unwelcome guest she wished would leave remained behind. Only the cash he left for his meal sat forlornly on the table. Nothing about the scene brought her comfort.

She hadn’t even been able to serve him the dessert she had prepared. Tonight, like last night, seemed destined to be filled with regret. Heavy sighs kept escaping her lips.

＊ ＊ ＊

As soon as Kang-jae stepped out of Moon-young’s restaurant, he noticed Sun-jae’s black sedan parked by the roadside.

When he approached the idling car, he saw the driver, Mr. Kim, leaning on the steering wheel, engrossed in a mobile game.

Knock, knock.

Kang-jae tapped on the passenger-side window. Recognizing Kang-jae through the glass, Mr. Kim flinched and quickly rolled down the window. The muggy air from the rain gave way to the cool breeze of the car’s air conditioning.

Looking through the open window, Kang-jae gestured toward the restaurant. “Sun-jae’s pretty drunk. Go inside and get him.”

“Oh! Yes, sir!”

As Mr. Kim fumbled to unbuckle his seat belt, Kang-jae turned away and walked toward his car parked in the alley behind the restaurant. It didn’t take long to reach his car.

As he opened the driver’s side door and entered, his mind was suddenly filled with the image of Moon-young’s face from earlier.

“I like you, Oppa...”

It was just like back then. Her clear eyes kept stealing glances, and her delicate lashes trembled whenever their gazes met. They were the same as before, and long-buried memories came rushing back.

I guess she still has feelings for me.

It wasn’t just a guess—it felt like a certainty. He’d spent years interrogating suspects, honing his ability to read people’s emotions with just his eyes.

Even so, it didn’t change a thing. Like a suspect walking away after an interrogation, he decided to treat her feelings as fleeting.

As soon as he exited the narrow alley and entered the main street, he saw Moon-young standing outside the restaurant, holding the door. In the quiet neighborhood, with few places open late, Moon-young stood out even more under the glow of the lights.

Kang-jae drove a little farther before pulling over to the side of the road. He could have just pretended not to see her and kept going. Even he didn’t know why he stopped.

Soon, his gaze landed on his stepbrother, who was being helped out of the restaurant by Mr. Kim.

Sun-jae, with one arm slung over Mr. Kim’s shoulder and dragging his feet, still could not take his eyes off Moon-young. It was clear he was mumbling something along the lines of, “Moon-young, blah blah blah,” as he continued his drunken rant.

“You’re so mean... Everything is mine, so why aren’t you? All I need is you...”

The image of Sun-jae’s desperate affection for Moon-young from earlier flashed through Kang-jae’s mind, stirring an impulsive thought.

What if I take what Sun-jae can’t have?

“Ungrateful, shameless fool. How dare you try to take someone else’s rightful place?! Sun-jae is the one doing all the hard work, and you, of all people, dare to challenge him?!”

As he recalled the fury Mi-ran had once unleashed on him, the impulse quickly became a solid decision, taking over his thoughts. A flicker of determination flashed in Kang-jae’s eyes.

Wait—maybe I should also take away what he already has.

Yes. Moon-young Suh, the company, everything—I’ll take it all. Once I have it, I’ll discard them all right in front of Sun-jae and show him it was nothing to me.

Kang-jae gripped the steering wheel tightly, his face expressionless as he stared at them.