Chapter 9
“What?”
Dohyeon, who had been silently looking at Ina’s tense face, let out a short word with a faint, mocking smile.
At that, Ina’s cheeks, already flushed from the wine, trembled slightly.
She had blurted it out…
But the truth was, she was afraid of what his answer would be.
Overwhelmed by nervousness, she fidgeted with her hands folded neatly beneath the table.
Keeping his eyes fixed on her face as if observing her, Dohyeon folded his hands together.
“Seo Ina.”
He looked straight into her eyes as he spoke her name.
His voice was so low and deep that it seemed to shake the still air between them.
“Y-Yes…?”
Watching his expression carefully, Ina answered softly.
There was an unfamiliar smile on Dohyeon’s face.
It carried a subtle sensuality she had never seen from him before.
For a moment, Ina felt her spine stiffen.
“What did you just ask me to do?”
As he repeated the question, his gaze settled on her softly parted lips.
His direct stare shook her once.
“What exactly did I just hear?”
His quiet murmur, mixed with a faint smirk, unsettled her a second time.
“…I asked you to spend the night with me.”
This time, Ina repeated herself without shrinking back from his reaction.
Her voice was steadier than before.
Her eyes were firmer.
Dohyeon tilted his head slightly before biting down hard on his lower lip.
“Where did you learn to say something like that?”
“…What?”
His unexpected question made her flinch.
“You must have some experience if you’re making a suggestion like that.”
“Mr. Dohyeon.”
“Are you lonely at night?”
His blunt words made her cheeks burn.
Instead of answering, she silently shook her head.
“Then what is it?”
“Were you just curious about a man’s body?”
His teasing question made her unconsciously clench her fists.
“I’m an adult too.”
“I’ve… had experience.”
Tired of him treating her like a child, she impulsively told a lie.
Instantly, a heavy silence settled between them.
Still sitting with his hands folded, Dohyeon quietly looked at her before letting out a small laugh.
“So you have.”
“Experience.”
“…Yes.”
He repeated her answer under his breath, then gave another dry laugh before shaking his head.
“I know you’re in a hurry.”
“But take it slow.”
“…What do you mean?”
“If you rush, you’ll only end up hurting yourself.”
After calmly saying those puzzling words, he looked away from her.
“One step at a time.”
“…!”
“Take it slowly.”
He spoke each word firmly as he filled her wine glass again.
“Understood?”
The wine stopped pouring just as he finished speaking.
In truth…
Meeting him again after so many years and discussing remarriage in a single day had already been overwhelming for Ina.
On top of that, she had been slapped by Mrs. Hwang.
It had been an exhausting day, both physically and emotionally.
But at the same time…
She had wanted, just once, to be held in his arms.
He hadn’t asked if she was okay.
He hadn’t told her not to worry.
He hadn’t offered any ordinary words of comfort.
Even so…
Ina felt as though being embraced by his broad, dependable arms would comfort her a hundred… no, a thousand times more than any words ever could.
“…Okay.”
“I understand.”
For the first time in her life, she had asked a man to spend the night with her.
And she had been rejected.
Feeling both embarrassed and disappointed, she bit her lip.
Then she picked up the wine he had poured for her and drank it in one gulp.
“Who was he?”
Dohyeon looked away from her and picked up his fork again.
Pressing a piece of steak lightly with it, he asked,
Apparently, since she had claimed to have experience with a man…
He wanted to know who that man was.
“…There was someone.”
“…”
“After the divorce…”
“I had a boyfriend.”
That was another complete lie.
Afraid he might realize she was lying, Ina hurriedly looked away from him.
“I see.”
Dohyeon answered briefly and chewed another bite of steak.
Then he lowered his chin slightly and glanced at her.
His sharp jawline gleamed beneath the restaurant lights.
It felt strange.
The innocent-looking Seo Ina sitting across from him…
The woman with her flushed cheeks and eyes fixed on her plate…
Had supposedly dated another man after divorcing him.
Had supposedly slept with him.
For some reason…
The thought bothered him.
A boyfriend…
Even the steak in his mouth suddenly tasted like rubber.
Just then, he let out a quiet sigh and glanced at Ina’s hands.
“…”
Her fingers were trembling with nervousness.
She awkwardly tried to use her fork, even dropping a cherry tomato.
She’s lying.
Dohyeon realized it immediately.
Without taking his eyes off her, he watched as she kept concentrating on her food instead of looking at him.
Whenever Ina lied…
It was always obvious.
He could tell at a glance.
That was why, whenever his mother mistreated her during their marriage, he always found out.
Her mouth would insist that nothing had happened…
But she would become exactly like this—flustered and unable to hide it.
That was also why he had repeatedly warned his mother to leave Ina alone.
Clink.
“…?”
Dohyeon deliberately set down his fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Ina, who had been quietly eating, stopped as well.
“…Are you finished?”
Without speaking, Dohyeon gave a small nod and leaned back in his chair.
Crossing his arms, he quietly looked at her.
“Ah… Then I should—”
“Eat.”
Just as she was about to set down her fork, he interrupted firmly.
“Everything on your plate.”
He gestured toward the steak that was still half untouched.
“You’re not getting up until you’ve finished it.”
At his words, Ina tightened her grip on the fork.
He was the type of person who always followed through once he said something.
It was better to listen.
Perhaps because it had been so long since she’d eaten meat…
She found herself struggling to swallow.
Then she suddenly thought of her younger brother, Injun.
Her nose stung.
…I wonder if he’s eating properly.
Seeing the beef—his favorite food—made her think of him.
Her jaw refused to move.
She sat there staring at her plate without moving.
Dohyeon frowned slightly.
“What is it?”
“Don’t you like the steak?”
As he spoke, he raised his hand to call the manager.
“No…”
“It’s delicious.”
Forcing herself to smile, Ina looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
Immediately, Dohyeon noticed that her eyes had turned red.
He wanted to ask why she was crying.
Instead, he simply looked at her in silence.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Ina hurriedly wiped it away with the back of her hand before lowering her head again.
“Actually…”
“It’s been a really long time since I’ve had meat.”
“…”
“I didn’t want to say it because I thought I’d look pathetic.”
She stuffed another piece of steak into her mouth, swallowing her tears along with it.
“It’s really good.”
“Next time…”
“I want to bring my father and my younger brother here.”
Tears kept falling one after another.
Even Ina herself seemed flustered by them as she reached for a napkin.
“…!”
But instead of the napkin…
Her fingertips brushed against the back of Dohyeon’s hand.
A shiver ran through her fingers.
After quietly looking at her for a moment, he picked up the napkin and gently slid it toward her.
“It’s nothing.”
His voice was flat and emotionless.
Yet those words fell over Ina’s worn-out heart like gentle rain.
“Before long…”
“It’ll be as if none of this ever happened.”
“Mr. Dohyeon…”
Looking at the napkin he had handed her, she unconsciously covered the back of the hand that had touched his.
“And now…”
“You have me.”
Ina’s eyes widened at those unexpected words.
She slowly looked up at him through her tears.
His expression remained as unreadable as ever.
His tone was still blunt.
But…
It was comfort.
This was Dohyeon’s way of comforting her.
“So there’s nothing to worry about.”
After saying that, he looked away again.
Silence settled between them once more.
As Ina quietly played with the napkin…
For the first time in a long while, she felt at peace.
“…I won’t worry, Mr. Dohyeon.”
She answered softly and continued eating.
“And…”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve really wanted to say that.”
At that, Dohyeon narrowed his eyes slightly and slid a glass of water toward her.
Ina looked at the glass that had been placed in front of her.
“If you’re really thankful…”
“Then don’t say things that don’t suit you anymore.”
“…Things that don’t suit me?”
He raised his eyes and looked directly into hers.
“Like asking me to spend the night with you.”
“Oh…”
“And stop telling lies that won’t fool anyone.”
At those words, Ina quietly touched her lower lip.
“Even if you want me…”
“Be patient.”
“T-That’s not…!”
Keeping his eyes fixed on her flustered face, he continued,
“I’ll teach you…”
“One step at a time…”
“…how to be a husband and wife.”
His added words left Ina completely speechless.
She couldn’t say a single word.
After quietly holding her gaze, Dohyeon reached into his jacket and took something out.
“…What’s this?”
Ina looked down, slightly stiff.
“…Ah.”
It was a phone.
It looked like a new one.
“Take it.”
“…”
“I figured you’d need a phone right away.”
“I can buy one tomorrow.”
“It’s okay.”
She held it back out to him.
Dohyeon firmly caught her wrist.
“I’m not okay with that.”
His tone was calm.
But there was unmistakable firmness in his voice.
Unable to refuse any longer, Ina accepted the phone.
“Go on.”
Dohyeon spoke the single word as he looked up at the old apartment building behind Ina.
Even though it was only the second time he had seen it…
He still couldn’t get used to how run-down it looked.
“…Okay.”
“Drive safely.”
Ina bowed politely before turning around.
She wanted to look back one more time.
She wanted to see his face again.
But somehow…
She couldn’t find the courage.
Just knowing he was watching made her legs feel awkward as she walked.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of her footsteps echoed through the quiet stairwell.
As she disappeared into the darkness, the loneliness and silence wrapped around her once again.
After reaching her apartment, she looked around carefully as usual before unlocking the door.
The very first thing she did was lock it again.
She fastened every lock and safety latch.
But they were all so old and flimsy that someone could probably break them with enough force.
Depending on such weak locks to protect her through the long nights…
Made her feel miserable.
“…I’m alone again.”
For just a little while…
When Dohyeon had stepped into this cold, shabby apartment…
It had actually felt warm.
And after such a long time, instead of eating cold instant noodles by herself…
She had shared a wonderful meal with him.
Was this how Cinderella felt…
When the magic disappeared at midnight?
Standing absentmindedly in the apartment, Ina slipped off her shoes.
The heating wasn’t on.
Her body shivered automatically.
Even though it was spring, the nights were still as cold as winter.
She wrapped herself in the coat she had left on the sofa.
Then she walked toward the balcony to close the window she had left open to air out the moldy smell.
Bzzz.
Just then, the new phone Dohyeon had given her vibrated.
She quickly checked it.
A message had arrived.
[Check the front door. Make sure you lock it properly.]
It was from Dohyeon.
Tilting her head in confusion, she hurried to open the front door.
There was a large box sitting outside.
“What is…?”
Carefully opening it, she found a thick bedding set, an electric heating mat, and an air purifier inside.
“Mr. Dohyeon…”
She stared at everything in shock.
Then she noticed a small medicine bag tucked into the corner of the box.
She quickly opened it.
Inside were digestive medicine and gas relief medicine.
She had actually been feeling uncomfortable after eating such a rich meal for the first time in so long.
Ina froze where she stood.
She couldn’t bring herself to move.
