Divorce in Bed Chapter 18

“Just like you said, it’s only playing house. So why refuse?”

“…”

“Playing at being a married couple with a kid like me isn’t going to change your mind, is it, Mister Dowon? We’re going to divorce in the end anyway.”

Yeohwi laughed self-deprecatingly.

“Right. Just think of it as playing along with a brat. It’s only keeping the beat for a little while. In exchange for that, you’ll get the Seong family inheritance and even KD Group handed to you on a silver platter.”

Dowon stood there as if nailed to the spot, stiff and upright, glaring fiercely at Yeohwi.

To think that the thing he was begging for, even while throwing away his final card—that massive inheritance—was merely the seat by his side.

Is this idiot truly a fool? Or does he simply have a talent for driving people crazy?

In an instant, a hot lump of fire surged slowly from deep within.

This wasn’t pity or worry.

Even though the boy must know he would eventually pay a price if he stayed by his side. Nevertheless, he couldn’t stand the anger toward this foolish brat who was rushing in, declaring he would burn even his final spark.

“What exactly are you trying to gain by going this far?”

Dowon threw the documents roughly onto the bed.

The bundle of papers scattered and fell powerlessly onto Yeohwi’s lap.

“Playing house? If you wanted to play with fire, I told you to look into having an affair.”

Dowon’s voice echoed low and threateningly, like the growl of a beast. Dowon suppressed the unidentified rage boiling inside him and spoke even more heartlessly.

“Well, I commend the idea of buying a person with money. Out of all the nonsense you’ve babbled so far, it’s the most realistic.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s nonsense.”

Yeohwi faced Dowon with a pale face, but with eyes that did not back down.

“If you refuse to the very end, Mister Dowon, I’m going to take those documents exactly as they are and go find CEO Do Jingyu.”

“What did you just say?”

A deep furrow formed between Dowon’s brows. Yeohwi’s eyes curved as he let out a self-deprecating smirk.

“How I spend my money and who I give it to is my business, isn’t it?”

“Seong Yeohwi…”

“Anyway, I want to spend it on playing house with Mister Dowon. For now, that’s all I need.”

At that moment, it felt as if a violent gale were blowing through the spot. A hurricane that sweeps away all the paved roads and sturdy buildings, turning the earth and sky upside down. It was the appearance of a grim disaster that ruined a meticulously crafted calculation.

An uncontrollable flame erupted from within Dowon’s gut.

It was just as he opened his mouth to more strongly condemn Yeohwi’s recklessness.

Bzzzz. Bzzzz.

Breaking the tension that was stretched taut as if it might snap any second, a cell phone vibrated loudly in Dowon’s inner jacket pocket.

That sound completely severed the flow of the room, which felt as if it had been overtaken by a storm.

Dowon shot Yeohwi one last look with eyes sharper and more eerie than ever before, then answered the phone irritably.

“What is it.”

—Director! Where are you right now?

The secretary’s urgent voice flowed through the receiver. His usual composure was nowhere to be found.

—The final review meeting with the legal team is imminent. The legal counsel and law firm officials have all arrived and are waiting. But since you aren’t in your seat… did something happen by any chance?

Tsk. Dowon clicked his tongue sharply and replied briefly, without taking his eyes off Yeohwi.

“I’m coming soon.”

After hanging up, Dowon turned around abruptly and left the room, closing the bedroom door so hard it sounded like it might break.

Yeohwi watched the firmly closed door silently for a long time, then looked down at the crumpled documents on his lap.

The letters looked blurry and smudged. Yeohwi sniffled alone, wiping his reddened eyes here and there. Then, he soon lay down on his side with his head on the pillow and pulled the duvet completely over his head.

The IV fluid dripped slowly through the line connected to the vein in his forearm.

His blurred eyes eventually slid closed.

‧₊˚🍊༉‧₊˚.

The morning sunlight pouring through the window was dazzlingly white. Within those transparent pillars of light, dust motes danced slowly like golden powder.

Seong Yeohwi rubbed his cheek against the plush bedsheets, letting out a pleasant moan at the scent of freshly brewed coffee, fabric softener, and smoky cedarwood tickling the tip of his nose.

“Mmmmmm.”

“…Are you awake?”

The languid voice heard from the bedside was as warm and sweet as the sunlight.

When Yeohwi rubbed his eyes and lifted his head, he saw Dowon. Instead of the usual stiff suit, he was wearing a soft, cream-colored cashmere knit, leaning against the headboard and reading a book.

His lowered eyelashes cast long shadows in the sunlight. His smooth forehead could be glimpsed through his vulnerably disheveled bangs.

“Hyung? Is it Won-ie hyung…?”

“Yeah.”

Dowon closed his book and turned his head. A spring-like leisureliness greeted Yeohwi on a face where his characteristic cold expression had melted away.

He reached out and gently stroked Yeohwi’s messy, light-brown hair.

“You should have slept more. We have plenty of time today.”

“No. I had something like a nightmare.”

“A nightmare?”

“Yeah… well, kind of. It was a weird, crazy dream. You and I were fighting and bickering like crazy.”

Yeohwi wrapped his arms around his waist like a puppy wagging its tail and burrowed into his chest. Instead of pushing Yeohwi away, Dowon wrapped his sturdy arms around his back and patted him.

The sound of a steady heartbeat could be heard from his chest.

“A fight? Over what?”

“I don’t know. Something about us not sharing a bed? And then out of the blue, asking to play house…”

“Play? Why is it play when we’re married.”

“My thoughts exactly. I thought I was going to die of frustration.”

Yeohwi lifted his head and looked at Dowon’s face.

A face so handsome it took his breath away. The sharp bridge of the nose and the razor-sharp jawline were the same, but the gaze looking at him was the sweetest in the world. And of course, Yeohwi’s eyes looking at him were also smooth and clear, sparkling like pearls that might roll away if touched.

“We could just say ‘Honey, I’m sorry’ and kiss. Why be so stubborn? I would never be like that to you, hyung.”

Yeohwi acted spoiled, rubbing his cheek against his chest. Dowon laughed low. That vibration was transmitted directly to Yeohwi’s chest.

“Right, me too. I won’t be like that to you.”

“Hehe, right? But hyu-ung… are you really not going to the office today?”

“Yeah. I should rest today.”

“Ha, I wish you’d never go. I want to keep staying together like this.”

“Do you really want to do that?”

“Yeah.”

“Then shall we? Shall we stay together until you want to?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’ll only stay by your side.”

Dowon’s hand cupped Yeohwi’s cheek. At the cool yet gentle touch, Yeohwi closed his eyes and kissed the palm of that hand. Dowon’s thumb slowly brushed over Yeohwi’s lips.

“Honey.”

“Yeah?”

“What do you like about me?”

Dowon paused playfully, then lightly nipped the tip of Yeohwi’s nose.

The black eyes that had been dry and lightless were now brimming with affection directed only at Yeohwi.

“Because you’re pretty.”

He whispered. Yeohwi curled his lips into a wide, bright grin and threw his arms around Dowon’s neck.

“Even though I’ve gotten bigger than you, hyung?”

“You’re still pretty.”

“Even though my hands got bigger, my feet got bigger, and my dick got bigger too?”

“Yeah.”

“Then as my husband sees it, I have no ugly parts? Not even one?”

“I suppose that’s the case.”

“Haha.”

“Come here. Closer.”

Dowon slowly lowered his head.

The moment their lips touched, all the noise of the world vanished, and only the sound of their two breaths…

“…”

Seong Yeohwi snapped his eyes open.

The sweet sunlight, the cozy feel of the knit, and the voice whispering that he was pretty all evaporated in an instant.

Instead, the stinging smell of disinfectant and the cool air of the bedroom submerged in darkness welcomed him.

The IV needle still stuck in his arm throbbed.

‘…Ah.’

No way. His heart sank.

What he thought was a nightmare was reality, and what he thought was reality was a cruel dream. Yeohwi swallowed his bitterness and stared into the empty air.

However, in the darkness, a dark figure could be seen at the foot of the bed. Someone was standing by Yeohwi’s side.

Yeohwi stiffened, catching his breath.

The shadow of a man standing with his back to the window. His expression couldn’t be seen because of the backlight, but his presence alone was enough to tell who it was.

It was Dowon.

He was not the sweet husband for Yeohwi only that he had seen in the dream. In the exact same suit he always wore, he was looking down silently at the Yeohwi who was waking from his sleep, his arms crossed.

As if he were casting a fishing line and waiting. Without a single movement.