Husband's Night - chapter 0 (prolog)

Prolog

Hotel Elin, the top-floor penthouse.

The whiskey she drank earlier, with its 46% alcohol content, was so strong it left her speechless.

Yeon-ah’s tongue felt numb, and the heat rising rapidly from her chest to her face made it impossible for her to lift her head.

“I told you it would be too much for you.”

His pleasant voice was laced with a quiet laugh.

When Yeon-ah shyly raised her head, her eyes met his—Cha Joo-hyuk, her incredibly handsome husband.

“…Don’t laugh at me. I’m just not used to drinking since I don’t get the chance.”

“I’m not laughing.”

He smiled faintly and pressed his thumb against the corner of his lips. Then, with his long fingers, he tapped on a document lying beside the glass.

“Application for Mutual Divorce Agreement”

“Shall we fill out the paperwork before it gets too late?”

“…”

Today was the day they’d agreed to finalize their divorce, marking the end of their contract marriage.

As a gesture, they decided to share a simple drink to commemorate the occasion, and Joo-hyuk had shown a rare bit of kindness.

“Think of one thing you’d like,” he’d said. “I want to give you a gift, as someone who was briefly my wife.”

Yeon-ah didn’t want it to end like this. She wanted to know him better—the man who had reached out to her when she was trapped in a hellish place.

Her eyes, fixed on the divorce papers, glistened with sadness.

“I thought of a gift…”

“Ah, tell me.”

His eyes, as cold and deep as the winter sea, watched her closely. But Yeon-ah knew he was a warm person underneath, and she wanted to show him her true self.

Not to end like this, but to hold his gaze a little longer. To make him think of her once she was gone.

She didn’t want to just be a contract wife. She wanted him to see her as a woman.

“Will you really grant me anything?”

But if she had to let him go before she had that chance…

“Yes. Anything.”

Then there was just one thing she dared to wish for.

“Joo-hyuk…your…”

“My?”

“Your night.”

“…What?”

“I want to spend one night with you.”

They could talk through the night, or if he wanted, share a deeper connection. It didn’t matter.

If she had to sign the divorce papers, one day was enough. She just wanted to know him a little more.

“…”

Instead of replying, he loosened his tie, his eyes never leaving hers.

His expression was unreadable. The furrow of his brows looked annoyed, but his usually steady gaze wavered ever so slightly as if he were struggling.

She wished he’d stop confusing her and just give her an answer, but his silence dragged on.

As her nervous breaths grew shallower, he finally spoke.

“We’re in the middle of signing divorce papers.”

His tone was calm, almost emotionless.

“I know.”

“Once we sign them, you and I are strangers.”

It was a roundabout rejection.

“You don’t want to. That’s fine. You’ve already done so much for me.”

Yeon-ah forced a bitter smile, picked up the pen, and filled out the remaining blanks on the divorce papers.

She slammed the pen down as if to crush the feelings she had been holding back. With this, she no longer had a reason to stay.

For their five-month contract marriage, she’d received a large settlement. His support had even helped her get a cornea transplant, restoring her sight completely.

“…Thank you for everything. I’ll be staying at my mom’s house starting today.”

As she felt her eyes well up, she turned and hurried toward the door.

Just as her trembling hand reached the doorknob—

Bang!

The door slammed shut, and she was swiftly spun around.

Before she could react, he pulled her close, his arms wrapping tightly around her slender waist.

“Did you mean what you just said?”

Yeon-ah hesitated but slowly nodded.

“Will you…give it to me?”

He let out a short laugh.

Fearlessly asking for something like that.

His restraint snapped as he cupped her jaw and captured her lips in a deep kiss.

Her soft, inexperienced response only heightened his desire, and her lack of strength left her leaning heavily against his solid frame.

Breaking the kiss, he gripped her thighs tightly, pulling her even closer.

“The papers will be signed tomorrow, as planned. Even so, if you want this…”

“…”

“Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

When she nodded faintly, he lifted her into his arms and whispered one last time.

“Then take it—my night.”