Husband's Night - chapter 1

Chapter 1

The night settled faster than usual.

It was because of the unexpected spring rain.

In the clearing before a grand hanok, the dampened soil, mixed with raindrops, was mercilessly crushed under the tires of a swiftly approaching sedan.

Click.

Kim, the secretary, stepped out of the driver’s seat, hastily opened a large umbrella, and hurried to the backseat. Before his hand even reached the door handle, it opened.

“This is the place.”

A deep, calm voice blended with the rain, creating an oddly tense atmosphere.

As Kim nodded nervously, the owner of the voice stepped out of the car entirely. His presence overwhelmed the scent of rain with a rich, crisp fragrance that made the humid discomfort vanish as if it never existed.

“Kim.”

Momentarily dazed by the aroma, Kim was brought back by Joo-hyuk’s call. His boss, though a fellow man, had a knack for making others feel strangely uneasy.

“Kim, we don’t have time to waste.”

Shaken from his stupor by Joo-hyuk’s cold expression, Kim hurriedly led the way.

“Yes, Vice President. Please follow me.”

At the gate, a young woman with her hair tied back greeted them. She was one of the employees of the famous medicinal distillery, Myeongyakdang.

“You must be the vice president from Elin Hotel, here for the six o’clock meeting with our president?”

At Kim’s nod, the woman turned to lead them but froze, startled by joo-hyuk ’s piercing gaze into Myeongyakdang’s interior.

He had an appearance that could stop the world in its tracks as if a deity had walked out of a myth. His sharp nose and sculpted lips were works of art, while his keen, slightly reddened eyes held an allure that seemed almost hypnotic.

As Joo-hyuk lowered his gaze, the woman let out a soft gasp.

Her heart raced—just from meeting his eyes, a tingling sensation coursed through her body. It was a gaze she would never forget, no matter how much time passed.

“Why is someone so stunning even real?” she thought.

Her silence stretched awkwardly, but Kim sighed and broke the stillness.

“Shall we proceed?”

The woman snapped out of her daze and quickly guided them inside.

In her room, Yeon-ah sat listening to the rain, sighing with frustration.

Her father had strictly instructed her not to leave her room today. A significant guest was coming, or so he claimed.

“Who on earth is this guest that I can’t even step out?”

Myeongyakdang was a distillery renowned for crafting herbal liquors that uplifted both the mind and body, a legacy passed down for over a century by her father’s Seo family.

But to Yeon-ah , it wasn’t her family’s heritage. As an illegitimate child, neither she nor her presence was acknowledged by her father’s household or the distillery staff.

Her chest tightened at the thought of her place in the family.

Bang!

Her door slammed open, startling Yeon-ah .

“…Mom? Are you back already?”

There was no reply, only the sound of footsteps inside the room.

“Hey.”

It was her half-sister, Seyoung. Yeon-ah instinctively clenched her fists.

“Where’s your mom’s necklace?”

“What?”

“The gold necklace she always wears—the one that’s your grandma’s heirloom.”

“She’s probably wearing it…”

“No, I saw her leave earlier without it. I’m sure. Now tell me, where is it?”

Seyoung’s abrupt demand irritated Yeon-ah .

“I don’t know! And why do you care about her necklace—”

Before Yeon-ah could finish, Seyoung shoved her hard enough to make her stagger.

“Who do you think you are, talking back to me?”

Yeon-ah ’s lips trembled. The fear of her half sister’s disdain grew with each encounter, leaving her feeling utterly helpless.

“It’s worth a fortune if sold. Just tell me already!”

“I don’t know…”

“Where does she keep her jewelry box? Ugh, never mind.”

Yeon-ah heard Seyoung rifling through her bedside drawers, unable to stop her.

“That’s theft! Stop it!”

“Don’t be ridiculous—it’s family business.”

“Family? You don’t even see us as family…!”

Seyoung shoved her harder this time.

“Why, do you want to fight back today? Stay in your place like usual, Yeon-ah .”

But Yeon-ah rose again, her voice rising.

“If you need money, ask Dad instead!”

Seyoung cursed and began tearing through the room.

Despite her protests, Yeon-ah couldn’t stop her. The few precious things her mother owned were always kept close for this very reason—Seyoung’s constant torment.

Finally, Seyoung grabbed Yeon-ah ’s walking stick, an essential aid for her blindness.

“Don’t touch that! I’ll get mad!”

“Oh, you’re mad now? Scary.”

Yeon-ah , furious and helpless, followed Seyoung out of the room.

At the main hall, Yeon-ah ’s father, Seunghwan, welcomed joo-hyuk into the reception area.

“I thought the vice president would be my age, but you’re so young! It’s impressive.”

joo-hyuk ’s expression remained cold, making Seunghwan uneasy. He had connections with many renowned companies but struggled to establish ties with Elin Hotel. This meeting was a rare opportunity.

Just then, a loud bang from the annex interrupted their conversation.

Both men turned toward the source of the noise. Seunghwan’s face turned pale.

“Seo Seyoung! Give it back!”

Yeon-ah ’s shout echoed as Seyoung turned with a mocking smile.

“Give what back? Don’t you dare call me by my name!”

Seyoung strode toward her, splashing through puddles, and pushed her to the ground.

“That’s where you belong. Know your place.”

Before Yeon-ah could dwell on the humiliation, a new presence entered her world—a calm, refined scent unfamiliar to Myeongyakdang.

“Don’t be alarmed,” a deep voice said.

“…”

“I’ll help you up.”

Before she could respond, a warm hand gently grasped hers, lifting her effortlessly.

“Who… are you?” she asked.