IMFOBO | CH 52 | The Unruly Husband

The wedding, which had felt like it would never end, was finally over.
Everyone had left.

And just like that, Eun-cho was alone with Ryu Tae-san.

They had postponed their honeymoon.

Instead, they agreed to spend one night in the hotel suite where the ceremony had been held and another at the old family house in Cheongnim-ri.

“My goodness, how could my grandson not go on a honeymoon when his own grandfather runs an inn?”
“Tae-san, finish up your busy work and go to Hawaii for about a month.”

Chairman Ryu was flabbergasted by the newlyweds’ decision, saying it was outrageous.
He even promised—in his stern tone—that he would reserve a suite at a Baekwoon Group hotel in Hawaii for a whole month.

Tae-san readily agreed with a smile, but Eun-cho only responded with a faint one.

It was a promise made without certainty, and she didn’t want to lie to the elder.

“What if our daughter-in-law gets upset because of that thoughtless boy? I’m sorry, Eun-cho, for raising a son like that.”

The couple themselves weren’t the least bit bothered about not taking a honeymoon, yet both Chairman Ryu and even Madam Han seemed completely at a loss over it.

‘You don’t get to feel hurt unless you’ve earned the right to.’

After all, Eun-cho and Tae-san were in a relationship with an expiration date.

When meaningless things are repeated often enough, they can start to feel meaningful.

In a relationship that was destined to end, there was nothing more burdensome than accumulating memories.

What was easy and familiar for Ryu Tae-san was still awkward and unfamiliar for Lee Eun-cho.

She feared that if she let her guard down for even a moment, she might forget her place, become comfortable with the luxury he offered, and forget that it wasn’t meant to last.

More than anything, she didn’t want to lose herself.

If it meant drawing a line over and over again, she would—just to avoid getting hurt.

She didn’t want to face that vast, aching loneliness again.

“Ah… Finally.”

Eun-cho kicked off the tall heels she had been practically climbing in all day.

The soft carpet under her bare feet wrapped her in a warm, plush sensation.

Her soles throbbed with dull pain after standing for hours.

Her cheeks, which had been stuck in a constant smile all day, felt like they might cramp.

Suddenly, she thought of her father—his calm face, neither smiling nor crying.

So impossible to read.

“I’m glad you have someone to lean on now.”

A sincere wish for her happiness.

Eun-cho recalled the face of the man she had loved so much as a child.

That day that had been so full of unclouded joy, untouched by sorrow.

Why had he lived that way?

How could a man who had once loved his wife so dearly not even hold his daughter’s hand during her wedding procession?

It felt ridiculous, even laughable, that a man who’d never been there as she grew up would now suddenly offer his blessings for her future.

A bitter taste lingered on her tongue.

With a quiet sigh, Eun-cho gazed out over the night view.

The endless rows of high-rises packed like matchboxes emitted a glow that mingled with the streams of car headlights, all melting together into a far-reaching blur of light.

She found herself mesmerized by the rippling surface of the Han River, swaying gently with the breeze.

The city’s nightscape—softly swallowing the end of this long, long day—glowed with a dreamy beauty that stole her breath away.

Hoo…

The wedding was over, but Eun-cho’s mind was still tangled.

Her unresolved relationship with her father.
A marriage that held no certainty.
And a husband whose heart remained a mystery.

You knew this from the start, Lee Eun-cho.

It wasn’t the kind of marriage where you could simply wish for happiness.

Eun-cho had known that from the beginning—yet still, a strange restlessness lingered.

She smoothed down the deep green fabric of her second dress.
She had only been allowed to wear it off-the-shoulder, thanks to Ryu Tae-san’s gracious concession.

Even then, the chiffon overlay covered her collarbone almost completely, revealing just the faintest glimpse of skin.

So stifling.

Now that she’d taken off her heels, changing out of this cumbersome dress would bring real relief.

Eun-cho reached behind her for the zipper.
But the tightly sealed fabric refused to budge, the only sound being the rustle of cloth rubbing against cloth.

Just then, she felt a familiar presence—and an unfamiliar scent—at her back.

Flowers? No… fruit.

“Oh? When did you get here?”

She turned her head and saw Tae-san, holding a wine glass in his hand.
The deep red liquid shimmered in the clear glass, its rich, sweet aroma filling the room.

After setting the glass on the nightstand, he reached straight toward her.

“Why didn’t you call for me?”
“…I thought I could handle it on my own.”

Were they now the kind of couple who could call on each other for something as small as this?

And once the dress came off, all she’d have on were her undergarments…

With an unfazed touch, Tae-san unzipped the dress.

The zipper, which hadn’t budged for Eun-cho, came down smoothly and easily under his fingers.

The sound of it sliding down grazed her ears with a strangely sensual tension.

Eun-cho stiffened a little, but she calmly held the front of her dress together.
It wasn’t like he’d even looked at her—but somehow, she felt flustered.

She hoped she didn’t seem too on edge.
She didn’t want to provoke a man with a rebellious streak.

Because she wasn’t sure she could handle him if she did.

And tonight, of all nights, was… their first night.

The night that, for most couples, came with expectation and excitement.

And in her case, it really was the first night—in every sense of the word.

Though she and Tae-san had experienced a few clumsy, accidental touches before, they had never truly spent a night together.

Eun-cho looked up at him with uncertain eyes.

Under the dim, moody lighting, there was something deeply alluring about his presence.

“Want a drink?”
“Sure.”

Her throat was strangely dry.
Maybe it was the relief of the wedding being over… or maybe it was just the tension radiating from the man before her.

He smirked slightly, tugging one corner of his lips up.

That boyish grin softened his features, and he lightly swirled the glass in his hand.
The dark red wine spun in gentle circles.

The scent spread wider—and in that exact moment, Tae-san leaned in as if to envelop her.

“…!”

Of course. Nothing ever went as expected with Ryu Tae-san.

She had thought he would just hand her the glass.

But no—he took a sip himself and then brought his lips to hers.

Their mouths pressed together—soft at first, then suddenly intense.

What…?!

Who said anything about drinking wine like this?

There was no time to object.

Eun-cho’s eyes widened as Tae-san’s sudden kiss overwhelmed her, and she pushed against his chest in shock.

But such a mild protest couldn’t possibly stop him.

Tae-san, who had been holding himself back for so long, finally let go.

This version of him—sensual, reckless—had been waiting.
He had been patient, biding his time, suppressing desire.

Now, with all that pent-up heat released, he was utterly unstoppable.

“Hngh…”

Red wine spilled into her mouth through their joined lips.

Tae-san transferred the wine he had held in his mouth directly to Eun-cho’s.

The fresh tang spread over her wet inner cheeks, and a strong, almost concentrated tannin bitterness bloomed on her tongue.

Eun-cho had no choice but to accept what he gave her.

She couldn’t pull away—only tilting her head to breathe, her lips still caught in his.

And by the time she came back to herself, his wine-laced tongue had already slipped in.

That firm, ripened flesh stirred against the soft interior of her mouth, spreading the wine’s scent even thicker.

It was intoxicating—numbing—making it impossible to think straight.

“Haa…”

Her fingers, once tightly gripping the folds of her dress, began to loosen.

There was no doubt about it—he was trying to completely steal her senses.

Their lips finally parted, wet and lingering.

Tae-san met her gaze with a lazy, wicked smile.

Then, slowly—almost leisurely—he licked the trail of wine that had trickled down her neck.

“…!”

The sensation was ticklish and sinfully electric, shooting from her neck to the tips of her toes.

She had never felt anything so blatantly erotic in her life.

Her toes curled instinctively.

His dark eyes were calm and deep—revealing nothing of what he was thinking.

And in that moment, a realization hit her—startling in its clarity.

Ah… this won’t end with just a kiss.

Eun-cho, flustered, pulled up the slipping fabric of her dress to cover herself.

Her eyes dropped, catching sight of the red-stained dress where the wine had spilled—

No, not just wine.
The evidence of a kiss far too indecent.

As soon as she realized it, her face flushed bright red.

“So fussy. I’m going to take it off anyway.”

With those words, Tae-san scooped her into his arms.

Eun-cho gasped as her balance tipped, and she instinctively clung to his neck.

“Still, the first time should be in a bed.”
“W-What did you just say?”
“I’m not that much of a degenerate, you know.”

With each step Taesan took, the stunning cityscape unfurled behind the tall glass windows.

Streetlights on the bridge reflected off the water, and every breeze sent ripples across the surface.

Everything about this night felt surreal.