Suho parked inside the penthouse driveway and stayed still for a moment, fingers resting on the steering wheel. He glanced at himself in the rearview mirror again.
His eyes were still a little swollen. Too obvious. She'll notice, he thought.
He gently slapped his cheeks, blinked rapidly, and forced a few calm breaths. Better, but not perfect. And then he saw it, her shadow gliding across the glass wall, moving toward the entrance.
His chest tightened. He inhaled deeply, steadied himself, and stepped out of the car.
She was already there, standing under the soft entrance lights, smiling at him like she always did. That smile, the one that had the power to unravel him in a second.
"You didn't sleep yet?" he asked, closing the car door, his voice low in the quiet night.
"I was waiting for you," she replied, walking toward him.
Before he could say anything else, she leapt into his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck, her legs instinctively locking around his waist. He let out a quiet chuckle, arms tightening around her.
"I missed you so much," she murmured, smiling up at him. "You took so long, husband."
The word struck his heart like a soft blow. Husband.
For a brief moment, everything else faded. The voices, the threats, the impossible choice. There was only her, warm and real in his arms.
"I'm here now, jagi," he whispered, pressing her closer, choosing the present over the storm.
She smiled, content, then tilted her head slightly, eyes studying his face under the dim light.
"By the way," she said casually, unaware of the earthquake inside him, "how did your meeting go?"
His smile faltered.
In an instant, the dining table, the cold words, the ultimatum all came rushing back, colliding in his mind at once. His heartbeat stuttered, his grip tightening just a fraction around her as he searched for a way to answer without breaking.
He blinked hard, pushing everything back where it belonged, then spoke, carefully, lightly.
"It didn't go well…"
Her brows knitted instantly. "Why? What happened?"
He curved his lips into a smile, but it carried a quiet ache beneath it. "Because I had to eat very spicy kimchi. It made me cry for a while."
She studied his face, unconvinced. One hand rose instinctively, cupping his cheeks, thumbs brushing gently as if checking for pain.
"Did it hurt you that much?" she asked softly.
He looked at her. Really looked. The concern in her eyes caught his breath mid-inhale.
"Hmm… kind of," he admitted.
"Why didn't anyone stop you?" she muttered. "How could they let you eat something that spicy when they knew it would hurt you?"
His smile returned, faint and tired. "They didn't think about how much it would hurt. They just served it."
She frowned, muttering under her breath, "What kind of family does that… At least your mother should've known."
He shook his head gently, brushing it off before it could grow heavier. "Forget it. I'm fine now."
"You sure?" she asked, still searching his face.
"Yeah," he said, softer now. "And now I'm with my Hauenie. Every pain disappears."
She let out a small laugh. "Cheesy again."
He laughed with her this time, leaning in to steal a quick peck from her lips, light and familiar. She smiled, relaxed again.
Then he held her gaze, something warm flickering through the heaviness in his eyes.
"By the way," he said casually, as if it hadn't been rehearsed in his heart, "tomorrow we're going to Jeju."
Her eyes widened.
"For our honeymoon," he added, smiling. "Like you asked."
For a moment, the world felt softer. She smiled, bright and unguarded, as the night had suddenly learned how to glow.
"Really?"
"Hmm. Really." His voice softened as he spoke. "Just us. Quiet, private time," he continued, brushing his thumb over her cheek. "I've been so stressed lately… I want to clear my head. I want to be with you. Create some beautiful moments."
She leaned closer, eyes dancing. "Seems like Teddy Bear wants to be romantic."
He chuckled, stealing another gentle peck, lingering just a second longer this time. "Maybe," he murmured. "I want memories with you. The kind I can keep forever."
Something in his tone made her look at him more carefully. This wasn't just romance. There was weight beneath it.
Her eyes searched his. He caught it and smiled quickly, brushing away her worry like mist in the morning.
"I love you," he whispered suddenly, the words falling from him without warning, without preparation.
Her smile softened. "I love you too, Teddy."
He didn't look away after that. He simply stayed there, lost in her eyes, drowning willingly in that familiar ocean. No shyness. No flustered mask. Just him, bare and honest.
She barely had time to react before he leaned in. His lips found hers, slow at first, then deeper, warmer, carrying everything he hadn't said. It wasn't hurried, but it wasn't light either. It felt like a confession pressed between breaths.
She froze for a heartbeat, surprised by the intensity, by how different it felt. Then his warmth wrapped around her thoughts, and she melted into him, eyes closing on their own.
The kiss deepened, unspoken emotions weaving between them, steady and consuming. He held her like he was afraid of losing her again, as this moment mattered more than words ever could.
When she finally pulled back, breathless, her chest rising unevenly, she saw it on his face.
That look.
Intense. Hungry. Fragile. Like a man who had waited far too long… or like someone afraid this might be the last time.
"I want you," he whispered.
No hesitation. No soft cushioning of words. Just truth, bare and burning.
Her breath hitched.
"I want you, Hauena. Right now." His voice trembled, eyes dark, lips barely steady.
For a second, she only stared at him, surprised by his honesty, by the way he wasn't asking. He was holding on.
"Then take me," she said quietly.
That was all it took.
He kissed her again, deeper this time, more certain. His steps were quick but controlled as he carried her inside, his hold firm, protective, as if letting go was no longer an option. The world outside dissolved as the door closed behind them.
He led her to the bedroom, not rushed, not careless. Intent. Like he needed to feel her warmth, her presence, her reality.
Tonight, he chose her warmth over the noise. Her presence over every fear. And in her arms, he allowed himself one moment of forgetting. One moment of clarity. One moment to steady his heart before the storm returned.