"Read this!" said Saga, handing a piece of paper to Areum.

Areum, not understanding why Saga was handing her the paper, took it and read it slowly.

"So, you want our marriage to be just a pretense?" Areum asked, her expression changing from the earlier cheerfulness when she had just arrived at Saga's house.

"Yeah," Saga replied briefly, nodding.

"Why? If you don't want to marry me, just reject the arranged marriage!" Areum retorted, pretending to be strong and not showing weakness in front of Saga.

Saga looked at Areum for a moment. The man with pale white skin then turned his face away, avoiding eye contact with Areum.

"Saga, if you really don't want to marry me, reject this arrangement. I don't want to deceive our parents by getting married like this," Areum said again.

Areum then stood up from her sitting position. The not-too-tall but cute girl chose to leave Saga's room. She felt there was nothing more to discuss. Seeing Areum about to leave his room, Saga quickly grabbed Areum's hand to stop her from going.

"Wait," said Saga.

Areum stopped in her tracks, but she didn't turn to look at Saga. Areum wanted to cry right now, and she didn't wish for Saga to know.

"Don't go! We need to talk about this, Areum. I have a reason why I can't refuse this arranged marriage," Saga tried to convince Areum.

The girl remained silent, not moving or saying a word. Saga sighed in frustration, then pulled Areum's hand again so that she faced him now. Areum looked at Saga with teary eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Saga asked, confused.

"I'm not crying. It's just that the air here is uncomfortable, making my eyes sting," Areum lied.

Areum then gently released her hand from Saga's grip, forcing herself to smile. "Excuse me, Saga. I will tell my parents that we are not compatible. So, don't use this method to deceive our parents."

Saga groaned in frustration; he had to explain everything so that Areum didn't misunderstand. But how and where to start? Saga really needed to learn.

---

Areum was following behind Saga; since earlier, she had been following Saga around a somewhat famous shopping center in Seoul. Of course, this was not without reason; Areum had been Saga's secretary for five years.

"Tell the supervisors at each outlet here to tighten security at each outlet. I think the existing CCTV is not safe enough," Saga said without looking at Areum, continuing to give instructions.

"Yes, Hoejang-nim," Areum replied shortly.

Saga stopped abruptly without a signal. Areum, who didn't notice, bumped into Saga's broad chest and was pushed back. Saga quickly caught Areum's hand to prevent her from falling. They looked at each other for a moment until Saga cleared his throat, and Areum regained awareness, letting go of Saga's hand.

"Sorry, Hoejang-nim, I didn't know you stopped walking," Areum said, lowering her head.

"It's okay. Can I ask you something?" Saga said.

Areum looked up and nodded. "Can we just call me Saga when it's just the two of us? Don't call me Director!"

"Huh?" Areum asked, confused.

"Just when it's the two of us, at the office, still call me Director. You, of course, remember that you are now my wife," Saga said, pulling Areum's hand.

Areum was surprised and leaned back; she looked at Saga with wide eyes. "One more thing, walk beside me! Don't walk behind me! Because you're not my bodyguard, but my secretary," Saga said, making Areum widen her eyes even more, unbelieving.

---

Areum opened her eyes slowly, feeling Saga's arm around her waist. Areum turned to her husband, and her eyes suddenly welled up with tears early in the morning.

"If only this were real," Areum thought.

Areum wiped her tears slowly and then cleared her throat softly. "Saga, wake up! It's already noon," Areum whispered, waking up her husband.

Saga, not aware of what he was doing, stretched his body slowly. Saga then looked at Areum, whose face was now very close to his. Saga smiled faintly and continued to gaze at Areum.

"Good morning," Saga said in a hoarse voice.

"Yeah, good morning. Hurry up and get up and shower! I'll prepare breakfast for you and Eommonim first," Areum said, releasing her embrace of Saga slowly.

Areum slid down from the bed, but Saga suddenly held her hand. Areum looked at Saga and raised her eyebrows. "Why?" she asked later.

"Thank you for being a real wife when Eomma is here," Saga said while still looking at Areum.

Areum fell silent hearing the thank-you from Saga, even though this wasn't the first time. Still, Areum always felt astonished and felt Saga's sincerity just now. Areum carefully examined Saga's face, then nodded her head slightly in agreement.

"Go shower, Saga!" Areum said again.

Areum released Saga's hand and then left her room and Saga. Meanwhile, Saga sighed deeply, watching Areum leave him alone in the room.

---

"So, when will you start the program to have a child? It's almost a year after your marriage. Isn't it long enough, postponing having a child?" Mrs. Min said while enjoying her meal.

Areum fell silent, hearing her mother-in-law's words. Areum then looked at Saga and stared at her husband with a confused and needy expression.

"Why discuss children at the dining table? Doesn't that cause someone's mood to worsen, Eomma?" Saga said after seeing Areum looking sad.

Mrs. Min shifted her gaze from the food she was enjoying then looked at Saga and Areum alternately. "Ck, you two always refuse to talk about children. Don't you want to have a child?" Mrs. Min asked, a little annoyed, then put down her chopsticks, stopping eating.

"Saga, don't talk like that. Look, Eomma even loses her appetite," Areum said, holding her husband's arm.

Saga looked at Areum, then sighed deeply. Shortly afterward, Saga looked at his mother again and stared at Mrs. Min sharply. "Look, Eomma! Areum is considerate of your feelings, so why can't you consider Areum's feelings?" Saga retorted emphatically.

"Saga," Areum interrupted again because if Saga continued, he would not be able to hold back his emotions even though Saga wouldn't get angry and shout at people, especially women and his mother.

Saga looked at Areum again, then sighed in frustration. Areum always cared for people's feelings without thinking about her feelings.

"We won't have children, Eomma," Saga said, looking back at Mrs. Min.

Clearly, that made Mrs. Min widen her eyes in disbelief. "What do you mean?" Mrs. Min asked later.

"We have agreed on a child-free life. I don't need children, and I just want to live with Areum alone until we die," Saga said bluntly and very confidently.

Areum was also surprised by Saga's statement. She looked at her husband with wide eyes and a shocked face. Meanwhile, Saga looked at Areum with a calm and very sure face.

"Is this real, or is it part of our drama?" Areum thought in her monologue.
***