The IMG board meeting was in full session. As Jinho presented at the front of the room, he couldn't help but feel Tanya's intense gaze locked onto him from across the table.
The moment the meeting wrapped up, Tanya glided over to him. "Jinho, can we grab lunch together?"
"I already have lunch plans," Jinho replied coldly.
"With who?"
"My wife."
"Oh... okay." Tanya's smile faded into disappointment as she turned and walked away.
But Tanya had no intention of giving up that easily. Seeing Jinho head out toward his car, she slipped into her own vehicle and trailed close behind him.
Jinho eventually pulled up outside a quiet restaurant and went inside. Tanya followed moments later, sliding into a table just a short distance away from where Jinho sat. She couldn't see the woman's face—she only saw the back of her head.
"Wifey, did you already order?" Jinho asked gently.
"Yeah," Cha replied.
Just you wait, Jinho... You're going to pay for ignoring me, Tanya smirked to herself. Standing up, she sauntered right over to their table.
"Hi, Jinho! Fancy meeting you here!" Tanya exclaimed, putting on a surprised act.
Jinho stiffened, but quickly masked his shock.
Tanya turned her eyes toward Cha. "Hi! How are you? So you're Jinho's wife."
Cha stood up politely, offering a small handshake. "Ah... yes. Nice to meet you again."
"Do you mind if I join you two? I don't really have anyone to eat with—my coworker ditched me for lunch," Tanya lied smoothly.
"Sure, it's totally fine," Cha offered graciously.
Tanya took a seat right in front of Jinho, placing her side-by-side with Cha. Across the table, Jinho's chest tightened in pure anxiety. Sweat began to bead along his hairline.
"So you're his wife," Tanya remarked, looking Cha up and down. "We actually bumped into each other at the mall before."
"Yeah, I already mentioned to jinho," Cha nodded.
"Did Jinho also tell you that he was my savior?" Tanya asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Huh?" Cha blinked, confused.
Before Tanya could utter another word, Jinho cut in hastily, his voice brimming with nervous energy. "Ah—what she means is that I covered for her when she was late for a big photoshoot! Even though the photographer was furious, I begged them to wait a bit longer because Miss Tanya was probably stuck in traffic. It was a huge project, after all!"
Jinho almost ran out of breath by the end of his rushed explanation. Cha stared at him, seemingly buying into the story.
Tanya let out a soft, amused chuckle, locking eyes with Jinho. "Ah... right."
"I'm just going to step out to the restroom for a moment," Cha excused herself politely, pushing her chair back.
The second Cha walked away, the atmosphere at the table turned icy.
"What are you doing here?!" Jinho hissed under his breath.
"Following you, obviously," Tanya replied smoothly.
"Please, Tanya... don't make a scene here."
"Why did you lie?" Tanya scoffed. "None of what you just said actually happened. Why didn't you tell her that you came to get me at the bar late at night and took me to a hotel?"
"Do you want my wife to be furious with me?!" Jinho spat back, his voice strained. "She'd wonder why on earth I was meeting you at midnight! She'd think the absolute worst!"
Neither of them realized that Cha had walked back early and was standing right behind Tanya, taking in every word.
Jinho's eyes widened in horror as he spotted her. "Cha..."
Cha immediately turned on her heel and bolted out of the restaurant.
"Look at what you've done!" Jinho snapped at Tanya.
Tanya merely smirked in satisfaction.
Ignoring her, Jinho sprang up from his seat and sprinted out the door after Cha, but she was already gone—disappearing down the bustling street in seconds.
Tears streamed down Cha's cheeks as she walked aimlessly down the sidewalk. Her head throbbed. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that Jinho had lied straight to her face. So that was why he had vanished at midnight that night—he was with Tanya. Why...? Cha asked herself repeatedly. She felt the painful ache of betrayal, unsure if she could ever trust her husband again.
Back in the city, Jinho searched frantically everywhere. He called all of Cha's close friends, but none of them had seen her. He rushed back to their condo, but it was empty. Panic set in, a blinding headache taking over as Cha's phone went straight to voicemail.
Cha... where are you...?
Meanwhile, Cha had checked into Hotel Mirra, seeking refuge in Room 204. She just needed to be alone; she couldn't bring herself to face Jinho right now.
Morning arrived, and Cha still hadn't returned home. Jinho enlisted the help of his friends to track her down.
Suddenly, Jinho's phone rang in his hand. He answered instantly. "Hello, Migs?!"
"Jinho, I found out where your wife is," Migs reported. "She's at Hotel Mirra, Room 204. Go now!"
"Thanks, Migs!"
Jinho drove like a maniac to the hotel. But by the time he reached the front desk, the receptionist shook her head softly. "Yes, Sir, a Ms. Kim Ae-cha was checked in, but she just checked out a few minutes ago."
"Thank you!"
Jinho bolted back toward the main entrance, desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Just as he stepped outside, he saw Cha getting into a taxi cab.
Jinho sprinted to his car and trailed the taxi across town until it finally stopped near the coastline.
Cha stepped out of the cab, walking slowly along the quiet shore before sitting down near the water, watching the gentle waves.
Jinho approached quietly, stopping a few feet away. "Cha... I'm so sorry. It was never my intention to lie to you."
Cha didn't look at him. "What are you doing here? Don't you have work? Why did you follow me?"
"I was out of my mind with worry," Jinho said, his voice breaking. "I searched everywhere for you..."
"Really? You were worried about me? Why?!" Cha snapped, turning to glare at him with angry, tear-stained eyes. "Why are you making a fool out of me, Jinho?!"
"Cha, please... just listen to me first. Let me explain what you heard—"
"What is there left to explain?!" Cha shouted, her anger flaring. "I heard everything! What is a married man doing in a hotel room with another woman at midnight?!"
"Tanya was completely wasted, and the bar staff called me from her phone!" Jinho pleaded, stepping closer. "I went there just to get her home safely, but I didn't know where she lived! So I checked her into a hotel room and left immediately. Nothing happened between us, Cha. Please believe me!"
"How am I supposed to believe you when you spun a whole lie right in front of me instead of telling me the truth?!"
"Because I was terrified you'd misinterpret it!" Jinho cried out. "And... to be honest, Cha, the reason Tanya was drinking so heavily that night was because of me."
"Why?" Cha asked, her expression hardening.
"She likes me. She's been trying to seduce me and throwing herself at me constantly. But I've been actively avoiding her because the last thing I don't want to hurt you! But she wouldn't stop. Remember when I was sick? I was completely stressed out because she wouldn't leave me alone, even at the office. Please, Cha... believe me, I've been doing everything to keep my distance from her."
Cha let out a long, heavy sigh, looking out over the ocean. "Do you really think that if you had told me the truth that night, I wouldn't have believed you? Do you really think I have so little trust in you? What hurt me, Jinho, was the fact that you lied."
Cha turned her head to look into Jinho's eyes. Her face was overwhelmed with heartbreak.
Unable to hold back any longer, Jinho pulled Cha tightly into his arms. "I'm sorry... Wifey..."
At his touch, Cha's composure finally shattered. She burst into soft, uncontrollable sobs against his chest.
"Please... don't cry," Jinho whispered gently, caressing her back.
He slowly pulled back and cupped her face with his warm hands, gently wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "I love you..." he murmured, staring deep into her eyes.
Tears welled up in Jinho's eyes too, dripping down his cheeks. Cha could see nothing but absolute, raw sincerity in his gaze.
Why is it that whenever he looks at me like this, I completely lose all my defense? Cha thought, feeling her guarded heart melt away. I just can't bring myself to stay mad at him.
"I can't live without you, my Wifey," Jinho choked out.
"I love you too... Hubby," Cha whispered softly.
A soft, relieved smile broke across Jinho's face as he pulled her back into another warm, tight embrace. "Thank you... my Wifey."
__Chapter 11 end__
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