Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 51: That's Why It's Uncomfortable

Chapter 51: That’s Why It’s Uncomfortable

Every time Eunchae sat by the window at Seong-ah’s café, she thought about how it was truly the perfect spot. Even in the height of summer, the sunlight streaming in felt warm and inviting, while the breeze that flowed through was refreshing, not stifling. 

It was so cozy that she could easily fall asleep, even while drinking coffee from a bowl. Resting her chin in her hands and gazing dreamily out the window, Eunchae eventually placed the cushion on the table and buried her face in it. Just as she began to drift into a pleasant drowsiness, she was interrupted.

“Customer, this isn’t a hotel. You should sleep at home.”

Seong-ah scolded as she sat down opposite Eunchae.

“Ugh… I don’t sleep like this in a hotel. I lie down comfortably.”

Eunchae replied with a groan as she slowly raised her upper body. When she yawned widely, Seong-ah squinted at her.

“Are you dealing with something lately?”

“No, it’s nothing at work.”

Eunchae shook her head, feeling a twinge of discomfort. There were problems at work; her whole life felt like an endless cycle of work.

Ever since Lee Joon had confessed his feelings, she hadn’t had a single day of peace.

Now that she knew everything, she felt resentful towards Tae Moo-jin and was tired of the charade.

Now that their cards were out, she couldn’t help but wonder what it was all for. Most of all, she wondered if Mrs Kang would find out.

However, she felt compelled to perform at Lee Joon’s request.

“Don’t let my grandfather know that you’re aware of everything. He’s already struggling because of his useless grandson.”

After hearing his plea, Eunchae finally understood Lee Joon’s feelings. He had treated Tae Moo-jin with genuine care, not just to inherit the company.

She was relieved by this realization. It was nice to see him getting closer to his grandfather, even if it was late.

The problem was that Lee Joon also treated Eunchae with sincerity. The kindness and thoughtful gestures she experienced during their time as a contract couple weren’t just part of a partnership, they were efforts to win her over.

Swallowing a sigh, Eunchae reflected on the past two weeks, carefully considering what to say and not to say.

Lee Joon had been straightforward and relentless, forging ahead without hesitation. Compared to his boldness, Eunchae’s cautious attempts to connect felt trivial.

His determination was quite different. He seemed determined that their paths would cross, no matter what. Even when Eunchae reacted coldly and tried to push him away, it was useless – he didn’t flinch.

He didn’t seem to care about reading her reactions or approaching cautiously. He maintained a demeanor that was both affectionate and confident, exuding an air of pride.

“Just because I’ve laid everything bare doesn’t mean this contract will fall apart. Our agreement lasts for a year. Until then, you’re not leaving my side.”

Worried that Eunchae might use the situation as an excuse to leave, Lee Joon presented her with the contract the day they returned to Seoul.

His intense gaze as he reminded her of the agreement burned into her memory. There was an obsession and possessiveness in those dark eyes as if they wanted to swallow her whole.

Eunchae had never realized that Lee Joon could be so obsessed with anyone. The fact that it was her was even more surprising and hard to believe.

It was at night that Eunchae felt most uncomfortable and confused. After sharing a bed, she found it incredibly difficult to sleep next to him.

Every night, the heated moments they shared would flash through her mind, making it hard to relax.

As a result, she often found herself tossing and turning. There were times when Lee Joon would go to his study and give her space to sleep comfortably.

But it wasn’t a complete solution. Without him, the emptiness only kept her awake longer. Reluctantly, Eunchae finally suggested that they just sleep together.

Eventually, Eunchae realised that she wanted Lee Joon. It wasn’t just that her mind was on him, her body was reacting in ways she couldn’t control.

Even when they were married, their physical chemistry had been undeniable. Now that her body remembered that excitement and pleasure, it craved it fiercely.

The heavy, musky scent of Lee Joon made her heart race, and her body became hypersensitive. She worried every night that he would notice her reactions.

***

‘I speak so coldly and reject him, yet my body keeps being drawn to him. What am I even doing?’

Confused by her own emotions, Eunchae tugged at her hair in frustration. It felt like her mind was a mess, like trying to arrange flowers in her head.

“Oh, Eunchae. Why are you like this all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know. I don’t even understand what’s happening to me.”

“What?”

Seong-ah’s eyes widened in confusion

“I’m sorry, I’ve just been… feeling a bit off lately. My head’s all jumbled.”

With a frown, Eunchae gulped down her cold coffee, trying to numb her swirling thoughts.

“Hey! Drink slowly. You’ll upset your stomach.”

Eunchae waved her hand dismissively at Seong-ah’s concern and assured her that she was fine. Just then, Yoo-rim arrived and took a seat.

“I’m here!”

“How have you been?”

“Welcome back!”

The three friends exchanged greetings and caught up after not seeing each other for some time. Amid their lively conversation, Yoo-rim revealed the purpose of their meeting.

“Eunchae, let’s have a meal at your house for your birthday. Don’t worry about cooking – just order in. I’ll bring the seaweed soup.”

“At my house?”

Eunchae’s face lit up with surprise.

“That sounds great!”

Seong-ah chimed in enthusiastically, eager to make plans, while Eunchae felt a wave of anxiety and struggled to come up with a plausible excuse.

“It might be too cramped to hang out at my place. We could rent a party room or something.”

“We’ve hung out there before and it wasn’t cramped at all.”

“Yeah, there’s plenty of space.”

Neither of them seemed to pay any attention to Eunchae’s concerns, which only made her more anxious as she bit her lip.

‘Maybe I can just stay in the two-bedroom for my birthday? It’s an emergency, so Lee Joon will probably agree.’

Just as Eunchae was settling on the idea of staying one night for her birthday, Yoo-rim casually mentioned another visitor.

“Let’s ask Woo-sung to bring the cake.”

“Are we inviting Woo-sung too?”

“Of course, he’s part of our group.”

Eunchae couldn’t help but draw a line at Yoo-rim’s insistence.

“I’d rather not invite him this time. Let’s just keep it to ourselves.”

“Why, did you have a fight with Woo-sung?”

Seong-ah exchanged glances with Yoo-rim before turning back to Eunchae.

“Is that so? Why all of a sudden?”

“It’s not that. I just think we should keep some distance.”

“Why? Has something happened?”

“Distance? You’re like brothers and sisters. And Woo-sung cares a lot about you. Just accept that he cares. Where can you find a guy like him these days?”

“Yes, there’s no one like Woo-sung. If it were me, I would have grabbed him without a second thought”.

As the two praised Woo-sung, Eunchae took a serious tone to express her feelings.

“That’s why it’s uncomfortable. I’ve never seen him as anything other than a brother. Like you said, Woo-sung is a great guy. But I just can’t, especially not in this situation”.

Her last words were more of a reminder to herself. Given the current circumstances, she had to cut her ties with Woo-sung even more firmly.

He was someone she had relied on like a real brother; he was so caring and kind. He deserved to find someone better than her and have a happy family. She couldn’t let him waste his time waiting for her. 

“What’s the big deal about getting divorced these days? Don’t overlook Woo-sung’s feelings. You know how much he loves you.” 

“Stop it, Yoo-rim. Eunchae said no.” 

Seong-ah noticed Eun-chae’s discomfort and intervened, making Yoo-rim realize her mistake. Even among friends, she had crossed the line.

“I’m sorry, Eunchae. I went too far.”

“It’s okay, Yoo-rim. I know you’re just worried about me. Thank you.”

Eunchae took Yoo-rim’s hand and smiled softly, which made Yoo-rim beam back at her and wink.

“All right, let’s change the mood and rework our plans. This time we’ll have a proper celebration.”

“Absolutely.”

“Of course.”

Thanks to the efforts of her older sister Seong-ah, the three of them quickly brightened up and began planning the party.

***

A few days later.

When the car arrived at her in-laws’ house in Hannam-dong, Eunchae opened the door and got out. As she entered the house, she remembered how Lee Joon had taken her to work in the morning and sent a driver to take her home in the evening.

Of course, Eunchae refused, insisting that she would take the bus and the subway. Lee Joon then offered to send a car directly to her place of work, leaving her speechless.

“Or maybe I should buy you a car? The choice is yours.”

He wasn’t a tyrant, but under that kind of pressure, Eunchae finally gave in to Lee Joon’s wishes. That was a month ago.

As she was about to ring the doorbell, someone called out to her loudly.

“Yoon Eunchae!”

Eunchae turned her head toward the voice and was startled to see Woo-sung striding toward her.

“Oppa.”

How did he find out she was here? Her face paled, and her mind went blank.

“Oppa… what are you doing here?”

“What are you doing? Why are you here?”

Woo-sung shouted in anger. His anger and jealousy had brought him to the brink of losing his temper. Although he had suspected that she was with Tae Lee Joon, he had hoped it wasn’t true.

He followed Eunchae with this desperate wish but at the old in-laws’ house of all places? What was going on there?

“Tell me the truth. Why are you here? Don’t tell me… do you live here?”

Realizing that he had figured everything out, Eunchae closed her eyes tightly. Despite her caution, she had been caught.

“Oppa, just calm down…”

As she tried to calm the angry Woo-sung, she was also sweating and looking around nervously. If any of the adults or staff saw this, it would be a big problem.

“Calm down? Do I look calm right now? Just tell me the truth. Hurry up!”

“It’s just…”

As Eunchae struggled to find her words, a chilling voice interrupted.

“What are you doing in front of someone else’s house?”

“Gah…!”

A shiver ran down Eunchae’s spine as she turned around. There was Lee Joon, walking towards her after closing the car door.