Affectionate Obsession - Chapter 18

Junhyeok sat on the sofa in the CEO’s office, glaring fiercely at the seat opposite him.

Caught in his gaze was Yoon Sera, leisurely drinking tea.

Yoon Sera had entered the CEO’s office about 10 minutes ago.

Although it had been unsettling to run into her by chance in Busan, he hadn’t expected her to come all the way here.

It was quite an unconventional move for the very person who had put a fake bride in the wedding hall, a ceremony arranged by their families.

For what reason had she come all this way?

Junhyeok had no intention of asking her purpose first.

As he sat in silence, it was Sera who grew impatient.

Sera pretended to be at ease, gulping down her tea, but Junhyeok’s persistent silence made her extremely uncomfortable.

If things had gone as expected, he should have been surprised.

Whether he knew her as Yoon Sera or Shin Yeonhee, he should have demanded to know why she was here at this hour.

But Junhyeok just kept looking at her.

As if he wasn’t the least bit curious about the reason for her sudden visit.

Junhyeok’s attitude, which always defied her expectations, piqued her interest and drew her in strangely.

It was a blow to her pride to be this anxious over someone she had never cared about, but Sera decided to laugh it off.

After all, Jung Junhyeok was her husband, known to everyone in the world.

She was the one who had caused the trouble, so this was just about clearing up a misunderstanding with her husband.

Thinking that way offered some comfort.

Sera set down the teacup in her hand and looked at Junhyeok.

“You must have many questions, yet you say nothing?”

It was a loaded statement.

If Junhyeok knew nothing, it was a dangerous remark that could expose him.

She hadn’t said it without knowing that.

Sera intended to tell Junhyeok everything. Then, she planned to reclaim her rightful place and accept this man she was inexplicably drawn to as her husband.

“……”

Junhyeok offered no reply. His expression remained unchanged, which was slightly vexing, but she could understand.

Didn’t they say people become unnaturally calm when they are too shocked?

Sera concluded that Junhyeok was acting that way. It didn’t take long for her to realize that thought was a mistake.

“Is there something I should be curious about regarding Ms. Yoon Sera?”

This was the first thing Junhyeok said after remaining silent for so long.

Sera unconsciously raised one eyebrow.

There was no way he hadn’t noticed her statement carried a hidden meaning.

She had implied that there was something he was deliberately hiding because he didn’t want to face the consequences.

Yet, Junhyeok had maintained an indifferent attitude throughout.

She couldn’t tell if he was acting like this despite knowing, or if he genuinely didn’t know.

Sera subtly clenched her teeth.

She couldn’t shake the feeling of being at a disadvantage from the start.

Even if the one who needed something had to concede first, it wasn’t easy to pretend to be unfazed while feeling like she meant nothing to Junhyeok.

“Of course. You should be curious. After all, I am the one who married Jung Junhyeok.”

Her pride, more bruised than she had anticipated, made Sera retort sharply at Junhyeok.

Junhyeok let out a low sigh.

It was a small change, but the most noticeable one.

Even though it wasn’t a particularly positive change, Sera’s eyes widened.

“I thought I explained it clearly in Busan.”

“……”

“I knew you were raised like a sheltered princess unaware of the world, but it seems you’re more foolish than I thought, Ms. Yoon Sera.”

Junhyeok spoke with a sneer. Sera’s expression crumpled instantly.

“What did you just say?”

Sera asked back, her voice filled with disbelief.

This was the first time in her life she had been treated this way.

And he said he thought he had explained it clearly in Busan.

She had come to deliver a bomb, but instead, she felt like she was the one receiving one.

Sera looked at Junhyeok with confused eyes. He then ran a hand over his forehead as if weary.

“Why do you think I helped you that day?”

“Well, I’m your wife…”

“If I had thought you were my wife that day, I would have punched that guy in the face. I’m not such a good-natured gentleman who would let things go with just words when someone touches my wife.”

Junhyeok retorted sharply.

Sera was instantly overwhelmed by Junhyeok’s aura.

Even amidst that, her mind raced.

She wondered what he was thinking, but one thing became clear: Jung Junhyeok seemed to know about Shin Yeonhee, the fake bride.

With one thing clarified, it should have become easier. Yet, Sera felt more confused than before realizing that one fact.

She didn’t know when he had found out, but if he knew, she couldn’t understand why he was acting this way towards her now.

Logically, he should be asking why she did such a thing.

But Junhyeok’s current attitude suggested he wasn’t the least bit curious about such matters.

Sera tightly clenched the hands resting on her lap.

She knew from the start that the situation was deviating from her expectations, but it was heading further and further away from the direction she had imagined.

Clenching her teeth, Sera asked,

“Why did you help me that day?”

“I believe I already told you the reason that day.”

“Stop beating around the bush and speak clearly.”

“Haa…”

Junhyeok let out a heavy sigh.

Sera’s eyelids trembled involuntarily.

Her pride was so wounded she felt like she would go mad.

Even asking why he had helped her that day was difficult.

It was like asking for an explanation after being called stupid.

And to receive only a sigh in return, how could her pride not be hurt?

Nothing like this had ever happened in her life.

No one could call her foolish, and if anyone had dared, her family would have intervened to punish their rudeness before she even had to lift a finger.

In this world, there was simply no one who could dare to disrespect Yoon Sera.

Yet, how could someone dare to trample her like this?

Sera was so overwhelmed by the humiliation she felt for the first time in her life that she couldn’t collect herself.

“Didn’t I tell you that day that I did it because I didn’t want to be bothered?”

Junhyeok spoke with a voice heavy with fatigue.

He knew Sera’s complexion was changing by the moment, but he had no reason to accommodate that.

If she hadn’t shown up unannounced today, he wouldn’t have gone this far.

In a way, thanks to Sera, he had created a justification to keep Yeonhee by his side without anyone’s interference.

The moment he reunited with Yeonhee at the wedding, he thought of it as a debt owed to Yoon Sera. So, if an opportunity arose to repay that debt, he would do so without hesitation.

But upon facing Sera’s reckless arrival today, that thought vanished as if it had never existed.

“Ms. Yoon Sera, I apologize, but I am living very happily with the person who is currently acting as your substitute.”

Junhyeok delivered his words directly, without any pretense.

Sera’s face turned ashen in an instant.

Sera, as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have, asked back with a flushed face,

“What do you mean by that?”

“To think someone who can’t even grasp this much would have the audacity to hire a substitute for their wedding.”

Junhyeok let out a hollow laugh. The more the conversation continued, the more absurd it became.

He felt that she was even younger than he had imagined, and the current moment felt like a complete waste of time.

Only the thought of ending this conversation as quickly as possible filled his mind.

“I mean I don’t want to create a complicated situation.”

Junhyeok said with a firm tone. Yet, Sera still looked as if she didn’t understand.

Junhyeok sighed repeatedly.

For someone who came up with the absurd idea of hiring a fake bride, she was incredibly foolish.

He had intended to send her away nicely if possible, but if she couldn’t understand this much, there was only one way.

“I suspect your short-sighted plan was to have the substitute live with me for about a year and then divorce, but I’m sorry, I have no intention of divorcing Yoon Sera.”

“……”

“And even less intention of living with the real Yoon Sera.”

Sera’s face contorted in despair.

The words, “no intention of divorcing Yoon Sera, but no intention of living with the real Yoon Sera,” echoed in her mind.

Her heart began to pound with frantic anxiety.

She felt like her entire life had been stolen from her with just a few words.

Looking at Junhyeok’s expression alone, she could tell.

Aside from finding the current situation tiresome, his face was terrifyingly calm.

He didn’t seem to be saying words about stealing her life and giving it to another woman lightly.

Sera’s teeth chattered, but she did her best to feign composure and put on a brave front.

“Do you think that makes any sense right now? Deceiving all the elders in our families and living with my substitute for the rest of your life?”

She managed to get the words out.

She tried to project the confidence befitting Yoon Sera, but it seemed to have no effect on Junhyeok.

As his smile began to twist to one side, Sera felt a chill run down her spine.

Support Affectionate Obsession