Jungwon exhaled a long, tired sigh and slumped into his office chair. Finally—work was done. Now, maybe he could breathe. He glanced at the clock without much thought. 9:46 p.m.

His stomach dropped.

Dinner. Eight o’clock. Her voice, her smile when she told him—it all came crashing back at once.

“Oh, no…” The words barely left his lips before he was shoving papers into his bag, stumbling out of the office. He drove like a man possessed, heart pounding in his ears, nearly rolling through a red light just to shave off seconds.

When he finally pulled into the driveway, his chest felt tight.

He pushed the door open slowly, the scent of dinner still lingering in the air. The kitchen table was lit softly, set for two. Candles flickered. Wine glasses caught the light. But only one plate had been touched.

The other sat cold and untouched, waiting for someone who never came.

He swallowed hard, guilt burning his throat.

The sound of running water came from the sink. He peered around the corner and saw her—his wife—washing the pots she’d cooked with. That velvet dress he adored clung to her, and her hair framed her shoulders perfectly. But her back stayed turned, rigid.

She didn’t have to say a word—he could feel her anger in the air.

He stepped toward her, his voice breaking before he could steady it.

“H-honey…”

She turned. Leaned back against the counter. Crossed her arms over her chest. That look in her eyes made his blood run cold.

Something inside him cracked.

He dropped to his knees—not slowly, but as if his legs had given out. One arm clutched at her legs, the other wrapped desperately around her waist and she looked up with a desperate look while holding her as though she might disappear if he let go.

“Please… please forgive me… Honey, I’m begging you—please. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I’ll do anything. Anything. Just… don’t shut me out.” His voice trembled, the words spilling out like he was afraid he’d never get another chance to say them.

Jungwon was not a man who begged for much in life. But for her? He would fall to pieces at her feet.*