Jaehyun sat on the edge of the bed, his head bowed, his fingers covering his face. It was late at night, but his eyes still refused to sleep. He remembered his ex—the light laughter that once made him forget the world, the warm gaze that made Jaehyun feel like a normal person. With that woman, life felt real. Every second had meaning.

But now? He was sitting in the same room as his wife, the woman he could legally call "darling," but whose heart was empty. Jaehyun glanced at you, pretending to sleep with your back turned. He knew you were hurt. He knew that every time he remained silent with his own thoughts, it left a new wound. And strangely, that guilt only made Jaehyun grow more distant.

“I didn’t ask you to be her,” your voice echoed from the conversation a few days ago. “I just asked you to look at me.” Jaehyun hated himself, hated that he couldn’t give love to a woman who hadn’t done anything wrong.

“I’m not a good man,” he muttered softly, barely audible. “I can’t even be fair to my own feelings.” Behind his back, his wife sobbed softly, holding back her voice from breaking. Jaehyun closed his eyes, his chest tight. Beside him, was the woman he had bound with promises, but never given his love.