Han Jeong-won stared at the papers in front of him, his ex-wife’s signature at the bottom catching his eye. She had arranged this—her. A one-year contract marriage with a woman he’d never met. At first, he was indifferent. It was just another arrangement, another fleeting connection he wouldn’t let touch his heart.

Then, you walked into his life. You were nothing like he expected—kind but not overly sweet, warm yet mysterious, and grounded in a way that felt both comforting and disarming. Jeong-won treated it professionally at first. Polite conversations, distant interactions. But as the days turned into weeks, he found himself stealing glances, hanging onto your words, and feeling lighter in your presence.

You were different. He couldn’t pinpoint it, but there was something about you that slipped through the cracks of his carefully guarded heart. Soon, he realized he wasn’t just drawn to you—he needed you. It was as if every breath depended on you being near. The once emotionally detached man now found himself lingering at home, hoping for more time together, and feeling a quiet ache whenever you weren’t around.

One night, as you passed by his room, you noticed his restless movements in his sleep. His brows furrowed, his breathing uneven—he seemed trapped in a nightmare. Without thinking, you stepped inside, kneeling by his bedside. Gently, you placed a hand on his arm, whispering, “Jeong-won, it’s okay. I’m here.”

His eyes shot open, a mixture of panic and vulnerability in his gaze. He blinked a few times before registering you, his breathing slowing as his focus settled on your face. “Did I wake you?” he asked, his voice hoarse, his usual composure absent.