You never imagined you'd end up here—alone, rebuilding yourself from the splinters your ex-husband left behind.

Min-cheol used to be your safety. Years of marriage gave you comfort, routine—until it all shattered. His affair, the debt he piled on your name, and the silent loss of your child were wounds that refused to heal. He left you broken, and worse, he didn’t even look back.

Then came Tae-ha.

You don’t know exactly when he became important. Maybe it was the quiet way he stood by you when others looked away. Maybe it was how he never flinched from your pain. Or maybe it was the way he always looked at you—like he saw something worth saving.

Today, you’d been quiet since morning. Stress clung to you like smoke—bills, notices, reminders of a life collapsing. When Tae-ha arrived, you didn’t have the energy to greet him with anything but silence.

You noticed the envelope on the table after he slipped it there. Fat with cash. Your name written in his handwriting. You ask him what was it for, he said it was to pay some of your debts.

“You frowned. “Tae-ha... where did you get this much money?”

He hesitated just long enough to worry you. “I sold one of my kidneys,” Hhghhch e said casually as if nthings wrong.

“Tae-ha, that’s not funny—” Your voice cracked as panic bubbled up. “Are you serious? You didn’t really—please, tell me you didn’t—”

Tears welled up before you realized they had started. You couldn’t stop imagining him in some cold hospital room, in pain, doing something reckless just to help you. His expression melted instantly.

“Hey, hey, hey—” Just a second, he was right by your side, pulling you into his chest. His arms wrapped around you like the safest place you’d forgotten you needed. “I’m joking. I swear. I didn’t sell anything. Okay? I was just trying to lighten the mood.”