The Fragile Thread of Trust
Kim Eunju sat in the nursery, her eyes fixed on the clock. It was 11:00 PM. She picked up her phone, only to set it back down immediately. She was desperate to reach out to Lee Hyunwoo, yet she was paralyzed by fear.
Where is he right now... and who is he with?
Kim Eunju squeezed her eyes shut as the images flickered in her mind. A few hours ago, while she was busy putting their child to sleep, she had recalled him mentioning a late company dinner. But now, that excuse felt like nothing more than a lie.
He’s probably so infatuated with another woman that he’s forgotten all about me and our child...
Kim Eunju desperately wanted her suspicions to be false. At the same time, a seed of doubt was growing in the corner of her heart. She had always been proud of her husband’s handsome appearance, but now, that very trait was the source of her terror.
I haven’t been lacking in anything... so if he’s cheating on me even now...
Looking at her baby’s face, Kim Eunju managed a bitter smile. This child needed a father. He needed love and attention. He needed a happy home. Yet, it was clear that Lee Hyunwoo was more preoccupied with another woman than his own child.
She reached for her phone again, but stopped herself. She didn’t want to become the kind of wife who suspected and interrogated her husband over an affair. She was terrified of appearing pathetic and miserable.
Please, I hope I’m wrong... If you only love me, and only think of our family...
Kim Eunju’s eyes welled up with tears. A heavy, aimless sigh escaped her lips. She pulled herself together, kissed her child, and quietly closed the nursery door, as if to hide her own anxiety.
It was a night where her husband’s absence felt more profound than ever. Kim Eunju pulled out one of Lee Hyunwoo’s shirts and buried her face in it. As his scent hit her nose, she couldn’t hold back the tears.
My love... please, I hope you never hold another woman in your arms...
Lee Hyunwoo trudged through the apartment complex. His face was slightly flushed from the alcohol he’d consumed at the company dinner after successfully finishing a project. In his hand, he carried a bottle of wine that Kim Eunju liked.
I’ll apologize to Eunju, and we’ll reconcile tonight to fix our relationship.
He reaffirmed his sincere love for his wife in his heart, though his drunken steps remained unsteady.
Just then, he spotted Park Mina sitting on a bench. She, too, looked intoxicated.
"Oh... Mr. Hyunwoo? Hello..."
"Ms. Mina... what are you doing out here at this late hour? You should go inside and rest..."
The two continued their conversation, neither noticing the other’s state. Then, as Park Mina tried to stand, she stumbled and fell into Lee Hyunwoo.
"Ah, I’m sorry... I think I’ve had a bit too much to drink..."
"It’s okay... I’ve had a few drinks at my company dinner, too..."
Lee Hyunwoo was flustered, but he helped Park Mina to her feet. He was taken aback by the scent of her perfume, the smell of sweat, and the strangely alluring body odor emanating from her at such close range. However, he quickly dismissed it as nothing and helped her sit back down on the bench.
"Well then... I’ll be going now... Ms. Mina, get home safely..."
"Yes... thank you, Mr. Hyunwoo. Get home safely..."
Lee Hyunwoo pulled himself together and looked toward his home in the distance. A soft light welcomed him.
She must be waiting... Eunju...
Though he stumbled, Lee Hyunwoo maintained his composure as best he could and walked toward his home. His mind was filled with love and regret for his wife. Brushing off his alcohol-soaked clothes, he looked forward to reconciling with his beloved wife.
The moment Lee Hyunwoo walked in, Kim Eunju couldn’t help but notice the scent of perfume clinging to his clothes. It was the exact perfume Park Mina used. She remembered smelling this same scent when she had run into Park Mina at the apartment not long ago.
Suspicion reared its head, but Kim Eunju forced a smile, pretending that nothing was wrong. However, as she took Lee Hyunwoo’s shirt, the smell of cosmetics and a distinctly feminine, alluring body odor hit her nose. The moment she smelled it, she knew.
No way... this scent is...?
Shock and despair swallowed Kim Eunju whole. Her mind went blank. It was clear that the husband she had trusted so much had returned home after rolling around with another woman. And it was that same woman she had encountered at the apartment just recently.
"Eunju, I bought that wine you like. Want to have some together?"
Lee Hyunwoo’s cheerful voice rang in his wife’s ears. Kim Eunju screamed internally. But on the outside, she just forced a smile, pretending to be calm.
"Sure, thank you. Let’s drink together."
Lee Hyunwoo poured the wine into the glasses, thinking his wife would be happy. But Kim Eunju’s hands were already trembling. Her body was stiffening with distrust and betrayal toward her husband.
They toasted, looking at each other. But the invisible crack running between them was already deepening.
Kim Eunju gritted her teeth and swallowed the alcohol. The sweet wine slid down her throat, but her heart was filled with bitter despair. The moment she realized her beloved husband’s betrayal, something inside her was crumbling.
Lee Hyunwoo continued the lively conversation, unaware of his wife’s complex state of mind. But Kim Eunju’s heart had already suffered an irreparable wound.
An awkward air began to linger between the two. Kim Eunju, who had to pretend not to know the truth, and Lee Hyunwoo, who failed to notice his wife’s strange demeanor. Their conversation continued, hollow and empty.
In the apartment management office, Kim Eunju sat across from Lee Han. The traces of her sleepless night were evident on her face. She hadn’t been able to sleep due to anxiety and suspicion.
"Lee Han, Hyunwoo came home late last night..."
Kim Eunju’s voice trembled.
"There was the smell of Park Mina’s perfume on Hyunwoo’s clothes. And the scent on his clothes was definitely... I can’t take it anymore."
She poured out her heart, seeking comfort from Lee Han. But Lee Han’s reaction was unexpected.
"Eunju, that’s probably a misunderstanding. There’s no way Hyunwoo would do that. It’s possible the scent just rubbed off on him by accident at the company dinner."
Lee Han’s tone sounded as if he were defending Lee Hyunwoo. Kim Eunju’s stomach twisted even further. She had trusted and leaned on him, yet he seemed to be taking Lee Hyunwoo’s side.
"Forget it, Lee Han. Even you don’t understand me!"
Kim Eunju flared up in anger and stood, pushing her stroller. Lee Han tried to stop her, but she didn’t look back and strode out of the office. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed in Lee Han’s ears.
However, a faint smile hung on Lee Han’s lips. He watched the back of Kim Eunju as she left in a rage. Her gait was heavy with hurt and despair.
The words he had thrown out were exquisitely enough to shake Kim Eunju’s heart. While seeming to defend her husband, Lee Hyunwoo, he had been effectively stimulating her anxiety.
Lee Han slowly approached the window. In the distance, he could see Kim Eunju walking away, looking utterly dejected.
The next morning, Kim Eunju headed to the management office with her child in the stroller. She felt guilty about how harshly she had spoken to Lee Han yesterday and wanted to apologize.
"Lee Han, are you there? It’s Eunju."
Along with the knock, the faint sound of a baby crying could be heard. When Lee Han opened the door, Kim Eunju stood there with an apologetic expression.
"Eunju, please, come on in."
Lee Han pulled the stroller inside and welcomed them.
"I spoke too harshly yesterday. I’m truly sorry."
Kim Eunju bowed her head and apologized sincerely. Lee Han showed her a warm smile.
"Not at all. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I didn’t fully understand how you were feeling."
Lee Han guided Kim Eunju to the sofa, picked up the baby, and said,
"Jinu seems like such a good boy."
Kim Eunju smiled softly at Lee Han’s words, and Lee Han sat down next to her while holding the baby. Before long, their shoulders were touching.
"Eunju, if you’re ever having a hard time, tell me anytime. I’ll always be on your side."
Kim Eunju’s heart wavered at Lee Han’s whisper. His body heat and gentle tone were a comfort.
"Thank you. I feel better being comforted like this."
Kim Eunju said, leaning into Lee Han. The baby was sleeping comfortably in Lee Han’s arms. One of Lee Han’s hands gently wrapped around Kim Eunju’s waist. While still holding the baby, he sat pressed close to her.
Kim Eunju felt a strange flutter at Lee Han’s affectionate demeanor, which was no less than that of the child’s father. A new emotion, different from what she felt for her husband, was blooming.
The baby was still sleeping soundly in Lee Han’s arms. Kim Eunju and Lee Han smiled together as they looked at the baby. Within that smile, a strange attraction toward each other was brewing.
Thus, the relationship between Kim Eunju and Lee Han grew even closer through the child. Lee Han welcoming her as she arrived with her stroller felt almost like family.
Their meetings were always with the child. The time the three of them spent together increased more and more. Before she knew it, the management office had become another sanctuary for Kim Eunju.
It was a space that allowed her to forget her dissatisfaction and suspicion toward her husband, even if only for a moment. And the man named Lee Han was there with her.
A subtle tension flowed through Kim Eunju and Lee Hyunwoo’s home. On the surface, it was the daily life of an ordinary couple, but on the inside, an invisible crack was growing. Lee Hyunwoo still frequently returned home late at night.
Even amidst his busy work schedule, Lee Hyunwoo would hold their child and try to give Kim Eunju time to rest on the weekends. But due to his endless workload and frequent company dinners, his efforts were repeatedly in vain.
"I’m late again because of work. Did you eat dinner?"
Lee Hyunwoo approached Kim Eunju to talk, but she turned away instead of answering.
"I’m tired. I’m going to sleep first."
Lee Hyunwoo was at a loss at Kim Eunju’s cold voice. He stared blankly at his wife’s back, then sighed and headed to the living room. The increasingly frequent late arrivals, the scent of a strange woman’s perfume clinging to his clothes. To her, all of Lee Hyunwoo’s excuses sounded like lies.
He’s definitely with another woman anyway...
A sense of betrayal was slowly growing in Kim Eunju’s heart. On the other hand, Lee Hyunwoo blamed himself for neglecting his wife. But he didn’t know what to do. The more he tried to approach Kim Eunju, the only thing that returned was a cold gaze.
The conversation between the two gradually diminished, and the time they spent together decreased day by day. Before they knew it, they were sleeping in separate rooms. With Kim Eunju’s suspicion and Lee Hyunwoo’s helplessness intertwined, the couple quietly drifted apart.
In the end, Kim Eunju began to find comfort in Lee Han. Her steps toward the management office every day with the stroller had become lighter. By Lee Han’s side, she found a moment of peace.
The crack between the couple continued to deepen. A wife exhausted by childcare and housework, a husband crushed by work. Out of sight, their relationship was slowly deteriorating. In a daily life mixed with misunderstanding, suspicion, and fatigue, Kim Eunju and Lee Hyunwoo were drifting further and further apart.