Please Divorce Me

Chapter 4

Jinuk stood in the shower under a powerful stream of water. It flowed from his dark hair over his broad shoulders and down his muscular chest. His damp body wasn’t just masculine, it was hypnotizing—perhaps even perfect.

He had been standing in the shower for twenty minutes after his conversation with Eunchae.

“Please divorce me.”

He pushed his wet hair back as his intense eyes stared off into space.

“Why, all of a sudden?” he wondered aloud.

He bit the soft flesh inside his mouth as the thick streams of water continued to flow. He did not leave the bathroom for a long while.

***

Eunchae spent the entire next day with a complicated look on her face. She had been given the chance to live a year of her life again, any way she wanted. But she had run into an unexpected obstacle—her contractual husband, Cha Jinwook.

“We will discuss the divorce once you have a billion won.”

She remembered his words with a heavy sigh. “Ha! Rich people are the worst!”

A billion? How am I supposed to get my hands on a billion won?

He had basically said he would never give her a divorce.

She flopped onto her bed in despair. Her lips were parted slightly, and another sigh escaped. Eunchae had sighed too many times to count that day.

She knew better than anyone how the rest of her life as Cha Jinwook’s wife would play out, and she couldn’t bear to repeat that terribly boring routine. She could never live the life that she wanted trapped in that role.

In the end, she picked up her phone and scrolled to Jinuk’s name in her contacts list. After a moment of hesitation, she pushed the call button, and the automated tones rang in her ear.

An odd sort of tension spread through her body. She had just realized that it was the first time she had ever called him.

After a few seconds, he picked up.

- “Hello.”

His baritone voice was deep, even though it was quiet. She was used to hearing it, but it felt different coming through her phone.

She cleared her throat. “It’s me.”

- “I know it’s you. What do you want?”

It had taken some courage for her to make the call, but he didn’t seem surprised or happy.

She adjusted her voice to match his level of calmness. “Can you come home early tonight?”

- “No. I won’t be home until nine.”

“That’s early enough. See you at home.”

- “All right.”

“You must be busy. I’ll let you go,” she said and hung up.

Their conversation ended, short and simple. Eunchae looked at her phone screen, checking how long the call had lasted.

A minute and ten seconds. She smiled bitterly. A call between a real married couple wouldn’t sound like that.

She recalled his harsh tone and lowered her voice, trying to mimic him. “All right.”

Eunchae shook her head. If she stayed with such a man, the odds were, she would die of suffocation before she ever lived out the entirefull year. Their marriage was a prison, and she needed to escape.

Eunchae stared resolutely at the name [Cha Jinwook] on her screen. “I’m going to get that divorce... no matter what it takes.”

***

Jinuk returned home from work at nine o’clock.

Eunchae greeted him with a gentle smile. “Hey.”

Jinuk’s gaze wavered as he noticed that she was more cheerful than usual. She was usually asleep with her back turned or awake to offer him nothing but a dry welcome by the time he got home.

Jinuk took off his shoes.

“It can’t be easy, working so late. Let me take your jacket,” she offered.

“Thanks.”

Eunchae kept athe smile on her face as she took the jacket. “Wash your hands and come up to the bedroom. I have something ready for you.”

The change in her attitude was odd, but Jinuk decided to do as she asked. He washed his hands and entered the bedroom. He noticed that the room seemed different. Music was flowing out of a Bluetooth speaker, and the table near the window had been set with a bunch of food.

He stared at the table, and Eunchae gestured to him.

“Come and sit,” she said.

Jinuk walked over to the table, which held some wine from a brand he enjoyed along with some snacks. At the center of the table was a small scented candle that created a cozy atmosphere.

Eunchae pointed to the plates of food she had carefully prepared. “I made all of this for you. I didn’t know what you would like, so I went for variety.”

Jinuk said nothing.

“Don’t just stand there. Sit,” she urged.

They sat facing each other. Eunchae filled their glasses with burgundy wine and smiled. “Cheers.”

They both tipped their glasses, clinking them lightly.

One classical music track ended, and a beautiful melody filled his ears. It was “Für Elise” by Beethoven, which was said to be written for a woman who had refused to marry him. Jinuk let the lovely notes fill his mind as he leaned back in his chair.

He swirled his wine and brought the glass up to his lips. With every gulp, his Adam’s apple undulated slowly, and his damp lips took on a reddish hue. His dark eyes seemed deep and intense.

Eunchae found herself mesmerized by Jinuk’s elegance and charm.

He really is handsome, I’ll admit...

It was as though he carried a bubble of silence around him. When she was near him, the music seemed to stop, and all the air along with it.

It wasn’t hard to see why he was considered as the most charming businessman in the country. He could overwhelm a person with his presence just by standing still. No matter where he was or what he did, he attracted attention.

That was why she had feared marrying him at one point, worried that she might fall for him like everyone else.

His eyes moved to Eunchae and met hers.

She quickly averted her gaze and picked up her wine glass. “Come to think of it, I don’t think we’ve ever shared a drink alone together.”

“You don’t like to drink,” he said.

“Me?” She shook her head. “I’m no heavy drinker, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to drink.”

“You never have a drop at any events,” he countered.

“That was because I’ve wanted to avoid getting drunk and making mistakes. Nobody liked me, and I didn’t want to make things worse.”

He fell silent.

“After I got married, I didn’t really have a chance to relax and enjoy a drink,” she said with a forced smile.

“Do you prefer wine?” Jinuk asked.

“I don’t really know much about wine. The only things I drank before I got married were soju* and beer. If I had to pick a favorite, I suppose it would be Cham Soju.”

(*Korean vodka made from rice or sweet potato)

“Cham Soju?” he repeated.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know what it is. It’s one of the most common soju brands.”

Jinuk didn’t respond.

“Hmm. Well, I don’t know wine names myself. Perhaps soju is to you what wine is to me.” She smiled faintly at him.

He took another sip. “Tell me if you want to drink from now on. I’ll get you whatever you want—be it Cham or anything else.”

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly.

From now on?

She gave him a wistful look.

What makes you think that we’ll have any more time together? I only set this table for you so I could get a divorce…

Eunchae bit back her bitter feelings and forced herself to smile. “Do you know the reality show Daddy’s a Superman?” she asked cheerfully.

“I’ve never watched it properly, but I’ve heard of it. It’s about caring for children,” he replied.

“That’s right. There’s a new family on the show. They have quadruplets, no less! It was so cute to watch the kids playing together. And the way they strongly resembled their parents was adorable, too.”

Jinuk’s reactions were lukewarm.

She raised the pitch of her voice slightly. “Do you like children, Jinuk?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it,” he said.

“I hear that Mr. Yoon, your secretary, already has two daughters. I saw photos of them last time. They were so charming.”

“He brags about them all the time. I see photos almost every day,” Jinuk agreed.

“Aren’t they lovely?” she asked.

“Yes, they are cute. They don’t look anything like their father, which is a relief.”

“Of course. If other people’s children are so delightful, I can only imagine how much more lovely it must be to have children of one’s own. Don’t you agree?” she continued.

Eunchae grew excited as the conversation flowed in the direction she wanted. “Your children will no doubt be smart and attractive. Your genes are excellent, after all.”

Jinuk smiled faintly, apparently not hating the compliment. His harsh gaze seemed softer than usual.

Good. This is a good moment, isn’t it?

After watching him carefully, she began to broach her main topic. “In truth... the chairman’s condition has been worsening. Every time I go to see him, all he talks about is wanting a great-grandchild of his own. He told me that it’s his dying wish, and it made my heart ache so badly.”

Eunchae wasn’t lying. Jinuk’s grandfather, the chairman, had been hospitalized for over a year. He pressed Eunchae for a great-grandchild whenever she visited him.

“Perhaps it was his influence, but your father seems to want a grandchild as well. Your mother doesn’t say anything abouton the topic, but you know how she loves children. She may want a grandchild more than anybody else,” Eunchae added.

She glanced at Jinuk’s face. He seemed to be wondering where she was going with this. Her fists closed automatically with anxiety.

“Speaking of which,” she continued bravely. “Why don’t you consider finding yourself a good woman?”

His brow furrowed, and she began to talk faster. She had to persuade him before the fleetingly pleasant mood vanished.

“The moment we get divorced, countless heiresses will flock to you, wanting to marry you. That’s how attractive and capable you are. You should find yourself a beautiful, smart woman suitable for someone like you, Jinuk. Plan a real family together, and your parents will—”

Eunchae was unable to continue. A rapid change had come over Jinuk’s face.