First update after moving back to America! Yayyyyyy! I'm so glad to be back! Thank you guys so much for waiting and I hope I can update more often.
Thanks so much to the best beta ever, Krysyuy

Hwang Bo Wook

His throat ached as he sat up in bed, alone on the king-sized mattress. Wook grimaced at the light that shone from the bathroom before sighing and assuming Soo was using it. He was too thirsty to care what she was doing, and when the cup on his bedside table turned up empty, he stepped out of bed and sighed again.

Wook tiredly rubbed his eyes and yawned. A quick glance at his alarm clock said it was close to two in the morning. His workday would start in a few hours, and he was losing on precious hours of sleep because of dehydration.

He flinched when Soo's phone buzzed, notifying him that a text had arrived on the screen that faced downward. Curious as to who was texting his wife so early in the morning, Wook groggily held the phone up to his eyes, unable to comprehend anything on the bright screen without his glasses unless it was centimeters from his face.

The text that had arrived was from her mother, asking if Soo was awake and if she was currently watching the reruns of the drama they both enjoyed. Wook chuckled at the randomness of his mother-in-law's texts, but ceased laughing when he noticed an unread text beneath it.

-Thank you for the gifts. I'll cherish them.-

In his tired state, Wook took a moment to digest the text Soo's bodyguard had sent to her. He wished he did not have to find out in this way… at two in the morning.

"So it was the bodyguard," he grumbled. "How cliche."

Fury lanced up his parched throat and Wook's head snapped in the direction of the bathroom where Soo ran water in the sink. He set her phone back onto the bedside table and stood before she could arrive. Wook had no idea how he would react to seeing his wife, so he made the decision to get water before he did anything stupid.

He slid his feet into his slippers and rushed out of the bedroom as Soo opened the door to the bathroom.

Wang fucking So. Of all people it was the bodyguard that Wook had hired to protect his wife. What did I do to deserve you, Hae Soo? Is this how you felt when you found out about me?

He made for the kitchen, his slippered feet remaining silent against the wood floors. Wook flipped the light switches on as he went, creating a trail for him to follow back to his bedroom.

Anger, shame, confusion, and hatred all coursed through his brain, and Wook breathed deeply as he stared at the perfectly aligned row of knives the chef kept in peak condition. Seven variously shaped blades glinted in the white lights around them, awaiting direction. All he needed to do was grab one.

His hand reached out, and Wook rested his fingertips against the cool glass, staring at his faint reflection against the case. His glare did not resemble the prim politician he really was but a man scorned.

You're a man of the law, Hwang Bo Wook, he told himself, staring into his own eyes. Do this the legal way. Be prudent.

Slipping his hand away from the knives that displayed his face in seven different settings, Wook reached for a cabinet and opened it to retrieve one of his whiskey tumblers. He rubbed his thumb over the bumpy, intricately designed cup as he filled it with water from the sink. Old habits died hard; no matter how much money he had, he preferred to drink from the sink rather than whatever new contraption his wife replaced their already state-of-the-art water dispenser with.

Wook gulped his water down and quenched his thirst before chuckling. He looked out at the hallway where he knew Wang So would come running in seconds. That is… if he even did his job anymore.

In a single swipe, Wook threw his tumbler onto the floor, anticipating the loud crash it emitted as the ornate crystal shattered into millions of pieces. In the white lights, they glittered like diamonds on top of the marble flooring, but if his feet had not been socked and covered with slippers, Wook knew his skin would have been mangled.

It took four seconds for Wang So to rush into the hallway from the servants' quarters, and Wook raised his eyebrows at the shattered remains of his cup as the bodyguard approached. Wang So was the same height as him, and if Wook remembered correctly, they were also the same age.

Wook glanced up as the man his wife was cheating with asked if he was alright. He scoffed and put on his best smile, remembering his days in the courtroom as he shook his head. "Ah, I'm fine. I must have dozed off and dropped my cup… clean this, please."

It was less a request, more an order. And Wook knew he would pay So overtime for this. Now that you're up, clean up my mess.

The other man gave a short nod, his expression never changing. Wang So wore the perfect mask of a man hiding his lies. The bodyguard knelt with a towel in his hands, pushing the shards into a pile.

The sight of his wife's fuckbuddy on his knees, cleaning up crystal shards at God knows what time in the morning, created a peculiar serenity in Wook's heart.

"Are you alright, Mr. Hwang Bo?" So askedonce more, never looking up at him.

"I'm fine."

Wook wondered if Wang So was after his wife's money. Hae Soo made more money than everyone in the house combined, and she seemed too close to Wang So for their relationship to just be a quick fuck.

Turning away, Wook crunched through pieces of crystal and removed his slippers at the edge of the mess. He left Wang So behind, walking to where he knew he would find his wife.

Opening the door to his bedroom, Wook stepped into the dark room and noted the lack of light from the bathroom. He shut the door behind him and walked around the bed to reach his side. Sitting down onto the mattress, Wook sighed and laid his head onto his pillow, pulling the covers over his body and spooning his wife from behind.

He kissed the back of her neck and touched her flat stomach, pulling her close and nuzzling against her spine. He wondered why he loved her: the woman that cheated on him and left his bed to kiss another man and whisper her promises to him.

But as he breathed in the remnants of Soo's rose-scented conditioner, he remembered how much he had hurt her, and how much they had suffered because of each other. He was willing to forgive and forget if she was willing to be his again.

When Wook woke again later, he hissed as Soo's cold feet pressed against his calves. However, when he turned to face her, Soo curled closer to him, still asleep. Wook leaned in to place a gentle kiss to her pursed lips.

"Mm, I'm so sleepy," Soo mumbled, her eyes still shut. Wook pressed another kiss to her lips.

"Did you buy the bodyguard something?" he asked. Soo's eyes opened and she gazed up at him, only barely comprehending. Wook brushed her messy hair aside and leaned in to touch his lips to her forehead. "I don't want to talk about your… trysts on a day as special as today," Wook murmured softly, giving his wife a little smile. "Just remember whose wife you are."

"No, because I ordered the pink. I want a refund because you sent me black! I cannot have a black balloon arch at my child's birthday party!"

Wook listened to Soo's exasperated voice with one ear as the chef explained to him that Yoon had knocked over the entire case of sprinkles he had purchased, so Mi's birthday cake was only half sprinkled.

"And I can't get gourmet sugar sent on such short notice."

Sighing, Wook rubbed the back of his neck and reached into his back pocket for his money clip, pulling a ten from it and passing it over to the chef. "Look, she's turning eight. She's not going to know the difference between whatever French sugar crystals you toss onto her cake and the kind they sell at the grocery store."

"Sir, Mrs. Hae was adamant—"

"I'd really like to see if my wife can differentiate between the sprinkles, I really do. I'll deal with Soo, just please make sure my baby's cake isn't blank."

Wook pressed a hand over his eyes and released an elongated groan as he went over his to-do list in his mind. Aside from the obviously wrong balloon arch, not a single decoration was out of place. His thoughts momentarily drifted to his eighth birthday, and how it had consisted of seaweed soup and a store-bought cake, not a lavish party with a cake, cupcakes, and traditional Korean snacks made by their personal chef and an assistant hired to work the kitchen for a day.

The backyard looked as if a pink bomb had exploded in it. There were craft areas, games, two actresses dressed as the princesses from Mi's favorite movie were adding the finishing touches to their makeup in their car, and there were tables for the parents where small grills and bottles of soju were available for those who wanted as much fun as the children.

Wook had even written a "Please drink responsibly; your children are watching" sign so parents would understand that if anyone got drunk, there was a bodyguard waiting to drive them home.

Speaking of bodyguards.

Wook waved a hand over at Soo and motioned to his wife that he would be inside and upstairs. Soo nodded without care, still irate at the fact that the company refused to refund her money for a mistake on their part.

When he returned inside, Wook heaved a sigh and walked through the desolate house, happy for some quiet before the girls came home from school and their guests arrived for dinner and the party.

He stepped past the kitchen and motioned towards Chae Ryung when he saw her. The nanny ceased helping the maids organize the living room and briskly moved towards him, ready to hear his request.

"Have my wife's bodyguard come up to my office," Wook told her. She followed him through the rest of the house, replying as they went.

"He's currently at the security office, sir."

"Then have him come at once."

"Of course, Mr. Hwang Bo."

Chae Ryung's path diverged from his when he arrived at his office. Wook closed his door behind him and pulled at the collar of his sweater. The weather was already getting too warm for thick wool or cashmere.

Wook waited at his desk, straightening the single folder that rested in front of him. He slid a finger over the cream-colored stock and did not look up when he heard a single rap on the door.

"Mr. Hwang Bo, it's Wang So."

The bodyguard's very voice sent torrents of rage sweeping over Wook's body, causing his nail to dig into the folder. However, Wook was nothing if not poised.

"Enter."

The door opened and Wang So walked in on silent feet. Wook found that odd but he did not dwell—not when the head of the security team's outfit clearly broke dress code standards. Wang So wore no tie where the top button of his black shirt was undone, and Wook knew he wore loafers instead of the standard black shoes required.

"Mr. Wang, I notice you allow the security team to keep open containers of liquid beside their computers at work," Wook said without preamble, opening the folder and revealing shots of CCTV footage from the security building.

It was a petty move displaying the clear images of open bottles, cups of ramen, and bowls of cereal by monitors. Wook kept his attention on So as the bodyguard glanced down at the pictures before looking back up again.

Wook knew he was being unfair. He allowed his employees the same liberties at his offices that So did. However, Wook hated Wang So, and because he had a position of power over him, he was going to make good use of that hatred.

"I believe the security guards are trustworthy enough not to spill drinks over their keyboards," said So, his hands clasped behind his back. His expression remained cool and unperturbed, which Wook found annoying but respectable.

"I believe it is listed in your job manual that your workers are to be told to eat in the designated break room. There are quite a few rules in your manual that you seem to take as mere suggestion, Mr. Wang."

Wook noticed his tone take a decline into a sneer as his personal thoughts overcame his attempt to make this as professional as possible. He fought to return his voice back to its usual pitch.

"Mr. Hwang Bo, I assure you my job is better done without such restrictions. There may come a time when I am forced to run or react quickly and wearing a necktie or shoes not optimal for running in may hinder my ability to protect."

A sudden thought overcame Wook as he glanced over So's outfit again. Without a tie or uncomfortable shoes, it was a stupidly easy outfit to get out of and put back on in a quick amount of time.

Wook despised So.

"I don't care," he stated simply. Wook leaned back in his seat, letting the soft leather mold against his back. He laced his fingers together and eyed the bodyguard with masked contempt. "Effective immediately, you are fired. Please pack your belongings and remove yourself from the property in the next hour. You don't have to clean your office out; that will be done for you."

Wang So's expression remained unchanged. He hardly even blinked as he offered Wook what felt like an even blander expression. Wook wondered what about this slit-eyed, lanky man attracted the most loyal of people he knew to go against her marriage vows. He did not judge Soo for cheating, but he judged her choice of paramour.

So did not bother to bow or to speak as he walked out. Wook had not expected such meekness from the man.

Hae Soo

Music blasted, children ran about, and adults rubbed shoulders over cooked meat. Soo smiled as she held Eun's arm and took a sip of the sparkling water in her hand. Together, they watched Mi and her younger guests eat slices of cake.

Soo put on a happy expression for her daughter's party and greeted every guest with grace, but her mind roiled and clashed as she dissected Wook's words from just a few hours ago.

In her sleep-addled state, she had dreamt herself kissing So, but had woken up to find herself in her husband's embrace. And then...

Just remember whose wife you are.

She had no idea how to react.

"So does Wook always invite his friends' kids?" Eun asked with a glance towards the slightly awkward adults that chatted with Wook. Soo had allowed her husband to invite the children of his childhood friends, and while all of Mi's friends got along with the new children, the adults seemed to have a harder time integrating. Wook kept himself available to his friends, and after introducing herself and inviting them to enjoy the party to its fullest, Soo had broken off to hold Eun's arm and also catch up with her best friend.

"Mi is friends with their kids, so I don't see the problem," she said airily.

At times Wook's friends glanced over her way and Soo offered her widest smile for them, but she knew they were her husband's people. They smiled for her, but always preferred to talk with Wook rather than her, so she left them a wide berth. "They must not like that I'm stealing you from your husband," Eun said with a chuckle.

They clashed spectacularly, her and Eun. Soo was comfortable in a blue blouse with a thick sweater on top, her jeans folded neatly above her ankle and her flats letting her walk with ease. Beside her, her best friend wore a pink shirt with a neon yellow jacket and matching pants. He attracted stares from those that were not used to his flamboyant fashion sense, but Soo hardly gave his outfit a second glance.

Soo laughed at his remark and glanced up to where Mi accepted kisses from Wook's mother. In another corner of the lawn, Yoon ruined her new jeans by playing—or, trying to play—soccer with the boys invited to the party.

"Can you believe Kim Ah Rong's parents got Mi a gold bracelet?" Soo asked quietly. "Gold bracelet shaped like a dragon. It has jade eyes and opal teeth. I love Kim Gyung Taek and Gu Jin Hee with all my heart but goodness."

"Ah Rong and Mi are best friends. Of course they'd splash on her."

"Wook and I gave her this party and told her to be grateful."

The popstar gave a boisterous laugh as he glanced around. "So where's the bodyguard?" he asked. Soo pretended not to have heard him. "The fact that you haven't fired him yet is absurd to me. What's so special about him? Did he cure cancer?"

I love him. I love him with all my heart. I can't imagine living without him.

"He's a hard worker and doesn't bother me," Soo said simply. Eun's words made her wonder where her boyfriend was. She glanced around and took in the sight of her parents and Wook's parents mingling, guests enjoying the party, and children stuffing their mouths with cake.

"Excuse me for a moment while I use the bathroom," Soo muttered on autopilot. Eun merely shrugged his shoulders and took the bottle of sparkling water from her grasp, polishing it off and handing it to Chae Ryung as she walked by.

Soo walked at a brisk pace into the house and ran for the living room where she knew her purse was. There was no reason for So to not be present at the party, and she wondered if Wook had sent him on an errand. So had informed her of Wook telling him to clean a shattered cup off the floor, and while she had been angry, she did not make a fuss over it.

Whipping her phone from her bag, Soo dialled So's number and waited for him to pick up. He answered almost immediately.

"Hey."

"Hey, where are you?" Soo asked, biting the tip of her thumb and smiling at his voice. "You're not at the party."

"Wook fired me."

Her teeth chomped onto her finger and Soo hissed as her thumb stung. Shock and fury raced through her veins. "What?!"

"I'm currently packing my–"

"Why were you fired?!" Soo shouted instantly. "Unpack! You were planning on leaving without telling me?!"

"I was planning on calling you later. Your daughter's birthday party takes precedence. I didn't want to ruin the fun."

Soo ground her teeth at the truth that rang in So's admission. She wanted to be cross at him, but he was just looking out for her. "I can't believe Wook—" Her voice died when she realized what had happened. Wook knew about her and So, and his first course of action was to get rid of So.

"So, he knows about us," Soo said quietly, unease sliding down her spine with the chilling revelation. She pressed a hand to her chest to calm her racing heart. "He found out."

There was a pause on the other end of the line and Soo waited for her boyfriend to speak. Her heart clenched and beat with both dread and trepidation. So was barely meters away, packing his belongings, but she could not go to him—not with so many witnesses just outside.

"What do you want me to do?" asked So. "I'll do what you want."

Soo instantly knew her answer and she spoke without vetting any other options.

"Do you want to leave?"

"Of course I don't."

She nodded her head and heaved a sigh. "Okay. Unpack. You're not fired or anything. I'll sort this out. You're not leaving until I say so, remember?"

So laughed on the other end and Soo grinned through her fear. If anyone could make her smile through hard times, it was Wang So.

Reaching towards her purse, Soo opened it and sighed as her lover asked if she was going to cause a scene. "Don't do anything crazy for me. Be rational, okay?"

"You sound like my mother," Soo grumbled. She heeded her boyfriend's advice. "Stay in the house for now. I'll deal with this once the party is over. I'm really sorry this happened."

"I doubt it's your fault."

After hanging up, Soo dropped her phone back into her purse. She did not look towards the servants' lounge and did not even take a moment to calm herself. Instead, she put on her widest smile and returned to the party.

She refused to miss out on her daughter's birthday because of this incident. She would deal with Wook later.