Chapter 30:

Scarlet was just about to sleep when she heard the rustling of blankets behind her. She turned, only to see Ha-Joon quickly pull the duvet down from his face, his lips curving into a goofy grin.

"Red," he slurred, blinking blearily at her.

Scarlet crossed her arms. "Go to sleep, Ha-Joon."

But, of course, he didn't listen. Instead, he shot up from the bed, swaying slightly before stabilizing himself on his elbows. His face was flushed from the alcohol, and his dark hair was a mess, falling over his forehead.

"I have to tell them," he declared dramatically.

Scarlet narrowed her eyes. "Tell who what?"

"My family," he huffed, waving his arms. "I have to tell them I love them. They think I'm an idiot fool who loves his fake wife more."

Scarlet froze. The word fake hit harder than she expected. For the past few hours, she had started thinking, maybe, that she was his real wife. Maybe this wasn't all a lie. But here it was. The truth. Fake. Her chest tightened, her fingers curling slightly.

But Ha-Joon, drunk as ever, didn't notice the shift in her expression. He let out a small hiccup and grinned. "But maybe that's true," he continued, tilting his head as if he had just discovered something profound. "Even if you're fake, I still love you more, Red."

Scarlet inhaled sharply. She didn't know what was worse, the fact that he still called her fake or the way he said he loved her in the same breath.

"Ha-Joon," she started, her voice softer now.

But he wasn't listening. "I have to tell them," he repeated, suddenly trying to get up.

Scarlet panicked. "No, you don't!"

"I do!" He struggled to push himself off the bed, wobbling slightly as he stood up.

Scarlet rushed forward, grabbing his arm. "Listen to me," she said firmly. "You cannot say anything about this fake marriage to your parents. Or your brother. Or your aunt."

Ha-Joon blinked at her, his intoxicated brain struggling to keep up. Then, suddenly, he let out a deep laugh. "So, I can tell Ha-Neul?" he teased, his grin widening.

Scarlet groaned. "No! Not to anyone!"

Ha-Joon pouted. "Not even my maids?"

"No."

"My driver?"

"No."

"The tree in the garden?"

"Ha-Joon!"

He let out another laugh, leaning dangerously close to her face. "Fine, fine," he said, nodding like a child being scolded. "I won't say anything."

Scarlet exhaled in relief. "Good."

But just as she stepped back, thinking she had won this battle, Ha-Joon suddenly stretched his arms above his head.

"I have to spend time with my familyyyy," he whined, his voice dragging out.

And before she could stop him, he bolted for the door. Scarlet's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no, you don't!"

She lunged forward, catching the back of his hoodie just in time. Ha-Joon let out a small "oof" as she yanked him backward, dragging him away from the door.

"Nope," she gritted out, pulling him back toward the bed.

"But my family-!"

"I don't care!" she snapped, pushing him onto the mattress.

Or at least, that was the plan. Except Ha-Joon was faster. The moment she pushed him down, his hands shot out, gripping her waist. Before she could react, he pulled, and suddenly, Scarlet found herself falling onto his lap.

Her breath hitched. His arms locked around her, holding her firmly against him. Their faces were inches apart, his warm breath fanning against her lips. His dark eyes, usually playful, darkened as they flickered down to her mouth.

Scarlet barely had time to process the moment before he moved. His lips crashed against hers. She gasped, her hands flying to his shoulders, but Ha-Joon didn't give her a chance to pull away. He tilted his head, deepening the kiss, his fingers gripping her waist tightly.

It wasn't like before. This wasn't a teasing kiss, or a playful one. This was hungry. Desperate. Like he had been holding back for far too long. Scarlet's mind screamed at her to stop this. But her body? Her body betrayed her.

Before she could think, she was kissing him back. Her fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer as her lips moved against his. His hands roamed up her back, pressing her even tighter against him as if he wanted to mold her into himself.

And then, in one swift move, Ha-Joon flipped them. Scarlet let out a small gasp as she landed on the bed, Ha-Joon hovering over her. His lips never left hers, his body pressing against hers, warm and firm.

Her heart pounded. She could still taste the soju on his lips, mixed with something distinctly him. It was intoxicating in a way she didn't expect. "Ha-Joon..." she breathed between kisses.

He groaned, trailing his lips down her jawline, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses against her skin. "Say my name again," he murmured.

Scarlet clenched her eyes shut. "You're drunk."

"And you're beautiful," he whispered, his lips finding hers again.

Scarlet's resolve was crumbling, her body betraying her mind. His hands skimmed down her waist, gripping her hips as he pressed into her. The heat between them was undeniable, burning through the haze of alcohol and emotions.

Then, suddenly... A knock at the door. Scarlet's eyes shot open. Ha-Joon, still lost in his drunken haze, merely groaned in frustration. "Go away!" he called out.

Scarlet snapped back to reality. She shoved against his chest, forcing some distance between them. "We need to stop."

He pouted. "But why?"

"Because someone's at the door, you idiot!"

Ha-Joon let out a defeated groan, flopping onto the bed beside her. "You always ruin my fun, Red."

Scarlet exhaled sharply, pushing herself off the bed. Her entire body was still tingling, her lips still swollen from his kisses. She needed a moment. A long, long moment. But she didn't have time for that. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her clothes and went to open the door, praying that whoever it was hadn't heard anything.

Scarlet hesitated for only a moment before opening the door. Ha-Neul stood there. Her breath caught in her throat. His gaze flickered over her, first to her face, then down to her lips. Scarlet swallowed hard, realizing her mistake.

Her lower lip was slightly swollen, a faint trickle of blood escaping the corner. She instinctively wiped it with her thumb. But Ha-Neul's sharp eyes didn't miss anything. Then, his gaze shifted past her, landing on Ha-Joon.

Ha-Joon, who was still lying lazily on the bed, his hoodie slightly unbuttoned, his hair tousled, looking completely unbothered. Ha-Neul's fingers curled against his palm. It hurt. God, it hurts. But he didn't say anything. Instead, he held out Ha-Joon's phone. "You left it downstairs."

Scarlet blinked, glancing at the device in his hand. Before she could say a word, Ha-joon said.

"Oh, hi, Ha-Neul!" Ha-Joon called out from the bed, grinning like an idiot. "We have to tell you something!"

Scarlet's heart dropped. Before Ha-Joon could say anything stupid, she quickly stepped forward, grabbing the phone.

"No, we don't have to say anything," she cut in, shooting Ha-Joon a sharp look.

Then, she turned back to Ha-Neul, forcing a polite smile. "Thank you for the phone," she said, bowing slightly. "Good night."

Ha-Neul parted his lips, as if to say something, anything, but the words caught in his throat. His chest felt tight. Scarlet was standing so close. But she was farther away than ever. He clenched his fists. Then, he forced a small, bitter smile.

"G...good night."

His voice cracked. He hated it. He hated that even two words felt too heavy in his throat. Scarlet bowed again and quickly walked back inside, shutting the door behind her. Ha-Neul stood there for a moment.

He could still hear Ha-Joon's drunken giggles from behind the door. "I should leave." His feet felt like lead as he turned around, forcing himself down the hallway. Each step was heavier than the last.

***

By the time he reached his room, his hands were shaking. He locked the door behind him and leaned against it, sliding down to the floor. The weight of it all crashed into him at once. The alcohol he had drunk earlier, so much of it, did nothing to numb the pain.

It didn't stop the ache in his chest. It didn't stop the burning behind his eyes. It didn't stop the truth. Scarlet was married. To Ha-Joon. To his cousin. A choked breath escaped him. And then, he broke. His shoulders trembled. His chest heaved. And before he could stop himself, hot tears started spilling down his cheeks. He clenched his jaw, gripping his knees tightly as his body shook with silent sobs.

"Why is it hurting this much?" He gasped, pressing a hand against his chest as if that would stop the pain. "Why... Why do I feel like this?"

He let out a broken laugh, but it was empty. "I shouldn't even feel like this in the first place." He squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head violently. "She was never mine to begin with. She was never supposed to be."

His voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "Then why do I feel like something's been stolen from me?" He leaned his head back against the door, staring up at the ceiling.

The memories hit him like waves. Scarlet's soft laughter. The way she scrunched her nose when she was annoyed. The way her eyes sparkled when she talked about something she loved. He had spent so much time watching her, memorizing her.

Loving her. And she... She was in Ha-Joon's arms tonight. Kissing him. Letting him hold her. He inhaled sharply, his fingers digging into his palms. "I thought maybe... just maybe... I had a chance."

He let out a bitter laugh. "I was so stupid." His chest ached. It ached with a pain that felt unbearable, like someone had taken a knife and carved out something vital inside him. "I should be happy for them, right?"

His voice wavered. "Then why does it feel like I'm breaking?" Tears streamed down his face, but he didn't bother wiping them away. What was the point? "I should let go." He exhaled shakily. "I have to let go." But his heart refused to listen.

***

Scarlet turned around, exhaling deeply, only to find Ha-Joon already shirtless on the bed, his toned chest on full display as he lounged lazily against the headboard. His dark hair was tousled, his lips curved into a smug grin, and his arms were wide open as he sighed dramatically.

"Come here, Red," he drawled, patting his lap as if it were the most natural place for her to sit.

Scarlet narrowed her eyes, refusing to indulge his antics. Instead, she grabbed a pillow from the sofa and hurled it straight at his face. The impact sent Ha-Joon sprawling backward, the pillow completely engulfing his head. He let out a dramatic groan and went still.

Scarlet rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You're not fooling anyone."

No response. She crossed her arms, waiting. Still nothing. A small smirk played on her lips. "So that's how you want to play it?"

She took slow, deliberate steps toward the bed, her fingers curling around the edge of the mattress. But just as she was about to pull the pillow away, she hesitated. He was already asleep.

Scarlet blinked, a little surprised. She expected him to keep up his childish act a little longer. But no, Ha-Joon's breathing had evened out, his face relaxed in peaceful slumber. The alcohol had finally caught up to him.

Something warm bloomed in her chest as she watched him. Even in sleep, he looked so... vulnerable. So unlike the teasing, aggravating man who always knew how to push her buttons. His lashes cast soft shadows over his cheekbones, his lips slightly parted. He looked... Beautiful.

Scarlet sighed, shaking her head at herself. Carefully, she reached out and brushed his hair back, her fingers threading through the soft strands. He didn't stir. A small, tender smile curved her lips as she leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.

Then, without thinking, she pressed another to his lips. She lingered for just a moment, her lips barely grazing his. He tasted like soju and something inherently Ha-Joon. It made her heart squeeze painfully in her chest.

"You don't even know how much I love you," she whispered, her voice so soft it was barely audible. Her fingers ghosted down his cheek, tracing the sharp angle of his jaw.

"I love you so, so much, Ha-Joon. Even if this is all fake, even if none of this is real to you, I still..." Her breath hitched. "I still want to stay like this forever."

Her confession spilled out in the quiet of the room, words she could never say if he were awake.

"I want to be yours, truly yours. Not just as your fake wife. Not just as a temporary part of your life. I want to be the one who wakes up beside you every morning, the one who holds you when you're upset, the one who loves you openly, without hiding, without pretending."

Her fingers trailed down to his chest, over the steady thrum of his heartbeat.

"But I know that's not how this works. I know I'm just... Red to you. A name. A color. A temporary placeholder in your world."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, blinking rapidly.

"And yet... Even knowing all of that, I still love you. Foolishly. Desperately. Like an idiot who can't tell the difference between real and pretend anymore."

Her voice cracked, but she forced herself to smile.

"If this is all I get, then fine. I'll take it. I'll take every moment, every second, even if it's not real."

She closed her eyes, inhaling the faint scent of him, his cologne, his warmth, his everything. "But you'll never know, will you?" she murmured. "You'll never know how much I love you."

Just as she was about to pull away, strong arms suddenly wrapped around her waist. Scarlet gasped as she was yanked forward, her body colliding against Ha-Joon's chest. Her heart lurched as he shifted beneath her, one arm tightening around her back while the other reached up...

And then, in one swift motion, he unbuttoned the first button of her shirt. Scarlet sucked in a breath, her eyes widening. "Ha-Joon-"

He pressed his face against her chest, his voice muffled against her skin. "Shh," he murmured sleepily. "Let me sleep. Or you'll have to suffer."

Scarlet stiffened. "Suffer how?"

Ha-Joon exhaled, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. "I'll keep you up all night," he murmured, his voice husky with drowsiness.

Scarlet's face flamed. "You-!"

But before she could say anything else, he nuzzled closer, his grip firm but gentle. His breath evened out again, his body fully relaxing against her. Scarlet swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as they rested on his shoulders.

This was dangerous. Being this close to him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest, the warmth of his bare skin against her own... It was dangerous. Because it made her want to believe. It made her want to hope.

Hope that maybe, just maybe, this wasn't all fake. With a deep breath, she slowly wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. His warmth enveloped her, his presence grounding her in a way nothing else ever could.

She rested her chin against his head, her fingers idly tracing circles on his back. Even if he didn't love her back, even if this was all just a lie, she would hold onto this moment. Just for tonight. Just for this fleeting, fragile second, she would let herself believe she was his.

As Scarlet closed her eyes, Ha-Joon shifted slightly, tightening his arms around her. And in his sleep, he murmured something so soft, so faint, that she almost thought she imagined it. "My Red," he whispered.

Scarlet's breath hitched. Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Instead, she pressed a final, lingering kiss to his forehead and whispered, "Goodnight, my love." And in each other's arms, they slept, wrapped in a moment neither of them was ready to let go of.

***

The golden morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the bedroom. Scarlet stirred slightly, feeling the warmth beside her before she heard a deep groan. Slowly, she opened her eyes, still adjusting to the brightness of the room.

Ha-Joon was sitting up in bed, both hands clutching his head as though he were trying to keep it from splitting in half. His tousled hair fell over his forehead, his expression one of pure regret. He groaned again, rubbing his temples.

Scarlet blinked at him sleepily. "You okay?" her voice came out hoarse from sleep.

Ha-Joon peeked at her through half-lidded eyes, his usual grin absent. But despite his pounding headache, he leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Good morning, Red," he murmured, his voice thick with exhaustion.

Scarlet felt a small flutter in her chest, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "Good morning," she replied, brushing her hair back.

Ha-Joon attempted to smile again, but the pain from his hangover was too overwhelming. He shut his eyes, exhaling through his nose. Scarlet chuckled softly. "Serves you right for drinking that much," she teased.

Ha-Joon groaned dramatically, throwing himself back on the pillows. "Ugh. Just kill me."

Scarlet smirked and sat up, stretching her arms above her head. "Nope. But I will make you something to help with the hangover."

Ha-Joon cracked open one eye. "You're an angel."

Scarlet rolled her eyes playfully. "That's not what you said last night when you were trying to run around like a fool."

Ha-Joon only groaned again, turning onto his side. Scarlet laughed before climbing out of bed. Before heading to the kitchen, Scarlet decided to freshen up first. She entered the en-suite bathroom and turned on the warm water, letting the tub fill up. The soft scent of roses filled the air as she poured in the fragrant oil, watching as delicate petals floated on the surface.

She let her robe slide off her shoulders and stepped into the bath, sighing as the warm water wrapped around her body. The tension from last night melted away. She closed her eyes, sinking deeper, letting the floral scent relax her.

For a moment, she allowed herself to think, not about Ha-Joon's teasing, not about the weight of their marriage, but about the simple, fleeting peace of this moment. She wanted to hold onto it. After some time, she finally got out, wrapping herself in a plush towel before slipping into a comfortable dress. Tying her hair into a loose bun, she made her way downstairs.

***

The kitchen was quiet when Scarlet entered. The household was still waking up, and the peacefulness was a rare luxury. She rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She decided to make an Italian-style hangover soup, a rich, nourishing broth known as Zuppa di Resurrezione, literally meaning "Soup of Resurrection."

It was made with a hearty base of garlic, tomatoes, and a slow-simmered broth to help rehydrate the body. She started by heating olive oil in a large pot, adding finely chopped onions and garlic, letting them sauté until fragrant. Then, she diced fresh tomatoes and added them to the pot, their juices blending into the mixture.

Scarlet reached for a bottle of white wine, pouring a splash into the pot, letting it simmer to cook off the alcohol. Then, she added vegetable broth and let it all blend together, absorbing the flavors. Next, she added torn pieces of stale Italian bread, letting them soak up the broth, creating a thick, almost creamy texture.

To finish, she cracked fresh eggs into the soup, poaching them gently. With a final touch of fresh basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan, the soup was ready. She prepared three bowls, one for Ha-Joon, one for Ha-Neul, and one for Ha-joon's father father, Mr. Wi, since all three of them had been drinking the night before.

Scarlet placed the three bowls on a tray and carried them into the dining room. Ha-Joon was already seated at the table, looking half-dead. Ha-Neul was there too, his expression unreadable as he silently sipped water. Mr. Wi sat at the head of the table, reading the newspaper as if he hadn't indulged the night before.

Ha-Joon perked up slightly when Scarlet set the bowl in front of him. "What's this?"

"Hangover soup," Scarlet said.

Ha-Joon took a sip and moaned in delight. "God, I love you."

Scarlet rolled her eyes, amused. "Just eat."

Ha-Neul barely looked at her as she placed his bowl down. He simply muttered a quiet, "Thank you," before focusing on his food. Scarlet bit her lip. He was distant. More than usual.

Mr. Wi glanced at the soup, then at Scarlet. "You made this?"

"Yes," she said.

He simply nodded and took a spoonful. He didn't say thank you, but he also didn't complain. Scarlet took that as a small win.

After serving them, she prepared the rest of the breakfast for the family, classic Italian-style eggs and pancakes.

Ha-Joon's mother, Mrs. Wi, walked in just as Scarlet was plating everything. She took one look at the food and frowned. "What kind of breakfast is this?"

Scarlet turned, confused. "Eggs and pancakes."

Mrs. Wi clicked her tongue. "This isn't a proper breakfast. Where's the rice? The soup? The side dishes? 이건 불완전한 아침 식사일 뿐이에요." (This is just an incomplete breakfast.)

Ha-Neul's mother, Mrs. Kang, nodded in agreement. "네. 이 지금 아침 식사는 한국 가정에서 제공되어야 합니다."(Yes. This is not how breakfast should be served in a Korean household.)

Scarlet sighed internally. She had expected this. Before she could respond, another voice chimed in. "I made a Korean breakfast," Aaira said, stepping into the kitchen with a tray.

Scarlet turned to see her best friend balancing bowls of rice, kimchi, and warm soybean soup. Sung-Hoon, Aaira's husband, sat at the table, bouncing their baby on his knee as he took a bite of his food. Aaira leaned down, helping him adjust the baby's milk feeder. Scarlet smiled in relief. At least someone was satisfied.