"Saga!!!"

Areum screamed, then opened her eyes quickly. Her breathing was ragged, and her body was shivering. Saga, who heard Areum's scream, dashed into the room and sat on the edge of the bed.

"What's wrong? You had a nightmare?" asked Saga, who saw Areum's body sweating as big as corn kernels, and her breathing was irregular.

Seeing Saga in front of her, without thinking twice, Areum rushed to hug Saga. Areum even cried in Saga's arms.

"Wae?" asked Saga worriedly.

"Don't die! Don't leave me alone!" pleaded Areum in between her cries.

"Haish, since a few days ago, you have always talked about death. I won't die that quickly. Don't think so much!" said Saga, annoyed with Areum's random attitude these days.

Areum released Saga's embrace and looked at her husband closely.
"You must promise not to die! What more for saving me? Eo?" Areum pleaded again.

"Tsk, eo eo, I promise," said Saga, getting increasingly upset.

Areum smiled even though she was still crying. Areum then hugged Saga tightly again.
"It turns out that hugging you is very uncomfortable," said Areum later.

Saga frowned in surprise at Areum's behavior, which changed according to her.
***
Areum's attitude continues to change day by day. Areum would usually be more silent and obey all of Saga's wishes. Now, Areum is more open, expressive, and willing to express her opinion even though Saga wants something else.

Saga, who had just read the new agreement file for the company that would merge with her company, opened the last sheet of the file that Areum handed over earlier.

"What are you going to eat tonight? I, I went shopping this morning."

Saga took the piece of paper that was on the last sheet of the file. Saga widened his eyes in disbelief. Saga then looked out the window, which could directly see Areum's face from inside. Saga's forehead wrinkled while Areum smiled slightly and then returned to her work.

"What's wrong with Areum? Why did she change 180 degrees like this? Which trait do you have, Areum_a?" Saga asked in his heart.

Just like the message Areum conveyed through the paper earlier. Areum cooked Saga's favorite soup. It was also the result of Areum prying information from the mother-in-law. Saga, who smelled Areum's spicy meat soup, frowned and entered the kitchen.

"Why did you cook this?" asked Saga beside Areum.

"I heard you like this. Right?" said Areum cheerfully.

Saga looked at Areum, who wasn't looking at him right now.
"Who did you hear it from?"

"Eommonim."

Saga laughed a little sarcastically. She then walked away, leaving Areum alone. Areum looked at her husband, who just left her.

"Why is she laughing like that? Strange," muttered Areum, who then finished cooking.

After cooking and serving all the food she had cooked, Areum approached Saga, sitting in the living room. Saga was leaning her head and closing her eyes.

"Saga_ssi, why are you sleeping? Wake up, I've finished cooking," Areum said, gently shaking Saga's arm.

Saga, who wasn't sleeping, opened her eyes slowly and looked at Areum.
"Eat it yourself! I'm not hungry."

"But, I cooked your favorite food? Why aren't you eating?"

"It's Tae Jun Hyung's favorite food, not mine. You know I can't eat spicy food anyway."

Areum was silent, hearing Saga's words. Areum just realized her stupidity. Why didn't she remember that her husband didn't like spicy food? Hasn't Areum been Saga's secretary for years?
***
"Saga," Areum called while pulling the hem of the black suit that Saga was wearing.
Saga turned her head towards Areum, who was behind her now.

"Wae?"

"You, still angry with me?"

"I'm not angry."

"Then why be cold to me?"

Saga waited to answer Areum's question. Saga then took a deep breath and roughly removed Areum's hand from his coat.

"That's enough! Don't act as if our marriage is real and will last long. I don't need your attention. I, too, don't need your warm gestures. End all your pretenses, Areum!"

Saga's words dumbfounded Areum. Areum took a step back.
"Why do you think this is all an act?" asked Areum in a low, trembling voice.

"Because I know you're just pretending. Don't worry; our marriage has been going on for a year, and our contract will be finalized soon. You'll be free from me, so just keep acting, and we'll only be the two of us in this house. Don't get too deep into your character as a wife!" repeated Saga with emphasis.

Areum really couldn't believe Saga would speak this harshly to her. His mistake in cooking spicy meat soup could be this fatal.

All day at the office, Saga only interacted a little with Areum. Saga mostly called Secretary Han and even went to meetings without inviting Areum. Seeing Saga walk past her with a flat face and the cold made Areum take a deep breath. Areum then stood up and tidied up her desk.

"Instead of doing nothing here, I'd better go home," Areum monologued, then shutting down her computer.

Areum picked up her bag and cell phone and left her desk. Areum stopped walking when she saw someone standing in front of her. Areum looked up and widened her eyes in surprise.

"Tae Jun_ssi."

"Eo, how are you, sister-in-law?" asked Tae Jun as he waved his hand at Areum.

Because Saga was not there, Tae Jun, who intended to meet Saga, ended up in a cafe with Areum. Areum sipped her ordered juice while Tae Jun continued to look at Areum with a furrowed brow.

"Why didn't you come to the meeting?" Tae Jun asked.

Areum looked up and let go of the straw she had been playing with.
"I can't come," Areum replied curtly.

"Wae? Aren't you Saga's secretary, too?

"Well, you can think like this, Tae Jun_ssi. I, too, don't know why Saga didn't invite me. But, all I know is that she's angry with me," Areum explained later.

"Angry? Saga can be angry with you? I know she doesn't like it when anyone intimidates you, even if it's just words. She even forbade Appa and Eomma from asking you about having a baby because she didn't want you to get your heart hurt even a little. Then, how can she be mad at you?" asked Tae Jun in surprise.

"Ah? Is that so?" Areum asked back, not believing what Tae Jun was saying.

Looking at each other with Areum right now, Tae Jun nodded his head steadily. Areum herself was still gaping in disbelief at what Tae Jun said.

"Then what was she angry about?" Tae Jun asked again.

"Because of your favorite food," Areum replied.

"My favorite food? Spicy meat soup?"

"Eo."

"That's weird, how come?"

"It seems like Eommonim gave me the wrong information. She said Saga liked that food, but Saga said it was your favorite food. I stupidly even forgot that Saga can't eat spicy food."

Now, it was Tae Jun who was shocked by Areum's words.
"Saga knows my favorite food?" asked Tae Jun incredulously.

Areum frowned in confusion at Tae Jun's words. Isn't it natural for Saga to know about it? The two are brother and sister, even though they are not blood.
***