Shackled by Marriage

Until Death Do us Part

Click. Clack. Click. Clack. Click. Clack. Click. Clack. Click. Clack. Click. Clack.
 
The sound of crisp high heels reverberated in an empty hallway. The hand that clutched her small bag was the only gave away from her nervous state. But even then, she still looked like a perfect goddess.

She wouldn't have had the courage to do this months ago but her newly gained self-confidence was now something to be trifled with.

She straightened her back as she approached a U-shaped desk. She stopped with a half-smile. "I'm here to see your boss."

"Uh... uhm... I-" The young man seemed flustered upon seeing her there.

She sighed. "Tell him... his wife is here."

🌹 • 🌹 • 🌹
 

She'd prefer not to come here at all if she was being honest. But she had some things to say - things that he needed to hear. The young man came back with large beads of sweat on his forehead. He bowed and gestured that she could go inside.

The room was the same as when she first came here. 

Stuffy with little light passing through. The dark wallpapers - 'What is wallpapers or paint?' She thought but discarded the idea since it poses as a distraction and she needed her wits about her today. Her lips slightly turned upward at the partition designed with intricate dragon chirimen¹ cloth. It was made thin so she could at least see shadows, although hardly any face. But she's pretty sure that he's behind that partition, sitting behind a large desk.

A shadow at her peripheral vision moved - Song Yunhyeong. She could only give a curt nod, acknowledging his presence. He was no stranger to her since he's the one her husband entrusted to deliver gifts to her every time. But that's as far as their relationship goes and she'd prefer it that way.

The lesser she comes in contact with anything related to HIM, the better.

She sat down on a sofa directly in front of the partition with a soft plop. 

"Would you like some tea, Madam?" Yunhyeong immediately offered a cup.

"Oh, how sweet of you. One would think you're my husband as caring as you are." She flashed a smile and accepted the cup.

Yunhyeong blushed and nervously gave a small laugh. He scurried back to lurking beside the partition, slightly dabbing his temples with a handkerchief.

"What are you doing here?"

The voice sent chills down her spine the moment she heard it. ' You can do this. You can do this.' She can't back out now. She shifted slightly and her bag moved along with her. Seeing the pink pouch reminded her of why she was there in the first place.

With renewed determination, she lifted her eyes to stare directly at the partition. And the way Yunhyeong flinched, she guessed she hit the bull's eye.

"You know dear husband, you're so cold towards your wife. I went out of my way to especially see you." She crossed her legs and leaned back comfortably into the sofa.

"You and I both know that's not true."

She had to chuckle. "How quick of you to assume my thoughts. But that's to be expected, yes? Because you ALWAYS know what I'm thinking." The pause just gave her another card up her sleeve. If there's one thing she's learned, he gets annoyed when she starts to be cheeky.

He sighed. "Stop the sarcasm, Irene."

"Ah, so you do know my name. I was starting to think not." Irene sweetly smiled. "But let's cut to the chase. Yes, yes, I know. Stop scowling at me. I'm getting to my point. Anyway... I'm here to tell you that I've accepted the invitation to G-Dragon's product launch. Don't worry, I told him that I will be attending for both of us."

"What does-"

"Also, Seulgi has invited me to Paris so I'll be leaving next week and won't be back until probably the end of month. And yes, I will be attending exclusive parties to which, again, we are both invited. By next-"

"STOP. What does this have to do with me?" Her husband rudely interrupted her, frustration evident in his voice.

Irene innocently blinked. She took a deep breath and after much thought, she said, "Do you like my necklace?"

Again, he sighed. "I don't care."

"You should because you bought this for me. I mean I chose it but you paid for it. Isn't it pretty, Yun?" She gestured to her neck and Yunhyeong could only nod. "It also comes in a set and I just had to take it. Next time when you are in a better mood, maybe you can see it up close? But that's asking too much of the Mafia Boss."

"You are not obliged to tell me things. We are already divorced." The voice sounded so gentle that she almost fell for it.

Irene clenched her jaw. 'Don't fall for it, Irene. Do what you came here to do!' She scolded herself. "Speaking of! Here, Yun." She handed Yunhyeong a small envelope which was given to his boss.

"And this is?"

"Our divorce papers. IN ASH ." This time, Irene stood up. "There will be no divorce. You can file as many times as you want but you're just wasting paper. Remember this, and remember well : You and I are bound to this shackle of a marriage as you so put it. It's... convenient for me, although I can't say the same for you."

She smirked. The air around his office changed. She didn't need to guess this time but he's shooting daggers at her right about now. 'Good! He can suffer as much as I.' If he thought it was that easy to dissolve their marriage, he had another one coming. She's not the timid girl he knew back then.

"So I've said what I wanted to say. I have to go. I hope you continue to be healthy, dear husband. I'll be sure to spend some money frivolously because after all, isn't it the husband's duty to provide for the wife?"

She shrugged her shoulders and headed for the door. She turned back one last time, "Until death do us part, husband Kim Yong."

Kim Yong - An alias she had seen continuously in tabloids and signed birthday cards. "Or would you rather I call you Jinhwan? But then again, the latter makes it awkward since it's the name of MY bodyguard, right?"

The ugly sound she heard must be from the sudden push of the chair, roughly scratching the floor. Yunhyeong's aghast expression says it all. She huffed before putting on her sunglasses and heading out.

"What a good day this is." Irene hummed feeling light-hearted and satisfied.