Broken Promises

Chapter 1: The Icy Facade

The spacious living room of the penthouse was bathed in the soft, golden light of the afternoon sun. The usual hum of activity was replaced by a tense silence. Hong Haein sat at the edge of the couch, her posture rigid as she flipped through paperwork. The door burst open, and Baek Hyunwoo stormed in, his face flushed with anger.

“We need to talk,” he said, his voice strained.

Haein looked up, her eyes cold. “About what, Hyunwoo? I’m busy.”

Hyunwoo’s frustration was palpable. “About your new secretary, Yoon Junho. I saw him leaving the office today, and he was practically glowing with approval. What’s going on between the two of you?”

Haein’s brow furrowed. “Yoon Junho is my new secretary. He’s just doing his job.”

Hyunwoo’s voice grew sharper. “Just doing his job? I’ve seen the way he looks at you. The way you interact with him. It’s not professional, Haein. It’s crossing boundaries.”

Haein’s eyes narrowed. “You’re being ridiculous. Junho is just an efficient and dedicated employee. There’s nothing inappropriate about our working relationship.”

Hyunwoo’s face reddened with jealousy. “It’s not just about professionalism. It’s about respect. It feels like you’re making him a priority over me. I’ve been trying to make this marriage work, but it seems like you’re more interested in making sure your secretary is happy than in fixing what’s wrong between us.”

Haein’s expression hardened. “And what exactly do you expect me to do? Fire him because you’re insecure?”

Hyunwoo’s voice trembled with emotion. “It’s not about insecurity. It’s about how you’re pushing me aside. We barely spend time together, and when we do, you’re distracted. If you’re more invested in your work relationships than in our marriage, then maybe we need to reevaluate things.”

Haein’s eyes flashed with anger. “This is absurd. You knew how demanding my career is when we got married. If you can’t handle that, then maybe you should reconsider why you’re here.”

Hyunwoo’s eyes darkened with a mix of anger and sadness. “So that’s it? You’re just going to brush this off? Fine, if that’s how you feel, then maybe you’re right. Maybe we need to reevaluate things—without me.”

As he turned on his heel, Haein’s heart pounded in her chest. “Where are you going?” she demanded, her voice cutting through the silence.

Hyunwoo’s hand paused on the door handle, his back to her. “I’m going to figure out what I want. Because clearly, you’ve already made up your mind about what’s important to you.”

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Haein alone in the stillness of the room. The echo of the door reverberated through her, mingling with the tension of their confrontation. She sank onto the couch, her face buried in her hands, the weight of their fractured relationship crashing down on her. The penthouse, once a symbol of her success, now felt like a cage of unresolved pain and unspoken truths.

Certainly! Here’s the continuation of Chapter 1 from Hyunwoo’s point of view as he leaves the apartment complex and heads to a nearby park:

---

Hyunwoo's POV

Baek Hyunwoo stormed out of the penthouse, the cool afternoon air hitting him with a jarring contrast to the heated argument he’d just left behind. His mind raced with thoughts, each one a sharp reminder of the growing distance between him and Haein. He moved quickly, his footsteps echoing through the marble-clad hallway of their apartment complex.

As he stepped outside, he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The city was bustling with life, people going about their daily routines, completely oblivious to the turmoil within him. He walked briskly, his anger and frustration propelling him forward. He needed to clear his mind, to find a space where he could think without the constant pressure of his tumultuous relationship.

He made his way to a nearby park, a green oasis in the midst of the urban sprawl. The park was a quiet escape, a place he had visited countless times but had never truly appreciated until now. The soft rustling of leaves and the distant sound of children playing provided a stark contrast to the harsh words exchanged with Haein.

Hyunwoo found a secluded bench beneath a large oak tree and sat down heavily. He stared at the ground, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing as he tried to process everything that had happened. The conversation with Haein echoed in his mind, each word a reminder of the growing rift between them.

He had tried to be understanding, to support Haein despite the emotional distance that seemed to widen with each passing day. But seeing her with Yoon Junho, the new secretary, had pushed him to the edge. The jealousy he felt was consuming, a gnawing presence that threatened to unravel everything he had tried so hard to hold together.

As he sat there, the weight of his decisions and the future of their marriage bore down on him. He wondered if he was being unreasonable, if his feelings of jealousy and inadequacy were clouding his judgment. But it was hard to ignore the growing sense of isolation he felt—both from Haein and from the life they had built together.

The park, usually a place of solace, now seemed like a reflection of his internal struggle. The beauty of the surroundings did little to alleviate the ache in his chest. He thought about Haein, about how their relationship had started with such promise and had now devolved into a battleground of misunderstandings and unspoken resentments.

He pulled out his phone, hesitating for a moment before sending a text to a close friend, seeking advice or just an outlet for his frustration. But even as he typed, he realized that no amount of external support could resolve the core issues that plagued their marriage. The answers, he knew, had to come from within—from a deeper understanding of what he truly wanted and whether he could find a way to reconcile that with Haein’s relentless ambition and emotional distance.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the park, Hyunwoo felt a sense of hopelessness mingling with the lingering anger. He needed to confront his own feelings, to find clarity in the chaos that had become his life. The path forward was unclear, and as he sat on that park bench, he couldn’t help but wonder if their marriage could ever be repaired or if they were doomed to drift further apart.

Hyunwoo sat on the bench, lost in his thoughts as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the park. The tranquility of the setting was a stark contrast to the turmoil he felt inside. The arguments, the jealousy, and the growing distance between him and Haein seemed insurmountable. Exhausted by the emotional strain, he leaned back against the bench, closing his eyes.

Time slipped away unnoticed. He drifted into a restless sleep, the park's peaceful ambiance lulling him into a deep slumber. Hours passed in what felt like moments, until he was jolted awake by a voice.

“Excuse me, sir,” a park cleaner said, shaking his shoulder gently. “We’re closing up for the night.”

Hyunwoo blinked, disoriented, as he glanced around the dimly lit park. The once bright afternoon had turned into a dark evening, and the chill in the air now matched the coldness he felt in his heart. He stood up slowly, his muscles stiff from sitting for so long.

As he walked back towards the apartment complex, the weight of his conversation with Haein and the clarity he had gained from his solitude seemed to weigh even heavier. The city lights flickered around him, a blur of activity that contrasted sharply with the inner silence he felt.

When he finally reached the penthouse and walked through the door, he was struck by a profound shock. The sight that greeted him like he just got struck by lightning.