TANGLED HEARTS

Chapter 9: Suspicion Grows

The mornings had grown quieter in the Ryu household. The easy conversations over breakfast were now replaced by long silences, punctuated only by the occasional clink of a spoon against a coffee cup or the rustling of a newspaper. Do Do-Hee sat at the kitchen table, her eyes fixed on the steam rising from her mug of tea, but her mind was far from the comfort of her home.

Across from her, Ryu Shi-Oh was reading the newspaper, but his eyes kept drifting up to her. He had grown quieter too—less cheerful, more watchful. His once casual questions about her day were now loaded, his smiles too brief, too forced. She could feel the weight of his gaze lingering on her when he thought she wasn't looking.

It had been weeks since their last conversation about her late nights, and though Shi-Oh hadn't said anything directly since, Do-Hee knew he hadn't let it go. His silence was louder than any accusation. She could feel him pulling away, slowly distancing himself from the trust that had once been the foundation of their marriage. And now, every lie she told felt like another thread unraveling the fabric of their life together.

She glanced at him briefly, but when their eyes met, she looked away, guilt twisting in her chest. It was becoming harder to maintain the facade. The lies were no longer simple. They were sticky, growing heavier with each passing day. And yet, despite the guilt, despite the coldness that had crept into her home, she couldn't stop.

She couldn't stop seeing Tae-Oh.

Shi-Oh watched Do-Hee from across the kitchen table, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed her. She was distant again, as she had been for the past few weeks. He had tried to brush it off, to tell himself that it was just work, that the stress of the merger was weighing on her more than usual. But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself, a nagging voice in the back of his mind wouldn't let him rest.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. That there was something she wasn't telling him.

Shi-Oh had noticed the changes in her routine—the way she would leave the office later and later, the way her phone buzzed with messages that she quickly dismissed. The way she avoided his gaze when he asked about her day. He had let it slide at first, wanting to believe that his wife was simply overworked. But now, the suspicion had taken root, and it wouldn't let go.

As Do-Hee stood up to clear her plate, Shi-Oh's gaze followed her, his mind racing with questions he hadn't dared to ask. He set his coffee down, the newspaper forgotten as he leaned back in his chair, watching her closely.

"You're working late again tonight?" he asked, his voice casual, though there was an edge to it that made her pause.

Do-Hee nodded, keeping her back to him as she placed her plate in the sink. "Yes. There's still a lot to finish up before the board meeting next week."

Shi-Oh's fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the table, his brow furrowing. "I see. Is Tae-Oh working late too?"

The question was subtle, but Do-Hee felt her heart skip a beat. She turned slowly, forcing a smile. "I'm not sure. Why?"

Shi-Oh shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I was just wondering. You've mentioned him a few times, and it seems like you two are working closely on this deal."

Do-Hee's pulse quickened, but she kept her voice steady. "We are, but it's strictly professional."

Shi-Oh's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the tension between them thickened. "Of course," he said smoothly, though the doubt in his voice was unmistakable.

As Do-Hee left the room, Shi-Oh's mind churned. He had begun piecing things together, quietly watching her movements, noticing the patterns that didn't quite add up. But without solid proof, it was all just speculation. Still, something inside him urged him to dig deeper.