My Lovely Husband || meanie

24. I should remember to Breathe

Mingyu

"Is there anyone I should be cautious about?" Wonwoo hums, his voice blending with the hum of the car's engine as I drive us both to the long-awaited family dinner. I scoff at his innocent question, chuckling loudly as I take a sharp turn by the corner. "The real question should be, is there anyone I shouldn't be cautious about?" I rephrase it, and he rolls his eyes in response. "Okay, so is there anyone I shouldn't be cautious about?" he asks, my laughter doubling with each word he enunciates. He tries to feign offense, but the smile tugging at the corner of his lips betrays his facade.

"Well, except for two of my cousins, don't trust anybody there," I speak, my voice tinged with resignation as I chew on my lip. "Your cousin?" he echoes, and I nod. "You must have met one of them before since he's the chief executive director of the Kim Corporation," I explain, noticing our car zooming past the highway at a steady pace. "You mean Kim Namjoon?" he asks, bewilderment evident in his voice. I can't help but chuckle softly. "Yeah, that's him," I confirm, and he hums thoughtfully, clearly pondering something significant.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" I ask, a smile already tugging on my lips as I take in his soft features. The gentle touch of his glasses resting on his nose, the way his slicked-back black hair glistens under the light, and the thoughtful expression he wears make me curious—and maybe a bit amused—about what's going on in his mind.

"Just wondering how your dad has no clue about the amount of money you preserve?" His eyes flicker towards me with a hint of amusement as he casually unbuttons the top button of his light blue shirt, which tightly hugs his lean, muscular frame in a way that accentuates his physique. The fabric clings just right, highlighting every defined muscle. I can't help but think that no one at this event will be able to take their eyes off him, and somehow, this mere thought makes me feel restless.

"It's because everything I own belongs to my cousin in name," I explain, tearing my eyes off him as I forcefully focus back on the road. We're already in the vast property of the Kim Corporation as we enter the designated large gate. The greenery on both sides of the street accompanies us as we drive past them. "You must trust him a lot," he speaks softly as I park the car in front of the huge mansion in the middle of the woods. "He's the actual owner of this Kim Corporation," I answer as I open my car door. His eyes widen with the information, and I can't blame him, can I?

"It's because everything I own belongs to my cousin in name," I explain, tearing my eyes off him reluctantly as I force myself to focus back on the road. As we pass through the designated large gate, we find ourselves already amidst the vast property of the Kim Corporation. The meticulously maintained greenery on both sides of the street, with lush trees and perfectly manicured lawns, creates a serene and picturesque drive.

"You must trust him a lot," he says softly as I park the car in front of the massive mansion nestled in the middle of the dense woods. The grandeur of the building is quite imposing, almost surreal in its serene isolation. "He was supposed to be the CEO of Kim Corporation," I reply, stepping out of the car and feeling the cool, earthy breeze against my face. His eyes widen with astonishment at the revelation, and I can't blame him. After all, it's not every day you get to know about the dirty secrets behind one of the prestigious families in Korea.

I help him out of the car, though his face remains blank as if he's still trying to comprehend the information I dropped on him out of the blue. "Look who's here?" a familiar voice echoes sharply in the quiet afternoon, instantly making me tense up. My instinctive reaction is to frown, but I manage to swiftly mask it with a cocky smile, hoping to maintain a semblance of composure. "Well, isn't that the illegal child of my dad's third_ opps! Fourth mistress?" I quickly retort, causing his previously cocky smile to twist into an intense, piercing glare. I feel proud to rile him up since I am a firm believer in the principle of tit for tat.

"You shouldn't mess with me when you're not even part of the family anymore," he sneers, his voice dripping with disdain. I roll my eyes, my cocky smile widening as I take a deliberate step closer. My tall frame towers over him, casting a shadow that makes his bravado falter. The flash of fear that crosses his eyes is enough to satisfy me. "Yet the family never seems to get that and keeps on bugging me about being here. How ironic, isn't it?" I speak lazily, my tone oozing with nonchalance as I watch him scramble backward, his confidence shattered.

"We both know you're only here because of him, not because this family actually needs you," he sneers, his eyes narrowing as they flicker to Wonwoo, punctuating his disdain with a sharp smack of his lips and I really want to punch him square in the face, breaking his jaw until he bleeds. I know I shouldn't let him get to me, so I finally settle for glaring daggers at him as he provocatively runs his tongue over her lip, his eyes lingering on Wonwoo far more than I am comfortable with. Unable to stand it any longer, I step between them, blocking his view. He smirks at me triumphantly, clearly relishing in how easily he can provoke me.

"Aren't you getting a bit too protective over that little thing?" he provokes, his sickening grin making my stomach churn. His eyes gleamed with a twisted delight as he ran his tongue slowly over his lips, each movement designed to unsettle me even further. "And aren't you getting a bit too carried away over a guy?" I smirk, noticing his whole face contorting in fear. It fills me with a twisted sense of satisfaction as I give them a taste of their own medicine.

I slowly lean closer, closing the distance between us until he can feel the warmth of my breath gently brushing against the skin of his neck. I want his fear to last long enough for him to shut his mouth for the day. "Want me to snitch it to your father?" I whisper in disdain, and he instinctively backs away, his face twisted in a complex mixture of fear and anger as if he's struggling to decide whether to flee or confront me. "I'll get back to you, Kim Mingyu," he mutters through his gritted teeth, his frustration evident in his tone. With a determined pivot on his heels, he storms back inside and I finally feel at ease.

"I didn't know Kim Mingyu could look hot while being angry," Wonwoo's soft murmur brings me back to my senses. The tension in my body dissipates instantly as he steps closer, linking our arms together in a comforting gesture. I let out a soft chuckle, shaking my head slightly, amused by his unexpected comment.

"I'm pretty sure you have a kink for hot-headed guys," I crack a joke as I lead him inside, the chattering from the crowded room already giving me a headache. In the midst of it all, I momentarily forget that Wonwoo hasn't responded. When I finally glance at him, he inches closer and whispers, "Not just any guy. The said guy has to be particularly Kim Mingyu." At this moment, I feel my breath catch in my throat as if I've forgotten how to breathe.