[Incoming Trouble]

“JooHyun…” her husband said.

She never liked it when he said her name like that. Authoritative, smug, and hateful.

JangHyuk was lounging on top of their bed, holding a complicated sounding English novel with his reading glasses perched on his nose.

“JooHyun.” He repeated.

SeoHyun knew better than to ignore him more than twice, so she answered a simple ‘yes’ without looking at him.

She was sitting across the vanity table, in the middle of putting on some night cream on her face.

“I heard that JoonMyeon is seeking out your sister again,” he laughed- short and business like, “I was wondering if you could help.”

“With what?” JooHyun questioned.

A pause was heard before her husband continued, “What else, sweetheart.”

“You want me to persuade JinHee to accept him back?”

“You got it.” JangHyuk grinned.

She felt her fists shake and held it in, breathing rapidly through her nose. “Why should I? It’s not like their affairs concern you.”

“Of course it does, you blithering idiot.” He hissed, “Being related to the Kim’s means being one of the most powerful people out there. Don’t you see? Kim JoonMyeon is our key. He could restore the shame your family had caused all of us.”

Breathe in, breathe out… she chanted in her head.

“You’re useless to me, Seo JooHyun.” JangHyuk said, “But rather than throwing you out into the streets mercilessly, I’ve decided to give you another chance. Take it while you can.”

Silence ensued, and the atmosphere was dark with unfinished thoughts and harsh words. She gazed at her hands which were full of blacks and blues. She still remembered what she’d promised to JinHee a few days back. And she intended to keep it.

“No.”

He took off his glasses to glare at her, “What did you say?”

“I said no, JangHyuk.”

He walked towards her direction. SeoHyun shriveled a bit in her position, but did not move away. The man stopped a few inches in front of her, and she could hear his ragged breathing vibrating inside his chest.

JangHyuk touched her shoulder- his cold fingers barely brushing against a bruise.

She stiffened.

“Just do what I say, JooHyun.” He told her, “And nobody will get hurt…”

The woman knew what he meant. As if anyone could get hurt except for her. SeoHyun eyed the belt hanging on a clothing rack nearby and tried her best not to flinch.

“I can’t…” she said in a small whisper. It made her husband glare at her menacingly in result.

He grabbed her wrist and pushed her harshly on the bed, trapping her in between his arms so that she cannot move.

SeoHyun stared at him in horror as he dived in for her neck, roughly kissing and biting the skin. She could just feel it bruising up and prevented herself from screaming in agony.

“Hurts… Does it not?” JangHyuk spat.

“Wait ‘