"Never apply terms and conditions in your relations; because they will change into contracts and contracts can be terminated any time."
—Anonymous

Leaving her stunned husband, Seo Ara headed to their dining room and crouched down in front of the wine cabinet. She picked up a bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grand Cru and a Chateau Margaux, and scanned the selections in her hands. Both were excellent wines, but she couldn’t decide which of the two better suited the occasion.

"What kind of wine do you prefer?" she asked nonchalantly over her shoulder.

Receiving no response from the still dumbstruck Baekhyun, she decided to go with the sweeter choice. She figured it would at least help balance the bitter reality her husband would soon find himself in.

Ara rose to her feet with the bottle of Burgundy and grabbed two crystal wine glasses, which she skillfully carried in one hand while the other reached for a corkscrew.

Walking with a more confident and ier strut than what the young executive was used to seeing, she brought their celebratory drink to the living room and set the items down gently on the white center table.

She then removed her knitted cardigan, tossed it to the sofa, unfastened the top three buttons of her blouse, and rolled up her chiffon sleeves.

Then with minimal effort, she uncorked the bottle and poured each of them a serving, ending the flow with a gradual twist of the wrist just like a pro. She carefully slid the glass in his direction then took a seat across from him, her leg crossed over the other and her drink in hand.

All the while, Baekhyun simply gaped in disbelief. It was as if every ounce of his wife's pure innocence evaporated within a blink of an eye, and he couldn't help but wonder, just who the hell is this woman?

"I thought you didn’t drink," he commented with a straight face.

Without meeting his supposedly intimidating eyes, Ara calmly swirled the red liquid then brought the glass to her nose, appreciating its fruity aroma. "No, I just didn't want to at the time," she corrected before taking a sip.

"You mean all those times," he countered, thinking back to every meal they have had so far since their wedding day.

Ara met her husband's curious gaze with her own intense lenses striking something within him. "Are you implying that I lied?" she answered, still tranquil as ever. She then switched her right leg over her left and leaned an elbow on the sofa's armrest for more comfort. "Because if I remember correctly, I simply refused the offer. I never said anything about disliking alcohol," she clarified with a rather alluring smile. "I quite like them actually. There's just something beautiful and calming about a full bodied wine, barrel-aged liquor, and refreshing cocktails, don’t you agree?" she asked as she raised the glass to her pink lips for a second sip.

He did indeed. Next to women, Baekhyun enjoyed savoring all types of finely crafted alcohol, and for the same reasons mentioned—but he wasn't willing to admit anything to the stranger he thought he had all figured out. So, he chose to remain mute, trying to read the newly unveiled chapter of the woman in front of him—the real chapter that he clearly failed to notice.

"Well then, should we get started? There's quite a bit to go over," she continued, not bothered by his continued silence. After all, she was fully aware of what he was doing—or at least attempting to do.

"Ah, but before that, I should probably give you answers to the questions you can't seem to formulate into words," she stated as if to mock his lack of speech. Temporarily breaking from his now offended gaze, Ara took a final sip, set her glass down on the side table, and sat up. She then summoned a soft grin as she once again met his serious eyes.

"My name is Seo Ara," she began casually, "and I'm not as innocent as you assumed I was."

Damn right, you're not. Baekhyun thought as he observed every one of her self-assured gestures. It was clear to him that whoever she really was, was not the same person he believed her to be—that she was far, very far from it.

"I'm a workaholic, but I like to have fun just as much and as hard as I work—and no, I don't mean browsing through stacks of literary works and wishing for a fairytale," Ara continued, reeling in his full attention away from his thoughts.

"I'm pretty level headed, but I like to think I'm more capable in certain areas than others. I'm usually polite, but