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To say that Han Junkyung was protective of Seo Ari was an understatement of the century. His protectiveness was blended with an unhealthy dose of possessiveness and he wasn't ashamed to admit it. He used to think those feelings were just a part and parcel of the so-called honeymoon phase of their relationship. He couldn't have been more wrong.
If people thought that as a boyfriend, he was difficult to deal with anything remotely related to Seo Ari, then currently as her husband, he was downright territorial. Moreover, being a chaebol with vast connections meant he would definitely deliver on every threat made. He had the means and the power to decimate the career of literally anyone who dared to even breathe the wrong way around her. Han Junkyung bows only to his queen Seo Ari and he would protect her at any cost.
Seo Ari had stayed off the radar for years after what went down. Junkyung and Ari dated for almost 4 years before she finally agreed to become Mrs. Han. However, she had begged Junkyung to keep their marriage under wraps from the whole world at least for a few months until she got used to his life. He was not happy about it one bit but he would do anything to protect Ari's peace of mind. If keeping their relationship a secret was something she needed, then he would give it to her irrespective of what he felt. Only immediate family and the board members knew about their marriage.
Even after marriage Seo Ari actively avoided the influencer and celebrity circles as much as humanly possible, which meant Junkyung always attended most of these events all by himself, missing his wife like crazy. The very first appearance of Seo Ari as Han Ari, the wife of the CEO of Hue Cosmetics Han Junkyung took place almost a year and a half after their marriage. Attendees, especially a few influencers from their shared past and business partners who were stupid enough to pull Ari into their filthy games, in his absence learned the lesson quickly that all bets were off the moment someone looked at Han Ari with even the most minuscule of ill intentions. What transpired at the Chanel Haute Couture, sent ripples across the Korean celebrity industry - events that would be remembered for years to come.
Han Junkyung POV
Today we both are attending Chanel's Haute Couture show which is being sponsored by Hue Cosmetics for the first time, with the French luxury brand returning to Seoul after almost 8 years. The show has been the talk of the town for the past 10 months and almost everyone in attendance has been planning their look since the day of the announcement. Except for my lovely wife, Han Ari.
She was over the moon when I told her that we were bidding for a partnership with Chanel and would be proposing a fashion show. She had worked with me tirelessly to not only prepare for the pitching process but also stood behind me like a rock when I had been traveling non-stop for long periods to Chanel's London-based headquarters. She had tagged along for the shorter ones and had quickly won over the hearts of not only my own executive team but also Chanel's team through her sheer wit, tenacity, and informed business acumen.
But fast forward a few months and I still remember when I lost my cool over her not wanting to attend the event under question. As my wife, Hue Cosmetics was as much Ari's, as it was mine. My parents, I, and our board members had a full understanding that Seo-Ari, now Han Ari, had equal rights to the entirety of the assets of our global conglomerate. Getting my then-girlfriend and now-wife to even get on board with the whole idea was a months-long uphill battle - a story for another day though.
Given her contribution and support right from the pitch to the actual fashion show, it was out of the question that I wanted my wife to attend as the Lead Host of the Haute Couture. After everything that happened with her sudden rise and fall as a celebrity, my accident - her absolutely idiotic and unfounded belief that she was to some extent the reason behind it, and her best friend's betrayal - all of it hurt my wife to the core. We both attend therapy to this day to cope with everything we have been subjected to throughout that process. I still had nightmares of her disappearing from my life.
"Ari-a, Hue Cosmetics' stylists will be over in the afternoon to kick-start the whole family's dresses and looks for the Chanel show. Can you take a half day from work today?" I asked her as we had breakfast. It was just the both of us as my parents were out for a breakfast gathering with some friends.
I looked up at my wife because she went quiet all of a sudden and looked surprised. Raising a brow, I asked, "What's wrong, jagi?"
"Why would I attend the event, yeobo? My work is in the wings. Me attending the event is going to be of no use to anyone."
Taking in a calming breath to reign in my anger at her downplaying her role and once again completely avoiding the limelight, I said, "Ari-a, you have busted your ass off for this show despite the fact that you don't work for me. You handled your own growing business, made new products that have gone on to become bestsellers within the market, pulled all-nighters with me to build pitch decks, and participated in all brainstorming calls, not once taking an ounce of recognition for your ideas, while not missing a single family meal with me, my parents or yours. If there is anyone I would want to be by my side during the show, it's you jagi. It wouldn't be happening without your consistent contribution and unwavering support."
My wife had a small smile and teary eyes as she said, "Junkyung-a, I am sure anyone in my place would have done it. What I am doing is nothing extraordinary."
Her casual tone, which I am sure is just a façade to mask her appreciation, makes me lose my control. Abruptly getting to my feet, I say in a leveled voice, "You have relentlessly taken care of me when I lost my cool on almost everyone in the past few months. Do you think I don't know or notice that not only me, but everyone right from my interns to my executive arm literally worships the ground you walk on? There are times when I get angry at them only because I am unbelievably jealous of how easy it was for them to earn your company, easy smiles, and heart-stopping giggles. Do you think this much laughter was ever heard in the halls of Hue Cosmetics? When you set up that ridiculous "15-minute-breather: Anyone-can-share-a-dumb-joke-or-a-problem-window-Floor-attendance-mandatory" rule - I will be honest I wasn't sure of what you were aiming for."
I paused and saw a sad self-deprecating look cross my wife's face. I am sure she assumed that I did not have any faith in her idea. Oh Han Ari, what will I ever do with you? Baby you have got to have your own back.
"That was the best company-wide team-building activity to have ever been implemented in the history of Hue Cosmetics, Ari-a. Have you not realized that not a single person from the 100 people sitting on our floor has missed that 15-minute gathering even once? Heck, it was even applauded in the last Board of Directors meeting for boosting employee happiness and providing an open and supportive platform for sharing everyday problems. Appa, Eomeoni, and my board loved it so much that every team in all our 30 global offices including our subsidiary companies will be implementing the concept starting this week. We have shot up leaps and bounds in employee retention across Korea in the past 3 months moving up by 10 ranks purely because our employees feel so much more valued and appreciated through these small things you started."
I take a breather and see blatant surprise cross her features. Walking over to her, I pick her up in my arms and walk over to the couch. I need my wife in my arms for what I am about to say next.
"You have worked so hard for this. Tell me, why do you not want to attend? Explain to me what's going through your mind baby."
She remains silent not meeting my eyes. What's bothering you jagi?
"Han Ari, I lived for 28 years without you. Then you came along with all sass, sunshine, and just pure unwavering strength. That night when you threatened to report me, I was so caught off guard at your cluelessness - it was the first time in my life that there was a beautiful human right in from of me, who didn't expect anything from me. All my life everyone around me other than my parents only wanted Chaebol Han Junkyung. No one, other than maybe Sihyeon, ever cared to find out the person beneath."
Wiping a stray tear rolling down the corner of her eye, "You. Only you have seen everything that I am because you care. You love me for me and accept me as I am. You make me a better person every day, jagi. Moreover, what you have done in the firm over the past few months has boosted the company's image so much. It's all because of you, Han Ari."
She moves up and gives me a searing kiss which goes on long enough that we are out of oxygen by the time we are done. Pushing me down so I am laying on my back and she plants herself on my chest looking at me as if I was her entire world. The feeling was mutual because my wife is my whole world as well.
"Jagi, please tell me what's bothering you. Please."
"Junkyung-a, did you know what was the worst moment of my life? Not when I lost my business to the world's unfair means, not when I found out that my best friend was a hater, not when I almost committed suicide from the hospital terrace - none of it. The worst moment of my life was when I saw you in a coma and on life support. You have absolutely no idea how many million pieces my heart broke into. The one person I had genuinely come to care about and trusted was on his deathbed because of me."
Her voice cracked simultaneously as my heart broke. Ari didn't share much from when she spent time with me in the hospital. I had asked Sihyeon multiple times to tell me every single thing that had happened. But she never told me that the love of my life had been on the verge of killing herself.
"I am so proud of you Junkyung-a. I want to boast to the world that you are mine. My husband. For everything that you have achieved in life. But I will forever stay in the shadows if it means that you will never be hurt because of me. You safe and sound is all that matters to me. I would die if something ever happens to you at my expense."
She is sobbing her heart out on my chest as tears roll down my eyes at how much my wife has endured. She is so fucking strong. My little warrior.
"Every single event that you have attended after we got married, I have followed it on social media and TV just to feel close to you. Call me clingy, I don't care. Letting you go all alone to these parties for the whole world to believe that you were still available and an eligible bachelor absolutely killed me. But nothing I feel is above your safety, Junkyung. It's not that I wouldn't love to be a part of the fashion show. I am scared of the repercussions of our world finding out that we are married. This is the only reason jagi. Nothing else."
Running a soothing hand over her head to calm her down, I gently suggest, "Okay, I understand your concerns. How about we hire a covert security detail for the both of us for the fashion show? Each of us will be covered for the peace of both our minds."
Hiccupping cutely as she cleared snot from her nose, she looks up innocently and asks, "Really? We can do that?"
Exasperated, I say, "Only you Han Ari would doubt if something was possible despite being married to a fucking chaebol. Only you. Anything my wife wants, my wife gets. No questions asked."
Within the next breath, she is kissing me senselessly and moves on to pepper kisses all over my face muttering thank you and I love you continuously.
As she settles down and gives me a breathtaking smile, I say, "Han Ari, I regret the day I called myself a Princess Maker and judged you for your humble roots. I was a condescending asshole who had never worked hard to win over a woman. I was so wrong and I apologize. You didn't deserve it."
Giving me a cheeky smile the vixen reverts, "You are forgiven, dear husband."
Pulling her impossibly closer with my lips just a breath away from hers, I whisper, "You, Han Ari are the King Maker. You have made me the king of my game by just being yourself. I love you."
"Daepyonim? We have reached the venue." my driver calls out from the front of the limo. Shit, I didn't even realize when the past hour went by. Let the show begin!