Clack.

    The sweltering sun was setting on the western horizon. The front door opened as Han Seol-Ah and the Oh Kang-Woo juniors returned from their shopping trip.

    “Oh, you’re back.” Cha Yeon-Joo approached with a towel around her neck, seemingly having just finished showering. “What took you guys so long?”

    “I bought some stationeries and swimsuits for the kids,” Seol-Ah answered.

    “Swimsuits?”

    “Yeah. It’s almost summer break, after all.”

    “Ohh, that’s right.”

    They would need swimsuits to go to the beach or valley in the summer.

    “But don’t they still have the ones from last year?” Yeon-Joo asked.

    “Do you think those will still fit them?”

    “Ah.”

    As Seol-Ah mentioned, Kang-Hyun, Hang-Hee, and Lia had grown significantly in one year.

    “That aside, Kang-Woo…” Seol-Ah anticipatingly looked around the living room but shrugged in disappointment. “Must have gone to close another Rift.”

    She had not seen Kang-Woo in days. She knew his job’s importance to the world but her heart hurt whenever she looked at the empty living room.

    Seol-Ah softly bit her lip and shook her head. Their family could have a peaceful life only because Kang-Woo did his best to close the Rifts. She couldn’t get in his way with her selfish desire.

    An unquenching thirst burned her throat. Her breathing turned heavy and cold sweats trickled down her back. The pulsing of her obsession grew stronger the longer she was away from Kang-Woo’s side.

    “Oh, hubby? He’s sleeping in the room.”

    “Huh…?” Seol-Ah stared at Yeon-Joo wide-eyed. “He didn’t go to close a Rift?”

    “Oh, yeah. I asked him and he said he’ll be free for the time being since he’s been closing them nonstop for the past few days.”

    “R-Really?!”

    Seol-Ah smiled unbelievably widely. Yeon-Joo smirked and nodded.

    “P-Put these away for me!” Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    “Urgh. Hey! Han Seol-Ah!”

    Seol-Ah pushed the heavy shopping bags to Yeon-Joo and quickly walked toward the room.

    “Honey!”

    “Oh… Welcome back, Darling.”

    Kang-Woo woke up looking as lifeless as someone who ran a distance equivalent to three marathons.

    “A-Are you okay?” Seol-Ah asked.

    “Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”

    “You don’t look fine… You look exhausted.” Seol-Ah caressed Kang-Woo’s cheek with concern. She could only think of one reason why he was this exhausted. “As I’d thought… You’ve been pushing yourself too hard to close so many Rifts lately.”

    “Huh? Oh, yeah. Hahaha. I guess.”

    Kang-Woo was in truth exhausted from satisfying Lilith and Yeon-Joo.

    “I’ve bought dinner ingredients from the supermarket so I’ll make you something stamina-filling!”

    Seol-Ah’s eyes blazed passionately. The corners of Kang-Woo’s mouth rose faintly.

    Kang-Woo could only think of one thing.

    “Please wait thirty minutes! I’ll make you some delicious kimchi stew!”

    Seol-Ah stormed into the kitchen, excited to have dinner with Kang-Woo after a long time apart. Kang-Woo approached his children looking at him with sparkling eyes while Seol-Ah was busy preparing dinner.

    “How was your shopping trip, kids?”

    “Beloved Father~!” Lia ran to Kang-Woo first and jumped into his arms. “I’ve missed you so much, Father!”

    “Yeah, I’ve missed you too, Lia.”

    It was practically the same since he had not spent even an hour at home for the past few weeks.

    “Did everything go well?” Kang-Hyun asked.

    “Yeah. I’ll be home for a while.”

    “What a relief. Our mothers have been talking a lot about going on a summer trip but I was worried you wouldn’t be able to join us.”

    “Hehe. It’s summer break for you guys son, right?”

    “Oh, yes. It’s next week.”

    “Where do you want to go?” Kang-Woo asked.

    “Beloved Father! The beach! I want to go to the beach!” answered Lilia as she raised her hand. “Please wait right here! Beloved Mother Seol-Ah bought me a new swimsuit!”

    Lilia ran out of the room and returned with a cute swimsuit with water drop patterns she pulled out of the shopping bag.

    “Whoa, that’s cute,” Kang-Woo remarked.

    “I wanted to get something sexier, but… Beloved Mother Seol-Ah said not a chance so I put up with this one.”

    “Isn’t it unfair? She bought a super~ erotic bikini for herself!”

    “Darling bought a super erotic bikini?”

    “Daddy, what about mine?”

    Kang-Hee also brought her swimsuit. It had a slightly mature feel to it because of its sarong cover.

    “Umm…” Kang-Hee looked around cautiously and tiptoed to whisper in Kang-Woo’s ear, “D-Do you think… oppa will like it?”

    “Uhh… M-Maybe?”

    “I-I guess it has a mature feel to it…” Kang-Woo remarked.

    “Really? It does?” Kang-Hee’s eyes shone and she nodded. She whispered, “I can beat that cat burglar with this…!”

    “Honey~! Dinner is ready!”

    His Darling’s kimchi stew took priority over all else right now.

    “I’ll be right there!”

    Kang-Woo was drooling just from the smell. He was met with sweet & sour kimchi and greasy pork.

    The kimchi stew was so good that it made him cry.

    “Fufu. Slow down.”

    Seol-Ah smiled in satisfaction as she watched Kang-Woo eating her food with such joy.

    “Man, you sure went all out this time,” Yeon-Joo expressed.

    “It’s delicious, Mother.”

    “Oppa, say ahhh~”

    “H-Huh?”

    “Hurgh… It’s too much for a lady like myself…”

    The noisy dinner ended soon after.

    “Umm… have you recovered from your fatigue, honey?” asked Seol-Ah as she sat next to Kang-Woo catching his breath in the master bedroom after a filling meal.

    “Of course, I have!”

    “Umm… th-then…”

    Seol-Ah stared at Kang-Woo anticipatingly as she placed her hand on his lap. Kang-Woo could easily tell what she wanted.

    It was a mental issue, not a physical one. No matter how fun a game was, one would get burnt out if they played it for twenty hours straight.

    Kang-Woo had made Seol-Ah spend her nights alone these past few weeks. Could he tell her he couldn’t get it up because he had gone at it with his other wives since morning?

    He couldn’t say such a horrible thing to his Darling— he would rather die.

    “You’re exhausted today, aren’t you? Lie down and get some rest.”

    As Kang-Woo racked his brain, Seol-Ah smiled gently as if she understood how he felt.

    “D-Darling…!”

    Kang-Woo was almost brought to tears by Seol-Ah’s thoughtfulness.

    “I have something to bring from the other room,” Seol-Ah remarked.

    Kang-Woo did not know what she would bring but it seemed he could spend a peaceful night, unlike this morning and afternoon.

    “Haaa.”

    Kang-Woo replayed the day as he lay down on the bed. All three of his wives were far more beautiful than he deserved. All three of his children were so cute that his eyes could melt just from looking at them. The kimchi stew was so good that he could never get tired of it, and the air conditioner blew away the sweltering summer heat.

    “Am I allowed… to have such an amazing day?”

    Kang-Woo desperately wished.

    Seol-Ah entered the room.

    “Welcome back, Darl—”

    Kang-Woo froze once he looked toward the door. Seol-Ah was wearing a see-through negligée and her hair was slightly wet— it seemed she had just gotten out of the shower.

    “U-Umm, Darling?”

    Seol-Ah smiled, noticing Kang-Woo’s confused gaze.

    “You’re exhausted from traveling all over the world, aren’t you?” Seol-Ah asked.

    “Uhh, yeah.”

    “So… you don’t have to do anything today. Not , anyway.”

    “What do you mean by…”

    Seol-Ah smiled and raised what was in her hands— silver handcuffs, a rope, and a blindfold.

    “I’ll… do everything for you tonight.”

    She approached Kang-Woo like a predator eyeing her prey.

    Click.

    The cold handcuffs restrained Kang-Woo’s hands.

    he thought.