CBL Ch 8

She did not ask why he had summoned her here. As Miriam had guessed, perhaps he wanted to spend a day outside since it was their last weekend in Hong Kong. Maybe he wanted to enjoy a different space outside the usual bedroom.

“That dress looks hard to take off.”

Kwon Siheon smirked as he looked at the tightly laced waist and the layered frills and ribbons of her dress. Yisoo said nothing, only looking down at the glass of water in front of her. A chill ran through her legs.

A butler entered and began serving the meal. After the course meal ended, dessert was served: rice dumplings with ginger tea and rose petal jam, and peach plum. Only then did the butler bow respectfully and leave the room.

“There’s something you need to know, Yoo Yisoo.”

Kwon Siheon finally broached the subject. Miriam’s guess wasn’t entirely wrong, but it seemed he had something to tell her.

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

“You know Yoo Minseop, right?”

Yisoo’s heart sank. Yoo Minseop, a distant cousin of Chairman Yoo Namcheol, was one of the first family members and employees to distance themselves after the bankruptcy of Hyoshin Construction. He was a greedy and despicable man, similar to the late Yoo Hyeok-su.

“He approached Lee Yihyun.”

“What? How….”

“He sent a message through an external hospital staff member.”

He opened a drawer and placed a letter in front of Yisoo. There were red stains on the edges of the paper. Seeing the dried blood, Yisoo covered her mouth with one hand.

But it wouldn’t be Yihyun’s blood. Kwon Siheon had said the security guards protecting the hospital day and night were top-notch professionals.

“The blood is from Yoo Minseop’s lackey. So don’t worry.”

As if reading her mind, Kwon Siheon reassured her. Yisoo opened the letter with trembling hands. The typed message was short.

Yihyun, since visits are prohibited, I’m writing this letter. Did your father really not leave anything? I’ll help you find it if you work with me. Please contact me at this number. I can’t find Yisoo anywhere.

I’m looking for Yisoo. If you won’t cooperate, I’ll have to persuade Yisoo. Don’t you care what happens to your twin sister? Waiting for your call.

Her fingertips trembled. The thought of Yihyun struggling alone and eventually seeking Kwon Siheon’s help made her heart ache.

“From what I’ve found, Yoo Minseop is quite a despicable person.”

What should we do? Kwon Siheon looked at Yisoo calmly, as if asking for her opinion. He flicked the lighter in his hand on and off in a monotonous motion.

Yisoo, unable to decide, remained silent. He sighed softly in frustration.

“Should we just leave it be? Let Lee Yihyun handle it.”

Their gazes clashed sharply. His cold and clear eyes met hers, which were struggling not to show fear.

“…Please help.”

She bit her lip, finally understanding. Kwon Siheon wanted her to ask for his help, to beg for his intervention again, just like she had a month ago when she asked him to kill her cousin Yoo Hyeok-su.

“Be specific. What kind of help do you want?”

“I want Yoo Minseop… to never approach me and Yihyun again… to never bother or threaten us again….”

“How?”

Click. The lighter flicked on, and the cigarette tip glowed. The bitter scent of nicotine soon filled the air around Yisoo.

“Do you want me to teach Yoo Minseop a lesson, or do you want me to strengthen the hospital security?”

“Do the same to Yoo Minseop. The same as the person who delivered that note….”

As she lowered her chin, she noticed the untouched dessert. Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell into the teacup.

“Kill him.”

Her hands, clasped under the table, tightened with force. She gripped so hard that her joints felt like they might twist. Kwon Siheon silently exhaled smoke, which tasted bitter.

“Like your cousin?”

“…….”

“Alright, then.”

His indifferent voice held no trace of sympathy or concern. Kwon Siheon stubbed out his cigarette on the shiny dessert and took a sip of water. Then, he opened his phone and gave instructions in fluent Cantonese to someone. Meanwhile, Yisoo wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

Murderer.

It was a rebuke directed not at Kwon Siheon, but at herself. She felt like a stranger wearing Yoo Yisoo’s skin, eliminating her relatives one by one without getting her own hands dirty.

How could she so easily beg for someone’s death, without batting an eye?

But there was no other choice. If she didn’t kill, she would be killed. Especially with a professional like Kwon Siheon right in front of her.

“Come over here.”

Kwon Siheon, who had finished his call, summoned her. His low voice held an irresistible power.

Yisoo went to his side, her eyes red from tears. She instinctively knew what he wanted. She had no reason to refuse, especially not now, after he had eliminated another threat to her and Yihyun.

The hem of her halter-neck dress was roughly pushed up from below. The hand that was undoing the lace finally lost patience and tore it with a ripping sound.

“Open your eyes.”

She opened her eyes as commanded. Tears fell onto the hand that was invading between her legs. Kwon Siheon, without a hint of emotion, felt the lace covering her private parts and then slipped his other hand into the gap where her chest buttons were undone.

The hand that grasped her breast was so cold that a moan escaped her. The man roughly kneaded her breast and then lowered his head to stimulate the nipple with his tongue. Even as he lifted her waist and sat her on his spread legs, the tears did not stop.

She tried not to feel anything, wishing her senses would go numb so she wouldn’t feel any pleasure. But her body, as it had for the past three weeks, reacted on its own.

Kwon Siheon grabbed her waist with both hands and slowly rubbed the front of her. The mere pressure of his erection through his zipper made her breath hitch.

It felt like she was back in the winter rain of New York a year ago.

＊＊＊

Just the touch of her skin was enough to make him hard.

Yoo Yisoo, who constantly invaded his mind and aroused him, was infuriating. And he wanted to hold her.

His erection was so hard it felt like it might burst through his zipper. Siheon unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants, freeing his throbbing shaft. Next was Yoo Yisoo’s turn.

He hooked his fingers into the edge of her panties and pulled them down in one swift motion. The scent of her skin and the deeper, more intimate smell of her inner flesh made his heart feel like it might burst.

He rubbed his thick erection against her smooth private parts. He wanted to penetrate her in one swift motion, but he held back. He liked Yoo Yisoo’s sniffling. He knew that as soon as he entered her, this delicate sobbing would turn into loud moans, so he wanted to stay like this, just rubbing against her, a little longer.

He didn’t ask why she was crying. He didn’t try to comfort her or tell her to stop crying. Yoo Yisoo was crying silently, without a single frown or tear on her face.

He knew the meaning of those tears. It was obvious. She felt a shallow sense of guilt for eliminating those who shared even a drop of blood with her, justifying her actions by telling herself she had no other choice.

“Uh, yes!”

He pulled out her breast completely and bit the nipple with his teeth. Her hips jerked and twisted, looking like they might break.

After roughly kneading her breasts with both hands for a while, he took the nipple, which was red and swollen from his touch, into his mouth and sucked on it. The firm, juicy nipple was sweet and moist. No matter how much he sucked, he couldn’t get enough, and a hot sensation welled up inside him.

He let out a low breath and released his lips from her breast. His neglected erection was moving on its own, poking at the area around Yoo Yisoo’s perineum. Encouraged by the stimulation, her hands gripping his shoulders were tense with strength.

“Ah, huh….”

Seeing the tears in her eyes made his chest ache. He wanted to change Yoo Yisoo’s tears of self-loathing into a different kind of crying.

If you’re going to cry, do it properly. Don’t just sniffle.

“Ah! Ah, yes!”

Gripping her pelvis tightly, he thrust deep into her hole in one swift motion. The sound of flesh tearing and creaking quickly turned into a wet, slapping sound. As he forcefully thrust into her, Yoo Yisoo dug her nails into his shoulders and let out a stifled moan.

“…Not yet.”

As he thrust even harder, a loud cry finally escaped her.

He still wasn’t satisfied. He wanted her to cry out louder, like a flood bursting its banks. He liked how she moaned like a feverish patient and panted like a newborn puppy, but he wanted more.

“Ah! Uh, yes! Ahh—”

He lifted her by the waist and then slammed her down. Her buttocks landed on his crotch, and his erect penis slid deep into her open hole. With nowhere else to go, their bodies fit tightly together, and the sensation of his glans crushing against her inner wall made his teeth grind.

Fuck.

Yoo Yisoo cried out loudly, just as he wanted. The sight of her taking him in, clinging to him, and trembling was breathtakingly beautiful. He wanted to devour her whole. Her crying face was so stunning it could blind him.

“Come to your senses. I haven’t even started shaking you properly yet.”

“Ha, huh, it’s too deep… huh…”

Yoo Yisoo struggled to breathe as the pressure on her cervix felt overwhelming. But he had no intention of making it easier for her. Not yet, at least.

“Well, Yoo Yisoo’s hole is particularly deep.”

“Huh… yes!”

“Long dick, deep pussy. A perfect match, aren’t we…?”

“Ugh! Haah—”

As he thrust his hips hard, Yoo Yisoo’s moans grew louder, finally satisfying him somewhat. The elasticity of her inner walls clamping down on his shaft made his vision go dark. Her vagina contracted and relaxed with his movements, leaking fluids profusely.

After pounding her relentlessly and making her breasts flush red, Siheon stood up from the chair with his penis still deeply embedded in Yoo Yisoo. He wrapped her slender legs around his waist and tried to carry her to the bedroom, but he was too impatient.

He stopped in front of the floor-to-ceiling window between the living room and the bedroom and put Yoo Yisoo down. When her back pressed uncomfortably against the railing, he turned her body so she could see the view outside. She gasped and trembled, but he thought it was from excitement.

Then, spreading her buttocks wide, he suddenly thrust in deeply without warning. Her warm vaginal walls clung tightly to his shaft, expressing her pleasure. Her fluids flowed out continuously, stretching like saliva between their joined bodies.

Siheon laughed cruelly. Come to think of it, Yoo Yisoo’s hole had never been tight. Even the first time, when he showed no consideration, it was the same.

She was incredibly responsive and good at sex, unlike her saintly and noble facade. It was as if she had lived like a nun, yet she was incredibly sensual.

Looking back, the most ridiculous thing was his own behavior. The three months in New York flashed through his mind like a panorama.

What on earth possessed him to follow this girl around like a puppy, never even touching her? He should have just taken her right then, instead of worrying about Yoo Namcheol, who was going to die anyway.

In truth, he hadn’t cared much about Chairman Yoo, his political marriage to Park Seohye, or her father, Congressman Park. There was nothing to hold him back, so why had he been content to just look at this woman?

Siheon slowed his pace as he vigorously thrust from behind. The moans that had been growing louder began to subside.

Yoo Yisoo had one hand gripping the railing tightly, the other arm resting diagonally on the window sill, and her forehead leaning against that arm. She continued to cry, her face reflected in the glass, hidden behind her arm, with only the area below her eyes visible.

Next, I had an impulsive desire to cover her eyes and thrust. Under the cloth covering her eyes, I wanted to lick her cheeks wet with transparent tears, and it seemed like my lower body swelled even more with lust.

Siheon paused for a moment to catch his breath and pulled Yoo Yisoo’s buttocks to the other side. He could see his penis fully inserted between the wrinkles of her rear and her perineum.

He brushed back his disheveled hair and adjusted his position. Why was it that no matter how much he held and thrust into her, the thirst remained unquenched, and his sadistic desires resurfaced?

“Ah!”

As he resumed his movements, Yoo Yisoo trembled pitifully. The loud, intense sound of flesh slapping filled the room, like a fist hitting her inner walls.

He continued his pistoning until Yoo Yisoo was exhausted and collapsed, then he carried her body over his shoulder and headed to the bedroom. He paid no heed to her pleading and sobbing that she couldn’t take it anymore.

He couldn’t control the contradictory heat that made him want to be gentle with her one moment and brutally ravage her the next.

One month and three weeks until Yoo Incheol’s pardon. By then, will I be tired of fucking this girl?

He hoped so. He hoped that by then, he would be completely satisfied and cooled down, able to let her go without any regret.

Despite the brief sense of intimacy and camaraderie stemming from their shared status as products of adulterous affairs.

＊＊＊

Yihyun, Kwon Siheon has handled the Yoo Minseop matter well. Don’t worry and focus on taking care of your health, okay?

Handled means….

Her long eyelashes trembled, and her heart sank coldly. She knew it meant the same end as Yoo Hyeoksu.

Yihyun closed the email window from Yisoo and handed the tablet PC to the nurse in charge. Only after being alone did she cover her face with both hands and sank deep into thought. She had asked through the medical staff to Kwon Siheon multiple times if she could live with Yisoo, but the answer was always the same.

Yoo Yisoo is assisting our representative with work, so that will be difficult. Please discuss the contents of that contract again when you return to Korea.

The secretary called it a “contract.” No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out what kind of work Yisoo was doing for Kwon Siheon in exchange for helping her and her sibling.

Although Yisoo was good at housework and English, Kwon Siheon, who had several skilled secretaries, wouldn’t need such help. Especially since he himself spoke multiple languages.

So, could it be….

The mere thought drove her crazy. If Kwon Siheon had saved her and eliminated Yoo Hyeoksu and now Yoo Minseop under that condition, it was unbearable to even think about.

Yisoo, no way… right? That can’t be true… right?

Her jaw felt like it would dislocate. Whenever she was under extreme stress, she felt a piercing pain in one ear and her jaw.

If, by any chance, Yisoo was making an extreme sacrifice for her, then just being alive would be a sin against her.

Of course, it might not be the case. There was a possibility that Yisoo had maximized her appeal of her father’s slush fund to persuade Kwon Siheon.

But what was this unsettling, uncomfortable feeling?

Yihyun gripped her jaw and reached for the medicine bottle by her bedside when there was a knock at the door, and the nurse in charge entered the hospital room.

“Ms. Lee Yihyun, someone visited Dr. Choi from the P Foundation Hospital, where you used to go for regular checkups, and left a message. They urgently want to know the patient’s whereabouts and asked to deliver the message if Dr. Kim visits later.”

“Who is this person?”

“A woman who was discussed for marriage with you last year. Her name is Jung Sera.”

Yihyun’s eyes sparkled with interest. Jung Sera was someone she had known well since childhood due to the friendship between their family elders, even before the marriage talks.

However, she thought the engagement was broken off with the company’s bankruptcy, as it was an unspoken rule in this world. Even if Sera loved him, she expected her father, Chairman Jung Jingyu, to persuade her otherwise.

Chairman Jung, the owner of Rapidflare International, Inc. (RFAR), a mid-sized security company based in the US, and a self-made Korean-American businessman, initially opposed Yihyun as a match for his daughter.

Yihyun understood and respected Chairman Jung’s position. What family would want a patient like him as a son-in-law?

However, Chairman Jung eventually couldn’t overcome his daughter’s wishes and told Yihyun’s father, Yoo Namcheol, that he would consider the engagement positively. This was the situation two and a half months before Hyoshin Construction completely collapsed.

Yihyun also liked Sera. Although she still felt more like a little sister due to their frequent meetings since childhood, if she were to marry someone, she had never thought of anyone other than Sera.

“Here, Dr. Choi sent a photo of the letter.”

She looked at the phone screen the nurse handed her, still in disbelief. Until then, she believed there must have been some error or misunderstanding. Perhaps Sera, studying in the US, didn’t know the exact situation of Hyoshin Construction.

Yihyun, where on earth are you? Are you safe? Right now, Dad and I are discussing the missing person report procedure with the police for you and Yisoo. If you come to the hospital before that, please contact me. I’m so worried that I feel like I’m going crazy, Yihyun.

The letter ended there. The first thing that came to Yihyun’s mind was her twin sister. The thought of gaining an unexpected ally gave her hope.

If Sera’s side genuinely wanted to continue the marriage talks, then as soon as Yisoo returned to Korea, she could break off the deal with Kwon Siheon, whatever that deal was.

She would definitely repay the debt owed to Kwon Siheon. It might take some time, but it wasn’t impossible.

The inheritance left by the deceased, whether it was a slush fund or whatever, she was the person closest to that position. Ultimately, both Yoo Hyeoksu, who took her, and Yoo Minseop, who tried to win her over, had not been mistaken.

Yisoo also knew this fact. She desperately hoped that this was the reason Kwon Siheon was persuaded to help them.

＊＊＊

When he arrived at Hong Kong International Airport, he expected to be on a prestigious first-class seat of a regular airplane. He didn’t know we would be taking a private jet.

Yisoo sat next to Kwon Siheon and looked out the round window at the clouds. Perhaps because it was such a sealed space, as long as she didn’t look outside during takeoff and landing, the flight was bearable.

Beyond the curtain serving as a partition, the flight crew and his secretaries were present. Judging by the attitude of the attendants, it seemed that Kwon Siheon traveling by private jet was a common occurrence. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the extent of Shinmyeong’s wealth.

“As soon as we arrive, we’ll go straight to the hospital,” Kwon Siheon said abruptly as the plane took off. Yisoo turned to look at him sitting across the aisle. Kwon Siheon continued speaking casually, his gaze fixed on his tablet PC.

“I’ve contacted Lee Yihyun’s doctor.”

“…Thank you.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

His voice was extremely dry. It was unclear whether he was genuinely considerate. Lately, the man hadn’t used honorifics, even in a sarcastic tone. I couldn’t tell if this was a good sign or the opposite, or if it meant nothing at all.

“No, I’m fine.”

She didn’t ask if he would accompany her. The hospital was owned by Kwon Siheon’s family, and all the conveniences and costs of Yihyun staying there as a VIP patient were also his burden.

As long as Yihyun was safely protected there, there was nothing she could say. The most she could do was request maximum visits and contact.

After that conversation, Kwon Siheon didn’t speak anymore and focused on his work. Perhaps because they were in the confined space of an airplane, he seemed not to care at all about what she was doing in the seat next to him. Yisoo also read a book and, feeling tired, leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

About 30 minutes before landing, she opened her eyes to the click of a lighter. The glowing tip of the cigarette filled her vision, and she flinched, turning her head away.

Every time she saw the lit end of a cigarette, her chest felt tight with anxiety. The unease she felt whenever her late father, Yoo Yongjin, smoked heavily in the house was amplified daily by Kwon Siheon, a heavy smoker. It was a different kind of discomfort from simply disliking or being averse to smoking.

‘Do you hate the smell of cigarettes that much? Is it so hard to respect other people’s preferences?’

Even last night, Kwon Siheon had a cigarette in his mouth as he thrust deep inside her. If she twisted or struggled, he would laugh mockingly with the cigarette between his fingers.

‘Don’t move. The ash will fall on your pussy.’

Every time he threatened her like that, Yisoo froze as if her limbs were bound. He had never actually dropped the ash. But sometimes, he would lower his hand holding the cigarette dangerously close to her chest and chin.

‘Huh… uh…’

‘It won’t touch you. You’re just too scared.’

He brought the cigarette back to his mouth and smirked. He seemed to enjoy the sensation of her tightening around him in fear.

The man had an incredible amount of energy and never seemed to tire. If she briefly lost consciousness and opened her eyes, she would inevitably be shaking intensely beneath his large body. It felt like a red-hot iron rod was piercing through her all night, hitting the end of her cervix with a thud.

Once her legs were spread, they wouldn’t close all night, and if she tried to pull away, he would deliberately grab her ankle and pull her back to him. Then, as if punishing her, he would thrust even more fiercely with a thud.

I wish he would be even more violent. So I can pass out quickly….

But when she gave up and slumped in despair, the man slowed down and moved leisurely. Realizing that her intentions were transparent and her tactics were being read, Yisoo tried her best to empty her mind.

Emptying all emotions. Trying to show only emptiness.

“Yoo Yisoo.”

A familiar low voice interrupted her thoughts.

“We’ve arrived. Get up.”

Before she knew it, the plane had landed and was racing down the runway. The sensation of the aircraft touching the ground finally eased her inner tension completely.

The familiar airport terminal landscape brought a mix of emotions. Just two months ago, when she left for Macau with Yijin and Yihyun, she had no idea when she would return.

Thinking of Yijin reminded her of the urn she brought from Hong Kong. She wondered if she could find a place for it in the memorial hall before her uncle was released. She didn’t want to take Yijin to Yoo Namcheol’s columbarium.

As they headed to the hospital in the car waiting outside the airport, she suddenly blurted out something he hadn’t asked.

“Yihyun’s left leg is uncomfortable because of me.”

She felt Kwon Siheon look up from his tablet PC.

“When I was ten, burglars broke into our house… Yihyun tried to protect me and fell down the second-floor stairs instead.”

“…….”

“That’s when Yihyun got hurt.”

“Got hurt? You don’t remember what happened that day?”

“Yes. It was too dark, and I couldn’t see anything. While Yihyun and I were on the first floor, the burglar went into our parents’ bedroom on the second floor… The adults’ screams were so loud that my ears rang… I don’t remember what happened next.”

“…….”

“So, I have to protect Yihyun. Because of me, he might have to live with a uncomfortable leg for the rest of his life.”

Yisoo added, as if making a promise to herself.

“The autonomic dysfunction was gradually improving before going to Hong Kong. The doctor who used to take care of Yihyun said that if he managed it well, he could live comfortably with little impact on his daily life. But the leg is difficult to cure completely… He might have to live with it forever.”

‘The bone is permanently damaged, making it difficult to correct with current medical technology. It is not noticeable when standing, but the center of gravity shifts as soon as you take a step, making it difficult to walk for long periods without a cane. Naturally, running is also difficult.’

Siheon recalled the briefing materials from the medical staff at the Paju hospital about Lee Yihyun. Perhaps because he had been limping since childhood, Lee Yihyun was similar in height to Yoo Yisoo. At 169 cm, she was tall for a woman but not particularly tall for a man.

“So, are you planning to live with Lee Yihyun forever? Devoting your life to him?”

“…….”

“The company collapsed, and the marriage was automatically canceled.”

“How do you… know that?”

Yoo Yisoo blinked in surprise and then averted her gaze. She seemed to realize a moment too late that he must have investigated her.

“Of course, I looked into it before bringing Lee Yihyun to the hospital. Just as Yoo Yisoo has no reason to trust me completely, it’s mutual.”

A deal is typically made up of 51% trust and 49% distrust. Even if someone seems insignificant and is asking for help, they might not reveal all their cards. Overlooking this and letting your guard down can backfire, as he had seen happen countless times around him.

“The daughter of Chairman Jung from the RFAR security company, whom you’ve known since childhood. The engagement was called off, right?”

Before Yisoo could answer, the car stopped at its destination. The convalescent hospital branch, which housed a small number of VIP patients, looked like a foreign forest retreat at first glance. As the two of them passed through the pristine white arch-shaped gate and entered the main building, Kim Jaewon, the manager, approached Kwon Siheon.

“Sir, I have something to tell you. Actually….”

He sent Yoo Yisoo inside first and then sat down on a lounge bench. Had something happened to Lee Yihyun?

“Chairman Jung Jingyu has requested a meeting through Dr. Kim. It seems he found out that Lee Yihyun is here while asking around about Yoo Minseop’s whereabouts.”

“Who? Jung Jingyu?”

Could it be Chairman Jung from RFAR? What a disgraceful man.

Yisoo and I had just talked about this in the car a few minutes ago.

“Since the hospital and the new drug development center’s security system is entrusted to Rapidflare, and Lee Yihyun was in a relationship with Chairman Jung’s daughter, Jung Sera, until just before the engagement, it was difficult to refuse the request indirectly.”

“Who exactly wants to meet? Chairman Jung?”

“No, Jung Sera has earnestly requested the meeting.”

Kim Jaewon quickly added, as if sensing his boss’s intentions.

“It doesn’t seem like Jung Jingyu is after Yoo Namcheol’s slush fund.”

“So, they want to resume the engagement with Lee Yihyun? Even if his daughter is madly in love, Lee Yihyun is now penniless…”

Ah.

Siheon trailed off, ending his words ambiguously, and gave a faint, bitter smile. A sharp realization, like a honed blade, flashed through his mind.

There’s something about Lee Yihyun.

A survivor of Dosan Temple—physically impaired, with nothing to his name but a fragile body requiring constant care and a rather delicate appearance. Yet, there was something more. Something not immediately tangible or visible but likely of value, at least one thing, to Chairman Jung.

Perhaps it had something to do with what Kwak Bugyeong was so desperately searching for.

“For now, let Yoo Yisoo into the hospital room to meet her younger brother. Are the CCTV and wiretaps all functioning properly?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll proceed as instructed.”

There wasn’t time to dwell on it further. After stopping by the director’s office for a brief chat with Director Kim, he headed toward the VIP room where the twins were having a long-awaited reunion.

However, instead of barging in and disrupting their meeting, he stepped into the visitors’ lounge nearby. Pulling out a cigarette, he lit it and took a drag. His mind was entangled with a myriad of thoughts.

It wasn’t too late to find out what Lee Yihyun had. He could wait until the tearful sibling reunion ended and he had a private moment with Lee Yihyun. While money didn’t interest him, he’d have to see if there was something else of intrigue—something like a colossal weakness that could instantly end Kwak Bugyeong’s reign of prosperity.

Separately, what gnawed at Siheon’s mind was something else. Based on Director Kim’s additional report, it seemed that Jung Sera had quite a fondness for Lee Yihyun.

If that affection hadn’t changed, and she insisted on remaining engaged to the now-destitute Lee Yihyun…?

Then, backed by her father’s influence, she would demand to discharge Lee Yihyun from the hospital and take him to her residence. Likely, she’d want to take Yoo Yisoo along as well, offering financial compensation for any debt the twins had incurred during their stay.

That wouldn’t be favorable for him. It was true that he was a merchant obsessed with money, someone whose belief in monetary gain stood steadfast above ideology or loyalty. He wouldn’t deny it.

But sometimes, there were games more entertaining than chasing pocket change. Something as rare as Yoo Yisoo was hard to come by.

Money continued to multiply on its own, second by second, minute by minute, even while he sat here smoking. Though he was fortunate to have been born into a family of a pseudo-religious sect and to inherit the foundation of Shinuehoe, turning it into a mammoth cash cow was purely his doing.

So the answer was clear. Regrettable as it was, he would have to let go of Lee Yihyun, Yoo Yisoo’s weakness, and enjoy the lightened burden. To gain one thing, you must give up another—such was the basic principle of trade.

Even so, he couldn’t let Yoo Yisoo go. No matter how much money Chairman Jung offered, it would never match the price of Yoo Hyeoksu and Yoo Minseop’s lives, or the value of protecting Lee Yihyun, whom his daughter adored.

Unless Chairman Jung were to hand over his entire business empire, that is.

Siheon let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Jung Jin-gyu was RapidFlare, and RapidFlare was Jung Jin-gyu. Even with a gun to his head, he wouldn’t hand over his company.

＊＊＊

The lone surviving siblings sat face-to-face in the spacious hospital room.

Yisoo, after embracing him and sobbing her heart out for the late Yijin, had finally managed to calm her turbulent emotions. Yihyun, his eyes reddened, clasped her hands tightly in his own.

“I’m so relieved, Yihyun. That you’re safe like this. Your complexion looks good, and your condition seems…”

“Why are you like this? Why do you look so pale? You’ve changed somehow…”

“Me? No, I’ve actually gained some weight. It’s probably just because it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other.”

“Yisoo…”

Yisoo paused for a moment before quietly rubbing the graphite of her pencil against a napkin.

“Yes, Yihyun. If that’s what you really want… But I want to stay by Kwon Siheon’s side until Uncle is released.”

“What?”

“I think I like Kwon Siheon.”

The saucer clattered, and the tea nearly spilled.

“Yoo Yisoo. What… what did you just say…?”

Yihyun stared at her in disbelief. He had sensed something about their relationship but couldn’t believe what he’d just heard from Yisoo’s own lips.

“I’ve liked him since New York, a year ago.”

Yisoo glanced down at the napkin she had just scribbled on.

Tell him once more. That I like him. Before the wiretap is checked.

After confirming that Yihyun had read the message, she discreetly let a spoonful of tea spill over it, smudging the letters.

“Please, Yihyun. Try to understand me.”

“…….”

“You know, don’t you? That I’m not someone who says these things easily. No… it’s the first time I’ve ever said something like this. Even to you.”

You know, Yihyun. That I wouldn’t say this or make such a request lightly.

“Stay with Sera. At least until Uncle is released.”

Please.

Her lips silently shaped the two syllables. Then, before Yihyun could voice a rebuttal, she quickly added,

“Uncle will be on the special pardon list next month. Unless something unexpected happens.”

“Yisoo…”

“Let me know when Sera’s visit is scheduled. I’ll come too.”

Yisoo smiled faintly. There were plans she couldn’t share with Yihyun, even without the wiretap. They were steadily organizing themselves in a corner of her mind.

She needed time. To secure Yihyun under Jung Sera’s protective shield so Kwon Siheon couldn’t use him as leverage against her, separating herself from her brother was the most urgent task.

And after that…

“Sera seems to truly love you. Well, she’s only had eyes for you since you were young.”

Yisoo’s smile grew brighter, blooming as beautifully as the roses decorating the hospital room. But the brighter her face became, the tighter Yihyun clenched his teeth.

He had no intention of granting all of Yisoo’s wishes. Just as she prioritized his safety and peace, he too placed Yisoo’s well-being above all else.

＊＊＊

Lee Yihyun was unexpectedly unyielding.

The man, who bore such a striking resemblance to Yoo Yisoo, had a fragile body but sharp intellect and piercing eyes. Still, he was far from being a worthy opponent—just a fledgling.

“For everything you’ve done for Yisoo and me… I truly thank you.”

With his unsteady leg firmly planted, he bowed deeply to Siheon, showing proper courtesy. Yet his eyes betrayed no politeness. They were filled with intense vigilance and suspicion, thinly veiled beneath his formal demeanor.

“You resemble your sister quite a bit. I’ve heard that not all twins look alike, though.”

“Yes, I get that a lot. Less so after becoming adults, though.”

“Ah, my apologies. I’m so used to speaking casually with your sister.”

“No, feel free to speak informally with me as well.”

Siheon narrowed his eyes and studied him briefly before averting his gaze. He didn’t want to keep staring. The resemblance to Yoo Yisoo was unsettling the more he looked.

Was Jung Sera ultimately swayed by his looks?

Lee Yihyun possessed a strikingly handsome face, almost as if it were painted. It was a beauty beyond subjective preference—a classic, flawless visage. The delicate and refined features, unmistakably reminiscent of Yoo Yisoo, gave him an air of allure that was difficult to define.

His elegant features, sophisticated demeanor, and the innate poise of someone raised in privilege—he was undeniably Yoo Yisoo’s blood relative.

“Then…”

When Siheon folded his arms and remained silent, Yihyun finally seemed to feel the pressure. He cautiously resumed speaking.

“If it’s alright, I’d like to get straight to the point.”

Kwon Siheon shifted the direction of his crossed legs, signaling for him to continue. Yihyun unconsciously swallowed and squared his shoulders, trying to steady himself.

The arrogance and aloofness that seemed to permeate Siheon’s every move were utterly different from Yihyun’s own demeanor. Even to Yihyun, as a man, Siheon seemed flawless—his sharp gaze was both mesmerizing and commanding. His tall stature and the sturdy frame hidden beneath his suit exemplified the ideal corporate leader.

Yet, in the next moment, Yihyun couldn’t shake the feeling that Siheon might suddenly rip off his tie, shed his suit, and transform into something feral and predatory. It made Yihyun’s chest tighten with unease.

“…So, I plan to complete the discharge process this week and move to Sera’s villa. Yisoo will, of course, come with me.”

He had already resolved not to grant the first of Yisoo’s wishes. Fortifying his resolve, Yihyun continued.

“Of course, I intend to repay you as much as I can, Mr. Kwon. Although no amount could truly match the help you’ve given us, I will….”

“That’s right.”

Siheon calmly cut him off.

“No amount could match it. No matter how much you offer.”

“…….”

“The cost of taking a life can be negotiated down. But the opposite—saving a life—is priceless.”

The former referred to Yoo Hyeoksu and Yoo Minseop, while the latter pointed to the very person standing before him, Lee Yihyun. Siheon glanced briefly at his wristwatch, signaling he had little interest in dragging this out.

“Plus, there’s the unpaid investment from Chairman Yoo. When you factor in that debt, the amount increases significantly, doesn’t it?”

“…….”

“Is there anything else to discuss? Lee Yihyun will follow Jung Sera to her peaceful, picturesque villa, while Yoo Yisoo stays with me. At least until your father is released.”

As Siheon added this pointed remark, Yihyun’s face stiffened. He hadn’t expected Siheon to know that much.

“I want to take Yisoo with me.”

“Did Yoo Yisoo say she wanted that?”

“…….”

“Then there’s nothing more to say.”

Though Siheon ended the discussion with a mocking tone, Yihyun didn’t back down.

“Yisoo and I are all we have now. It’s just the two of us. I’ll find the slush funds or whatever it takes to repay you. So leave us alone….”

“What do you have?”

The sudden question took Yihyun by surprise, and his expression shifted.

“What are you talking about…?”

“Jung Sera aside, what makes you, Lee Yihyun—who has nothing—so special that Chairman Jung picked you?”

“…….”

“It clearly isn’t some missing slush fund that no one can locate.”

“…….”

“Staying silent, I see.”

As Yihyun merely opened and closed his mouth, Siheon stood up, making it clear he didn’t want to waste any more time.

“Wait, we’re not finished yet. Once I’m discharged, Yisoo is coming with me….”

“Stop being a burden to your sister. It’s time you stood on your own.”

Without raising his voice, Kwon Siheon effortlessly reasserted his dominance. Yihyun, overwhelmed, trembled as his lips quivered.

“If you care about Yoo Yisoo so much, let her live her own life already.”

“You don’t know anything!”

Yihyun finally snapped, his emotions boiling over. He shot to his feet, his face twisted with rage as he approached Siheon, oblivious to the pain in his injured leg.

“You… you touched Yisoo, didn’t you?”

Kwon Siheon casually deflected Yihyun’s hand as it reached for his collar. Yihyun staggered and barely managed to regain his balance. With just one move, Siheon had neutralized him and widened the gap between them, leaving Yihyun unable to approach any further. His body wouldn’t obey him.

“You shameless bastard! Admit it! You did lay hands on Yisoo, didn’t you?”

“And if I did?”

Kwon Siheon leaned against the wall, looking down at the now-distant Yihyun. The audacity of this inexperienced kid trying to confront him was so ridiculous, it made him laugh.

“And if I did, what would you do about it?”

“……”

“To answer your question more clearly, Yoo Yisoo agreed to it. She wanted it.”

“Shut up, you piece of trash…!”

“She’s quite satisfied, too.”

After checking his watch once more, Kwon Siheon pushed himself off the wall. Yihyun, on the verge of spewing more insults, froze as Siheon suddenly closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

“Should I get more specific? If you really want to hear it, I don’t mind….”

“…Shut your mouth.”

Yihyun took a deep breath. Realizing he had fallen into Siheon’s provocation, his fury only grew, but for now, Yisoo’s safety was more important.

Tell him once more. That I like him. Before the wiretap is checked.

“If you make Yisoo suffer, I won’t stand by. I’ll repay you in full, by any means necessary, with the same strength Chairman Jung so admired.”

“How terrifying.”

Kwon Siheon smirked and took a step back, creating distance again.

“So terrifying it’s giving me chills.”

With a mocking smile, he stepped lightly, as though he really was about to leave.

“Well then, I’ll consider the matter settled.”

“Yisoo…”

Yihyun called out to his retreating back, his fists clenched tightly.

“Yisoo said she wanted to stay near you a little longer. At least until our uncle is released.”

Grinding his teeth, Yihyun forced himself to relay what Yisoo had asked of him. She wouldn’t have said such things without a purpose. There had to be a clear reason.

A reason to make Kwon Siheon believe it.

“Since New York a year ago. So… don’t take her lightly. Don’t brush off my warning.”

Kwon Siheon showed no reaction, but as he exited the hospital room, the sneer that had lingered on his face vanished entirely.

Yihyun didn’t miss the flicker of unease. That’s when a faint realization began to dawn on him.

What Yisoo wanted was… to lure Kwon Siheon into letting his guard down. To create an opening. To coax him into showing his own vulnerability.

＊＊＊

Yisoo bid Yihyun a brief farewell before boarding the sedan with Kwon Siheon.

As always, his expression was cold and composed, making it hard to tell if Yihyun had brought up their conversation.

“Did your talk with Yihyun go well?”

“Who knows.”

He placed a cigarette between his lips and tilted a lighter toward it. Then, as if remembering something, he lowered the window on his side before lighting it—a rare gesture of consideration.

“What’s there to go well or not?”

Taking a deep drag, he turned to look at Yisoo. Then, exhaling smoke toward the window, he flicked the cigarette lightly toward the outside. Again, an action he hadn’t previously bothered with.

Before, he never cared whether she inhaled the smoke or stiffened as if staring at a blazing fire.

“I heard about Jung Sera. I’m well-acquainted with Chairman Jung and the company managing the hospital’s security system.”

“Then would it be alright if Yihyun moved to Sera’s villa? Just Yihyun, of course.”

Was it her imagination? The corner of his lips, holding the cigarette, seemed to soften slightly.

“If that’s what you want.”

Kwon Siheon spoke evenly. His hand, slowly crushing the extinguished cigarette in his palm, and the motion of rolling up the window revealed none of his inner thoughts.

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes. That way, I’d feel a little more at ease. Sera has always been close to Yihyun since they were young. Yihyun can stay at the villa for now, and the engagement can be discussed again in May when my uncle is released….”

“Unexpected. I thought you’d want to go with Lee Yihyun.”

“…We have a contract, don’t we? Naturally, I should stay by your side.”

A peculiar silence fell between them.

“True.”

Kwon Siheon muttered, lighting a second cigarette.

“A contract is a contract. …Some people say promises are made to be broken, but what nonsense.”

The conversation ended there. The car carrying the two of them drove for quite some time before arriving at the base of Namsan, in front of a towering wall that resembled a fortress.

Inside the impossibly high wall—designed to crush any thoughts of trespassing or escape—stood an imposing garden filled with tall pines reaching skyward, fruit-bearing trees, and various other dense vegetation forming a natural barrier. The garden alone seemed to be several times larger than the single-family house in Samseong-dong owned by Hyoshin Construction, which was currently in the process of being auctioned.