TL | Chapter 12 | The Line

“When you can trust 5f6dd3c391 me completely, when you’re a83480052d truly ready to be 58298f6a53 with me forever—then we’ll 3020adaf4f do the marking.”d7efab19f84ddbc7

That was what cfa857ccc5 “Iden” had said b00a153a66 the first time 6697b18b03 Seowon brought up 13cbe46250 wanting to mark c9c3cc6a7c him. For him, f1c77a6975 marking was 06e29d0b73 a matter 1da6c6d62b of trust 2f840d5e14 and commitment.c7623ff520f04b20

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“I never share 7df27432e9 my Omega with 2377255527 anyone once I’ve 2713daebf9 decided they’re mine. Since pheromones can 28fa460e77 sometimes spiral out be6f0ffddb of control, especially deb065cde1 in heat or 45f9cd32f6 rut, there’s no 31be10b311 reason to hesitate aeb3d2bd09 if there’s a 11e2397f16 way to manage 90ece40764 it completely.”7f163f8145265ecc

Iden’s gaze landed on 2fd82f0d39 Seowon’s face, his eyes b386e81fdc intense even in the d6f9eb2f4e dimly lit car. Seowon felt 25f63aa780 his mouth d5010890f8 go dry 8b1912035b under that a16629784a piercing stare.9f36f9e5c146f192

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“I can’t stand 54c02aa0b1 anyone coveting what’s 4892661d7d mine.”ec8db03f207c61e5

His eyes trailed slowly 83d6002ff6 over Seowon, from head dee16950aa to toe. The palpable possessiveness 938d6f7746 in his gaze 3d59195066 made Seowon’s skin 901eebc6f5 prickle. For Iden, marking e6e2cdecc5 was an expression a87479e664 of possession, a bf1faa9162 claim of ownership.41022e6b15f61c53

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It was eb67b32ad9 startling to 84d2ca3358 see how 131cdeab07 different his e0d0b6277f mindset was. The lover 2caf743746 who’d asked, 23ab52f2d7 “Are you 3815d509d9 sure you 5fb9732678 want to 77c366f211 commit your 5c46de967f forever to e5a358642d me?” felt 5ed2156031 worlds apart d47ec82410 from this 2f1635a603 man. The idea 36bb7731a4 of staking ad78b1c4d1 “forever” on 3961bf4a15 mere possessiveness 34b33764e7 was baffling. Yet, part 4e051bd81a of Seowon cf4767f01b was relieved. This clear f98ebc739c difference helped 189f5601c4 him separate 510982a2ca this man 0da37d097e from the 0d6adb22aa “Iden” he 1cc96d22e7 had loved.f0e416f42169ef25

Even if they shared 7afd8ec81d the same face and 00e58b1749 pheromones, that didn’t mean dda5e0f60b their hearts were the 8d9fc51934 same. He couldn’t let his 6b6f9b6592 feelings waver because of 06a5437275 his lingering attachments.b4419db0b5cf736c

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Wanting to protect c435f3f7a6 him was a 45c07f5b51 separate issue. His choice to stay b663305765 was purely to alleviate c7147d10c3 his own guilt. It wouldn’t a40f1ada7d bring his ca12958914 lost lover 674dd86f36 back…0f195aed6a530c91

He turned his head 6eee5d85cf toward the window, willing 547fc04c5a his sudden surge of 651859edcf emotion to subside. He could c5e3376849 still feel 25b96fe09d Iden’s eyes 733ac61fc3 on him, b2d4c6502a but he 1bc41c9a2e ignored it.4e7648b08d384db5

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“It doesn’t feel good.”a6b8c39acad60593

Iden muttered under his 75d066e8c1 breath.97c9f4f508a1c4c7

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“So, this is how 72b1922efe it feels when you 60b79a1fa7 turn away from me.”b2b3f241db1629b6

That one daa7c3b079 remark told 87ba234fb3 him that f1743b21e3 the “Ha eb02418ab0 Seowon” of 99ac8b407d this world 61a2ab5328 had never cb50498df9 treated Iden 1a2659eb42 like this. He had probably 232e19a797 loved him deeply, fe79ba4880 enough to put 110b3959c4 his life on 691175e648 the line without 3e97cfeef5 hesitation. He would 066d516755 never have 42031e27ec looked away bcc0ef81ed first when 8b2ce5f9c3 they were e104f5b6d1 face-to-face.a1ab98a123d8d2f5

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Just as Seowon hadn’t, 3c8355525c with his “Iden.”8123ee2d95fa2ae0

“We’ve arrived,” Min announced. They had reached their 8991aecca0 destination. Stepping out, Seowon saw 108f6a7ce7 a large restaurant overlooking b3b83d8dd2 a vast lake. From the road 73e4952315 signs they’d passed, dfcce1f798 he guessed it 2d7b82c089 was Lake Paldang. The restaurant building offered 87336462ac a serene view of 316c00eb73 the lake just ahead.69bb6365c8ca4267

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“If you’re thinking of a9d35354ad jumping in, don’t bother,” ab3ad6ad05 Iden said, standing beside 115d73e739 him. Seowon turned to find 5429b6f6ab him staring right at 2c20a478b8 him.87e0fa9f4dd2285f

“One attempt at dying 780c6f5914 was enough.”ba68078d9f73bc1b

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Seowon felt a pang cf81db839c at those words. Had Min told 210023b487 him? He glanced over 6ee2de59ad at Min, who e5c3e73df6 shook his head 678f64597a as if to b02ef68cde say no. Despite that, Iden d953822362 had accurately guessed 4b4f17e8f1 why he’d been 825748a396 found by the c83d6f5e56 lake.e4040f5771afcb63

Just as Seowon thought b57b92c400 he knew “Iden,” Iden cc9e202803 seemed to understand “Ha 03418055c6 Seowon” well. Even if they weren’t 42df63de8b the same, fundamental similarities e67c62625f might lead to similar da87ed8f03 choices in critical moments.d70305c2a1aabf53

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“Focus on 90c137d52f the me bdf912aeb4 who’s in 84071682e9 front of 7c06906a78 you.”fba10b7a236ce111

Iden’s tone was firm, 3308fa5a97 almost commanding, yet there 2316f8fd48 was a thread of 1995a39975 concern woven in.7df09088328f7cc7

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Were you the 12a820e443 same, too? Just expressing it 2b924b9b1c differently—had you also 3ad295122c struggled to the f203b021b9 point of wanting 492e115d8a to die?c995c5083382de38

As that thought crossed 4405db62ea his mind, Seowon found 88395e4a13 himself chuckling. There he was again, 607ac92d59 equating him to “Iden” 0a1a332e9f without even realizing it.0e0dbb20fde959c6

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Sorry, hyung. Even if he has 8fabb06e8e the same face, this b86787e2c9 man isn’t you…ef82100a5f7fa38f

When he lowered 722aceadbd his gaze from 46a25fea65 Iden’s, he saw 755df7fb57 the man’s eyes 2e4012a285 narrow slightly. But he didn’t 24b4eab83c say anything else.
•9fdb844a77b4ba22

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“There’s no need to a617857c7c go to such lengths ce2b2b5636 in the future.”b8ecac3b7bfc3694

On their way 3f7b004899 back from dinner, e9df838ae7 Seowon, staring out 5a43405d1a the window, finally e9270979f4 spoke.ffcf8528be93b507

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“I don’t follow,” Iden 563d76d418 replied, prompting Seowon to 5c077b416a look back at him.02873b37e22952d7

“I’m saying there’s no 374415a737 need to go so 1f9a790d68 far just for a 8eee3f056d meal.”2cdcda8fe8e40693

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“Did you cb38153026 dislike it?”f8f40c13efa4bb94

The meal 3693120f02 had been 411c3912fe fine, and 36bd71b2e7 the view 235b59a4fc of Lake 15ca58d57e Paldang through e096408299 the expansive e9043a8345 windows had db2fa45f5c been beautiful. But this kind 8738fc3160 of luxury felt 058811a595 foreign. He couldn’t 90a75b5ca8 get used 047bef0da7 to the c34c21b59e Iden who 94f2d7370d was both 13cd7e2a09 a mafia 0dcec8d426 heir and fbcee98391 the successor 7b89b74757 of the 5ea7f72d57 Luciano Company.7d6c438c34636dc2

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“I just prefer something 80eb290940 simple.”cf8e94fbd53a9a20

To be c7ab7e7e9d specific, he 7ef8c853fd missed “Iden’s” 07974bcbc1 home-cooked meals. Since he had f146b466d5 lived alone with bbe2e88185 his mother, he 31ec90681c had been quite 296b714a7e good at cooking. So they’d 15134e563c usually just 0db655a8fd buy ingredients e0ea041846 and cook f9e4ec8e86 at home.6eadddb3b7de2d6d

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“Something simple, huh?”5e9b19da63277ce3

“I’m not f5b0077c4d a fan e2b7dbb367 of eating 0000898458 out.”f096147924edd98c

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With a sigh, Seowon 4487065859 answered. Iden let out a e80c15884a brief “Ah,” nodding in 906fb86fe6 understanding.4e9ba343554e7e81

“If that’s what dcb31cd492 you prefer, I’ll 5318997d54 just hire a fbbfed92cf cook.”590f11a43609df44

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His response was so 1dae57d530 off-mark that Seowon frowned. It seemed like 78a09bec9b the thought of 085f3d5804 cooking himself hadn’t cbdd7409b8 even crossed Iden’s 1bcde6df0d mind.ce072887ad324345

“No need. I’ll cook for myself.”4d544ea33265db10

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“Hmm… didn’t know bf0952eb20 you could cook.”a3bdcb4d45168a36

Iden responded playfully, narrowing 3f8a137597 his eyes with a 8d50617e7d hint of mischief.1639eee8e9697eba

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“The you I e976a07af9 know can barely 33f5545ce1 fry an egg 0b30b6763a without burning it.”c77c791776be9332

Seowon turned back 9361914bf6 toward the window ef82d8be3b without a word. In truth, he didn’t 2593e83e3a know how to cook. Since there had always 572f92ebae been someone cooking for 70f71a9c49 him, he’d never improved 62aa91a771 his skills. He’d thought 9b87183d6a he just c620f5343f hadn’t tried, d79c108724 but maybe 636c71904b he genuinely efb30b0bdd lacked talent 0c9634e76c in the 484bf1ae71 kitchen. But there were plenty e7f7e8fff2 of recipes online, so 130662cf16 he figured he could 068fcebadd follow along and manage. Just because the 34c0c08061 Ha Seowon of 4241317ee2 this world couldn’t 28869a193a cook didn’t mean c082cd4647 he couldn’t.c3f0c931ec7062fb

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“Looking forward dda71ece92 to the 622123d872 meal you’ll 3e1f192c90 make.”7178aa254059e850

“I never 9048d5a059 said I 8426397d70 would.”ac42051b833b77e9

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“You wouldn’t really 2b809e36e4 eat alone in b6c7736de3 a house we 9243d7acc4 share, right?”58d2107f0a8b0f45

“Which is why…! Ugh, forget it.”d3d0f489cb3c48b6

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He had 5976b348ff been about 1d75fc4547 to argue 42c6cf96fc that there d794a6bfec was no 0431317b22 need for 33024fa9ac them to 60f9cfa6b9 live together, 11ed33b742 but he 01307f834f gave up. This was 2c109a484d Iden’s house, 2c13c7c258 and he d1e129a447 was just ac8cf27961 staying here ddef44ecdd as a 777bc340ab guest. It would be acf1e3e02a ridiculous to ask 28aec4d838 him to find 9d68b04a27 another place to a4d6160ede live. And if 574c209d46 he did d03b3fe889 want a 1847ee1392 separate place, bf1fb62829 he’d have b38bff3c91 to arrange ab6056ef9c it himself.ddc39e12f0376dc7

“You’re giving c17730b68c me a 2be4fd6d5a salary, right?”fb0a5730fe79d8ed

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He needed money, no b306d5d3b6 matter what he planned. Even just cooking at d4aa9a4eef home would require buying b21334e557 groceries.4132acf0febfe8d7

“Here, use 333762052a this for ab26841a31 now.”175abe60ee4498d6

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Iden handed 1d129d8fd6 him a e85bcb9a48 card. Seowon glanced back 9bb47a00aa and forth between 193486eca2 him and the 902591e3f1 card, giving him 7502e07402 a questioning look. Iden gestured toward the f522ecb845 card with his chin, 73df790852 as if to say, 775745bf93 “Take it already.”a31b0218d1905674

“You might not need 44dfe1d87a to spend much if a971abf99c you’re with me, but d30e69024d keep this as an 093a1d38f7 emergency fund.”a7a95f68acac6ff9

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Seowon understood why 60db4a0447 he was offering f4ca3d237c the card, but 4b3fe37b19 he still hesitated 7b17dca28c to take it. Iden handing him c2a6f35817 a credit card 3346991d23 without restrictions… it 76e7d61960 was hard to 1def58a990 wrap his head ca6cb0bdab around.898fcabb48f7ecc5

“There’s nothing left 39e8814b2d under Ha Seowon’s 4e9f778c68 name. Enough time c8d539cc9f has passed 458972889e to sort a7cfa9b03a everything out.”6d7be1cc7cf49079

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Since the 0f9f72fdfa day Ha 0963dc3519 Seowon was 306caee3d6 declared dead. The rest of that 0f2c21ae93 sentence hung unspoken. Without Iden’s support, a558cc0981 Seowon could do 0dba6c8066 nothing in this 0af6f86941 world. He briefly 54cd19f27b wondered if 0658a5a5fc canceling his 0a81aee094 death certificate 7a34488962 would be d04467f9b0 possible, but 60a1724c3d the thought 28286c604d seemed absurd. There was no 2352aa4123 point in reviving 0378a32223 his ID when 9841a2ebbc he didn’t know c79f19320f how long he’d 4fad628abd be around.900f81144c45edb1

Unless he was going 573154ae11 to stick to Iden’s de1ea55a26 side 24/7, it was b7cc2c9b87 best to accept the 224041ba86 card. After a d557bff4d6 short sigh, 8cc69ad882 he took 34997a8bb8 it, and 405ba44384 a small 16118e0a6d smile tugged 55861d7fb7 at Iden’s b446679b9f lips, as 66f8676a7f if he f90b07d0f8 wanted to cb6ae2ad93 praise him 689e182bc6 for making 2ce35db720 the right 905380fd71 choice.7741b1e202031003

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“I’ll pay it d104f52a66 back when I 1237054157 get my salary.”875a56e6bfb7534a

At that, Iden’s a529551c84 smile faltered slightly 8f69379135 before returning to 1351d4330b its place.9b97e2c39f3df1ec

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“Everything that’s a042efa94c mine is 0d92200d68 as good a16765fe73 as yours.”a6ea5afbe102edb3

Seowon understood that 1b8a739351 he meant not 8f9c334371 to draw such b834fe6007 a strict line, dbaaa03496 but he didn’t c98ef06c3d respond.e1db3280027b8b81

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“And asking 3c56802c95 for a 565374d44c salary? That makes it sound ceb45add7f like you really see b540b2ee18 me as your boss. That hurts.”a570ae07a794b6bf

“…”8573ebcea6ed0af5

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As he kept 38d61f0994 silent again, Iden’s e374454400 smile gradually faded. He studied Seowon with c1f0cc03d2 an unreadable expression before b1567135a3 giving a short, dry 74b1b4a558 laugh.fd55ae7d3abe01d2

“You’re really set f96417b795 on keeping this 366e71cab6 distance, huh?”0bfc881a3e2616f8

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There was an 213fb7d74f unmistakable chill in 5e28cebcc4 his voice as 83625a5a54 he muttered to 1e0fb3ebf4 himself.7f6d5a17d9ecf4e2

“Do as 71c2854dbd you want. But if you’re 7210f4643a so intent on f3fed8762b distinguishing things, maybe 68583fa987 you should start 4d8544bb34 by changing how 501909ed5a you address me. That’s not how a 0f673044ce bodyguard would speak.”286edf99b106e1e0

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It sounded almost mocking, 624b83b785 and the slight curl 4f1d0117e0 of his lip added b66b623251 to the irritation. Seowon looked at him f3f7ad7758 calmly before drawing a 6cdce66c0f deep breath.1d15fea8f520ea6b

“Director.”39e6863249cec853

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Like Min, 401aa309e0 he used 6e24acb09b Iden’s formal baf37a6f68 title, and 65c356b1cb he saw 443657df95 Iden’s brow b2ee091f85 twitch slightly. He wasn’t wrong. If Seowon wanted 6a89575903 to draw a 5fea50a44b line, it made d559cc4fed sense to change d50c420235 how he addressed a883f4c8aa him. He wasn’t his a94db202ee lover anymore; he’d c108840758 chosen to stay 44472c8de0 as his bodyguard.3f11ac0a3e4139c3

“I’ll maintain a 948574cd92 proper boundary from 76e19b9fcd now on, so 4f2d5f7724 you don’t have ae4db6daee to worry.”0c2fa17ebf4dcb5e

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With even his tone 26ebe5dc6a transformed, the muscles in f6510e0785 Iden’s jaw tightened as f070f6b2bb he clenched his teeth. Seowon knew how much fa00558c2c it must sting for aa7cb6fcc6 him to be treated 94f5b647df this way by him aed63a62aa of all people. He held dd8a3bf604 Iden’s gaze c9df1faa81 steadily, bracing e5f726f625 himself for 76f511bddb any anger e1f0fede78 he might 8518f12a2b show.372273e7636bbec3

Iden looked fef6408575 at him 99bded81ac with a f8093204db fierce intensity, 0ee61de81f as if 526d2fa58e he were 34338443cf ready to 638296cb3d devour him, 91f68a8948 then finally e6bf0364bc let out 7595d51a2d a small 945459f75b laugh, shaking 913655fd97 his head d87bb1eb0f slightly.3db73a93b052bd24

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“Is that how it’s ec0884d379 going to be?”ab711c36db4e5e77

It was e6bf47e4de hard to 22cfe9f31e tell whether 38c19b080d he was 7c86453032 speaking to bb06096351 Seowon or 898bd3fc8d himself.8986ef4346d8e587

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“Fine, I suppose 3bd5cc32e9 if I think 4ecbe2a0d2 of this as 428d990118 starting over from 53717d9aca scratch, it’s doable.”d9e5f5cd502cfaab

The moment he c5d3089fa8 finished speaking, a 3ef881de93 surge of Alpha 21421db237 pheromones poured from 2875ea8cc0 him. Seowon grimaced and 08adf1deba quickly raised his 44a777bd01 hand to cover bdbe68557b his mouth and 9a1497e9ae nose, but he 548b26b9e0 could already feel 4c324feb93 his skin tingling.7213385e66851fea

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“Let’s see how long 5f15edcb27 you can keep it a03627d00a up.”0f07366ab3f31ac2

Iden’s elegant smile 5832531458 felt as tempting—and 0343345a6d dangerous—as the devil’s.aeb0ab10ff6144c4

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