CBL Ch 10

It seemed Park Seohye was set to return permanently next month.

“The butler hinted earlier that the boss’s fiancée will be back for good soon. Just a heads-up in case she gets invited over anytime.”

There had been no intention to eavesdrop. While strolling in the garden, her eyes followed a bird that had flown off and landed in a secluded spot between the kitchen’s back door and the storage area. Seeking shade, she crouched there briefly, only to find herself near the preparation table where the staff handled ingredients. The open window carried their voices directly to her.

“Oh, Park Seohye-ssi? So, it’s happening already? Then, the wedding… hmm, this year seems tight. Maybe it’ll be next year?”

“Who knows? That family’s old lady is still bedridden, isn’t she? Seems like they’d better hurry it up rather than wait around.”

“They’ll probably settle in here as their marital home, right?”

“Most likely? The boss doesn’t easily let go of what he’s used to.”

As the staff moved further away, their voices faded until nothing more could be heard. Yisoo rose from her spot after a while and headed to the second-floor outdoor staircase.

The day felt unbearably long. Kwon Siheon had given strict orders forbidding her from lifting a finger in household tasks. With the butler—her only conversational partner—absent, she had no one to talk to.

The household staff, under the butler’s management, treated her with the utmost courtesy, as though she were the mistress of the house. Yet, they refrained from idle chatter in her presence.

Outwardly polite, their true thoughts about her weren’t hard to guess. A woman occupying the master bedroom on the second floor, warming her superior’s bed nightly, while a legitimate fiancée was in plain sight.

She was, after all, just a temporary existence. The moment her uncle was released from prison or a wedding date was set earlier than that, she would disappear beyond these fortress-like walls without a trace—no more, no less.

Yisoo perched on the windowsill of her room, gazing at the brilliant late-spring sky beyond the wall. Though the brightness stung her eyes, she didn’t blink, letting the light wash over her. Only when tears welled up, prickling at the corners of her eyes, did she lower her head.

It had been a week since she last met her uncle and Yihyun, as well as shared a brief tea time with Sera.

Sera’s house, befitting the owner of a security company, was equipped with airtight security and automatic sensors in every room to detect listening devices. In Yihyun’s room, during their private conversation, she had laid everything bare with complete honesty.

Since then, she hadn’t been able to talk to Yihyun much. Sera’s doctor had advised absolute rest due to his poor health, limiting their communication to concise text messages.

Feigning a stretch, Yisoo bent low and placed her hands on the floor beneath the window. When she straightened, a miniature sensor was nestled in her right hand—a signal detector Yihyun had slipped to her during their last visit.

She wandered her room and bathroom as if on a leisurely stroll but detected nothing. The butler’s claim that Kwon Siheon had ordered the removal of all surveillance from her space seemed to hold true.

Why he’d done so remained a mystery.

＊＊＊

The scenic nighttime view was so vivid it felt within reach.

California’s warm sunlight had long since faded, giving way to a dazzling night sky. Do Sungjoon sat in his regular bar in San Francisco, sharing farewell drinks with members of the local Korean American Bar Association.

“Come on, sir, how will we see you once you’re back in Korea? We’ve gotten so used to seeing you over the past year that it doesn’t feel real you’re leaving the day after tomorrow.”

“Exactly! But you visit Korea from time to time, right? When you do, let’s make a proper occasion of it—second and third rounds on me.”

Cheers erupted from over ten men, their voices booming like thunder. As lively jazz music played, the farewell gathering reached its peak. One of the lawyers subtly gestured for him to follow.

Feigning a trip to the restroom, Sungjoon followed him out and into a quiet corner. The man pulled out his phone once they were seated.

“You asked me to look into that person before. Well…”

The lively jazz had shifted to upbeat pop. Sungjoon’s brow furrowed deeply as he examined the phone’s screen. A fleeting shadow of worry crossed his otherwise composed face.

“So, both of them are confirmed to be in Korea now?”

“Yes. Immigration records are virtually tamper-proof, so we confirmed they entered Korea from Hong Kong. After that, there’s been no trace of them.”

“Not even in financial records? No card transactions?”

The lawyer nodded, his expression equally perplexed.

There wasn’t a public manhunt, nor had a death certificate been issued. So how could someone live without leaving a single digital trace? Even if they never stepped foot outside and hid away, they’d still need to buy essentials online.

“Thank you. I’ll look into it myself once I’m back in Korea.”

Sungjoon rubbed his face in frustration, then shifted his gaze to the night view beyond the window. During his year in the U.S. as part of a prosecutor’s overseas training program, Hyoshin Construction had suddenly gone bankrupt, and Chairman Yoo had passed away from heart disease.

The family had scattered, each member unaccounted for. Yoo Yongjin had been murdered in Manila, Yoo Yijin had been killed in a local shooting in Hong Kong, and Yoo Beomjin had last been seen in the Shatin district of Hong Kong before disappearing. Sungjoon had a strong feeling that he, too, was no longer among the living.

But then, where were the twins?

His attention was focused on finding one person in particular.

Yisoo, where are you?

＊＊＊

The scent of summer peaches filled the kitchen. Boxes of peaches, freshly delivered from a farm, were stacked high in the cold storage.

That evening, Yisoo was summoned to Kwon Siheon’s study. She was dressed in indoor clothes, deliberately chosen to be easy to remove, as she stepped onto the third-floor staircase.

Halfway up, she paused, catching movement outside the window. A small bird had landed on the outer railing, tilting its head as it walked.

“…How cute.”

Its tiny head looked both firm like a golf ball and soft like downy fluff. She hadn’t made a sound, merely watched it, yet the bird seemed to sense her presence and flew away. She sighed in regret, wondering if she’d disturbed its brief rest.

Yisoo stared blankly at the darkness where the bird had disappeared. Even that little creature had a destination and seemed to know exactly where to go.

And yet here I am… What am I even doing?

Turning away, Yisoo climbed the remaining stairs. The grandeur and opulence of the house, far beyond anything she’d known in her former home, left her unmoved.

“Yoo Yisoo.”

She turned to see the homeowner standing at the end of the hallway. Leaning casually against a column with his arms crossed, the man carried a faint trace of cigarette smoke.

“You were taking so long I wondered if you’d fallen down the stairs.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Lowering her gaze, Yisoo offered a quiet apology. A scoffing laugh followed. Before she could take another step, he grabbed her wrist roughly.

In an instant, she was pulled close, nearly pressed against him. The sharp scent of nicotine mixed with his distinct personal fragrance lingered in the air. It was an unsettling blend.

“At some point, you’ve developed this annoying habit. Apologizing like a broken record—‘I’m sorry,’ ‘Excuse me’—without an ounce of sincerity.”

Yisoo blinked, momentarily closing her eyes. His body was as warm as ever, tonight being no exception. Yet his gray-hued pupils were cold as ice, sending a chilling shiver down her spine.

“Empty apologies like that just piss me off even more.”

Then what am I supposed to do?

Weary, Yisoo met his gaze. If she apologized, he found it grating; if she didn’t, he’d complain she was ignoring him.

Not wanting to come across as arrogant or aloof like the heiress she once was, she deliberately lowered her gaze around him. She was as docile and obedient as a servant. But even that seemed to irritate him.

Exhausted, Yisoo dropped her gaze to his feet. Almost immediately, her chin was grasped and lifted, forcing her to meet his eyes. Kwon Siheon couldn’t even tolerate her lack of response.

“I have a question.”

His voice was soft, almost gentle, in stark contrast to the sting of his grip. His gaze appeared mild, too.

But behind that feigned softness, Yisoo glimpsed something sharp and cutting, though its true nature eluded her. What was clear was that Kwon Siheon’s feelings toward her grew increasingly contradictory and unpleasant by the day.

She waited silently for him to speak, hoping her quiet compliance was the best course of action.

“Have you ever thought about asking me for a favor?”

“…A favor?”

“To get your father out.”

Yisoo blinked, dumbfounded. The remark was unexpected. Their agreement had been limited to securing safety and protection for her and Yihyun. It had never extended to Yoo Incheol.

＊＊＊

“I may not know the exact reason Yoo Incheol was excluded from the special pardon, but there’s no guarantee it won’t happen again in August.”

“……”

“I don’t know how far or how much influence your father’s acquaintances have, but clearly, it wasn’t enough if he was excluded.”

Yisoo’s pupils reflected a sudden spark of realization. It dawned on her just how naïve and shortsighted her thoughts had been, penetrating her like a sharp blade.

She hadn’t even considered asking him for help, not because she didn’t want to, but because she had no expectation he would agree. But with his fiancée soon to return and his plan to eventually send her out of the house, if he were inclined to show a final act of goodwill…

No, that wasn’t possible. Though their time together had been short, three months had been more than enough to catch glimpses of Kwon Siheon’s true nature. A man like him wouldn’t make such a suggestion without expecting something in return.

“If I ask… would you help me?” she asked cautiously.

“If Yoo Yisoo agrees to terms that are equivalent in value.”

Something inside her chest crumbled. Just as she’d expected. And yet, the fresh wave of disappointment seeped deeply into her heart.

“There’s no need to look so dejected,” Kwon Siheon said with a dry laugh. The veneer of gentleness he’d worn just moments ago was replaced by a sneering grin.

“There’s no such thing as a free favor, princess. You should’ve learned that by now.”

“What… terms?” she asked.

It went without saying that their current arrangement as sexual partners would continue. But beyond that, what else could he possibly demand?

Would he expect her to act as a spy or infiltrator somewhere? That seemed unlikely, given she had entrusted her safety to him. He wouldn’t put her in direct danger… or so she hoped.

But when Kwon Siheon finally spoke, Yisoo found herself doubting her own ears. Even after hearing him, she couldn’t believe it.

＊＊＊

Could it really be true, what he said about liking me since New York?

She still couldn’t fully believe it, nor could she completely dismiss the thought. She had no intention of testing the sincerity of his words.

Kwon Siheon was never in a position to be tested, nor did he need to be. The best course of action was to nip even the faintest seed of doubt before it could grow.

“I’ll make sure your father is released in August. But in return, you’ll stay here until the original length of his sentence is completed.”

And with that, she had to acknowledge it: what he truly wanted was to keep Yoo Yisoo close for a little longer. To be precise, it was more about continuing their physical relationship.

“…What?”

Yoo Yisoo stared at him, her expression frozen in disbelief. The soft chandelier light above reflected faintly on her stunned face.

“But my uncle was sentenced to three years and six months. That means the original end date of his sentence is…”

“Two years from now. May of the year after next,” Kwon Siheon replied without hesitation. “If there are forces actively obstructing his pardon, proving his innocence now would only become more difficult.”

Yisoo took a few steps back before collapsing onto the sofa. Her clenched fists trembled with tension, appearing fragile enough to break. She knew full well that the special pardon in August represented their best chance.

“But… your fiancée is returning soon. No matter how much you delay, your wedding will probably take place by next year…”

“And what does that have to do with you?”

“……”

“My marriage is my marriage. The contract between us is entirely separate.”

As someone accustomed to the circles they both inhabited, Yisoo knew all too well what such marriages entailed.

Do as you please outside, but don’t bring it back home—that was the unspoken rule of marriages in this world. It wasn’t just understood by the individuals involved but also by the household staff. Such arrangements emphasized discretion, mutual respect, and clean handling of personal matters.

His marriage had nothing to do with her. It was a completely separate matter.

“You said you liked me, didn’t you?”

Yoo Yisoo’s pupils quivered violently. As expected, it seemed like this was a performance staged intentionally for him to overhear.

She had thought about it countless times—if it was all a lie, an act orchestrated to reach his ears, then what was the purpose behind it?

If it was meant to lower his guard, if that was truly the intention, then she would be deeply disappointed in her own foolishness. Surely, she should have known better than to think he would fall for such a ploy.

If that wasn’t it, then what was the reason? Was it an honest truth she could only show to her twin?

“Lee Yihyun said Yoo Yisoo has feelings for me,” he remarked.

“……”

“Since New York.”

Siheon leaned lazily against the wall, hands stuffed into his pockets. As always, he exuded an air of unshaken calm and casual insolence.

“Is that not true?”

Indifferent to whether it was true or not, Yisoo calmly nodded.

“It’s true.”

Her glassy-clear eyes looked up at him directly. There was no pleading, persuasion, or exaggeration in her even tone—only a straightforward affirmation.

“It’s true.”

“……”

“I like Kwon Siheon.”

He observed her with a gaze as cold and unwavering as ice, showing not the slightest sign of softening.

“I kept thinking about you in New York… sometimes even secretly watching you.”

He’d known. Even though he had been the one guarding her from a distance, there were moments when he felt her gaze on him. At first, he’d instinctively turned to look, only to catch her quickly averting her eyes and masking her expression with her usual composed demeanor.

Eventually, he stopped reacting, pretending not to notice while keeping his focus elsewhere until her gaze finally left him.

“I thought you despised me. Was I wrong?” he asked.

“I kept my distance because of my feelings,” she admitted. “No matter how much I liked you, you weren’t one of the candidates my family considered. And I heard you were already being discussed as a match for someone else.”

“Then that should make things easier, shouldn’t it? In fact, isn’t that a good thing?”

“But I can’t let my uncle find out…”

“Since when do parents need to know every detail of their adult children’s personal lives?” he countered.

The fleeting urge to smoke disappeared entirely. At this moment, holding Yisoo in his grip felt far more exhilarating than any cigarette could.

“Lee Yihyun went off with Jung Sera. What, are you planning to play a heartwarming father-daughter game with Yoo Incheol now?”

“I wonder what Park Seohye would think of this,” Yisoo replied calmly. Her voice remained unreadable—whether it was a performance or genuine, he couldn’t tell.

“It doesn’t matter to me. As long as my uncle doesn’t find out it’s you, I don’t care. But… I’m worried about your fiancée. Even if it’s a political marriage, my presence—”

“As I said, my marriage and my fiancée have nothing to do with you. Park Seohye has her own lover, and there’s no reason for you two to cross paths.”

“……”

“The shadow and the light are clearly separated.”

After a long silence, Yisoo finally spoke.

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

Her voice was steady, not the sound of resignation but a clear decision.

“Please make sure my uncle is released in August.”

A faint, indiscernible light flickered in her previously hollow eyes.

“And… could I also ask for my uncle’s protection until the original sentence is over?”

Her audacity drew a quiet chuckle from him. He sat down across from her on the sofa, crossing his legs casually.

“You’ve got quite the high opinion of your worth, Yoo Yisoo.”

“I’ll do my best…”

“……”

“I’ll give everything I have to fulfill my role,” she said firmly.

For a moment, Siheon was silent, gathering his thoughts. There was no better answer she could have given. Yet a hot surge of frustration boiled within him. What was this maddening urge to rebel against her composure?

Yoo Yisoo hadn’t done anything wrong. The problem was his own contradictory nature—a desire to crush her when she submitted and push her down when she tried to rise.

“I’m not one to believe words. Show me through your actions,” he said finally.

Reaching for his cigarette, he lit it, then uncrossed his legs and spread them wide deliberately. His trousers had been straining against the tension for a while now.

Yoo Yisoo’s gaze lowered momentarily before falling to the ground. Without hesitation, she stood and slowly approached him, her movements almost serpentine. She looked sly—a word that didn’t seem to suit her sorrowful expression.

Her delicate, almost fragile legs moved between his open thighs before she knelt. Her trembling fingers worked to unbuckle his belt. Pretending not to notice her hesitation, he leaned back against the sofa, cigarette between his teeth, his arms stretched out along the backrest.

Perhaps it was the anticipation of pleasure, but a languid heat already coursed through his body, making his muscles ache with a dull satisfaction.

The metallic tang of blood mixed with the scent of Yoo Yisoo’s body and the lingering aroma of cigarettes, creating a peculiar smell. There was also a faint trace of something sharp, almost like the scent of medicine, hanging subtly in the air.

Finally, as his rigid erection emerged through the parted zipper and Yoo Yisoo cupped it with both hands, a small blister at the corner of her lips caught his eye. It glistened slightly, as if ointment had been applied. Only then did he realize what that faint medicinal smell was.

“What happened to your lips?”

“I don’t know. The housekeeper said it might be from exhaustion…”

Well, that made sense. She had every reason to be worn out after being pinned beneath him, enduring his relentless thrusts and cries through the night.

But in return, during the times he wasn’t around, she could eat, sleep, and laze about to her heart’s content, indulging as she pleased—just as she had when living as the princess of Hyoshin Construction.

Even if her entire mouth were covered in blisters, it was none of his concern. Yet, his hands betrayed him, moving on their own accord beyond the grasp of his will.

＊＊＊

He slightly furrowed his brow and just as Yoo Yisoo was about to take his glans into her mouth, he grabbed her chin and pulled her away from his member.

“Get up.”

“…What?”

“I said get up. I’m not in the mood with your injured mouth.”

Yoo Yisoo hesitantly rose from the floor. As soon as she stood up, Siheon roughly grabbed her waist and pulled her towards his lower body.

“Ah!”

Her short scream lasted only a moment as Yoo Yisoo panted heavily, perched on his thigh. His penis, which had been swaying slightly to the right, was now pressed against the flesh of her buttocks, causing her pelvis to tremble continuously. He gripped her pelvis like a frog and pushed her down further.

“Hng, st, stop…”

“Fuck…”

The pleasure of his cock being crushed against her buttocks was overwhelming. His ten fingers, which had been gripping her waist, naturally slid down and tightly grasped her smooth, soft buttocks.

“Lift your hips.”

As he released his grip on her waist, Yoo Yisoo obediently raised her buttocks. In that position, Siheon applied force to his hands again and pulled her slender body towards him. The flesh pillar instantly disappeared into her hole.

“Aah!”

Yoo Yisoo trembled pitifully, completely engulfing him. Her insides felt like they were on fire. It was as if she was being burned at the stake inside her vagina; the unusual heat and moisture made his cock feel like it was about to burst.

“You, you’re too…”

Deep, she couldn’t even finish her sentence, and her groans sounded quite pleasing. With a smack, he struck one side of her buttocks, turning her moans into screams. With each strike, her screams turned into suppressed sobs.

The pleasure of her inner walls contracting with each strike made his blood boil. He couldn’t believe that after having sex with Yoo Yisoo a few times, he had considered throwing her into a brothel. The thought of turning this body into a plaything for other men was insane.

He paused for a moment to savor the pressure of her flesh, then lifted Yoo Yisoo’s body again. This time, he looked down at the point of contact and slowly lowered his pelvis as much as possible.

The quivering hole slowly engulfed his glans, glistening with her fluids. Then, the slanted ridge below it, and again, half of his penis disappeared into Yoo Yisoo’s body. Her pitiful breaths, shaking her waist and breasts, made him suck on one of her nipples.

“Uh, ugh!”

The stimulation on her nipple made Yoo Yisoo shake her hips even more. Her vagina, which had engulfed half of his penis, also trembled and tightly gripped his shaft. He sucked on her breast a little more before lowering his hips another inch.

“Haah…”

Her neatly trimmed fingernails scratched his forearm and then dug in. Every time Yoo Yisoo took him in and felt him, she seemed to discard her usual aloofness, revealing her deepest self, and he felt like he could come right away from the exhilaration.

And this was just the beginning. No, it hadn’t even started yet.

Siheon finally lowered his hips all the way and suppressed a curse. The pleasure of her inner folds completely enveloping and squeezing his thick shaft made him throw his head back and exhale the breath he had been holding.

“Aah… huh… uh…”

Yoo Yisoo’s fingernails frantically traced his forearm and then pressed into one of his muscles. He remained motionless, gazing at her face, flushed red as if she had a fever.

So fucking beautiful. I want to kill her like this….

Her eyes and cheeks were red as if she had a fever. Her lips, struggling to breathe but dripping with saliva and trembling with pleasure, had taken in his thick flesh to the point of bursting.

Siheon stuck out his tongue and slowly licked the saliva that had dripped from Yoo Yisoo’s chin. His tongue traced down to her neck and soon found itself exploring her breasts again. Each time he filled his mouth and rolled his tongue, her nipples stood even more erect.

Yoo Yisoo, now exhausted, surrendered her entire body to him, panting. He bit down on her hardened nipple, and only then did she open her eyes wide and grip his forearm tightly. As she started to squirm and whine that it was too deep, for some reason, his chest ached.

He pushed his tongue, which had been sucking her breasts, past her red lips. Her whimpering sounds were pleasant, but the desire to entwine his tongue with hers was stronger.

After vigorously rubbing and pressing against her mucous membranes, tongue, salivary glands, and the roof of her mouth, he pulled his lips away, intoxicated by Yoo Yisoo’s scent permeating his entire body. He embraced her dry back with both arms and rested his forehead on her shoulder, catching his breath for a moment.

The feeling of her slender arms wrapped around his neck was pleasant. Her long, thin limbs, her even thinner neck, and her waist that was barely a handful.

Her body, which seemed like it would flutter away with the wind, had a satisfying grip, with all her body fat seemingly concentrated in her breasts and pelvis. Her natural scent, whether before or after washing, was strangely addictive, like a drug.

Her body, which pretended to be docile but was actually proud, was flawlessly beautiful. Apart from wanting her to gain a little more weight, there was nothing more to desire.

“Hng!”

Suddenly, he thrust his hips forcefully, causing her upper body to collapse. The sensation of her flesh clinging to his shaft was insanely good.

“Ah! Ugh! You, you’re too… fast… ah!”

Her whimpers about being too deep turned into sobs about being too fast. Yoo Yisoo shook as if she were about to pass out from her moans. Even though he was firmly supporting her waist, her body kept bouncing as if she were on a ride.

Siheon paused his thrusts for a moment and took her breast, which was about to spill out, into his mouth. He sucked on her firm nipple and licked her areola for a long time before thrusting his hips again.

“Ah! Huh…”

“Yoo Yisoo.”

Hearing her name, she tightened around his shaft, making him grit his teeth. Fuck. Suddenly, half of his mind went blank, and his tongue spoke on its own.

“Yisoo… fuck.”

Her arms responded to his call, tightly wrapping around his neck. Haah, as he exhaled deeply, her sweet scent grew even richer.

“Yisoo. Yoo Yisoo…”

“Yes, yes! Ha, huh…”

Her wet moans stuck to his ears like honey. Her mind was still unclear. But at least, she wasn’t pretending to enjoy it or acting like a whore.

Yoo Yisoo genuinely enjoyed fucking him. Maybe it was scary and painful at first, but now their bodies were completely attuned to each other. Was that why he felt the urge again?

“Tell me what’s in your head. What you really want. Besides the well-being and peace of Lee Yihyun, Yoo Incheol, and your family, what do you want for yourself?”

Haah, haah, Yoo Yisoo caught her breath with her head buried in his thick neck. The scent of sweat, bodily fluids, and tears—he didn’t know whose they were, but it didn’t matter—filled the air.

“Yoo Yisoo.”

“Ah!”

He thrust his hips so hard that the sofa creaked loudly. Yoo Yisoo clung to his neck and murmured as if sobbing.

“What I want… huh…”

Haah, her weak voice let out a deep moan before continuing.

“I… I want… Kwon Siheon…”

A drop of sweat fell from her forehead. Her breast, filled with heat, pressed against his chest, their skin touching. Even though he stopped moving, their lower bodies, joined as one, continued to radiate heat inside and out.

“I want Kwon Siheon not to…”

Her lips brushed against his neck, her voice muffled by his hair. His heart felt like it was on fire. In his impatience, he almost grabbed her hair and shook her, but he stopped himself.

“Say it again.”

Instead, he suppressed his breath and asked again.

“I want Kwon Siheon not to get married.”

“…”

“To someone else.”

Did he hear that wrong? Siheon licked his suddenly dry lips and opened his mouth. His voice came out dry and raspy, like his throat.

“You want me not to marry someone else? Is that what Yoo Yisoo wants?”

When the answer didn’t come immediately, he grabbed Yoo Yisoo’s buttocks and twisted them impatiently. Her inner walls reacted immediately, squirming.

“Ah! Hng…!”

“I need to make sure I heard you right.”

Uh, yeah, Yoo Yisoo nodded. A laugh escaped him. He thought it was just nonsense spoken in the throes of pleasure. So, he asked again on impulse.

“Then, do you want to marry me instead of someone else?”

“I don’t know… huh…” Yoo Yisoo gripped his shoulder and barely continued.

“I don’t know. I just… When I think of Kwon Siheon going to another woman… it feels so strange…

Siheon waited for Yoo Yisoo to continue, supporting her back. But only her panting breaths continued, and Yoo Yisoo said no more.

＊＊＊

Crazy….

He roughly pushed Yoo Yisoo’s shoulder away, but the next moment, he supported her limp upper body again. Her pajama dress, rolled up and down, gathered around her abdomen, so he pulled it off over her head in annoyance.

“Don’t talk nonsense, Yoo Yisoo.”

“…….”

“Open your eyes.”

He grabbed her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. Under the light, her purplish eyes were clearly wet.

“If you spout bullshit carelessly, I won’t let you off.”

“…….”

“Yoo Yisoo.”

“I’m not saying it carelessly….”

Fuck. A curse slipped out.

This crazy bitch is really out of her mind.

Suppressing a laugh, he embraced Yoo Yisoo with his cock deeply buried inside her and stood up.

Even during the short walk to the bed, Yoo Yisoo kept moving her hips. Whether she knew it or not, the more she moved, the deeper and rougher it rubbed inside her. After throwing her body onto the bed and climbing on top of her, a deep breath finally escaped from his throat.

His heart felt like it was about to burst, even though the blood was rushing to his head. Siheon flipped Yoo Yisoo’s body over, roughly spread her thighs, and immediately thrust his still-erect cock inside her.

His mind was blank, with no thoughts. He just felt like he had a mission to break Yoo Yisoo, relentlessly thrusting his hips and hitting her inner walls, listening to her increasingly loud moans.

He wanted this feeling to be imprinted on Yoo Yisoo’s mind even when they weren’t together. His heightened sense of possession was bordering on delusion, and its intensity was quickly turning into uncontrollable madness.

＊＊＊

The piercing sunlight that had been stinging all day finally softened as the sun sank below the horizon.

Yisoo stood up from the far corner of the backyard after a bird with a greenish hue perched on a branch flapped its wings and took off with vigor. Checking the time, she widened her eyes and hurried back inside. She could feel the seasonal shift from May to June against her skin.

“Ah, Ms. Yisoo, I was just about to call you for dinner.”

“I lost track of time… I’ll just make do with the leftover sandwich. Oh, and please help yourselves to the dessert soufflé in the fridge. I had enough while making it, so I’m fine now.”

“Thank you. Everyone loves your desserts so much. Even though I’m not fond of sweets, they taste so good they just melt in your mouth.”

Shortly after, instead of sitting at the 12-seat dining table, Yisoo placed her plate on a tray and took it to the second-floor living room. Sharing meals with the staff wasn’t customary, and eating alone in the vast dining room felt lonelier than being by herself elsewhere.

Kwon Siheon was expected to return late again today. If he came back before midnight, it would count as an early return.

On rare occasions when he returned in time for dinner, they would eat together in the dining room. On weekends, they sometimes had brunch on the rooftop.

How did it start? She vaguely recalled being summoned by him only to find a meal set for two—it could have been dinner or a late breakfast; she couldn’t remember clearly.

Fixing her gaze through the floor-to-ceiling glass at the expansive garden outside, Yisoo slowly chewed on the leftover spinach quiche and Caprese tartine sandwich from earlier in the day. It had been so long since she’d gone out that she couldn’t even recall the last time.

Since returning to Korea from Hong Kong, she had only gone out twice. Once was the day she went straight from the airport to visit Yihyun at the hospital. The second was a trip to the prison to see Yoo Incheol, followed by another visit to Yihyun at Sera’s villa.

Thankfully, Yihyun was recovering well. The matters of his marriage to Sera and Yisoo’s own circumstances were to be discussed when her uncle was released from prison in August.

She had not mentioned the renewed contract with Kwon Siheon to anyone—not her uncle, nor even Yihyun. And she intended to keep it that way.

It was just her body. Nothing grand, just a vessel that would decay and rot eventually. She had already lost her purity, a bargaining chip for a political marriage, to someone else.

What would it mean to stop now, to leave this filth behind? If she stopped and walked away, would that erase everything that had happened?

The stench of the swamp had already seeped into her body, deep and permanent. No matter what she did, the imprint of her sordid entanglement with Kwon Siheon would never fade.

After finishing her meal and washing the dishes, she returned to her spot in the far corner of the backyard. Echoes of voices from the staff faintly reached her ears—she had forgotten to close the kitchen window above the sink.

“The director seems to be dining with his fiancée tonight. I think she returned yesterday.”

“Really? By the way, with just us here since Mr. Lee is still in the basement, may I ask about that young lady?”

“Who? Are you talking about Ms. Yisoo?”

“Yes. How long will she be staying here, then?”

“Who knows… I don’t even think Mr. Lee would know. That’s entirely up to the director.”

The second voice sighed softly.

“Ms. Yisoo seems so kind. She’s so beautiful and sweet-natured, and I was amazed at how she takes care of the housework so effortlessly. I wonder how her family ended up like that….”

“Shh.”

A senior staff member lowered their voice.

“Don’t talk about such things, even among ourselves. If you’re curious, keep it to yourself.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Footsteps moved away, and a window was shut with a thud. Yisoo remained still, hugging her knees. Unless someone deliberately came under the awning, she was invisible from all directions.

She stayed there for quite some time, sitting in the growing chill of the early evening air, in a place where no one called for or looked for her.

＊＊＊

The top floor of a hotel overlooking the city was home to a serene Korean dining establishment, where soft piano melodies filled the air. The manager had procured Park Seohye’s music in advance for the evening’s VVIP guests.

It was passable. Not exceptional enough for her to succeed as a soloist, but then again, that was probably why she was entering this path right after graduation.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had Korean food; it’s delicious, Siheon.”

“You look good enjoying it.”

Park Seohye ate everything without hesitation. Much like the wide range of men she had entertained, spanning various races and ages.

She was a remarkably unremarkable woman. Despite growing up as the youngest daughter of a wealthy family and being a classical musician—traits that could have made her seem finicky—she had a surprising adventurous streak and broad tastes. Her resilience was impressive too.

The first time they slept together, she didn’t hesitate to swallow his fluids, just as she was now unreservedly gulping down skate fish preserved in fermented sauce.

Suddenly, as the woman idly picked at her food, almost counting the grains of rice with her chopsticks, her face overlapped with that of Park Seohye in Siheon’s mind. She wasn’t family, nor a servant, just a housemate—had she eaten by now? Had she eaten properly? And why was he even curious about it? A faint laugh escaped him, but he washed it away in one gulp of water.

“I still can’t eat this, though. Even though my allergies disappeared as I grew up, I just don’t get the taste.”

Park Seohye gestured toward the beef and taro soup at the edge of the table. It was the only dish on the table she hadn’t touched.

“When I was little, eating it made my tongue and the roof of my mouth feel scaly.”

What about that woman?

The pale, almost white complexion once again overlapped with the woman seated across from him.

Did that woman have something she couldn’t eat?

Yoo Yisoo, as far as he could recall, didn’t have such preferences. She wasn’t the type to heartily dig into her food, but she’d still eat anything. Though the butler had once confided that she didn’t like sour foods and rarely touched plums.

Feeling a rush of blood to his lower body, he unconsciously slammed his glass down. Perhaps misinterpreting the gesture, Park Seohye opened her eyes wide in surprise. As she popped a forkful of dessert into her mouth, her exaggerated blinking exuded a calculated coyness.

Siheon tilted the corner of his mouth into a smirk. Whoever the other person was, what did it matter? Insert, thrust, withdraw. Quell it, and that’s all.

“Shall we head upstairs if you’re done eating?”

“Already…?”

Park Seohye narrowed her eyes. Even the way she removed the fork from her mouth and flushed slightly was so her.

A woman who knew how to cleverly reveal just enough of her desires to get what she wanted. That was one of his fiancée’s many charms.

Before they knew it, the two of them were inside the VVIP elevator connected to the suite. Standing in front of the mirror, Park Seohye squeezed his hand firmly. The rich scent of wine filled the confined space, and a faint buzz began to set in.

Suddenly, a different hand intertwined with his came to mind. A pale, soft, slender hand that had been tightly laced with his until the early hours of this morning before being let go.

Lips came close to his abruptly. The sleek curve of her bob brushed against his jaw as her lips pressed against his. Reflexively, he stepped back a little, and her lips grazed the collar of his dress shirt before pulling away. The artificial fragrance mixed with the smell of alcohol lingered stronger.

In that instant, the buzz from the alcohol vanished. Siheon slowly pulled his hand away from Park Seohye’s grasp. Even as the elevator doors opened, his body remained rigid, unwilling to move.

“Siheon?”

Park Seohye, who had just stepped out of the elevator, turned to look back at him.

“What should I do? I just remembered urgent work.”

“Huh? Right now?”

As the elevator doors began to close again, she moved to press the open button. But Siheon was quicker. He pressed the close button from inside and added,

“Take it easy. I’ll call you.”

“Si—”

The doors shut, cutting off her wide-eyed gaze. A few seconds later, his phone rang, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he instructed his secretary to ensure the VVIP concierge staff discreetly handled the situation.

When Siheon came to his senses, Kim Jaewon, his secretary, was in the driver’s seat, starting the car. He couldn’t comprehend his own actions.

More often than not, he pushed forward impulsively, rather than moving meticulously as planned. It suited the nature of the “work” he handled, which differed from his otherwise control-freak tendencies.

But even then, he’d never been this disoriented.

He wasn’t drunk enough to question his own behavior. Despite countless nights of drinking with high-ranking officials known for their tolerance, he’d never blacked out. Nor had he ever felt his body go cold so abruptly after heating up.

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been with Park Seohye many times. Even while she was studying abroad, she’d made it a point to return to Korea at least once a month, meeting him at a hotel daily until her next flight. He tried to recall the last time they had been intimate—about a year ago—but his memories were hazy, as if shrouded in fog.

He could remember which month, which weekend, and which hotel room they stayed in, even the trivial conversations they’d had. But the actual moments of intimacy were blurry. The only things he could faintly recall were her naked body sprawled on the messy bed and himself leaving the room without hesitation.

In contrast, every moment with Yoo Yisoo burned vividly in his mind. From the first kiss before penetration—no, even before their tongues intertwined—he could remember every detail of her expression.

Her gaze while undressing, or when he undressed her. The way she, dignified as ever, struggled to maintain her composure until the very end, only to eventually crumble under his touch. Every single moment was so vivid, as if it had just happened.

“Shit.” He cursed under his breath.

A sense of urgency filled him. She wasn’t even there, but just the thought of her was enough to make his blood rush.

Is this what addiction feels like?

Overwhelmed by uncontrollable lust, he lit a cigarette, though even his hands trembled as he struck the lighter.

He felt like he was losing his mind.

＊＊＊

Before 11 p.m., the faint sound of the gate bell rang. It was the automatic sensor that activated whenever a person or vehicle entered the mansion’s grounds.

Yisoo set down the book she’d been reading and stepped out of her room. Heading downstairs, she saw the butler watching the monitor in the kitchen. He turned to look at her.

“Still here, Butler?”

“Oh, yes. I stayed late due to some work… The CEO has returned.”

He seemed slightly surprised by the unexpected arrival. Understandably so—Yisoo had also assumed he’d spend the night at the hotel with his fiancée.

“…I see. You should head home now.”

The staff usually left by 9 p.m., and Butler Lee Jung-hye by 10 p.m. at the latest, retreating to the annex where the employees’ quarters were located. After that, Yisoo was the sole occupant of the massive main house, left to her own devices. And when Kwon Siheon returned, it was up to her to deal with him.

“I’ll wait another ten minutes, just in case the CEO needs something.”

“No… you must be tired. Please head home. At this hour, he’ll only drink. I’ll take care of it.”

Gently but firmly, Yisoo ushered the butler out through the rear door leading to the annex before heading to the front entrance. The sound of the door unlocking was soon accompanied by a waft of cigarette smoke mixed with alcohol.

It was a familiar scent. Not comforting, but familiar nonetheless.

“…You’re back?”

Kwon Siheon entered without a word, his stride steady and unaffected by alcohol. He didn’t seem to have drunk too much.

Without responding, he took a slow step toward her. Then another. His face was cold and severe, exuding an oppressive aura that instinctively made her shoulders tense.

Had he fought with his fiancée?

As he stopped just in front of her, an unfamiliar perfume lingered in the air—a feminine citrus scent that must have belonged to Park Seohye.

“Do you need anything? Water, or—ah!”

Before she could finish speaking, Kwon Siheon grabbed her waist and pulled her close. He embraced her and pressed his lips to her nape, his movements hurried and unlike his usual self. His lower body, pressing against her abdomen, was hot and heavy.

“Kwon…”

“Be quiet.”

The arms that had been wrapped around her back moved down and firmly gripped her buttocks. The pressure of his erection against her stomach made her breathless.

She couldn’t understand. Why was he so excited when he should be with his fiancée….

No. He must have already been with her.

Only then did it occur to her that he had spent the night with his fiancée but had returned home instead of staying at the hotel. There must have been various reasons for him to come home.

Perhaps it was Park Seohye’s personal matter, or maybe he had an early morning video conference with the overseas branch office, as he often did to adjust to the local time zone, or maybe there was something else she didn’t know….

“…Ugh!”

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of her top being torn off. Her clothes were ripped off, and her body was lifted. Kwon Siheon effortlessly carried her over his shoulder like a baby and moved to the first-floor living room.

As her body tilted, her back touched the carpet in the darkness. Another sound of fabric tearing made her startled, but a strong force pinned her down and pushed her skirt up. The force trying to spread her legs and push in felt like a boulder.

Only then did she see the madness in his eyes, piercing through the lingering scent of wine. His eyes were clouded with desire, even though he knew exactly what he was doing.

As the tip of his shaft touched her perineum without any foreplay, Yisoo pushed his shoulder with her hand. She struggled to lift her body, her movements rough and firm.

She had never resisted like this before, no matter how many times they had sex. She didn’t know why. She just felt nauseated by the scent of perfume on him, as if dirty filth was splattered all over his body. The disgust made her body reject him instinctively.

Surprised by her unexpectedly strong will, Kwon Siheon took a deep breath and grabbed both of her hands. He pinned her arms above her head and grabbed his erection with his other hand, thinking her resistance was just a meaningless tantrum.

As the silent struggle began again, Yisoo twisted her body with all her might and freed her wrist from his grip. When she couldn’t push his rock-hard shoulder away, she slapped his cheek.

The sound of the slap echoed, and her palm burned as if she had touched a red-hot blade. She didn’t regret her impulsive action. Kwon Siheon slowly turned his face back to her, the red mark from her slap visible. He seemed momentarily dazed, as if he didn’t know what had just happened.

“Yoo Yisoo.”

Kwon Siheon stopped moving, surprised by her unprecedented resistance. His eyes, clouded with alcohol, met hers in the darkness.

“Ah!”

Her still-captive wrist ached as if it would break. Kwon Siheon tightened his grip on her wrist. He smiled as if enjoying himself, but his eyes were sharp.

“Did you want a different kind of play? You should have said so earlier.”

The smile on his twisted lips deepened. Yisoo tried to free her wrist with all her might, but the man didn’t budge. The crushing force made her eventually stop resisting.

“What should we start with? Spanking?”

He flipped her body over and grabbed her waist, making her gasp and struggle again. But she couldn’t escape the stinging slaps on her bare buttocks.

“Ah!”

His palm struck her buttocks several more times. The hot pain spread through her body, resonating to the tips of her hair. She felt like her skin would burst and bruise if she took any more hits.

“Stop! Please stop…!”

“Should we use tools instead? Should I have someone bring a variety right away?”

“Ugh… I just… don’t want to sleep with you right now.”

Yisoo gritted her teeth and added, trying to catch her breath through the pain.

“Not tonight. Just this once, please leave me alone…”

“Does Yoo Yisoo have that right?”

His voice was soft. His hand, which had been striking her, now gently caressed her reddened buttocks, infuriatingly tender.

“Our contract was for me to fuck you whenever I want, wasn’t it? A fucktoy doesn’t have the right to say yes or no.”

“…….”

“Hmm?”

Kwon Siheon leaned down and bit into her reddened buttock. Ugh, hng, Yisoo twisted her hips at the stinging pain, and he flipped her over again to meet her gaze directly.

“A little tantrum is fine, but not giving me what I want is unacceptable.”