CBL Ch 11

“No… if you really want to, go wash up first…”

The sensation of him rubbing and pressing his erection against her stomach made her breathless. She felt like he was about to penetrate her at any moment, and Yisoo let out a moan, “Hng.”

“I don’t like the smell of your fiancée’s perfume… It makes me want to vomit, so go wash up.”

“…….”

“I’ll gladly fulfill my role if you do.”

The hot flesh that had been pressing against her stopped moving. Kwon Siheon looked down at her, disbelieving his own ears. His furrowed brow and narrowed eyes flashed with an indecipherable gleam.

“…What are you trying to do?”

A scoff followed. The grip on her waist did not loosen. Yisoo’s chest heaved with tension. No matter what she said or what conversation they had, he would have her until he was satisfied.

“I don’t want to do it today.”

Despite this, her refusal was clear. Yisoo pulled away from him and sat up straight. She felt ridiculous trying to cover her exposed breasts with her tattered clothes, like a rag doll.

“Why… did you come here? Why aren’t you with her until morning?”

As she tried to stand, her legs buckled from the force pulling her waist. He roughly grabbed her chin and forced his tongue into her mouth, his actions brutal and fierce.

Her chin felt like it would break. The pain of his tongue mangling hers made her grab his hair and pull. His lips released her, and he grabbed her neck. She tasted blood in her mouth. Coughing up blood, she dug her nails into his forearm with all her might. The grip loosened, but Yisoo did not let go until he completely released her. Red lines streaked where her nails had scratched.

“Are you crazy?”

His eyes, grabbing and squeezing her hand, flickered like cold flames. The smile, whether a smirk or a sneer, was completely gone.

“Don’t act like you’re jealous. It’s pathetic.”

She tried to turn her head, but his hand gripping her cheek forced her to meet his gaze.

“Or are you pretending?”

“…….”

“Tell me. Is it genuine or an act?”

Yisoo did not answer. She just glared at Kwon Siheon, her cheek in his grasp, her breath ragged and her lips parted.

“Yoo Yisoo.”

“…Interpret it yourself.”

Yisoo replied, trying to sound calm despite her heightened breath.

“However you see it. However you feel it…

It didn’t seem like a satisfactory answer. Her hair was roughly grabbed, and a painful, punishing kiss began again. Her body tilted, and her back pressed against the carpet.

As his tongue invaded her mouth, his thick shaft filled her completely in one thrust. The heaviness filling her made her toes curl. Her inner walls contracted and relaxed on their own, beyond her control.

Kwon Siheon mercilessly thrust his hips all the way in and whispered something in Yisoo’s ear. The words, more vulgar than any curse or crude expression she had heard before, seeped into her mind. Something indescribable, different from disgust, pierced through her chest.

Now she understood. It was his way of expressing his inner chaos. He didn’t genuinely intend to hurt or humiliate her.

He was just confused.

Even though his body was oscillating between debasement and violation, forcefully taking and occupying her, his inner self was not like that. Perhaps, for him, this was a first—experiencing such unpredictable and uncontrollable emotions.

The carpet began to slowly slide back, and the floor started to vibrate with a low hum. Yisoo, now having given up even screaming, simply surrendered her body to the intense shaking.

As the hot and hard shaft relentlessly pounded and pressed against her from below, the unfamiliar scent of perfume gradually faded. Whether it was his heat, her scent, or both intertwined, she couldn’t tell if the smell had truly dissipated or if it was just an illusion of her mind.

The sounds of sweat, tears, entwined tongues, and the relentless squelching of fluids between her legs resonated through the living room. The raw scent soon overpowered the artificial fragrance completely.

Amidst the waves of pleasure, the faceless image of Park Seohye vanished entirely from Yisoo’s mind.

＊＊＊

A month had passed since that beastly night.

Time flowed unbelievably quickly, even though Yisoo was living like a dead person, doing nothing.

In the span of a month, nothing had really changed. The only noticeable difference was that Kwon Siheon had started coming home earlier, and the number of times they shared dinner had increased.

He had also left a phone and a laptop in her room. While access to emails or personal sites was still restricted and surveillance devices were likely installed, it gave her a slight sense of relief.

Thankfully, her family was doing fine in their respective places. Yoo Incheol remained in prison, Yihyun was with Sera, and Yijin stayed at a memorial site Kwon Siheon had arranged on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. Each of them quietly let their present slip by as if yesterday were today and tomorrow would be no different from today.

There was one peculiar incident, though. One night, over wine after dinner, Kwon Siheon opened up about his origins.

He revealed that he wasn’t the biological son of Kwon Soohyun, listed as his father in the family register. Instead, he was the child of his grandfather, Kwon Myunghan, the second president of the Shinuehoe. It was a secret hidden from the world that Kwon Myunghan had fathered the eldest and second sons, Kwon Wooheok and Kwon Siheon, with his daughter-in-law, Jung Yoogyung.

As long as the two brothers were alive, the secret would remain buried forever. With his grandfather Kwon Myunghan, and his parents—Kwon Soohyun and Jung Yoogyung—all deceased, the truth was locked away.

“Jung Yoogyung loved Kwon Myunghan from her days as his secretary. They both completely deceived and betrayed Kwon Soohyun. To this day, I can’t understand it—what kind of psychology would lead someone to marry his unrequited love, his secretary, to his own son?”

He spoke as though he were casually recounting a tragedy that had happened to someone else’s family. Throughout, Kwon Siheon never once used the words “grandfather,” “mother,” or “father.” Yisoo, however, couldn’t help but be slightly shaken.

When he mentioned that Jung Yoogyung ultimately took her own life, Yisoo nearly dropped her wine glass. A strange sense of déjà vu swept over her, followed by a chill.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… I was just surprised.”

She attributed it to the recent deaths in her family. Chairman Yoo Namcheol, Yoo Yongjin, Yoo Beomjin, and even Yoo Yijin—none of them had died by their own hands, but death was still death in the end.

“When I heard Jung Yoogyung had died, I felt nothing. From the moment I was born, I was sent to a remote countryside villa and raised by a nanny until I was old enough for school.”

“Why… why was that?”

“They claimed I had a contagious disease, but it was all lies. A shaman said I had to be isolated from the family until I grew up; otherwise, I’d have a short life. They sent me away based on that nonsense. Who made that decision, I’ll never know.”

He made no mention of his younger brother, Kwon Eegyul, the only son who carried Kwon Soohyun’s blood. Yihyun had once told her that Eegyul was an artist who worked anonymously and was currently recovering in London after injuring his hand. However, Yihyun wouldn’t know anything about their true lineage either.

“I didn’t ask you to tell me anything, but since I’ve shared a secret, why don’t you share one too, Yoo Yisoo?”

Even with the wine bottle half-empty, he appeared languid rather than disheveled. Yisoo couldn’t help but think that there was probably no one else who drank as if it were water, quite like Kwon Siheon.

“Well, I don’t have any secrets to share…”

“Lee Yihyun. What exactly is your brother’s deal?”

His unexpected question nearly made her hiccup. Yisoo had vaguely sensed that he was keeping a close eye on Sera’s father, Chairman Jung Jinkyoo, and his business operations. It wasn’t surprising.

To Kwon Siheon, Yihyun was likely nothing of significance. One of the two surviving children of the now-defunct Hyoshin Construction—a young man with nothing to his name except a privileged upbringing and striking looks.

He had no notable academic background, skills, social influence, or wealth, and on top of that, he had a physical disability affecting one leg. It was enough to raise suspicions that someone like him was ultimately accepted as a prospective son-in-law.

“By ‘identity’… I don’t know what you mean.”

“It has to be one of two things. Either he knows where the deceased’s slush funds are hidden, or he has access to some valuable information left behind. Something potentially useful to someone like Chairman Jung Jinkyoo, a Korean-American.”

“We don’t have anything like that. If you’ve been observing us all this time, you should know that. We truly… don’t know anything.”

Kwon Siheon didn’t press further. The conversation ended there. As always, he preferred physical exchanges over verbal ones, and Yisoo complied without resistance.

In the terms of their arrangement, resistance was a word that might as well not exist. To two people blinded by their needs and desires, it was nothing more than a meaningless and fictional concept.

＊＊＊

A few days after learning about the man’s inherent secret, her third outing took place.

Technically, it was just a short trip—from the mansion’s garage to the underground parking lot of a department store building, and straight to the first floor. Even so, she couldn’t deny feeling slightly more liberated.

The luxury goods section of the G Department Store, recently acquired by Shinmyeong Group as a subsidiary using Shinuehoe’s funds, exuded an inviting fragrance as soon as she stepped inside. It felt as if invisible flowers were blooming all around her in welcome.

“I’d like to visit Yihyun. Next week happens to be Sera’s birthday as well… If it’s alright, could I go with Secretary Yang for a few hours during lunchtime?”

She thought he might refuse, and she was prepared for that. However, his answer was unexpected.

“Do as you wish.”

Encouraged, she decided to push a bit further, testing how far his leniency would extend.

“Then, could I buy a gift for Sera on the way? If you prefer, I’ll wait in the car while Secretary Yang selects it. Sera loves perfumes, so I think an appropriate one would be fine.”

Kwon Siheon looked as though he would agree at first, but then his tone shifted.

“Just cover your face. The VVIP room will only have the MDs, anyway.”

She assumed it was simply for safety reasons. What surprised her more was the additional remark he made.

“If there’s anything you need, pick it out, too. Sometimes it’s nice to choose things for yourself.”

“Ma’am, the item you’ve chosen is currently being beautifully gift-wrapped. Also, regarding your own perfume, would you like to try this one?”

The personal shopper’s gentle voice brought Yisoo back to reality.

“This is a new citrus line, and it suits the current season perfectly.”

“Ah, thank you.”

With her hat still pressed down and her mask slightly lowered, she accepted the test strip. The moment the fragrance reached her, a wave of déjà vu hit her.

The employee described the scent as embodying the sensuality of summer—it was Park Seohye’s perfume.

The fresh lemon, lime, and orange scent was one she had noticed lingering on Kwon Siheon not long ago.

“I think… I’ll pass for now. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

＊＊＊

She encountered the fragrance again just before heading to the parking lot, when she entered the restroom alone. As she removed her mask and rubbed her weary eyes in front of the powder room mirror, someone approached the sink next to her and turned on the faucet.

Through her peripheral vision, she caught sight of pale hands working up a lather. Yisoo stepped away from the woman exuding the faint citrus aroma and sat on the waiting sofa. She planned to sit there for no more than 30 seconds, just long enough not to keep Secretary Yang waiting.

The woman, who had been washing her hands and touching up her makeup, sat in the chair diagonally across from Yisoo. Placing her handbag on her lap, she brushed back her stylishly curled bob. It seemed she, too, intended to rest for a moment before leaving. Never in her wildest dreams did Yisoo expect the woman to strike up a conversation.

“Hello.”

“Ah, yes… Hello,” Yisoo replied, startled and flustered, but managing to return the greeting.

With her wide-brimmed hat and mask on, Yisoo looked as if she were wearing a disguise. Despite this, tension suddenly gripped her. The moment the bob-haired woman spoke again, her wariness intensified.

“You’re Yisoo, aren’t you? I saw you from afar once during a major event. Though we didn’t formally exchange introductions back then.”

Her heart sank. Before Yisoo could respond, the elegant and sophisticated woman casually revealed her identity.

“I’m truly sorry about Chairman Yoo’s passing. And about what happened with Hyoshin Construction.”

“…….”

“It wasn’t intentional to follow you. I just happened to be shopping and saw you enter the T store earlier. You briefly removed your hat at the entrance, didn’t you? I thought it might be you, so I followed you here to confirm.”

Yisoo removed her mask and looked directly at the woman. Now that her identity was known, hiding her face was pointless. The woman appeared to be either her age or three to four years older.

“Yes, you’re correct.”

As the woman mentioned, Chairman Yoo Namcheol, when Hyoshin Construction was thriving, had enjoyed bringing his children to important events. Yihyun, whose physical disability often excluded him, had led to Yisoo being left out as well.

However, when it was time to present her as a prospect for marriage, Yisoo was brought to official functions. Her striking looks were intended to make an impression on influential figures in business and politics. The woman must have seen her at one of those events, likely during the company’s official gathering a couple of years ago.

“I’m Yoo Yisoo. Thank you for your condolences regarding my father.”

Yet, Yisoo had no idea who this woman was. If she could figure out which family she belonged to, she might better handle this encounter.

“May I ask who you are? I apologize for not recognizing you.”

“There’s no need to apologize. We’ve never been formally introduced,” the woman replied, her eyes crinkling slightly in a playful manner.

“My name is Rena Park.”

She added warmly, “I lived abroad for a long time, so it’s understandable you wouldn’t know me. I’m Korean in nationality but practically a foreigner.”

“Ah… I see.”

At that moment, Yisoo’s phone beeped like a savior. It was a message from Secretary Yang, likely concerned about her prolonged absence.

Secretary Yang:

You’ve been gone a while. Is there anything you need?

Yisoo:

No, I’ll be out soon.

“I’m sorry, but I should get going. Someone’s waiting for me. It was nice meeting you,” Yisoo said, her heart pounding in her chest. Her priority was to leave the area. While Rena Park seemed overly sociable, she didn’t come across as a threat. There would be time to investigate her later.

“Of course. I need to head out too,” Rena replied. Then, as if remembering something, she stopped just as they both began to stand. She lightly grasped Yisoo’s arm, her marble-perfect smile dazzling like sunlight.

“One quick question.”

“Yes?”

“How was he?”

“…What?”

“Siheon. How was he?”

Rena’s voice dropped a tone, as if someone might overhear them despite being alone in the powder room.

“He’s really good in bed, isn’t he? That doesn’t even do him justice, does it?”

It felt like a blow to the back of her head. In that instant, Yisoo instinctively understood who the woman before her was. The one smiling sweetly with her eyes was none other than Park Seohye.

Kwon Siheon’s fiancée, Park Seohye.

Yisoo had never searched for her or looked up her photos, which was why she didn’t recognize her. If she had spent most of her time abroad, it made sense that Yisoo hadn’t seen her even from a distance.

“My Korean name is Park Seohye. Even if you don’t know Rena Park, my real name should ring a bell, right?”

Not knowing what to say, Yisoo stared blankly. Park Seohye raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow and smiled again.

“You look like you want to ask how I figured it out… but that doesn’t really matter, does it? More importantly, I’d like an answer.”

“…….”

“How is he with you in bed? He wouldn’t only be good with me… but I wonder, does he get rougher with you? Like when men call for house girls and handle them roughly, trying to get their money’s worth?”

At first, Yisoo couldn’t understand her true intentions. But now, she thought she finally did.

“Why don’t you ask Kwon Siheon directly about that…?”

She wasn’t inherently a base or vile woman. She had grown up in a too gentle and smooth environment for that to be the case. Park Seohye seemed like a rose growing in a cozy greenhouse, with thorns that might hurt a little if pricked, but couldn’t cause any serious damage.

“What did you just say?”

Park Seohye laughed, as if in disbelief. Despite asking such an absurd question, she overlooked the fact.

“Did you just say, ‘Ask Siheon directly?'”

The mistress, how audacious.

Even with the biting words, Yisoo calmly responded.

“Yes. If Kwon Siheon is curious about the same thing, it would be more appropriate for him to ask your lover, not you, Park Seohye.”

Park Seohye’s mouth fell open. Before her jaw even had time to close, there was a knock, followed by the sound of the doorknob turning. Park Seohye quickly spun around and locked the door with an irritable jerk.

She probably didn’t want to be interrupted before the conversation ended, but this also seemed like proof that she had grown up in a self-centered bubble.

“Lover? How dare you!”

Park Seohye trembled with anger. But instead of physically attacking, like grabbing her hair or slapping her, she only clenched her fists tightly and glared at her.

It would’ve been better if she had charged at her to hit her. But once again, it seemed she couldn’t cross the line, likely because she had been raised like a delicate flower in a greenhouse.

“He’s not a lover or anything like that! We’re partners who share a deep connection through music, and our emotional bond goes beyond simple romantic feelings…”

The sound of a master key turning was followed by the door suddenly opening. Secretary Yang paused when he saw the two women, then quickly approached Yisoo.

Before Secretary Yang could make eye contact with her, Park Seohye quickly put on sunglasses and hid her face. She probably considered herself somewhat of a public figure. Or perhaps she was worried about Kwon Siheon hearing about this little farce.

“Excuse me, is something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Park Seohye quickly grabbed her handbag and shopping bags, rushing out of the powder room in a hurry.

“Wait, just a moment!”

“Secretary Yang. There was nothing. That woman just recognized me, and we had a brief conversation.”

Yisoo stopped Secretary Yang, who was about to follow. Given Kwon Siheon’s orders to ensure tight security, it was better to mention Park Seohye’s identity, even if the encounter might not sit well with him.

“That woman… She’s Kwon CEO’s fiancée, Park Seohye.”

“Pardon?”

Secretary Yang couldn’t hide his surprise. It was no surprise, really.

“We just spoke briefly. That’s all.”

“I understand. I’ll report it to the CEO separately.”

The whole time on the way to the villa, where Yihyun and Sera were waiting, Yisoo felt as if her head would explode. Even though they were enjoying lunch and chatting without worrying about surveillance cameras or eavesdropping, she felt queasy and heavy-hearted.

The crack in her carefully maintained composure came when they were having tea on Yihyun’s room balcony. Sera, giving them some space to talk, left, leaving just the two of them.

“I’ll eat this one.”

Yihyun picked out the peaches and plums for herself and left the tropical fruits for Yisoo. She pushed all her favorite fruits toward Yisoo, eating only the peaches and plums quickly, and her face reminded Yisoo of her younger self.

“Now tell me, what happened?”

“…What?”

“Don’t play dumb. You’ve been acting weird since you came in.”

Yihyun spoke in an annoyed tone, her face as hard as stone.

“I may not know what others do, but I know, Yisoo.”

“……”

“What did Kwon Siheon do to you? Huh?”

Her voice was low and tense as she spoke between gritted teeth.

“Tell me everything, Yoo Yisoo. If you don’t, I… I don’t even know what I might do.”

“Yihyun.”

“Leave that house and come here, Yisoo.”

Her voice was filled with urgency.

Only five people in the world knew the true identity of her twin brother. Yihyun, an unassuming information security expert with an OSCP certification, was known only to her, her biological father Yoo Incheol, the late Yoo Yijin, and Sera, along with her future father-in-law, Chairman Jeong Jingyu.

While she had been confined to homeschooling and isolating herself at home due to her illness, her days were spent with a computer, where she discovered an unexpected talent. Though she hadn’t made any financial gains from it, her expertise eventually led to Chairman Jeong Jingyu deciding to marry her to his son.

From the perspective of a shrewd businessman, Chairman Jeong probably recognized the value in Yihyun’s talent for security, even more so than a father’s concern for his daughter’s happiness.

However, there had likely been an external leak of information related to her. As soon as Hyoshin Construction collapsed, Yihyun became the target of various factions, including those eyeing slush funds, and her connection to the late Yoo Hyeoksu likely made her a prime target.

“Iihyun, Kwon Siheon…”

“We no longer need Kwon Siheon’s help. The favors he’s done for us, Sera’s father said he’d take care of. I’ve already agreed to contract the software and coding systems I’ve developed, as well as those I’ll continue to develop, as company assets.”

“No, Yihyun, that’s not it. Of course, Chairman Jeong is amazing, but Shinmyeong Group…”

Jeong Jingyu’s RapidFlare (RFAR) was one of the top ten IT security companies in Silicon Valley, and he was also the president of the local Korean Entrepreneurs Association. However, it couldn’t compare to the power of Shinmyeong Group and Shinuehoe.

Chairman Jeong, the most successful Korean entrepreneur in North America, had influence far beyond the level of former Shinuehoe members and their executives scattered across the continent.

“No one can protect my safety like Kwon Siheon can.”

“Yisoo.”

“You’re fine, Yihyun. As long as you’re with Sera and Chairman Jeong, you’ll be safe. But my uncle…”

Yisoo paused, then corrected the title.

“My father should be cautious after he’s released. Unless his special pardon is confirmed…”

“Your safety is just as important, Yoo Yisoo. Don’t you think about yourself?”

“Of course I worry about myself. That’s why, all the more… I need Kwon Siheon’s help.”

Yihyun let out a long sigh of frustration, ruffling his hair wildly. His expression showed the anguish of realizing he couldn’t protect her alone—a torment born of helplessness and the limitations of his physical condition.

“Yisoo, be honest with me.”

“Yihyun, there’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine. See? I log into my laptop regularly so you can immediately tell if anything’s wrong.”

The laptop she used at Kwon Siheon’s house had a monitoring sensor installed, courtesy of Yihyun’s email. Without needing to make a call or exchange emails, Yisoo could enter a password known only to the two of them and activate a security program, allowing Yihyun to confirm her well-being from afar.

If Yihyun hadn’t been skilled in such matters, or if Kwon Siheon had been an ordinary, average person, such precautions wouldn’t have been necessary.

“Yisoo, that thing you said about liking Kwon Siheon.”

Yihyun bit down on his lip so hard it looked like he might draw blood before finally forcing the words out. His eyes, so similar to hers, were shadowed with a deep, heavy darkness.

“Was that… true?”

It felt like a blow to the back of her head. Yisoo silently stared at her younger twin, who had come into this world just a few minutes after her.

From a young age, they had been able to read each other’s feelings and share an uncanny emotional bond. The housekeeper who had looked after them often said the same thing.

“You two are so fascinating. Back in my hometown, there were boy-and-girl twins, but they didn’t look alike or get along that well. But watching you two, it really feels like twins are special. You care for each other so much. It’s like you can read each other’s minds.”

“At first, I thought you were making an absurd sacrifice for me, for Uncle, for both of us. That made sense, didn’t it? A guy like Kwon Siheon wouldn’t help anyone without expecting something in return.”

Yihyun’s words spilled out like a dam breaking. The more he spoke, the more pained he seemed, his pupils resembling waves breaking under a fierce storm.

“That’s why, just thinking about you pretending to be that thug’s girlfriend—it tore me apart. Yoo Yisoo, pretending everything’s fine, pretending you’re okay, as if it didn’t matter. Acting like you genuinely liked him just to get through it. Because you’re the kind of person who would live your whole life tormented by guilt over me falling down those stairs and ending up like this.”

“It’s not guilt….”

“But then I started having strange thoughts. What if you’re serious about that man?”

“…….”

“I thought you wanted him to believe you liked him so you could catch him off guard. You know, to protect yourself even while being under his protection since he’s someone you could never truly trust.”

Yihyun rubbed his face with both hands before lifting his head again.

“But now, I keep having different doubts. It can’t be true, but… you don’t, right? You’re not serious about that thug, are you?”

“…….”

“Tell me you’re not. Yisoo.”

The last family she had left, her closest sibling, looked at her with eyes ablaze—a fire both intense and fragile, as if it might go out at any moment. Yisoo wrapped her cold hands around a teacup that had long since cooled. She knew exactly what answer he wanted.

So she would give it to him. Just a little longer. She could hold out until their father was released from prison. On that day, she would leave Kwon Siheon’s house and begin a new life with her father.

The agreement to stay at Kwon Siheon’s house until May of the year after next could somehow be renegotiated into regular meetings instead. Like going out for a job, she could rush to him whenever he called, give him what he wanted, and in return, her safety would be guaranteed. Maintaining such a clandestine arrangement was all it would take.

“Yihyun.”

But the words that came out weren’t the calculated ones she had thought of—they were something else entirely.

“I don’t do things I truly don’t want to… things that are utterly horrible. No matter how much it might be for all of us.”

“…….”

“So don’t worry.”

“So, you really do… for Kwon Siheon, that bastard—”

Before Yihyun could finish, someone knocked on the door. When Yisoo responded, Sera cautiously opened it, with Secretary Yang standing behind her.

“Sorry to interrupt! The secretary here said there’s something urgent to deliver.”

“My apologies. President Kwon just sent something through Secretary Kim Jaewon, and I’ve been asked to relay it immediately.”

“Go ahead,” Yisoo replied.

＊＊＊

“Mr. Yoo Incheol has been confirmed as a recipient of the presidential special pardon set for August 15, one month from now.”

Yihyun and Yisoo rose from their seats simultaneously. “That’s great news!” exclaimed Sera, clapping her hands and cheering. She hugged the twins one by one, practically jumping with joy. Both Sera and her father, Chairman Jung, now knew about the relationship between Yoo Incheol and the twins.

“This is fantastic! You both can finally relax!”

“Are you certain about this?”

At Yisoo’s question, Secretary Yang nodded firmly.

“Yes. The list will be officially announced to the press in an hour.”

Finally, Yisoo allowed herself to feel relieved and celebrate. Even after Secretary Yang left, the three of them sat together, basking in the good news. Sera suggested that Yoo Incheol stay at the villa for the time being, but the twins politely declined, explaining that their attorney and acquaintances were preparing a studio apartment for him.

The bodyguards who would quietly protect Yoo Incheol would come from Kwon Siheon’s subordinates—a renewed contract made it so.

A little later, Secretary Yang reminded them of the time and excused himself. As Yihyun escorted Yisoo to the car, his expression had turned cold and solemn. The momentary joy had given way to complicated emotions.

“Yisoo, wait. Just one more thing. This special pardon—did Kwon Siheon have a hand in it?”

“…Yes.”

Yisoo admitted it without resistance. Secretary Yang had mentioned the pardon list would be officially announced in an hour. To have received such information unofficially beforehand clearly indicated the involvement of a powerful ally.

“Even without his help, it might have been possible… but with his assistance, it became a certainty.”

A brief silence followed. Yihyun seemed to have a lot to say, his lips parting and closing repeatedly before he finally managed to speak.

“If anything happens… don’t open the laptop. Call me directly.”

“I will.”

“Your phone is just as secure as the laptop now… you know that, right?”

Yisoo nodded. Nothing would happen. Kwon Siheon had fulfilled his promise to ensure Yoo Incheol’s pardon. Now it was her turn to keep her end of the deal.

As the engine started and the car began to move, Yihyun leaned in through the slightly open window, resting a hand on the door frame. In a voice only she could hear, he whispered softly:

“Come back anytime, Yisoo. Just say the word.”

＊＊＊

“Come back anytime, Yisoo. Just say the word.”

The quiet whisper lingered in her ears like a persistent echo during the entire ride back to Kwon Siheon’s house. That simple phrase, “Come back anytime,” carried a depth of meaning far beyond its surface.

With those words, Yisoo realized something: Yihyun had finally become aware of her feelings.

What she had intended as a means of disarming suspicions had veered off in an unintended direction. She also came to understand something else—that the real reason she justified and rationalized her situation, convincing herself it was merely flesh and bone bound to decay, lay elsewhere entirely.

“Welcome back, Miss Yisoo. The president arrived about ten minutes ago. He dropped by the Shinmyeong family headquarters for a meeting before returning.”

The butler, who was waiting at the front entrance, greeted her warmly. Though she’d noticed the sedan parked in the driveway and already knew he was home, she deflected with a quick thanks.

The incident with Park Seohye had likely already been reported in detail. His people seemed to live in a world devoid of laziness, negligence, or forgetfulness. Then again, with a boss like Kwon Siheon, it was no surprise.

After changing into more comfortable clothes, Yisoo headed for his study. As always, the room’s owner was smoking while poring over some documents. His long legs were propped casually on the desk, an air of arrogance that somehow looked entirely natural.

“I’m back now,” she said as she approached his desk, feigning nonchalance. Kwon Siheon glanced at her, holding his cigarette between his fingers. His indifferent gaze revealed nothing of his emotions.

“How’s your brother? No issues?”

This was different from before. He wasn’t someone who would ask about another person’s well-being, even as a formality.

“Yes, he’s doing well. His health isn’t too bad. And…”

Whether formal or heartfelt, there was gratitude she needed to express.

“I heard about my uncle. Thank you for keeping your promise.”

“A promise is a promise.”

He set the document aside, responding with calm detachment.

“A promise we both have a duty to uphold.”

His tone carried weight. Resting his chin on his interlocked hands propped on the desk, he gave her a long, scrutinizing look.

His gaze was inscrutable—at times cold, like appraising a painting for its market value, and at other times, almost pure, as if simply admiring it.

“I hope you keep your end of the promise, Yoo Yisoo.”

“Of course…”

Her response took a few seconds. For some reason, her mouth had gone dry.

“I will.”

Yisoo quietly abandoned her earlier plan. She had intended to convince him to let her leave the house once her uncle was released, maintaining their meetings outside only. But the words wouldn’t leave her mouth.

A strong instinct told her Kwon Siheon wouldn’t permit it. No matter how much gentler he seemed, his standards for compromise didn’t appear to have softened.

“You met Park Seohye.”

His sudden remark startled her. She looked up sharply, catching the faint gray gleam of his cold, glassy eyes.

“Yes. She recognized me first and approached… avoiding her wasn’t an option.”

“You won’t encounter her again.”

Picking up a new document, he glanced at the clock. There was still about an hour left until dinner.

“Meet me downstairs in 30 minutes.”

“…Okay.”

With that, Yisoo turned and left the study. That was all. He hadn’t asked what they discussed, what Park Seohye had said, or how she had responded.

It was proof that, whatever it was, it held no meaning or interest to him.

＊＊＊

Park Seohye arrived first at the private room of the Planetarium Bar, taking a seat by the window.

The interior had become even more refined over the past few years. The establishments under Jung Yoonjae’s management now paid meticulous attention to spatial design. The exotic yet innovative structures and objects captivated the eyes, holding one’s gaze.

Before long, a knock was followed by the door swinging open. The man she had been waiting for entered, beaming as he took a seat on the opposite sofa.

“It’s been a while, Park Seohye!”

“Welcome, Prosecutor Do.”

“You haven’t aged a bit. The last time we met was two years ago, and you’re just the same as back then.”

“Neither have you. How was life in the U.S.?”

“It was fine… Oh, go ahead, if you want to smoke.”

Seohye gestured toward her cigarette case with a tilt of her chin. Do Sungjoon permitted it with a nod, but when she offered him a cigarette, he shook his head.

“I don’t smoke.”

“Ah, right. The ever-prudent Do Sungjoon.”

Seohye chuckled and lit a cigarette. Smoking, while frowned upon by some, was her sole form of rebellion in life.

Oddly enough, it had been Kwon Siheon who first led her to pick up smoking. Back in her early twenties, the sight of him casually exhaling smoke had been so captivating that she felt compelled to try it herself.

“If the elders found out, they’d be furious. No matter how much the world changes, the classical music community remains conservative towards women.”

“I should cut back. I quit once before… but I started again recently.”

At the mention of “before,” Sungjoon’s lips tightened slightly. Park Seohye, like many wealthy daughters, was selfish and demanding, but not inherently malicious.

However, during her teenage years studying in the U.S., she had briefly fallen in with a bad crowd of Korean students. That was likely when she first tried smoking. Though she eventually got back on track, she had come perilously close to leaving a permanent stain on her life.

It had been an unfortunate incident. Around that time, a Korean student transferred to her boarding school. He became entangled with the leader of the group Seohye was part of, who ordered her to intimidate the new student. That was all she had intended to do—scare him a little.

At a ski resort activity, she cornered him near a cliff, pretending she might push him over before retreating. But the boy lost his footing and fell to his death before he could be taken to the hospital.

The incident was ultimately recorded as a tragic accident due to carelessness, which occasionally occurred during such activities. Seohye’s involvement was never mentioned.

Sungjoon had been one of the witnesses at the scene but was not among those silenced with money by her family. From a distant viewpoint, he had seen everything unfold, though no one knew this—not even Park Seohye herself.

He didn’t feel the need to bring it up, at least not yet. There would come a time when that information could be useful. Until then, it remained his secret.

For instance, until the day his father, Do Ilyeong, soon to be promoted to Chief Prosecutor, stands in opposition to Park Seohye’s father, Assemblyman Park Shinhyeon, or finds himself turning the latter into a target on the chopping block.