CBL Ch 14

Kwak Bugyeong entered the conference room next to his office and locked the door. An elderly man, seated on the sofa, stood up and bowed his head.

“Sit down. No one knows you’re here, right?”

“Yes, Assemblyman. I think it’s time to take action. Both of them are trying hard, but nothing is coming out of it.”

“How pathetic. What do those kids with no backing think they’re doing?”

Kwak Bugyeong clicked his tongue and let out a sneering laugh. Although Chairman Jung, who was protecting Lee Yihyun, was the most successful Korean in North America, his connections and influence within Korea were negligible in comparison.

“It seems best to handle this cleanly, just like we did with Yoo Incheol. As long as ‘that item’ doesn’t surface, wouldn’t that put your mind at ease, Assemblyman?”

“Do it that way. Oh, right, besides Lee Yihyun, there’s that girl too—Yoo Yijoo or Yoo Yisoo. Do we still not know who the man she’s clinging to is?”

“No, sir. It’s just that the security is so tight whenever she goes to Jung Sera’s villa. We couldn’t track the vehicle numbers, and even when we tried to tail her, they switched cars halfway, so we failed every time.”

“You said Lee Yihyun seems to know, right? If you keep a close eye on him and work on him, you might find out… This is so frustrating.”

“All we know for sure is that he’s a wealthy foreigner she met in Hong Kong and that he’s married. Beyond that, I’m sorry. It’s hard to dig further because Chairman Jung’s villa has such tight security.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. If we’re going to deal with it anyway… Execute it when they meet at Jung Sera’s villa. Clean up thoroughly afterward.”

“Understood, Assemblyman. If the opportunity arises, I’ll take care of them one by one before then.”

“Whether you handle them all at once or one by one, make sure it’s flawless and swift. Get the best professional for the job. Ah, hold on.”

During the conversation, a message arrived from an aide. Kwak Bugyeong’s eyes lit up with excitement at the unexpected good news.

＊＊＊

K has agreed to meet you, Assemblyman.

Set up the meeting as soon as possible.

After quickly sending a reply, Kwak Bugyeong turned back to the man across from him.

“Delay finding the professional for a few days.”

“Pardon? An opportunity might come as soon as tomorrow.”

“If the opportunity arises, act immediately. Circumstances change daily; focus only on the ultimate goal. Got it? Oh, by the way, isn’t your eldest son in the U.S. due to receive his military draft notice soon? He only has one semester left, right?”

“Y-yes….”

The man flinched, his shoulders trembling. He clasped his hands and bowed his head, his demeanor suddenly deflated. Kwak Bugyeong subtly softened his tone.

“I’ll take care of it so he doesn’t have to serve. Just do well, okay? You know, that ‘enjoy it if you can’t avoid it’ saying? That’s nonsense for people with no options. If you can avoid it, you should. It’s better to start from a different point. Two years is a precious time.”

“Y-yes… Thank you.”

“All right, you can leave now. Use the back door.”

The man quickly disappeared toward the emergency exit stairs. Left alone, Kwak Bugyeong picked up his phone again, waiting for the aide’s reply.

He hadn’t expected Kwon Siheon to agree so readily. He hadn’t even brought up the subject yet, but K must have anticipated that it would involve something shady.

Perhaps it was because he had been in the field since he was young; Kwon Siheon seemed more straightforward than Kwon Woohyuk. If he’d known it would turn out this way, he would have bypassed Kwon Woohyuk and approached Shinuehoe sooner.

Kwak Bugyeong left the conference room and instructed his aides to leave for the day. His usual kind and benevolent smile—often seen on television—remained unchanged.

A fascist who outwardly championed the people’s happiness and the nation’s prosperity. A criminal who treated human lives as insignificant in pursuit of his goals.

The face of the demon who exploited others’ weaknesses and used their families as leverage was nowhere to be found behind that gentle facade.

＊＊＊

A spent ember settled on the bright yellow winter petals.

Siheon absentmindedly plucked the cigarette’s darkened trace from the flower and let it drift into the air. He then entered the study, took out his second phone, and made several calls. The last person he needed to discuss matters with was his blood brother.

“I heard you met Choi Bokhyun yesterday.”

Choi Bokhyun was currently Kwak Bugyeong’s biggest rival and the candidate for the Korean Reform Party. While it was expected that the Green Freedom Party, which Kwak Bugyeong belonged to, and the major opposition New Labor Party would be in fierce competition, Choi Bokhyun’s support had been surging ever since the New Labor Party candidate’s past corruption was exposed.

― Don’t even ask. There are eyes and ears everywhere, so I broke into a sweat meeting at 3 a.m.

Shinmyeong Group, which had claimed to remain neutral and uninvolved, had secretly sided with Choi Bokhyun not long ago. In exchange, a portion of Kwon Siheon’s shares in Shinmyeong Group was set to end up in Kwon Woohyuk’s pocket. These were Siheon’s personal assets, separate from the Shinuehoe funds.

Illegal election funds or covert alliances with specific groups are prohibited by law. Still, the absolute love affair between politics and business remains an unchanging tradition, a deeply rooted aspect of human nature. As always, activities under the name of Shinmyeong would proceed in the light with Kwon Woohyuk, while shady deals and manipulations behind the scenes would fall to Siheon.

“Later on, make sure Yoo Namcheol’s slush funds are recovered into the national treasury.”

Shinmyeong might want to pocket them in the middle, but for Yoo Yisoo’s future, that would be the best course. It would prevent more parasites from attaching themselves to her.

― Unbelievable. Why this sudden change? Why would you agree to hand over shares worth billions of won at a discount and even reshape the country’s future? And the slush funds—money is money, no matter how small.

“Just do it. In the end, you won’t lose a single won, will you?”

― Kwon Siheon.

“……”

― For someone who worships money like I do, what’s this nonsense you’re spouting?

“It doesn’t matter who ends up on top, does it?”

No matter who wins the election, the future wouldn’t change much. They’d either become a puppet controlled by the elite’s purse strings or spend five years caught in endless power struggles, wasting time.

“But I just can’t stand Kwak Bugyeong.”

Siheon chuckled, and the laughter on the other end of the line grew louder in response.

― So, there’s got to be a reason behind this bias. Spill it.

“There’s nothing to it. Anyway, I’ll leave the rest to you on D-Day.”

― You’re unbelievable, spewing nonsense until the end, you bastard.

“I’m busy. Gotta go.”

― Wait, are you serious? Is it for the reason I think it is? No way, right?

“Hang up.”

― So it’s true? I can’t believe this. You’re insane.

Ignoring his brother’s excited curses, Siheon tossed the phone aside and lit a cigarette. Whether his actions were the right choice or a decision he’d regret someday, he didn’t want to think about it anymore. For now, he just craved the nicotine that would seep through his lungs, heart, and into his brain.

And somewhere in his home, that woman, sitting like a still life painting.

＊＊＊

Yisoo sat in an upstairs room. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, and the tulips the housekeeper had arranged were vibrant. Yet her face was pale and gaunt.

Despite Yihyun’s best efforts under Chairman Jung’s support, no significant results had been achieved. Attempts to approach opposition candidate Choi Bokhyun through Chairman Jung and attorney Kang Manseop yielded nothing.

Yoo Namcheol’s inheritance could single-handedly crown Choi Bokhyun the victor and reshape the nation’s history. Yet, no one seemed interested or informed about it.

Or perhaps they knew but chose to remain silent. That possibility couldn’t be ruled out, but if they had decided to stay tight-lipped, there was nothing else she could do.

A nerve-wracking month had passed. South Korea was in a frenzy of anticipation and tension over the approaching future. With only two weeks left until the election, no breakthrough had been made. Though public opinion was fiercely divided, the consensus remained that Kwak Bugyeong would emerge victorious. Even to her, with little political knowledge, it seemed fate was leaning heavily in his favor.

If that happened, Yihyun’s and her futures would be plunged into darkness for at least five years. They would have to live in hiding, powerless, with the pain of her father’s death lodged deep in her chest. And…

Continue being Kwon Siheon’s mistress.

And if she ended up murdered like her father, that would be the end of it.

The mere thought made her shudder. The idea of Yihyun dying while she survived was more terrifying than her own death.

If one of them had to die, it would be better if Yihyun lived. He had Sera, after all.

But she had no one and nothing.

Yisoo deleted the photo file Yihyun had sent her ten minutes ago and closed her laptop. Like Yihyun, she had no idea how to interpret the scene in the photo.

‘Yisoo. What is this? Don’t tell me…’

‘I… I don’t know. What this means.’

‘Should I tell Attorney Kang? I think we need to let him know who’s protecting you now.’

‘Wait, Yihyun. Let me try to figure out what I can first.’

Knock, knock. At the sound, Yisoo turned her head. When she didn’t respond, the voice of a faint baritone called, “Yoo Yisoo,” as the knocking continued.

＊＊＊

“Yes, come in.”

Kwon Siheon had indeed changed, and he continued to change little by little. In Hong Kong, he would open doors without knocking, and until recently, he would knock twice and enter immediately. Today, he displayed a semblance of common courtesy, knocking once more before entering.

He closed the door behind him and approached the tea table where Yisoo was seated. As always, his pace was unhurried, as though time were inconsequential. His gaze remained fixed on her, unwavering.

Even when he stood right in front of her, Kwon Siheon remained silent. His demeanor conveyed that he was there to listen, assess, and act on what he heard. He waited stoically for her to speak, as he always did, exuding an air of detached authority.

The oppressive aura that radiated from him was as much a part of his being as any physical feature. By now, Yisoo had grown accustomed to the overwhelming presence, no longer resisting its draining effect.

Having spent nearly a year living under the same roof, she couldn’t tell whether it was due to desensitization or familiarity—or perhaps both—that she felt less affected by Kwon Siheon’s intimidating presence.

“There are exactly 14 days left now. I haven’t discovered anything, and I doubt I will,” Yisoo said.

“It’s too early to draw conclusions. Surprises can happen at the last minute.”

“Everyone says there won’t be any surprises this time.”

“True, unexpected outcomes are rare in Korea.”

He sat across from her, crossing his legs and settling into the chair as if he owned the place. His mere presence seemed to fill the room.

“On that note, I have something to ask.”

Kwon Siheon continued to watch her silently, waiting.

“Is Shinmyeong Group in contact with Choi Bokhyun?”

He didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow.

“I wouldn’t know. Affairs of the group aren’t under my jurisdiction.”

Nonsense. Shinuehoe not only engaged in clandestine operations but also served as a financial laundromat and resource for Shinmyeong Group’s unofficial dealings. They were undoubtedly privy to even the smallest shifts in the group’s activities.

Even Yisoo, who was no expert in business, understood that. He might not be directly involved, but it was unlikely that he was entirely in the dark.

“Why do you ask?”

“I was under the impression Shinmyeong was no longer involved in politics. If they’ve secretly shifted strategies, then… it wouldn’t be Choi Bokhyun.”

“You think it’s Kwak Bugyeong?”

“Chairman Kwon wouldn’t know about our arrangements, so….”

“Of course not. Even between brothers, there are limits to what’s shared. Just as Chairman Kwon isn’t aware of the contract between you and me, I’m not privy to everything he does.”

He spoke of his brother as though discussing a stranger. It was unnervingly casual. He hesitated for a moment before lighting a cigarette, silently seeking her approval. It was an uncommon courtesy from someone like him.

“It’s fine. Go ahead.”

Yisoo lowered her gaze to the laptop cover. The cold air seeping through the slightly opened window sent a sharp chill through her thoughts, simultaneously clearing her head and making it more tumultuous.

How much could she truly trust this man?

A sudden wave of doubt struck her, chilling her fingertips. The faith she had placed in their agreement now seemed precarious.

What guarantee was there that this man would protect them as promised? They were nothing to each other, and the only emotion he felt for her was desire.

Even if there were something more, it wouldn’t outweigh his pursuit of profit. He had admitted as much himself. The Kwon family of Shinmyeong worshiped money above all else—even above blood ties.

He had also confessed his inability to understand the familial bond she shared with Yihyun, let alone the sense of attachment they felt. Such sentiments were alien to him, he had said, and always would be.

I don’t know. Can I really keep trusting Kwon Siheon like this?

It was absurd. She felt pathetic for doubting him now, yet the possibility that her suspicions might be justified was terrifying.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

The sharp scent of smoke broke her reverie, and Yisoo looked up. Her hands, clasped tightly together, were damp with sweat.

“I told you before, didn’t I? About how a burglar broke in when I was ten and Yihyun hurt his leg trying to save me. He’s still dealing with that injury.”

As she spoke, Kwon Siheon loosened his tie, seemingly uncomfortable. His piercing gaze, however, never left her.

“I still can’t remember exactly what happened that day. The doctor said it was partial amnesia caused by the trauma. All I know is what Yihyun told me—that the burglar knocked over a decorative candle while attacking us, starting a fire that burned down part of the house.”

“…….”

“Maybe it’s because of that. Ever since, I’ve been afraid of fire. I even avoid open flames when cooking, relying only on induction stoves and ovens. It’s been that way in Hong Kong and here.”

She didn’t know why she was rambling like this, recounting past events at such length. Kwon Siheon, arms crossed, simply listened, his expression unreadable.

“Even now, just watching the inside of an oven can make my heart race. It feels like those red flames might suddenly consume me. Sometimes, I break out in a cold sweat just from hearing the click of an electric burner.”

Why was it so hot? Despite the cold air flowing in through the window, there was a subtle humidity in the room.

“At first, it was hard for me to tolerate you lighting your lighter and smoking a cigarette, Kwon Siheon. Even when you smoked occasionally during sex, I disliked it. No matter how small the flame… fire is still fire.”

Yisoo lowered her head briefly, then looked back at Kwon Siheon. In that moment, she realized the source of this dark, damp atmosphere.

“But now, I don’t dislike it.”

This humid heat emanated from his gaze and his presence. The way Kwon Siheon’s eyes latched onto hers, never letting go, and the silent tension radiating toward her made it hard to breathe.

“I’m still afraid of fire… Just looking into the oven makes my heart pound with fear. I don’t know when, if ever, this will change….”

Her lips quivered. Though tears didn’t fall, her throat felt tight.

“But when Kwon Siheon is there… it’s an exception. When you’re there, it’s like the headaches just disappear….”

A crack began to form in his brow. The long, cold fingers that held his cigarette removed it from his lips and casually dropped it into her tea cup. Watching him, Yisoo noticed a gesture so slight it could only be described as an extraordinary act of consideration.

“It feels like you’re about to confess your love to me.”

There was no mockery in his tone, but neither was there a shred of warmth.

“So, what is it you want to say?”

“Kwon Siheon,” she began softly, “ever since that day, I haven’t felt happy. Not even once. During all those wasted years in New York, being forced into matchmaking dates with various men… I can’t recall a single moment where I laughed sincerely.”

“……”

“And after the day I suddenly had to leave for Hong Kong, my sense of safety vanished completely. Not a single day has passed where I truly felt safe. Even thinking about happiness started to feel like a luxury.”

Kwon Siheon’s brow furrowed further as he remained motionless, his eyes betraying his confusion over what she was trying to convey.

“But I was a little happy in New York. And there were many times when I felt truly safe being with you, Kwon Siheon.”

“……”

“At first, I was scared of you. I was afraid, even repulsed by you at times. There were definitely moments when I didn’t like you. But now…”

“Now?”

Her prolonged silence was abruptly interrupted by his sharp, low voice cutting through the stillness.

“No matter what happens in the future… I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget my gratitude toward you, Kwon Siheon. Or the time we spent together in New York. And….”

Her voice, which had been calm and steady, suddenly faltered.

“Never mind, forget it.”

Yisoo hesitated, her dry lips parting as if to say more before closing them tightly again.

“Are you leaving your will behind right now?”

Ha, he let out a scoffing laugh, his disbelief clear. Yet, his eyes were far from amused. A heavy silence fell between them in an instant.

“You said you liked me.”

The sharpness of his gaze returned as he broke the silence once more.

“You told me you didn’t want me to marry Park Seohye. Do you still feel the same way?”

“…Yes.”

Yisoo answered without hesitation.

“I don’t want Kwon Siheon to marry another woman.”

Her voice was as calm as a still river as she continued.

“Like I said before, that doesn’t mean I want you to marry me. I just… I just want things to stay as they are. For as long as possible.”

“……”

“What I want ultimately boils down to three things: for Kwak Bugyeong’s dirty secrets to be exposed to the world, for him to pay for killing my father, and for us to finally feel safe… so that Yihyun can marry Sera and live a stable, happy life.”

Her composed voice filled the quiet space.

“And as for me, my wish is… to stay by Kwon Siheon’s side for as long as I can.”

“Then do that. It’s safer for you that way too.”

“But if you marry Park Seohye, I can’t stay here anymore. No matter what remains of our contract, once you’re married… I can’t do it.”

“Why not? If both of you agree, I’m open to the three of us living together.”

His tone was lighthearted, but it wasn’t a joke. Kwon Siheon was serious.

＊＊＊

“You’re crazy.”

The words slipped out before she could stop herself, and he chuckled lowly.

“Why not? On the other side of the world, men with multiple wives under one roof are everywhere.”

“This isn’t that kind of culture, and I… I just want to live like a normal person.”

Yisoo curled her increasingly cold fingertips, trying to retain what little warmth she could.

“Out in the open, confidently… happily.”

“From the moment you were born, the open wasn’t your place.”

His voice was cold, cruel enough to cut.

“The children born of your uncle and sister-in-law’s affair belong in the shadows. Just like me.”

Yisoo didn’t respond to his words. Once again, it was Kwon Siheon who broke the frozen silence.

“Yoo Yisoo.”

“…”

“Why won’t you ask for help?”

“I already did. I asked you to protect me and Yihyun. But you told me I had to handle it myself. That Kwak Bugyeong was too powerful for Shinmyeong to risk exposure. You said you’d help me approach him and provide the necessary tools….”

“So, you’re saying you lack the courage to act yourself.”

“…”

“Well, you’re a pampered princess. It’s not surprising. And the chances of success are close to zero anyway.”

He smirked faintly.

“What if—hypothetically—I kill Kwak Bugyeong for you? Just like I took care of Yoo Hyeoksu, Yoo Minseop, and Yoo Hyunrak.”

Yisoo’s pupils trembled.

“What if I take on all the risks and manage to eliminate him? What will Yoo Yisoo give me in return, aside from the existing contract that says you’ll stay by my side until D-Day?”

“Kwak Bugyeong… I don’t want him to die like that. No, he can’t die that way. Being memorialized as a victim, remembered as a good man… I can’t allow that.”

Not after Yoo Incheol’s senseless death.

“I never said I’d kill him that way.”

“…What?”

“Of course, I’d expose all his dirty secrets first, destroy him socially, have him face proper punishment, and ensure he dies in prison. In the most miserable, agonizing way possible.”

“But no matter how hard I search for evidence, there’s nothing. I can’t figure out where it is.”

“Search harder. Only someone who knew Yoo Namcheol best in life could figure that out. And the only family left are you twins.”

“…”

“So, if I handle everything from A to Z, will you give me what I want in return?”

“What Kwon Siheon wants… is it what I think it is?”

“And what do you think it is?”

At the repetitive exchange, he laughed again before responding.

“Yes. What I want is for Yoo Yisoo to stay here. Until I say otherwise.”

“…”

“Whether I marry Park Seohye or anyone else.”

An indefinite extension of the contract—until I choose to end it.

With that, Kwon Siheon rose from his seat. He let the tie loosely hanging around his neck fall to the floor and began unfastening his cufflinks, one by one.

Even with just those movements, it was clear what he wanted from her right now. The backlight from the sunset streaming through the window obscured his face, but the broad line of his shoulders slowly leaning toward her was unmistakable.

“So? Your answer?”

The scent of cigarette smoke clung to him, invading her senses from head to toe. His cold fingers gently lifted Yisoo’s chin, and an unrefined, humid tension began to envelop her entire body.

“Is it the silence of agreement?”

Yisoo lowered her gaze instead of answering. She couldn’t nod her head because her chin was held. The dense heat that had been lingering between them for a long time rose to the tip of her throat.

“You can’t predict a person’s life even an inch ahead.”

“…….”

“Even if you die tomorrow, today you do whatever you feel like doing as a human.”

“By any chance…”

Yisoo placed her hand on the hand that was holding her chin. His large fingers fell away from her small face.

“By any chance, have you found out something? Or… is there another way?”

“…….”

“Social burial, legal punishment, death in prison… everything from A to Z is possible.”

“Well. In the end, there’s only the evidence left by Yoo Namcheol.”

His hand rose again over her face and traced her smooth jawline. The hand moving downward stopped at her collarbone. Yisoo let out a nasal sound, hmm, at the sensation of his palm gently gripping her chest over her pajamas.

“So, I’m asking if you’ve found out something about that evidence.”

“No.”

The tip of his thumb pressed exactly where the peak was. She bit her lip at the tingling sensation of his fingers slowly circling it.

“If I had found out something, I would have told you already.”

“…Hmm!”

“Because I don’t want you to die.”

Specifically, your body.

As if saying that, both hands roughly pulled her hips. Her chest heaved and shook greatly. The hand that unzipped and grabbed her hair was more fierce and harsh than usual.

Her knees were forced down, and his hard penis suddenly thrust into her mouth. Her lip edges were already swollen and sore, but he didn’t show any mercy. It was before the blisters from two days ago in the basement wine cellar had healed.

The more she obeyed, the more she showed her feelings towards him, the more violent he became. You dare to like me? You have feelings for me? As if mocking her like that.

To make Kwon Siheon calm down and regain even a little bit of reason, she had to make her mind as blank as possible and relax. Just because he wanted it, she opened her lips and moved her legs wide, moving weakly as if she had no strength.

Then he would suppress his frighteningly cold air and reveal his impatient inner thoughts with a curse. It also seemed like he was eager to check if her confession of liking him was true and sincere.

Yisoo held his penis in her mouth and slowly moved her head up and down. She didn’t resist and did as she always did, but very passively, as if she wasn’t doing it out of her own will.

“Faster… damn it.”

His hand gripping her hair was full of excitement. Frustrated, he moved her head directly in the air, and his movements were brutal. He had already turned into a barbarian.

When she let go of her hand due to the pain of his glans touching her throat, only then did the hand holding her hair let go, as if telling her to do it herself. She looked up with wet eyes and met Kwon Siheon’s burning gaze as he caught his breath. Tears welled up due to the impact of her throat being stabbed and scratched.

Yisoo blinked her reddened eyes and lowered her head. She held his shaft and slowly took the glans into her mouth so that the foreskin wouldn’t bunch up all at once, and Kwon Siheon’s waist twitched faintly. After sucking his penis for a while, he suddenly pulled his waist back.

His long eyelashes lowered, and his eyes looked further down. Yisoo followed that signal and moved down to his shaft. She licked his testicles until they glistened with saliva, then moved her lips to his perineum.

His large hand grabbed her hair again. This time, it wasn’t as rough as the first time.

Kwon Siheon put his hand under Yisoo’s armpit and lifted her up. The bedsheet inflated like a giant balloon and then deflated. Her vision was dizzy, and she felt like she was going to vomit.

Before the dizziness could subside, his thing slid into her legs. It felt like her vagina was being hotly tanned. Eventually, the moans she had been suppressing burst out like a scream.

“Huh, uh! A little, slower…. Ah!”

Her breath was short as she felt the sensation of him pounding and crushing her lower abdomy as if he was going to pierce through it. He was more excited than usual. Yisoo knew well what was the starting point of that stimulation.

‘I hope Kwon Siheon doesn’t marry another woman.’

The rough skin and bulging veins were vividly felt. Her breath was short as he kept thrusting and pounding her. Now, even the useless plea for him to go slower didn’t come out.

‘As I said before, it’s not that I want to marry him. I just… want to stay in this state for a little longer. For a very long time.’

At the moment she clearly reminded him of her wish, the provocation reached its peak.

‘My wish is… to stay by Kwon Siheon’s side for as long as possible.’

That last sentence set his heart on fire. As a result, Kwon Siheon became even more reckless and ruthless inside her. It was as if he was struggling to deny the joy that her confession had brought him.

Now, his emotions had gone beyond distrust, suspicion, and mental confusion. But Yisoo was different. Despite everything Kwon Siheon had done for his twin, Yisoo decided not to trust him.

Considering the file Yihyun sent before Kwon Siheon returned home, it would be more accurate to say that a new suspicion had arisen. In the photo Yihyun sent, Kwak Bugyeong was shaking hands with Kwon Siheon in a conference room. It was a situation from just five hours ago.

As Yihyun said, it was unclear how to interpret this. His older brother, Shinmyeong Group’s Kwon Woohyuk, was in league with Choi Bokhyun. On the other hand, Kwon Siheon was having a secret meeting with his enemy and rival, Kwak Bugyeong.

How should this be interpreted?

＊＊＊

Two days later, Yihyun was in a car accident on the way to the hospital.

A sedan rear-ended the car Sera was driving, nearly causing it to fall off the guardrail. Fortunately, both Yihyun and Sera only suffered minor abrasions and were not seriously injured.

The elderly driver who hit them insisted during the police investigation that the brakes had failed, but a few hours later, he was found collapsed on the emergency staircase landing. He had a heart condition, but something didn’t seem right.

Whether it was an attempted assassination disguised as an accident, or truly a coincidence, including the driver suddenly collapsing from a heart attack.

Yihyun and Sera also seemed uncertain, wavering between coincidence and conspiracy. Upon hearing about the accident, Kwon Siheon said he would investigate.

― You and Yang go home. The hospital is under our jurisdiction, and I will order 24-hour security.

His voice was calm and rational. Yisoo agreed and left the hospital. She asked Yihyun and Sera to contact her immediately if anything happened and was heading to the parking lot with Attorney Kang Manseop and Yang when…

“Wait a moment, Yisoo.”

Attorney Kang Manseop said he had something important to discuss, so the two sat down in a corner of a Japanese restaurant across from the hospital. Despite wearing a hat and mask to hide her face and reserving a private room, the anxiety did not subside. Even with Yang sitting in the hall where the room entrance was visible, it was the same.

“Please speak, Uncle.”

After Yoo In-cheol’s death, she had come to rely on him more emotionally, and her address for him had changed from “Attorney” to “Uncle.”

“I don’t think this accident was a coincidence.”

His wrinkled eyes were full of worry. Yisoo’s heart tightened.

“Only five people knew that Yihyun was going to that hospital at that time. You, me, Yihyun, Sera, and Sera’s father, Chairman Jung.”

There was one more person. Kwon Siheon.

But Kang Manseop did not know about Kwon Siheon’s existence, nor about the people he had placed around Yihyun. The bodyguards mixed with Chairman Jung’s employees were indistinguishable.

“So, Yisoo, about that friend you’re staying with…”

Kang Manseop hesitated, then finally expressed his suspicion.

“That friend must know something about Yihyun… Did he know about the hospital visit that morning?”

“No, Uncle. That’s not possible.”

She found herself defending him with certainty, even though she herself did not fully trust Kwon Siheon. The image of Kwon Siheon shaking hands with Kwak Bugyeong in the photo flashed through her mind.

At first, she had suspicions, but over time, she considered the possibility that it was for another reason. After all, Kwon Siheon was part of the Shinmyeong Group family, but unlike Kwon Woohyuk, he was not directly involved with the group. Moreover, it was unlikely that a presidential candidate, who would be extra cautious ahead of the election, would meet in an office where people frequently come and go.

It couldn’t have been a personal meeting. Perhaps he had gone to meet Choi Bokhyun and happened to run into Kwak Bugyeong, and that’s why they had a cup of tea together.

So, there would be no reason for him to tell her about meeting Kwak Bugyeong.

“So, he knew about it.”

The color drained from Kang Manseop’s face. She should have said from the beginning that her friend didn’t know.

“Since we’re on the subject, Yisoo, isn’t it time you told me who that friend is? I’m worried about sending you back to that house like this… I can’t rest easy. I don’t know if that friend is trustworthy.”

“I’m sorry, Uncle. For now, I don’t think it’s the right time. But I assure you, that person would never do anything to harm Yihyun or me, and never will.”

Do you really think so?

A skeptical voice echoed in a corner of her heart. Yisoo tried to shake off the unsettling feeling.

“You don’t need to worry about me, really. I’m worried about you, Uncle.”

“Me? What… I can take care of myself.”

“Me too.”

She finally reassured him and got into the car with Yang. Through the car window, Kang Manseop was still standing in front of his car, looking at the driver’s seat where Yang was sitting with a look of distrust.

Then, when his eyes met Yisoo’s, he waved and turned around. A few seconds later, a text message arrived.

Yisoo, please text me when you arrive. Let me know you got there safely.

I will, Uncle. And please let me know if you find any new information about the investigation. Be careful and contact me if anything happens.

Even in this situation, the investigation to counter Kwak Bugyeong had to continue relentlessly. Especially if today’s accident was orchestrated by him.

As she sent the text to Kang Manseop and was about to close her phone, another notification sounded. This time it was from Yihyun. A text window appeared on the secure app that only the two of them could access.

Last night at 10:15 PM, it’s the back door of the J Building in Yeouido.

The photo Yihyun sent showed a side view of a muscular man. She recognized him instantly. The black coat and silver tie were familiar.

The elderly man standing face to face with Kwon Siheon had a friendly smile. His kind eyes and simple, hearty laugh, and the checked scarf he had worn every winter for decades, a gift from his mentor who first introduced him to politics in his youth.

It was Kwak Bugyeong again.

Yihyun’s question mark implied a lot. His text continued.

As you said, at first I thought it was a coincidence. But meeting twice in two days? How should I interpret this?

Before she could reply, her phone rang immediately. It was Yihyun.

“Hello, Yihyun. What’s wrong?”

She responded as calmly as possible, aware of Yang in the driver’s seat.

― Are you still on the move? Just listen.

“Yes… I see.”

― Yisoo, make any excuse and turn the car around. I’m going to be discharged now and go to another villa with Sera and Chairman Jung.

“…….”

― Quickly. You’re coming, right?

“Yihyun, that’s difficult.”

― I can’t trust Kwon Siheon anymore!

He shouted. Yisoo quickly raised her coat collar and lowered the volume on her phone.

― If he was approaching Kwak Bugyeong to find out something for us, he would have at least given you a heads-up. Right? But he didn’t say anything.

“Yihyun, calm down.”

Yisoo pressed her trembling fingertips and forced a calm voice.

“We’ll be fine. Calm down.”

― Yisoo.

“Get discharged and… contact me.”

As soon as she hung up, Yang asked,

“Is something wrong with Yihyun? Should we go back to the hospital…?”

“No. He’s just… a bit shocked. The doctor said sometimes the shock comes later or he might panic, so… he’ll be fine.”

“Oh dear…”

“Let’s just go home.”

“Understood.”

With that, the conversation ended. Yisoo opened her phone, pretended to look at something else, and when the car entered a tunnel, she permanently deleted the photo. She thought about keeping it, but the original was with Yihyun anyway.

There were 12 days left until the presidential election.

＊＊＊

‘About what you said, that you hope I don’t marry Park Seohye. Do you still feel the same way?’

‘Yes.’

Yoo Yisoo’s clear voice answered smoothly. There was a brief pause before she responded, but her voice flowed calmly like water, sounding sincere.

That submissive answer made blood rush to his groin. It swelled so hard it felt like it would tear through his pants. Simultaneously, a sadistic desire followed. It was because of the suspicion that it couldn’t be true.

There’s no way you could like me. A girl who grew up sheltered in a greenhouse couldn’t like me, a janitor from a despicable family, with blood on my hands since childhood.

The distrust that he couldn’t and shouldn’t believe her built a solid wall inside him. Yet, the longing for it to be true rose to the top of his head, blinding him. Along with it came the desire to bury himself between Yoo Yisoo’s legs and thrust like an animal.

‘Ah!’

It felt like all the blood in his veins had rushed to his groin. He had made Yoo Yisoo raise her hips high and lie face down, rubbing his saliva-covered shaft against her perineum.

He spread her buttocks wide and kept doing it until the small wrinkles in the back trembled and turned red. He felt like he was going crazy. After rubbing and grinding the side of his penis for a while, at some point, he suddenly thrust his thing into the hole and started moving his hips.

Every time he pounded into her inner walls like he was nailing them, Yoo Yisoo cried like herself. When he thrust fast, she sobbed like she was out of breath, and when he thrust slowly, she moaned like a feverish patient. His vision blurred as he watched her naked body sway like a dance.

No matter how much he sucked and bit her breasts, swaying up and down, side to side, his thirst did not subside. Every time his tip brushed against her nipples, Yoo Yisoo’s inner walls clenched and bit down on him. Her sensitive body reacted intensely to his hands, lips, tongue, and even the breath he blew playfully.

“Representative, it’s Kim Jaewon.”

“Come in.”

Siheon was forcibly pulled out of his fantasy and let the secretary into the office. His groin was still hard.