TMYRA Chapter 12

The More You Struggle

 

Seo Mun-hwon. Seo Mun-hwon.  

 

Soo-ah repeated his name to herself, then changed her mind.  

 

Since she had already failed to escape once, she had to wait for a new opportunity. Until then, she planned to lull them into a false sense of security by appearing compliant.  

 

She decided to check out the adjoining workspace that she hadn’t seen yesterday.  

 

There was another door on the opposite side of the dressing room. Soo-ah opened it and stepped into the adjacent room.  

 

Inside, she found her works, the threads she used, and all her weaving tools. Everything was exactly as it had been in her workspace, without a single thing out of place. Relieved, Soo-ah stared at the tapestry she had made for a long time.  

 

Her work, now placed in a new and unfamiliar space, looked different. The scent of the river mixed with the background of the sprawling Han River behind her, shaking her senses. She had always worked with nature as her primary subject.  

 

Trees, wind, water, and air.  

 

She hated the city—it felt suffocating. She had never cared for it, yet perhaps because the space had changed, she found herself captivated by the beauty of nature harmonizing with it. She also liked that there was nothing here except her work.  

 

Overcome with inspiration, Soo-ah grabbed her sketchbook and began sketching the space.  

 

She imagined how to transform the empty room into a proper workspace and put her ideas into drawings. If she arranged the threads neatly and placed the looms, the room would feel full. Ignoring the call to lunch, she focused on organizing her materials.  

 

After ordering the necessary threads and dyes online, the day was already drawing to a close.  

 

***

 

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, Seo Mun-hwon had not appeared for several days since they had breakfast together.  

 

As a result, her days had been peaceful.  

 

Despite that, Soo-ah remained busy.  

 

Dyeing threads and sketching for her projects, she barely noticed a week had already passed since she arrived here.  

 

Now that the space was somewhat organized, it was time to start conceptualizing new work.  

 

She decided to create a new piece with the theme of “home.”  

 

Completely absorbed in her work, Soo-ah forgot that this space belonged to Seo Mun-hwon.  

 

***

 

Mun-hwon had been unable to return home for days due to an incident in Cheongdam-dong.  

 

There had been a problem at a club under Kangju’s jurisdiction.  

 

A scuffle had escalated into a full-blown fight after dealing with some lowlifes from the Juhee faction.  

 

Regarding Moon Soo-ah, Jang Ji-cheol reported to him every morning and evening.  

 

Apparently, she didn’t care who was in the house and focused solely on her work.  

 

She was so busy that she locked herself in her room, occupied with various tasks.  

 

Ji-cheol even sent photos as proof.  

 

Lighting a cigarette, Mun-hwon checked the pictures and was utterly dumbfounded.  

 

The room was packed with threads and dyeing materials, while one side was covered with sketches and craft projects she had already started.  

 

Even though he wasn’t knowledgeable about art, he could tell the pieces were quite impressive.  

 

“Hah, what the hell is this?”  

 

The thought of Moon Soo-ah enthusiastically decorating the room without a shred of fear made him let out a dry chuckle.  

 

“She’s really enjoying herself, huh. Really enjoying herself.”  

 

“What should we do now, Sir?”  

 

At Ji-cheol’s question, Mun-hwon set down his phone and looked straight ahead.  

 

Over a dozen Juhee faction members were kneeling before him.  

 

Their rough faces were stained with blood, and their massive bodies were covered in tattoos.  

 

“Chairman Won has no sense of honor. His guys are running wild, wreaking havoc in our territory, and he’s off playing golf with women like nothing’s happening.”  

 

Even though the territories were clearly divided, they had provoked Kangju and turned the business district into chaos.  

 

Mun-hwon pressed his cigarette against one of the men’s thighs, smirking.  

 

“He wouldn’t even bat an eye if his men disappeared without a trace. So, what should I do?”  

 

The man kept his head down, unable to answer.  

 

“No response? Then I’ll do as I please. We’ll take them out one by one. Ji-cheol, this is what you do best, so you handle it.”  

 

Mun-hwon motioned toward Ji-cheol with a tilt of his chin, placing another cigarette between his lips.  

 

“Our Jang Ji-cheol is even nastier than I am. Enjoy your time with him.”  

 

“Understood, Sir. Please return safely.”  

 

Receiving a respectful bow from his subordinate, Mun-hwon turned away.  

 

As he took out his lighter and lit his cigarette, he heard the sound of Ji-cheol’s punches landing behind him.  

 

“Urgh.”  

 

Listening to the groans, Mun-hwon slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.  

 

***

 

Returning home after a long absence, he was greeted by the staff.  

 

“Sir, shall we prepare dinner for you?”  

 

“No need for food. Just alcohol—the usual.”  

 

“Yes, we’ll get it ready right away.”  

 

Loosening his tie, Mun-hwon glanced around.  

 

Nothing had changed in the meantime.  

 

The same space, the same people. The objects placed in their designated spots. But something subtly pricked at his nerves. What was it? Just as he narrowed his eyes, an employee approached and bowed.  

 

“Sir. I have a report regarding Miss Moon Soo-ah.”  

 

The moment he heard those words, Mun-hwon realized it. It was because of the scent of Moon Soo-ah mixed into the air. A faint sweetness lingered in the space that had only ever been filled with coldness. The lingering trace of her scent scratched at his nerves ever so slightly, and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.  

 

Just as he frowned and bit down on his cigarette—  

 

“Miss Moon Soo-ah spent most of today in her room, engaging in painting or other art-related activities. She didn’t eat much but had all three meals. There were no other notable incidents.”  

 

“Is she asleep now?”  

 

“I’m not entirely sure, but she is likely still awake. She often stays up late working, and her lights are on most nights. I also heard movement just a little while ago.”  

 

From the looks of it, Moon Soo-ah seemed to care about nothing but her work. It even seemed as if she had forgotten about running away.  

 

“This isn’t any fun like this.”  

 

Mun-hwon exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke as he looked toward Soo-ah’s room.  

 

“Let’s throw out some bait.”  

 

“Sir, my apologies. I don’t quite understand. What do you mean by bait?”  

 

Mun-hwon gave instructions to the employee who asked.  

 

“Starting tomorrow, have the guard at the entrance leave their post at a set time in the early morning. Unlock the door so it can open.”  

 

“Understood.”  

 

As he made his way to his own space, Mun-hwon thought to himself. If she takes the bait, he’ll devour her whole. The more she struggles to escape, the deeper the bait will go down her throat. A faint, sinister smile curled at Mun-hwon’s lips as he took another drag of his cigarette.  

 

***

 

After being away for a few days, Seo Mun-hwon had returned home. It had been on her mind, but she deliberately buried herself in her work. As long as she barely left her room and only endured the brief encounters with Mun-hwon during mealtimes, she could manage.  

 

She was selecting and arranging the necessary threads and colors when the phone rang.  

 

Rrrr. Rrrr.  

 

Her old phone had been confiscated.This new cell phone had been given to her by Seo Mun-hwon, under Min Ihan’s orders. Which meant there were only two possible callers.  

 

Ihan or her mother, Bo-kyung.  

 

She didn’t want to answer, but ignoring it wouldn’t solve anything either. Soo-ah had no choice but to press the call button.  

 

“Soo-ah.”  

 

As expected, the caller was Min Ihan.  

 

Soo-ah remained silent, merely listening, and he spoke again.  

 

“Moon Soo-ah. Are you well? I called to hear your voice. I’m going insane not being able to see your face or hear your voice. Say something, please.”  

 

His voice trembled with instability.  

 

“Yes.”  

 

At her short response, Ihan’s words tumbled out faster.  

 

“Soo-ah, I never meant for this to take so long. It was supposed to be a quick matter, just handling a few things, but then something suddenly came up. It’s going to take some time. As soon as the financial and contract issues are settled, I… I will…”  

 

He began rambling in words that Soo-ah couldn’t quite decipher.  

 

“It’s fine. We love each other anyway. Even if I don’t divorce Yoon-ha, as long as we confirm our feelings, that’s all that matters. You can’t be without me. Let’s start by planning our own wedding.”  

 

He rambled on, his voice feverish with excitement, as if he and Soo-ah were star-crossed lovers fated to be together.  

 

“There’s something I want to say to you.”  

 

“What is it? Go ahead.”  

 

“I have never thought of you as a man. Not even once. And I never will.”  

 

Soo-ah said it clearly, but he didn’t listen.  

 

“I know why you’re saying this. It’s because of guilt, isn’t it? You think this way because I’m your stepbrother. But that’s not true. Your mother and my father never even registered their marriage. I never once considered Kim Bo-kyung my mother.”  

 

“It’s not guilt!”  

 

Even when Soo-ah raised her voice, he remained unyielding.  

 

“There’s nothing standing in our way anymore. All that’s left is solving the financial problem. Once that’s taken care of, you’ll be mine. Just wait a little longer.”  

 

His voice was filled with deranged obsession.