CBL Ch 9

Yisoo followed a middle-aged woman who introduced herself as “this butler” into a mansion that could easily be mistaken for an art gallery. A smaller building behind the main house seemed to serve as accommodations for the staff.

“I’ll have dinner prepared soon. The CEO mentioned he has to leave for the office within five minutes, so it seems you’ll have to eat alone.”

“Yes, thank you. Oh, is there anything I can help you with?”

“Pardon? …Absolutely not. Thank you for even asking.”

The butler widened her eyes as if hearing something unusual before turning away. Her polite yet mechanical demeanor brought to mind Miriam, who had always been warm while still maintaining professional boundaries.

Come to think of it, how was Miriam doing? She had mentioned that, due to rotational duties, she might be in Korea during the summer.

While the maid finished organizing the room on the second floor, Yisoo sat in the living room, quietly taking in her surroundings. The interior was as sophisticated and elegant as the exterior, exuding a refined atmosphere without an overuse of opulent objects.

At that moment, through the window, she caught sight of Kwon Siheon descending the outdoor stairs. Before entering the garage, the man turned as if he had sensed her gaze.

Startled, Yisoo flinched but didn’t retreat. She neither avoided his eyes nor looked away. The distance was too great to make out his exact expression.

Even so, she stood there, clutching the edge of the curtain tightly with one hand, until Kwon Siheon disappeared entirely from view.

＊＊＊

“Sir, aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? Perhaps you should stay home today, receive your briefings there, and get some rest….”

Kim Jaewon’s voice carried a note of concern as he handed over the driver’s seat to another secretary. For Jaewon, who was technically the subordinate, being sent home while his boss left for the Seoul office at this late hour seemed excessive. The relentless schedule left him in awe—and a little exasperated.

“You didn’t even sleep last night.”

“A thug like me doesn’t have time to rest. I’ll get plenty of sleep when I’m dead.”

Siheon let out a faint chuckle. He could never quite understand those who clung to the importance of sleep and made such a fuss over it.

“More importantly.”

His tone, which had been light, grew cold and detached once again.

“Don’t let up on the investigation into Kwak Bugyeong and Lee Yihyun. Update me on Jeon Jinkyu’s side as well.”

“Understood, sir.”

As the sedan retraced its path, Siheon replayed Lee Yihyun’s last words in his mind over and over.

“Yisoo said she liked you and wanted to stay by your side a little longer. At least until Uncle comes back.”

The cold, sunken depths of his eyes momentarily flickered with the image of Yoo Yisoo, only for it to fade again.

“Since New York a year ago. So… don’t treat Yisoo recklessly.”

Nonsense.

Siheon’s lips curved into a cynical smile. Those siblings were scheming together. If they thought such a ploy would work on him, they were sorely mistaken.

As the car entered the dark tunnel, Siheon picked up his phone. After double-checking the rear-seat partition and security system, he played a file Jaewon had sent earlier. It contained video and wiretapped audio recordings of the twins’ tearful reunion, taken before Siheon’s private conversation with Lee Yihyun.

― I’ll talk to Kwon Siheon alone and wrap this up cleanly.

― Alright, Yihyun. If that’s what you truly want… But I’d like to stay by Kwon Siheon’s side until Uncle is released.

― What?

― I think I like Kwon Siheon.

The sound of a teacup rattling was followed by the siblings’ overlapping voices.

― Yoo Yisoo. What did you just say…?

The shock on Lee Yihyun’s face seemed genuine. Siheon was convinced it wasn’t an act, having already seen Yihyun lose his composure and lunge at him.

― “I’ve liked him since New York a year ago.”

Yoo Yisoo’s calm face and voice, in contrast, were unsettling. Siheon couldn’t tell whether it was real or feigned.

― Please, Yihyun. Try to understand me.

The only certainty was that Lee Yihyun was genuinely shocked.

― You know I don’t say things like this lightly. No… It’s the first time I’ve ever said anything like this to you.

Siheon rewound the video several times, meticulously analyzing it for anything he might have missed.

At the end of the recording, Yisoo made an uncharacteristic mistake, spilling tea onto the tablecloth as she hurriedly stood up. From start to finish, her demeanor was unusually buoyant. It was likely due to finally reuniting with her cherished younger brother.

Yet, an indescribable emotion and a sense of discomfort clouded Siheon’s mind. While the elation, like Yisoo’s in the video, was far from unpleasant, the cold chill that crept in was unmistakably jealousy.

How could he view someone fondly who acted so aloof and detached around him, only to reveal such vivid emotions to her brother?

Especially if she claimed to like him.

Siheon called the hospital where he had been just 30 minutes earlier, instructing the staff to connect him to the administrator overseeing Lee Yihyun’s care.

― Yes, sir. This is Manager Seo.

“Are you certain Lee Yihyun is unaware of the bugs in his hospital room?”

― Yes, sir. He is unaware of both the cameras at the entrance and the surveillance and audio devices inside the room. As I’ve mentioned before, they operate through quantum encryption systems embedded in the internet lines, making them impossible for an average person to detect.

An average person, indeed.

― This was also detailed in the initial report. On the third day after regaining consciousness, the patient thoroughly inspected the room and continues to occasionally check corners and walls, seemingly reassured afterward.

“Good. Keep a close watch until the very end.”

The answer satisfied him, but the lingering doubt in his mind refused to dissipate.

One could never be too cautious. He had seen far too many betrayals and deceptions in his life—people who laughed with you today, only to stab you in the back tomorrow.

Even God couldn’t guarantee that Yoo Yisoo wasn’t like that. Humanity, after all, was a wretched species, devoid of loyalty or integrity, which was why systems like law had to evolve.

And yet, something inside him stirred uncontrollably. A faint spark of warmth, like the gentle spring breeze winding through the heart of the city on a sunny day, lingered in his chest.

＊＊＊

Three days later, when Yisoo visited Yihyun’s hospital again, Jung Sera ran to her and hugged her tightly.

“Unnie! I was so worried about you! I even heard from Yijin unnie…”

Though she had likely already shed tears in front of Yihyun, Sera’s eyes brimmed with fresh tears. Despite this, her hands, clasped over Yisoo’s, didn’t let go for a moment.

Her warmth, radiant and genuine, bore the hallmark of someone who had been deeply loved and nurtured. With her kitten-like charm and considerate nature, Sera hadn’t changed a bit. If anything, her feelings for Yihyun seemed to have deepened during their time apart.

“I’m fine, Sera. I’m sorry I couldn’t attend your graduation in February. I heard it was in the U.S.”

“Unnie, who cares about my graduation? You had a serious situation at home!”

As they caught up in the lounge, Sera cautiously changed the subject, perhaps having heard something from Yihyun.

“By the way, unnie, when did you and Shinmyeong Group’s second son get together? Was it after he helped you in Hong Kong?”

“Well, actually…”

When Yisoo hesitated, Sera quickly added, “It’s fine. Take your time.”

“Sorry if I jumped to conclusions. Yihyun oppa didn’t explicitly confirm it, but since this hospital belongs to that family and judging by the overall atmosphere here…”

“Yeah. For now… it’s something like that.”

As Yisoo hesitated, unsure how much to share, Sera let out a relieved sigh.

“I knew it—my initial guess must’ve been wrong. I heard somewhere that Shinmyeong Group’s second son was in talks for an arranged marriage with some congressman’s daughter, and things were progressing well, with an engagement expected soon.”

“……”

“But I must’ve misheard and thought it was Kwon Siheon. It’s probably the eldest son, Kwon Woo-hyuk, right? It wouldn’t make sense for it to be the youngest.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure, but… it’s probably him?”

Yisoo hesitated briefly before offering a vague agreement. As long as Yihyun didn’t know, she hoped Sera wouldn’t find out either. Though the matter would eventually come to light, everything would be over once her uncle received a pardon in May.

So, please, let everything proceed without incident, exactly as planned.

She wished for this ill-fated connection to Kwon Siheon to fizzle out like a fleeting spark, leaving no trace behind. But a lingering fear remained—the fear of unpredictable variables outside her control. That fear was what had driven her to make a reckless move three days ago, one that might turn out to be her worst mistake.

“I think I like Kwon Siheon.”

There was no going back. Once a move was made, it couldn’t be undone.

If the situation spiraled out of control, there would only be two outcomes. She would either have to confess that it had all been deceit and face the consequences or, by some miracle, manage to survive.

The latter was nearly impossible. Kwon Siheon was a terrifying man who regarded human lives as less valuable than flies.

＊＊＊

Shinmyeong Group’s foundation, Shinuehoe (信友會), had its headquarters standing tall on what was said to be the most expensive piece of land per square meter in South Korea.

The 22nd-floor office did not quite match the actual work handled by Shinmyeong Group’s secretive core department. Under the high ceiling, the monochrome interior exuded a grand and sophisticated atmosphere.

Through the window, the cityscape was being dyed in twilight hues and then in the deep indigo of the night. The crowds hurriedly returning home after a hard day’s work looked both relieved and exhausted.

Yisoo gripped the railing tightly, her eyes following the tiny, rice grain-sized figures below. Her bare skin, exposed bit by bit, trembled in the cold air. Her eyes, which she had tightly closed and then opened due to dizziness, were already wet.

Almost simultaneously with the sound of the zipper going down, her skirt fell to the floor. A delicate spring blouse followed.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“Ah…!”

A strong hand grabbed her waist and turned her halfway around. At the rough and impatient touch, Yisoo took a deep breath, her back against the window.

The man facing her placed his hand on the railing behind her back and leaned in closer. At least her vision was no longer on the outside but on him, which put her mind somewhat at ease. She didn’t want to have sex while looking outside, filled with fear at the immense height.

“I didn’t call you here to enjoy the view.”

At the dry mockery, Yisoo lowered her eyes. She saw the bulge in his pants. Just looking at it, she could feel the heat inside.

He reached out and caressed her smooth abdomen and collarbone in turn. With one hand on the lace edge between her legs and the other hand digging into her bra, there was no gentleness in his actions. As always, he was rough and forceful.

“Ah! Hmm…”

The grip that squeezed her breast as if it would burst, and the fingers that lifted her chin were the same. But for some reason, the kiss was softer than ever before.

His tongue touched her salivary glands and slowly brushed her teeth. The indescribably strange sensation made her hips involuntarily sway. This caused their lower bodies to press together, and Kwon Siheon did not miss the opportunity.

He supported Yisoo’s nape and sucked on her tongue throughout, pressing his erection harder against her underwear. Embarrassed by the constant pressure, Yisoo swallowed a nasal moan deep in her throat, along with his saliva.

The area between her legs burned hotly. She didn’t need to check what was dripping and soaking her underwear.

Trying to escape the frictional heat, she instinctively pushed his shoulder away, and the tongue obediently withdrew. The next moment, both her wrists were grabbed by a strong hand and pinned above her head.

A rock-hard thigh pressed between her legs, making it impossible for her to move. The flesh that heavily gripped her crotch made it impossible to distinguish whether it was his erect shaft or his thigh muscle.

“Ugh…”

The other hand roughly unhooked her bra and threw it to the floor. The sound of him sucking on the nipples of her swollen breasts, one by one, resounded lewdly. The more she twisted her waist, the more intensely he ravaged her with his tongue and skillfully manipulated both breasts with one hand, making her resistance futile.

Yisoo bit her lip and caught her breath. Her whole body felt on the verge of collapsing even before penetration. Her forehead was beaded with sweat, her face flushed red, and the initial chill she felt when he undressed her was gone.

The knee wedged between her legs gradually applied pressure, and the thinly covered vulva throbbed. Each time Kwon Siheon pushed a little harder, a heavy pressure, like a fist punching her perineum, surged.

“Ah, it hurts… huh.”

Seeing Yisoo in pain, he eased the pressure on his knee and supported her breast, gently biting her nipple. Her wrists were freed from their restraints, but she was too weak to resist further.

It was truly maddening. Her whole body seemed to have become an erogenous zone, trembling like an electric shock at the mere touch of Kwon Siheon’s fingertips.

If he were a man who used drugs, she would have thought he had somehow administered an aphrodisiac to her. Perhaps he had applied it to his tongue when they kissed, or to his fingers when he first entered the office and slipped his hand under her skirt and into her panties.

But there were no drugs. As always, her body reacted on its own.

Just from Kwon Siheon’s touch, the tip of his tongue, and the heat emanating from his skin, the area between her legs would quickly become wet. She had become accustomed to the familiar pleasure.

“Ah!”

Yisoo opened her eyes at the sensation of her body being lifted. In the blink of an eye, he had picked her up and sat her on the edge of the desk. At the sound of his belt being undone, Yisoo closed and opened her eyes.

But contrary to her expectation of immediate penetration, the man took his time. His lips slowly slid down from her chest to her abdomen and then to her navel. When he licked her lower abdomen upside down, a shiver spread across her entire abdomen.

“Ugh! Ugh…”

As Kwon Siheon slowly bent his body lower and lower, Yisoo’s legs spread wider and wider. Just before her back arched, she managed to support herself by stretching her arms back and placing her hands on the desk.

Oblivious to the heavy desk’s constant rattling, Kwon Siheon gripped her inner thighs and began to slowly roll his tongue over her perineum.

Every time his tongue brushed against her, a shiver ran down her spine, and her toes curled. The pleasure was different from when he sucked hard, and Yisoo’s head jerked backward. As his tongue slowly sucked her perineum and teasingly tickled the entrance to her hole, Yisoo’s suppressed moans escalated.

The tongue movements that had been persistently licking the entrance to her hole suddenly stopped. Through her blurred vision, she saw Kwon Siheon’s lips curled in a twisted smile.

“You look like you’re struggling. Should I stop teasing and put it in for you?”

“Huh…”

“Not yet?”

As if mocking her, he chuckled and tightly gripped her pelvis. Simultaneously, a hot, moist sensation entered her, roughly stirring her inner walls, and her upper body bent backward again.

His tongue began to greedily dig into her, tearing at her flesh. It was as if his personality had suddenly changed, a different intensity from the teasing moments before.

“Ah, ah!”

Overwhelmed with pleasure, her widely spread legs closed in. She trapped Kwon Siheon’s head between her thighs and tightened her grip, but he focused only on moving his tongue more vigorously.

His tongue relentlessly pounded her inner walls and then pulled out, sharpening the tip. He bit and chewed the flesh of her vulva, making Yisoo twist her hips as if she needed to relieve herself. Her lower abdomen tensed, and she gasped for breath.

Feeling the familiar crisis of reaching the climax alone, she gripped Kwon Siheon’s hair tightly. But despite her efforts, a burst of heat between her legs made her let out a moan mixed with sobbing.

“Haah…”

“You came alone again, Yoo Yisoo.”

Kwon Siheon licked his lips, wet with her fluids, and straightened up. He seemed to gently support Yisoo’s wavering hips, but his true intentions were elsewhere.

“Get up. It’s your turn now.”

Without waiting for an answer, he effortlessly picked her up and knelt her down under the desk. The fluid running down her legs dripped onto the marble floor.

As he lifted her chin, Yisoo blinked, coming out of her orgasmic daze. A familiar raw scent filled her nostrils. Right in front of her was his swollen flesh. Kwon Siheon silently presented his glans, and Yisoo’s hand grasped the base.

Their first sex in the office seemed like it would last a very long time. Yisoo took the tip, dripping with pre-cum, into her mouth and moved her head. The bitterness filling her mouth and the heavy flesh threatening to tear her mucous membranes made her feel like she was suffocating, so she tried to focus on other thoughts.

Over the past two weeks, nothing had changed between Kwon Siheon and her. She had received a new phone and could talk to Yihyun anytime, but she avoided deep conversations due to the possibility of being overheard. Contact with Sera was also allowed in case something happened to Yihyun, but all other external contacts were strictly forbidden.

He said it was for her and Yihyun’s safety, but even without the safety issue, he would have done the same. Kwon Siheon was a more extreme control freak than she had thought. Last winter, when he flawlessly performed security duties in New York without a single gap, she knew he was a perfectionist, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Sometimes she wanted to visit Sera’s villa to see Yihyun, but she didn’t go through with it, knowing she would need his permission. Anyway, once her uncle was released, she would be able to see Yihyun anytime….

“Ah!”

“You’re not focusing.”

Yisoo closed her eyes at the brutal grip on her hair. The force lessened slightly, but the pain of feeling like her hair was being ripped out from the roots remained.

＊＊＊

“If you want to finish quickly, put in some effort.”

Following his words, Yisoo lowered her head deeply and took his penis as fully into her mouth as possible. The gagging sensation of it hitting her throat was brief, and her hand and head moved quickly with momentum.

From experience, she knew that taking it out once didn’t mean it was over. But if she got it out with her mouth now, then the next step, and the step after that, would follow, and today’s quota would be met.

However, Yisoo’s efforts backfired. As she increased her speed, Kwon Siheon seemed stimulated and grabbed the back of her head again. A low, beast-like growl sent a chill down Yisoo’s spine.

His strong fingers gripped her hair and pulled her face forward. Unable to withstand the force pulling her head several times, she let out a painful moan, but he didn’t care.

Yisoo, struggling with the suffocating sensation, gathered her thoughts again. Kwon Siheon would be too absorbed in his own sensations to notice her distraction.

Under the hardness of the penis thrusting to the front of her throat, she imagined the future situation. The unpredictable future of her, Yihyun, and her uncle.

If her uncle became a free man, could they live as a family then?

Sera still didn’t know that the twins’ biological father was her uncle. But it didn’t matter if she found out. Even if the world knew, there would be nothing to be ashamed of. Because….

With a grunt from Kwon Siheon, warm semen filled her mouth. The command to swallow, gripping her hair again, sounded distant.

Her throat bobbed, and the bitter taste of his ejaculate flowed down her esophagus. Kwon Siheon lightly picked her up as she lay sprawled on the floor, coughing painfully, and carried her to the sofa.

It seemed like it would be past midnight before they finished. Yisoo spread her legs as he guided her into a prone position.

The dazzling artificial lights shining through the window flickered above them, mocking their beast-like entanglement.

＊＊＊

Between Itaewon and Hannam-dong, the residential area at the very end of the hill was eerily quiet, as if belonging to another world. The maze-like winding alleys and the ridge occasionally traversed by sleek black cars bore no signs of life, only rows of CCTV cameras clinging tightly to the walls.

Yisoo woke to the sound of chirping birds. Her head throbbed as if it might split open. The affair from the office had carried over into the bedroom, and at some point, her memory had cut off, leaving her unable to recall anything further.

When the sun was high in the sky, she managed to groggily reach for her phone. The message from Yihyun, sent an hour ago, made her headache worse. She couldn’t believe her eyes.

Yisoo. Uncle has been excluded from the special pardon list. Could we go check? I can’t make sense of it.

With trembling hands, Yisoo asked for permission to go out through the housekeeper, Mr. Lee, and Kim Jaewon, Kwon Siheon’s secretary. The answer came back after some time, with the condition that Kwon Siheon would accompany her.

— If not, it won’t be possible to visit due to safety concerns.

“Please let them know I agree.”

Yisoo had no choice in the matter. She couldn’t say yes or no; the decision was already made for her. While same-day visitation applications were an option, it wasn’t feasible because of Kwon Siheon’s schedule.

The next morning, she found herself in a car heading to a prison in E City, Gyeonggi Province. Yihyun’s condition had worsened, making it impossible for him to move. In the end, she had agreed to visit Yoo Incheol alone and stop by Sera’s villa afterward.

Kwon Siheon hadn’t come home the night before. He planned to head directly to the prison after finishing his work, suggesting he had stayed up all night to accompany her today.

Whether this was due to his lack of trust in her or because he had other business with Yoo Incheol, the former vice-chairman, she couldn’t discern. What mattered was the one undeniable fact: her uncle had been excluded from the pardon list.

Would they have to wait indefinitely until the Liberation Day pardon in August? Her uncle had worked tirelessly to appeal his innocence, submitting petitions that emphasized how the embezzlement charges Yoo Namcheol had pinned on him were false.

It wasn’t the usual lobbying for pardons common among incarcerated corporate executives. Yoo Incheol was genuinely wronged. With Hyoshin Construction dismantled and Yoo Namcheol, the instigator, now deceased, proving the legitimacy of a special pardon should have been easier.

Why, then, had he been excluded? Was there a connection to the slush funds Yoo Namcheol left behind or something else entirely?

Yisoo didn’t know much about the political landscape. But she did know that decisions like special pardons involved a complex web of political interests.

That must have been why Yoo Namcheol, during his lifetime, spent so much money bribing politicians. It explained the frequent banquets at his house or villa for prominent figures in politics and the mysterious fruit boxes discreetly placed in the trunks of their staff’s cars.

Lost in thought, Yisoo stared blankly out at the farmland rolling past. A sense of unease crept in as the car reached the gate of the prison.

Had Kwon Siheon gone so far as to set up a bug in the visitation room?

Her chest grew cold. During his lifetime, Yoo Namcheol often lectured his sons, Yoo Yongjin and Yoo Beomjin, bringing up the influence of Shinmyeong’s sons and giving lengthy speeches about their family’s vast power.

“Structurally, it’s no different from the mafia. It goes without saying that the entire organized crime scene in Korea is still under Shinmyeong’s control… They’ve infiltrated people’s daily lives so deeply it’s beyond imagination. People don’t even realize their new workplace, the franchise restaurant or café they visit daily, the bank they use—it’s all connected to Shinmyeong in some way.”

If their reach was that pervasive, wouldn’t they also have sway over public authorities like the police and prosecutors? And if so, the prison wouldn’t be an exception.

Suddenly, the car door opened. The sedan had stopped in the middle of the parking lot, and Kwon Siheon stood at the front of the vehicle. His face, with a cigarette clenched between his teeth, looked tense and irritable.

“What are you waiting for? Dozing off with your eyes open?”

“Oh… I didn’t realize we’d arrived.”

Yisoo placed one foot on the ground to get out. However, Kwon Siheon didn’t move, making it difficult for her to fully rise. Half-seated on the car seat, she squinted up at him.

His broad, solid frame loomed over her, shoulders wide and chest broad. In the morning sunlight, his silhouette reflected sharply, appearing larger and more intimidating than usual.

“Yoo Yisoo. You’re not hiding something, are you?”

“…What?”

“Sometimes I wonder if you’re in some kind of trance.”

At last, he stepped back a pace. But the space was still cramped, requiring her to lean close to him, almost as if embracing him, to properly stand up.

“It’s like your body’s here, but your mind is somewhere else half the time.”

As the sunlight shifted, his perpetually cold face came into full view. Smoke rose faintly from the cigarette between his lips. Despite staying up all night, his sharp jawline looked even more pronounced, showing no signs of fatigue.

“That’s… just how I am sometimes,” Yisoo replied calmly, standing upright. She steadied herself by leaning into Kwon Siheon’s chest, her arms loosely encircling his back.

Taking a deep breath, the faint scent of cigarettes mingled with his body’s scent rushed into her senses. For a moment, the man’s body stiffened. Yisoo remained still for about three seconds before abruptly leaning forward.

Caught off guard, Kwon Siheon staggered back a step, giving her the space to finally separate herself from him.

“My apologies.”

Her calm gaze fixed beyond Kwon Siheon’s shoulder, landing on the grim exterior of the prison. She noticed his breath hitch slightly but showed no sign of acknowledging it.

With a low chuckle, Kwon Siheon exhaled the last puff of smoke and smirked faintly. Unperturbed, Yisoo simply waited silently for him to finish smoking.

“Let’s go.”

Kwon Siheon began to move, his posture as upright and composed as his stride was measured. His tailored suit, so out of place in their surroundings, carried an air of incongruous elegance, his movements both nonchalant and deliberate.

“Will you also be entering the visitation room, Mr. Kwon Siheon?”

Inside, Yoo Incheol’s attorney was already waiting. With the lawyer present, there was no need for prison staff to oversee the meeting or record the conversation, allowing Yisoo, Yoo Incheol, and the lawyer to speak candidly. Of course, if Kwon Siheon had planted a bug, even that would be impossible.

Kwon Siheon paused at the foot of the stairs and turned to Yisoo, as if gauging the intent behind her question.

“That’s… not the case, is it? As I’ve mentioned, my uncle doesn’t know about my living arrangement with you.”

“Of course not.”

“…”

“Fathers and daughters should have some quality time to reminisce. I’m generous enough to allow that.”

It was the outcome she had hoped for, yet she felt no relief. For some reason, her unease lingered.

But there was no choice but to set her suspicions aside.

Even if, by some chance, he was listening to every word they exchanged from the car, what could she do about it? She lacked the power—and the means—to stop him.

＊＊＊

“Kwon Siheon.”

Yisoo called out to him again, following behind and stepping up a stair.

“By any chance… do you have any guesses about why my uncle was excluded from the pardon?”

“Like I said, I don’t know anything. No matter how many people I place around, I’m not directly involved in that game myself.”

“So, no guesses at all…?”

“If I had, I would’ve told you already.”

Yisoo closed her mouth and walked silently down the desolate hallway until they reached the end. The visitation room door opened, and the guard inside immediately moved to the inmate’s visiting area.

“Come to the car in 30 minutes.”

“I think I’ll need an hour.”

“…”

“It took a lot of effort to come here, and who knows when I’ll be able to visit again before the next special pardon opportunity….”

“Fine. An hour, then.”

Kwon Siheon turned without complaint and walked back the way they had come. When Yisoo entered the room, she saw Yoo Incheol’s pale face and his longtime friend and legal representative, Attorney Kang Manseop.

“Yisoo!”

“Uncle, have you been well?”

Though their hug was awkward, it was heartfelt. Holding back the tears threatening to spill, Yisoo gripped his hand and sat across from him. After exchanging brief updates, she asked about the reason for his removal from the special pardon list, prompting Attorney Kang to hand her a file.

“As you’ve probably heard, no phones or laptops are allowed, so I prepared this. It’s condensed as much as possible, but take your time and review it thoroughly.”

On the bottom of the first page was the phrase “Walls have ears,” printed alongside a logo. It was clear they were fully aware of the possibility of being bugged.

Yisoo glanced at Attorney Kang and Yoo Incheol before leaning forward to obscure the document from any CCTV and quickly scanning the text.

In summary, the file speculated on the reasons behind Yoo Incheol’s removal from the special pardon list and the subsequent internal reversal. It suggested that Kwak Bugyeong, a lawmaker, along with figures in the political and financial sectors who had clashed with Hyoshin Construction in the past, might have interfered. However, the evidence was circumstantial, with no concrete proof.

The document also outlined countermeasures for securing a second pardon. Though, if Kwak Bugyeong’s allies escalated their interference, the task would not be easy.

Yisoo bit her lip nervously. What if he doesn’t get released in August? Sensing her anxiety, Yoo Incheol reassured her with a calm voice.

“Don’t worry, Yisoo. I’ll definitely be out by August. More importantly, where are you staying now? Why did you only send Yihyun to the Sera family villa?”

“I’m staying at a trusted friend’s place, Uncle. Don’t worry about me.”

“Just tell me who—no, never mind. The important thing is that you’re safe.”

His gaze lingered on the “Walls have ears” logo before quickly changing the subject.

“Have you looked through everything on the last page?”

The final page contained a note in Yoo Incheol’s handwriting:

Yisoo, as soon as I’m released, let’s officially sort out the family registry. For your safety, I couldn’t reveal anything until now, but with everyone gone, there’s no reason to hide anymore. I want to proudly call you and Yihyun my children, and I want you to be able to call me your father. Let’s start anew as a family.

Yisoo swallowed the lump in her throat and continued reading.

The company’s debt is being cleared, and I don’t care if I have no shares left to my name. Even if we never uncover the whereabouts of the slush funds, I’ll handle it somehow. You and Yihyun don’t have to worry about a thing.

“Slush funds….”

The words slipped from Yisoo’s lips before she realized it.

“It’d be better if the slush funds’ location were revealed quickly. If the government recovered them and returned them to the treasury, then they’d have no reason to keep threatening Yihyun or me.”

Even if the conversation was being overheard, she didn’t care. That was her genuine thought. No matter how much speculation surrounded the slush funds’ amount or value, her and Yihyun’s safety took precedence.

“Yisoo.”

Yoo Incheol opened his mouth as if to say something but eventually sighed instead. He took her hand firmly in his.

“I’ll definitely be out in August. Attorney Kang and some old friends are pulling strings to help. Stay well with Yihyun. And if anything happens, contact Attorney Kang.”

“Do that. Here’s my card.”

Yisoo accepted the business card from Kang Manseop and gave a slight nod.

“Yes. I will… thank you.”

Though she wasn’t entirely sure she could avoid Kwon Siheon’s prying eyes, she felt a bit of relief.

“Your hour is up.”

The guard knocked lightly on the transparent glass, and Yisoo quickly looked up. Yoo Incheol reluctantly let go of her hand and stood from his seat.

“I’ll visit again soon, Uncle.”

“No, don’t come until August. I’ve said it repeatedly—be cautious with your movements. You won’t say who that friend is, so there’s no helping it, but… trust no one and stay vigilant, Yisoo.”

“I will.”

Dressed in prison garb, Yoo Incheol’s gaunt frame made him look frail despite his tall stature. The image of the once-vigorous vice president was nowhere to be found.

Yisoo left the visiting room in a daze, standing still in the hallway. Tears welled up, blurring her vision. Although Kang Manseop offered to drive her, she politely declined, explaining that a friend was waiting for her.

Even as she made her way to the sedan where Kwon Siheon waited, the warmth of Yoo Incheol’s hand lingered in her palm. Yisoo knew all too well the source of that warmth.

The watchful eyes that had always monitored her and Yihyun as children, ensuring that neither Yoo Namcheol nor Yoo Yongjin could harm them. The person who had foregone marriage and chosen solitude to focus solely on their safety.

It was all because of paternal love—a love that was pure and unwavering.

Contrary to Kwon Siheon’s presumptions, Yoo Incheol hadn’t had an affair with his sister-in-law to father Yihyun and herself.

＊＊＊

Definitely, they look alike.

Siheon lit his lighter, gazing at the haggard face on his tablet screen. A resemblance among family members wasn’t surprising, but now that he knew the truth about the biological connection, the sharp eyes, firm lips, and refined features seemed all the more similar to the twins.

The stoic, icy demeanor that transformed into a warm and generous expression when smiling—that, too, reminded him of Lee Yihyun.

Although he couldn’t confirm the contents of the document, it didn’t matter. Whatever schemes or plans the three of them were concocting, they couldn’t disrupt his agenda. He could crash Kang Manseop’s car or temporarily incapacitate him to steal the documents, but he saw no need.

Once the visit was confirmed to have ended, he shut the laptop. His driver rechecked Yisoo’s location.

“Sir, Miss Yoo Yisoo has just parted ways with Attorney Kang Manseop and is heading this way.”

Shortly after, Yisoo opened the car door. Their eyes met, and she quickly lowered her gaze before stepping in and sitting beside him.

“Thank you for waiting.”

Siheon didn’t reply, instead glancing sideways at her tear-streaked face. Her bloodshot, rabbit-like eyes, possibly from crying or sniffling alone, annoyed him. At the same time, he felt an unsettling tightness in his lower body.

“Drive.”

At his command, the car started, and the partition between the driver’s seat and the back slid up smoothly. As the vehicle exited the gates and merged onto the road, Siheon turned back to Yisoo.

“Did you learn why he was excluded from the pardon?”

There was no pretense of concern or pleasantries about her reunion with her uncle.

“The lawyer must have found something.”

With a cigarette in hand, he leaned his elbow on the window ledge. The smoke spiraling outside looked like a mirage shimmering above a summer field.

“No. Both my uncle and Attorney Kang said they don’t know the exact reason. All we can do is wait until the August Liberation Day pardon….”

After a brief pause, Siheon spoke again.

“So, our contract is automatically extended, isn’t it?”

“…….”

“Until your uncle becomes a free man—that was the condition, after all.”

“Yes.”

Yisoo replied calmly, her gaze fixed on the rural scenery outside the window.

“As Mr. Kwon said… that’s the condition.”

Her submissive tone grated on him. At some point, Yisoo had changed. It was as if she had resolved to strip herself of any pride and show no trace of aloofness. She resembled a woman speaking sincerely to a man she truly cared for.

― I think I like you, Mr. Kwon Siheon. I’ve liked you since New York, a year ago.

The memory of Yisoo’s face as she confessed to Lee Yihyun resurfaced in his mind. He had dismissed her words back then, but why did they resurface now, stirring his thoughts and unsettling him?

The electric thrill that made his senses sharper wasn’t entirely pleasant.

“If it’s all right, I’d prefer to go to the Sera villa alone. You must be busy, Mr. Kwon.”

Her docile and gentle demeanor irked him. Crushing the spent cigarette between his teeth, he swallowed a bitter laugh.

When she showed defiance, he felt an urge to crush her spirit. Yet her compliance provoked an inexplicable irritation.

What was he supposed to do with these contradictory feelings? Even he couldn’t decipher his own heart.

“After making me wait like a dog all this time, now you’re telling me to leave?”

His tone turned sharp on its own, as if hoping Yoo Yisoo would drop the gentle demeanor and reveal her true feelings.

“Does it remind you of the time a year ago when I trailed behind you like a shadow, playing bodyguard?”

“It’s not that…”

A flicker of dismay crossed Yoo Yisoo’s eyes. But it was fleeting. She quickly regained her composure, biting her lips before letting them go.

“Then come with me. I just didn’t want to take up any more of Kwon Siheon’s time.”

“My, how touching. Truly moving, Yoo Yisoo.”

Siheon let out a short, derisive laugh. Was this what they meant by a mouse showing concern for a cat? Even after mocking and ridiculing her to his heart’s content, his mood didn’t improve in the slightest.