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“Are you interested in me by any chance?”

I’ve never seen her before.

Woohyeok’s eyes narrowed slightly. He was intrigued by her subtly different aura compared to the countless women who had approached him before.

Soobin noticed the slight change. Her perfectly drawn crimson lips curved seductively into a smile. Stepping closer to Woohyeok, she tilted her head back and gave him a playful look.

“You were staring at me.”

“Was I?”

As those bold words left her lips, accompanied by a charmingly lowered gaze and a smile, Woohyeok’s eyes swept her openly from head to toe.

Her shoulders were so white that she looked almost pale. The deep curve of her collarbone, which was visible under the delicately placed straps of her dress, caught his eye. Her chiseled features, set perfectly on her small face, and her slender silhouette – she would have been captivating even without the elaborate make-up and dress.

“I’ve never seen you before.”

Thanks to his natural intelligence, he had a good memory, but more than that, he never forgot a face once he had seen it. He was sure this was the first time he had ever seen her.

“I’ve seen you a few times, though.”

Even as she looked straight up at him with a dazzling smile on her face, Woohyeok’s lips remained tightly set in a straight line.

Usually, women who approached him like that couldn’t hide their blatant intentions. But her approach was relatively subdued. Almost… naive.

Woohyeok’s interest deepened. He was drawn to the jet-black eyes that held his gaze without a flicker of hesitation.

“Have you been peering at me from afar?”

“Maybe I was. You’re quite noticeable. Besides, you’re famous. Everyone knows Jeong Woohyeok from the Cheonil group. So, to ask again, why were you staring at me?”

Woohyeok, who had never lost control of a conversation in his life, found her forwardness intriguing. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips.

“It seems you were the one who lingered around me.”

“Did I get caught?”

She countered in a clear, confident voice.

“Are you interested in orphans?”

Soobin’s brow furrowed slightly as Woohyeok casually brought up the uncomfortable truth.

“It’s not like it’s a secret.”

Woohyeok looked down at Soobin with a blank stare, then glanced around. No matter how glamorous her appearance, he could see the youthful innocence beneath. Mid-twenties at the most.

“It’s rude. To be distracted when someone is right in front of you.”

“You seem young. I doubt you came alone.”

Woohyeok’s provocation made Soobin’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows arch.

He certainly had a handsome face, which naturally caught her attention, but the cynical air he exuded didn’t sit well with her.

If she let herself get caught up in his rhythm, she might end up being ignored rather than making an impression. With that thought, she lifted the corners of her lips in a cheeky smile.

“Why? Do I need your permission to mingle?”

Soobin’s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as she brought her lips close to Woohyeok’s ear.

“I don’t. I’m old enough to do what I want.”

Woohyeok looked down at Soobin, her big eyes staring straight back at him.

This was a private year-end charity event hosted by the Cheonil Group. Only the most prominent figures in the business world were invited, reflecting their high status. It wasn’t a place a woman in her twenties would normally attend alone.

“So you came alone?”

“Correct.”

As expected, he wasn’t easily swayed. His expression remained largely unchanged. His voice was flat and emotionless, making it difficult for Soobin to judge whether she was doing the right thing. In addition, she sensed a sharp edge in his fleeting glances.

Her uncharacteristic boldness made her uneasy. Every little thing bothered her. Soobin opened her mouth again, trying to ease the tension that was building in her throat.

“You seem suspicious.”

“I apologize if I gave you that impression.”

The sharp glint in his eyes, so intense moments ago, vanished without a trace.

“Are you going to apologize and leave it at that?”

“Then what do you want?”

“Well…”

Soobin paused, feigning contemplation as she furrowed her brow.

She didn’t miss the slight downward tilt of Woohyeok’s eyes. Running a hand along her exposed shoulder, she fixed him with a determined gaze.

“Am I not charming?”

“I don’t know about charming, but you’re certainly assertive. I suppose that could be considered a charm.”

Whether he was being sincere or not, Soobin recognized his undeniable interest. She pouted slightly.

“This event… It’s full of old men and women. They all look equally bored, so I thought I’d try to talk to someone, but you’re no different.”

Deciding to turn away before she appeared too eager, Soobin moved her feet.

As she turned, her lush hair swirled around her, and she swayed her gently rounded hips as she walked away. A corner of Woohyeok’s mouth lifted in a wry smile. He watched her retreating figure for a moment, then followed her with quick strides.

“Ah!“

Soobin gasped, startled by the sudden hand around her waist.

“Why so surprised? I thought this is what you wanted.”

“I hate it when people touch me without permission.”

“How much will it cost? For this permission. Let’s not beat about the bush.”

Soobin shivered as his fingers, which were expertly wrapped around her waist, ran down the side of her body.

“Did you just ask me how much? Do I seem that easy to you?”

“I’m not interested in easy women. I just don’t like it when things are difficult.”

Even with people all around them, Woohyeok acted without a hint of self-consciousness. No one dared to stare at him openly.

Soobin clenched her fists discreetly and leaned her shoulder against Woohyeok’s chest.

“I was about to leave.”

Knowing she had to take the opportunity, Soobin took a small step forward. Woohyeok followed without hesitation.

Once outside the venue, Soobin tilted her head and looked at Woohyeok.

“So, where are we going?”

“Do we have to go far? This is a hotel.”

Soobin raised a perfectly formed eyebrow and chuckled.

“You followed me out with that in mind?”

“It would be a lie to say otherwise.”

“But what if I don’t like hotels? I don’t like keeping track of time either.”

Woohyeok’s lips twitched at her words. He jerked his chin towards the opening elevator.

Inside the elevator, Soobin’s eyes followed his finger as he pressed a button. When the light illuminated the button for the underground parking, she exhaled quietly and stood beside him.

“So where are we going?”

“Somewhere nice.”

“Somewhere nice?”

This time Woohyeok just smiled and tilted his head towards the opening elevator doors.

Soobin, who got into the car after him, watched Woohyeok intently as he turned the steering wheel, the engine roaring and her body shaking. 

When he was calm, he seemed like a completely different person. At least not the reckless playboy she had first perceived him to be.

It couldn’t be easy to live a normal life with a past like his. Losing his parents, his younger sister, and even his grandparents all at once… It would be strange if he was sane. Perhaps his immense wealth was the only thing that kept him afloat.

“Do you regret it now?”

Woohyeok’s voice snapped Soobin out of her thoughts. She lifted her head.

“Is it a long drive?”

Woohyeok shook his head slightly at her evasive answer. He parked in front of a luxurious detached house. He glanced at Soobin as he waited for the sensor to activate and the garage door to open.

“Once we’re inside, there’s no turning back. This is your last chance.”

“I’m curious. What do you mean ‘no turning back’?”

“Better you find out for yourself. But it might be very different from what you expect. Quite a few people couldn’t handle it and ran away.”

At his mocking words, Soobin just shrugged and got out of the car, slamming the door behind her. Woohyeok, who was watching her with amusement from the driver’s seat, got out of the car and held out a hand to her.

“Take my hand.”

As Soobin stared at his outstretched hand, Woohyeok wiggled his fingers.

“Didn’t you say I needed permission?”

If she took his hand now, there really would be no turning back. No, there was already no turning back for Soobin. She had no choice but to follow this tiger into his den.

For there were wolves waiting outside, their teeth bared, ready to tear her apart.

This was the only way.

Soobin took Woohyeok’s hand. Despite his cynical expression, his hand was surprisingly warm.

She followed him out of the garage, through a manicured garden to a pool house next to a swimming pool. The shimmering lights around the pool cast a soft glow into the darkened pool house.

He led her inside, not bothering to turn on the lights, and threw her onto the bed. His shadow enveloped her as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. He cupped her small face in one hand, tracing the soft curve of her cheek with his fingertips.

“Don’t expect me to be gentle.”

“……”

Soobin’s eyes fluttered open at his low, warning tone and met his dark gaze.

“As I said, this will be very different from what you expect.”

This was the moment she would be completely consumed by Woohyeok.