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Chapter 13
“How are we going to find him?”
“We’ll search the places Pilmo might go.”
“…….”
Her palms began to sweat at his words.
Search the places he might go? Wasn’t he going to find him directly? But he didn’t seem to have the luxury of time.
“Let’s start tomorrow.”
“Start what?”
“Tracking.”
A shiver of dread passed through her at the thought of tracking Pilmo’s blood.
“W-what? Tr-tracking?”
“You’re looking for your brother, right? If So Hye-yeon comes along, maybe she knows somewhere to start.”
What the…? This man seemed to want to use her to directly find Pilmo.
What should I do?
Why does he want to use me for this? He must have already known that Pilmo had no relatives or connections in the area.
“We don’t have any connections in Gangwon Province.”
“I never said Gangwon Province.”
“……!”
Her heart dropped at once. Hye-yeon’s mind clouded over with a haze.
“How did you know?”
“W-well….”
“How did you know? That your brother’s villa is in Gangwon Province?”
Bang. He set down his glass and glared at her. Hye-yeon’s nerves tensed sharply.
It was a precarious moment.
Cold sweat ran down her back, and her throat tightened.
Calm down.
Just get through this moment.
“…I heard.”
“You heard? From someone you hadn’t even been able to call for ten years? From whom?”
“Through someone else who saw my brother. They said he was working in Gangwon.”
“Is that so?”
His eyebrows flicked up slightly. Hye-yeon kept her composure, meeting his gaze.
A suspicious look, but she clenched her teeth and acted confidently in front of him.
“Yes, a friend of my brother’s stopped by the shop briefly and passed along the news. Why? Should I arrange a meeting?”
“Hmm…….”
He brushed his lips with his hand.
“I’m not lying.”
“Alright, let’s assume that. I don’t have time to waste on that now anyway.”
“….”
Hae, she breathed a sigh of relief inside.
“Then, we’re going together starting tomorrow.”
Hye-yeon thought she had misheard. Most people who entered this house couldn’t leave freely. Guards were placed throughout to prevent anyone from running off without paying debts. It was obvious something would seem off.
She bit her lip.
“People….”
“Forget about the workers. Or… act like a lover.”
“W-what?”
Hye-yeon flinched and looked at Seok-woo.
“If it looks like we’re going to bed together, it’s easier to take you along.”
He smirked slightly, but it felt more like mockery.
“What is he thinking? Surely he’s not trying to sleep with me… I made it clear before that I absolutely wouldn’t.”
Her mind went blank. Imagining taking off her clothes in front of him made her nauseous.
“I can’t do that. You know I’m a mother.”
“A mother doesn’t mean you can’t be in a man’s arms.”
“Hey. Kang Seok-woo. Right now…”
She tried to move away, not wanting to hear more, when suddenly a long arm shot out and grabbed her jaw. She gasped in shock. Cold fingers pressed against her chin, and in his gaze, she could feel anger. She had crossed him.
“I’m not giving you a choice. I’m saying you need to cooperate fully with my work.”
“….”
Hye-yeon’s heart pounded under the oppressive tension. He glared at her with a chilling look.
“You think it’s funny that I speak politely to you?”
“….”
“Let me remind you again: you have no right to choose. I don’t care how others see it. Wherever I say we go, we go.”
His words were overwhelming, and she felt crushed. Though she couldn’t argue anymore, she slapped his hand with all her strength.
“Fine. I’m your hostage anyway.”
Her chin was grabbed again, this time even closer, pulling her face toward him. His lips were right in front of her. She felt as if she might suffocate. Unlike his rugged life, his face was porcelain-like clean.
Crazy. Now? Admiring this man’s face now?
His breath was close, carrying a faint, pleasant scent. He had been drinking wine, but there was no alcohol smell. Was he even human? Beautiful as he was, he was clearly cruel and dangerous.
“I’m the one who should be angry.”
“Let go.”
She tried to turn her face, but he pulled her closer. She gasped.
“If you’re a hostage, behave like one…”
His eyes glittered strangely. The sensation of his hand against her chin and skin made Hye-yeon strike his hand away and move back slightly.
“Alright, I understand. Long as I cooperate, fine. But protecting my own body is my freedom.”
“Haa….”
“You suggested drinking, right? Fine, let’s drink. If you need a drinking buddy.”
Hye-yeon raised her glass with all her strength. The wine’s strong aroma was overpowering, but drinking it seemed the only way to break the suffocating tension.
Seok-woo touched her chin, observing her.
“This wine is strong.”
“I can handle it. Watch.”
Before he poured, she drank the wine herself. She forced it down quickly, but didn’t get drunk. If she lost focus now, she couldn’t protect Pilmo—or her daughter Yerim. She reminded herself not to show weakness.
I won’t lose. Even as a hostage, you can’t do whatever you want.
You need me too.
If your secret is exposed to the chairman, your life will be at risk—I know that too.
Hye-yeon kept drinking, glaring at Seok-woo. Though he was doing what he wanted, he seemed dissatisfied; his brow furrowed.
Snap—
This time her wrist was grabbed and she was pulled into his chest.
Crash.
Glasses and plates shattered and fell messily to the floor.
Bang bang bang.
Her heart pounded like crazy.
“You’ve got a knack for making people angry, huh?”
“Let go.”
“Are you scared?”
“Yes!”
She was terrified, feeling like she might collapse. But if she showed fear, her position would sink further. She never wanted to be his nighttime partner. She glared at Seok-woo challengingly.
His hand wrapped around her waist, and she screamed. The subtle caress along her back felt strangely sexual.
Hye-yeon was paralyzed, trapped by sensations she had never felt before.
“Lying. Trembling like this…”
“Ah…….”
“Or maybe it’s not here responding, but lower.”
Those words shocked her fully awake. She pushed against his chest; she felt her own chest pressing against his.
“Hey!”
“You’re no different from other women. You get heated when you see a handsome man.”
He traced his fingers down her waist, and she felt dizzy.
She should have pushed him away, but her body didn’t obey. Like he guessed, her whole body was heating up. A gentle warmth spread through her.
“St-stop talking nonsense! My taste is….”
“What’s your taste?”
Curious, he tilted his head. Hye-yeon finally regained some rational thought.
“…A kind man. And no tattoos on the body.”
