Table of Contents

Information

Chapter 1 - A Wound That Never Healed (1)

Chapter 2 - A Wound That Never Healed (2)

Chapter 3 - A Mysterious Death (1)

Chapter 4 - A Mysterious Death (2)

Chapter 5 - Start of an Unseemly Contract

Chapter 6 - Addictive

Chapter 7 - His and Only His

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13 - Lost Memories

Chapter 14 - Traces of Her

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17 - The Substitute (1)

Chapter 18 - The Substitute (2)

Chapter 19 - Disillusioned Love (1)

Chapter 20 - Disillusioned Love (2)

Chapter 21 - The Witness

Chapter 22 - Choices
Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47
Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72
Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84
 Chapter 1 - A Wound That Never Healed
(1)
Chapter 1 – A Wound That Never Healed (1)

Excoriation* always demands high concentration. In particular, due to the low-fat levels in
aging bodies, the movement of knives has to be very meticulous and precise. The blade
must glide between the red flesh and the white layer of fat at a steady yet rapid rate.

[Excoriation: is a medical term for skinning.]

Although the temperature in the workplace had been intentionally set low, just enough to
prevent decay, drops of sweat still formed on the forehead of the man who looked intent in
his work. When he was about finished, he cast a glance at the nearby window, and in time, a
crack of dawn greeted him.

Alas, immersed in work, he’d lost track of time.

The light creeping from outside soon enveloped his large silhouette and filled the room. His
sweat glistened his taut torso, trailing from the deep ridges of his chiseled chest to narrow
waist.

He straightened, lit his cigarette, and sat on the stairs allowing the acrid smoke to inundate
his senses. After all, this was one of his sources of comfort at this particular time. It filled
his lungs, gradually ebbing the obnoxious smell of flesh.

He sighed.

Lately, the number of cigarettes he consumed had significantly increased. The ashtrays in
his office that filled in less than a few hours were glaring proofs.

Once a year, this happened to him… Like a fever that hits on schedule. He’d crumble in
heaps—a disastrous feeling then raged inside him.

Here we go again…

His heart pounded. As if it had a mind of its own, his hands started fishing for his cellphone
in his pocket. As they navigated to a folder in the gallery, his lips pressed into a thin line,
especially when the screen revealed a picture of a woman sleeping peacefully.
The man looking down at the image froze. Like a sculpture, he stared at his phone
unblinkingly. As he fixated, the memory of the time he had taken this picture drowned him
in nostalgia.

As soon as he had woken up from a deep sleep, he had carefully taken a picture of the
woman slumbering next to him. She always brought a sense of peace and calm to his
turbulent heart.

Nevertheless, the woman in the picture was a person whose heart was beating and whose
blood was rushing hot. However, things had long changed…

She’s no longer in this world.

Hotel Seoin – The Ballroom

Dozens of journalists, throngs of celebrities, luminaries from all walks of life packed the
large ballroom. An engagement reception was in full swing and each wanted to make their
presence felt.

“Have all the reporters left?”

Amidst the hubbub of the party, a rich baritone demanded a quick answer. His long fingers
wrapped around the stem of the champagne flute looked rough and callous, apparently a
result of yesterday’s ‘hard work’. Standing tall at a height of 180 centimeters, his sleek and
sensual figure towered over almost everyone in the room. There was no denying that
among the glamorous guests, he stood out. What’s more, tonight, he was the highlight of the
engagement ceremony.

He was Tae-jun Seo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Seoin Group of Companies.

When asked by his boss, Chief Of Staff Jung-Su Yi quickly confirmed the departure of the
reporters by looking at a long list.

“Yes, a little while ago. The K reporters were the last to leave.”

The fact that there were dozens of journalists who attended the engagement ceremony had
everyone guessing what the upcoming nuptials would look like—it would be a massive
event.
The engagement between the Seoin Group, which was into pharmaceuticals, distribution,
and hotels, and the Daejin Group, which had reigned over the distribution market for
generations was surely a scoop that lacked no eager ears.

With the exit of the nagging reporters, the mood of the party began to lighten up. Greetings
from the members of each family reverberated as they began to strike conversations which
would last until midnight.

Even so, Tae-jun was not entertained one bit. He was lost in his own thoughts, shutting out
the din, when suddenly, a slap on his shoulder jolted him to consciousness.

“Why the straight face? You are the man of this evening!” said a cheery Jae-won Lee, Tae-
jun’s cousin, flipping his thick brown hair to the back of his head—a habit of his.

As the planning director of the Hotel Seoin, he was also the event manager of today’s party.
But having noticed Tae-jun barely socializing, instead, sulking in a corner in the company of
his wine, he couldn’t help but approach him. Since he entered the hall, his cousin looked
grim, quite contrary to what he had expected.

Jae-won Lee looked around and whispered into his ears. “Anyone would think Yoon
coerced you into this… What’s the matter?”

Another person sharing the limelight today was Tae-jun’s fiancée, Si-yeon Yoon. Jae-won
and her were close friends who were together right from elementary to school.

For Jae-won Lee, it was a surprise that Si Yeon would become a part of the family, not to
mention, she would be Tae-jun’s future wife! But the man in question had no power to
argue with his grandfather’s decision. He had been thrust into the ocean, and whether he
could swim or not, no one cared… especially his grandfather.

Despite Lee’s persuasions, Tae-jun answered indifferently. “I went to the villa last night and
came back in the morning.”

“The villa?”

“I got word that Sebastian died.” He answered impassively.

With the mention of the familiar name, Jae-won Lee’s brows creased. “Ah!” He exclaimed
upon remembering Tae-jun’s favorite English Pointer.

“The hound in the villa? I didn’t think he was still alive. He was too old.”

“Thirteen.” The other replied flatly.

If Lee remembered correctly, Sebastian the hound was Chairman Jung-ho Seo’s 22nd
birthday present to his only grandson. The dog was a loyal helper who spent more than a
decade with them.
“Don’t tell me you stayed up all night for a dead dog the day before this event? Since when
have you been so sentimental…”

“You can’t skin it if it’s already decayed.”

Wait a minute! Skin it?!

For a moment, Jae-won almost dropped the champagne flute he was holding.

“Don’t tell me that you ‘stuffed’ the hound?”

“Yes.” His cousin replied like it was a very normal thing to do.

His pupils narrowed, seemingly about to flee from the expanding whites of his eyes. He
fought the urge to scream.

“Are you out of your mind?!”

 Chapter 2 - A Wound That Never Healed
(2)
Chapter 2 – A Wound That Never Healed (2)

“What’s the problem? It’s not like this was our first time stuffing animals.”

“No, it’s not that, but…”

Of course, it’s not the first time! It was their grandfather who taught them to hunt and stuff
animals since they were teenagers. In particular, Tae-jun, who showed the greatest talent,
started making stuffed animals when he was 15 years old.

But isn’t that limited to the “loot” hunted?

Disassembling and skinning the body of a prized pet was unimaginable. Besides, why
would he do that on the night before the engagement ceremony?

Looking around the hall with disdain, Tae-jun said, “I need some quiet. Call me when the
atmosphere is a little more to my liking.”

“You mean empty and silent?” Lee said playfully, but when Tae-jun’s face remained stoic,
he added, “But we are having a party right now!”

Tae-jun shrugged before saying, “It seems like someone would still enjoy this party
without me.” He pointed to someone and Jae-won Lee tuned to see who it was.

A couple of meters from them, in the centre of the hall, Si-yeon was enjoying champagne
with her chin up. Draped in an Oscar de la Renta, she flashed the brightest smile and basked
in the attention she was being showered.

When Jae-won whipped his head back to address the man he was talking to, Tae-jun’s
broad, retreating back was already facing him. Left alone so suddenly, he could only
massage his temple in annoyance. He didn’t even wait to listen to what I had to say!

“What just happened?”

“Yes?”

“Mr. Lee, what’s going on with the CEO?” And just like that Jin-wook Jeong was in front of
him.

“Nothing. Don’t mind him. He’s always moody around this time of the year.”
Every year, around this time of the year, the Seoin Group of Companies held its annual
event; only this time clubbed it with the engagement. And every year, Tae-jun attended it
with the same vapidity and loathing veiled by his insouciance. But there came a time when
it all changed drastically, and it was still fresh in Lee’s memory.

Four years ago, his cousin had fallen seriously ill. It was quite bizarre since Tae-jun had
always been healthy as a horse. In fact, since they were kids, he was the one who rarely
contracted cold and fever. He had a sound immune system.

He was sulking and utterly desolate. Life seemed to be sucked out of him. Thus, his illness
was only an eventuality. Noticing the sorrow that was plaguing his grandson, Chairman Seo
placed a shadow next to Tae-jun to get to the bottom of it all. And it was not long before the
truth came to light—Tae-jun had a woman who died in an accident.

All the family members were anxious that he would follow the precedent of his father,
Jeong-hoon Seo, who went crazy over women, abandoned his family, and even died.

Fortunately, Tae-jun returned to his usual self, as if nothing had happened. But once a year,
he would be sick and distant like this. Like what his father did, he’d isolate himself and
avoid everyone… he was mourning. The wound caused by the woman’s loss had never
healed.

Jae-won asked Ji-wook while he was at it. “You said you didn’t know the woman either. Are
you certain?”

“I’ve told you before. I don’t know anything about it. He’s such a private person, keeps
things to himself.”

In particular, Tae-jun’s secretary, Jin-wook Jeong, had been by him for almost two decades.
Though they belonged to the same company, there was an implicit rule to never mix
business with personal affairs. Hence, employees never intruded on each other’s territory.

About the woman, as much as he could, he’d always kept his mouth zipped.

What kind of woman was she? Jae-won Lee could only sweep his hair away. Years passed,
and he still had not found an answer to this question. What was she like?

To Jae-won, even if he had grown beside him, Tae-jun had always been an object of awe.
Since their growing years, this cousin had baffled him even in the most prosaic matters.
And all along, his admiration for him had only deepened.

Tae-jun was Chairman Jung-ho’s Seo only “Seo” grandson. Since childhood, no matter what,
he had never been swayed or touched nor had he ever revealed his feelings. Thanks to his
strict upbringing and the immense pressure weighing on his young shoulders, he was the
epitome of apathy.
As such, Lee would often wonder if Tae-jun even had a heart. If so, was the blood flowing
properly? And, was it red?

It was only natural to be curious about the woman who captivated such a man. After all, it
was the first time his cousin had shown emotions.

Jae-won’s gaze rested on the vivacious women at the centre of the hall. He looked torn as he
quietly watched Si-Yeon who was oblivious to her fiancé’s absence.

Upon leaving the banquet hall, Tae-jun received a call from one of his subordinates.

“There is no need to negotiate further with them. Yes, I’ll step in if it gets more complicated.
That’s how we must deal with it,” he said with a slight sneer.

It was not an easy problem as three competitors were vying for the same new sites as the
pharmaceutical company. It was a dog eat dog world, and ruthlessness was the byword.
Tae-Jun was a capable leader, not just because he was honed to inherit the mantle, but also
because he had the innate capabilities.

Even so, someone as nonchalant as him, couldn’t evade stress. By the time he came to the
end of the call, he craved cigarettes; so he fished one from the inside pockets of his tux.

As he tried to light the tab in his mouth, he soon remembered the hotel’s rules about indoor
smoking, his hand ceased in motion. His patience was at its limits.

I’m getting sick!

Throughout the evening, Tae-jun had been forced into little chats, walking around like an
exhibit. He had endured it as much as he could, just for the sake of maintaining the darn
image. Now, he was feeling suffocated, his chest seemed to be clogged.

I need to get some fresh air and clear my head.

Even though it was quite late, the lobby was still teeming with guests, attendants, and the
press.

He got off the elevator with his trademark nonchalance and set foot in the lobby. Right at
that moment, a woman brushed past him, talking on her cell phone.

Irritated, Tae-jun turned to her. However, his eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of
the passing woman’s profile. Her voice chimed in his ears…

His gaze was glued to her back. Great disbelief hitting him at once.

Hye-yeon Jin?
A tall woman, her long hair tied in a single braid that ran down her skinny back, wearing an
expressionless face exited the hotel.

It’s her! No, it can’t be!

However, before he could regain his senses, the name of the woman he lost years ago
escaped his lips.

Hye-yeon Jin… He’d never thought he would hear himself say this particular name again.

The doubtful tone soon changed to a desperate shout.

“Hye-yeon Jin!”
 Chapter 3 - A Mysterious Death (1)
Chapter 3 – A Mysterious Death (1)

Even if he called her name multiple times, the woman seemed to not hear him—she did not
once turn around. In desperation, Tae-jun started running without even realizing it. All
eyes were on him as he bumped into people. But he couldn’t care more, catching up to the
woman before him was the only thing that mattered.

However, as soon as the woman stepped out of the hotel lobby, she quickly boarded a
waiting taxi and immediately drove out of sight… far from Tae-jun’s reach.

Was it an Illusion? Or a ghost?

She had remained a vivid figure in his mind…Too vivid to be a mere imagination. He could
not be mistaken. She was the person that he pictured in his head thousands of times. More
than anything, she was the very reason for his life’s eclipse…

Tae-jun clenched his teeth and placed his hand on his chest. This painfully beating heart
was proof of what he had seen. He felt his mouth dry up and even so, his brain. After four
years… The woman whom he thought was dead and had mourned over, just appeared
before his very eyes.

“Are you out of your mind? You left the party all of a sudden only to come back to ask for
the guest list?”

A mithering Jae-won opened his office door, his steps heavy and brows furrowed. Upon
walking in, he pressed the power button of his computer and crossed his arms in
displeasure. Jae-won was on the edge. This list was not open to the public, not even to the
hotel executives!

Tae-jun, annoyed by his endless complaints, tapped the plaque on his table bearing the
words ‘Lee Jae-won, Planning Director, Seoin Hotel’ with his long fingers. The tapping
sound seemed like a death wish to Jae-won’s ears.

“Do you want to lose your title?”

Sh*t.

Jae-won cursed in his mind. Now this man is speaking from the bottom of his heart. If he’s
even a little more irritated, that plaque will vanish tomorrow morning.

Jae-won sighed and recalled what had happened a while ago.

It was only ten minutes ago that Tae-jun, who said he would step out from the event hall for
a moment, came back inside with a ghostly, pale face. And it was probably seven or eight
minutes ago when he looked around the hall and like a mad man, snatched Jae-won by the
collar without a moment’s hesitation. Hauling him into the elevator forcefully was perhaps
5 minutes ago.

Along the way, not a soul dared to talk to them and somehow stop Tae-jun’s barbaric
actions. Not even his manager, Mr. Lee, who had been with him for seven years or so.

His fiancée, Si-yeon, could only manage to open her eyes wide and mouth: “Jae-won, what’s
going on?”

Wow, what a surprise-filled engagement party. Despite his barbaric approach, Tae-jun
showed no remorse.

Once the computer booted, Jae-won keyed in the security code and opened the guest list.
This process, at best, took only five minutes or less. Nevertheless, he felt that Tae-jun’s
patience was running out in real-time, so his hair stood on end.

“What the hell are you looking for? Is a notorious terrorist on the guest list? Like IS?”

Hotel Seoin was a go-to place for domestic and international VIPs, celebrities, and
millionaires. So, the reservation system was under constant scrutiny spanning over several
stages. Of course, terrorists couldn’t stay, but who knows if one snuck in?!

Instead of a proper reply, Tae-jun simply uttered a name, there was no telling whether it
was a joke or not.

“Hye-yeon Jin”

Clearly, it was a girl’s name. Jae-won asked back in a puzzled voice. “Hye-yeon Jin?”

“Find her on the list.”

At that moment Jae-won’s lips pursed. Find a girl on the day of an engagement party? No
way, I hope not!

Nonetheless, Jae-won’s fingers flew over the keyboard trying to press his anxiety. A ‘Not
found’ message appeared on the screen.

“She is not on the list.”

“How about the foreigners’ list?”

Tae-jun closed his eyes and touched his furrowed brows. I must think harder. Right, she was
talking to someone on the phone as she passed by. She spoke English. It was noisy but I
definitely heard some words.
“There is none. Who is she?”

To Tae-jun, the Jae-won’s voice coming from just next to him sounded distant. He was
immersed in recalling the details of Hye-yeon and the phone conversation.

What was she wearing? She was not dressed as tourists or party guests. She was wearing suit
pants under her trench coat and her hair was neatly tied up. What did she say? Cancel,
Reservation?

Two words came into his mind. Additionally, she was talking in quite a friendly voice.

“Is there any foreigner who made a reservation then cancelled it?” Jae-won quickly
searched on the list.

“We have two.”

“Name?”

“CHRISTOPHER SHAWN, LOUIS ERNEST. I do not see them as girls’ names?”

Tea-jun’s gaze went dark by Jae-won’s next words. “Could be her husband or boyfriend.”

If she had got out of the situation ‘in that way’ four years ago, she would be twenty-nine
years old now. That seems old enough for her to have a husband or a boyfriend.

Tae-jun pushed Jae-won aside, sat down and skimmed through the details of each and
every guest. This information was confidential. Still, unable to get the information that he
wanted, he gave Jae-won another order.

“Call the security department and tell them to bring the original CCTV footage of the lobby
over here.”
 Chapter 4 - A Mysterious Death (2)
Chapter 4 – A Mysterious Death (2)

“The original?” Tae-jun nodded and Jae-won jumped up.

“It is against the hotel regulation to take the original file. What if we get into trouble…”

However, Tae-jun just shrugged off the latter’s concern, “If something happens, refer it to
the board of directors.”

This was getting worse and worse.

Refer it to the board of directors? How’d anyone dare to do that to Tae-jun Seo?

Jae-won contacted the security department immediately, holding back the desire to pull his
hair out.

The security officer was also flustered by Jae-won’s request but soon tucked his tail as soon
once he heard the name Tae-jun Seo. While waiting for the security officer with the original
footage, Jae-won checked Tae-jun’s mood

“So… who is this ‘Hye-yeon Jin’ you’re looking for?”

Instead of answering, Tae-jun pulled out a cigarette from his cigarette case and held it
between his lips. Jae-won had to stop himself saying, ‘No smoking inside” as he watched the
unruly man’s cigarette catch fire. However, no matter how hard he tried, he was not able to
stop his curiosity.

“Is that the woman who died four years ago?”

Tae-jun stared at Jae-won fiercely. Jae-won flinched as if his insides were being twisted.

“… how do you know about her?”

“Grandfather investigated on his own.”

“The chairman has figured it out?”

“Yes. He also asked questions about her to me and your manager Mr. Lee.” Jae-won
obediently and truthfully apprised him.

Tae-jun’s mouth holding a cigarette twitched.

“Yes, she is the woman,” Tae-jun answered, puffing out cigarette smoke, realizing that there
was nothing more to hide.
“Oh my God!” Jae-won raised his voice as if it sounded nonsensical.

“Are you doing this because of a dead woman? You mean that the dead woman turned into
a ghost and came to your engagement party? What desperate love!”

“She is neither a ghost nor desperate,” Tae-jun said as if blurting out. He looked at Jae-won
with a fierce gaze; one that was laced with violence.

He then dropped his cigarette on the floor and stubbed it out with his foot. “I was a ‘curse’
to her.”

Yes, he was. To her, their one year together was nothing but a curse, a shackle.

One year. They were given one year. It was the same time when Jin Myung-Je, the CEO of
Jinseong Construction offered his daughter and along with Hotel Jinseong.

“You’ve read the death report her brother, Hye-Seong Jin, showed you. You’ve even seen
the scene of the accident. Hye-yeon Jin is dead, boss.”

Tae-jun’s secretary, Mr. Jeong Jin-Wook, was having a good time with his family. It had been
a long time since he had one, so when he got a sudden call from his boss, he turned solemn.
His wife who was bringing him a fruit plate sensed his stiff face. She quietly just closed the
door and left the room. A faint sound of the kid’s favourite weekend tv show was coming
from the living room. When Jin-Wook checked the clock, it was supposed to be the time for
the engagement party.

But the woman who died four years ago showed up? Jin-Wook furrowed his brows and felt
like his mouth was drying up.

– I am aware of it.

Tea-jun’s voice coming from the phone was heavily low. This, as far as Jin-Wook knew, was
not a good sign. It had already been twenty years since he watched Tae-jun by his side.
Perhaps he could boast that he knew this man better than his family. However, Tae-jun’s
obsession with Hye-yeon was hard to understand even for Jin-Wook. It was the same in the
past when she was alive and still the same now since she died.

Five years ago, Tae-jun met her for the first time in Jin-Seong city where his father Jeong-
Hun Seo spent his later years. Jin Hye-yeon was the daughter of Jin Myung-Je, president of
Jinseong Hotel and a college student taking a leave of absence at that time. It’s not clear
what features of her attracted him so much but anyway, Tae-jun wanted her. Soon, he
managed to get her with a condition called ‘One-year contract’.

But Hye-yeon found the relationship with Tae-jun hard enough to vanish herself before the
end of the contract and end her life in a way that disgusted him the most.
She threw herself into the flowing Jinseong River surrounding the city. The cause of death
was drowning. And it was obviously a suicide.

“But it is a truth that she appeared before me.”

Tae-jun bit his lip slightly and looked down at his hand. The woman was right in front of
him, a completely living human being.

“Is there any chance that the autopsy report is wrong?”

– I am not sure if the drowned body was not found but the family found the body and
cremated it. There’s not much chance.”

At that instant, the words that suddenly popped into his mind disturbed him deeply.

There’s something you’ve misunderstood… A mistake

That was what Hye-yeon said when she came out to reject his offer.

Tae-jun murmured what she said unwittingly. “Mistake.”

-A mistake?

“I do not know yet. I have to figure out what it is from now on. 30 Ga 12**, is the plate
number of the taxi she took. Start looking for her from there.”

– Yes, boss.

Tae-jun hung up and revived the meaning of the word.

‘Mistake’ that Hye-yeon mentioned.

At that time, I should have listened to her first and called President Jin. Tae-jun lit a
cigarette and took a deep drag.

‘What is that?’

Her pure face amidst the thick smoke of a cigarette came to his mind.
 Chapter 5 - Start of an Unseemly Contract
Chapter 5 – Start of an Unseemly Contract

The face of the woman, who was here to say no, was livid. If looks could kill, then the
seething hatred in her eyes would’ve turned him into ashes already. She seemed to know
no fear; there was no admiration that girls normally had when looking at him. All there
was, was pure, unveiled disdain.

Tae-Jun carefully studied the woman sitting opposite him. It was unexpected to see her
upset but it wasn’t as bad as he thought. She had delicate features. Her white face was
unusually flushed and her hands on the table were slightly shaking.

He observed the woman’s hand interestedly. Unlike the smooth hands of the women
around him, hers seemed rough albeit with neatly clipped nails.

Is she into hard labor?

Nonetheless, he couldn’t stop thinking of licking the back of her hand where blue veins
could be slightly noticed. As opposed to her trembling hands, Hye-Yeon’s voice sounded
quite firm. Neither did she waver, nor did she break their eye contact.

“You didn’t think I’d accept it, did you?”

“That’s different from what your father told me, Miss Hye-Yeon Jin.”

“My dad…”

With interest, Tae-Jun looked at her red fluttering lips that seemed to indicate she was
thinking of something to say. The thought of those lips being all his sooner or later thrilled
him.

“There’s something you’ve misunderstood… A mistake,” Hye-Yeon said urgently.

He laughed at her clumsy and urgent tone.

“Something I’ve misunderstood? Let’s hear from your father first what I’ve mistaken. He
asked me to call him if you’d come to say something different to what I have settled with
him.”

He immediately dialed her father’s private phone and Hye-Yeon seemed to tense up…

“Mr. Jin, as you said, your daughter is telling me a different story. What must I do?”

In only a brief moment, he pushed his cell phone toward Hye-Yeon without saying
anything, her white hands trembled even more than before.
Intrigued, he watched what words would be exchanged between the two. However, from
the moment she picked up the phone, Hye-Yeon didn’t say a word. Perhaps Mr.Jin told her
to just stay quiet and listen, for her fair face turned paler and paler and in the end, she
closed her eyes tightly.

Hye-Yeon slowly put his cell phone down on the table. Tae-Jun knew by intuition–there
was no hope for her.

It was the very next day that Hye-Yeon, who’d returned home wordlessly after receiving
her father’s call, contacted Tae-Jun. He invited her to the hotel room to meet him.

Arriving first, he whiled away sipping wine and playing with a cigarette in his mouth. Not
long after, he opened the door at the doorbell and Hye-Yeon slipped in quietly.

Passing by her who was standing in a daze, Tae-Jun sat on the sofa, stubbing his cigarette
on the ashtray.

“Have a seat,” he said.

She came over to the side hesitantly. Looking at her slender legs stretched under her dress
got him excited a little bit.

Tae-Jun took out the prepared contract. Hye-Yeon, who read the contract through with a
stiff face, opened her mouth slowly.

“The contract is for one year.”

Tae-Jun made a slight impression. It was enough time to get bored with a woman but was
too short for the money he paid.

“Isn’t that too short for the money I would pay to buy Jinseong hotel?”

“I don’t know about that. One year is the maximum that I can give.”

She was calm but firm. Tae-Jun stared at Hye-Yeon’s face trying to read her mind. To his
surprise, she didn’t avoid his eyes and continued talking.

“Take it or leave it.”

She really meant it. She was not playing mind-games in order to increase her worth. Nor
were her words lacking conviction. She seemed to be more eager than him to be rid of this
contract. Tae-Jun was not happy with her half-standing position which implied she was
ready to leave. He hated that he was losing control over her already. He bit the cigarette
and lit it up then asked her a question as if he was exhaling the smoke.

“Why just a year?”

“I should finish my degree.”

“Did you say you majored in Western painting? If so, getting my support would be an
advantage for you. An exhibition or a gallery, whichever you want to open.”

“I don’t want you to take control of my future with this relationship.”

He thought she was bold. Tae-Jun smoked his cigarette to its end and then opened his
mouth.

“All right. I accept your offer but you have to move in here.”

He didn’t even know why he’d set such a condition on it. He just wanted to keep her by his
side. She had to be there whenever he wanted, he didn’t want her to be involved with other
men. He had claimed her.

“You are saying… moving in with you?” she asked him back with her eyes wide open. And
her, with those eyes, got him curious out of the blue. It was quite tempting to imagine what
she would be like in bed.

“I also don’t want to lose out or waste my time. No refusal when I want to, if you accept this
condition, I’ll take yours, too.”

Hye-Yeon was silent for a long time. Tired of waiting for her answer, Tae-Jun took out
another cigarette. Just before he lit it up, she spoke below her breath.

“Okay, I will.”

Tae-Jun tapped the table and put down the lighter.

“The house will be prepared. Make sure you have nothing to make trouble and move in one
week later. Our contract will begin on that day. And when I said making trouble, it includes
guys around you. So don’t forget to cut them off before you arrive.”

Hye-Yeon had lost all her pallor. All she could do was nod. Tae-Jun relaxed and shifted into
a more comfortable position on the sofa.

“Is there anything else you want? Jewels, designer bags or cars, just tell me… whatever it is
you want.”

Weren’t those what girls usually wanted? Well, he was going to be generous, all he wanted
was to close the deal.

“I don’t like the smell of cigarettes.”

 Chapter 6 - Addictive
Chapter 6 – Addictive

It was an unexpected request. He thought, once again, she was bold. Tae-Jun smirked and
broke the cigarette that he was holding between his lips without lighting up then threw it
along with the others into the ashtray.

“That’s a difficult condition. But, okay, I will try.”

Tae-Jun stretched out his hand. Surprised by the hand that suddenly approached her face,
Hye-Yeon curled up but gave up as soon as she realized her position. She closed her eyes
while his hand stroked her face. His delicate fingers trailed down from her forehead to her
nose, then down her lips.

Gently, his fingers drew circles along her lips. His mellow voice drifted to her ear.

“Here’s the deposit. Take a shower and get ready.”

While Hye-Yeon entered the bathroom, Tae-Jun undid his tie and the cuffs. He went on to
unbutton his shirt, loosen the collar and poured himself another glass of wine. She was
taking longer than he’d expected. But he was determined to be patient.

By the time Hye-Yeon got out of the bathroom, he’d half-emptied his third glass of wine. By
how she was clutching her robe which would be taken off anyway, he could tell that she
was nervous.

Maybe it was because he was starting to feel tipsy. He felt rushed by the fresh scent effusing
from her. All he could think of was hurrying to taste her.

In his haste, he hurriedly tried to take her dress off. His rough gesture sent a shiver down
her spine. She looked at him, scared.

“I am a v!rgin.”

Her unexpected confession stopped his hands trying to pull down the dress. He thought she
had a boyfriend. He grinned.

“It’s my first time sleeping with a v!rgin.”

He lifted her chin up and made her meet his eyes. Her eyes were still full of anxiety. Tae-Jun
held out a glass of wine.

“Do you want some wine? It can help you relax,” he said.

“I don’t feel like getting drunk now.”

Honestly, he was afraid she’d bite her tongue right away, but she stood buff. Tae-Jun pulled
her chin to put his lips to hers. Her lips were sweet. Her soft tongue and saliva were as
sweet as her lips. Having tasted her for so long that his t0ngue was tingling, Tae-Jun moved
his lips to her ears with a satisfied look.

“Let me treat you well.”

His nimble hand moved along her body and dropped her dress on the floor. In turn, he also
stripped off her underw3ar. Her naked body was breathtakingly beautiful.

He had imagined her bare body several times. He knew it would be his type, but he liked it
much more in reality. He liked her white skin, long arms and legs and not big but perfect
sized bre@sts as well.

Her body trembled greatly as he grabbed her bosom and put her pink nipple in his mouth.
She was pretty sensitive.

With Tae-jun’s skillful caresses, Hye-Yeon bit her lips, her eyes tightly shut. He wanted to
see her other facial expressions, and just couldn’t take his eyes off of her… The expressions
she gave upon discovering new sensations fascinated him.

In addition, her body was so addictively tasty that it was not a waste to go slow with her.
Her whole body was soft, sweet and moist. The more he tasted it, the more he was thirsty
to indulge it.

It was not long until Hye-yeon felt the foot of a bed behind her, and Tae-jun gentle laid her
down atop it. As the large man joined her, the soft mattress sunk under his weight. She was
underneath him.

His lips, which wandered around her body to quench his thirst, headed to her lady garden.
Hye-Yeon, who was holding back the sound so much that her hand holding the bed sheet
turned white, shouted embarrassedly.

“What are you doing..!”

The frightened woman struggled, but he held her spread legs firmly. He opened up her
already wet lab!a and excited the cl*toris with his tongue. She shivered. He placed his head
to her lady parts and kept exploring her cave. She, who had been suppressing her m0ans,
jerked out her words with a sobbing sound.

“No, please. Just do it without this part.”

His member was pretty huge and long. As for a woman who has had a lot of experience
could take it, but Hye-Yeon would barely be able endure.

“Stay still. You will thank me later.”

He continued licking her cl*toris with the tip of his tongue and put his finger inside of her.
Her vu*va, which was too tight to have no more than one finger a moment ago, had become
much softer. Opening up a narrow, stiff spot, he added another finger. As his fingers
continued to penetrate her, his mouth didn’t stop sucking her hardened bud.

Finally, Hye-Yeon twisted herself and moaned. “Ah, aaaaahh!”

Hye-Yeon quivered slightly. The groan that escaped her mouth for the first time turned him
on extremely. Only after seeing that her whole body was soaked with his saliva, did Tae-Jun
raise his head with great satisfaction. Hye-Yeon’s eyes were blurry and in tears.

He touched the entrance between her legs with his finger. Her wet folds were still quivering
as if it was ready to suck his fingers inside.

“This will do.”

He took off his pants and brought out the c0ndom he had prepared.
 Chapter 7 - His and Only His
Chapter 7 – His and Only His

T/N: This chapter contains mature scenes.

As she saw him wear the condom, Hye-yeon flinched. She realized that the real thing was
about to start. She didn’t know what to expect, and her heart was in her mouth.

She was brusquely brought out of her inattention when she felt him grab her waist and pull
her lady garden closer to his member. Sensing a completely different feeling of his thing
than ever, she looked up at him with astonishment. Without a warning, Tae-jun slowly slid
his length into her. Her eyes opened wide, she gasped, feeling as if the air was stuck in her
throat. She tried to get away from him.

“Ah, please, it hurts!”

“First time always does. You’ll feel good soon when you get used to it.” His voice was
brimming with lust.

Tae-jun went all the way into her in one push, pressing her down so she wouldn’t escape.
Hye-yeon whimpered and tightened her grip on the sheets. Her body shivered, finding it
still difficult to accommodate him, even though he’d stimulated her before penetrating her.

Her quivering, too hot and tight va**na that had accepted a man’s meat for the very first
time, sent him in delirium. This was a sensation that no woman had ever given him. The
initial distaste of indulging a vestal was replaced with an insatiable desire and never like
before pleasure.

Left to him, he wanted to pin her down and penetrate her as much as he could. And yet, he
didn’t. He had Hye-yeon for himself, there was no rush. Today was not the last chance to
gratify his desire. There would be many more coming, he could train her slowly. She was
totally his for a year. What he was doing to her was a ritualistic act of imprinting himself on
her. He would relish every bit of it.

He lowered his head to kiss her forehead and cheek. He had never put so much effort into
caress before. Feeling her breath slowly stabilizing, he moved.

“Ah, mmh.” Hye-yeon groaned.

He could no longer wait. When he saw the tears in her eyes, he started to groan. He was
aroused like never before. She was a woman whose tears were seductive and he was a man
enthralled.
He licked her tears and pushed his meat to its hilt. He slid in and out of her beautiful pink,
wet, lady parts repeatedly. As he stamped her body with his lips and tongue, he could feel
her body shudder aimlessly.

“Don’t you dare close your eyes.” He commanded.

Her eyes, dimmed by the building pleasure, fluttered open and fixed upon his dark gaze. His
dark pools seemed to pull her. As he looked into those pure orbs, Tae-jun felt an intense
explosion within. It felt like the emotions that were caged since eons, were released. He let
go, succumbed to his lust and in a few intense thrusts which caused her head to bang
against the headboard multiple times, he reached his climax.

Sweat trickled down her back, Hye-yeon struggled to catch her breath. When she finally
did, she couldn’t help but utter. “Will our relationship be like this?”

Her soft voice was as dismal as the darkness that shrouded the room. Burying his lips on
the woman’s bare shoulders, Tae-jun spoke.

“I will have you whenever I want to.”

“Then I am a doll named ‘Hye-yeon’ to you.”

He didn’t remember what he’d said when he heard her voice, but by the sound of it, it
seemed like she’d given up everything.

❆❆❆

It was a dream.

Tae-jun rubbed his face up and down vigorously. He reckoned he fell asleep leaning on the
sofa.

Why did he dream of the first time he had s*x with Hye-yeon for the first time? He sighed.

These past few days, he had slept but for less than two hours a day. It was also a hassle that
the land deal overlapped with the annual event. To him, showing up for such dos was
merely a duty, throw in a few interviews and personnel appointments in the mix and he
went about the job mechanically.

Furthermore, he had to fight against the myriad of emotions that hit him like a plague at
this time of the year—this was the month Hye-yeon died.

Hye-yeon Jin… whenever he thought of her, the dark and deep Jinseong river would appear
before his eyes; the cold winds that gently touched his body and cut his heart, the sound of
the softly flowing water that wreaked havoc in his senses.
It was still fresh like it’d happened just yesterday. And why not? For she was the woman
who had given him hope only to fiercely beat him back to the bottomless abyss.

Time and again he’d asked himself how much longer it would take him to forget the woman
who still lived in his dreams and memories. Time and again, the answer had been more
dreams and memories.

[E/D: Really? Wonder who wanted it only for a year!]

Tae-jun’s eyes were fixated on the large TV screen. The video was paused on a face. It
looked very… alive.

The film still before his eyes was certainly not a dream. It was definitely her on the original
CCTV in the lobby of Hotel Seoin. The very woman who had learnt, felt and gasped for
pleasure underneath him.

It seemed like time had stood still too. Her white skin, straight nose, and deep black eyes
looked just like they did then. Those slender fingers holding the phone, plump lips, were as
inviting as they were then.

He couldn’t believe that she was standing there in flesh and blood, in the pink of health,
pretending to be someone who’d nothing to do with him.

Did she really think she’s nothing to do with him now?

Tae-jun wouldn’t allow that. Never would he let any man, boyfriend or husband, linger
around her. No one but him was allowed to touch and feel her. She was his and only his.

He’d vowed to find her. If she were alive, he would find her; even if it meant turning the
whole world upside down. If not? He would bring back her lifeless body, but find her, he
would.

He pulled out a cigarette and flipped it into his mouth. The moment he lit it, his eyes
inadvertently gazed into those on the screen. He was reminded of how she hated cigarette
smoke. She’d made him, a heavy smoker, give up smoking.

He wondered if she still hated it. Biting his lips, he puffed out on the woman on the screen.

❆❆❆
 Chapter 8
Chapter 8

It wasn’t difficult to find the taxi with a number plate 30 Ga 12** at all.

The taxi driver recalled Hye-yeon when he was shown the printed pictures of CCTV
footage. He seemed more convinced by the bundle of banknotes that was pushed in front of
him. Anyway, he called Hye-yeon Jin an impressive beauty. Well, at least that part, he had it
right.

The problem was what came after. Hye-yeon had gotten off at a busy subway station. What
with about 100 hotels and an equal number, if not more, residences in the vicinity, this
station was hustling and bustling with foreign tourists and commuters alike. Jin-wook had
his underlings investigate by questioning the nearby stores and subway stations. Clearly, it
was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

After the investigation turned up with decisive naught, Jin-wook wasn’t surprised. This was
an expected result. Soon, he started deliberating about other possible means of solving this
conundrum. However, after hitting a lot of dead ends, what got him thinking eventually,
was Hye-yeon’s death.

The fact that the dead woman was alive meant that the case hadn’t been handled properly
at the time. There had to be loopholes in the flawless story that was played before them. He
was certain, now more than ever, that this ‘death’ was not as simple as it seemed. And there
was only one way of finding out…

Jin-wook was no ordinary assistant. Neither was his background ordinary. In his days
before Tae-jun, he was a fierce detective whose forte was finding people. No matter what,
no matter where; dead or alive, if a person was to be found, Detective Jeong would never
turn up empty-handed. His superior acumen had earned him the sobriquet ‘cadaver dog’.

Jin-wook was an astute mind. He was someone who knew the importance of cultivating
resources and he’d diligently done just that. Over the past 20 years, he had built an enviable
network of police and people alike. And now that he worked for the Seoin family, this
network was a very handy asset. Thus, through his acquaintance, he was able to be
introduced to the officer who’s in-charge of Hye-yeon’s case back then.

However, the officer had been transferred to Paju. Without delay, Jin-wook made an
appointment to ask him about the incident.

On the said day, Jin-wook arrived at the meeting place well before the scheduled time. As a
detective, he had picked up certain habits along the way. He’d always made meticulous
notes to enable him to have the bird’s eye view of the case in hand. And given his track
record, this little habit had indeed brought him a long way. As he waited for the officer to
arrive, he took out his usual notebook and started to recount the events surrounding Hye-
yeon’s disappearance.

At that time, Tae-jun was on a two-week business trip to Europe. He was usually
accompanied by his manager Mr. Lee, but Jin-wook was the one taking care this time as the
continent was a little chaotic due to the terrorist attacks on coloured people.

It was on the second day of Tae-jun’s business trip that Hye-yeon disappeared. She hadn’t
returned home since the time she had stepped out in the morning. The CCTV installed
outside the house only showed her getting into a taxi in a hurry.

By the time Tae-jun realized that she had vanished, it’s the fifth day of his business trip. Her
cell phone was off and there was no sign of her whatsoever. He’d immediately contacted
her father. Mr. Jin said he would persuade his daughter as she seemed to be fickle for a
moment but Tae-jun didn’t hear from him since.

Throughout his stay in Europe, Tae-jun was a bundle of nerves. He was on the verge of
losing his sh*t, especially when his stay was extended due to airport closure in the wake of
the fresh terrorist attacks.

To Jin-wook, that time when he had to watch Tae-jun, was no different from walking on
thin ice.

No sooner had their plane landed in Korea, than they headed directly to President Myung-
Je Jin’s house. Tae-jun issued a gruesome warning in the car.

[I won’t let her out of the house for the time being.]

However, what greeted him was a Hye-Seong Jin in mourning and not Hye-yeon who’s
supposed to be waiting for Tae-jun at the residence of CEO Myung-je Jin. Tae-jun was
shocked but said nothing. Yet, something hard to describe seemed to have been broken in
him. Recollecting that very moment, Jin-wook rubbed his rough jaw.

“Excuse me, are you Jin-wook Jeong?”

A man with a stocky build approached him. He was the person who Jin-wook was supposed
to meet today.

Jin-wook rose from his seat and held out his hand for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I heard you were in Jinseong city at the time.”

The man remembered Hye-yeon Jin’s case even though it had been quite some time. They
ordered coffee and went straight to the main point.

“I’ll be blunt. Can Hye-yeon be alive?” Can she be alive all this time?
“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking about the probability that the body of the autopsy report was not Hye-yeon’s.”

“Haha, this is so. I’ve never had such a question in my police career.”

If a dead woman was alive, it would mean that she wasn’t dead in the first place, Jin-wook
thought.

It was the first time that the identity of the dead body was questioned. The death report
could only be completed if the body examination report was required. What Jin-wook
doubted was its authenticity. But the other man waved his hand.

“It can never be.” He outrightly rejected the theory. He was confident that there were no
errors. “The DNA and the fingerprints were a perfect match. Also, the bereaved family
confirmed that the body was Hye-yeon’s.”

The man’s words were no different to those officials who’d conducted the preliminary
investigations. She was found in the river with no particular external injury. After
identification, the body was handed over to the family. There was nothing strange about
her death, no signs of struggle or robbery.

Who the hell is the woman walking around alive, what is going on now?! Jin-wook was
confused.

Jin-wook could only scratch his wry ballpoint pen on his notebook as if it was to be blamed.
The man who had been talking for a long time said nothing that was not already known.
Then, he suddenly lowered his voice—he looked to have come to a decision.

“The truth is… to be honest, I don’t know if I can say this. But… there was… something
strange about this case,” he said, cautiously.

“What is it?” Jin-wook couldn’t mask his eagerness.

“The body was supposedly drowned, but her lungs were not filled with water.”
 Chapter 9
Chapter 9

“Are you sure?”

Jin-wook put his brain to work.

No water in her lungs means that the cause of death was not drowning. If so, wouldn’t there
be a possibility of murder? A chance that someone killed her and then put her in the river?

“Then, what is your opinion on the real cause of death?”

“I don’t know. The prosecutor in charge was stopped from asking the National Forensic
Service to look into the matter. From his immediate superior, no, maybe someone higher.
He’s been on TV a lot these days. You know, he’s mentioned as the next presidential
candidate. In-bae Lee, former mayor of Jinseong and the current governor of Gyeonggi.”

“What about him?”

“I was just a minor official at the time, so I didn’t know what was going on. Anyway, we had
to discard all the records pertaining to this case, so I don’t have a picture left. I still
remember this case because the way it was processed was very strange.”

“Can I see the prosecutor who was in charge?”

“You can try, but he won’t be helpful. He’s been a part of In-bae’s team from the start.”

“Didn’t her family raise any questions about her death?”

“Not at all and I heard she was cremated without a funeral.”

“Wasn’t there a reinvestigation?”

“Who would do it? The dead woman is the daughter of CEO Myung-je Jin. No one would
have wanted to get involved in this matter unless CEO Jin himself stepped up. As did I. Back
then, Jinseong City was like that… like Gotham City in Batman.”

Jin-wook frowned thinking about Gotham, the city of evil and corruption.

Jin-wook was also well aware of the notoriety of CEO Myung-je Jin, who once controlled
the city of Jinseong. Apart from helming a promising company, Jinseong Construction, he
was also the head of a gang called Jinseongpa.

Under the Jinseongpa banner, Myung-je Jin conducted all sorts of dirty works, including but
not limited to smuggling, drugs, and prostitution. Being in cahoots with In-bae Lee, the then
mayor of Jinseong City, unbridled, he’d thrived. Whenever In-bae connected with
entrepreneurs, politicians, and lawyers, the ties were forged with the money, drugs and of
course, women supplied by Myung-je Jin. The two ran a systematic syndicate, righteous on
the surface, vile underneath.

They were absolutely evil and had the power to back it up. No one dared oppose them. So
this officer’s remark, expressing his flat refusal in getting involved in this shenanigan, was
fully understandable.

Finally, Jin-wook revealed the picture from the CCTV footage he’s carrying in his notebook.
He laid it on the table for the man to see.

“Do you know this woman by any chance?”

The man took a few moments to look at the picture carefully. Then he shook his head and
said, “Sorry, not familiar.”

Jin-wook closed his eyes tight and rubbed his head. The discussion had come to an end.
There was nothing else he’d glean here. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his thoughts and
opened his eyes. He handed the man the payment that was agreed upon. The man thanked
him, shook hands and took his leave.

When he was finally all by himself, Jin-wook made a call to Tae-jun. He’d to report to his
boss, albeit an interim one. There was a lot of information, definite and ambiguous; explicit
and implicit. But for now, he decided to save his words on issues related to Hye-yeon’s
death. What mattered was confirmation of her death.

“Her whereabouts after getting out of the taxi are unknown. Where she got off was such a
crowded place. And I met the police officer who was in charge of Hye-yeon’s case. He said it
was hard to find anything strange with the corpse. There was no rigged evidence.”

– So, is he sure that the body was Hye-yeon’s?

“Yes.”

The dead girl was definitely Hye-yeon. He had hit a dead-end here. Jin-wook stared at the
picture on the table before him. His instincts told him that the woman in the picture should
be what he had to have doubts about. And never had his instincts failed him.

– All right!

Tae-jun said from the other side. There was not much emotion in his voice, not even
dejection; as if he hadn’t expected much from the start.

– Then they would’ve known.

“They?”
– Hye-yeon’s family.

Jin-wook had also considered her father, CEO Myung-je Jin, and brother, Hye-seong Jin.
However, the two most closely related to Hye-yeon had not been accounted for after the
bankruptcy of Jinseong Construction. Jin-wook reported to Tae-jun his findings.

“Myung-je Jin died shortly after Jinseong Construction went bankrupt.”

There was a brief silence.

– What was the reason?

“He was stabbed in the neck. It seems he’d interfered in a scuffle between gangsters. Rumor
has it that In-bae Lee hired someone to kill him.”

– He probably had a disagreement with Lee In-bae, I guess. He was only reaping what he
had sowed. What about Hye-seong?

“Regarding Hye-seong… after his father’s death, he went into hiding. It will take a while to
find him.”

– Okay, keep working on it.

Tae-jun finished the call with a short message.

With the end of their conversation, thoughts reeled in Jin-wook’s mind. He had been with
Tae-jun for 20 years but the man had somehow developed some kind of sharp, barbaric
desire after Hye-yeon’s death. He seemed to be obsessed with her at every waking and non-
waking moment. At first, he had brushed it off as a fleeting obsession, but four years hence,
he held a different opinion. He knew his boss had yet to come to terms with her death. And
now, this girl had shown up out of nowhere.

Is it a good sign or a bad sign? More importantly, who is this girl?

Jin-wook tapped on Hye-yeon’s photo in his notebook with a ballpoint pen. This was a
conundrum, perhaps the biggest in his life, and the ‘cadaver dog’ was determined to get to
the bottom of it at all costs.

⸙
 Chapter 10
Chapter 10

A jaunty large frame of a man was making its way down the hallway. He hummed along his
gleeful strides but stopped as soon as he met a slight distraction. Jae-won, who was heading
to the head office of Daejin Department Store, ran into a woman on his way.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” was his quick apology.

He took a step to the right, making way for the woman. Oh, but the woman also stepped to
the right. He then moved to the left, oops, those delicate feet mirrored his movement.

What a ridiculous situation! Straight out of a movie! Jae-won smiled awkwardly and raised
his head to look at the woman. She was looking back at him.

“Wow…”

He felt dazed for a moment. The woman whose eyes met his was a great beauty. Jae-won
stepped back without realizing it, feeling himself sinking into the depths of her eyes which
twinkled as bright as the stars.

“Thank you.” The woman gratefully said before bowing her head.

Even with her departure, Jae-won’s feet were nailed to its place, his gaze followed the
woman walking away further in the distance.

Who is she? Does she work here? I’m sure I saw her leave the General Manager’s office.

“Director Lee? What are you doing here?”

It was Ji-soo Kim, secretary to Si-yeon, who snapped Jae-won out of his reverie.

This lovely woman was also the nanny who had been taking care of Si-yeon since she was a
child. Once her ward had grown up and donned the professional hat, she was promoted to
the position of secretary. For this, Jae-won knew her very well, too.

“Oh, hello, Mrs. Kim. It’s been a long time since I saw you at the engagement party. Is Si-
yeon inside?”

“Yes, sir. What brings you here?”

“I came here to deliver a gift,” Jae-won said humorously.

“Oh, the gift from the Seo family.”

After seeing the present that Jae-won was holding, Secretary Kim hurriedly opened the
office door which revealed the Si-yeon sitting at her desk staring at something.

Noticing her friend’s presence, she looked up. “What’s up?”

Jae-won lifted the piece of artwork he’d brought along and showed it to her. “Here’s your
engagement gift.”

Delighted, Si-yeon rose from her seat with a glow on her face. She came over to him, hitting
the floor rhythmically with her stiletto heels.

“Is that Delacroix? Seo family’s personal collection?” Si-yeon received the painting from Jae-
won and carefully unwrapped it.

“By the way, how long will Tae-jun stay in that boss’ position? Is he trying to make it to 10
years? He’s already engaged, so he should change a little now.”

“Well, that’s up to him. To be honest, the title doesn’t matter. He is the next chairman
anyway and already has all the power to make practical decisions. Now, he seems to be
putting pressure on the executives. Like I’m watching you guys.” Jae-won imitated Tae-
Jun’s cold, dark gaze.

“He’s amazing anyway.” Si-yeon shrugged her shoulders.

Letting his gaze wander, Jae-won noticed scattered pictures on the desk. He picked one.

“What’s this? It looks like a sculpture.”

“That is a sculpture I recently bought for the VIP lounge.”

“Did you buy it again?”

“What do you mean again?”

Si-yeon, the heiress of Daejin Group, was interested in art, even though she took up
management lessons. It had started as a rebellious streak to make use of her father’s
fortune to the fullest but then, by the time she took charge of the department store, she
began to graft her interests with business.

And her exquisite artistic sense made a big hit. She had a flair for this. Creating a gallery
inside a department store, selling the works of famous artists in the lobby and sponsoring
new artists were all projects undertaken by her.

Above all, she was a materialistic woman. She spared no expense in collecting paintings and
sculptures she deemed as decent pieces of works.
“You bought another one which was a billion-dollar picture a few months ago. How much is
it this time?”

Si-yeon took a moment to answer Jae-won’s question. “12 million.”

“12 million won? That’s good. You know, your usual spending is…”

“12 million dollars. You better wait until I finish my sentences.”

Jae-won was lost for words. Since childhood, he was influenced by his mother, the gallery
director and took art lessons in vain. In the world of art, he was a hopeless case. Delacroix’s
work, which Si-yeon had longed for, didn’t impress him at all. What he saw in the picture
now was not something marvelous either. The sculpture was a half-body of a woman, her
feminine parts obscured by leaves. He was shocked at its price.

“Are you crazy?”

“My VIPs spend hundreds of millions of won a year, and only luxurious high-quality
artworks in the lounge can satisfy them. This is the most famous one in America right now,
after Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst’s works.”

“No matter how famous it is, this unfinished looking artwork is worth $12 million?”

She put her hands on her waist and grumbled. “It’s not incomplete. It’s perfect! It’s called
‘The Heart of Apollo.’ Look at the subtitle below.”

Small letters were inscribed on the statue’s base which read “Apollo’s Broken Heart.”

Those words rang a bell and Jae-won recalled one of the tragic myths he happened to read
during his school days.

Apollo, one of the twelve gods of Olympus, was the god of music, poetry, art, the sun, reason
and a great warrior. Also a patron of archery, he’d mock the god of love Eros* for his use of
bow and arrow.

Upset by the constant ridicule, Eros decided to avenge himself. He prepared two arrows: a
gold and a lead. There, he shot Apollo with the gold arrow, making him fall madly in love
with Daphne, a nymph of the forest and here, he shot Daphne the lead arrow making her
hate Apollo endlessly.

[T/N: Eros is the Greek god of love and sex. His Roman counterpart was Cupid “desire”. Here
we’re talking about the very cherub with that symbolic bow and arrow in hand, making
people fall in love.]

With that began, literally, the love-hate saga. Daphne’s deep-seated hatred for Apollo drove
her farther and farther away from him but the god never ceased chasing her. And at the
moment she was finally caught by Apollo, Daphne pleaded her father to turn into a laurel
tree to escape him. His love ended up destroying her.

Broken heart of Apollo….

Jae-won mumbled to himself, studying the painting.

“Then, is this half-woman Daphne?”

“That’s right.”

The statue that looked sad in some ways, reminded Jae-won of the woman with impressive
eyes he had just encountered.

Immediately, a boyish grin emerged on his lips. “So, I just bumped into someone while I
was coming here.”

“Oh, Miss Yuri Han?” Strangely, her name matches well with her appearance, he thought.
She looked as exquisite as an expensive crystal.

[T/N: Yu-ri (유리) means glass/crystal in Korean.]

“What does she do? Is she your employee?”

“No, not our staff. I told you before, right? She is Roy Jean’s assistant.”

“What was Roy Jean’s assistant doing here?”

“She is going to take care of ‘Heart of Apollo’, which originated in the United States until it is
installed in the lobby of Daejin Department Store. Today, she stopped by for an actual
inspection.”

“Don’t you think Roy Jean should be here when that amazing work costs around $12
million? What kind of assistant takes this big event?”

“He has a restoration job in Japan and I couldn’t wait for him to be finally free and do his
work here. Anyway, Yuri is an assistant recommended by Roy Jean. She also participated in
the ‘Heart of Apollo’ work.”

Si-yeon stopped talking as she realized something.

“Oh, you’re interested in Yuri, aren’t you?”

Jae-won flinched at her guess but immediately cleared his throat and avoided her searching
gaze.

“I only saw her once just now.”

“You always fall in love at first sight. Come to think of it, Yuri is your type.”

“My type?”

“Long, skinny, white girls. You used to have the nickname ‘model sucker’, didn’t you? You
only like fair and thin women.”

“That was a long time ago.” He frowned, “This is exactly the reason why having an old
friend who knows your past is not good.”

Si-yeon giggled, seeing the red hue adorning Jae-won’s cheeks.

“Unfortunately, you’d better give up on her.”

“Why, is she married?”

“Not that point, but there’s a rumor that Roy Jean and her are having a quite special
relationship. Assistants in this field usually are expected to be lovers of the artists they
work for. It is too obvious. They actually travel together.”

“Really?”

Jae-won was a little disappointed because as his old friend had just pointed, she was indeed
his type.

Even so, he didn’t mean to meddle in other people’s love affairs. He didn’t want to attract
troubles. When it comes to life, work and love, he always preferred smooth sailing. That’s
why he moved into his mother’s family side to avoid his father’s company, where he had to
compete fiercely with his brother.

As a matter of fact, his dating life had always been ‘successful’. Of course, there were times
that he met turbulence along the way, but the break-ups never caused him any problem.

He never chose a complicated woman. Hence, the beautiful woman who caught his
attention not too long ago was just a passing wish. Jae-won smirked and got rid of the
image of the woman in his head.

⸙
 Chapter 11
Chapter 11

Darkness surrounded her body, she could feel the familiar vulnerability engulfing her. She
tried to hold her ground, fighting that surging emotion, reining in her sanity. And yet, as the
unknown force firmly spread across her legs, her resolve quivered—she surrendered.

She felt his hands hold her thighs tightly as if afraid she’d move. But only she knew that she
wouldn’t. She was inching deeper into the torrent of undercurrent, refusing to swim to the
surface. Just then, something like an electric current jolted her body. The man had buried
his face between her legs, a m0an escaped her lips. Every time his lips and tongue tickled
and sucked her sensitive part, her sight turned white. She felt a gush of pleasure and finally,
something burst forth.

She shivered along with the sensation that swept her from head to toe. Calming herself she
lifted her eyelids at the touch. His lips that had made love to her were wet and velvety.

The moment she felt that she gritted her teeth as she reached her peak. The dam broke. At
the same time, the man in the dark made a rough insertion. Her hands, clutching the sheets,
trembled at the sudden rush of stimuli into her.

His tongue, which had been teasing her sensitive cl*t for a long time, were now tending to
her aroused buds. Her body twisted in response. The rough movements that hit her deep,
quickly brought her out of ecst@sy. Unlike the tremors his fierce thrusts were inducing in
her lower parts, his lips and tongue tasting her silky skin were relaxed and gentle.

The man tossed her sweaty hair behind her ear and licked her earlobes. Her body swayed
to his movements. She wondered when it would end; a guttural cry, which she belatedly
realized, came from her.

“Ah!”

Her eyes flew open, she was panting. She looked around her, it was still dark. Although she
was certain it was a dream, her body dripping with sweat made it feel like she’d actually
had s*x. She felt hot and cold at the same time.

Even being wide awake, Yuri Han couldn’t find even a semblance of reality for a while. She
looked around everywhere as if seeking for something reassuring. On the side table, the
medicine sat untouched. She seemed to have fallen asleep while fiddling with the medicine,
which she ought to take before going to bed.

It’s that dream again.

She buried her face in her hands, barely catching her breath—a result of the excitement she
had just experienced.
It’s all right, it’s all right. She mumbled.

Taking a long deep breath, she got herself off the bed. She could feel her legs quiver as they
touched the ground, her trembling hands brushed aside the damp hair on her face. She took
a moment to collect herself, or rather she thought she did.

Trudging to the bathroom, she dragged herself to the edge of the bathtub. Turning on the
faucet, she blankly stared at the hot water filling the bathtub. Then, bit by bit, she lowered
herself into the tub. When she felt the heat around her, she hugged her knees, closed her
eyes and buried her face. She could do nothing else, she was drained. It’s not like she’d not
slept enough, even then she was very exhausted.

Gradually, as she analyzed her dream, the past events surfaced to her mind.

These ‘dreams’ had begun only after the hypnotherapy she’d undergone as a part of her
treatment. Since then, she had regular bouts that always threw her into disarray… And each
time, the content of the dream was the same—the same darkness, the same sounds and the
same man indulging in an intense s*x with her.

She never really understood why this kept repeating, neither could she ask the doctor
about it— after all, what girl could describe the salacious scene without being
embarrassed, even to a professional. At some point, she even doubted if she were a
nymphoman!ac.

Yuri’s hand unconsciously touched where the man had put his tongue. The caresses, the
rapture, and the pain— the dream was as vivid as reality. When the scenes flitted past her
mind again, her body heated up.

Who are you?

She leaned her head on the edge of the bathtub and asked the man in her dream… as if he’d
look into her eyes and answer.

At the end of every dream, she would be filled with curiosity as much as confusion. She was
intrigued by his identity, her connection, if any, to him. Why does he keep on visiting her
dreams?

And yet, despite it all, this man also evoked an unknown fear… as if he were the harbinger
of despair and destruction.

She came out of the bathroom only after the water had cooled. There was still time before
dawn, but she couldn’t dare to fall asleep again.

Turning on her laptop, Yuri started working. Establishing a concept wasn’t an easy task. A
lot had to be considered. While the theme, locale and color schemes were the prerequisites,
setting up the background and lighting were vital for the installation process. She took a
while to compile the details.
Once done, she quickly composed an email to Roy Jean. She attached an image of the site
inspection along with the exhibition concept portfolio presented by Daejin Department
Store. She didn’t forget to mention her opinions and suggestions. When she was through,
she hit send.

For some time, Yuri stared blankly at the computer screen bearing the search engine.
Taking a deep breath, she typed in the search bar: Psychogenic Amnesia

A memory disorder resulting from psychological trauma. The exact cause cannot be
determined, the possibility of healing varies from person to person—the explanation she
had read over a hundred times, the disease she had been suffering from for some time.

Somehow, Yuri had no memory of five years ago. That didn’t mean all her memories were
gone. No, it wasn’t the case. It was just that, as someone cut it out, only a year of time that
should’ve been stored in her brain had disappeared.

The doctor who’d first treated Yuri said that her memory was not lost but that it was hiding
somewhere in the deep recesses of the brain refusing to surface right now. However, he’d
the confidence it’d return and naturally in a few months or years. He’d also added that
there would be no major confusion because people’s memories are unclear anyway.

All this while, Yuri had also tried to take it lightly. There was no problem with her day-to-
day life, and there was nothing majorly upsetting either. As the doctor had said, there was
no one in the world who could remember absolutely everything. She was quite resigned to
this logic, save one slight problem.

The hidden memory had stowed away something important to her. This memory was akin
to gravity; yes, the very one that keeps things glued to the ground.

⸙
 Chapter 12
Chapter 12

Without the memories, Yuri always felt she lived in a weightless state. That fine line
between real and surreal seemed to have faded. And as cracks piled up one by one every
day, something popped through the cracks. In her case, self-harm or suicide attempt.

After going through it twice, alarmed, her uncle inquired around and took her to Dr. Davis.

Dr. Davis added another name to Yuri’s psychogenic memory illness. Post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). He was one of the leading doctors in the PTSD field.

Davis had urged her to tackle the psychological trauma first. In order to do so, it was
necessary to know where the whole thing stemmed from. He’d tried hard to bring it out,
even going as far as creating traumatic scenarios to stimulate her latent memory. In turn,
this would trigger her auto-defense mechanism and she would be able to at least share, if
not get rid, of the harrowing experience.

But treatment had repeatedly hit a snag. Yuri’s rejection was beyond his expectation.
Whenever she tried to recall even a little bit of memory, she would have severe pain and
vomiting after which she’d faint.

Thus, Davis took a step back, saying, “Let’s take our time and go slowly.” He then
introduced “Roy Jean”, saying that someone had shown interest when Yuri was undergoing
art therapy.

Roy Jean, a famous installation artist, was also a close friend of Dr. Davis. At the time, he
was a kindred spirit— down in the dumps, taking a long break from work and under his
friend’s professional care. Yuri was offered the position of his assistant. Thereon, he went
on to become a teacher, boss, and benefactor to her.

One by one, people started to appear on the empty street. The sun was gradually rising, the
day had officially kickstarted.

She was looking out the window, a cup of coffee in hand, when her cell phone rang. It was
Roy. Putting her cup down, a surprised Yuri answered the call.

“Roy? How are you doing?”

-I got your email.

“You didn’t sleep?”

-I can’t sleep because of the rain. It’s been raining here since last night. And you?
“I just woke up.”

-Are you uncomfortable at the new hotel?

“No, it’s not. I just had a bad dream.”

Her first stay was at Hotel Seoin. Since the Daejin Department Store had offered to take
charge of accommodation during her stay in Korea and made the reservation, she had no
say in it. It’s not a standard, but a deluxe room.

At first, she was excited by the unexpected luxury. However, her joy was short lived. She
had hardly stepped into the room when Yuri felt her head spinning; her hands and feet
began to tremble, she felt her chest tightening. It was a feeling similar to a panic attack. It
was a miracle that she’d managed to leave the room without a complication. She had no
choice but to ask Daejin Department Store to cancel her stay.

Roy’s voice calmed her thoughts. Somehow, he always reassured her. Ever since he’d saved
her from being stuck in that room… dying, she’d developed an uncanny relationship with
him.

She could never forget Roy’s face from that day, his eyes that were looking at her when
she’d opened her eyes. They held… regret. Since that day, time and again, she had seen Roy
look at her with the same emotion.

– When will ‘heart’ get there?

“Well, it’ll be delivered in two days.”

– I see. I checked your email and I think you should change the tone of the main light in the
showroom to darker—to bring out the feeling of the abyss. Make the surrounding brighter.

“Yes, I will forward your opinion to Daejin Department Store.”

– How does it feel to be visiting your home country after a long time? Davis said it might
help you with the memory

“To be honest, I don’t know.”

– Is that so?

After talking a while more, as she tried to wrap up the call, Roy suddenly asked…

– Yuri, do you still draw ‘The Man’?

She was speechless and suddenly felt out of breath. She tried to compose herself by taking a
breath.
“No, I don’t draw anymore,” she said.

Davis’ art therapy included a session of painting in which she was bizarrely obsessed with
one object. No matter the hour, no matter the scenery around, her hands would always end
up painting the man. And should she defy this coercive cycle by refusing to draw altogether,
the man would visit her in her dream. Simply put, there was no way she’d escape this man.

After she’d hung up, Yuri simply slumped on the bed. She felt like someone had sucked the
life out of her. For a long time, she kept staring at her own hands. These were the very
hands that had once created masterpieces. They were her magic wand, doing her bidding
and leaving everyone mesmerized. Their partnership made for stellar shows.

But now, all that felt like another lifetime. For these hands could do nothing now. They
were just that, hands; the magic seemed to have been… lost. They felt soulless… dead. She
wondered how it had come to this. She wondered if she were cursed.

Yuri closed her eyes feeling hopeless.

By the time Yuri had wrapped up her meeting with the planning team of Daejin Department
Store, it was lunchtime. She was hungry. She, who was thinking of going back to the hotel,
rode down the escalator and into the food section of the department store for a simple
meal.

Even as she neared the food court, she could smell the delicious aroma wafting from its
direction. What greeted her when she entered was a spacious and lively area lined with a
variety of kiosks. She was not new to this concept, however, she was intimidated by the
food which looked spectacular.

It was a dumpling shop called “Seohwadang” where Yuri circled around and stopped at.

As soon as she checked the sign, she had a slight doubt.

Huh?! Seohwadang… in a department store?!

Seohwadang was the oldest dumpling shop in Jinseong. The ‘shop’ was actually an old
hanok that lent a warm touch to its homestyle food and ambience. It was also a popular
place to steam dumplings. In the large hanging cauldron in their courtyard, anyone was
welcome to dump a few dumplings on their own. Patrons loved the idea of creating their
own dumplings and as it gained fame, this cauldron came to symbolize this quaint place.
Anyone who was remotely aware of this joint, would recognize the pot at a glance.

Although it was different from how she remembered it to be, right now, in this modern
setting, the cauldron was the only item serving as evidence of authenticity. What’s more,
the steam rising from it assured her that neither was she mistaken nor delusioned. Indeed,
this was her favorite favorite dumpling place!
[T/N: Hanok is a traditional Korean house. They’re quite pretty, take a peek.]

Standing by the order counter, a pleased as punch Yuri, ordered chicken and chives
dumplings without further ado. She’d loved this in the past and couldn’t wait to taste.
However, the staff who received the order looked troubled.

“I’m sorry, but the item you ordered will take a long time, so why don’t you change it to
something else please?”

Ouch, what a disappointment! But… that was something she wanted to eat the most!

Just as she was considering waiting until the staff made a fresh batch, a voice stopped her
in her thoughts.

“Minus a serving from my order please. I’ll change it to shrimp.”

Yuri raised her head.

A tall guy, with bright brown hair and beautiful eyes, was looking down at her.

⸙
 Chapter 13 - Lost Memories
Chapter 13 – Lost Memories

When their eyes met, the man nimbly smiled.

Yuri, shying away from the stranger’s kind gesture, shook her head and said, “Ah, no. It’s
fine.”

“C’mon, it’s really okay. I also like shrimps, so it won’t be a problem.”

She was about to refuse again when the clerk, seeing the long line behind them, hinted to
her to accept the offer. She had no choice but to oblige.

“You’re too kind, sir. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. You see that quote up there?” He pointed to a dangling piece of paper
plastered on the wall, “‘It is better to share delicious food with others’, I’m only doing my
bit. Besides, the food here is excellent if you were to ask me.” He smiled a sweet smile.

And then, he winked at Yuri and before she could come to terms with his antics, continued
to converse with her.

“Do you remember where we met before?”

“Am sorry?” She looked up at him and narrowed her eyes, trying to see if that face would
ring any bells. This fellow!!! Is he hitting on me?!

Seeing her confused and clueless, the fellow was disappointed. His eyes lost their cheer. In
a dejected tone, he said, “We met a few days ago, on your way out of the director’s office.”

Oh, now I remember!!! He was the one holding an item that looked like a painting covered in
paper!

Putting on a small smile, she nodded. “I remember you now.”

“I think it is destiny so, why don’t we get to know each other? Let’s begin with names, shall
we? I’m Jae-won Lee and you are?” He confidently prodded, his face resplendent as he
expected an immediate answer.

“I’m Yuri Han.”

“Ms. Han, will you be seeing Si-yeon… ah no, the Director today? I’m asking because I’ll be
visiting her office later.”

“No. I don’t have a reason to.”

“Ah, really. Too bad!” As he spoke, Jae-won scratched his head in embarrassment.

At that time, the attendant at the counter handed Yuri a box of dim sums and a couple of
take-out orders to Jae-won. When she got her tray, she turned towards the generous man,
who winked at her again.

“Enjoy your meal!”

Yuri nodded and mumbled a small thank you.

It seems he was taking food for a lot of people as he held several packages in both hands,
even so, he was able to wave one hand to Yuri.

Left alone to her peace, at last, Yuri found herself a quiet corner to sit in and followed Jae-
won’s retreating figure with her gaze. He was heading out of the store in wide strides
seemingly in a hurry. Her mind went back to the moment of his slip of the tongue. Although
he’d been quick to mask it, she had still noticed.

Wonder what’s his position that he so casually mentions the director by her name? With his
looks and confidence, he doesn’t look like an ordinary employee.

It wasn’t long before the aroma of the dim sums wafted to her nose and her stomach
grumbled in protest–she was quite famished. Hence, she decided to mull over the man she
just encountered while savoring her favorite dish.

Director Yoon is already engaged. Is he her fiance then?

At that note, the image of the glinting diamond ring sitting on Si-yeon’s fourth finger came
to her mind. That must’ve cost a fortune!

While her mind drifted, her chopsticks unconsciously began cutting the fat dim sums into
half.

When Yuri lived in Jinseong, on his way back from work, her father would sometimes bring
dim sums from Seohwadang. However, it had been a very long time since he had brought
back anything for her. One day, before she knew it, he was gone leaving her by herself, all
alone. He was not coming back ever, she knew that. After all, her father was no more.

What was even more distressing was the fact that she had no memories of his death.
According to her uncle, who’d arranged the funeral, it was a car accident. He was
intoxicated when he drove his car one unfortunate night. It was such a tragedy–which she
had no recollection of.

Her memory was vague as if covered in a dark veil. No matter how she tried to see through
it, all there was, was darkness. Hopefully, coming back to her hometown would help her
regain her lost memories?
She heaved a sigh and brushing aside her wandering thoughts, decided to focus on her
meal. However, when she looked at her plate, she was dumbfounded–the neatly arranged
dim sums were all cut into half.

Am I the one who did this?

It’s too hot, let me cut these for you.

As if on cue, a manly voice suddenly sliced through her head. Her hands shook, the
chopsticks dropped to the table.

What was it just now?!

The voice was familiar yet she couldn’t figure who its owner was. In her past, long buried
with all her lost memories, there was also someone else who knew how she loved the dim
sums from Seohwadang. That person would bring her these treats and divide them into half
for her, so they could quickly cool enough to eat.

The snippet of memory that had flashed in her mind unbidden, for some reason, made her
queasy. She felt her stomach churning and the bile surging to her throat. Covering her
mouth tightly, with wobbly but rushed steps, she headed towards the comfort room.

⸙⸙⸙

When Jae-won reached the director’s office, he thought it would be just Secretary Kim who
would greet him as usual. To his surprise, another man, whom he very much knew, was
also in the room. When their eyes met, Mr. Lee stood up and bowed his head to him. Jae-
won returned the gesture.

“Oh, Mr. Lee, you are also here! Is my cousin, Mr. Seo, here too?”

“Yes, with his fiancée, Ms. Yoon.”

Why aren’t I surprised!

Ever since his engagement with the heiress of the West In Group of Companies, Tae-jun
was pushing his business in top gear. However, Si-yeon proved to be his match–she was not
just an ordinary, foxy woman who would risk everything. A true tactician, she didn’t give it
all without earning a massive profit on her end.

The two were indeed a match for each other, people said. Their upcoming union would be a
win-win situation for both of them–and their families, of course. Their engagement steeled
the partnership between two powerful companies. In terms of business, this was destined
to rule the world.
However, in terms of genuine affection between the couple, it was quite another story. No
one could say for certain if it ever existed between them. Not that it was necessary. After
all, love is not a prerequisite for flourishing a wealthy empire…

This fact made Jae-won wonder if compared to them, he could be considered abnormal.
Why not? In this kind of world, he couldn’t afford to do the things they did.

With a broad smile, he offered one steaming box to Mr. Lee. “Are you hungry? I brought dim
sums with me. Try some! I bought a lot.” By now, Ms. Kim appeared in the doorway. “Ah,
Ms. Kim, these dim sums are from Seohwadang! It’s still a good business.”

Two years ago, Si-yeon, her quest for profitable business partners, had brought her to
Jinseong to try the dim sums from Seohwadang. A tiresome transaction which led to fruitful
results–Seohwadang dim sums are now offered in Daejin Department Store. Ms. Kim, who
was aware of her boss’ efforts, smiled and nodded.

“It still enjoys the top spot on our sales rankings in the food court. I heard that Seohwadang
dim sums were introduced by Mr. Jae-won Lee?”

Jae-won was indeed the one who’d introduced the delicious dim sums to Si-yeon, but he
was not the first one to have seen potential in the small, dull shop in Jinseong–it was none
other than Tae-jun.

Five years ago, Tae-Jun would travel to Jinseong, 2 hours from Seoul, just to buy the dim
sums of Seohwadang. By and by, he had invited Jae-won to try the said delicacy. One thing
led to the other and the rest, as they say, was now history.

⸙
 Chapter 14 - Traces of Her
Chapter 14 – Traces of Her

Ms. Kim also received a box from Jae-won, who kept chattering nonstop. It would be a
wonder if anyone could squeeze in a word let alone a whole sentence.

“It really has an amazing taste. The combination of chicken and chives is fantastic.” He
beamed as if he was the one to have personally made them. “Will the meeting inside take
long?”

“No. It will end very soon. Mr. Seo will leave at lunch.”

The pointed words of Ms. Kim made Mr. Lee clear his throat. The couple was willing to
meet for a business meeting, but couldn’t spare time for a short lunch together.

How odd!

Just like Ms. Kim had said, a staff member went out of the conference room, just minutes
from lunch.

Jae-won simply nodded at him, and boldly, peeped at the now open door. Inside, two
people sat facing each other, engrossed in the document in hand. It was anything but a
romantic sight.

Ah, who can say they are newly engaged?

Si-yeon’s eyes were glued to the papers she held. When she looked up turning a page, she
caught sight of Jae-won walking in. She instantly brightened and greeted him cheerfully.

“What brings you here?”

The Tae-jun sitting opposite also noticed his cousin’s arrival. He took off the glasses
perched upon his aristocratic nose and rubbed the area between his eyes. Without his
spectacles concealing his features, his gaze now looked sharper.

Bare face, Jae-won could finally see his sour mood. Soon, his cousin’s pointed gaze landed
on his own full hands. Mr.Chatterbox decided to break the silence.

“I brought dim sums from Seohwadang. If you haven’t had lunch yet, let’s have one each.”

“Did you come here just to bring dim sums?”

He shook his head. “It’s Director Seo’s birthday in a few days. I went out to buy a gift and
stopped by Seohwadang on my way back.”
Si-yeon perked up in her seat as she heard of this. “Oh, that brings to mind–I will have to
buy a gift too. I got an expensive painting as an engagement gift, so I’ll have to reciprocate.”

Her hands dug into the bag, which still had several boxes of dim sums, and handed one over
to her fiancé. “Take this, Tae-jun.”

“No. It’s fine.”

Such a cold-hearted man— was the first thought that came to Jae-won’s mind as soon as he
saw the scene unveiling right before him.

To save Si-yeon from embarrassment, he quickly interjected. “If you don’t have any
appointments for lunch, just take one so that my efforts won’t be in vain.”

Hence, Tae-jun had no choice but to take the lunchbox. And as his habit, upon opening it, he
divided the dim sums into half with his chopsticks.

“Why are you doing that? Cutting the dim sums in half when you can just swallow it
whole?” Upon seeing the bizarre habit, Jae-won couldn’t help but ask.

“It’s hot.” Tae-jun instinctively responded.

He was characterized by hot body temperature. Meaning, while the average temperature
was between 36.5–37.5 °C, his was slightly on the higher side. As a result, he hated hot food
and even drank iced coffee in the middle of winters.

As soon as he did so, the tantalizing smell of chicken and chives permeated the air. But
instead of devouring the delicacy before him, a frown marred Tae-jun’s flawless features.
Dropping his chopsticks, he pushed the box away.

Jae-won inquired with an odd face. “Don’t you like it?”

“It’s not my type.”

“But, why did you take me there befo–” Jae-won murmured to himself and stopped just in
time when he realized the presence of a third person in the room, even if it was his best
friend and the other’s fiancée.

He knew Tae-jun liked a girl, who used to love these dim sums before. Her name was Hye-
yeon Jin. How far had his search for her come?

Ah, but it was the second time today that this chatterbox’s slipup did not go unnoticed. The
quick-witted Si-yeon had immediately caught on to the strange reaction, so she stared at
her bestie with wide, curious eyes tacitly demanding an explanation. In his defense, the
latter quickly changed the subject and shook off his friend’s inquisitive gaze.
“Oh, about the upcoming exhibition in the lobby of Hotel Seoin, why not recommend the
works of Roy Jean?”

“Roy Jean?”

“He is a Korean-American artist popular for his sculptures in America. It would be good to
feature his works here in Daejin Department Store. I’ve met his assistant too. It will be easy
to bring them into an agreement.”

“It’s up to you.” Tae-jun held his documents with a stoic face and stood up.

“Are you leaving?” Si-yeon asked with surprise.

“We are done. I will send you the draft of the plan after modifying it as per your request.”
And with that, Tae-jun went out as cold as winter.

Jae-won clicked his tongue. No wonder Ms. Kim is displeased.

Fortunately, Si-yeon, the person involved, showed interest in other things instead of her
uncaring fiance.

“Why ‘Roy Jean’?”

“What?”

“The exhibition is in the lobby of Hotel Seoin. Didn’t the exclusive artists of Seoin Gallery
usually do it?”

“It was a decision made during an internal meeting of the planning team. There is a rumor
that the tax investigation will be reinforced, so if possible, I am planning to recruit artists
from overseas. And quality-wise, I like his artwork. To add to that, he is one of your favorite
artists.”

“What’s the catch? I thought you were not interested in him. Is it because of Ms. Yuri Han?”
Her eyes flashed with mischievousness.

“I know how to separate business from pleasure,” Jae-won replied defensively.

He didn’t have the desire to tell Si-yeon that he’d met Yuri a while ago in Seohwadang. She
would only tease him further and he was not going to give her the pleasure. All this time, he
remained curious.

Did she eat the dim sums I gave her?

⸙⸙⸙

“Are.. are you leaving already?”

Mr. Lee, who was in the office pantry, popping one dim sum in his mouth, stood up when he
saw Tae-jun coming out from the Si-yeon’s office.

“It’s done.”

“But… Jae-won came just now.”

“Should that be relevant to me?”

Mr. Lee’s eyes reflexively found Ms. Kim. He tried to discern her reaction. Jae-won was his
cousin, and Si-yeon was his fiancée. Would a little time spent with them hurt?

Indeed, the engagement was far from being romantic–it was only for the sole purpose of
convenience. But, is it okay for him to let her fiancée have a closer relationship with
another man, not to mention, his cousin?

Tae-jun handed over the document to him. Mr. Lee nodded to Ms. Kim and followed his
boss in haste.

The two walked into the elevator, Tae-jun pressed the button for the basement. Soon he
was deep into thoughts about Jin-wook’s latest report.

There was still no trace of her. When he was trying to find Hye-yeon Jin, he had not much
idea about her. Her father was Jin Myung-je, the CEO, and her brother was Hye-seong Jin.
She majored in sculpture from H Art university. Those were the only things he knew about
her.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 15
Chapter 15

I visited the art college Hye-yeon Jin attended. But her name is not on the school
register for the year you mentioned.

Really? Did you try enough for sure?

I’ve checked through all the departments meticulously, but there’s no mention of her.
Just in case she enrolled in a different year, I looked through the list of graduates for
the last five years too. There is no such name, nothing even similar. By the way, how did
you know about her school? I don’t think you did any background check on Hye-yeon
Jin.

She’d accidentally mentioned it once. There’s no reason to lie. Why are you suddenly
curious about that?

There’s a few moments of silence from the other end. Then, at the words that Jin-wook said
next, Tae-jun’s breath stilled.

The woman we are looking for may not be Hye-yeon Jin.

What?!

I can’t give you any more details because I still have things to check. I will be heading to
Jinseong City to find people close to her family, former employees of Hotel Jinseong and
anyone who was remotely associated with the Jins. This is the best I can do for now.

Death–fake, school–fake, identity–fake… Tae-jun laughed at the thought that he knew

nothing about Hye-yeon Jin. He had spent a whole year with this woman, one whole year…
and he still knew absolutely nothing!

What we had… was that fake too? Bitterness wreathed his heart, he felt an ineffable pain.

Just like him, she especially loved the chicken and chives dumplings from Seohwadang.
Though, unlike his ravenous appetite, she nibbled like a bird. Every time she ate them, her
eyes shone with a glint of unusual happiness.

For a whole year, they had lived under the same roof, breathed the same air. And a year is
not a short time to know someone. No! She was definitely not a stranger to him.

He genuinely fell for the woman—far from his original intention of using her for her body
alone. And until this very moment, he still was hopelessly in love with her.

Hye-yeon Jin…
It was not like he knew nothing about her. In fact, he did know quite a lot about her. Her
likes, habits, the books she read, the food she loved and even her favorite brand of ice
cream… how she sought warmth in his embraces, the sounds she made when he touched
her, her joy and smiles, tears and despair… he knew them all. Yes, he knew her.

Unbeknownst to her, Tae-jun also knew that she drew sketches of him while he was asleep.
Whenever she’s not around, he would look them over.

It was not until now that he realized that there were still a lot of things he didn’t know
about Hye-yeon. What he knew about her, wouldn’t help in finding her. And what he ought
to have known, was thoroughly concealed from him.

“Ahem… sir?”

It was his manager, Mr. Lee’s troubled voice that pulled him from his reverie. They were
already on the ground floor but the other seemed hesitant about getting off the elevator.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m sorry. I think I left the documents given by the head of Seoin Food upstairs.”

Tae-jun’s eyebrows shot up. He glared at Mr. Lee and turned on his heels.

“You have five minutes. I’ll wait in the car.”

“Yes, sir.”

Five minutes was too short to make it, but Mr. Lee couldn’t dare to complain about it.
Instead, he hurriedly pressed the button of the elevator again, intending to reach the head
director’s office in the briefest time.

Darn those dumplings!!!

He was merrily stuffing one in his mouth, when who knew his capricious boss would
suddenly decide to leave. It was too hot and had even burned his palate. Distracted by the
pain and his boss rushing him to head out immediately, he forgot the important documents
behind. Hence, he was in this position—muttering curses under his breath as the seconds
swiftly ticked by.

Fortunately, Secretary Kim had noticed the papers he left behind and brought them to the
lobby on the first floor. When he received her call and even before she could finish his
words, he had already wedged his arms between the closing elevator doors to keep it from
closing.

Hence, sensing the sudden obstruction, the door of the elevator opened wide again.
Wasting no time, Mr. Lee dashed out. However, in his haste, his shirt suddenly hooked on to
something on the bag of a woman standing just outside the elevator.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m in a bit of a hurry.” He apologized profusely, glancing at the woman’s
face before heading off.

He hurriedly wrested his arm away from the woman’s bag and darted towards the lobby.
The sound of his shirt tearing was quite loud, and the woman heard it too. She looked on at
the rushing figure in perplexion. However, the sprinting figure couldn’t afford to care about
his ruined shirt–after all, he was racing against time.

He found Kim, took the documents, shot her a flying thank you, and ran towards the nearest
emergency exit. He didn’t waste time waiting for the elevator and instead took the fastest
route to the parking lot. Climbing down two steps at a time, huffing and puffing, he made it
to his destination.

As he opened the rear door, he saw Tae-jun looking at his watch as if he had been waiting
for a long long time.

“Exactly five minutes.”

At those words, Mr. Lee, who was granted a new lease of life, heaved a sigh of relief.
Sweating and breathing raggedly, he handed the documents to Tae-jun and sat beside him,
closing the door as he did so. But, something he didn’t expect happened in a flash.

Tae-jun’s serene face morphed into a look of agitation and he grabbed Mr. Lee’s wrist
which catapulted his body to Tae-jun’s enormous build. Mr. Lee gasped, eyes widened in
shock.

Perhaps, if this scene transpired between two people of the opposite gender, it might
appear romantic. But for him, who was terrified, he felt nothing less than fear. If anything,
more fear.

“Si-sir?”

“What is this?” Tae-jun pointed to his cuff.

Mr. Lee frowned as he saw something stuck on it. He took it off with a surprised face.
Looking closely, it was an ornament made of agate stone.

Only then did his encounter with a woman back in the elevator resurfaced in his mind.
There was no doubt that she was the owner.

“This is a bag embellishment.”

“Why is it with you?”

“My sleeve got caught in a lady’s bag when I hopped out of the elevator in a frenzy. She was
carrying quite a multi-decorated bag, I remember. This is definitely hers.” Mr. Lee
explained as he gazed at the colorful ornament.
It was an unusual ornament, reflecting its equally unusual owner. She was a tall and
beautiful lady, but her eyes looked cold, devoid of any light when she lifted her gaze to meet
his.

Suddenly, Tae-jun froze—the expression on his face becoming ten times more serious than
when Mr. Lee said he left the documents.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 16
Chapter 16

“Sir?” Have I done something wrong again?

“Give it to me.”

Surprised by his fierce look, Mr. Lee handed over the small ornament to Tae-jun without
even asking why.

“What kind of woman was she?”

“Huh?” This assistant was on a confusion spree thanks to his boss’ volley of questions.

“What did the woman look like?” Tae-jun was getting impatient now. Left to him, he’d
shake the answers out of this dimwit called assistant.

Mr. Lee stuttered and described the woman as her image came to his mind. “She was tall
and fair… I think she had big eyes.”

“What floor?”

“First-floor lobby.”

It was Tae-jun’s turn to bolt now. Getting out of the car, he made it straight into the
building. Mr. Lee, stunned, chased after him.

Arriving in the lobby on the first floor, Tae-jun scoured the surroundings, his sharp eyes
darting in all directions. His heart was beating fast, blood gushing through his veins wildly.
Like a hound in search of a hidden prey in a deep thicket, he felt his senses heightened.

After a long time, his senses as a hunter had come alive. Amidst the crowd, Tae-jun
snatched a woman’s arm out of the blue.

“Ah!”

The woman held up by him looked at him in surprise.

“What?”

No. This isn’t her.

“I’m sorry.”
God damn it! He muttered under his breath. The energy he felt right around here was gone.
He felt as if his life was sucked out of his mouth, helplessness, dejection, and grief suffused
his dark eyes.

The woman slipped out of his grasp… a second time.

Tae-jun, who’d changed his schedule to visit the company and thereon his parents’ home,
did a u-turn and went straight to hisplace. All along, he held the ornament between his
fingers and examined it closely. It was not branded nor a ready-made product.

As soon as he reached, he went directly to his study and opened the drawer. Taking a
picture out of the paper bag in the drawer, he put it on his desk. It was a picture of CCTV
footage of the Hotel Seoin.

“Hye-yeon! It is you!”

Tae-jun contrasted the ornament in his hand with the ornament on the woman’s bag in the
picture. There was no way he could miss this unique design. It matched! Then he poured
out the contents of the paper bag onto the desk and picked out all the other pictures that
featured the bag, and compared them again, just to be sure. Match again! He glared at the
photo to the point he got goosebumps all over his body.

Then, in frustration, he banged his fist on the desk. The pictures laying atop sprang in the
air and scattered all over the floor… mirroring the master’s mood at the moment.

Tae-jun, who’d smoked two cigarettes in a row now, called Jin-wook.

“How are things in Jinseong?”

-Sir, I think there was a mistake, just like you said.

Jin-wook’s voice sounded urgent.

“Mistake?”

Tae-jun ran his tongue over his dry lips to moisten them. In the back of his mind, he was
swiftly surmising. Dead Hye-yeon Jin and a living woman. All personal information–false.
Right now, his conjecture was leading him to a terrible conclusion, the one he hoped
against hope would be untrue.

-I found someone who used to work at the Hotel Jinseong. Her name is Hyun-ah Kim and
she worked at the front desk for a long time. She knows the Jins very well. During her time
there, she often saw the family visiting the hotel. But… Hyun-ah says the woman in the
picture is not Hye-yeon.
Tae-jun closed his eyes feeling dizzy. It was a different person. The woman who he believed
was Hye-yeon for years was a completely different person!

From the moment he saw the girl walking in the hotel lobby, to the time when he received
Jin-wook’s report, a tiny assumption had crept in his mind, the kind he had hoped would be
proven wrong and sooner.

Alas, it had been quite the opposite.

Upon returning from the department store, Yuri made an international call to Dr. Davis,
ignoring the time difference.

When the half-asleep doctor received the call, he knew the reason without needing to be
told. However, he was reluctant to give more medicine.

Listening to his worried voice, Yuri realized she was still a pretty troubled patient, still
under observation.

-Your problem is memory loss. If fundamental trauma treatment is not preceded, taking
medicine will not solve the problem. You’re not going to eat it all at once like last time, are
you?

No… she had to say she didn’t mean to, but she couldn’t get herself it easily. The last time it
happened, she didn’t do it because she wanted to. Heck, she didn’t even remember doing
that before. It was like a barometric difference between inside and outside like the passing
time of reality and herself stuck in some parts of the past and when the gap reaches its
peak, it explodes.

Davis’ soothing voice wafted from the other end, seemingly aware of the turmoil she was
going through at the moment.

-As I’ve said before, this medicine is quite dangerous. I gave it to you because you’re in so
much pain, but you shouldn’t keep relying on meds. You know it is not good for you.

After some more advice and soothing, the worried Davis hung the call.

It was not like she was oblivious to his concern, she too was helpless. As his worried voice
rang in her ears, Yuri fidgeted with the part where the bag ornament had fallen off. It was
only when she was in the taxi that she realized one of the ornaments had disappeared. It
seemed to have fallen off when it was caught by a man’s cuff in the elevator. She felt bad for
losing it because it was handmade from agate stone.

The headache, which started from walking around the department store, was still
tormenting her. When she put one hand on her head, she was able to feel the heat. It was a
recurring symptom. Davis said she shouldn’t rely on medicines, but Yuri crawled to take
the medicine and lay in bed after downing one. Her eyelids quickly became heavy.

Yuri.

Somewhere between dream and reality, on the hazy threshold, someone called out to her.

Yuri, Yuri Han.

The voice was friendly. It was only then that Yuri knew who was calling her.

Little chubby cheeks, eyes that squinted when she smiled, deep dimples… such were the
features of the person who first came across her mind when she heard the voice.

Yuri was dragged into some time in the past. A time which remained a hazy memory.

Instead of answering the voice, she opened her eyes and called out her name.

“Hye-yeon.”

It was Hye-yeon Jin.

⸙
 Chapter 17 - The Substitute (1)
Chapter 17 – The Substitute (1)

“Did you paint all night again?”

The room was filled with the smell of linseed and terpene oil. Unfinished canvas and
painting tools were all over the room. Feeling dizzy, Hye-yeon hurriedly opened the
window to let in some fresh air.

Slumped on the settee, hair like a bird’s nest, dazed eyes squinting at the sudden onslaught
of sunlight–Yuri’s perfectly disheveled state was quite a sight.

“What time is it now?”

“Nine o’clock.”

“I want to sleep some more. I’ve only slept for two hours.”

“No, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“A favor? Hotel thing again?”

Hye-yeon smiled awkwardly when Yuri replied flatly.

Ever since Hye-yeon graduated from college, she had been working at her father’s hotel
after. It was President Myung-je Jin’s preemptive strike to thwart all attempts of his
shopaholic, unemployed daughter running rampant. As much as her father loved her, he
loathed this side of her so much that he’d even threatened to suspend all her cards if she
didn’t work sincerely. Thus, this shopping addict would diligently drag herself to work
every morning to appease the tyrannical patriarch.

However, even though she was forced to work hard, it did not deter her from keeping to ‘up
to no good’ ways. As soon as her father went away on a trip, she would jailbreak. And in
such situations, she needed Yuri to pull off a ruse for her father’s eyes were everywhere.

“Yes. Dad’s on a business trip and he’ll be back in three days. Please cover me for three
days. I’ve decided to go on a trip to Japan with my boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend? I heard you broke up a while ago. You’ve gotten back with him again?”

“What are you talking about? This one’s brand new! This time I found a really nice one. I
mean, please… be my substitute for the last time?”

When she saw Yuri’s figure burying itself under a blanket not caring a hoot, Hye-yeon
panicked, “I’ll double… no, triple the hourly wage,” she said in desperation.
When the pitiful voice reached the sleep-deprived ears, the blanket was voluntarily pulled
off. Money or not, Hye-yeon could never be refused.

By the time she entered middle school, Yuri’s father, who had failed to do business in Seoul,
returned to his hometown of Jinseong City and took up a job as the driver of President
Myung-je Jin. Thereon, Yuri had lived in the president’s house for five years before going to
art school in Seoul.

Even though Hye-yeon and Yuri were friends, a huge social division was wedged between
them. But that didn’t stop them from helping each other and most importantly trusting one
another. They knew of all the skeletons hidden in the other’s closet, and well, they’d even
helped put some there.

“You said you lost the chance to study abroad, but then why are you putting so much effort
into drawing?”

“I can’t just let go. I’ll look for another chance.”

“Your dad didn’t say anything else about you losing the opportunity?”

“He thinks it’s just because I’m not good enough. I didn’t tell him the details. So you keep it
a secret, too.”

“How can I tell him that the professor blatantly offered you a ‘sugar daddy-baby’
relationship? Don’t worry.”

Using her delicate fingers, Hye-yeon then made a gesture of zipping her mouth to express
her solidarity.

Upon entering the bathroom, Yuri dipped her hands into cold water. She held them there
until they were tingling. She looked alternately at her hands and herself in the mirror. She
didn’t think that she’d lose everything in such a short time. Years of hard work was gone in
a jiffy.

She was a top graded student that had never missed the grand prize and the first place in
the art contests, from elementary school to all the way to high school. The university she
went to was also the most well-known art school in Korea, where her talent was recognized
and she was successful. She would be the only student who would have won a chance to
study abroad and hold an exhibition if it wasn’t for the absurd demands of the professor
who called her to his studio that day.

She was neither young nor naïve to not know what he was asking for. It was very common
in the art field. Nevertheless, Yuri couldn’t stand the unpleasant touch from the professor
who was groping her body. Disgusted at the very sight of him, she had stormed out of his
office.
However, the cost of refusing his offer was worse than expected. The exhibition that Yuri
had been nominated for was canceled, and the opportunity to study abroad was also gone
with it. As the professor held the highest authority in this field, it was a child’s play to raze
Yuri down to the ground and bury her dreams and aspirations.

In vain, Yuri had vehemently complained and protested. There was no one to support her
or worse hear her claims. She didn’t have any evidence to back her and given the other
party’s lofty status, she was simply insignificant to be bothered with. The pervert professor
had even assured her that he was going to destroy her career in the future.

In the end, she was forced to take a semester break before graduation. Even so, she did not
intend to visit the professor and beg him. She didn’t want to gain her chance in that way
nor give him the satisfaction of subjugating her.

Yuri tried to smile at her pale face in the mirror. Life had pushed her into a corner, whether
she had to climb over or dig under to escape, she would.
 Chapter 18 - The Substitute (2)
Chapter 18 – The Substitute (2)

Arriving at the hotel, Yuri changed into Hye-yeon’s uniform and headed to the front desk. It
was something that she had seen growing up and was used to it because it was also
something she usually did during her vacation to earn some extra money.

As per usual, the front desk manager, Mr. Kim was attending to his duties when Yuri
walked over. She was a known face here and well-liked too, but her presence only spelled
tension for it guaranteed the absence of someone. As he looked at her joining Hyun-ah Kim
in the reception area, a sigh escaped his lips but he said nothing.

“Did the princess go out again?” Hyun-ah Kim asked in a whisper.

The ‘princess’ was Hye-yeon. Since the moment she was born as the daughter of the
President Myung-je Jin, she was often referred to as such.

Front Desk Manager Kim and Hyun-ah Kim were experienced hands who’d been working
for Hotel Jinseong for 10 years now. They knew the ins and outs of the Jin family and were
no strangers to the antics of the president’s daughter. It was just that she would always
land them in a spot and as much as they hated it, they had to suffer in silence.

Yuri nodded and lowered her voice.

“It’ll take a few days for her to return.”

“Well, it’s good for us that you are better at work and English than the princess, but isn’t it
hard for you? Taking care of a princess.” A curt Manager Kim sounded.

“It’s nothing like babying her. We are friends.”

His terse words went in through Yuri’s one ear and out the other. Unaffected, she went
about her work.

The city of Jinseong was situated along the Jinseong river. It was known for its picturesque
settings mingled with reed fields. In particular, the Hotel Jinseong, located in the area
where visitors could glimpse the river, was one of the most popular local attractions.

However, the hotel’s front desk during the daytime on weekdays, where there were no
group tourists, was rather quiet. It was almost time for guests’ check-in

As she saw a woman in her mid-to-late thirties rush to the front desk, Yuri looked to check
the time thinking she must be a check-in.

“I am the one who stayed in room 1002 and called yesterday.” She blurted.
Hyun-ah Kim recognized her and soon addressed the matter.

“Oh, are you Ms. In-sook Jung? I do remember you, ma’am.”

“Can I look in the room one more time? The thing I’ve lost is really important to me.”

“As I said over the phone yesterday, our cleaning staff checked every corner of the room
but couldn’t find it.”

“My boy must have lost it while playing with it in bed. Please look for it one more time. It’s
my mother’s keepsake.”

“I am afraid I cannot.”

The woman looked desperate and Hyun-ah Kim, troubled.

“What’s going on?” Yuri asked her colleague.

“She’s the guest who stayed in room 1002 two days ago. She said she’s left something in the
room. So I checked with the staff, they said they found no such thing when they’re
cleaning.”

“Why don’t we look behind the side table or the bed? If the child lost it while playing with it,
chances are it would have rolled away.” The woman interjected, clearly not wanting to give
up.

“Ma’am, the room is booked for two days from today. Plus, it’s check-in time, the guest will
be here any minute now.”

It’s two o’clock when Yuri had checked. She wouldn’t have interfered with this problem
because it involved breaching the protocol, but the mention of ‘mother’s keepsake’ had her
wavering. It must be something she cherished. Yuri had lost her mother early and was
raised by her grandmother. She could understand the woman’s feelings. Thus, she quickly
made an abrupt decision.

“I’ll take a look at it.” She declared.

Hyun-ah Kim was taken aback. Here she was explaining and there she had decided to help!
She tried to stop her.

“What are you going to do? It’s check-in time.”

“Not many people check-in at exactly 2 pm on weekdays. Ten minutes should be enough. If
the guest checks in, I’ll provide a satisfactory explanation.” After settling it with Hyun-ah
Kim, she turned to the woman. “More than that, what does it look like, ma’am?”
The woman eagerly described the necklace. Yuri politely asked her to wait and then picked
up the master key.

“I don’t know if the manager’s going to go crazy.”

Yuri simply nodded at Hyun-ah Kim’s remarks.

Room 1002 was on the top floor and the one with the most splendid view of the reed fields
of the Jinseong river. Needless to say, it was one of the most expensive rooms in the hotel
and came with a mandate: At no cost should this guest be inconvenienced.

Yuri hurriedly entered the room. She had no time to lose for she knew not when the guest
would arrive. She got on all fours and began by looking under the bed and the nightstand.
Next, she looked carefully under the dressing table and the cabinet. Since the housekeeping
had not been able to find it, it only meant the necklace should be hidden from plain view.
Even so, she didn’t find it in those places.

She got up and went to the middle of the room. She looked around as she pondered over.
Soon her darting gaze stopped at the bed. Then, suddenly, she went over to it and put her
hand behind the bed head.

This was a place all too familiar to her. Little Yuri had often been scolded by her
grandmother for losing things under her bed. She was especially scolded for missing her
grandmother’s cherished ring. When they looked, they had finally found it in the crevice on
the bed head.

As her hand went in, her fingers touched something. It felt like a hook of a necklace. Yuri
carefully pulled it out.

Thank God, I found it.

It was the moment when she held the necklace in her hand and was still rejoicing in her
fortune, that she heard a voice.

“… what are you doing in my room?”

Her heart almost stopped. Slowly, she turned her head around and found a man standing
there. He was a handsome, tall, and scary man with sharp, cold eyes and an aristocratic
nose. He seemed to be the guest who’d booked this room from today.

“I’m sorry. I can explain…”

In a trice, a flustered Yuri made an attempt to explain the situation. But the man’s approach
was faster.
“Ah!”

In an instant, her arm was bent and her head pressed against the mattress. And even before
Yuri could figure out the situation, the man loosened his tie and bound her wrist. It all
happened in the blink of an eye. There was no time to resist or struggle.

Yuri breathed hard. She didn’t know what to say… she panicked.

“Oh, well….”

“Shh, stay still. If you don’t want to get hurt.”

He lightly pressed her head and looked into her face. She gulped hard her saliva. The man’s
pressure was overwhelming. Looking into those deep dark eyes, a muddled Yuri could only
manage to nod.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 19 - Disillusioned Love (1)
Chapter 19 – Disillusioned Love (1)

Restrained by a firm grip, Yuri reluctantly submitted. There was no way to free herself and
set the record state right now. But that didn’t stop her from thinking of ways to get out of
the situation. Turning her head sideways, she strained to look at what the man was up to.

The man looked down at her for a brief moment before tightening his grip on her further.
Then, freeing his other hand he fished something out of his bag. It was a black thing with a
small antenna. She was terrified at the sight of this queer object and almost screamed for
help, but soon gave up the idea upon realizing this was a soundproof room. This fellow
looked quite natural with what he was doing as if he’d overpowered and subdued people
many times over. The dexterity with which he’d bound her hands with a mere tie, sent a
shiver down her spine.

Few in the city of Jinseong were unaware that President Jin, a competent builder, and
hotelier, was a forerunner in the crime circles. And having seen this middle-aged man’s
brutality from up close, Yuri was clear about the workings of the likes of him. Seeing how
this fellow had made a short work of her, she vaguely assumed he must belong to the same
fraternity as the president. And if so, there was nothing good about getting on his nerves.

After a while, she noticed the man was not around her. Slowly, she pulled herself up and sat
on the edge of the bed. Her eyes soon found him who was busy placing a radio-like object
all over the room. It seemed like a scene from the TV show had come alive.

For a while now, the man had been coming and going around the room like she didn’t exist.
He was in his own world, doing god knows what. Even after hooking her gaze on him for
this long, she couldn’t figure him. But then, suddenly, he just turned towards her and met
her eyes.

Yuri was startled at first, but upon seeing those dark, menacing eyes a sense of panic
started to surge within. However, before it could manifest, a quote abruptly floated from
the deep recesses of her mind: ‘When encountering a tiger, you can survive if you hold
yourself tight’… In fact, the man, dressed in all black, looked like a black leopard.

Slowly, the leopard approached her, she started to collect herself, determined to face him
head-on.

“It doesn’t seem like there’s a camera or a bug, or is it yet to be installed?” he asked abruptly.

“What are you talking about?” She’d imagined various scenarios in this short span of time, but
this wasn’t one of them!
While Yuri was preoccupied with puzzling over his words, he ran an electronic device down
her body as if scanning her. Only then did she realize that it was a bug detector and shook her
head.

“Oh, no, no, this is not what you think. The guest who stayed in this room a few days ago
claimed to have left something behind, so I just dropped by to check.” She hurriedly explained.

“What thing?” He was clearly not buying it.

“This… necklace.” She pointed to the necklace that was now lying on the bed thanks to their
prior scuffle.

He looked in the direction she was pointing at and then at her with a gaze full of suspicion.

“Hye-yeon Jin?”

Saying so, he abruptly reached out and yanked her name tag on the uniform. She didn’t
even have the moment to think that the man who put out his hand to her chest was rude.

“Are you Myung-je Jin’s daughter, the president of this hotel?”

Thinking on her feet, she tried to discern who he was. Seeing how he was testing rather
than stating, she surmised he was not close to the Jins. And it seemed like he’d only heard
of Myung-je Jin’s daughter, Hye-yeon, and never once seen her in the flesh.

Yuri knew every single person around Hye-yeon, including the few scumbags she’d dated.
But the guy before her had never been included in any of those lists. That was another
proof that he hadn’t seen or met her.

She was at a loss over what to do now. She was treading on thin ice and her next words
would seal her fate. If she were, to be honest, and say she wasn’t Hye-yeon, would he
believe her? Or if she pretended to be her, would this dangerous man let her go?

Throwing caution to the wind, she decided to bite the bullet. After all, she’d to urgently get
out of here first even if it meant getting caught later.

“Yes, I am!” she said, in a clear voice.

“… Let’s get things straightened out, shall we?”

On that note, he drew closer and started loosening the tie around her wrists. She groaned
as she gently rubbed her red wrists.

It was the first encounter–straight out of a fairytale; the prince and the pauper had traded
places.
Yuri had become Hye-yeon.

Cold water slowly trickled down on Tae-jun’s perfectly sculpted body. His mind had
wandered off.

So, you are President Jin’s daughter. He’d smirked at her.

She was slender, tall, and fair… when he’d untied them, her wrists were a deep red. Big,
dark eyes graced her delicate face… showing resilience all along. She had a pleasant
fragrance about her.

Initially, he had qualms about her after all the whole scenario was uncanny. She wasn’t a
spy but the daughter… like in a movie… Heck! What are the odds of such a happening in
real life? She had sworn not to reveal anything, going as far as to make him promise the
same… perhaps a ruse to convince him? She was more daring and intelligent than he
thought.

Although they’d struck a deal, he was sure, as soon as he set her free, she would run and tell
all. But somehow, now that he thought about it, he felt the woman would probably not say a
word, especially to her father. He didn’t know why he felt so, but by and by his confidence
deepened.

Before his arrival, he’d run a thorough check on all the personnel in Jinseong Construction
and Hotel Jinseong. He only knew the name of the president’s daughter who had nothing to
do with the business. Little had he expected that Myung-je Jin, who was like a snake, had
such a beautiful daughter. As her dazed, frozen face when he’d bound her, came to his
mind, his nether region stood erect.

What the..!

Perplexed, he looked down at his hard member. He felt he was demented, he didn’t like
tying up girls but wanted to jerk off on a woman he’d never seen before.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 20 - Disillusioned Love (2)
Chapter 20 – Disillusioned Love (2)

After a long, cold shower, he wrapped a robe around himself and exited the bathroom.
Standing tall by the window, he looked at the Jinseong River. The very one that had
devoured his father. The dark, still waters were unsettling, making him want a cigarette. He
walked over to the table and picked up a pack and a lighter. The moment he had lit one, his
cell phone buzzed. He checked the caller’s name before answering.

-Hello. Where are you now?

“Hotel Jinseong.”

-Why the hell are you there? We get nothing good if President Jin knows.

It was the boss of LJ Partners. Tae-jun called him ‘Jay’.

LJ Partners was an investment firm on the papers, but in reality, it held a strong footing in
M&A*. In particular, Jay had an outstanding ability in money flow and was an astute
businessman. He went to the same university with Tae-jun. And both recognized the value
of partners at the very first meeting. Since then, their partnership had only flourished.

[*M&A is Mergers and Acquisitions.]

-Oh, is today your father’s death anniversary?

Jay asked as if he had only just remembered. Instead of answering, his friend changed the
topic.

“President Jin isn’t here right now. I checked his schedule. What’s your situation now?

-Panic.

Tae-jun smiled ever so slightly, the other side continued.

-I’m going crazy trying to figure things out somehow. Mr. Jin, this man, as we expected, has
dragged In-bae Lee into the ‘Star Road’ betting game.

“Of course, he will not be able to get the land without Lee In-bae’s power.”

‘Star Road’ was a large-scale shopping mall project that Yuseong, a mid-sized construction
company, was working on in collaboration with Jinseong Construction. Located in the Q
area where the complex transfer station was, since the onset, this project was touted as the
proverbial ‘goose that lays golden eggs’. Needless to say, it had garnered a lot of attention.
Tae-jun did not miss the point that Star Road was situated around a traditional market. It
was obvious that there was bound to be a conflict during the process of doling out the
demolition compensation due to poor business registration and lease contracts.

Jay had sent out the so-called “nail house*” people to the merchant association in secret.
The effect was dramatic. In the form of a “Star Road fire incident” the entire nation was
enraged.

[*Nail house is a private home whose owner refuses to move to clear way for new real estate
developments despite offers of huge monetary sums from a private developer or expropriation
attempts by the government.]

-What shall we do? Shall we take action right away?

“Don’t play the joker yet. It’s no fun finishing the game now.”

-It reminds me of our hunting days. What about Yuseong? It’s not the main target, but it’s
fallen into the trap.

“It’s too risky to catch it even though it is trapped now. Just focus on the game as planned.”

-Ugh, that’s too bad. Speaking of hunting, how about hunting in Canada..it’s been a long time?
Bear hunting is the best.

“By all means.”

Upon wrapping the call, Tae-jun stubbed out his cigarette. His gaze went back to the
Jinseong River outside the window again. Like Jay had asked, tomorrow was indeed his
father’s death anniversary.

His father was a man who’d abandoned everything for love. The woman his father loved
was an orphan sponsored by the Seoin Group and personal secretary to Tae-jun’s
grandmother.

He’d fallen in love with her since childhood. However, Tae-jun’s grandfather, who was
obsessed with mergers through marriage, did not approve of their relationship. He
separated the sweethearts through force. His grandfather sent away the woman, leaving his
father, who did not what had transpired, deeply disappointed.

Then, in desperation, his father married his mother and Tae-jun was born. Though it didn’t
start with love, their marriage was not bad. They respected one another and did not
intrude on personal turf.

However, their marriage ended with the return of the woman who was in a wreck. His
father, without any hesitation, abandoned everything he had for her. Property, status,
family, and in the end, even life. It was a ridiculous cliché.
Tae-jun became deeply disillusioned when he recalled his father. He felt the same about the
great “love” his father had dedicated to the woman. Tae-jun never meant to follow in his
father’s footsteps. The “love” may have been great, but it brought him and his mother
nothing but desolation. Had his father never loved him? One day, early in the morning, his
father went to the field of reeds for a walk. He never returned. But it seems he got his
answer.

It was the first time he’d visited here since his father’s death. On the first anniversary of his
death last year, Tae-jun was abroad. However, this time, it’s not clear why he came to this
place without stopping by his home as soon as he returned to Korea. He didn’t even contact
Jin-wook who’s always by his side.

This morning, he had somehow found himself walking along the river. Every time he
stepped forward, reeds made a sound. Beyond this field was the villa where his father and
his woman had lived together.

After his father threw away everything he had and hid in the city of Jinseong, Tae-jun had
once come here alone. He was only twelve at the time and could not fully accept his father,
who’d on one night, simply disappeared from his life without so much as a word. He did
know the reason but from what he heard, it seemed to be because of a woman. He set off in
search of his father… to bring him back.

When he found the house they now lived in, his father was away. He saw her for the first
time then. The woman, who was so skinny that she was about to fall down, was sitting in a
chair in the garden. He was unable to understand why on earth his father loved that woman
who was dying. She was far behind when it came to beauty compared to his mother.

…Hello?

She recognized Tae-jun and was at a loss. He looked at the woman in the eye and spoke.

Give me back my father!

As soon as his words fell, the woman had an asthma attack. He didn’t know what triggered
her, but he assumed that it was because of his eyes that looked just like his grandfather’s.

And that day, his father, who came to the emergency room for the woman, slapped his son
on the face for the first time. It was the last time he had seen his dad.

People said he would come back when the woman died, but he did not return even after 10
years had passed, nor did he find his father anywhere. So, it was the first and last time Tae-
jun saw his father as a picture at his funeral.
Where Tae-jun stopped walking was quite far from the trail. The water of the lake fluttered
in the sun. He was standing at the place where his father jumped in. It was also where only
anglers visited.

Sadly, his dad was already a long-lost person to the Seoin Group, and the media did not
make a hue and cry because the Seo patriarch quickly worked on it to hide things.
Chairman Jung-ho Seo dismissed his son’s death as an accident, but his family did not
believe him. Neither did they investigate it.

After the woman’s death, unable to cope up, his father had relied on psychiatric help. There
were witnesses who saw him jump into the river on his own. Without a doubt, Jung-ho
must have bought the witnesses’ silence. The truth never saw the light.

“Be careful! It’s deep there.”

Tae-jun turned to where the sharp voice came from. He could see a familiar face.

It was the woman whom he met in the room yesterday… Hye-yeon.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 21 - The Witness
Chapter 21 – The Witness

The golden rays of the morning sun glistened the tranquil river as the tall reeds danced
with the gentle breeze.

She stood there, dressed in a simple pair of jeans and sneakers, an unassuming smile
gracing her lips, even as the rays teased her eyes.

It took him a moment to recognize her without her uniform. He reckoned she must be on
her way to work.

“We meet again!”

“Oh, hello!”

She took a step back when she saw it was Tae-jun. She was clearly not expecting him here,
of all the places. He seemed cordial, unlike the previous day, so she decided to lay her
curiosity to rest.

“What are you doing here? Have you taken the wrong way?”

“No. I have something to check.”

“Check…? What is it?”

He openly evaded her question and instead asked one of his own. “Is this place very deep?”

Tae-jun pointed to the spot where he had just tried to step on. At first glance, it was hard to
tell whether it was land or water. Only those familiar with this terrain could easily identify.

“Well, there are a lot of people who can’t tell if it’s land or water because it’s covered with
reeds. Actually, it is a very deep spot, so you can’t get out of it if you get stuck.”

To emphasize the seriousness, she pointed to the sign ‘Accident Prone Area’.[1]

“Do you know this place well?”

“I live near here.”

Come to think of it, was President Jin’s home near here? He turned his gaze towards the river
near where he stood.

“Well, can I ask you one thing? Do you happen to know about the accident that happened
here two years ago?
“Two years ago…”

She scrunched her brows as if trying hard to recollect, then suddenly her eyes brightened
as she’d thought of something.

“Are you talking about the president who lived in the villa over there?” she asked. “He’s not
actually a president, but he’s the one who lived in that villa over there. Why do you ask?”
She turned cautious as she looked at him probingly.

Lighting up his cigarette, he looked at her squarely.

“He’s my father.”

Her eyes betrayed the shock her heart felt. This fellow, ever since they bumped into each
other, had been giving her blows one after another. She took a moment to compose herself
and preferred to be candid.

“People here have always called him the ‘Villa President’. I’ve often seen him fishing here.
He was your father? Come to think of it, you do look alike.”

“Really? Did he fish here always?” He started prodding.

“Yes, he was here two or three times a week.”

The soft wind gently carried the cigarette smoke, taking it to places. Two or three times a
week.

“If he did, he would’ve been familiar with this terrain.”

“Huh?” She appeared confused by his words.

Perhaps it was the cigarette smoke, but the woman frowned and narrowed her lively eyes.
Taking the cue, Tae-jun threw his cigarette into the lake. He looked on as it created small
ripples.

“He wouldn’t have lost his footing by mistake.”

It was a suicide! Father jumped into the river on his own.

He’d gotten his confirmation.

And with that, Tae-jun turned around and walked away, leaving a befuddled woman
behind.

Back at the hotel, all alone, he poured himself a glass of alcohol. His vacant[2] mien refused
to reflect his inner thoughts.
What did he expect? That his father didn’t kill himself?

He smiled self-deprecatingly.

It was not that he had never considered such a scenario. Deep in the recesses of his mind,
whenever he had thought of his father’s sudden death, a part of him had declared it as
suicide. But now that he had proof, it felt strange accepting it. It shouldn’t be so, he had long
distanced himself from the man who was known as his father. And yet…

Everything about his father, right now, made him feel numb… Something hit and passed
through his empty chest. An aching pain surged and he clenched his heart. He took deep
breaths, desperately trying to calm something violently fluctuating within him.

Night came but only after two bottles of strong liquor had disappeared. It was a dark night
shrouded by a sullen silence. It was fated to be a sleepless night.

The next morning, bright and early, he was checking out. He noticed a shadow behind him.
When he turned around, he met Hye-yeon Jin.

“Can you spare me half an hour, if you don’t mind?” There was a kind of twinkle in her eyes,
that made it hard to refuse.

What does she want to do? He was simply staring at her wondering what the woman was up
to. His eyes showed vigilance. But it’s only 30 minutes… whatever can one do in thirty
minutes?

“What’s going on?” He was still hesitant to consent.

“There’s a place I’d like you to go for a minute.”

When they left the hotel, he noticed she was walking towards yesterday’s reed field. He was
baffled.

Why did they come here again?

He had barely calmed down from last night, when the sound that each step created on the
reed, caused a turmoil in his heart again.

“Where are we going?” He couldn’t take it anymore.

“You’ll see.”

He burned his cigarette to settle his nerves as he looked at the back of the woman leading
him. Neither spoke, as they walked further and further away from the hotel until they
reached a point where she stopped.
This place was a vacant lot clean of reeds. Looking at piles of junk and garbage around, it
could be a recycling dump.

What the hell are we doing in this dump?

She must have been insane and he was a fool to follow her bewitched. But looking at the
woman, she looked sober.

Slowly, Taejun’s darting gaze found an old man sitting between two piles of garbage. The
hat he wore… he couldn’t be mistaken—the checkered hunting cap with ear flaps—it was his
father’s!

Overwhelmed, Tae-jun unconsciously approached the man. “You… that hat…”

The man stared at Tae-jun, puzzled. He didn’t seem to understand a word of what the other
said. It was only when the woman used sign language to communicate that he understood
the man was hearing-impaired.

The two spoke for a long time. By and by his frustration was reaching its peak. When he
had had enough, he interjected.

“Who is this guy?”

“We call him Mr. Shin, and he lives here collecting waste paper, junk, cleaning up the reed
beds in front of you and often picks up scraps or recyclables from the hotel. The day of the
accident happened, he was on his way there.”

“Then this guy…”

“Yes, this man is the witness.” She finished his thoughts for him.

He saw the accident that day? Tae-jun’s jaw stiffened.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 22 - Choices
Chapter 22 – Choices

Tae-jun came back to Seoul, but the woman still occupied his thoughts. Her tender face,
zesty eyes, calloused hands—were etched on his mind. Perhaps, it was because he was
buried in the workload that he got so attracted to the woman he just met.

The way she’d diligently translated Mr. Shin’s sign language was still vivid in his mind.

“I was on my way to collect waste paper and junk as usual. The old man… I mean, the
president of the villa, was fishing. I thought so because he hung an empty fishing rod
two or three times a week. But there was a sudden gust of wind. The wind blew the
president’s hat into the lake. This hat… It’s a common thing here because it’s called the
goblin wind, but suddenly the old man got up to grab his hat. He wouldn’t have stepped
on that dangerous spot if he hadn’t just tried to. It was so sudden…”

Throughout the man’s gestured communication, Tae-jun’s gaze never left Mr. Shin’s hat.

That hat was given to Tae-jun on his birthday that year, before his father left. It was the
only hat in the world—custom-made in England.

Why is the hat still here? Why did my father jump into the river to catch the hat? No, why did
he still have that hat? No money, no position, no wife, no son… but just the hat.

Feeling Tae-jun’s gaze, Shin took off his hat.

“I picked it up a few days later by the river.”

When he was somewhat collected, Tae-jun brought out a check and extended it to Shin. The
man’s grateful eyes upon receiving it needed no translation.

He didn’t know what was more perplexing—his father who jumped into the river because
of this hat, or the man who kept it. One thing was clear, it was comforting as the sound of
footsteps of the woman following him.

In all his life, no woman had shown him concern, as she did. As a rule, he always chose
women who would not give him problems and had a proper relationship. A proper
relationship meant a beneficial one.

It always started on a high note rosy and cozy. But as soon as the honeymoon period ended,
reality would barge in. Greed, jealousy, possessiveness… aren’t they the mother of all
problems? He hated it when problems arose. No matter who, no matter where, this was
typical of women.
He had seen how his father had enough problems with women. He had resolved to steer
clear from them—women!

However, Myung-je Jin’s daughter seemed to be quite the contrary. Well, at least the few
times they’d met, seemed to say so. But, now was not the time to delve into this. For it was
about time for his interest in that woman to wane slowly.

Shortly after, Tae-jun was invited to the opening ceremony of an art center at H Arts
University, his mother was the chairperson of the board.

The H Art College, the Mecca of the Korean Art World, seemed to share an interesting bond
with the Seo scion. This place, his mother now helmed, was her alma mater too. His aunt,
Jung-hee Seo, director of the Seoin Gallery, majored in Oriental painting here.

Every year, this institution produced winners of contests and world champions—students
making their debut as rookie artists. As such, it was a place of pride as the best art school in
Korea.

His mother, whom he had not seen for almost half a year, was still an elegant and beautiful
woman. A year after his father left home, his mother left home too. It was the divorce of the
century; while the whole world was in a shock, his world turned tumultuous.

Upon his son’s death, Chairman Jung-ho Seo promised his daughter-in-law and grandson
unprecedented wealth and status. Had she been an ordinary woman, she would have just
lived, satisfied with her status as the “Seoin Group’s Daughter-in-law”.

But she was the only child of the founder of the arts school that produced famous talents
and educators of different generations. She was a woman of high pride, not someone
obsessed with wealth or honor. How could a paltry Seoin Group compare?

Eventually, his mother left home after agreeing to his grandfather’s proposal that she had
to relinquish all rights related to the Seoin Group. Of course, that included the only “Seo”
grandson of Chairman Jung-ho Seo and her prerogative as a mother.

Despite it all, Tae-jun neither condemned nor resented his mother’s decision. It was his
father who had erred from the beginning, and what came after was his mother’s choice for
her life. It didn’t matter if he didn’t feature in it. All in all, in this game of cause and effect,
the final winner was abandonment.

Since his mother’s departure from the Seo Family and his life, Tae-jun had met her only
through formal settings. There was a distance that neither could cross, willing, or not.
There was nothing that they had to say to each other. After all, the most sacrosanct bond in
the world, mother and child, built upon flesh and blood, was now connected by a mere
piece of paper: the certificate of birth.
On that day, he left the office early after a round of meetings. When he reached the
university area, he made his way towards the event’s location. He saw his mother, she was
overseeing the last minute things. Suddenly, she looked in his direction, seemingly wanting
to say something to her son. However, it didn’t matter. Just like she had made the choice to
abandon her son, he had made a choice for his mother, too.

He walked around the venue for a little, looking for a quiet spot to smoke. This newly
opened art center boasted artistic symmetry. A lot of thought was put into the building, but
its grounds didn’t lack care. As he strolled around the lush landscape that stood as a
testimony to the artistic verve, his eyes caught something familiar.

Sitting on a bench in the most inconspicuous corner, head buried deep into the sketchbook,
delicate fingers wielding the pencil with aplomb, eyes fixated, utterly oblivious to the
surroundings was a woman.

Such a pristine scene brought two words to his mind…

Hye-yeon Jin.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 23
Chapter 23

Under the warm rays of the sun that snuck past the lofty branches, she sat there on the
bench immersed in a world of her own. A pair of abandoned high heels lay by the naked
feet in the company of an empty beer can that had served its purpose.

An unknown force dragged Tae-jun towards the girl, his pace subconsciously quickened.
Yet, the source of it all, continued to be oblivious, moving her deft fingers over the
sketchbook even as the man stood inches behind her.

“Hye-yeon.”

She turned towards the low voice resonating above her head. Her eyes widened in surprise
upon the sight of her most unexpected visitor. She quickly recovered and smiled.

“Hello, what a surprise running into you here!”

Her eyes were clear and bright. When she gazed into his eyes directly, Tae-jun felt an
inexplicable commotion in the forsaken corner of his heart.

“I didn’t know you were a student here.” Her mesmerizing eyes agitated his heart further.

“I’m on leave at the moment.”

“Was your work part of today’s exhibit, by any chance?”

Considering the large number of high-profile invitees, it was most definitely an important
event for the art students. In fact, it could compare to their graduation ceremony. This was
where they would take their first step into the real world, build networks, and whatnot.
Moreover, the guests were their potential clients and sponsors.

“Almost.”

“Almost?”

He turned his attention to the sketchbook. Her skills were impressive, even at a fleeting
glance. She could give her peers a run for their money, and yet, here she was!

Before he knew it, a can of beer was in his hands. It seems this girl was not just skilled with
her hands; she’d nimbly eluded his question.

Out of habit, he lit a cigarette and looked towards her only to find her glaring at him.
Apparently, the smoke was bothering her.
However, the staring contest didn’t last long; her firm gaze and Tae-jun had reluctantly
taken the cigarette out of his mouth and flicked it into the bin nearby. Satisfied, she tossed
the can to accompany the ciggy.

“It’s a long story.” She thought this should stop his probing.

“The kind of story that made you drink alone in the middle of the day?”

Quite a curious cat this one is!

“Are you always this curious about other people’s private lives? And why are you so
informal with me? We’re not at the hotel anymore.” She was visibly miffed at his intrusion.

Look at this! Tae-jun scoffed.

“That makes us even, don’t you think? Aren’t you the one who started! You can go ahead
and be rude to me all you like.”

She stared at him as though dumbfounded. He fixed his gaze squarely upon her eyes,
unwilling to back off.

Right then, he suddenly felt a wave of a nausea-like sensation. Something shook violently
within, which permeated into his beating heart. It was an intense attraction that he had
never experienced before.

“Well…”

As soon as she parted her lips, her cell phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and closed
the sketchbook.

“I have to go.”

She got off the bench, staggered as she put her heels on. Tae-jun held her arm to steady her.

Bad move! A shiver ran down his spine the moment he grasped her slender limb.

“Ah, thank you.” She said politely.

A burning sensation spread, from the fingertips that touched her to the rest of his body. He
felt unbearably thirsty.

What is this? Tae-jun stood rooted, staring down at his hand for a while before turning
towards the direction in which she had left.

He saw her walking away with a man. He felt an indescribable ache in his heart as he
watched her smile at him.
At this moment, Tae-jun simply did not care whether this feeling was love or lust. He was
going insane over his desire for her. He gave a damn to everything. All he wanted was to
make her his, and only his!

Present Day-

He dreamed that he made love to the woman.

She said she was Hye-yeon, but she was not.

He took his time with her, savoring the moments she clung to him as she looked at him with
eyes bathed in ecstasy. Wrapped in his arms, she always received him with a softness that
soothed and excited his senses at the same time.

From the beginning, they had been well suited for each other. Even if it was a deal, it was
suffused with passion. She was pure, untainted… waiting just for him to mold her as he
wished. He had done just that, enjoying every bit, every moment. And the more he tamed
her, she continued to fit him even better.

He adored her madly, so much so that he could not imagine being with any other woman. In
a way, she too had tamed him.

“Ha…”

A sweet moan escaped her lush lips.

Tae-jun withdrew the finger deposited deep inside her cave. The red flesh twitched, nectar
trickled down his finger. Slowly, he licked his fragrant and sweet finger. It was as if she was
a fruit given to him for his consumption only. Something that was only his, something that
only he could have.

Tae-jun spread her legs and entered her. As he went all the way in, without even an inch of
room, she twisted herself slightly. He squeezed her waist and thrust into her repeatedly.

As he moved faster, her whimperings filled the air. To him, her entire body was a musical
instrument, producing sound at his touch. His excitement gradually soared, he swiftly
turned her over and grasped her br*asts.

“Mmm, please…” Her soft plea fueled his hunger.

“Just a little more.” He coaxed.

He was going crazy. Each time he had her, he felt an overwhelming desire to devour her
whole.
He lowered his hand from her br*ast and rubbed her cl*tor*s. As the passion intensified,
she pleaded urgently… in the midst of the sounds of slapping flesh, she reached the apex.
He sank his teeth into her smooth shoulder and let out a loud grunt. He climaxed almost at
the same time as she did, feeling completely at one with her.

Panting, he lovingly kissed the top of her head, delighted that she kept to his pace.

When he was about to call her name, he suddenly froze.

“Who are you?”

He didn’t know her name. He knew every inch of her body… but not her name.

⸙
 Chapter 24
Chapter 24

Tae-jun reflexively opened his eyes.

What was that all about, this nasty nightmare?!

He automatically reached for the cigarettes on the bedside table. With an unlit cigarette
held in his mouth, and with both hands, brushed back his hair drenched in sweat.

How did she feel every time she was with him, when he moaned and cried the name of another
woman?

Tae-jun found it difficult to contain himself. He felt suffocated.

The next morning saw Mr. Lee clicking his tongue at the sight of his boss.

Pale face, eyes bloodshot that even the thick-rimmed Tom Ford eyeglasses were able to
conceal, he seemed like a walking billboard for a ghost movie.[1]

Did something happen to him? Haiz, will he be able to survive the day?

Mr. Lee felt restless, only to be assuaged by Jin-wook’s appearance. He couldn’t see what
Jin-wook had brought with him, but was hoping that it would calm their boss, who was
starting to resemble a starving beast.

“What’s that girl’s name?” This was Tae-jun’s first question.

“It’s Yuri Han. Yu-ri-Han.” Jin-wook carefully articulated each syllable of her name.

Yuri Han. Tae-jun etched the name into his mind.

“She was born in Seoul but went to middle and high schools in Jinseong. She entered H Arts
University to study painting but dropped out. She grew up with Hye-yeon Jin. They went to
the same middle school and high school, and as Miss Han’s father was Mr. Jin’s chauffeur,
they lived in the same place[2] . She is highly regarded by those around her and has won an
impressive number of awards at school. She seems considerably talented.”

Jin-wook then produced a picture of her, and documents including newspaper articles on
the awards that she had won.

It’s you, Yuri Han!

Her father wasn’t Myeong-Je Jin, but his driver, Su-won Han.
The information about the woman he had spent a year with continued to pour in, albeit
under the new name: Yuri Han.

“And apparently, she has often filled in for Hye-yeon Jin at Hotel Jinseong. I’ve confirmed
this with the former manager at the hotel.”

“Filled in?”

His lips, with a cigarette lodged in between, distorted imperceptibly.

I see… So, that’s how it all began!

“But Hyeon-ah Kim said that she didn’t recognize her from the photo. Why did she lie?”

“I’m not sure. I was suspicious about that too and pressed her a bit more, but she didn’t
give an answer. I couldn’t figure her out. And there’s a questionable rumor that she used to
be Mr. Jin’s mistress. Shall I dig around?”

“There’s no need. She’s not important.”

Tae-jun picked up the photo of the girl who had been evading him… tormenting him. It
seemed to have been taken when she was in university. It was that same smile from his
memory, the one that filled him with a burning desire to have her.

Feeling every one of his cells simultaneously react, he took a drag deep into his lungs.

“Where is Yuri Han now?”

“My apologies, but I’m yet to figure that out. According to the immigration records, she left
for the US four years ago and returned to Korea only recently.”

“Why go to the US?”

“Her uncle, that is, the elder brother of her late mother, appears to be married to an
American and running a business there. With her father deceased as well, he would have
been the only family left for her to depend on.”

“How did her father die? Was he ill?”

“In fact…” Jin-wook rubbed his chin. “…It was a hit-and-run. And interestingly, this accident
occurred around the time Yuri Han went missing.”

A hit-and-run. Tae-jun slowly blinked.

On the day of her disappearance, Yuri’s face in the CCTV footage seemed frantic. What if this
was because her father had just died?

Only Yuri herself would know the answer. He stubbed the cigarette into the ashtray.
“I’ll look into the American side of things. What about Hye-seong Jin?”

“I have located him.”

“Took you long enough.”

Seoin Group’s resources, coupled with Jin-wook’s personal network, was quite impressive.
He could name any politician or executive at a rival company, and have detailed
information on their family and bank accounts delivered within hours.

But Hye-seong had hid so well that it had taken the ‘cadaver dog’ [3] days to locate him.
Was there a reason for him to disappear?

Jin-wook shrugged. “I haven’t had this much difficulty in a long time. He didn’t report his
new address to the city government, has no bank account or credit card under his name,
not even a cell phone!”

“Can I meet him today?”

“I will make it happen. But sir, is it necessary to meet him, when we now know that the girl
is Yuri Han?”

Tae-jun set down the picture of Yuri on the table. His gaze deepened.

“I want to know why he made her pretend to be Hye-yeon. And he needs to pay a price for
deceiving me.”

“Understood, sir.” Jin-wook lowered his head and walked out of the office.

Tae-jun instructed Mr. Lee to block all calls and visitors. He spent the day looking carefully
through each piece of information about Yuri Han that Jin-wook had brought.

You’re mistaken!

Sh*t! She must have come that day to disabuse me of my notions!

Tae-jun could hear her voice from that meeting like it was happening right now. He had not
listened to her and connected her with President Jin directly. He recalled her face, turning
pale with fright.

Myung-je Jin probably threatened her!

To you, I’m just a doll named ‘Hye-yeon Jin’.

Scenes after scenes replayed in his mind. Her every word, action that had felt absurd then,
suddenly made sense. Why she hadn’t wanted to leave any pictures while living together,
why she had hesitated whenever he called her name, why she hadn’t told him anything
about herself…

He lit his cigarette while gazing at the photograph of the girl and said aloud, “Excellent!
You’ve played the role of ‘Hye-yeon Jin’ perfectly!”

He had thought that learning her name would rid him of this suffocating feeling, but there
was no end to it… It also didn’t help that Yuri was smiling so beautifully in the picture.

⸙
 Chapter 25
Chapter 25

It was bright and early when she opened her eyes. Drawing the curtains aside, she let the
rays stream in and light up the room.

She felt particularly refreshed this morning. It was the first time in a while that she had had
a dream involving anyone other than ‘him’. Neither had she woken up drenched in sweat
nor had she felt the usual agony. Most importantly, the person who’d visited her dreams
was someone she had a soft spot for– Hye-yeon.

Although she’d left for the States abruptly, while there, Yuri had tried to reach Hye-yeon.
She was curious as to how her friend was faring now that she was not around. However, no
matter how many times she tried, she couldn’t get through to her cell phone or residence.
In the end, she had concluded that the numbers could have been disconnected for some
reason. For the lack of a direct line, she tried reaching through her social media accounts.
What was once a boisterous account with a slew of pictures et al., was now insipid due to
inactivity. Thus, upon receiving no response even after several tries, Yuri had been forced
to give up.

But the dream from last night had rekindled her desire to reconnect with her good friend.
While at it, she decided to do something else as well but needed some info before going
about it.

Noting the time, Yuri decided to call her uncle in New York. She reckoned, by now he would
have closed the restaurant for the night and would be relatively free to talk to her.

– Uncle, it’s me, Yuri. Are you busy?

“No, we’re just wrapping up now. Are you okay? What’s going on?”

Her uncle was, in addition to being her mother’s brother, her father’s best friend. Her father
had fallen in love with his bestie’s younger sister at first sight. He visited his shop every
single day in a bid to catch a glimpse of the queen of his heart and win her over. Her uncle
loved his sister and her man. For that reason alone, he was particularly devoted to his
orphaned niece. Without his material and emotional support, it would have been
impossible for Yuri to have survived.

– Of course, I’m doing well! It’s nothing special, but I wanted to ask where my dad’s ashes
are resting. I’d like to visit while I’m in Korea. It’s somewhere in Jinseong, right?

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He sounded firm.

Early in her treatment, when Davis had suggested that she visit the places associated with
her past, her uncle had fiercely opposed it. He didn’t furnish a reason, so the matter had
simply passed. However, as her condition worsened he’d reluctantly agreed upon realizing
that this was the only recourse. Left to him, he wouldn’t have allowed Yuri to take this trip
to Korea.

Her uncle’s flat refusal confused Yuri. Her father was not just an integral part of her
memory, but her life too. Besides, her uncle was his best chum. Why then was he this
against her visiting him? In fact, shouldn’t he have been the one to ask her to do so in the
first place?

– Why? Why shouldn’t I…”

A long sigh was heard from the other end, there seemed to be a veiled fear even. After a
moment of silence, a low voice sounded.

“There’s something that I haven’t been able to tell you. Considering all that you’re going
through, I’d best kept it to myself… Actually, the last time you were there you went missing
for ten days.”

– … missing?!

She was in utter disbelief.

“Even today, I don’t know the whys and hows. By the time I heard about your dad’s
accident and managed to get to Korea, you’d long disappeared. I searched all over Jinseong
for you while I arranged the funeral. Then, a group of strange-looking men suddenly
showed up at my doorstep and threatened me against doing anything stupid. Some of them
were police officers.”

Her head began to spin, she gripped her phone tight and heard her uncle continue.

“I couldn’t bear to stay there, so I went to Seoul as soon as the funeral was done. Just in
case, I gave my contact information and the name of my hotel to your friend. I think her
name was Hye-yeon Jin? And a week later, very late at night, you showed up looking like a
mess and fainted right away. When you came to, you had already forgotten all about what
had happened.”

A long silence lingered on. She had never heard this before.

“Anyway, you shouldn’t go to Jinseong. Please don’t go there, Yuri.” Her uncle repeatedly
pleaded as if casting a spell. But his niece’s mind was a tangled mess.

She mumbled something in response and got off the phone.

Dazed, she turned around to catch her reflection in the vanity mirror and gazed at it for a
long time.

What on earth has happened to me?!

Apparently it had all begun with those ‘missing ten days’. She had found her first clue and
how!

But this was no time to sulk, she had to get to the bottom of it all. She tried to jog her
memory.

She remembered calling her uncle about her father’s accident, he had soothed her and said
he would be with her shortly. However, recalling what happened next was a challenge. As
she closed her eyes and tried to drag out the memory in any way possible, she heard a
ringing in her ears. It was the same warning siren that appeared every time she attempted
to break the seal on her memory. Each time this was where she stopped… had to stop. Even
so, today, she blatantly ignored it. But that made it only louder, an excruciating pain
dominated her mind. She staggered. Luckily she was close to the wall, she steadied herself
against it. Slowly, the ringing stopped.

The seal remained intact… she’d given up yet again.

However, this did not mean she had given up altogether. She knew all too well there was no
use continuing to drill her mind for answers, she would needlessly suffer. She had to find a
better way of going about this. Now that she had somewhere to start, she wouldn’t let go of
this opportunity.

Her gut instinct told her that the person he’d given his contact information to and the one
she must’ve met at the end of her “missing ten days” were the same.

I have to find Hye-yeon!

Determined, Yuri went to the bus terminal and bought a ticket to Jinseong. Her uncle’s
word of caution lingered in her ears, her heart sank… But did she have a choice?

The situation felt similar to the beginning of a horror film that she’d watched. The heroine
had gone to the village that she wasn’t supposed to visit. All alone on a journey into the
unknown… what’d happen to her? Would she die, or escape?

Sitting on the window seat on the bus, she gazed at the passing cityscape. She could almost
glimpse the desolate Yuri who had started towards the city upon dropping out of
university. All alone, wronged, robbed of hope she’d sat in a corner seat of the bus and cried
even as the scathing sunshine streamed through the window and the bus rattled along.

Memories are strange. How could she remember small things like that, but not the
important ones?

Yuri hailed a cab at the bus terminal in Jinseong.

“Hotel Jinseong, please.”

The gray-haired driver glanced at Yuri through the rearview mirror. “You mean, the hotel
that used to be Hotel Jinseong?”

“Sorry?”

“That place is called ‘Hotel Seoin’ now.”

Surprise spread across her face. The city’s landmark hotel had closed down? Whatever
happened to Mr. Jin? And Hye-yeon?

She turned her gaze towards the outside, trying to contain the chaos brewing in her heart.
It did help though.

As she looked, she found the city had changed vastly in five short years. Large new
buildings had replaced the old ones, and the run-down market had been transformed into a
clean shopping center. Never had she thought this quaint place would see such a drastic
makeover.

When they stopped at a red light, the driver asked, “When’s the last time you were here?”

Yuri counted the number of years since the last visit she could remember. “About five
years, I think.”

“Ah, of course, you’re surprised then. It’s really changed since, right?”

“Yes. It really has changed a lot.”

“I think it was three or four years ago? Things started developing after Hotel Seoin opened.
More shops came up, and young people started moving here. We get a lot of foreigners too.
And there’s a rumor that they’re opening a casino here soon.”

Yuri nodded as the cab driver happily donned the guide’s hat. Before she knew it, they’d
arrived at the hotel.

She was amazed by its exterior. The hotel that she remembered was nowhere to be seen. Its
façade, adorned with black marble, was impressive to the intimidating degree.

She approached the front desk, but Hye-yeon was nowhere around. Only employees
dressed in fancy uniforms greeted her.

⸙
 Chapter 26
Chapter 26

Everything felt strange to her. Luxurious lighting, exuberant décor… guests accoutred.
There were no families or tourist groups in hiking gear. All around, there were just…
foreigners. It was as though she had got off the cab and into an utterly different world.

Overcome by a nauseating sensation of racing through time after a long state of suspension,
she ran out to the street.

She was breathing heavily, trying to gather her bearings. As she looked around her… she
could recognize a brick nor tree. Everything had changed. The place, the people… the air.
Nothing felt the same any more. Just when she was on the brink of feeling hopeless…
something caught her eye.

Standing tall, swaying in a rhythm of its own, on the river bank were the once all too
familiar reeds. At long last, a welcome sight!

A blithe smile graced her lips as she walked on the dry grass allowing the blades to caress
her as they wished. She took a deep breath and looked towards the sky, the glistening
water… her heart started to settle. Slowly, she went along the path behind the hotel and
across the field. She was happy to find the same old shortcut leading to the residential
neighborhood still waiting for her. Her steps finally came to a halt upon reaching the
largest independent house in the area: the Villa President’s abode.

She stood at the street corner and gazed at the house. Thankfully it was just as she
remembered. The wooden gate… the high walls, it was all still the same. This was one of
those places that held fond memories. Her father used to wash the car in front of the house.

She stopped herself short of excitedly ringing the doorbell. After all, the nameplate at the
door had changed. She quickly came to her senses and chided herself for losing her
composure.

Of course, the hotel wouldn’t be the only one with new owners! What’s she thinking!!!

No wonder I haven’t been able to reach her.

She swallowed the bitterness brewing within and looked around the neighborhood. She
reminded herself about the purpose of her visit. She deliberated over what to do next as
she slowly trudged away.

Where could she find Hye-yeon? Should she go back to the hotel, and see if she could find
anyone from the Hotel Jinseong days? Perhaps, she could go into stores and ask about Mr. Jin?
Anyone living in Jinseong would know him…
While she was lost in her musings, she heard someone call out to her.

“Yuri? It’s you, isn’t it?”

She turned towards the voice and was surprised by what she saw. Although it was difficult
to make out her face in the glare of sunlight, it was definitely Hyeon-ah Kim from the old
hotel.

Hyeon-ah smiled happily. “I heard you were in Korea and knew you would visit. It’s been a
while!”

Yuri hesitated at the warm welcome of her old acquaintance. She was happy to see her, but
something was off.

How did she know that I was in Korea?

“Come in, this is my place.”

Hyeon-ah led Yuri to a small café near the hotel. It was bustling even at this time of the day,
a sign that business was doing well. It appeared to turn into a bar in the evenings. Yuri
looked around its small interior while her host prepared coffee.

Hyeon-ah was different from how she remembered her. She had never seen her with this
much makeup before. Her straight black hair had been replaced by a beautiful brown, wavy
one. Her previously short nails were now long and manicured, and instead of a clean-cut
suit, she was wearing a tight dress that perilously showed off her cleavage.

“So you don’t work at the hotel anymore?”

“That’s right. They cleaned the house when the new owners came in. First, they moved me
from the front desk to the kitchen, and then to the laundry room. I couldn’t handle it. The
manager is still holding on, though.” As she spoke, she sat opposite Yuri with two cups of
coffee and lit a cigarette in her mouth.

Seeing the surprise on Yuri’s face, she said as if explaining herself, “Oh, this? I started when
I opened this place.”

For some inexplicable reason, the smoke made Yuri’s heart race. Even so, she asked in the
calmest voice that she could muster, “How’s the business?”

“When I first left the hotel I was at a loss about what I should do to feed myself. But turns
out I’m really good at this stuff. I had learned a lot at the hotel, too. It was pretty hard at
first but thankfully things are stable now. I even have some regulars. How’ve you been?”

“I’ve been living with my uncle in the US.”

“And what do you do these days? Still painting?”

“Yes, I’m still working in the art industry. I’m in Korea on business.”

“So you’re going back to the US?”

“I’m leaving in three days. I came to Jinseong just to see how things are, but…”

It was time to wrap up the reconnaissance mission disguised in pleasantries. Yuri took a
deep breath and shed all pretences.

“How did you know that I was in the country?”

Hyeon-ah slightly raised a corner of her mouth and put out the cigarette.

“A man came to see me… With a recent picture of you.” She was forthright with her reply.

“What picture?”

“It looked like it was from a CCTV footage. You had your hair up in a ponytail, wearing a
trench coat.” Hyeon-ah walked over to the counter as she talked and fetched something. It
was a business card– gold-colored text printed on black paper.

<Jin-wook Jeong, President, J Consulting>

Yuri had never heard of the man or the company before.

“I’m not familiar with him.”

“I figured. He claimed to be some kind of consultant but he was suspicious as hell. He was
about fifty, his eyes looked incredibly sharp. My guess is he’s ex: police or military.”

Having spent years at the hotel front desk, Hyeon-ah had a keen eye for people. One glance,
and she could read them like a book. This skill was very handy in dealing with the guests
then as it was now.

Yuri carefully inspected the card. She read and re-read the name and other details. She’d a
gnawing feeling within, but she couldn’t put a finger on it.

Sensing her misgivings, her friend decided to put her at ease.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t have a good feeling about it either, so I just told him that I didn’t
know you.”

“Can I take the card with me?”

“Yeah, go ahead. Actually it wasn’t you that he was interested in at first. He initially asked
about Hye-yeon, the dead girl.”

Crash!
The mug had slipped from Yuri’s hands and hit the floor. For a brief moment, the crisp
shattering of porcelain fractured the gaiety of the café. Even so, the source of interruption
was oblivious to it all.

Who could blame her?

Still unaware of the wreckage she’d created on the floor, a flustered and pale Yuri asked,
“Hye… Hye-yeon is…dead?”

⸙
 Chapter 27
Chapter 27

Looking at an ashen Yuri, Hyeon-ah Kim’s eyes widened to their limits. This was totally
unexpected.

“What, you didn’t know she was dead?” she asked in apparent disbelief.

The two were thick as thieves, how could she not know? But looking at her now, it seemed
she really didn’t know.

“I couldn’t even imagine… I-I just thought I couldn’t get in touch with her. And I didn’t have
the energy to worry about it in the US. Hye-yeon… is really gone?”

Yuri’s voice was quivering. How could this be?! She felt a big stone weighing down her heart.
She could not possibly believe that her friend was dead… gone forever.

Can you please fill in for me, just for three days? I’m going to Japan with my boyfriend.

I’ll give you twice, no, three times my hourly pay.

Yuri could still vividly picture the naughty Hye-yeon, asking her to show up to work at the
hotel in her place. How she would plead, coax, boss… but never take no for an answer.

But why?

“I heard it was suicide. Someone found her body floating down the Jinseong River,” Hyeon-
ah said as if sensing her thoughts.

No, no way! That was ridiculous! Hye-yeon would never kill herself!!!

“…That’s not possible.” Yuri spoke with conviction. She knew her friend best!

A few breaths of silence passed. Hyeon-ah peered at Yuri in all seriousness. “Do you know
anything? I mean, you were the last person to see her alive.”

A flash of lightning struck impregnable walls in her subconscious, a crevice of hope

emerged. And without a warning, a scene began playing in her mind. It was so vivid as if it
were happening in that instance.

Splash! Cold water sprayed across. Gradually as the water settled, a figure came into view…
the serene face, vacant eyes… she was going deeper and deeper into the river. [4]

Yuri’s pupils dilated, she clenched her fist trying hard to endure the torment and glimpse
the drowning face.
That… that woman… Hye-yeon![5]

Stop remembering!

Something sharp slashed the deep corners of her brain. Violent pain began gnawing at her.
Yuri gripped her head with both hands and started shaking it.

What was that image?! Was it a lost memory… or, a delusion brought on by shock? If it was a
lost memory, then why was I watching Hye-yeon sink into the water? Was I there?

“Are you okay?”

Hyeon-ah stared into Yuri’s face with concern. Her already pale face was now turning blue.
Before she could wrap her mind around it, she saw her struggling to say something.

Yuri barely squeezed a sentence out of her throat. “…I’m so-rry. I thi-nk I sho-uld go.”

It was becoming difficult even to stay seated. Everything in front of her was just too
ruthless for her to handle. All she wanted was to run away from there.

As she stood up, her legs shook precariously. She staggered to get a footing with the help of
the table.

“Are you really all right? You look as white as a sheet!” There was panic in Hyeon-ah’s
voice, helplessness wreathed her confident visage.

Even so, her friend’s anxious voice felt strangely distant. Yuri shook off Hyeon-ah’s hand
that was trying to hold her steady. She turned around and stumbled out of the café.

She was floating in a dreamlike state as if her brain was on a meltdown. Her mind refused
to think. She moved mechanically for a long time before gradually coming to her senses.
When she tried to muster a semblance of her whereabouts, she discovered she was in the
lobby of Hotel Seoin. It was unclear how she’d managed to take the bus back to Seoul or
made it to this place.

Why am I here?

Yuri slowly looked around her, blinking, striving to make sense. Sounds from her
surroundings, which had thus far been blocked as if the speaker had been turned off,
suddenly rushed in at once and bombarded her eardrums. Her sensations, that had
previously disappeared, now returned.

This was not the first time that she had moved around in an unconscious state. It was an
often occurrence since losing her memory. She would wander the boundaries between
reality and fantasy, as if she were seeking something, sometimes even running away. Each
time, she had done something that she could no longer remember, or found herself in an
unexpected place.
But why this hotel, when she’d canceled the reservation only a few days ago? What is she
supposed to find here?

Is this because the new Hotel Seoin in Jinseong had left a strong impression? And who is the
man that was going around looking for her? Jin-wook Jeong from J Consulting–who is he? Is he
related to the people who’d threatened her uncle?

She suddenly noticed the CCTV camera hanging at a corner on the ceiling and recalled
Hyeon-ah’s words.

It looked like it was from CCTV footage. You had your hair up in a ponytail, wearing a
trench coat.

That must have been her first day back in Korea. Could the footage have been from here? She
peered up at the camera. How had the man obtained a copy of the footage?

She knew, from her days working at Hotel Jinseong, that it was not easy to get one’s hands
on the lobby surveillance footage. An upscale place like Hotel Seoin would require a
warrant from the police.

That man must be an insider here. A shiver ran down her back. Perhaps she was being filmed
right now?

Yuri took a step towards the exit. At that instant, the floor sloshed and things began
spinning in front of her. Her knees gave away and she dropped to the floor. She felt the
impact against the surface and began hearing the murmurs of the crowd around her.

“Are you okay, miss?”

Urgent footsteps stopped next to her and a man’s voice echoed. The world in front of her
swayed up and down nauseating her. She wanted to say that it was nothing, that she was all
right, but she was finding it difficult to even breathe.

“Yuri? Yuri Han? Are you all right?”

She managed to regain composure at the sound of a familiar voice. A tall man with light
brown hair, slightly drooping eyes, and firm hands… Jae-won helped her up.

“Jae-won?” she asked, doubtfully.

“That’s right, Yuri. We meet again.” He smiled.

⸙
 Chapter 28
Chapter 28

“Why are you…”

“I work here. I came to check since a guest was having a problem, and it turned out to be
you. Are you feeling ill?”

“No, I’m just a bit light-headed.”

“Do you have a medical condition? We have a nearby physician on retainer. She can be here
in five minutes. Wait here.” Jae-won fished out a cell phone from his jacket. Yuri shook her
head.

“No, please. I’m really fine. I don’t need a doctor.”

Seeing her frantic face, he put the phone back into his pocket. He led her to a sofa.

“Please wait here just for a moment,” he said in a stern voice and disappeared. Yuri tried to
move while he was gone, but her muscles were devoid of energy.

Why am I feeling so weak?

It’s then that she realized all she’d eaten all day was the coffee from Hyeon-ah’s café.

“Here, drink this.” Jae-won suddenly rematerialized and handed her an open bottle of
water. Feeling grateful and thirsty, Yuri brought the bottle to her lips. She felt a small relief
as the cold water traveled down her throat.

Seeing the half-empty bottle, Jae-won asked again, “Are you sure you don’t need me to call
the doctor?”

“Yes. Thank you so much for your help.” She was still feeling weak, but thankfully the
dizziness and nausea had disappeared. She would feel better once she had a chance to
return to her room, take her medication, and rest.

Yuri gave him a slight nod. “Thanks again for this. I’ll be going now.”

But Jae-won stood up in front of her. “Where are you headed? Let me drive you.”

“No, I’m totally fine. I don’t want to be a bother.”

Jae-won would not back down. “It would be a bother for you to just walk out in your state.
I’d be so worried about you for the rest of the evening, that I wouldn’t be able to get
anything done.”
The valet had already brought Jae-won’s car to the entrance of the lobby. Jae-won opened
the passenger door for Yuri. “Get in.”

Yuri reluctantly climbed in. Seated at the wheel, Jae-won asked, “Where to?”

She named the hotel she was staying at. He entered it into the navigation system and
started the car.

Soothing piano music streamed out of the speakers. As though mindful of Yuri’s frail state,
he refrained from talking too much. She sat with her eyes closed, feeling the silence that
wasn’t entirely uncomfortable.

They had arrived at the cross-section near her hotel when she opened her eyes.

“Actually, I’ve been meaning to reach out to you.” Jae-won started.

“Me?”

“Ah, I guess you haven’t heard from the agency yet. Director Yoon told me that you are Roy
Jean’s assistant. My team is planning on acquiring one of his pieces for the hotel lobby, so I
thought I’d ask you a few questions.”

For the first time that day, she pictured the emails and messages that must have been piling
up on her phone. Normally, she’d check them as soon as they came in, but she could hardly
think about that today.

“Would you be interested in having dinner with me?” Jae-won took a chance.

After a moment of hesitation, she accepted. She was starting to feel hungry anyway. A
surprised Jae-won flashed a pleasant smile.

“Well, there’s a great place not so far from here, let me take you there.”

Jae-won took her to a traditional Korean-style house with a gracious, vintage exterior. He
led her inside while she marveled at finding such a house in the middle of the bustling
modern city. A woman clad in a semi-traditional garb greeted them at the entrance with a
charming smile.

“Director Lee, it’s been a while.”

“I don’t have a reservation, but would it be possible to get a table?”

“Of course!”

The woman then guided them to the annex.

Treading on the beautiful stepping stones on the garden path, Yuri pondered over the title
that the woman had addressed Jae-won with.

This man works at Hotel Seoin. Given his proximity to Shi-yeon[6] she reckoned that the
two would be on similar levels. However, she was surprised to learn that he was so high-
ranking.

“You’re dining with a beautiful lady this evening.”

“I’ll try to come more often.”

“I’d be so grateful, sir. I haven’t seen Director Yoon since she got engaged.”

“She seems rather busy these days.”

Yuri took in the view of the garden outside the window while Jae-won chatted with the
owner. A pond was situated in the middle of the garden, next to a small pavilion. They were
nestled among expensive viewing stones and old pine trees. This was not an ordinary
restaurant for ordinary people.

“Is there anything you can’t eat?”

Yuri turned her gaze to Jae-won and shook her head. “No, I can eat anything.”

“Then I’ll order the chef’s tasting menu.” Jae-won motioned to the owner. “We’ll do the
usual. It would be great if you could serve everything at once. I skipped lunch and am about
to starve to death.”

“Certainly, sir.”

Once the owner left the room, Yuri sat face-to-face with Jae-won and began.

“How do you know Director Yoon?”

“Ah, she’s a friend. We go way back. And soon she’s going to be family, too.”

“Family?” She’s surprised, she’s hardly expected such a connection between the two.

“Yes, she’s engaged to my cousin. If all goes well, they’ll be married around this time next
year.”

“I see.” Yuri nodded.

Jae-won changed the subject. “What did you study in school?”

“I studied painting at university. And now Roy’s teaching me sculpting.”

“I see. So you’re working on your own pieces as well?”

“Not these days.”

“Like, you’re in a slump?”

“Pretty much.” A bitter-sweet smile flickered on her face.

⸙
 Chapter 29
Chapter 29

The restaurant had quite a relaxed atmosphere, Yuri found it quite calming. Jae-won was a
decent company too and by and by, her mind was steered away from the happenings from
earlier in the day.

The paper door slid open and the servers in semi-traditional garb, similar to the
proprietor’s, brought in the dishes. The large table was soon filled with beautiful dishes.

“Would you like something to drink, sir?”

“I’m all right. Yuri, how about you?”

“I’m okay as well.”

“Please enjoy your meal.” The server left the room and closed the door.

Jae-won, the gentleman, was quite an attentive host.

“Please go ahead.”

Saying so, he took a piece of savory pancake and placed it on the plate in front of Yuri.
Whether it was due to her hunger, or the chef’s skills, everything was absolutely delicious.
Yuri was honestly impressed.

“They do a great job here.”

“Right? The owner’s family has been running the place for three generations. I’m here
pretty often. Please enjoy to your heart’s content.”

Jae-won smoothly led the conversation, occasionally recommending dishes for Yuri to try.
He asked about the piece that his team was looking to buy, and she answered to the best of
her knowledge. His experience in the hospitality industry had extensively trained him in
table and conversation etiquette.

“How’s New York these days?”

Jae-won had spent most of his childhood in the US and was very familiar with New York
City. He would still visit a few times a year, to see his brother who lived there.

On that note, the conversation naturally focused on the city. Amazingly, his brother’s
apartment was very close to Roy Jean’s studio. Jae-won seemed surprised when Yuri
mentioned this.
“I’ve always been curious about that building since it has such a unique exterior. I’d no idea
it was his studio. On the off chance, does it also serve as a gallery? I’d love to visit.”

“That’s right. It has some of Roy’s work, as well as some pieces by his assistants. Please do
drop by next time you’re in town.”

“Is your work also displayed there?”

“Just a few.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing them!” He seemed quite enthusiastic.

Soon after, Jae-won dropped her off at her hotel. She thanked him before getting out of the
car. She was refreshed now and thought she owed it to this man.

“Thank you for dinner. I’m greatly indebted to you for your help today.”

“Please don’t worry about that. I really enjoyed having dinner with you. And here’s my
card. Would it be possible for you to give me a call before you leave the country?”

“If you wanted to talk about the contract, the agency would be handl[7] …”

She didn’t really think she needed to involve herself as this was something the agency
always handled. But before she could complete, the man interjected.

“No, it’s not about that.”

Yuri withdrew the hand that was about to take his card. She didn’t know what he wanted
with her, she was somewhat uncomfortable now.

Seeing her hesitation, he added. “Don’t feel pressured. I just want us to be friends. Please,
I’m starting to feel a little embarrassed here.”

Yuri reluctantly took the card from his hand. She felt obligated to the man for today,
however, she made herself clear.

“I may not have a chance to call you before I go.” She didn’t want him to get the wrong
signals.

“That’s okay.” He smiled gently.

She gave him a polite nod and went into the hotel without turning back.

What a long day this has been!

Yuri dropped to the floor as soon as she entered her room. She’d held it in for quite a long
time.
⸙

Tae-jun buried himself deep in the seat of his car. It felt like his senses were focused on one
thing, as vivid as the perception of a hunter who’d finally re-encountered a prey that had
long eluded him. He could barely contain the excitement that brewed in his body ever since
he’d been informed of Hye-seong Jin’s capture.

However, instead of pulling the trigger of his shotgun, the hunter clasped his hands
together and closed his eyes.

Jinseong Construction… It had been one of the top fifty construction firms in the country,
riding on the coattails of Hotel Jinseong and the influence wielded by the mayor of Jinseong,
In-bae Lee.

Since long Tae-jun had lusted after Hotel Jinseong. This was when the Seoin Group was
devoting itself to its hospitality business, in an attempt to purge itself of the foul reputation
from its beginnings as a weapons manufacturer. He needed to grab this hotel: a key tourist
attraction, a landmark in the region.

But Myeong-je Jin, a man who had gotten his start in a local gang, was not the type of
person you could talk things out with. The negotiations had gone down the drain. The only
remaining option was to exercise force.

Thus, Tae-jun and Jay concocted a plan to bring Jinseong Construction to its knees, their
target being the Star Road Shopping Mall project that this company was collaborating with
Yuseong Corporation.

The duo quickly went about their designs like clockwork. Jay managed to win over the shop
owners at the open-air market, on whose land the shopping mall was supposed to be built.
Under his seemingly guileless orchestration, the shop owners refused to sell the land while
a sly Tae-jun put pressure on the finance industry and successfully limited the cash flow
into Jinseong’s project.

Unable to handle the debts snowballing due to the delay in construction, a desperate
Jinseong Construction ended up setting fire to the market where some shop owners were
still holding out in protest. Ten or so people were killed or injured. The Jinseong gang and
the construction company were tried in the court of public opinion.

Jinseong Construction’s downfall followed according to Tae-jun’s plan. Mr. Jin had invested
everything in Star Road Shopping Mall, including In-bae Lee’s election funds, and thus was
desperate enough to sell the hotel to make up for the losses. And when he finally came to it,
without hesitation, he even tossed in a woman pretending to be his daughter as part of the
deal.

Tae-jun slowly opened his eyes.

At first, he thought a year would be enough. Enough time for him to satisfy whatever it was
that he was feeling–possessiveness or perhaps simple lust–get tired of her and make a
clean break sans regrets. He had had actresses, models, and even women from upper-class
families at his side, and a year had always been enough. In some cases, it was too long even.

So, he couldn’t understand why he lusted after Yuri more intensely the more he had her. He
was ill-equipped to understand the workings of his own heart which was continuing to
react with such force even after four years. But one thing was clear, he hadn’t made a clean
break.

After two hours or so, the car arrived at Jay’s vacation house. The house was isolated from
the quiet village nearby offering a perfect setting for clandestine or indecorous business.
Jin-wook and his men were waiting for him.

The men recognized Tae-jun and bowed their heads. Jin-wook, who was standing at the
entrance, approached him.

“He was in Incheon, trading US dollars against Russian sailors, the Chinese, and Korean-
Chinese. His bodyguard put up a fight, but we managed.”

“Is he inside?”

“Two of my guys are watching him.”

Jin-wook led him into the house.

 Chapter 30
Chapter 30

Tae-jun recalled seeing Hye-seong at one of his meetings with Myeong-je Jin. The boy was
the literary sort having studied Russian literature at university and was obsessed with
Tolstoy. The author’s emphasis on mercy, pacifism, and self-control probably had made a
deep impression on him so much so that he resented and shunned his father’s work at one
point. Not that he had managed to escape the path that his father had taken. You can’t run
from your bloodline… it’s like trying to get rid of your own shadow.

Tae-jun saw his own reflection on the glass cupboard in the hallway. Perhaps this applied
to him as well… being unable to avoid his father’s fate of letting a woman drive him insane.

He wiped the smirk off his face and walked into the living room, where a pale, skinny man
was sitting with an anxious look on his face.

This despondent man was nothing like the insolent youth he had once met, who lived in a
utopian world looking at everyone with eyes of disdain. That conceited youth who’d
cocooned himself in the world of black and white seemed to be now seeking shelter in the
grey areas. Indeed, the last four years had been truly cruel to him.

At the sight of Tae-jun, the man bounded up from his seat.

“Tae-jun Seo! It was you who dragged me here?!” His voice was crisp, eyes clear.

Even so, in the sea of emotions wavering in the man’s orbs, Tae-jun spotted ‘relief’.

Relief? How funny!

“So I’m guessing that there are others who are trying to find you.”

Those words poked where it hurt. Hye-seong flinched, but he didn’t want to give him the
satisfaction of reading his mind correctly, thus began bluffing.

“That’s none of your business! Why are you looking for me?”

Instead of replying, Tae-jun leisurely walked to the sofa across Hye-seong, and sat down
like he was in his living room watching TV. Right on cue, Jin-wook ordered his men to leave
the room and closed the door.

Hye-seong glanced at Jin-wook, who was standing at the door, and then Tae-jun, who was
seated in front of him. Chastising himself for his loss of composure earlier, he awkwardly
sat back down.
Tae-jun unhurriedly sized him up from head to toe. He was much thinner than Tae-jun
remembered, somehow radiating a precarious aura unlike before.

He has changed a bit.

Hye-seong Jin had always had a rather frail look about him. Sure enough, looks can be
deceptive, given the magnitude of what he had done– daring to sell a stand-in to Tae-jun.

Hye-seong began with an uneasy face, gone was the arrogance from a moment ago.

“Mr. Seo, I can’t think of a reason for us to meet like this.”

“Are you sure?” Tae-jun scoffed, bringing a cigarette to his lips.

He’d instructed Jin-wook to simply bring Hye-seong here without an explanation. No

matter the situation, this method always worked wonders. For starters, since the said
person would not be aware of the whole scenario, he wouldn’t have the time to think of a
way out. Second, he would feel pressured due to the silence and in a bid to wrest himself
free start blurting out, and in so doing reveal the truth albeit unknowingly.

However, it turned out Hye-seong was a tough cookie. He didn’t want to give away
anything, so feigned ignorance.

“My sister is dead, and Jinseong Construction went bankrupt. And you took away all that
was left of the company. So what more do you want from me?” His words were wreathed
with accusation, loathing, and despair.

“Hye-yeon died, there was no reason for me to be lenient with Jinseong Construction,
right?” A nonchalant Tae-jun exhaled a long trail of smoke, looking at the other with hawk-
like eyes.

Still unable to get a clue as to why he was brought in, Hye-seong furrowed his eyebrows.

“Who was that girl?”

An abrupt question that intermingled with the gray smoke sprang like an arrow to pierce
the other’s heart.

And yet…

“What girl?” Hye-seong still pretended to be confused as if the smoke had slowed down his
brain.

“The girl that you and your father sold to me. I know she wasn’t your sister.” Tae-jun was
getting impatient, his blood was surging.

“What… what the hell do you mean?” Hye-seong asked, his face turning blue.
Crash!

Tae-jun violently kicked the table before him, all along looking at the other squarely. Hye-
seong recoiled in surprise, the air had abruptly turned deadlier.

“The fact that I’m sitting here with you means that I know everything. You’d better not try
to trick me again. If I had my way, I would skin you alive.” He bellowed.

“…”

“Let’s try this again. Who’s Yuri Han?”

Although his heart was in turmoil, his face betrayed nothing. In all fairness, Hye-seong was
not entirely pretending. He wasn’t faking his confusion. Truth was, he was unable to fathom
why Tae-jun was asking this when he apparently knew everything already. Now was not
the time to mull over it. Even so, it was difficult not to answer.

Without a choice…

“… the chauffeur’s daughter. My sister’s friend.”

“And?”

“And what? I just told you.”

“What did you give her in return for standing in for your sister?”

Hye-seong pursed his lips, apparently unwilling to answer.

Tae-jun’s patience was wearing thin. He slowly stubbed the cigarette into the ashtray.

“I’m asking you again. What did you give her in return?” His tone, colder than before.

“Why would you…”

“Do you need some help remembering?” Tae-jun cut him off and signaled Jin-wook.

Jin-wook cooly put his hand into his jacket pocket. What appeared next was a shiny
handgun.

How could someone carry something like that here in South Korea? This isn’t the US or Russia!

Right then Hye-seong remembered that Seoin Holdings was primarily a weapons
manufacturer. They were the foremost to create the first-ever privately sponsored shooting
team, and each year donated a considerable amount of money to the Shooting Sport
Federation.
And the man sitting in front of him was a noted marksman who’d won a gold medal in the
Asian Games. Simply put, he was the man who had the easiest access to guns in the country!

“Money!” Hye-seong shouted desperately. “Dammit, it was money!!!”

Ever since he was a child, Hye-seong had been exposed to a lot of things. He was confident
that he had seen a wide range of people, especially those classified as unsavory. But the
aura that was emanating from this man was much more dangerous than he had ever felt
from anyone else. It was as if Tae-jun’s entire body was about to produce a cold blade and
cut right through his heart.

“Money?”

This was definitely not the answer Tae-jun was looking for. He took out another cigarette
and rhythmically tapped the filter against the table. Then, he slowly brought it to his lips
and lit it.

Behind the rising smoke, Tae-jun’s outline started to become blurry. As Hye-seong closed
one eye in a grimace, a hand emerged through the smoke and seized him by the collar.

⸙
 Chapter 31
Chapter 31

Hye-seong could feel the wrath permeating through his collar, he felt suffocated. He neither
flinched nor moved, looking straight into the towering, demonic orbs of his captor.

“I. Don’t. Believe. It!” Tae-jun spat out word by word through gritted teeth.

“Why…” There was some disbelief in the voice.

“Had she asked, I would have given her a lot more!”

It was as if he was sledgehammered. Hye-seong went numb all over, his lips went dry. Deep
inside, he knew how ruthless a man Tae-jun was. To say he was a devil personified, would
be an understatement. His instincts were screaming to him: to survive, he had to tell the
truth!

He licked his parched lips, then looked squarely at the other. “I heard it directly from Yuri.”

Tae-jun took a drag deep into his lungs. Nicotine soothed his mind. He was able to make
better decisions under the influence. He gazed at the man with measured eyes.

Could he believe this man’s words?

“The Yuri Han I knew wasn’t interested in money. She had no desire for materialistic
things.” He countered.

He was clearer than anyone about the kind of woman she was. Money? Ha! That woman
was wooden; no matter how expensive the gift, it would never evoke so much as a glint in
her eyes, let alone a smile! What’s more, when she had actually disappeared, all she
brought along was her small handbag. The jewels, bags, even cards, and cash, she’d left
them all behind.

But she sold herself for money?

“Yes, that’s what Yuri was… originally. But you ruined it all!”

Abruptly, unable to contain himself, Hye-seong lashed out.

He remembered Yuri all too well. Pretty, shining like a gem… he had first seen her when she
had first moved into the staff quarters in their premises with her father.

He knew her better than anyone else, for she was that woman who would be standing right
next to him now, if only his father, President Myung-je Jin, had not been infatuated with an
unspeakable offer by Tae-jun. That one offer… ruined everything!
“Because of me? You sure know to joke!”

At Tae-jun’s sarcastic remarks, Hye-seong’s long-suppressed anguish burst forth as

screams, shrouding the room into a melancholic languor.

“If only you hadn’t mistaken her identity! No, it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been
looking at her in the first place! My father didn’t suggest anything to her! She never went to
you on her own!”

Tae-jun glared at the man coldly. The image of a man walking side by side with Yuri Han
struck him.

I see. This guy, he liked her. Because of his father’s coercion, he lost Yuri to me! She was also
his sister’s friend.

“Stop talking nonsense! Your father should have told me. The woman I wanted was Yuri
Han, not Hye-yeon Jin. Of course, that meant the Hotel Jinseong sale deal would not go
through. In-bae Lee, who’d lost his campaign funds, would have tried to kill your father.
That’s why you shut up. No?”

Tae-jun harshly shoved Hye-seong away by his collar. The man flopped down on the sofa
helplessly.

Tae-jun stared at him with his expressionless face and sharp eyes.

“How much was it?”

Hye-seong kept mum. Tae-jun’s patience dissipated as seconds ticked by. He asked slowly
again.

“Don’t test my patience. How much was Yuri Han’s ransom?”

“I don’t know. It was my father who made the deal.”

“What happened to the real Hye-yeon Jin? Accident? It happened at that time when Yuri
Han disappeared.”

“It is her, my sister died. Hye-yeon… she became a little unstable–impulsive. The family had
a hard time coping because of the Hotel Jinseong.”

Hye-seong spoke in a calm tone.

What the hell is it? Why does it feel like there’s something more to it? A sense of
incompatibility that is hard to pinpoint… Tae-jun thought.
Tae-jun started grilling again.

“What a coincidence! Do you know where Yuri Han is now?”

“… I heard she went to America. She has an uncle in New York.”

“If she returned to Korea, where would she be?”

“She has no relatives here. Because her family resides in America, and her father is dead,
too.

Suddenly, Hye-seong looked blank. Realization passed through his face as his mouth
formed into a grin.

“Did you, by any chance, see her?”

Yeah, that’s it!

Tae-jun’s silence confirmed Hye-seong’s suspicions.

“You saw Yuri Han, didn’t you? You saw her in Korea, right? But haven’t found her yet!
That’s why you captured me now. To find her. Aren’t you tired of being with her for a year?
Or, was she great in bed? If I’d known it was that great, I would have…f*ck!”

As he spoke, he felt a sharp kick on his shin, he held his breath as he turned crimson so that
he would not speak further, sweat dripped from his forehead.

Tae-jun tilted his head at an angle and stared straight into his eyes.

⸙
 Chapter 32
Chapter 32

Hye-seong swallowed hard as fury swirled in Tae-jun’s otherwise expressionless face. He

felt like he’d touched this dragon’s inverse scale*: Yuri Han. He shrank.

[T/N: An inverse scale grows under a dragon’s chin. It is called so precisely because it is upside
down. It happens to be a dragon’s most sensitive part, when touched, a dragon’s outraged to
the point of killing. So, here YH is TJ’s inverse scale, right now, he is enraged to the point of
destruction.]

Amidst the chaos, a distant memory resurfaced. In that, his entire body was trembling with
rage, just like Tae-jun was now.

“What are you talking about?!”

“I said yes, Mr. Jin’s offer.”

“Yuri Han, are you crazy? Do you know what that means?”

To him, Yuri had always been a radiating, pure being. Beautiful and full of life, just like a
fresh summer breeze. That’s how he’d felt from the moment he’d first met Yuri, a middle
school student, and lived in the same house. The voice that had shattered the belief that one
day she would be his bride was cruel.

“I need some money.”

“Money? You, are you kidding me? You’re gonna do that for money? You’re not that
kind of woman!”

“That kind of a woman?! I’m sorry if you thought so. I was just pretending. But, I have
problems, which this deal can resolve once and for all.”

“Get a hold of yourself! What do you think he’s gonna do if you agree? He just wants a
doll that he can throw away at will! If it is the money you need, I’ll give you that
money.”

“It was not him who made the offer but your father, Mr. Jin.”

Yuri’s tone was hopelessly calm, there were no emotions in once lively eyes. It looked like
she had forsaken everyone… even hope…

A desperate Hye-seong roughly shook her soft shoulders, as if doing so would wake her up.
Right then, the breeze swept her hair, revealing a slender neckline. His hands stilled as his
gaze fell on the crimson marks that were glaring back at him… the evidence of coition.
His hands trembled…

“You, can’t…”

“Yes, I slept with him.”

“Yuri Han!”

“It’s nothing special; just a man, a woman.”

Hye-seong’s quivering hand slapped Yuri on the cheek. The sound reverberated, piercing
his heart a zillion times.

“Listen to yourself!” Yuri shut her eyes tightly.

Then he opened his mouth again, his voice quivering. “I didn’t mean anything bad! I was
just…”

Yuri shook off Hye-seong’s hand holding her shoulders. He felt his whole world crumble,
despair wreathed his ashen face.

“Do you mean it?”

Yuri’s bitter, heart-wrenching laugh filled the air, drowning Hye-seong’s cries of outrage.

“Sorry.”

That was her last word.

Hye-seong was awakened from his stupor by the sound of a ‘click’. The next moment, a
tremendous shock hit his left shoulder. When he looked down, he saw a scarlet spot
steadily growing bigger.

It was not until a few seconds after that Hye-seong realized Jin-wook had shot him.

“Ahhhhhh!”

Hye-seong rolled on the floor screaming. Hot blood spurted and the fireball seemed to poke
his shoulders.

Tae-jun lit a fresh cigarette, looking down at the man squirming and rolling on the floor
with impassive eyes. The cigarette smoke rose from his long fingers, adding to the haze.

Hye-seong gritted his teeth and glared at Tae-jun.

“I can’t believe you asked him to shoot me!”

“I made it clear not to test my patience.”

Tae-jun smiled. Then he flicked the cigarette ash over Hye-seong’s wound.

SCREAM!

Once the shrieks died, Tae-jun squatted.

“The damage won’t be serious, no need to worry. It’s snuggly wedged in the bone, and will
not damage the internal muscles and tendons. Fortunately, your doctor can handle gunshot
wounds, quite a rare talent here in our country. It will be hard to move for months, you’ll
feel a little painful for a few decades.”

“Yo-you crazy asshole!” He cursed with clenched teeth.

Tae-jun smirked, stubbed the cigarette right before Hye-seong’s eyes, and stood up.

“Clean up. Have the staff pay attention to the floor, don’t let the landlord go berserk.”

He concluded that he had nothing more to gain here so he must leave.

“Okay.”

Jin-wook lowered his gun and his head.

Hye-seong shouted behind Tae-jun, who was moving away.

“You, what if you find Yuri Han?”

Tae-jun stopped walking. His words were like a thunderbolt.

“You have to admit she’s the best… given this whole ruse she pulled off. Are you going to
bring her in too… and shoot her?”

It’s a question that was not worthy of an answer. Tae-jun walked without looking back. But
as he exited the villa, his face hardened.

Was it really money?

It had all been obvious, staring him in the face. But he refused to see it.

Firstly, he’d asked President Myung-je Jin to bring the woman as bait for money.
Nevertheless, he was rather upset to think that all those times with her was all a pretense,
was for ‘money’.

Dammit! I should have left two more bullet holes in his shoulder.

Tae-jun forcefully banged the car door shut.

“Jin-wook, don’t give him painkillers, keep an eye on it for a while.”

⸙
 Chapter 33
Chapter 33

Bang!

A bullet pierced through the moving target.

Bang! Bang!

A barrage of bullets continuously hit the bull’s eye.

The man deftly reloaded his shotgun after he hit the last target. He’d lost track of time, soon
his shirt under the bulletproof vest was soaked in sweat.

You, what if you find Yuri Han?

His ears were covered with ear protectors, blocking all sounds, even that of his own
heartbeat. And yet, Hye-seong’s words resonated, drumming his senses.

He was determined to find Yuri ever since he’d seen her in the hotel lobby, not once had he
considered what he would do after. Well, at the moment he was oblivious to this
subterfuge. But now, things were different.

As regards the question, first, he’s going to ask why she lied to him, why she left, and…

No one has deceived you like she did. Don’t you think so?

Right, Yuri will pay the price.

When he’s changing his heated-up gun barrel, Jin-wook took the opportunity to pass him a
bottle of water. It didn’t escape his sharp eyes, that the other was drenched in sweat.

“You haven’t lost your touch. You are still as good as active athletes.” He admired this man’s
skills whole-heartedly.

Shooting, as a sport form, has a range of sub-disciplines; trapshooting being one of them.
Here, one is required to shoot saucer-shaped clay targets flung into the air from a spring
device called trap. Needless to say, this demands dynamic visual acuity and exceptional
focus.

Tae-jun was nineteen when he won gold for trapshooting in the Asian Games. As such, the
majority of his youth had been spent as a part of the Junior National Team, but the Asian
Games was the swansong of his career as an athlete. His grandfather did not want Tae-jun
catching the public eye anymore, nor did Tae-jun. However, to retain his firearms license,
he maintained his athlete qualification.
Tae-jun took off his protection glasses while he downed the water. Both men stood in
silence for a while.

“What about Hye-seong Jin?” Tae-jun gazed into the distance as he asked.

“I put him in Dr. Yang’s clinic, nice and neat.” Jin-wook replied.

Only a day had passed. For Tae-jun, time seemed to be dragging, there was nothing he
could except endure. But it was proving to be hard.

Laying his gun on the table, Tae-jun drew out a cigarette. As he lit it, his phone rang. It was
Jay.

– “Hello!”

“Did you find her?”

– “Wow! Do you know how many Koreans live in New York City?”

“Call me when you find her.”

– Wait, wait! You need to let me finish. I did… I found her.”

“Go on.”

Jay held back for a second before resuming.

– “Let me ask you something first.”

“What?”

– “Thz girl that you’re looking for, is she the one from 5 years ago? The one who related to
the Jinseong hotel?”

The voice on the phone had suddenly abandoned its playfulness.

“You’re right.”

– “You are insane!”

Jay’s firm voice brought a frown to Tae-jun’s face. He ran his fingers through his hair,
starting to get impatient.

“Answer my questions now. Did you find out anything about Yuri Han?”

– As of now, she lives in the East Village. She’s not married and lives with her uncle. Oh, by
the way, her uncle is quite big in the Korean Community here. He runs two big restaurants.
Her aunt is from here and is a well-known Human Rights Lawyer. They seem like a power
couple.”

“What does Yuri do for a living?”

– “She is an artist affiliated with an agency. Heard she works for a famous artist as well. But
that’s not important.”

Then, Jay lowered his voice.

– “Um… There’s a rumor about her, and it’s not nice.”

“What?”

– “People say that she has mental problems. She’s attempted suicide a few times already.”

Yuri tried to take her own life! She even has psychological problems?!

Tae-jun’s heart thumped frantically, his eyes betrayed his anxiety albeit for a moment,
while his mind raced to make sense of this information.

She seemed to be living a nice life in the Big Apple. She had a family, her uncle seemed like a
nice man for he took her in. She’s talented with a stable job and a bright future. The way he
saw it, there should be no reason to attempt suicide. [1]

“Do you know why?”

– Nobody knows why except for the doctors. Her psychiatrist is an authority in the PTSD
field.”

Tae-jun took a deep drag of his cigarette, trying to calm his nerves. His next words fell
flatly.

“I want to see her records.”

Jay was first baffled then stunned. He just couldn’t believe his ears! Did that guy actually ask
what I think he asked?! He replied in a monotonous tone, like perfunctorily reading out the
rules.

– “Unfortunately, only doctors have access to patient’s medical charts. Medical law in the
US is ironbound. Plus, the clinic she goes to is noted for their patients’ privacy protection. “

Tae-jun sneered and spoke with sarcasm.

“And since when did you become a law-abiding citizen? I know you can do it.”

– “Oops, I didn’t know I had your trust! I should live up to it, right? What do you want me to
do? Do you want me to know why she’s getting counseling and stuff?”
Jay was back to his peppy self. It’s not that he wouldn’t have scooped the information
otherwise, but hearing this callous demon’s ‘not even a once in a blue moon compliment’
had its own charms!

“I want more information and details about the people around her. I also want something
critical and solid that can put them in trouble, if needed.”

– “Hey, ain’t that my specialty!”

Giggling, Jay hung up.

Throughout the telephonic conversation, Jin-wook had kept silent, listening attentively. By
the time it came to an end, his wooden face had turned grim.

“Are you really planning to go that far?”

He’d been associated with Tae-jun long enough to glean his thoughts without being
explicitly mentioned. What’s more, he knew, first hand, of his obsession over the woman in
question.

“If needed, yes.”

Yes, if needed.

Tae-jun was ready to give his everything if he could get Yuri back. She, who he’d presumed
dead for four long years, who had been the focal point of his every waking and non-waking
hours, his heart and senses, was miraculously back… like he’d been given a second chance…
Once he won her back, he’d never let her go.

Well, Tae-jun understood the implicit meaning in Jin-wook’s words. He didn’t want him to
follow Myung-je Jin’s suit. He knew how it would end and it’s better to steer clear while
they could still.

However, for Tae-jun, it didn’t matter what path he took. There was nothing right or wrong,
good or evil. Yuri was the only thing that mattered.

Glowering at the target, as if it were the obstacle between him and her, he reloaded his gun.
Time was ticking… it was so close.

I’ll know what I’ll do when you are mine again.

Bang!

⸙
 Chapter 34
Chapter 34

When Yuri was notified that the Heart of Apollo passed the customs, she was swamped
with work. She needed to thoroughly examine for any possible damage to the art piece
during transit, thereon, prepare an inspection report. The report would then be confirmed
by her agency and subsequently by the client, Daejin Department Store. The entire process
had to be filmed, a mandatory requirement for the approval.

After spending the entire day drafting the report, Yuri returned to her hotel room and
headed straight to the bathtub. She immersed her exhausted body in hot water for a while
and followed it up with a shower.

Feeling refreshed, she stepped out of the shower. She patted herself dry, wrapped a robe,
and walked out. She was drying her hair when two cards sitting on the vanity grabbed her
attention. One was black, the other ivory.

I forgot about these. It was about time for Yuri to make up her mind.

After gazing at the two cards for a moment, she picked up the black one. J Consulting, Jin-
Wook Jeong.

She quickly opened her laptop and searched for J Consulting. Numerous companies with
the same name filled her screen in a second. As vague as “Consulting” sounded, every “J
Consulting” offered its own service of all sorts.

After clicking a couple of websites from the top, she concluded this was a wild goose chase
and shelved the idea. Her reason was simple. What ordinary company would dig up
people’s background, and those that did, would they leave their background in the open
just to be dug up?

After picturing some of the faces she saw at Myung-jae Jin’s office before, she reminded
herself of what Hyeon-ah had said.

He didn’t talk about you in the beginning. He asked me about Hye-yeon first.

Why did he ask about a dead person?

Wavering, Yuri searched for Jinseong City’s local newspaper. At long last, she found an
article about Hye-yeon. It was from four years ago. It mentioned that the body of Ms. Jin
was discovered by an old man, Mr. Cho, who was out fishing. The body was lying on the
edge of the riverside with no visible injuries.

Four years ago….

Yuri’s eyes were shifty. Her father’s death, her own disappearance, and Hye-yeon’s death
were all aligned in the same timeline. To see it as a coincidence, too many pieces of the
puzzle were missing.

What happened?

One by one she started to put all that she knew thus far before her.

Scenes from what she’d glimpsed at Hyun-ah’s shop flashed before her eyes – Splash, a
woman sank to the bottom of the water.

A stranger called Jin-wook Jeong asked around about Hye-yeon and her. How she’d ended
up at Hotel Seoin, the CCTV. All of it replayed before her eyes, again and again.

Is this an indication of a correlation between Hye-yeon’s death and me? Even if that is the
case, why is he looking for me after four years?

She decided to call the man and get to the bottom of this for good. However, right before
calling the number on the card with her cellphone, she barely strained her nerves. She
realized it was too risky. Without grasping his intention and identity, it was perilous to call
the stranger and reveal her privacy.

Slipping on her jacket, the next moment, Yuri stashed the card inside the pocket and
recklessly left the hotel. There should be a payphone around for her to use. However,
contrary to her expectations, the proliferation of cellphones precluded her from finding a
payphone nearby.

At last, after a long stroll, she found a payphone. With quivering hands, she inserted coins
and entered the phone number on the card. The sound of the dial tone made her heart
pound. Some minutes later, the call was finally answered.

– “Hello.”[2]

A man answered in a low voice. Surprised, Yuri dropped the receiver. The voice was
familiar, she could not remember the person, but she recognized the voice.

But how?

Unexpectedly, the sky began to cloud over abruptly and it started raining. Through the
window, the uproarious sound of the pouring raindrops flowed in. Intermittently, the man
on the bed groaned.

Like a tramp, Hye-seong was wandering about in a piece of his memories. He stopped at
one point. It’s about five years ago, on that day…[3]
In the court of public opinion and press, Jinseong Construction was already shredded into
pieces. Prosecutors summoned every executive of the company for investigation and
confiscated anything and everything that belonged to Jinseong Construction, even if it was
a mere hard drive. Adding insult to injury, In-bae Lee delivered an ultimatum, requiring
recovery of his campaign funds in a month.

– Let’s meet.

It was late in the afternoon when the Seoin Group contacted him. It was the call the father
and son duo, Myung-jae and Hye-seong, had been waiting for all night and day.

As a matter of fact, it was not surprising to Hye-seong that Seoin Group had been coveting
Hotel Jinseong for a long time now. Myung-jae was apathetic. Jinseong Construction was
running on the track and the hotel was expected to produce significant financial benefits to
the company as it was located in the prearranged lucrative development area close to
Jinseong River.

When the tables had turned and Jinseong Group rushedly struggled to liquidate the hotel,
Seoin Group had disregarded their efforts to connect. The intention was clear – the court
receivership was expected, and they anticipated a dirt-cheap price for the hotel.

In this situation, Seoin Group contacting them was the only salvation Jinseong could hope
for. Another door was opening. Perhaps, this was what Hye-seong’s father thought.

Soon, a private bar located in Hotel Seoin’s sky lounge was decided as their rendezvous
point. The one who appeared, was Tae-jun Seo, the executive director of Seoin Holdings.

Hye-seong was surprised to see Tae-jun in flesh. The man who was at the top of the food
chain was uncannily handsome with piercing eyes. It was not a secret that he was the
practical ruler of Seoin Group, despite his young age.

Instead of drinking from his wine glass, Tae-jun chain-smoked. Feeling uptight and
nervous, Myung-jae Jin initiated the conversation.

“We will accept your previous conditions. Let’s proceed with disposal procedures.”

“Previous conditions? … Aha!”

Slowly, Tae-jun tapped the ash off his cigarette, intensifying the tension.

“Excuse me, but that is a ‘previous’ condition, not the latest.”

Silence descended. Hearts stifled, the pair was finding it hard to even breathe.

Wiping his brows, the elderly man managed to speak.

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is, you are not in a position where you can demand or suggest something to
me.”

As a man his son’s age humiliated him, Myung-jae’s face turned red. He was seething
within.

“Then why did you want to see me?”

“Because I have a proposal.”

With a cigarette in his mouth, Tae-jun’s lips twisted, emanating a cold aura.

“And what do you propose?” Myung-jae asked diffidently.

Looking straight into Myung-jae’s eyes, Tae-jun stubbed his cigarette out. He took a
moment, it heightened the anxiety before dropping the bomb. Then, his cold voice sounded.

“Mr. Jin, what if I date your daughter…”

⸙
 Chapter 35
Chapter 35

<— Flashback Begins —>

The quiet room turned quieter, the anxious father and son were flabbergasted.

What’s he talking about?!

Myung-je and Hye-seong exchanged a befuddled look, unable to understand what Tae-jun
meant. They’d thought of a million things that this man could demand, but when he did
open his mouth he threw them into utter confusion.

Did he just say that he would like to date Hye-yeon? Myung-je mumbled to himself, still
trying to grasp for the last straws of sense.

As hard as the words were to digest, his curiosity got the better of him. He swallowed hard,
took a deep breath, and carefully spoke.

“Hye-yeon? Have you ever met Hye-yeon before?”

They lived in a different world, moved in completely different circles, he wondered how
their paths had crossed. He was more inclined to believe that the Hye-yeon in question was
a namesake and someone else altogether.

“Yes. At H University Art Hall’s opening ceremony. She is such a talented lady.”

That was the second jolt of the day. His eyes widened to their limits at the appreciation his
no-good daughter was garnering.

“… She is?” His tone didn’t veil his skepticism.

With a tilt of his head, Myung-je questioned Tae-jun again.

“What do you mean by dating her? You mean you would like to get married to her?”

Tae-jun chuckled, his eyes looked at him in ridicule.

“You can be so greedy, Mr. Jin. Let’s not skip steps. How audacious of you to want me to
become your son-in-law? Do you really think you can handle it?

Embarrassed, Myung-je stared at the young man in front of him. This man was cold-
hearted, he was destined to rule the near future. He was a rising star, while the Jins a falling
star. And he didn’t spare them any courtesy in pinpointing the fact.
Hye-seong could not hide his embarrassment as well. He’s flushed, at the same time angry
at being humiliated as such. But what could he do?

Watching the father and son’s discomfiture, Tae-jun was satisfied. He continued.

“Mr. Jin, I know what you are well-known for. I’ve heard stories about you. They say you get
everything for your business partners, no matter what they want. Money, drugs, girls…The
problem is, I don’t need money. I obviously am more affluent than you. Drugs are not my
thing, but I could be interested in girls.”

This time Myung-je was quick to grasp where the other was pointing at. He simply looked
at the man, knowing there was more to come.

Taking his time, Tae-jun slowly and calmly delivered his offer.

“If your daughter were to come in the package, Seoin Group might be interested in Hotel
Jinseong.”

Even before the father had reacted, the youth stood up in anger.

“Come in the package? Are you mad? Money isn’t everything, you jerk.” He didn’t care how
powerful the other was, he couldn’t take it anymore.

What kind of crazy freak is he?

Hye-seong kicked his chair to vent his aggression for he could not strangle the man.

“Sit!” A terse tone put a halt to his frenzy spree.

“Father, we don’t need to listen to this a*s*ole.” He raised his voice, red with rage.

He was done with this man, it’s a question of his sister after all. She was not a commodity
for trade!

One brusque glance and Myung-je had restrained his agitated son. Unlike his son, he knew
not to wear his heart on his sleeve.

Just by the look in his eyes, Hye-seong could instantly discern his conniving father’s
intention. Astonishingly, his father was weighing up the price of his daughter! What kind of
a man was he?!

It was no secret that Hye-yeon was the thorn on his side, his despair. In his eyes, aside from
her beauty, she had no redeeming qualities. She was a wastrel, squandering his hard-
earned money bringing nothing but trouble in return. As if it wasn’t enough, in order to live
up to his “expectations”, she also fooled around with any and all kinds of guys she could lay
hands on. He’d gone all out to discipline her, to the point of threatening to cut her loose…
and yet, she was far from it. So, now that his daughter was of some “use”, would he pass on
the opportunity… And that too in such dire circumstances?

Still, it was unacceptable to Hye-seong. No matter what, no father would sell his own
daughter. Why even the vicious tiger wouldn’t devour its young ones!

“Father!” His voice was a mixture of wrath, indignation, and helplessness.

Even so, the old man turned him a blatant blind eye and an air-tight deaf ear. He ground his
teeth, glowered at his son and barked.

“I. Said. Sit. And. Shut. Up.”

With that Myung-je ignored his son and his antics and turned to Tae-jun. He leveled his
gaze, neither haughty nor humble.

“How much will you pay?” he asked, his tone as if he was trading an object.

Hye-seong sank in despair, he knew there was no turning back now. His beast of a father
was set to wolf down his offsprings.

A hint of a smile appeared on Tae-jun’s lips. All along, he had been quietly watching the
goings-on between the duo. He wasn’t surprised by the outcome, had he not known how
‘ethical’ President Jin was, he wouldn’t be sitting here in the first place. His son was still
living in Utopia it seems.

“I’ll decide on it once I talk to Ms. Jin. Her decision is critical in this kind of agreement.”

He didn’t want to give this foxy old man the satisfaction of calling the shots. He wanted to
keep the reins in his hands, lest he were played by the other.

“Let me talk to her. I’ll take care of it,” Myung-je said hurriedly.

“You have four days, so we can complete the disposal procedure before receivership
begins.”

“It is not happening!” Hye-seong gave Tae-jun a fierce scowl. He wasn’t going to let his
father and this equally vicious man have their way!

“You never know, Mr. Jin. Seems like your father has already made up his mind.”

As if he’d seen something funny, Tae-jun laughed sarcastically still looking at the fellow,
and then turned on his heels and walked away.

Hye-seong could not swallow his anger, but Myung-je hurriedly heaved himself.

“Let’s go to the hotel. Hye-yeon is at the hotel, right?”

“Father!”

“Listen to me, son. This is our chance. She messes around with everyone anyway, and he is
not some random dude. It’s actually better for her own sake to deal with him. Not only that,
do you think In-bae Lee will let us be if we don’t pay him back by disposing of the hotel?”

He tried to breathe some sense into his son, they were in no position to pick or choose now,
that is if they wished to continue living.

“He’s not the only one who’s got the length of our foot. We also have something on him. As
long as we have the ledger, he can’t do anything to us.” His son countered.

“It’s not about that. I have invested in him for so long. For twenty years, ever since he was a
councilman, I have done all the dirty work like a dog! The next election will make him a
governor, then he’s going to be the president. I am not going to stop now. Don’t you know
what it took to get me here? Do you want us to lose everything?”

Hye-seong agonized. Myung-je’s voice reminded him of the young days.

Back in college, a young Hye-seong, sick of Myung-je’s ambitions and avarice, left his home.
But soon, reality slapped him hard and harsh. He realized, without his father’s name and
wealth, he was nothing. He struggled to find part-time jobs, and when he did find after a
long ordeal, what he could make every month was far less than what he used to spend on
drinks on a night out. Life on budget brought Hye-seong, with his tail between his legs, back
to Jinseong City in just one year.

Hye-seong lowered his head. Although he didn’t want his sister to be the sacrificial lamb, he
knew the worth of power and money. Compared to living a life of destitution, his sister
suffering a year in the hands of the monster was… acceptable.

⸙
 Chapter 36
Chapter 36

When Myung-je and Hye-seong abruptly arrived at the Hotel, Yuri greeted them at the
reception in mild surprise.

“Mr. Jin,” she said, politely.

“Where is Hye-yeon? Why are you here instead of her?” He demanded gruffly.

“Um, that is because, um… Hye-yeon is away for a moment…”

She didn’t know what else to say, this was too sudden. Mr. Jin was supposed to be on a
business trip, not in the lobby, and least of all looking for his truant daughter!

“For a moment? Then why are you in her uniform?”

His piercing eyes seemed to look right through her, she was intimidated.

At that moment, Hye-seong noticed her uniform and name tag – ‘Hye-yeon Jin’. Right then,
Tae-jun’s words surfaced in his mind.

Yes. At H University Art Hall’s opening ceremony. She is such a talented lady.

H University’s opening ceremony….

One by one, the pieces started to fall in place. Yuri went to H university – Hye-seong
recalled the day when he picked her up after school. She said she had an event to attend,
and that day was possibly the day that Tae-jun referred to.

Hye-yeon and Yuri were so alike in height and silhouette. People often took them as sisters
if not cousins. The girls hung out together too and were exceptionally close.

At that moment, the same thought flashed through Myung-je’s mind as well.

“Yuri,” he said, his stern gaze never once leaving her quivering face.

“Yes, yes sir.” She managed to say.

“Have… you… by any chance… attended H University Art Hall’s opening ceremony?”

“Yes, I did. Even though I could not make it to the exhibition.” She replied honestly.

Something glinted in the father’s eyes, and the son clenched his fist.
“I met someone who mistook you for Hye-yeon today. What happened?” Seeing how
unsuspecting she was, he prodded.

Yuri sighed, she knew which situation the president was referring to. She had no other
choice but to be forthright.

“There was a guest who’d left her belongings in the room, so I entered the room with a
master key. However, the new guest checked in while I was in the room. He thought I was
Hye-yeon, because of my name tag and I thought it was unnecessary to explain that I am
not her. I am very sorry.”

Like a dead person, Myung-je’s face turned ghastly pale. It was this simple?

“And then, you met him at the opening ceremony?” Disbelief wreathed his eyes.

“I didn’t expect to see him there. I didn’t correct him because I didn’t think I’d ever see him
again. Did something happen because of this?”

With a troubled face, Yuri looked at two men in front of her.

Did something happen? Yes, it did and it couldn’t be worse.

Having learned all that there was, without a word Myung-je and Hye-seong headed back
home in silence. They sat on the bar. This turn of events, mistaken identity… their
situation… one by one it played before their eyes.

The silent Myung-je quickly downed a glass of whiskey to calm his nerves.

“Father, we should give up on this plan. He’s mistaken Yuri for Hye-yeon.”

Hye-seong tried to comfort his father, but Myung-je murmured riddling things after
downing two more drinks. A few moments later, he pulled out his cellphone and made a
call.

“Get me everything about my driver’s daughter. Han.”

Hye-seong could not repress his shock. How could he not know what his sly father was up
to?! He was trying to stage a fraud!

“Father! What are you doing? Are you…”

“What’s the problem? Hye-yeon, Yuri…..it doesn’t matter now!” He bellowed.

He’d been given an opportunity to survive, to fight back, and even rise… how could he let it
go in vain? Whether it was his daughter or someone else’s, if she served his purpose, he
would not shy away.
“No, not Yuri. Yuri is….” He was trembling.

Myung-je knew his son all too well. He was too softhearted for his own good. He detested
such useless emotions.

“You moron! Do you still have a feeling for her? Didn’t I tell you I can’t accept her.”

<— Flashback Ends —>

A whiskey glass flew, and something flashed before Hye-seong’s eyes – darkness shrouded
his sight. Hye-yeon’s voice brushed the rim of his ear.

“Ewww, I smell alcohol! It’s been a year already! You should really stop. By the way,
where are the car keys? I need to go see Yuri now and dad took my keys away. Hey,
brother! Where’s your key?”

Annoyed by Hye-yeon’s constant chattering, he pointed at the drawer. Little did he know it
would be the last time he’d see his sister alive.

Two days later, when the police contacted him, what was waiting was a cold corpse of his
sister.

She said she was going to see Yuri… to see Yuri….Yuri….

Yuri’s name incessantly echoed in Hye-seong’s mind, stirring his pain. After tossing and
turning, he arduously lifted his eyelids. As deep as the pain in his shoulders pierced, as
clear as his mind focused on some memories.

I am sorry…

The memory of Yuri became vivid and apparent to Hye-seong again. To him, she was
enchanting, even when she turned her back on him. With vacant eyes, he murmured.

“You shouldn’t have come back, so I could forget you.”

The rain continued until dawn. Tae-jun was looking out the window.

One such rainy night, he’d cast a furtive glance on the back of a woman. Quiet and pensive,
she seemed to be immersed in looking out of the window. She was oblivious to her
surroundings, it appeared only the pitter-patter of the rain and she existed in her world.

What was she thinking about?

That was what he’d asked himself then. That’s what he asked even now.
Often, that scene would revisit Tae-jun. And each time, he wondered what could’ve been
going through her mind in that moment. On a night like this, his own question was
unbearable to him. He’d thought he could read Yuri like a book, but in fact, he’d come to
realize he knew nothing about her.

Day by day, he had more sleepless nights. He’d experienced insomnia before, but not as bad
as now – he reckoned he might need to take sleeping pills.

When another cigarette was lit, the buzzing of his phone broke the dismal silence. There
was only one person who would call him this late at night. As if he already knew who the
caller was, Tae-jun pressed the button without even glancing at the screen.

– “Hello”

“Any progress?” Tae-jun never bothered with pleasantries and got straight to the
brasstacks.

– “Well, I think I am going to be on a date with a nurse who happens to work at the clinic
Yuri undergoes her therapy. Which means, we’re getting close to her medical records. I’ve
done more research about what Yuri does for a living. She is an assistant to some well-
known plastic artist named ‘Roy Jean’.”

“Assistant?”

– “Yes, kind of, like a helper. But you know, some people say assistant, and others say
something else. Sponsors and patrons are common in this field. From what I’ve heard, their
relationship is ambiguous. People don’t think Yuri is just an assistant to him. This Roy Jean
guy has a reputation of his own. Seems like he turned into a womanizer ever since his
wife’s passing, and that’s why he came to Korea before.”

Clenching his fists, Tae-jun bit the bullet.

How dare you to find someone else?! By the way, the name sounds familiar– Roy Jean. I
must’ve heard of him somewhere. But where?

While Tae-jun was lost in thoughts, Jay brought up something unexpected.

– “So here comes the highlight. Do you know where Roy Jean traveled for work with Yuri? I
will give you a hint.”

“Stop clowning around.”

When he detected fury in Tae-jun’s voice, Jay checked himself and hastened his reply.

– “All right, all right. You have such a hot temper! The answer is… DaeJin Department Store
in Korea… Where Mr. Tae-Jun Seo’s fiancée works as a director! What a coincidence, isn’t
it?”
Jae-won’s voice echoed in his mind.

For Hotel Seoin’s lobby, what do you think about a piece from Roy Jean?

He’s Korean-American, and the hotshot plastic artist in the States nowadays. Daejin
also purchased one of his works recently. I’ve met with his assistant before, so I can
definitely help get in contact with him.

At the hotel, and at the department store – moments he did not care flashed before his eyes.

Subconsciously, his teeth grit and fists clenched.

Darn it, Yuri Han was right in front of him!

⸙
 Chapter 37
Chapter 37

Little puddles carpeting the streets, rivulets trickling down; by the time it stopped pouring
at dawn, the rain had left tangible marks all over the city.

As he drove, Jae-won took a peek at the calendar. It had been two days since his encounter
with Yuri. Two days since the dinner; in other words, handing over the business card.

In general, the women Jae-won flirted with contacted him in two days – they usually took
one day to explore his personality and background through their own means and spent
another playing hard-to-get. But it would all end up the same way: them calling him.

Will she contact me?

It’s certainly not the first time that Jae-won had taken fancy to a woman. That said, she
certainly wasn’t the first to have his business card either.

However, it was most definitely a first that this hotshot was a nervous wreck waiting for
her call. Women would surely call him back, and in those rarest of the rare cases of no
contact, he was totally unaffected. Moreover, there was no end to the women constantly
expressing their interest in him, and as such, Jae-won Lee shall want for nothing.

Even so, this time was different. Didn’t they say three coincidences are proof of destiny?
And, Yuri seemed like destiny to Jae-won. Why not? They’d already had three coincidences
– first at Si-yeon’s office, second at Seohwadang, and the last at Hotel Seoin.

Ever since having a conversation with this attractive woman, Jae-won had found her so
enchanting that she had been occupying his every waking and non-waking thought. The
rumor that she already had a man, was obviously disregarded. Indeed, Yuri gave him the
screaming habdabs.

If she doesn’t contact me, should I visit her studio in New York City in the winter holiday
season? No, no, I’d look too desperate.

While Jae-won mulled over the ways to approach Yuri, his phone in the pocket vibrated. It
was his secretary, Choi.

– “Mr. Lee[4] , where are you?”

Jae-won sensed a note of urgency from the voice across the telephone.

What has happened?

Jae-won checked the time. It’s 7:30 a.m. Since he had a meeting to attend that morning, he
was already on his way.

“I’ve already arrived at the hotel. I just need to get off.”

– “Please come quickly. Quickly!”

Instead of being reassured, the voice turned tenser.

“What? Why?”

He got out of the car wondering what had happened. When he entered the lobby, Secretary
Choi, who had been biting his nails from anxiety, dashed to Jae-won.

“What took you so long, Mr. Yoon! I have been waiting for you!” He cried.

Jae-won instinctively straightened his spine, he had never seen his secretary as nervous as
now. It must be something serious that put this man on tenterhooks.

“What is it? Did something happen?” he asked.

“Um…”

Choi hesitated for a moment, lowered his voice as if the matter was top-secret. Well, his
mood was contagious, Jae-won too became serious.

“Director Tae-jun Seo is waiting for you in the office.” He whispered.

Like a popped balloon, Jae-won’s anxiety dissipated immediately. He looked blankly at his
subordinate.

What’s the big deal about Tae-jun’s visit? He often comes to the office.

Uncomprehending his secretary’s fuss, Jae-won continued.

“So what? He comes over often.”

“But… but it’s different this time! I was scared to death.” He felt wronged at his boss’
apathy.

“You are always afraid of him, anyway!” Jae-won replied flatly and continued walking to his
office. He should have known better! His secretary was particularly scared of the top boss.

“So, when did he come?” he asked.

“I… I don’t know.”

Jae-won stopped. What the…? His secretary came to work before 7 a.m. every day!
“I checked in as usual, and he was already sitting in your office.”

When he had come in, Choi was startled at Tae-jun’s abrupt arrival at such an ungodly
hour, and in trice called his boss.

Oh, Lord!

Slowly the gravity of the situation sank in, Jae-won turned pale as ashes.

“You should have called me right at that moment!” He blamed his secretary for his
negligence. Who knows how long that man had been waiting for, and what brought him
here!

“I also thought he just came in to say hi in the beginning…” Choi hurriedly explained. The
devil hadn’t said a word up until now, how was he to discern his intentions?

“Did he just sit there and wait for me?”

Jae-won was puzzled at his cousin’s behaviour. He should have called him, if not have his
secretary call him. So far there was no matter that he could think of, that needed his
presence and certainly not at such an early hour in the day.

“No, I wouldn’t have made such a fuss if he’d just sat and waited for you. He was looking for
something.”

“Looking for what?” Jae-won couldn’t mask his surprise.

“Well, I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me.”

Choi was a subordinate’s subordinate. There was no way he could ask the other what he
was up to; nor was the other obligated to tell him.

“So, are you telling me, you just let him be and left the office, so he could find whatever he
wanted?” He was miffed.

“I was so scared. I was scared to death.” Choi justified his actions.

This idiot! He should have stayed there no matter how scared he was!

Jae-won had to restrain himself from yelling at his secretary. He quickly started surmising
why Tae-jun visited him so early in the morning. In terms of career and private life, Jae-
won had been a good boy so far and had not done anything to agitate his cousin. The last
time they met, things were normal too.

“I’ve been behaving well recently, right?” He wanted to reaffirm lest he’d overlooked
something.
“Yes. You were such a good boy.” His secretary was quick to supply, in a rather comical
way.

After getting off the elevator, Jae-won stood in front of the office door. He was anxious to
enter his own office. He took a deep breath and nodded at his secretary to open the door.
He couldn’t dawdle any longer now.

⸙
 Chapter 38
Chapter 38

A pall of smoke wafted through the dimly lit room. A stench was so strong that one would
be dazed just by a whiff of it.

The duo coughed, eyes burned. As they gradually started to make things out through the
dense cigarette fog, they saw Tae-jun sitting in the middle with one between his lips.

There had always been a savage aura about that man. If he hadn’t known him since
childhood, Jae-won would have long been scared to death. Nevertheless, his heart was
racing at the eerie sight before him. He cleared his throat in a bid to muster courage.

“Oh, hey. How long have you been waiting?” He tried to sound as calm as possible.

Tae-jun slowly glanced at Jae-won and stubbed the cigarette into the teeming ashtray.
When Jae-won wondered who brought the ashtray to his office, his secretary pointed at
himself, winking, well aware of his line of thoughts. He sighed inwardly, at least his
secretary had not been totally useless this morning, else his office would have been a pile of
cigarette buds.

“What time is it?” A cold voice rang.

“Seven Thirty.” Answered a meek one.

“Ok, then I must have waited about two hours,” said he nonchalantly.

For the love of God, two hours?! From 5:30 in the morning?!

Tae-jun, as far as he knew, hated waiting, and the number of cigarettes that he smoked was
in proportion to the depth of this agony. Simply put, if Tae-jun spent two hours in an empty
office, filling up the entire space with cigarette smoke, something must have happened!

Jae-won jolted to his senses, quickly snatched the ashtray in front of him, handing it to his
secretary. Then he rushed to open the window as he could not tolerate the thick smoke and
gloomy air effusing his office.

“You should stop smoking. You’d actually quitted before. I know you’re a heavy smoker, but
this is too much!”

“Perhaps, soon.”

What does he mean by that? Perhaps?! Soon?!

With his head tilted, Jae-won sat in front of Tae-jun, pretending to be calm, but his shaky
voice gave him away.

“You could have just called me or come to my place. Someone would have prepared a jaw-
dropping breakfast for you.” He tried to cool the air, more so his nerves.

“I wanted to find something.”

It’s only now that Jae-won realized the mess in his office. Every drawer was recklessly
opened, the documents scattered across on the floor, and his desk was at its own war.

God, help me!

Jae-won felt delirious. After taking a few deep breaths, he took out words.

“In case you were wondering, I don’t keep a ledger in secret, nor do I have a safe in disguise.
I don’t know what you heard from whom, but I will never betray Seoin Group. I swear to
god.”

“That’s good to know. But that’s not what I was looking for.”

Dumbfounded, Jae-won was at a loss for words. Tae-jun pointed at the document in front of
him on the table – It was Roy Jean’s résumé and portfolio which was a part of Hotel Seoin’s
new exhibition project proposal.

Why did he look for that?

“Didn’t you say you met his assistant?”

Tae-jun’s question interrupted his thoughts.

“Yes, I did. We went out for dinner a couple of days ago.[5] What about it?”

This whole thing was getting more and more confusing, he was at a loss.

“You went out with her?”

Tae-jun’s sharp eyes were stuck at his face.

Appalled, Jae-won tried to read what is on his cousin’s mind. With his straight face and
monotonous tone, it was hard to read Tae-jun’s real intentions. Honestly speaking, Jae-won
could tell he was angry but did not know why.

Jae-won confessed. “I think I have a thing for her. Don’t worry, I’ll draw a clear line between
business and my private life,” he said trying to appease.

Immediately, Tae-jun’s face turned stone-cold. As if something triggered him, he blurted

out.
“You should forget about it.”

What?!

Jae-won was about to confront him, but one look at Tae-jun’s fierce eyes, and he was
rendered speechless. He could sense a weird blend of smile and pain from him.

Even after Tae-jun left the office, Jae-won was still left with a strange feeling. The man had
interrogated him as if his lover had cheated on him with Jae-won.

What is happening?

While sweeping his face, something came to Jae-won’s realization.

You went out with her?

Did I ever mention Roy Jean’s assistant is a woman?[6]

Leaning on the window, Yuri organized her thoughts with a cup of coffee in her hand.

I need to remember my past.

When she came back to her hotel room from the payphone booth, it poured. Maybe because
of the sound of raindrops or maybe because of her deep thoughts, she could not fall asleep.

After long contemplation, Yuri concluded one thing- the year that she has forgotten, is not
just another year. She could not remember a thing about it, but she could fathom the
frightful fear that it concealed.

After tossing and turning all night long, she left her bed when she received approval from
Daejin Department Store’s new exhibit. Installation was planned on the same morning.

Yuri put on a beige blouse, a black long skirt, and a trench coat. When she was done getting
ready, she pushed a call button on her phone on the vanity.

– “Is everything going fine, Yuri?”

Roy sounded astonished and worried at the same time as it had been a while that she
talked to him. She asked after him first.

“I just wanted to know how you are doing. I also have something to talk about. How’s work
going?”

– “It’s going well. Talking about myself, I’ve been doing not-so-well. It’s been raining cats
and dogs here. What about Seoul?”
Unlike Yuri, Roy detested rain.

“We’re installing the Heart of Apollo today.” She reported.

– “Yes, I got the news. I also received the report that it arrived in Korea without any
damage. Work is almost done, right?”

“Yes. So… I think I am going to stay in Korea for a bit after I’m done with work.”

A heavy silence hovered over the phone. Yuri patiently waited for Roy’s answer. After a
short sigh, Roy asked.

– “Why did you make that decision?”

“I want to regain my memories.”

Yuri brought up what she thought about last night when the rain poured. Finding her
memories was what she had been intentionally avoiding for the past four years.

In the beginning, she’d tried her best to regain her lost memories. From counseling,
medication, to even hypnotherapy, she had made every attempt. What welcomed her
instead, were serious side effects, and she was labeled a “habitual attempted suicide
patient”.

After that, she did not put any effort into regaining her memories. Thinking what was lost
was lost, she comforted herself. It was regrettable that she could not remember the death
of her father, but she did not want to risk anything anymore just to find her memories.

However, ever since she came back to Korea, the pieces of her memories came back and
told her there was more to the year she lost. From Hyeon-ah Kim to her subconscious
arrival at Hotel Seoin, she could not ignore any of that anymore. If it was about the deaths
of her loved ones, she needed to know more. It was time to face her demons no matter the
cost, she was done running away.

This time, she was resolute.

⸙
 Chapter 39
Chapter 39

After the lull, the person on the other side spoke up.

– “How did you come up with that idea?”

Roy was under the impression he knew Yuri well enough by now. Considering the time he
had spent with her, her decision appeared genuinely out of character to him. If there was
one thing she feared, it was confronting her memories. Even the times she’d recalled by
chance were torturous, let alone seeking it upfront. He had borne witness to it all- the
dread, agony, and helplessness. So, this was truly shocking to him. Though the outcome was
abrupt, he knew something must have affected it.

On the other hand, Yuri knew her words had thrown Roy into a conundrum. She knew what
he was thinking. However, she couldn’t just bring herself to confide in him. For reasons
unknown to herself, she hesitated to confess her recent findings –most of all, about the
death of her friend, Hye-yeon.

She shook her head as if doing so would clear things. Everything was still vague–her
father’s death, the ten days she went missing, and the man who was relentlessly in search
of her. These were the missing pieces of the puzzle she’d been avoiding to solve. Hidden
deep in the recesses of her mind, it had provoked and tormented her time and again,
refusing to let her be, driving her to the point of death and back. Now, it had chosen to
resurface in full view, albeit in traces as if challenging her for a duel.

“Roy… Images I can’t make sense of keep popping in my head[7] . I think they’re related to
my lost memories, but it’s difficult to explain.” She pursed her lips before she went on. “But
one thing is clear for sure, I think I’ve forgotten something I shouldn’t have.”

Even as she said that Yuri was unsure if she had really lost something that she mustn’t
forget, or if she was trying to recollect something she mustn’t remember. However, these
images were incessantly haunting her. She was at a stage where she couldn’t ignore them
let alone get rid of them.

– “What is it?” asked a perplexed voice.

“I don’t know what it is, but flashbacks come every once in a while. I’m sure it will make
sense over time.”

It wasn’t clear who her words were trying to reassure, her or her listener. She wasn’t sure if
they would make sense like she’d said, because right now, although she was determined to
face them, she wasn’t sure if she had the required courage.

Silence hung in the air once again. With a heavy heart, Roy eventually spoke…
– “Do you have a place to stay?”

“I am looking for a place available to rent for a short while only. I will let you know once I
find out more about it.”

It would be inconvenient for her to stay in a hotel, so she had decided on this recourse.

– “Will you be ok doing everything all alone?”

“Don’t worry. I am taking my meds regularly, and paying attention to myself. It won’t take
that long.”

Her last sentence was more of a hunch than an actual fact. For some reason, she could feel
that it was close. She didn’t know the whys and hows, but she knew the series of
inexplicable events would bring her to the answers and sooner.

After the call with Roy, she put her phone back into the purse and checked her makeup one
more time. Eventually, her eyes gravitated to the ivory business card on the vanity table.

Hotel Seoin, Director Jae-won Lee.

If it is ok with you, can you give me a call before you go back to the States?

He was a well-mannered man, equipped with a kind face. He seemed like a guy who would
have no dearth of admirers: good-looking, rich and capable, a man of every woman’s
dream. But Yuri did not feel any chemistry with him. She appreciated his favor but did not
want to get personally involved with him. It was better to make a clean cut while she still
could.

She picked up the card, tore it up bit by bit before depositing the remains into the nearby
trash can.

It was a busy morning at Daejin Department Store, and especially so for Director Yoon.

Si-yeon had received word that the installation was completed. All that remained now was
for her to make a personal trip for inspection.

She was about to step out of her office and head to the lounge to take a look when she
stilled at the sight of the oncoming person. Not just her, even Secretary Kim beside her
stood wide-eyed.

A dapper Tae-jun was standing at the door. It wasn’t like he had never visited here, but this
time it was particularly different. He’d arrived unannounced– forget a phone call, not even
his secretary was accompanying him! Of course, the two women would be dazed.
What’s going on? As she thought, Secretary Kim quickly shot up from her seat, bowed to
Tae-jun before indirectly querying.

“Good morning, Director Seo. How can I help you?”

“I would like to talk to her.” His reply was succinct.

Of course, that would be his reason. But the question was, what did he want to talk about?

Si-yeon stared at the man, trying to read his intention. Even after keenly observing, she
could not find a single clue. His face was impassive, voice monotonous. If it was work-
related, he would have been accompanied by his secretary. Considering their relationship,
even if they were set to be married, they were more business associates than lovers.

So, what does he want?

It seemed like Si-yeon would be clueless as long as the man did not take the initiative to
divulge.

“Well, please come in.” Si-Yeon opened her office door, allowing him in.

“Could you wait for a moment? We just installed a new exhibit in the VIP lounge, I need to
confirm if everything is ok for the last time. It won’t take long…”

However, Tae-jun seemed to have no inclination to enter the office, as he remained rooted
to the ground.

“Aren’t you coming in?” Si-yeon wondered what this man was up to.

“I will come with you. I would like to see it as well.” He replied.

“What?!”

She was shocked by his reply. Since when did this ‘dour being’ develop an interest in the
goings-on at her office?

“I want to see the Heart of Apollo.” Seeing her blank face, he emphasized.

The director and her secretary stared at him, mouth agape in disbelief.

Tae-jun did not even give them room to answer, he strode ahead and simply pushed the
button and summoned the elevator.

As discreetly as she could, Si-yeon ordered her secretary to figure out what was up with
this man. Secretary Kim, who’d planned on the same, quickly texted his secretary and asked
why his boss was at their office.

Waiting for the elevator, Si-yeon reinitiated the conversation.

“I didn’t know you were interested in the Heart of Apollo. Do you know Roy Jean?” As she
spoke she looked at him, in case he gave away something.

“Yes, but not for long.” He replied flatly, immersing the other further into the guessing
game.

“So, you’ve only heard about him recently?” Si-yeon asked as the elevator reached them,
and the doors slid open.

Entering first, Tae-jun leaned against the furthest wall in the back. The two ladies followed
shortly after. Kim pushed the button for the VIP lounge.

“Jae-won mentioned he’s been planning to purchase Roy Jean’s pieces for Hotel Seoin’s
lobby.” He eventually explained.

“All right, that’s why you came.”

They’d finally understood the reason behind his abrupt arrival, albeit finding it a little
strange. But this man was never known to behave conventionally.

“Is Roy Jean here?” he asked.

“No, he’s not here,” she said in a relaxed manner.

“Why? It is such an important and expensive project. He should be here.”

“He had prior commitments in Japan. I was in a hurry, so the installation was managed by
his assistant.” She explained.

“Ok, then she must be alone.” Tae-jun mumbled in a low voice.

⸙
 Chapter 40
Chapter 40

Who is alone?

Si-yeon stared at Tae-jun’s reflection on the doors of the elevator. He was flippantly
reclined against the wall, his deep orbs void of emotions, his chiseled face stone cold. Even
though they were conversing, she felt as though he was not here. He behaved as if they
belonged in different worlds.

The doors opened, Tae-jun was the first one to walk out. Si-yeon found she could not take
her eyes off his back.

Taking this opportunity of this momentary privacy, Kim leaned in and whispered into Si-
yeon’s ears.

“Director Seo’s secretary also does not have any idea. He said Mr. Seo did not even show up
to the office today.”

“What?!” she asked in surprise.

Secretary Kim winced at her volume and brought a finger to her lips.

“Shhh… He might hear us.”

Suddenly, Tae-jun stopped and turned back towards them.

“Let me make a call before we go in.”

Without waiting for a response, he went outside to the terrace garden.

Tilting her head, Si-yeon then entered the lounge first.

The newly remodeled interior of the VIP lounge was exquisite and held a somewhat
enigmatic aura. The high ceilings and the blue lighting overhead were reminiscent of the
deep ocean and its abyss. Located at the heart of this mystic space, was Heart of Apollo.

As they saw them enter, the employees bowed towards Si-yeon and her secretary. A few
steps away was Yuri, recording the installation of the piece with her tablet. When she
sensed Si-yeon approaching, she lifted her head and greeted her.

“Oh! Hi Ms. Yoon.” She greeted jovially.

Si-yeon’s eyes glinted in satisfaction at the design before her.

“This is beyond my expectation! The lounge and the Heart of Apollo complement each other
spectacularly!” She didn’t hold back on her compliments.

“I agree with you.” Yuri put a soft smile on her face.

The deal was fair for both parties involved, and she was proud to present the work, in
which a great amount of effort had been invested in by her. She had always felt a sense of
accomplishment when her work was to her satisfaction, the client’s praises were merely
the cherry on the topping.

Looking closely at the Heart of Apollo, Si-yeon seemed to realize something.

“I didn’t realize it when I saw it for the first time in New York… But this piece somehow
reminds me of you. Are you the inspiration?” she asked.

“No, I am not.” Yuri laughed sheepishly.

“Really? Hasn’t anyone told you that the piece resembles you?” Si-yeon asked. She couldn’t
believe no one had pointed out the obvious yet!

Yuri gazed at the Heart of Apollo. She had recorded and taken pictures of it numerous
times, but she had never quite considered who the inspiration behind it was. But saying
that she was the inspiration seemed too far fetched for her.

Nah, it must be someone else– Roy’s late wife, perhaps. After all, he still wears the wedding
ring.

Yuri shook her head.

“I am not the muse. It’s someone else.” She replied confidently.

“Oh, yes?” Si-yeon didn’t seem to believe her.

“Perhaps the resemblance stems from Roy’s environment. Artists are always influenced by
their surroundings. I do spend a lot of time with Roy as an assistant.”

What Yuri said was not over the top. Many famous works were a fruit of the most
unexpected source of inspiration. And since she herself was an artist, her explanation
sounded logical.

“Aha, that makes sense.”

Si-yeon didn’t continue the topic and shifted her attention to admiring the work. Yuri, on
the other hand, was lost in her thoughts.

Truth be told, her words were an extension of her subconscious behaviour. Every time she
had picked the brush, she had ended up drawing the man. The man who frequented her
dreams. When this could happen to her, why couldn’t it happen to Roy who was known to
have loved his wife dearly?

As she thought, she was back to the matter that she’s preoccupied with. Although she had
decided she’d regain her memories, she didn’t even know where to begin. But now she did.

The first piece of the puzzle was obviously the man in her dreams. He seemed like a key
player in the game of her lost memories. However, she had no clue about his identity or
whatsoever. The only thing she knew about him was his face.

At that moment, the shadow of a tall man blanketed in front of Yuri. She unconsciously
raised her head towards the source. When her eyes met the face of the stranger, her jaw
slightly dropped as her eyes widened to their limits.

“Ho… How…?” Yuri stammered, but her voice reached no ears.

It seemed surreal… as if this person had walked right out of her canvas.

When she saw the man from her dreams in flesh and blood, instinctively, Yuri took a step
back.

The boundary between reality and dream collapsed, her mind started spiraling– she was
shoved into a bottomless chasm unable to distinguish true from false. Due to the dizziness,
her vision spun like the doll in the music box. Her hands were robbed of strength, she
dropped the tablet in her hands.

Right before it could hit the ground and clatter to the floor, the man in front of her caught it.

“You should be careful, Yuri Han.” His cool voice told her.

This low voice… All of a sudden, the air surrounding her felt suffocating –

… Am I in another dream? Is he coming after me? He is going to grab me by the arms, push me
against the wall, and force raw and violent intercourse – I have seen this gaze, the gaze of a
brute. He will devour me like a beast!

The Si-yeon’s voice rescued Yuri before she plummeted into a deeper panic.

“Let me introduce my fiancé, Yuri. Director Tae-jun Seo from Seoin Group.”

Tae-jun Seo.

Yuri repeated his name in her mind. She did not know this name, nor the man. Her gaze
moved from top to bottom as she surveyed the man.
The prominent jaw, audacious lips, aristocratic nose… As though someone had thrown her
off a perpendicular cliff, something vertiginous flashed before her eyes when her eyes met
his.

She was determined to identify the man from her dreams but did not expect him to appear
in such an abrupt way.

“Tae-jun, this is Yuri, Roy Jean’s assistant.”

Tae-jun introduced himself even before Si-yeon finished her words.

“How do you do, Miss Han. Glad to meet you.”

The sound of his voice tugged painfully at Yuri’s heartstrings.

Lies, he already knew who she was. He already knew her name.

You should be careful, Yuri Han.

He’d already called her by her name…

⸙
 Chapter 41
Chapter 41

Suddenly, the VIP lounge seemed to have plunged into an eerie air. The predator was
patiently toying his prey, but the innocent bystander knew not.

Tae-jun pretended it was his first-time meeting Yuri, and she decided to go along too.
Flashing a faux smile, she handed him her business card.

He took his time taking the card from her, his eyes never leaving her face.

“Yuri Han,” he said slow and cold.

As if her entire history[8] was written down on it, Tae-jun looked intently at the card in his
hand. However, except for her name and phone number, it had nothing else.

Oblivious to the undercurrents, Si-yeon cut in.

“Hotel Seoin too intends to revamp their exhibits, they are interested in Roy Jean’s pieces as
well. He came along to check our new pieces by Roy.” She then turned to the man himself.
“What do you think? Do you like them Tae-jun?” she asked eagerly.

Tae-jun nodded in response.

Another lie!

He claimed to be interested in purchasing art pieces, but not once had he turned to look at
the Heart of Apollo since stepping in. The only thing, or person, that Tae-jun had ever laid
his eyes on was Yuri Han as if she were the sole reason for his visit. One wondered if he was
even aware that there existed many pieces of Roy’s works in this very room.

Like a finely sharpened knife, his hawkeyes penetrated deep into Yuri’s soul. Cold sweat
ran down her spine. Everywhere Tae-jun directed his gaze, she felt the burning sensation of
a cut… soon her whole body was covered in this sensation.

“Miss Han, is Yuri Han your real name?” Tae-jun asked.

“Excuse me?”Yuri was confused. She could not understand what he was getting to.

Staring at Yuri, Tae-jun continued. “I think I saw someone once who greatly resembles you.
Well, not even that… Who looks identical to you, but I think I remember them having a
different name.” He feigned forgetfulness, as Yuri’s eyes narrowed at him.

What kind of answer does he want from me?

Turning her face away, Yuri’s hands fisted at her skirt. She alone knew the sheer grit she
had to muster in order not to falter.

“That’s interesting, but it is my first time meeting you.” She stated determinedly. She didn’t
waver even as she saw Tae-jun nod in mock understanding.

“All right, if you say so.” As if he’d heard something funny, Tae-jun raised his brows. His
gaze never left her, his dark orbs inscrutable.

Behind the brave facade, Yuri was on tenterhooks. She could feel Tae-jun was toying with
her. The man, his words and penetrating eyes, were wreaking havoc on her nerves. Just
when she felt she could not hold in any longer…

… with a final glance, Tae-jun turned to face Si-yeon. Right when she thought she was given
a lease of respite, the voice set her up for another challenge.

“If you have some spare time today, we should have lunch together. With Yuri as well.” He
casually suggested.

“That sounds like a plan.” Si-yeon agreed excitedly. “Yuri, are you free?”

“I appreciate it, but…”

She was decisively cut mid-sentence.

“I would like to discuss purchase plans over the table.”

As Roy Jean’s assistant, discussing sales with a possible client on a lunch table was a
suggestion Yuri could not easily reject.

Reluctantly, Yuri answered. “Ok… Thank you.”

At that moment, the ghost of a smile appeared on Tae-jun’s face.

“Seems like lunch works for Yuri as well.”

Si-yeon’s secretary, taking the cue, pulled out her cell phone and asked, “I will make a
reservation immediately. Director Seo, what would you like?”

“I don’t care. You can decide.”

Secretary Kim reserved a table at the most popular French restaurant in the mall. The chef
had a reputation he gained from his exceptional stint at a two-star Michelin restaurant in
France and a hotel as well. Usually reservations needed to be at least a day in advance, but
such trivialities did not apply if it was Si-yeon who was calling.
On the way to the restaurant, Yuri’s mind delved into her possible relationship with Tae-
jun in the past.

What was their relationship? How did they know each other?

Associating her dreams to what was in front of her, she presumed it to be something very
private and close to the heart. Close enough to warrant sexual and physical intimacy with
one another.

But that assumption was only until the moment she realized he was an executive director
of Seoin Group.

His identity and social position threw Si-yeon[9] into the crossfire.

Even though she could not recall what happened in her past, in general, it was difficult to
draw a connection between an art student with an unimpressive and underprivileged
background and a person of the upper echelons of society.

Even when they sat down on the table and opened a menu, Yuri’s mind was preoccupied
with a snaggle of confusion.

Sitting next to Tae-jun, who sat across Yuri, Si-yeon stared into Yuri’s face.

“Are you okay, Yuri? You don’t look well.” She remarked.

“Huh?” Yuri raised her head and blanched, as she caught Tae-jun’s eyes. Was he staring at
her the whole time?

“I am all right, just a bit dizzy, but that’s not new. It happens sometimes. Thank you for
asking.” She laughed sheepishly.

Yuri turned her mouth up slightly to be polite. Even then, like a ferocious beast preparing
to hunt its prey, Tae-jun still did not take his eyes off of her. Enduring his piercing gaze,
Yuri reached to the water glass to ease her dry mouth.

As if waiting for an opportune moment, Tae-jun finally spoke once more.

“Yuri, how long have you been working as an assistant to Mr. Jean?”

“It’s been three years already.” She replied softly.

“Three years.” Tae-jun tapped his long fingers on the table.

A big, strong hand – the hand that opened and caused Yuri’s body to shake in her
memories… She knew that hand too well. It was the very hand that she’s seen in her
dreams, leaving burning sensations on her skin.
⸙
 Chapter 42
Chapter 42

“I did a little research on Roy Jean’s career and found out he fell into a slump for quite some
time after his wife’s passing. And he happened to reinitiate his work three years ago.” Tae-
jun looked squarely at Yuri as he spoke.

“Excuse me, but I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

Indeed Yuri had no idea what this man was insinuating and where the conversation was
headed towards. Her senses were on high alert, nonetheless.

“What are assistants usually responsible for?”

“We assist with the creation of work, or whatever needed.” She replied plainly.

“Does it include something personal and private? For example, if he needs someone in his
bed…”

“Tae-jun!” Si-yeon exclaimed indignantly, slamming her water glass back on the table at his
audacity to suggest such a thing, and shot him a scathing look. “You are being rude. That’s
such an indelicate question to ask.”

He did not reply to Si-yeon, in fact, he ignored her as if she did not exist. Right now, Yuri
was the only person worth laying his eyes upon. His eyes were prodding her to offer an
answer. His eyes roamed all over her. His glances were burning, cold and passionate at the
same time.

Yuri could sense one thing – whatever relationship they had in the past; it definitely did not
end well. Tae-jun did not try to veil his curious glances towards Yuri in front of his own
fiancé. He did not even care if anyone saw him.

The question itself did not surprise Yuri. Roy Jean had a reputation for not hiring a female
assistant in the industry.

After he’d separated from his wife by death at a young age, he had pursued his own
celibacy for a long time, mourning for his loss. In order to avoid any kind of rumors
involving women, he was reluctant to hire any female assistant.

When Yuri was hired as an assistant to Roy Jean as the first female assistant in over ten
years, naturally, they became a hot topic for gossip. As a result, she had to repeat the same
answer over and over again like a parrot.

“Mr. Jean and I do not share such a personal and intimate relationship. He is simply my
boss and teacher.”
“A boss and a teacher. I apologize. I was ignorant.” Despite the apology, his tone suggested
otherwise.

Thankfully, the lunch was served cutting off further conversation. The star chef appeared in
front of them as if on a cooking show, explaining the menu of the day next to the table.

House-made cheese, top graded beef, and abalones freshly delivered from the seaside every
morning could not impress Yuri. She could not even taste anything, and it seemed so with
the man seated before her as well. He looked like he would rather cut, chew, and swallow
Yuri than the food.

To cut the tension in the air, Si-yeon started speaking.

“Yuri, other than assisting Roy Jean, do you work on your personal pieces?”

Yuri was thankful for the change in topic. “For the moment, I don’t have anything that I am
working on my own.”

“Why? Actually, the agency told me that there was a piece that inspired the Heart of Apollo,
and I heard it was created by you. I was dying to see it, but it was not open to the public.”

At that instant, Yuri dropped her fork.

Clink!

The clashing noise of the fork hitting on the ground rang through the air.

“Are you okay?” Si-yeon asked worriedly.

“Oh, I am sorry.”

When Yuri tried to pick up the fork, Si-yeon called up a waiter.

“You seem dizzy. You’re pale as a sheet!”

Si-yeon’s voice was muffled like a drop of paint in water to Yuri’s ears. She was panicking.
She had not expected to hear anyone mentioning Apollo. The piece that her hands
obsessively created, the only piece Yuri had ever created – the inspiration was sitting right
in front of her.

Tae-jun was Apollo!

She clenched her fists tightly beneath the table, feeling the blood circulation begin to get cut
off… she endured with sheer grit and they eventually resumed their meal.

After a long and tense lunch, Si-yeon whispered at Yuri while Tae-jun paid for the meal.
“Yuri, I am sorry for what my fiancé said. He’s not a rude person, but he’s been in a bad
mood nowadays because of work. I apologize for him from the bottom of my heart. I am
sorry.”

Glaring at Si-yeon’s glistening diamond ring on her ring finger, Yuri nodded. It was not Si-
yeon’s fault after all.

“It’s ok. I’m not angry. I should leave now, thank you for inviting me.” Yuri didn’t drag the
matter. The one thing she wanted now was to leave and away from the man!

“Of course! Thank you for your work. I hope to see you again. Please say hi to Mr. Jean for
me.” Si-yeon had every intention to right the wrong and part on a friendly note.

“Sure. Thank you for hosting me.”

When Tae-jun finally came out of the restaurant, Yuri said her parting words to him as well.

“Thank you for inviting me. It was a pleasure to meet you.” She even rewarded him with
another faux smile.

Of course, it was a lie.!

However, one more lie should not be problematic to a conversation which was already
covered with rampant lies.

Keeping his straight face, Tae-jun nodded back at Yuri.

Yuri turned to the elevator. As soon as she entered, Yuri pressed the lobby and frantically
pushed the close button over and over again. She wanted to escape from the place as soon
as possible.

I need to get out of here.

Warning bells rang in the back of her mind.

The man with penetrating eyes looked at Yuri like a fierce beast right before biting the neck
of its prey. She needed to escape to somewhere safe. She could not think any further.

However, fate betrayed her desperation.

A big hand slid between closing doors. The high-performing elevator’s luxurious doors
smoothly opened again, revealing the owner of the hand.

The man standing before Yuri, was Tae-jun.

It was him!

⸙
 Chapter 43
Chapter 43

“That is weird.” Si-yeon mumbled to herself, when Kim, her secretary came up beside her.

“What’s so weird?” she asked, tilting her head at her boss.

“I meant Tae-jun. Didn’t you find anything weird?” She queried, trying to make sense of
what she’d seen.

“You mean, visiting you without notice?”

“That as well, and …” She trailed off, not voicing her thoughts.

I feel like I was used as an excuse. Or a bait?

A bait … to bring Yuri to the lunch table.

Si-yeon assumed Tae-jun would accompany her back to the office, but he left right after
lunch, saying he was under a work schedule.

Tae-jun’s behavior today was utterly new to Si-yeon – he seemed excited and most
importantly … at the lounge and the gallery, his eyes were glued solely on Yuri. For some
reason, this woman seemed to know him in person as well.

How do they know each other? Considering their backgrounds and social status, they
shouldn’t have been able to cross paths, enough to make an impression.

Si-yeon had known Tae-jun ever since they were children. Of course, she expected Tae-jun
to have past relationships before their engagement. However, if he was dating someone
currently, it was impossible for her mother to be unaware of it, as she was the one who had
insisted on her engagement to Tae-jun.

“And?” Kim strained her ears to listen to the answer.

An awkward situation, uncomfortable feelings, and an ominous presentiment – What are

these pointing at?

After a moment of hesitation, Si-yeon only shook her head. If she were to share her gloomy
thoughts with her secretary, it was only a matter of time before her mother, Mrs. Go, would
know about it. To be honest, Si-yeon wanted to avoid the fuss her mother would cause once
she learned of this, at all costs.

“Nothing special. By the way, where’s the Pepcid?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Were there any problems with lunch?”

“No, not really.”

Si-yeon downed the pill with water. Dining in an uncomfortable situation usually upset her
stomach all the time. And of course, her secretary, who had overseen the woman ever since
she was a child, was well aware of it. She could easily sense whenever her boss had
troubling thoughts.

“Do you think you can get married to him?” Kim eventually asked.

Si-yeon let out an amused chuckle. She could read her secretary’s mind – Kim thought she
was so uncomfortable with her own husband-to-be that she could not even dine with him
without it upsetting her stomach.

“I have to. That’s Mrs. Go’s lifelong wish.” She answered resignedly.

Si-yeon was seven years old when the woman from her father’s past showed up at her
house with a boy who was a year older than her. After pointing her fingers fanatically to the
boy and his mother, Mrs. Go fainted on site. At that moment, she had been pregnant with
another baby … A baby that never had the chance to see this world.

It was after that moment that Mrs. Go became another person. The once naïve woman with
a soft heart became stone-cold and heartless. Since then, she wished for nothing but one
thing – for her daughter, Si-yeon, to rule the Daejin Group. To claim her rightful kingdom
from her two older stepbrothers and two younger stepbrothers, her child needed a partner
with power. A partner, so powerful and ruthless, that he would eliminate any contestant
that her daughter ever had to compete with.

Tae-jun ticked all the boxes that Mrs. Go had ever hoped for. And Si-yeon wanted to grant
her mother’s wishes by all means.

Should I figure out what happened between them? Si-yeon mused to herself.

Si-yeon did not want to be that pathetic woman who secretly did background checks on her
fiancé’s past, but she was his fiancée and was not open to the thought of any kind of extra-
marital affair.

Stroking her bloated stomach absent-mindedly, Si-yeon tapped her temple.

“Wait at the hospital. I’m on the way. She fainted out of blue.”

Driving like a madman, Tae-jun stroked Yuri’s cheek with his free hand. She had collapsed
shortly before and lost her consciousness. He suddenly felt a chill run down his body.
He might have to change his plans.

After gathering every bit of her personal information, it was not difficult for him to find her.
According to the agency, the Heart of Apollo’s installation was to be completed today, and
that was where his prey would be.

He was in no rush to back her into a corner. After all, it was the process of cornering a prey
that he liked the best. Taking her back as he wanted would require great patience on his
part.

Surprisingly, her reaction at the lunch table was unwaveringly poised. She was clearly
agitated by his presence, but she was not afraid, nor did she try to escape from him. Rather,
she seemed to have been exploring something.

Was she bold, or was she simply a good actress? Only time would tell.

When he had received a text message reporting everything was prepared, he had begun his
hunt. When he slid his hand between the closing doors of the elevator, the woman inside
glared at him with wide, frightened eyes. Every step that Tae-jun took towards her made
her take a step back until there was no more room. Her pupils dilated, filled with fear.

Yes, that’s how I like it. That’s the fun part of hunting. He thought maliciously to himself.

Tae-jun unhurriedly entered the elevator and pushed the close button. As the doors slid
close, the thin air in the small elevator started to suffocate both Yuri and him. She
instinctively dropped her gaze and desperately tried to compose herself.

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Tae-jun leaned against a wall before her. From head to
toe, he kept his predatory eyes on her.

Yuri trembled and broke into a cold sweat.

His eyes traced the drops of sweat on her neck, he reminded himself of the first thing on the
list he wanted to do for a long time– licking her lean and slender neck, much like a snake
would.

To have her taste flood his tongue once more …

– “Let’s stop playing games.”

Tae-jun reached his hands and snatched her by the waist. Fatigued, Yuri’s knees buckled,
and she eventually passed out.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 44
Chapter 44

The limp woman in his arms was notably skinny. Four years ago, Yuri was lean, but she was
not as skinny as a stick that would break by a snap.

Does she even eat at all?

Jay’s voice flitted through his mind.

– “She has already attempted suicide a few times.”

Is it related to her mental issues?

As Tae-jun held Yuri in his arms, a violent and compelling appetite surged from deep within
that it devoured the rest of his rationality. The appetite that he had lost for quite some time
– the desire to hold her and taste every bit of her, suddenly surged in him. Unconsciously,
his grip on her tightened.

When they arrived at Seoin Hospital, Jin-ho was already waiting for them by the entrance.

Jin-ho, an internist, immediately made to move the stretcher. To Tae-jun, he not only
considered him as an employee but also a good friend.

But instead of placing her on a gurney, Tae-jun carried Yuri in his arms all the way to a
private ward. Surprised, Jin-ho only took a bag from the man’s hand and followed without a
word.

Like his brother Jin-wook, who had known Tae-jun for over twenty years, Jin-ho had also
known him for a long time. However, Jin-ho had never seen Tae-jun treating anyone else
with such possessiveness.

Jin-ho grimaced at the unconscious woman in Tae-jun’s arms. She seemed like someone
who was weak. She was tall but very skinny. And even though her eyes were closed for the
moment, he could tell she was beautiful.

“Who is this?” he asked.

Gently laying Yuri on the bed in the private ward, Tae-jun answered. “Mine.”

“What? Then what about your fiancée?” Jin-ho asked incredulously.

Regardless of their close friendship, Jin-ho was well aware of the line drawn between them.
Without an extra word, he briefly examined the woman in front of him before he prepped
her up for an IV.
“Psychological shock from abrupt stress. She seems weak. If you want, I can run some
further tests to examine her health in detail.”

“I see.”

Psychological shock? That’s not good. Tae-jun crossed his arms.

After shooting the man a quick, narrowed stare, Jin-ho finally left the ward.

About half an hour later, Yuri groaned, her eyes still closed. As if she were suffering from
something excruciating, she tossed and turned on the bed. She shrieked from fear, before
bolting awake and letting out a gasp.

“Are you okay?” Tae-jun lowered himself to her level to check.

Blinking her eyes in anxiety, she rushed into his arms.

“I am sorry, I am sorry.”

Tae-jun flinched.

Ever since he had started tracking Yuri and discovered her real identity, Tae-jun enjoyed
guessing what her first words were going to be, numerous times. Would she be surprised?
Afraid? Would she panic? However, an apology was not one of his many assumptions.

Clinging onto his jackets, Yuri rested her cheek on his chest. A strange feeling clambered up
Tae-jun. Just for her, he had prepared a long list of vengeance, yet his resolve quickly
crumbled at this moment.

Patiently, Tae-jun had come up with well-planned revenge, and Yuri’s first words
mysteriously unarmed him. Well, a ward is an inappropriate place to share the happiness
of a long-waited reencounter.

Tae-jun chuckled coldly and put his hands over her shoulders to pull her apart from him
gently, as to not startle her. At that moment, Yuri opened her lips.

“Roy.” She gasped out in a breathy voice.

As if doused in ice, Tae-jun’s face hardened as he heard the name come out of her lips.

Damn you! How dare you call another man’s name in my arms?!

Tae-jun breathed in, trying to rein in his temper a thousandfold, to try not to grip her
throat; instead, he only seized her shoulders in a fit of deep-seated anger.

⸙
Her shoulders hurt. When she lifted her eyelids, the first thing that came into Yuri’s blurry
vision was a man. Next to him was another man in a white gown. He seemed like a doctor.

She soon realized that she was at the hospital. Yuri could not see the man’s face, but she
could easily visualize the look on his face. He would have a sad, concerned, and a perplexed
look, as it always had been for the past three years.

“Are you okay?”

“I am sorry, I am sorry.”

Over and over again, Yuri had been repeating the same thing tediously, but he deserved an
answer to it. She wanted to explain to him that she did not mean to die this time. A deep
sigh would come out between his lips.

In regret, Yuri called his name.

“Roy.”

However, this time was different. The man’s face contorted in displeasure. As if he was
going to crumple her like a flimsy piece of paper, the man grabbed her shoulders with brute
force.

Yuri grimaced her face in pain.

“Roy?”

“And you claim that he’s just a boss and a teacher?” The man spat at her in disdain.

The man’s callous voice fell over her head, freezing every part of her body. Like parting
clouds, her consciousness cleared the haziness away, and soon she zeroed in on the actual
man before her.

Roy was not a smoker – but this man smelled like cigarettes. Every fiber of his body exuded
masculinity all over her. Yuri relaxed her grips on his arms and looked up.

Her confused eyes met the man’s – incensed, his eyes were ablaze.

“Look at me, look at me in the eyes. Can you see who I am now?!” He demanded.

Frightened, Yuri turned ashen and tried to wriggle free from his arms.

“H-How … Why …” she asked shakily, as she tried to yank herself away from him in panic.
His grip only tightened at her resistance, as he sneered at her …

“Don’t you remember? You passed out in the elevator.”

Slowly, Yuri traced her vague memory. She got into the elevator, and he followed her. Her
head started hurting and cold sweat ran through her back. His entry was the last thing she
could remember.

Yuri began to tidy up herself. “If you helped me when I fainted …”

With furious eyes, Tae-jun cut off her words.

“Why did you disappear four years ago?!”

Yuri froze at his question.

Four years ago?

His question shook Yuri. This man was indeed part of her lost memories.

But How? Why?

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 45
Chapter 45

After taking a few deep breaths, Yuri opened her lips again.

“ I… I don’t remember you.”

Tae-jun smirked coldly. “Are you telling me that you don’t remember a thing? If that’s your
only excuse, come on, that’s not fun.”

“I am serious! The only thing that I know about you is that you are Director Yoon’s fiancé
and that’s it. I was just introduced to you.” She appeared incredulous, her eyes wide in
shock.

“Don’t give me that crap. I am not in the mood to play games.” He sniggered.

“I am not trying to play anything! I do not have any memory …”

BANG!

Tae-jun slammed the bedhead with his fist. Because of the deafening noise, Yuri covered
her ears and closed her eyes. He reached out his hand and twisted her hair with his fingers.

“I hate wasting my time. We have a lot to talk about from now on.”

The voice falling down her ears sounded excited. Contrary to his heated voice, his eyes
sunk to the abyss. Is it how being eaten by a beast feels like? She could only breathe and
glare at him.

What created the fracture in suffocating silence in the ward was Tae-jun’s phone inside his
jacket. He checked the name on the screen, and in an annoyed voice, answered the call.

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me today?”

An anxious voice hurriedly murmured that the chairman had summoned Tae-jun through
the phone. While the man answered the phone, Yuri pulled out the IV needle on her arm.

I hate it, I hate these needles. She was disgusted with the same repetitive situation where
the fluid entered her body through the needle whenever she woke up in the hospital.

“I will come in soon. Buy some time, I am nearby.”

After the phone call, Tae-jun spoke to Yuri in a commanding tone. “Come see me when I call
you.”

“That’s not going to happen.” She replied flatly.

“It is going to happen.”

When Tae-jun left the ward, Yuri quickly got off the bed, put on her jacket, and tidied
herself. Her shoulders were still hurting, and her hands trembled. She struggled to pack her
bag as she rubbed her shoulders in a bid to soothe herself. At that moment, the door
opened, and the doctor entered the ward.

Yuri quickly noticed his name tag on his chest. Seoin Hospital, Internist Jin-ho, Jeong.

Jin-ho approached Yuri. “Did you get hurt?”

“No, I think I just bumped into something and it hurts a little bit.” She lied through her
teeth.

“Do you have any medical conditions or medications that you take?”

“No.”

Yuri intentionally shook her head. She did not want to speak a word. Since she was at Seoin
Hospital, everything she said to the doctor would reach Tae-jun, from which medicine she
took, to how her condition was. She did not want him to have any information about her.

“Ok. So I am going to check your blood pressure and run a brief blood test …”

Test? Immediately, Yuri waved her hands. “No, no need for the tests. I have been tired for
the past few days. I didn’t sleep well as usual. I think I am okay now.”

“But …”

“Actually, I have some urgent things to take care of. I need to go.”

Since Yuri refused flatly, Jin-ho only shrugged his shoulders.

“All right then, please take a good rest when you go home. I would still like to recommend
you get tested. You have a bad complexion.”

“I will see. How can I pay?” she said.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s already taken care of. You can just leave.”

It must be Tae-jun. Yuri concluded while opening her bag again to put her wallet back into
the purse. It was not that she realized something that she did not notice before.

“Um, is this everything?”

“Yes, that’s everything we have. The person who brought you passed it to us”
Her tablet was gone! It was not in her purse anymore. Only then did she realize what Tae-
jun meant when he said, ‘it is going to happen’.

“Bastard!” Yuri clenched her teeth.

When she came back to her hotel room, Yuri searched Tae-jun Seo, executive director of
Seoin Group. An Asian Games gold medalist at trap shooting, and the successor of Seoin
Group which included eight subsidiaries. The man who had everything by birth, and also
destined to have more in the future.

Staring at the picture of Tae-jun on her screen, Yuri dwelled on her current situation. Her
dreams, and his attitude. From what she could assemble through his reactions, she could
vaguely assume what their prior relationship could have been in the past. But judging from
his untoward reaction to her, their relationship could be something more serious than a
fling. She frowned.

By the time I lost my memories, I was dating Hye-seong, wasn’t I?

When she came back to Jinseong City after being almost hustled out of her school and art
industry, Hye-seong was the first one to offer her a friendly helping hand. As Yuri was
mentally exhausted, he who she had known ever since she was a child, was a great comfort.

Of course, she was aware of his father’s concerns about their relationship, hence did not
expect a future with Hye-seong. Yuri simply pocketed her feelings – she also had her own
plans in her mind. She already knew that they were to split their ways when the time came.

Even then, she could not believe that she must have moved on so fast with another man;
with a man who had a peerlessly prominent background compared to the Jins.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 46
Chapter 46

Afresh, Yuri wondered what happened to her on the day she lost her memories. Burying
her head between her knees, Yuri scorned herself. Why did she lose so many memories? The
death of her father, the death of Hye-yeon, and the man who could have possibly been her
lover.

If there was one thing that she could be certain about, it was that the relationship did not
end on good terms. Either he or she had left the other, and what was written on the ending
page of their relationship was not happily ever after.

Yuri would not be surprised if he left her as that was more realistic than the other way
around, but seemingly, the circumstances pointed to the opposite. Either way, she could not
understand why Tae-jun was still antagonized by her as it had been four years already and
he, by all means, was engaged to another woman.

– “We have a lot to talk about from now on.”

Something to talk about from now on? Then why did he not talk about it in the past four
years? Is it because of his engagement?

Surging questions occupied her mind. Soon, she could vaguely assume Tae-jun’s intentions.
Engagement between two of the most powerful families required precautions. If Yuri was
one of his women in the past, her presence might be quite disturbing to his current fiancée.
Is that the case? Whatever the answer is, another encounter with Tae-jun did not seem like
a good idea.

After a profound sigh, Yuri stood up.

It was already dark outside. To send the agency and Roy the final installation report by the
end of the day, she needed to retrieve her tablet from him. Most of her installation notes
were copied in her laptop, but the pictures that she had taken earlier at Daejin Department
Store were not updated yet and she needed them for the report. Most importantly, in order
to find her memories back, she needed to meet Tae-jun, the man in her dreams and
flashbacks.

Should I visit his office? When she keyed in Seoin Group on the search engine, her phone
next to the laptop rang. It was an unfamiliar number. However, Yuri could easily guess who
the caller was. After taking a few deep breaths, she pushed the answer button.

“Hello.”

– “You answered late.”

Ignoring his response, Yuri started talking.

“I need my tablet back. It is important to me.”

– “You need to come and get it yourself.”

Deridingly, Tae-jun answered in a low tone. Yuri tried her best not to react emotionally.

“Where should I come? To your office?”

– “Hotel Seoin, Suite 3001.”

“Wait, hey!”

Ruthlessly, Tae-jun cut off the line. Yuri did not even have a moment to be antagonized by
his rude attitude. He did not need to provide anything but a hotel room number, because at
that moment, Yuri found the room number somewhat familiar.

I know this room number …

A pounding started inside her head. Stumbling, she massaged her forehead.

Here I am, again.

After getting off the taxi, Yuri glared at the overwhelmingly lavish appearance of Hotel
Seoin. This was her third visit. She had visited this hotel for the first time because Daejin
Department Store had reserved a room in the hotel as her accommodation during her stay
for installation work. The second time, she was unconsciously driven to come, after her
visit to Jinseong City.

The last time she had visited the hotel, she could understand what brought her here. Now,
she knew why. Because the man, Tae-jun Seo, was here.

Did I remember this place somehow?

Something was still engraved deep in Yuri’s mind – even after removing the death of her
father, the ten days, and the death of Hye-yeon from her memories completely. After she’d
collected better pieces of information about Tae-jun, she was able to make sense of the man
who had the security camera footage from Hotel Seoin. Presumably, the man named ‘Jin-
wook Jeong’ worked for Tae-jun.

Now the question was … Why did he delve into Hye-yeon Jin’s death? Is her death related to
Tae-jun?

“Miss Han?”
A familiar voice dragged Yuri out of her deep thoughts. The voice was from the cousin of
the man she needed to confront. The man who possibly could have been her lover in the
past. What perfect timing!

“Hello, Jae-won. Are you off now?”

“Yes! By the way, what brought you here today? Is it a coincidence? Or did you come to see
me?” The man was cheerful yet cheeky.

“Oh no, I came to visit one of my acquaintances.”

“I see. Well, unfortunately, I also have a plan that I cannot skip. I was worried that you came
to visit me!”

Jae-won seemed disappointed, but he hid his disappointment well. As Yuri had realized it
from the beginning, this man always made her feel at home. Anyone could see that he was
well-educated, from a respected family with care and love.

Why are Tae-jun and Jae-won so different from each other even as cousins? When Yuri
reminded herself of the man who she needed to confront, her face clouded over.

Jae-won quickly changed the topic. “Is the installation finished?”

“Yes, it was done today.”

“Then, are you leaving Korea soon?”

After taking a few seconds, Yuri answered. “I think I am going to stay for a bit. I need to take
care of some stuff.”

“Well, that is great news to me!” Jae-won smiled. “You can take your time. I can wait for
your call.”

Nothing forceful, but an insisting voice of Jae-won landed on Yuri’s ears.

After entering the elevator, she closed her eyes. Whenever she breathed, something
suppressed her chest and left her feeling nauseated. Even when she walked through the
lavish aisles, she felt queasy.

In front of Suite 3001, she dropped her head and looked down at her shoes. Somehow, she
felt like she had done this before. Here, in this place, at some point in time that she does not
remember.

With shaking fingers, she rang the bell. Without the slightest noise, the heavy door opened.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 47
Chapter 47

Even before she had taken her finger off the doorbell, the door had already soundlessly
opened. A surge of emotions flooded her senses as fragments of memories assaulted her
mind.

It was then that a curt voice brought her thoughts to an abrupt halt.

“You’re late.”

Standing at the door, an unbuttoned shirt clinging on his skin, an alarming glint in his dark
orbs was the man from her canvas … her nightmares–Tae Jun.

Yuri soon reined in her composure and retorted in an impassive manner.

“You didn’t tell me I had a fixed time to keep.”

Tae-jun moved sideways with a raised brow. He noticed she still had her sharp tongue.

“Come in,” he said unceremoniously.

However, the girl stood rooted to her spot, she had no intention of stepping in and she
made sure to make her purpose of visit clear.

“I only came to get back the tablet.”

Tae-jun shot her a lazy glance, his eyes still and unfathomable.

“You’re free to stand there all night if you want.”

He went back inside without another word. He knew her all too well, her defiance and
courage. He also knew how to get her to do his bidding.

Yuri had no choice but to follow him. The door closed behind her with an ominous sound.
Tae-jun was sitting on the living room sofa with a lit cigarette. She felt his gaze on her
through the smoke as she slowly sat on the opposite side. She tried to speak without
betraying any emotion.

“Please give it back to me.”

Tae-jun’s smile did not reach his eyes, and Yuri was afraid all the more for it.

“You still don’t know me?” He sniggered.

“I don’t remember.” She replied impassively.

“Then, I’ll have to make you.”

Tae-jun rose, his hand found her face. She felt like lightning had struck her in his touch.
There was a hand that caressed her face in the past. She gasped out loud and sank back to
the sofa.

“Wa-wait!”

Surprised by the sound she made, Yuri clasped a hand over her mouth. Her heart was
pounding as it would burst. Tremors ran down her body in fear.

Tae-jun only laughed at her response.

“Do you remember now?”

“I, I don’t know what happened, but I lost parts of my memory. Especially the last four to
five years of my life. So I can’t remember you.”

“I remember telling you not to fool around with me.”

The ends of his lips twisted. Tae-jun removed the cigarette from his mouth and slowly
stubbed it out on the ashtray.

“You know me.”

“How can you be sure?” Yuri probed him, her eyes searching his face.

“You respond to me. Then, now, you’re still trembling.”

Yuri tried to hide her hands, but it was too late. He knew exactly how she would react. Her
already pale face turned ashen.

“That’s because-“

“Why, is it a selective memory loss?”

“I’ll explain.” She then cleared her throat before continuing. “I received a hypnosis
treatment for my memory, and afterward I saw you in my dreams. I don’t know anything
about you except your face. If Ms. Yoon had not introduced us, I would have never known
your name.”

“What caused your memory loss?”

Yuri hesitated before replying. “I don’t know. I don’t even remember what happened then.”

Unfortunately, her explanation didn’t sound plausible to the man before her.
“It must be convenient for you to say that you don’t remember everything I ask. Don’t you
have a better excuse or an explanation?”

His sneer deepened instead, Yuri felt faint. She did not want to face him, who seemed to be
not interested in having a conversation and only interrogated her. She was tormented by
her memory loss. She had lost her father, her friend, and herself. The trauma had burdened
her so much that she could not create her pieces anymore. If there was an excuse or an
explanation, she was the one who wanted to hear it the most.

“What do you want to hear from me? I told you I don’t remember!” She was agitated, she
wished to be left alone.

“You might want to remember when there’s a chance. That is if you don’t want other people
to get involved.”

“What do you mean?” It was a sheer sign of threat hurled at her.

“The man who is your boss and your teacher is well-esteemed in his profession. His skills
and reputation hold up, and people tell me his uncle is a successful entrepreneur in that
field too. I can easily make trouble for them if there’s something in it for me.”

Yuri’s pale face now reddened in anger. The situation she found herself in did not make any
sense. A man who took what was hers made her come to him and was now threatening her.

She glared at Tae-jun. “I can make trouble for you too. Do you want me to call Ms. Yoon? I
can say that your fiancé is throwing baseless threats at me after calling me to his hotel
room.”

Yet, surprisingly, her words didn’t have as much effect on him. Tae-jun only smiled.

“Do it.” He provoked her.

“What?!” Yuri was stunned.

“Do it. I don’t care.” She was taken aback by his response.

No matter how she looked at him to catch a glimpse of his thoughts, his face did not betray
anything. Actually, he was looking at her with amusement.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 48
Chapter 48

“I’ll call her. You can take the phone and tell her what you just said. I’m also curious about
how she will respond.”

True to his words, Tae-jun took his cell phone out from the jacket he had taken off next to
him. He pressed the speed dial to call Si-yeon, and turned to speaker mode and placed it on
the table.

– “Yes, Tae-jun.”

Yuri flinched, hearing Si-yeon’s voice. What was Tae-jun thinking? He resumed speaking
with his eyes fixed on Yuri.

“The person I’m in a meeting now wants to speak to Director Yoon. Do you have a minute?”

– “It’s all right. Is it a business matter?”

“You’ll know after hearing it.”

Tae-jun pointed at the phone on the table with a smile on his lips.

– “Hello, this is Director Yoon from Daejin Department Store. Who is this?”

Yuri hesitated as she remembered the wife of a professor she had met before. When Yuri
asked for help, the wife had told her that it was her fault of having given him leeway. She
could not open her mouth as the image of the woman shielding her husband latched in her.

Si-yeon was repeating herself.

– “Hello? This is Si-yeon Yoon. Tae-jun, is there something wrong? No one’s answering.”

Tae-jun answered with a concealed sneer.

“It seems that there was too much alcohol involved. This, after asking me to call you that
badly.”

– “It can’t be helped. Please introduce me later.”

“I’ll do that.”

Tae-jun slowly pressed the end button.

“You have to wisely choose people to bluff.”

Yuri had lost the game. He knew that she would not be able to act on the threat.

Hence, she stood up and rapidly walked to the entrance. However, Tae-jun’s tight grip
caught her first before she made it to the door.

“I never gave you escape as a choice.” He sniggered.

“Let go of me!”

In no time, Yuri was pushed to the wall with some force. Tae-jun’s shadow engulfed her
silhouette. She raised her head and met his eyes filled with desire … enough to swallow her
whole.

“Why are you doing this? No matter what we were, aren’t we over?” She was incensed.

“Who says it’s over?”

Tae-jun lifted her chin with one hand. Yuri instinctively tried to pull back, but she was
already against the wall. He held her waist tightly with the other arm.

“You say you don’t remember.”

“I don’t, but I know that much. Because we broke up, you didn’t look for me in America …
and even got en-engaged.”

It was difficult for Yuri to open her lips. She trembled wherever his breath brushed against
her. Her head was spinning from his scent mixed with cigarette smoke.

“I knew you to be ‘Hye-yeon Jin’.” He brushed her hair away and whispered with his lips
against her ear.

What did he mean by that? She had no time to think as he roughly held her head back and
kissed her.

“Uh!”

Tae-jun strengthened his grip on her chin to pry her lips open. His tongue ravaged hers in a
breathtaking kiss. His sensu@l scent tinted with cigarette smoke overwhelmed her. She
tried to push him away, but it only made him move in closer and deeper until she felt numb.
No matter how she tried to get away from him, the kiss became rougher, and the wet
sounds they made were becoming messier.

His tongue was forcibly taking her breath away. He slipped her trench coat off of her with a
hand while she was trying to get her breath back. He then violently tugged at her blouse.
The buttons popped out to reveal a simple beige bra.

Yuri screamed and tried to hide what was displayed in front of him.
Tae-jun spoke in a level voice even after that passionate kiss. “It’s not my type. Is it his?”

He recklessly pushed up her bra and squeezed her brea*ts. Yuri shuddered everywhere
when his hands pressed her hardening n!pples.

“Stop!”

Tae-jun easily grabbed both of her wrists with one hand and held them up her head. She
felt his tongue wrapping around her n!pples and sucking. He then rolled one in his mouth
while fondling the other with his other hand.

He left red marks on her white skin as he hungrily sucked and grabbed. She let out a
shaking breath. She trembled everywhere Tae-jun’s hands, lips, and tongue roamed. Her
skin began to show a faint blush.

Tae-jun was enjoying her sweet skin to his heart’s content when he noticed the marks left
by his hand on her shoulder.

“It must have hurt. You always bruised so easily.”

He kissed the bruise on her shoulder. She was writhing as she felt him hardening against
her lower abdomen.

“Let go! I don’t want this!” She tried to push him away.

“Did you already forget? I said you couldn’t refuse when I want you. Stop moving. I never
did it like this, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

He spoke in a threatening tone as he lifted her up. His body, remaining immobile no matter
what Yuri did. It did not matter whether she shouted, cried, or resisted, he would have her.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 49
Chapter 49

Tae-jun roughly laid Yuri down on the bed and took off her skirt. As the long cloth snaked
down her thighs, her slim legs and underwe@r came into view. Her blouse was already
wide open and could no longer hide her bre*sts. The red marks left on her white skin drove
him crazy.

He hurriedly stripped his clothes off, displaying his sculpted physique and er*ction as he
came to her bare as the day he was born.

As the bare-bodied man neared, Yuri drew back; not out of fear but astonishment. She had
sketched the body of the man in her memories. Yuri had even made molds of the beautiful
body she could see whenever she closed her eyes. She just had never imagined that it
would now come to her in flesh. What’s more, belonging to Tae-jun Seo–the man who
wreaked havoc into her life just recently.

Tae-jun grabbed her ankle and roughly pulled her to him. He removed the clothing that
remained on her and spread her legs out.

“Ah!”

Yuri shuddered like a fish forced out of the water as his thumb touched the most sensitive
spots deep inside her. The man chuckled and relentlessly pushed his fingers into her.

Yuri was still dry and hence, in pain. She grabbed his wrist and pushed his chest away.

“It hurts!” She glared at him.

“You’d become wet with only a kiss before.”

Disregarding her words, he simply plunged his fingers deeper. Her face creased in pain as
she felt his digits moving inside her.

“It hurts! Please, stop.” She pleaded.

“It’s so tight. Your old teacher hasn’t had you much.” He sniggered.

“I said that’s not true!” She glared daggers at him. “I’m not in that kind of relationship with
Roy …”

His fingers came in deeper after stroking her cl*toris. He licked her earlobe as if to soothe
her, circled his fingers in as she became less tight than before.
Yuri shut her eyes tightly as his fingers seemed to be everywhere inside her. He pressed a
particular spot while observing her response.

“Do you still like it here?” he asked in a raspy voice.

“Ah!” She felt electrified.

Tae-jun had once known her body better than Yuri did. Even after four years, he found the
places that aroused her quickly.

She grabbed his shoulders as tremors overtook her. She felt herself getting damp under his
relentless ministrations.

He stirred her until wet sounds filled the room. She turned her head away in
embarrassment, but the man forced her to watch him with a hand on her chin. He slowly
licked his fingers as he met her eyes.

“I remember your taste.”

Yuri blushed as she watched him lick her juices.

“Don’t do this!” she said softly.

“Yes, I did not plan to do this, but now you rush me.” Saying so, he held one of her legs over
his shoulder. “It’s been too long.”

He rubbed his erect*on just before he entered and lightly bit her lower lip. Yuri gripped his
shoulders tighter as she felt a massive heat against her body. She felt as if she was split in
two when Tae-jun thrust inside her.

“Ah!”

She was hit with excruciating pain. Even though she had become wet under his caresses, it
had been too long since she had accepted a man inside. He was too big and hot as he forced
his way inside her walls.

She tilted her head back, her lips trembled. Above her, Tae-jun groaned as he reached her
deepest regions.

“It should be like this.” He whispered hoarsely.

Lodged deep inside her, he stared into her eyes without moving. Teardrops hung on her
long and lush eyelashes. He held her in his arms while she struggled to get her breath back.
He traced along her forehead, brows, the bridge of her nose, closed eyelids, lips with his
eyes, and his gaze traveled down her delicate neckline, collarbone, arm, hands, fingers, and
nails.
His gaze stopped at Yuri’s hands that were fisting the bedsheets. They had the same short
nails as a child’s but were homely compared to the rest of her body. They were
continuously drawing and making something, so her hands were wreathed with calluses.
Everything about her was beautiful, but Tae-jun remembered her hands best.

“I finally found you, Yuri Han.”

Taking her hand, he planted a kiss on her warm palm. He then grabbed her thighs and
pushed her body closer. She felt like she was being impaled, ravaged by a monster even.
She clenched her teeth as he forcibly opened her to him

Large hands soon found her pair of mounds kneading them to his contentment while he
softly bit the soft skin of her neck. Yuri felt ar0usal taking over pain as he rubbed her
reddened n*pples and moved his hips in a fast rhythm.

It was a sensation long left in the past. As he moved in and out with long and deep thrusts,
the top of his head hit the headboard.

His movements were violent and rough, but her body remembered him. The bond with
Tae-jun Seo was something deeper than a simple physical encounter.

Strange sensation filled her as the passionate s3x she had in her dream became a reality.
Was this what I had left behind in my memories? Her world felt more real than it ever had in
the last four years. Her consciousness spiraled down in a whirlwind of sensations.

Tae-jun also seemed to feel her mind drifting away and kissed her as if he wanted to
swallow her.

“Look at who you are with now.” He whispered to her ears. This was followed by a short cry
emanating from her lips.

“Ah!”

She felt a sharp taste in her mouth as he pried it open. Their tongues in a familiar dance,
she felt alive. His hips ground against her, while his lips pressed down on hers. This was not
the imaginary world where Yuri had wandered in torment. It was not a dream, but a reality
where only Tae-jun existed.

Her strength left her as the man expertly moved and twisted his hips. A vein stood out in
his forehead as he felt Yuri go hot and wet underneath him. Everything was beyond
sensations now.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 50
Chapter 50

It seemed Tae-jun had forgotten his long standing tenet– s*x was a game of pleasure
between a man and a woman. But right now, the only thing left was an instinct screaming
within that he had to have her.

The sound of flesh against flesh rang loudly. As pain turned to pleasure inch by inch, Yuri
felt m0ans escaping from her mouth.

“Ah, ah!”

She was heady as she felt him inside, and the sensations were waking something that was
lying dormant in her. A light blinked beyond the black curtains of her memory.

What is this?

Something was trying to rip and come out of the curtains. Yuri reached out and tried to
grab it without thought. However, her hands touched Tae-jun’s face instead of her
fragmented memory.

A suppressed m0an slipped out of Tae-jun’s mouth. Yuri was startled to find a strange
sensation of something burning rolling within her. The man held her tightly as she tried to
escape.

“Stay still.” He growled a warning and hugged her hips even closer.

He was in a frenzy, seemingly trying to leave as much of himself in her as he also clim@xed.

Tae-jun did not take himself out even after he was done. Yuri tried to push him away, but
he remained hard inside her. He rolled her over to the side and pulled her into his arms,
burying himself in her neck and reaching out to grab her twin peaks.

Yuri flinched and shrank as he toyed with her hard n!pples.

“You haven’t enjoyed yourself yet.” His raspy voice sounded by her ear.

His hands wandered below her flat stomach and between her legs. She was wet with his
come and her juices, and was still wide open with his member inside. He caressed where
they met and thrust deeper.

“We are going for it now.” He declared.

“Stop!” She made a feeble attempt.

He was deep inside her. Her walls engulfed and tightened their hold on him as if she had
been waiting for this very moment. She was shocked, her body betrayed her and welcomed
Tae-jun in. Her body was now thoroughly awake from this brief experience. He filled her,
and she felt her body fit him in. Her skin was so sensitive that she could feel his shape and
pulsating veins.

“Ah-“

Her mo@ns were different from before. Her bre*sts were crushed in his grip. As he rolled
her n*pples with his palms, her husky mo@ns became louder.

“Ah, umm-“

The sound was pure music to his ears. Tae-jun’s hand lowered to stroke her intimate spots.
He was still ravaging her, where they remained connected. The lewd noises and the springs
of the mattress rang in her ears.

He worked her sweet spots.

“You’re incredible. Still so tight.” He whispered between pants.

She felt herself being pulled along with him with each movement. She was already soaked,
and her body pulled as if to suck him in. He knew that he should not overwhelm her with
his strength, but he could not control himself. Every time he plunged into her, her body
rattled as if she was about to break.

“Ah-“

Yuri gasped in shock and passion with every movement Tae-jun made. He stared at her face
overwhelmed with ple@sure.

“Why did you disappear?” He demanded out of nowhere.

He spoke in a voice that froze Yuri’s flushed body.

Between wakefulness and slumber treads a fine line of clarity. When one is exhausted
physically, exhilarated mentally, this line of clarity is at its hazy best.

Yuri was in and out of stupor. One moment she was in pain, and another ecst@sy. She had
lost all semblance of time and place. Her senses had long forsaken her.

That’s why, his question, out of nowhere, seemed surreal at first. When she came to it, with
a lot of effort, Yuri managed to open her mouth only after sensing that the movements had
stilled.

“What?” She couldn’t even hear herself.

“We had been doing this until the morning of my business trip. And you simply vanished
when I was away… for four years!” Anger, accusation, reproach, and even a hint of feeling
betrayed, was evident in the tone.

In his frenzy, Tae-jun plunged into Yuri with a heady sound. The more he ravaged her, the
more insatiable he was. Tonight, he cared about nothing but feeding his feral carnal
appetite like there would be no tomorrow.

Her breath choked as he flicked her already swollen cl*toris. Her world turned black as a
fierce pleasure pierced through everywhere.

“Ah-“

Yuri’s thighs trembled, her back arched. She tightened her hold on him as juices flowed out.
Out of her control, her body seemed to have woken up from a long period of venereal void.

Tae-jun also creased his face and held his breath. He had come and was trying to enjoy her
as much as possible… he found it impossible to control himself nor did he desire to. He had
plunged into a bottomless abyss after all.

“Let go a little. The night’s still long.”

Even before his raspy words reached her, he had begun to stroke her cl*toris. However,
Yuri was limp from the sensations that repeatedly overwhelmed her. Tae-jun clicked his
tongue as he observed her heave with her face buried in the sheets.

He was not dense to not know how a woman felt when he was inside her. He was well-
aware he had overwhelmed her, her body was too weak to go further.

Yuri was of a slender build, smooth muscles in her arms and legs; a decent vitality, and
nimble. But now, she looked almost emancipated, demure, and too frail for him… like a light
breeze would crumble her.

Tae-jun’s erect!on was still high as he extracted himself from her core.

Those long-forgotten carnal desires had rushed back in hysteria. Like a parched earth
devouring water… a famished beast prey, Tae-jun who had never recovered from Yuri’s
sudden disappearance from his life, upon their unexpected reunion, had succumbed to
delirium and abandoned all reason. There was only one thing governing him: he would not
let go of her again.

Yes, she was spent. No, he was not sated.

He gulped some wine and fed it to Yuri with his mouth. Eyes still closed, she frowned, at the
taste of the drink.

“I don’t want alcohol,” she said meekly.

“You have to drink.”

Tae-jun licked the wine that trickled from her mouth to her neck. Yuri’s color finally
returned after he gave a few more swallows. As he spread her thighs, their juices flowed
out of where he had released.

Like a wolf roused by the scent of blood, his blood boiled at the sight of the oozing fluid… he
wanted her even more badly. As he slid himself in, because of the wine, her hold on him
was tighter than before. He pushed away her hands that were trying to hide her face. Her
inebriated, flushed face was breathtakingly beautiful.

“I never knew I could see you and be inside you like this again.” He sounded like he had
found his long lost treasure.

He kissed her, his t0ngue ravaged everywhere inside her mouth. He was feasting on her, up
and below.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 51
Chapter 51

Tae-jun indulged himself to his heart’s content… if there was such a thing as content that is.
Following his instincts, he plunged deep into her core and stroked the inside walls. His taut
abdomen crushed and rubbed her cl*toris.

Yuri shed incessant tears as waves of pain and pleasure deluged her. However, the man still
dominated her without any mercy. He thrust relentlessly, using his tongue and fingers to
make her respond to him whenever she would span.

He came when her vision blurred like when she was in the nightmare. Tae-jun poured
himself into her as he kissed her neck and collarbone with a low groan. Wholly spent her
hand on his shoulder dropped with a thump.

“Hey!”

Tae-jun lightly tapped her cheek but got no response. Finally, his senses seemed to return,
he was able to think.

He had not had s*x like this even during his twenties. Such verve and the uncontrollable,
obsessive passion that made him forget himself and focus only on the coital pleasures, was
foreign to him. But he knew, this woman was the only one who had such an effect on him.

Tae-jun pulled away from Yuri and ran his hand through her rumpled hair. Her swollen red
lips stood out on her pale face. A mix of liquids from what they had just done spilled in his
tracks. There was a still unsatisfied desire within the s*xual afterglow he was feeling at the
moment.

“You drive me crazy.” He whispered in her ear.

Holding her head, he gently put a pillow underneath. After covering her naked body with a
quilt, Tae-jun put on a bathrobe and grabbed a cigarette. He went to the terrace and lit it,
trying to suppress his hankerings with long swallows.

He was on the verge of mounting and feasting on her like a beast… it didn’t matter whether
she could take it or not… it was like the pent up emotions from these past four years, had
found a release.

After determinedly reining in the brute of desire, he took another puff before called Jay.

“Have you checked Yuri Han’s treatment records?” Was the opening sentence.
– “The doctor in the clinic is careful with managing the documents, so it will take some
time to get the records in full. Her illness is so tricky that there’s a mountain of consultation
records.”

“What’s the name of the illness?”

– “Transient global amnesia. It’s a memory disorder from psychological trauma rather than
the workings of the brain. This woman seems to have lost her entire memory of a specific
period.”

Memory loss of a particular period?

Tae-jun’s brows furrowed. Was it true she did not remember him?

Her temperature, pulse, and breathing he felt in his hands were too real for Yuri to be
feigning. No matter how good an actress she was, it would be impossible to control those
things.

As he listened and thought, he did not know how much he should believe.

He ended the call and went back to the living room. Picking up Yuri’s bag lying at the
entrance, he sat on the sofa and rummaged through the contents. Writing supplies,
notebook, catalog, a cosmetics pouch, her passport, and a wallet… most of her belongings
were simple black without any embellishments.

The ends of Tae-jun’s lips lifted. Still the same taste.

One thing they had in common was their preference for clothes and ornaments with clean
cuts. And by the sight of it, it seemed to have remained despite the memory loss. Somehow,
this trivial discovery brought a tinge of warmth within him.

Lighting another cigarette, he took out her wallet and passport. He compared the picture in
the passport with her name. The pictures used in her license and passport were a younger
version of Yuri, but they were undoubtedly her.

Setting these aside, he reached out to the booklet. It was a catalog showcasing the profiles
of artists in an exclusive contract with the agency Yuri belonged to.

When his eyes landed on the picture on the opening page, they were suffused with malice.

“So, this is her teacher and boss.”

From the picture, it was obvious Roy Jean was a handsome man. He was forty-four but
looked younger as some artists did. Ash hair, sharp eyes, and a lean and muscular body
showed through the image.
Tae-jun went livid whenever he remembered Yuri going straight to Roy, calling and
hugging him the moment she woke up. According to a report from America, this Roy was
the most intimate relationship Yuri had there.

He was roughly turning over the pages until he found Yuri’s profile at the end. Since she
had just made her debut, there was nothing noticeable except for her photo and pictures of
her work. Tae-jun’s gaze fixed on the list of her works for a moment. There was a name that
stuck out.

Apollo.

Was this the work that was the motif for the ‘Heart of Apollo’?

There was no way to know as this particular work, unlike the rest, was without an image.
Since a price tag was not listed, this work was not for sale.

Tae-jun kept digging through the bag until he found something out of the ordinary. It was a
pill bottle. Actually, it was a transparent plastic box that was the size of a small book
containing neatly packaged pills in ziplock pouches. There were at least six different kinds
in large amounts. They could’ve been vitamins, but the colors of the pills were too bright to
be so.

Tae-jun did not specialize in medicine but knew what medicine Seoin Pharmaceutics, a
subsidiary, developed. Taking his knowledge into account, these vibrant pills were typically
psychotropic drugs. He wondered at the sheer amount of pills Yuri carried with her.

Opening the pillbox, he examined each pill with a stiff face. Opiates, stabilizers,
antidepressants, and painkillers. He knew most of them but could not recognize the white
pills.

Since the product name was not listed, he deduced they must be a prototype.

If she needs to take this much medicine at the same time, what happened to Yuri?

She is said to have mental problems. They say she tried to take her own life multiple
times, and it’s become a habit.

I don’t know what happened, but I lost parts of my memory. Especially the last four to
five years of my life. So I don’t remember you.

Jay’s report and Yuri’s condition… Furthermore, the fact she left him… disappeared, lost her
memory, and now was taking all these drugs. Tae-jun’s thoughts sank deep in his eyes.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 52
Chapter 52

Early the next morning, Tae-jun was jolted awake by painful cries. He opened his eyes and
turned on the bedside lamp only to find Yuri huddled on the bed, shaking in a cold sweat.

Tae-jun laid a hand on her forehead and immediately retracted it. Her entire body was
burning up. Wasting no time, he called Jin-ho, who was quick to respond despite the early
hours.

“I need you to come to the hotel right now.”

– “Now? What happened? Are you hurt?” A puzzled voice queried.

“Not me, but someone else. She has a high fever.”

Ending the call, Tae-jun went to the bathroom and fetched a damp, warm towel. He
carefully wiped Yuri’s frail body covered with the marks he had left. She looked as if she
would crumble to pieces at any moment like a dry flower.

Tae-jun was slowly moving his hand when his gaze stopped between Yuri’s legs. Watching
the c*m slowly flowing out of her swollen nether regions, he felt himself going hard. He had
intentionally left his marks on her and dressed her in his shirt. He was marking his
territory… it brought him satisfaction.

Shortly after, Jin-ho arrived. He gaped at the room filled with traces of what had happened
and the Yuri lying unconscious on the bed.

“It wasn’t forced, right?”

Jin-ho looked as if he was going to call Jin-wook right there as he took out his cell phone. If
it was a criminal case, it was for his brother, not him.

Tae-jun simply ignored the implications.

“What’s the problem?”

The question galled Jin-ho. He didn’t know if Tae-jun was blind or deranged. He was
screaming in his mind: Look at her! The parts that are visible are wreathed with palm prints
and crimson bruises.

However, Jin-ho managed to swallow his words and put his cell phone back where it came
from. He carefully checked her temperature and blood pressure, injected an antipyretic,
and an IV drip.
“She seems to be weak from fatigue, and I can only give her fever reducers because she has
a high fever. We have to wait until she wakes up. She doesn’t have any chronic diseases,
right?”

“These were in her bag. She seems to be taking them.”

Tae-jun showed Jin-ho the pills he took one by one from Yuri’s bag. Jin-ho adjusted his
glasses with a frown as he examined each one.

“These are psychotropic drugs, antidepressants, and sedatives. And these are-“

Jin-ho also carefully went over the white pills. “I have seen these for the first time. There’s
no name, and what’s more, she’s taking them all?” His shock was evident in his eyes. He
turned to look at the unconscious figure, and then again at the medicines in his hand and
shook his head.

“Analyze the components. Don’t take them to Seoin Pharmaceutics but to another lab.”

“A different lab?” He wasn’t sure what the man, who owned a state-of-the-art lab, intended.

“Somewhere not under the chairman’s influence.”

Now that the purpose was clear, the doctor bobbed his head in understanding.

“I know a place personally. It will take some time, though.”

Tae-jun nodded. He was determined to get the bottom of those pills and away from the
prying eyes of his grandfather.

While Jin-ho was packing his medical bag, Tae-jun gently held a cold towel on Yuri’s
forehead. Looking at the scene, the doctor was stunned, mouth agape.

Recovering his senses before he was even discovered, he said, “I’ve injected some
antipyretics into her, but she needs to be checked upon because her temperature is too
high. I’ll send a nurse along.”

“No need, I’ll do it. Leave the fever reducers and the IV drip.” A cold voice instructed.

“You’re going to do this by yourself?” Jin-ho asked in surprise.

Tae-jun had received a well-rounded education since his childhood which even included
simple treatments. But to think this frosty devil would nurse someone…?

Jin-ho shrugged and put the fever reducers, and the IV drips out.

Tae-jun headed to the bar in the living room as Jin-ho cleaned up again. He filled a glass
with his favorite whiskey and asked Jin-ho if he wanted one. Jin-ho shook his head.
“I have a special case early in the morning,” he said, declining the offer.

“I need to ask you one thing. Can memories of only a certain period disappear? It’s a
memory loss that does not affect daily life or one’s personal information, but pertains to a
certain period and a certain person.”

This particular thing had been hounding Tae-jun ever since he’d found out about it. A
person with a memory loss was not uncommon. An accident, age… many had suffered from
this. However, this whole “selective amnesia” was a novel concept to him… and
preposterous at that. If one had to forget, one would forget everything, why just a specific
thing?

Jin-ho tilted his head at the sudden question. Since his arrival, this man had been tossing
him surprises. The room, the girl, and now this question.

Sighing inwardly, he said, “I’m not a psychiatrist, but to the best of my knowledge, it is
plausible. A person can lose memories of some months or years, or perhaps a certain
person or a case. There are many examples, and films and TV shows have used this quite
often.”

Tae-jun’s brows furrowed. “What’s the cause?”

“There are many. It might be a physical accident or the aftereffects of an operation. There
could also be psychological issues, and I can’t say anything for certain because the human
brain is delicate and complicated.”

“Are those symptoms permanent, or can they be cured?”

“It depends. Transient global amnesia is different in cause, symptom, and period case by
case. Fortunately, memory loss of a certain period can be cured through the passage of time
or when an opportunity pops up. Of course, there is a chance the loss is permanent.”

“Opportunity?” Tae-jun’s sharp eyes hooked onto the doctor.

“Places, people, and actions that are relevant to the lost memory. Why do you ask?” The
doctor didn’t want to let go of the rare chance to ask a question of his own.

However…

Tae-jun emptied the glass and went back to the bedroom instead of replying, throwing back
a “You did well. Go now.” as he did.

With an impassive face, Jin-ho watched Tae-jun walking away from him. Something was
happening. Perhaps it had already happened, like how a butterfly’s wings fluttered in the
air heralding torrential rains.

⸙
 Chapter 53
Chapter 53

Throughout the day and all through the night, Yuri suffered from fever. She was confused
about whether she was conscious or not as she walked down the corridor of memories. The
long path ended in front of a massive door. The passage crashed down with booming noises
as she tried to open it. As she fell into the abyss, someone grabbed her hand.

Yuri woke up with a gasp. She opened her eyes to find a sleeping face in front of her. As she
blinked, a ray of light shone through the crack between the curtains on his face. Perhaps
she was still dreaming. The person who had held her hand when she fell was Tae-jun.

It’s not a dream.

She propped herself up in astonishment. She finally remembered! She did not remember
everything yet, but she recognized Tae-jun.

Could this be so simple?

How she had pulled, pushed, and did everything she could to open the doors of her
memories, and they still stood resolutely shut. But now, they opened on their own accord,
revealing the contents and so quickly.

Yuri carefully pulled back, so Tae-jun would not wake up. However, her endeavors were
futile as a large hand grabbed her.

“You seem to be back with us.”

Not waiting for a response, he pressed his hand on her forehead.

“Your fever is gone.”

She tried to speak, but her voice was hoarse.

Tae-jun handed her a bottle of water from the side table when he saw her opening and
closing her mouth. She managed to get her words out just after cold water moistened her
parched throat.

“What happened?” she asked.

“You had a high fever and were sick all night,” he said flatly.

“Not that.”

Yuri adjusted her breath and met his eyes. “Why did you look for me?”
Tae-jun’s eyes narrowed and searchingly stared at Yuri.

“Did your memories come back? Or was everything just a show from the beginning?”

“I never lied about losing my memory. It is also true that some memories of you have
returned to me,” she said defiantly.

Tae-jun’s gaze pierced through Yuri as he picked a cigarette. He wanted to hold back, but
the woman in front of him always made it impossible.

He asked a question as he lit the cigarette.

“Why did you disappear four years ago?”

“My memories have not returned to that extent. I remember what happened up to the night
before your business trip.”

–Flashback begins–

They had started from the desk in the study and ended on the bed in the early morning.

“We won’t be doing this for some time.”

If Tae-jun wanted sex, he could just find a woman there. She had pushed him away due to
fatigue, but he always came back for her.

–Flashback ends–

Yuri, unfortunately, remembered even how he had felt against her.

Tae-jun laughed bitterly.

“Don’t you remember anything unfavorable that had happened to you? How could I believe
that?”

Yuri just looked at him and shrugged. She had no evidence to support her claim of
recovering her memories just like she didn’t when she said she lost them.

“I don’t care whether you believe me or not, but I’m not lying.”

At her indifference, Tae-jun decided not to push it further and got to the main point.

“All right, say you don’t remember why you disappeared. Why were you a stand-in for Hye-
yeon Jin? You told me I had made a mistake but kept your mouth closed after talking with
President Jin. What did he say?”

Yuri was visibly agitated. While she had been confident as if she had nothing to hide and
looked straight in his, now she had no choice but to turn away from him.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.

“Now, you’re exercising your right to remain silent?”

Yuri fisted her hands tightly as Tae-jun’s sneer deepened.

“Why do you want to know about that? You should go to President Jin for the answers. He’s
the one who started it.”

She was incensed by the mere mention of the man who had kicked off this whole thing. Her
desperation and helplessness… that man knew it all.

“I would have done exactly that if he were alive. He would have died at my hands, but still.”

“He died? When?”

Yuri was shocked!

“About a month after you disappeared. He got involved in a fight between hoodlums.”

“That’s not-“

Yuri felt nauseous, and her fingers shook as she heard about Myung-je Jin. The president
she remembered was a parasite who would not die no matter how she tried to kill him.
Now she knew that both Hye-yeon Jin and he died. Was this only a coincidence?

“How did you know about me?” she asked.

“I saw you at Hotel Seoin. You, a dead woman, are very much alive and walking to me.”

Yuri finally pieced together the puzzle.

Tae-jun became curious about Hye-yeon Jin’s death because he saw me. This means he was
neither involved in her death nor my disappearance.

As Yuri organized her thoughts, Tae-jun seemed to be mocking himself.

“Then I got to know of something even more shocking. I found the woman I lived and slept
with for a year was a completely different person. Do you know how I felt when I didn’t
even know the woman I held in my arms?” he asked her with a piercing gaze.

“It doesn’t matter what my name is. I was ‘Hye-yeon Jin’ during our contract.” She
nonchalantly replied.

“It doesn’t matter because it was a contract?” His tone was chilling.

Yuri took a breath before meeting his gaze.

“Yes.”

“Then, you know our contract has not ended yet?”

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 54
Chapter 54

“It’s not over?!” she asked, flabbergasted.

As he puffed out, Tae-jun knocked off the ashes, eyes never once leaving the woman.

“Let’s not split hairs.” He sniggered. “We still had two months left, but you disappeared
when I went on a business trip. Isn’t this a clear breach of our contract? I require an
explanation.” His lopsided grin evinced how much he was enjoying cornering her.

“……”

“Of course, you have nothing to say because you lost your memory.” He jabbed. “However,
our contract needs to be fulfilled.” His frosty words were a reflection of his mood.

After a moment of sullen silence, Yuri Han looked at him squarely and said, “You know I’m
not Hye-yeon Jin. What are you asking me to do?”

“As you said, it doesn’t matter whether your name is Hye-yeon Jin or Yuri Han. It’s you who
is in bed with me, aren’t I right?”

He had used her own words to trap her. He was making it amply clear there was no way
she could escape his clutches.

However, the woman in question was incredulity personified. It was such twisted logic.
“You are crazy!” She spat out.

Tae-jun chuckled softly, not minding her harsh words one bit. His smile was cold as ice, he
lifted her chin and forced her to look into his eyes.

“Now, you know. I regret that I hadn’t told you sooner. If you knew I was crazy, you
wouldn’t have pulled off this doubling stunt on me.”

Yuri flinched at Tae-jun’s darkening eyes, those orbs seemed to have the power to engulf
anyone they desired. She tried to wrest herself free, but his grip was tight.

Like this, the prey and the predator were in a stalemate until the doorbell rang. Tae-jun
looked at the clock and let go of Yuri’s chin.

As soon as Tae-jun left the bedroom, she straightened herself. Just then she felt something
flow between her legs when she tried to get out of bed. She was dumbstruck when she
looked inside her shirt.
Her thighs and p*bic hair had dried cum on them, she could still feel some inside her. The
stinging in her lower stomach and the numbness in her nether regions, painstakingly
helped her recollect that she had had s*x with Tae-jun.

Yuri was wiping herself down with a cloth when she heard a familiar voice.

“Don’t be so cold-hearted. I found the hotel kitchen bustling when I went there to get
something for my hangover. I was thinking of you, and I thought we could have breakfast
together, but you seem not to have slept at all. Did you work all night?”

“Why do you want to know that?” a cold voice said.

“The room lacks your signature cigarette residues. Do you have a guest?” The
inquisitiveness was evident in the tone.

Yuri hid below the blankets as soon as she recognized Jae-won’s voice. Thankfully, the
bedroom door closed immediately, and his voice faded away.

A little while later, Tae-jun came into the bedroom.

“Wake up. Let’s eat,” he said to the figure huddled under the quilt.

“Is Mr. Jae-won gone?” she asked, peeking her head out ever so slightly.

“How do you know Jae-won?” Tae-jun demanded instead of an answer.

“I met him by chance at Daejin Department Store. We had dinner over the discussion of
purchasing works for the exhibition.” She replied honestly.

Tae-jun’s voice dripped with sarcasm as he helped a tittering Yuri up. “Should I have shown
Jae-won that the woman naked in my bed is Yuri Han?”

“He doesn’t have anything to do with our relationship. Where are my clothes?” she said,
irritatedly.

“I’ll tell you after we eat.”

Yuri frowned at Tae-jun’s callous treatment of her things—from the tablet PC to her
clothes. However, she had no other option but to do as he wished.

The table was filled with food for more than two, from Korean and western dishes to
porridge and juice.

“Eat.”
Tae-jun dished small portions of each dish on Yuri’s plate. However, her mouth dried upon
seeing the exquisite spread, she felt no appetite. Instead, she found this whole situation of
Tae-jun feeding her quite unsettling.

She was unable to make out this man’s persona or intentions. His words were curt and cold,
but his actions of meticulously serving her food were quite the contrary.

In the end, Yuri managed to take small bites of melon and some soup only because she
thought she needed to eat something to find the strength to get out of here. That was her
goal no.1 at the moment—freeing herself from the devil’s clutches.

Tae-jun looked at her gingerly nibbling and smirked. “Eat other dishes too. You’re too thin.
You must have lost at least ten pounds since we last met.”

How does he know such things? Yuri pulled at the front of her shirt and ignored his
comment.

“I don’t have any appetite. Just give me back my clothes and the tablet PC.” She wanted to
get out right now, she had been on tenterhooks right from the moment she woke up.

“We should finish our conversation first.”

“What conversation? That absurd contract? Do you think I’ll accept that?” She snorted.

“Shouldn’t you be thankful that I’m not going to ask you to compensate for the four years?
I’ll even raise the ante, anything you want.”

Yuri could only scoff at his offer and glared at Tae-jun. “I have nothing to say. Go
somewhere for another woman.”

“I don’t need a woman. I need Yuri Han.”

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 55
Chapter 55

Tae-jun’s quick and adamant reply coupled with his expressionless voice ran a chill down
Yuri’s spine. His eyes had a dangerous glint that would accept no opposition.

Still looking into his eyes, she heard him stand up. As those eyes drew closer and closer,
Yuri clenched her fists on the side. Then, he reached out and stroked her neck.

She felt goosebumps wherever he touched her. Suddenly, she found it hard to breathe even
though his fingers were gentle on her skin. His hand moved from her neck to grab her hair.

“I don’t go ahead with only one plan for anything I do because I hate variables.” His voice
was growing chillier with every word. “If I don’t receive the answer I want, I’ll just rattle
you with other options, like your uncle or your teacher.”

Tae-jun declared that the result would be the same no matter what Yuri tried to do. Veins
stood out on her white hands. She knew that Tae-jun had won because it was exactly like
this five years ago.

“This is driving me nuts!”

Jae-won was talking to himself for the nth time. Notwithstanding his boss’ muddled state of
mind, his secretary finally asked him the question after coming back and forth on business.

“What happened?”

Secretary Choi wanted an explanation on why Jae-won returned to the office with his face
drawn after he’d urged the latter and pushed him out of the office to get something for the
hangover. His boss had been complaining all morning. And now, he looked far worse than
when he’d left!

Jae-won only shook his head in reply. The happenings from early in the morning kept
playing in his mind.

When he went to the hotel restaurant, he discovered it had been busy since morning. When
he queried the manager told him it was due to ‘Director Seo’s room service’.

Tae-jun usually resided at Chairman Seo’s but preferred to spend the night in his hotel suite
if he had to meet someone or process a complicated issue on business. As a VIP customer
who prepaid every year, the entire restaurant became busy when he ordered room service.
What’s more, he had been unable to hide his surprise at the sight of the prepared trays. The
variety and number of dishes were enough to feed four healthy men.

Whatever happened to the guy who was living off liquor and cigarettes?

Thus, Jae-won dashed to his cousin’s suite to satisfy his curiosity.

“What?”

Tae-jun furrowed his brows and folded his arms on seeing Jae-won. The latter noticed
that the other’s slick attire and handsome face were still the same.

“You slept here again yesterday?”

“Yes.”

Tae-jun probably had not worked here since Jae-won could not see any paperwork
lying around.

“I don’t know why you lease out this suite room when you live in that outhouse.”

“I don’t remember ordering you. How long are you going to stay here?”

Jae-won ignored Tae-jun’s irritation and changed the subject.

“Don’t be so cold-hearted. I found the restaurant kitchen bustle when I went there to
get something for my hangover. I was thinking we could breakfast together, but you
seem not to have slept at all. Did you work all night?”

“Why do you want to know that?”

“The room lacks your signature cigarette residues. Do you have a guest?”

As someone who did not like cigarette smoke. Jae-won felt someone moving in the
bedroom. Tae-jun blocked Jae-won from going in and closed the bedroom door. Jae-
won’s gaze fixed on Tae-jun’s palm.

“What’s that on your hand?”

There was a long scratch between Tae-jun’s thumb and index finger. The man glanced at
his hand at Jae-won’s remark and answered monotonously.

“I got a scratch. Are you busy?”

“Yes. Why?”

“If I gave you enough work so you can’t sleep for a week, it might cure you of excessive
curiosity.”
“Hey, I didn’t mean anything. I came here to manage my customer. Mission complete.
All right?”

Jae-won knew that this was the time to step back. He shrugged and raised both hands.

As replayed the whole scenario in his mind right now, he concluded…

It was a woman!

The person lying on the bed was a woman hidden underneath the quilt in the bedroom.
Well, there would’ve been problems if it were a man. Also, the room did not smell of
cigarette smoke.

Tae-jun was a heavy smoker who would continue to smoke until the air in the room turned
opaque when he focused on work. The reason Hotel Seoin could not implement no smoking
policies in the suites was precisely because of Tae-jun Seo.

This chain-smoker who could give the chimney a run for the money, would not have
repressed the urge to smoke if he had not been together with someone who hated the smell
of cigarettes.

The deciding evidence was the scratch on Tae-jun’s hand, and Jae-won also scanned the
scratch under his wristwatch and red marks beneath his shirt collar. He must have spent
quite a night.

The question is… who was the woman?

Jae-won knew that Tae-jun was not without female companions until that woman who was
known to be ‘Hye-yeon Jin’ but actually was not, appeared five years ago. Tae-jun then lived
almost like a monk for four years after the woman died in an accident.

Then, Chairman Seo arranged Tae-jun’s engagement with Si-yeon, but Jae-won knew that
Tae-jun had not even held his fiancée’s hand. He was contemplating breaking off the
engagement, so he would never touch her.

If a man in his prime had spent four celibate years, it was understandable that Tae-jun was
at his limits. Calling a one-night stand to a hotel was excusable, but the real problem was
that Tae-jun Seo would never let a one-night stand sleep in his private suite room. Also, he
would never repress the urge to smoke and prepare meals for a fleeting encounter!

Jae-won’s headache was because Tae-jun was acting out of his character.

Had he found her? That woman who was actually alive and was not really Hye-yeon Jin?

Damn, things would become complicated!

 Chapter 56
Chapter 56

The hot water comforted Yuri’s tired body and relaxed her nervous muscles as she soaked
in the bathtub. An entire wall of the tub was made of glass, she could see the blue sky and
the buildings below spread out in front of her. She rested her head on the window and
thought back to what had happened just now.

“You just need to wait at my house on my bed like before. The condition is the same that
you cannot refuse me when I want you.”

“Is this revenge for my deceiving you?”

“Revenge?”

Tae-jun laughed sarcastically.

“If I really wanted revenge for that, you wouldn’t be standing here now. However, I
think another condition should be added that you should not deceive me.”

“What are you going to do with me?”

“I’m looking into it now.”

Yuri sighed and wondered if she made the right choice. Tae-jun’s threats were not the only
reason she had accepted this absurd offer. She wanted to find her lost memories as they
were a gaping hole inside her. She’d often thought that the rift in her memories was like
sinkholes, a curse within their suddenness that broke down her daily life.

So, to find her memories she needed the cause for them – Tae-jun. Dr. Davis had
emphasized this ‘cause’ throughout the treatments, and the rigid seal on her memories
seemed to be now crumbling readily with her encounters with Tae-jun Seo.

Another point she was considering was the unidentified men who threatened her uncle.
Yuri did not believe them to be irrelevant to Hye-yeon’s death, and that meant they could
make a repeat appearance. The best choice she could make to ensure her safety from them
was being by Tae-jun Seo’s side.

“Don’t deceive me.”

She was not deceiving him but using him just like he was her body. Bizarre… selfish…
crude… ruthless… be it as it may, they were here now, willingly or unwillingly. Now on, her
sole focus was on retrieving what was hers- her memories.
Yuri closed her eyes and slowly leaned back when the bathroom door suddenly opened.
She sat straight and turned her gaze to the door in surprise. Her eyes held Tae-jun taking
off her shirt.

“What are you doing?”

Tae-jun took off his pants and underwe@r before she had a chance to be astonished. His
p*nis was fully e*ect, and Yuri’s gaze avoided the reason why her body was so sore now.

“Haven’t we done this often? You’re being shy.”

Tae-jun was telling the truth, as Yuri had taken showers with him, and they had done it
often in the bathroom. Yuri had been astonished and embarrassed every time, and after
four years, she was even more nervous than she had been at that time. Also, whenever Tae-
jun ravaged her in the bathroom, the act tired her out at least by double.

He stepped into the bathtub, and despite escaping to the corner, Yuri felt his taut chest on
her back. He gently stroked her shoulders.

“You’re too thin.”

Yuri was indignant at Tae-jun’s dissatisfied voice. Who was it that had ravished her
disagreeably thin body?

She could feel his hard-0n at her hips that seemed to be waiting to delve between her legs.
She pushed away his hands on her chest and responded in a chilly voice.

“Find a woman to your taste then.”

“That was a flat joke.” He immediately retorted.

“It’s not a joke… ah!”

Tae-jun’s hand slid between her legs. Her nether regions were still a bit swollen from last
night, and when he touched her, she felt at once a sore yet strange sensation. She breathed
in and drew her legs together.

“Stop. I don’t want to do it here,” she said tersely.

“I’m trying to wash you down since I filled you up last night.” Tae-jun calmly covered her
most intimate place with his hand and whispered to Yuri as he licked her earlobe and
added. “I thought I told you you had to spread your legs whenever I want you to.”

It was an accurate and menacing statement, and he forced her with a low laugh.

“Spread your legs.”

Yuri chewed on her lips and relaxed her thighs as Tae-jun gently stroked her wet p*bic hair.
He found her cl*toris and started rubbing it. It immediately responded and stiffened at his
ministrations.

She flinched and leaned back from the stimulus. Tae-jun supported her body from behind
and pushed his middle finger in the wet crack, his other hand squeezed her br*ast. While
her size wasn’t satisfying, her hard n*pples were. The crack that held his fingers pulsed as
he slightly twisted her n*pple.

With a moan, Yuri tried to endure the sensations inside her, with him supporting the entire
weight of her body. The sound of splashing water and her moans filled the bathroom, and it
was impossible to stop the sounds escaping her mouth no matter how hard she pressed her
lips. Tae-jun continued to move his fingers deftly and stroked her n*pples harder… endless
pleasures filled her.

“You’re eating me up, and maybe I can put one more in.” His raspy voice spoke by her ear.

His pair of fingers moved like living entities in her, and Yuri held his thrusting hand inside
the water.

“Haven’t you had enough…?”

“Your inside is still slippery, so there seems to be some left.”

 Chapter 57
Chapter 57

Tae-jun pressed his lips onto her ear and placed another finger inside her. His fingers filled
her to the extent her stomach felt tight, she squeezed her toes to endure the sensations.
However, when Tae-jun’s fingers touched her cl!toris with force as if to claw her walls, her
body jumped, and an explosive sound made by water rang loudly in the bathroom.

“Ah, ah!”

Yuri’s eyes filled, and her vision blurred. Something flowed from her as Tae-jun took his
fingers out.

“I seemed to have made a mistake. This is not mine.”

Tae-jun put his finger in Yuri’s shaking mouth that was gasping for breath. The thick liquid
that mixed with her t0ngue was definitely not ‘his’. He rolled his fingers in her mouth until
she finished sucking them.

He then roughly kissed her–his tongue wrestled with hers until she felt she was about to
faint. She couldn’t take it any longer and tapped his chest. Tae-jun reluctantly let go of her
lips and made Yuri hold his p*nis in her hand.

“Spread out and place it in.”

This was the first time Tae-jun made such a request. Yuri tried to remove her hand with a
shake of her head, but he did not allow her to let go.

“If you do it well, I’ll end after once.”

Yuri had no other choice as Tae-jun had been too much for her when she was healthy. Then,
of course, having s3x with him in her current state would be near impossible, and Tae-jun
had to know her present condition to make such a demand.

Yuri carefully slid on her body and adjusted her position. However, she began to hesitate
when faced with putting his pen!s in because it was so big and vicious.

Would this go inside her?

She could not believe that this man had been inside her before, and even last night seemed
to be a dream.

Tae-jun pressed with the head of his p*nis, and Yuri felt his liquid ooze. She closed her eyes
tightly and lowered her hips.
With a groan, Yuri felt her body spread out. It was already difficult for her to move only
halfway in, and when she tried to pull out, Tae-jun became impatient and roughly pushed
inside her.

“Ah!”

Yuri let out a shout as she jerked her hips –Tae-jun was fully inside her. She sat on his
thighs, her brows furrowed as she felt the flaming shaft penetrate her. It was a size she
could not manage no matter how many times he had been inside her, and with her added
weight, the pressure was immense.

Being inside her seemed to be not enough for Tae-jun, and he pulled her into his arms. Yuri
could feel his rapid heartbeat as her chest pressed his.

‘This is strange.’

Yuri stared up at Tae-jun and wondered if this was the heartbeat of the man who was
tormenting her without a change in his expression. It might be an illusion, but Tae-jun’s
face seemed to be more flushed than usual. Tae-jun opened his mouth as he pushed back
Yuri’s wet hair.

“Move.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you want to end this quickly?” He grabbed her bottom with a languid expression and
slowly moved his hips to find her weakest spots.

Yuri awkwardly moved her hips, recollecting the past pleasures a little by little. She had
welcomed him in this position, and when he hit a particular spot, she felt a low and steady
sensation.

She began to move up and down when she felt they were connected, and the water
overflowed whenever she moved. While her simple actions were not enough for Tae-jun,
her swinging up and down in front of him was an exquisite sight.

Tae-jun observed her… wet and writhing, and bit her br*ast. When he sucked at her n*pple,
the contractions her inner walls made ar0used him.

Tae-jun teased her mercilessly.

“Like this, we would do this all day.”

Yuri frowned and moved more quickly. She went up until she was almost separated from
him before she crouched back. While she was trying her best, her strength ran out quicker
than the speed with pleasure mounted her. She buried her face in his shoulder and sighed
after moving like that a few times.
Tae-jun began to move when he saw Yuri was near her limit. He grabbed her hips and
bounced his own, her entire body shook from his thrusts. She instinctively bent her back
and jerked her head.

Sweet moans escaped from her mouth, and the sounds reverberated much more loudly in
the bathroom. The sound of splashing water rang everywhere, and the light from the
window was heady. Yuri’s head span when she realized that she was being ravished in this
bright room, making those noises.

She hung onto his shoulders, her nails clawing into his flesh. While she was trying to stop
his violent movements, she only ar0used him further. He roughly forced her to sit on his
lap, she felt she would melt whenever his erect!on pierced and stirred in her. Whenever he
moved, hot water would splatter from where they were connected. She could feel his sharp
breath next to her ears.

With a shout, Yuri felt her vision go white and shivers down her spine. Tae-jun stopped
moving and groaned in a low voice. She could feel hot c*m beating inside her. Her inner
walls instinctively contracted not to let a drop go, but some of the c*m that she could not
hold fell into the water despite her body’s efforts.
 Chapter 58
Chapter 58

The air reeked of the scent of c@rnal pleasures, the walls still resonated with the cries of
intense passion. Two still bodies lay entwined basking in the afterglow.

Eyes closed, Tae-jun enjoyed the lingering sensations. He had lost count of the women he
had, their faces a blank, names long forgotten. And the pleasures they brought… none could
compare to the woman in his arms right now. The more he indulged in her since their
reunion, the truth behind his four years of celibacy became jarringly clear: no Yuri, no
pleasure.

Breathing still ragged, he pressed his lips on the top of her head, then her brow. He held her
tightly as if doing so would merge them into one, leaving no gaps whatsoever. His heart was
still beating frantically but with a sense of calm that had abandoned him for four years.

On the other hand, Yuri limply leaned in his embrace; shallow breathing, closed eyes that
were masking her haziness, pallid face, and body wet like cotton, queasy insides… there
was little doubt that the s**ual escapade in the narrow bathtub had sent her into overdrive.

Her present condition didn’t escape the culprit’s notice, his brows furrowed. Taking a deep
breath, he reluctantly extricated himself from her core. At the sight of the swiftly oozing
c*m, his subdued fire, once again, started to rage… he wanted to thrust himself into her yet
another time, ravage her without an end. And yet, giving in to the beast within would only
wither the fragile flower.

Tae-jun stood up while carefully holding her in his arms. He gently helped her stand in the
shower booth. So slack, she could not move a finger. She just let him do as he wished, taking
the support of his taut body.

His large hands meticulously cleansed her body down, her eyes closed when the hands
gently massaged her head. She let go of herself.

A memory that she knew not before suddenly resurfaced. She remembered it was the first
time she did not feel a shooting pain.

It was like this then.

On the last day they had spent together four years ago, Tae-jun had brought an
exhausted Yuri and washed her himself.

“Think about it.”

His low voice had rung in her ears. It was a sweet and gentle voice of a man who was
caressing her. His tone then had made her believe that he really wanted her.
“I’ll expect an answer on the day I return.”

What was the question, and what would have been her answer?

Yuri’s eyes met Tae-jun’s as she opened them, his gaze was not that of a man who was
tormenting her. He kissed her palm as if she was the most valuable treasure in this world.

Was this her memory or reality?

She could feel his hot breath, and their lips met this time. It was a kiss that seemed to
console her swollen lips from the night they spent together and was the gentlest one she
had ever received from him.

Although Tae-jun kept his promise that he would release only once, he still made her give a
bl*wjob. His erect*on writhed like it was alive and splattered liquid over her hand and
chest.

Yuri was lying on the bed when Tae-jun came in with a shopping bag in hand.

“Wake up and change. We have somewhere to go to,” he said.

“What about my clothes?” she asked as she started to get up with the help of her hand.

“They’re ruined.” Came the flat reply.

At that, she finally remembered her torn blouse. She didn’t jog that memory of her ripped
clothing strewn the room over and quickly reached out for the bag.

She opened it with a sigh only to find an expensive designer suit complete with shoes and
undergarments. She had to wonder when he had prepared all this since even the size was
perfect.

Once she was dressed and ready, she asked where they were going.

“A house.”

“House? What house?” Yuri asked since she could not understand the meaning of the word.

Then suddenly something struck her. “You can’t mean your own house…” she said
tentatively.

Tae-jun smirked. “The house we lived in together. Have you forgotten that? I asked the
hotel you’re staying at to check out and send the luggage there, so don’t worry about that.”
Yuri frowned at his nonchalant reply. The implication of ‘our house’ surprised her more
than the fact that he had gotten the hotel she was staying to check out and send her
luggage.

They had stayed together in a townhouse on the outskirts of the city. It was a large two-
storey building with a basement. Tae-jun had allowed Yuri to use the basement as her
workspace where she spent most of her time, that is in his absence. Her daily routine
involved watching films on cable, studying English, drawing, and making models except
when Tae-jun was home.

“That house… is still yours?” she asked softly.

“Yes. I didn’t sell it for no special reason. It’s not the only house I own after all, and there’s a
caretaker,” he said tersely before adding, “I didn’t know that I’ll be returning there with
you, though.”

Yuri blinked at him and said no more. Suddenly, she felt a headache coming. She took out a
medicine box from her bag. Since the pill also comprised sedatives, she felt her body would
escape her control if she were to take it now. But her head was splitting and she knew it
would only worsen without the aid of the medicine.

“What is that pill?” Tae-jun asked as he watched her take the pill.

“It’s for headaches since I have migraines.” She answered.

This headache was a part of her transient global amnesia, among other things of course.
She had started with mild ones before landing on this high-quality drug with drowsiness as
the side effect.

“You’re taking too much for only a headache.” He noticed she took more than just one pill.

“I also took some vitamins with it.”

Tae-jun did not speak further. Soon the effects of the medicine kicked in and Yuri started to
drowse after only a few minutes in the car. In no time, she was fast asleep.

Tae-jun muttered in a low voice as he continued to drive. “Vitamins with sleep inducer and
anesthetic components. How interesting.”
 Chapter 59
Chapter 59

For some reason, a woman was rushing, and her hand slipped several times as she stuffed
her bag. She dropped her phone, and the face that picked it up was full of despair. The
woman ran out to the road without confirming whether she was wearing shoes as the front
door closed. The moment a taxi was in front of her, Yuri opened her eyes.

I remembered something again!

Yuri’s eyes were filled with the red sunset. She must have been sleeping for at least three
hours because of the medicine and overexertion of her body. She was alone with her seat
rolled back with a man’s jacket covering her like a blanket. She could sense the smell of
cigarettes and the man’s essence. Tae-jun was vicious but could be gentle at times too.

She organized her thoughts and posed a question on her past self.

Where were you trying to go?

A whirring sound like a broken machine rang in her head. She did not know the answer,
and the headache she’d repressed with the pill started again. Yuri held a hand on her
forehead and looked out the window.

Where was here?

It looked like an outdoor parking lot. Yuri raised her head as she heard a tap on the window
to find Tae-jun smoking a cigarette. He crushed the butt with his foot and opened the door
of the car bringing in cold air and lingering cigarette smoke.

“You slept long enough,” he said.

“You should have woken me.”

“The pills seem intense. You didn’t wake up when I shook you. I thought I was driving with
a corpse next to me.” His words were sans emotions.

“I was tired. You know the reason why.” She looked at him accusingly.

But when his eyes swept across her, she ignored his gaze as she spoke. “Anyway, weren’t
we going to that house? Where is this place?”

Yuri could not recognize the view no matter how hard she tried.

“It’s nearby. I came here to eat.”

Yuri had thought she was asleep for three hours, but it may have been more. She followed
Tae-jun to a building with modern design like an art museum. The owner and the chef
courteously greeted them, and the table they were guided to had already been set with
dishware.

As soon as they sat, they were served food. by Tae-jun must have ordered it while she was
sleeping, was the only logic she would come up with. Each dish seemed to be made of the
finest ingredients, Yuri was afraid to know the price. Even so, she could not swallow it. Her
mouth was dry from the medicine.

Tae-jun’s brows furrowed at the sight.

“Should I ask them to serve us other dishes?” He had clearly misunderstood her reaction.

An apologetic voice answered the irritated one. “There’s no need. I just don’t have any
appetite.”

“You know the state your body’s in, right?”

He couldn’t fathom the girl before him. She was frail, she needed food. But instead, she
preferred to thrive on the vitamins that contained god knows what and even put her to
sleep!

“Yes. You said I’m too thin for your taste. Come to think of it that would be much better for
you and me.” She retorted.

“Don’t expect me to let you go for a reason like that.” He warned her. “Try to make me
angry if you want to, but there will be consequences.”

In response, Yuri simply lifted her fork again and Tae-jun brought the owner in to order
other dishes. While she could not eat meat, she could swallow some of the marinated
seafood.

The meal ended without any more conversation between them. She felt a headache coming
again and fingered the pillbox after she was in the car.

“You’re going to take that pill again?” he asked in disbelief. She had had a bunch of pills not
long ago, and now she was ready for more!

“My head hurts.” She replied flatly.

She had these bouts of migraines often. There was no helping it and the pills were her only
recourse unless she wanted to be tormented endlessly.

“Nothing good will ever come by taking that sort of medicine.”

Yuri hurriedly grasped Tae-jun’s hand as he took the pillbox from her.
“What are you doing? Give it back to me!”

Yuri’s hand was cold as ice, Tae-jun’s expression darkened. He drew away from her and
tossed the pillbox to the backseat.

She stared at Tae-jun with resentment. She did not know why he wanted to interfere with
this issue since s*x and medicine were not correlated. However, she did not want to
stimulate the man, as she would be the one left exhausted. She turned around and watched
the view out the window in resignation as the car sped.

The townhouse they had lived in together was precisely the same and in the same secure
complex consisting of individual houses. Tae-jun passed the garden and entered the front
door as if he had only left the house yesterday. Yuri stopped in the garden because of the
memory that had only just resurfaced.

Tae-jun turned his gaze back to Yuri when he saw that she was not moving.

“What’s wrong?”

Yuri shook her head and entered the house perfectly organized by the caretaker. The house
was in the exact same state as she remembered. She found herself going back to the first
day she had come here. She had lied to her father that she would be living in another
artist’s workspace.

A housekeeper welcomed Yuri in and showed her room and the things Yuri would be using.
The dressing room connected to hers was already full of stuff. Clothes, shoes… cosmetics
had been neatly lined up. She was taken aback, thinking they were another woman’s, but
she found that they were all new things with tags still attached. She soon discovered that
they were all of her sizes, however, she felt disconcerted when she saw underwear and
sanitary products.

Tae-jun returned late at night. Unlike the first time, they’d spent quite a long time together.
He’d whispered obscene words and Hye-yeon’s name, Yuri’s mind would turn cold
everytime, unlike her body.

That’s not me. He only wants a puppet and not my heart. Relax, I’m only a doll named
‘Hye-yeon Jin’.

That night, Yuri came numerous times… but never as herself. Perhaps it was then that she
felt her mind and body divided, the boundaries of dreams and reality blur, and the past and
present mix.
 Chapter 60
Chapter 60

The house emanated a peculiar vibe. Neither was there the warmth typically associated
with home nor a sense of unfamiliarity.

For some time now, Yuri had been looking around the house dejectedly but when her eyes
caught sight of a strange object she stopped. It was a large dog, white fur spotted with
yellow-brown, pretty large ears, and a beautiful straight back. It sat on the fireplace mantel
in the living room.

Ah, why is such a large dog in this house?

Yuri took a closer look and immediately stepped back. It was not a living dog but a
taxidermied animal!

Yuri gasped in surprise because it was the first time she had seen such a delicate specimen,
not to mention that it was an everyday dog rather than a bird, deer, or a tiger.

Suddenly she felt an arm around her shoulders and Tae-jun, pointing at the stuffed dog
said, “Are you surprised? That’s Sebastian. He was a smart and well-trained English
Pointer. He was thirteen when he died.”

Yuri’s face stiffened.

“Was he yours?” She barely whispered.

“I raised him for over thirteen years from when he was born until he died of old age.” His
voice was sans emotions still.

“Then why did you taxidermize him?”

The rational thing to do when a treasured pet died was to bury or cremate the body. This
was the first time she had seen it so. Needless to say, she found it a little creepy and the
man scary.

“I want what is mine to remain as it is whenever I want.” Tae-jun answered nonchalantly.

Yuri had to wonder what went in this man’s head. She could not understand his actions,
such as stuffing his pet dog, maintaining the house as it was, and bringing her here. For the
callousness he evinced, his actions were eerily opposite.

Yuri swallowed a sigh and asked, “Are my things as they were?”

“Yes.”
Upon the reply, Yuri wanted to see the basement she used as her workspace. While it was
only a temporary measure for a year, Yuri had drawn and created a lot of things. Since she
had lived alone in the house without going out anywhere once, the only thing she could do
was to create art.

“I want to see the basement.”

Yuri felt that she could get a hint about her lost memories. However, Tae-jun held her arm
with a hand as she turned to the basement.

“Later.”

Tae-jun’s eyes darkened, and Yuri knew what it meant.

Without a word, he took off his jacket and threw it on the bed as he entered the bedroom
on the second floor. He unbuttoned his shirt and sat on the bed before undoing his fastener.

Yuri stood in the doorway as he motioned her to come.

“What are you doing?”

Yuri knew what he wanted, but she wondered who liked sucking another person’s c*ck. Of
course, Tae-jun enjoyed licking her down below, but she did not. She stepped closer,
forcing her legs to walk.

Making her kneel between his legs, he gently stroked the back of her neck.

“Suck.” He commanded.

Yuri could never get used to the size and its throbbing veins. She closed her eyes and
pressed her lips on his hard length. Once she felt his hand on her nape tighten, she
hesitantly opened her mouth. She used her tongue to lick its head and maneuvered her
mouth as his erect*on began to get even bigger.

He forced her to face upwards as she started to do it.

She shook her head with a disapproving sound, but he did not let her go. He did not want to
miss a moment of her flushed face. She slapped his hand away when he stroked her cheek,
and her insolent actions made him chuckle. She was never the obedient type. Nor was he.

Tae-jun jerked his hips in retaliation, and Yuri furrowed her brows as his erect*on scraped
her throat.

“You’re still awkward.” He murmured languidly and caressed her hair.

He seemed to be enjoying Yuri’s unskilled moves because it confirmed that she had not
experienced other men. The hand that had been stroking her hair slid to the earlobe and
then went on to undo her blouse. Putting a hand between the slit, he glided on her smooth
back before squeezing her mound.

Yuri made a sound and looked up at the errant man as he toyed with her hardened assets.
He was driving her crazy as he continued to bother her while she was being forced to do
something she had little experience in. However, uncaringly, the man continued to play
with her small, taut n*pples.

“I’ll go on if you don’t do well.” He warned.

Yuri placed a hand on his thigh and wrapped the other around the base because she found
it difficult to keep her hold as his erect*on began to reach the cl*max. She s*cked him deep
enough, her lips almost touching the small hair.

The sensations of her dainty tongue groping and wrapping him were exquisite. While it was
not enough for him to eject, the sight of her face between his legs and her fervently moving
lips drove him in a frenzy. He wanted to grab the back of her head, thrust deep into her
throat and let go.

Tae-jun imagined Yuri’s expression when he filled her mouth. His own mouth watered
when he thought of his c*m dangling from her long eyelashes… however, now he chose to
console her endeavors rather than satisfying his desires. The night was still young, after all.

“Let’s stop there.”

Tae-jun slowly removed his length. He helped Yuri stand after rubbing it off with his finger.
He then positioned her such that she was lying downward against the bed and rolled up her
skirt. He slid a finger between the red flesh that revealed itself.

Yuri’s body shook, and her juices matted the fiddling fingers. He was satisfied that she had
wet herself but was still too dry. The man lowered his lips to between her legs, the woman
could not repress a shout.

“Ah! Ah…”

Her spine tingled, her arms swept the bed as she tried to escape the sudden sensations.
However, her legs spread on their own accord, and Tae-jun’s head delved deeper.
 Chapter 61
Chapter 61

Yuri continued to m0an as he used his tongue inside her. She put a hand to her mouth as
she gaped at the strange sounds she had just made. Tae-jun’s tongue flicked in and out and
licked the outer rims before wrapping her cl*toris. She felt faint at the heat that surrounded
her sensitive areas, juices continued to flow out of her body.

Tae-jun moved his neck making deliberate sucking noises, her small opening flared
whenever he did so. He removed his lips with some satisfaction once he’d finished the
preparations.

With a warning, he grabbed her hips and pushed in his pen*s at once. A burning stake
seemed to fill her stomach. She screamed as his pubic hair was pressed on to her bottom. It
was always difficult for her at the beginning, no matter how wet she was.

Tae-jun put one arm around her and the other on her flat stomach to raise her lower body.
They were positioned like animals in heat. Yuri shuddered as she felt even more deeply
penetrated. However, she could not move an inch from the pressure that came behind her.
She buried her face in the bedsheets and swallowed her moans. However, the man knew
exactly what to do to please her.

Yuri jerked her hips instinctively whenever he pressed a certain spot, he also felt his limits
as he saw her respond to his movements. His nerves were on the edge as her hold on him
tightened with each thrust, with that Tae-jun began to roll his hips.

As his chest covered her back, her slim body was fully shielded by his. Her muscles
contracted when he bit on the neckline partly revealed through the veil formed by her hair.
He pushed his hips forward as the sounds of rough breathing, sheets sliding, and flesh
meeting flesh rang in his ears.

Yuri cried and reached her cl*max, and Tae-jun also came deep inside her. He growled a
low groan as he leaned back. Her hold tightened over him again as he moved, he buried his
face on her quivering neck… taking deep breaths in and out.

“Stop doing that since you can’t endure anymore.”

Yuri only blinked vaguely as if she had not enough strength to answer. He took off the rest
of her clothes, her eyelid lowered as she allowed him to do what he wished.

She did not move a muscle even after Tae-jun had finished his shower. He went out of the
balcony in front of the bedroom and lit a cigarette. The cold night air was pleasing to his
still flushed body.
Tae-jun watched Yuri sleep as he leaned on the balcony railing. She was still too weak to
satisfy his desires fully. Nonetheless, he felt deep satisfaction as he saw her wreathed in the
marks he had left on her fair skin. When he thought of his seed inside her, he was even
more exhilarated. The fact she was with him in his space made him happy.

Yuri was his woman, the one who would be forever his and bear his child…

Scream!

His musings were shattered by a piercing shriek in the quiet night. Taken aback he dropped
the cigarette he held. When he looked towards the source, he saw Yuri push herself up with
her hands clutching her head.

“Yuri!”

She was sleeping only a short while ago. But now, her pale face tinged with blue didn’t
seem normal. Yuri flew into the bathroom faster than Tae-jun could hold her and threw up
violently right after she found the toilet.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Tae-jun rubbed her back as she retched everything she had eaten. She was so thin that he
could feel each disk of her spine. He watched as she shuddered, sweated profusely, and
gasped for breath. He grabbed a bathrobe and placing it on her back continued sliding his
hand up and down.

It was a while before Yuri was able to speak.

“My head hurts so much,” she said with great effort, “Please… bring the pills in the car.”

Tae-jun remembered the pillbox he’s tossed in the backseat because they seemed too toxic.

“Wait! Can you do that?”

Yuri nodded as she sat limply on the ground when the final grain of strength had betrayed
her. She threw her head to the back and closed her eyes, her deeply furrowed brows bore
testimony to the writhing pain she was in.

Tae-jun rushed to the basement parking lot in his bathrobe. The pillbox was right where
he’d thrown it in the backseat. Yuri’s condition seemed far more severe than he had
imagined. In hindsight, he regretted not heeding to Jin-ho’s advice of a thorough medical
examination on the day they met. He felt anger at having ravaged a woman who repeatedly
fainted in his arms.

When he dashed back with pills and water, an exhausted Yuri had slumped to the bathroom
floor. If he didn’t know better, one would think she’s dead at the sight of her ashen face.
Tae-jun shook her awake and handed her the pillbox.
“Take them, and we’ll go to the hospital.”

Yuri shook her head weakly and swallowed the pills.

“This happens sometimes.” She mumbled.

“What is it?”

Yuri simply closed her eyes as an answer.

“I said, what is it!”

Yuri frowned as Tae-jun held her shoulders and rattled her. She wanted some quiet, she
didn’t want to speak… this man, would he let her be in peace!

“It’s not a disease. This happens whenever a memory turns up.” She muttered between her
laborious breaths.

“What did you remember?” He demanded.

Yuri closed her lips tightly.

“Let me rest.” She was losing it. Her eyes were white, lips trembling…

Tae-jun gave up trying to talk to her and just held her in his arms. He then carefully laid her
on the bed and covered her with a quilt. It was only then, that her expression eased albeit
slightly. He stretched out next to her and rested her head on his arm.

The woman fell asleep again from the sedatives in her pills, and her pale face looked even
more like a corpse.

“If you won’t speak, I’ll have to find out by myself.” Tae-jun murmured with his lips on her
forehead.

Yuri burrowed into his arms as if she were cold, breathing heavily.
 Chapter 62
Chapter 62

Yuri stirred when a knock sounded on the door, she barely managed to open her eyes.
When she did, she noticed there was no sight of the man in the empty room. Instead, a
middle-aged woman wearing a nice suit came in and greeted her as she rose.

“I hope you had a good night’s sleep.” She smiled politely.

“Who are you?” Yuri asked in a hoarse voice as she tried to sit up.

“I am Department Head Yun-hee Choi, and I’m in charge of taking care of you while you’re
staying here. Please call me Department Head Choi.” The woman still wore a smile.

“I don’t need to be taken care of.” Yuri flatly refused, she was no kid needing a sitter.

“I’m sorry, but that question is out of my jurisdiction. Please discuss it with the director.”

Yun-hee Choi looked uncomfortable, and if Yuri insisted further, she would be the one in
trouble. For now, she suppressed a sigh and instead, stated a question.

“Where is Mr. Tae-jun Seo?”

“He had an early morning. I was told not to wake you up, but I thought you needed to eat.”
She smiled again.

Yuri looked at the clock and saw it was noon. Yun-hee Choi drew the curtains and went on.

“I prepared porridge and soup, and if you have other preferences, I will bring them to you.
Is there anything you want to eat?”

Yuri was a little baffled at the moment. By the woman’s words, there seemed to be another
person who had prepared the meals … she was even told to not wake her up.

Why all this attention?

The man was a conundrum, he was brutal yet attentive. He would ravage her in bed, but
tend to her in his callous ways. For that matter this woman, Yun-hee Choi… She was
definitely not your ordinary housekeeper. She seemed a seasoned hand, someone who had
earned her boss’ explicit trust. And here she was, minding an adult in the guise of a butler.

Yuri tried to rise from bed but felt faint. She tried to fist her palm, but felt them numb. It’s
only now that she remembered she’d thrown up everything she had eaten; her body lacked
strength and food right now.
Yun-hee Choi brought the meal in with quick sense. She noticed the girl struggling, but said
nothing simply going about the motions of serving the food.

Yuri sensed her appetite crawl in when she saw the tray of abalone porridge, mushroom
cream soup, fruit, and other side dishes. Without a preamble, she slowly started to chew
down the food. Right now, her mind was focused on regaining her strength.

When Yuri had eaten as much as she could, Yun-hee Choi spoke again.

“I’ll come back to you after you’ve washed and dressed. There is a doctor’s examination
scheduled.

Yuri’s appetite fled top speed at those words. She lowered her spoon, looked at the woman
and said in a soft, but assertive tone, “I’m not going to a hospital because there’s no reason
to do so.”

“However, the director…”

“I’ll tell him myself. I have another errand to run.” Her stance was loud and clear, she
wouldn’t budge.

“All right.” Yun-hee Choi could only step back.

Yuri took off her gown in the bathroom after the housekeeper went out with the tray. The
red marks and fingerprints on her body reminded her of Tae-jun and the times they spent
in bed. She remembered his tongue that ravaged her, the strength that held her, and his
body that drove her to sensual pleasures. She breathed in deep and tightly shut her eyes
seemingly ridding herself of the thoughts.

She waited until the bathtub filled, stepped in and sat with her knees drawn up making
herself as small as possible. As the warm water seeped into the nooks and crannies of her
body, her sore muscles started to slowly relax. However, her mind was another matter.

Right now, the memories she’d retraced the night before, inundated her, wreaking havoc in
her consciousness. The voices tormented her, a part of her wanted to shut them out, but
another part bravely confronted it … it was a conversation.

– What idiot lost her? The b*tch’s intoxicated with drugs!

– There’s an idiot with bloodshot eyes who wanted a chance at the pretty girl. She was
smart, whispering that she would let him do as he wished and then escaped. Well,
things turned out well since we are going to profit from that idiot. The more important
thing is whether President Jin’s daughter is not around.

– Don’t worry, I’ve confirmed that the red sportscar is not nearby. Hurry!

– That b*tch is fierce and tiresome. Like father, like daughter.

Then, Yuri heard doors break down and felt a heady shock like someone had hit her on
the head.

A stream of tears trickled down Yuri’s eyes, and she finally realized what the conversation
was about … her father’s death. She had vaguely believed he had been in an accident, but it
was not true for her father and Hye-yeon Jin. And she was now certain she had stumbled
upon an important puzzle piece.
 Chapter 63
Chapter 63

Hugging her safe tight, she buried her head between her knees, weeping and wailing. The
agony was too hard to endure, her heart ached so much that she felt it would burst out of
her chest any moment now.

When she had felt she had cried her heart out, crimson-eyed, she trudged out of the
bathroom. Unhurriedly she changed her clothes and sat at the dressing table. The mirror
who looked back at her through the mirror seemed like a ghost- ashen, desolate and
helpless. She looked at her woodenly for a while, then slowly brushed her long tresses and
put on makeup … perhaps this would conceal the despair within.

When Yuri finally went downstairs, Yun-hee Choi approached her from the living room.

“Where are you going?”

Yun-hee Choi looked surprised when she saw Yuri, which was only natural as her eyes
were swollen and bloodshot.

“I have somewhere to go.” Yuri replied in a downcast voice.

“I’ll get the car ready.” The woman hastily made for it, but the next words brought her to a
halt.

“I want to go alone.”

Taken aback, the housekeeper gazed at the pathetic figure before her, but evinced no
sympathy. “You cannot,” she said matter-of-factly and moved to block the front door.

Seeing that there was no room for negotiation on this matter, Yuri simply went straight to
the waiting car. Yun-hee Choi handed her an ice pack from who knows where.

“Use this.”

Yuri smiled listlessly and received an ice pack.

The middle-aged driver wore a suit and asked with respect, “Madam, where would you like
to go?”

The word Madam sounded strange to Yuri. She could feel Yun-hee Choi listening in as she
saw her off.

She reclined on the seat, put the ice pack on her eyes and vacantly said, “The Daejin
Department Store please.”
Yun-hee Choi wished Yuri a good trip, and the driver smoothly put the car in motion after
the door closed.

By and by, as the coolness soothed her burning eyes, she delved deep into thoughts. She
was seeking the truth that had long been eluding her, hiding in the deepest crevices of her
mind, refusing to surface at her command … tantalizing and torturing her. But now that had
decidedly moved in the direction to confront it, it seemed to readily come to her.

Who were they?

The only clue she had was their voices, and there was no way of knowing who they were.
Neither were they familiar nor decent. But one thing was certain, all this was connected;
her father’s death, her lost time, Hye-yeon Jin’s death.

She was wading through an intricate web of deceit and lies that would only grow
treacherous with each step. The question was not whether she could uncover the truth, but
if she could bear the burden of it all when she reached it.

No matter what, she could not turn back now. The only way out was through. She decided
to investigate her father’s accident, and to do so, needed to go to Jinseong City. There would
surely be an officer who was in charge of the case in the police station, and she was
determined to meet him.

The driver parked in the Daejin Department Store VIP parking lot when Yuri’s swollen eyes
had become a little less evident.

“My shopping will take some time.” Yuri spoke carefully.

“Please shop as long as you wish, Madam. Shall I accompany you?” The diligent chauffeur
offered.

“No, I want to do it alone since I have some personal items in mind. Please wait here.” She
tactfully declined.

“I understand. Please call me on this number when you finish your shopping.” The driver
politely handed her his card.

Soon after, Yuri went to the VIP elevator. However, she went to the lobby instead of the VIP
lounge to go to the back gate and hail a taxicab. The taxi driver merrily stepped on the
accelerator with a smile when she told him to go to Jinseong City as it was lucky for him to
find a long-distance customer at midday.

Yuri connected her cell phone as it had run out of battery on a portable battery in the taxi.
She first confirmed missed calls and messages and left a message for Roy Jean. Thereon, she
spent the rest of the drive managing work regarding her contract with the Daejin
Department Store.
The taxi arrived in front of the Jinseong Police Station after about an hour. Getting off the
cab, Yuri stared at the building for a while contemplating until she caught sight of the
Public Service Center. She hoped that the detective in charge of her father’s case or Hye-
yeon’s still worked here.

A few men came down the stairs just as she was about to press the sliding door button to
enter the department. She could hear their voices as they were in conversation behind her.

“I thank you for your efforts Chief. Our governor has been worried about this issue.” A
cheerful voice floated.

“He should not be worried about trivial matters like this when he is heading for greater
things. We will handle this problem as we had done so when he was the mayor.” A man
reassured.

“Of course! The governor knows Chief’s efforts. Things will be better in the future.”

They were laughing as they went out of the station while Yuri stood frozen in front of the
door. Her eyes span, and the only thing that was clear for her was the voice she had just
heard.

– That b*tch is fierce and tiresome. Like father, like daughter.

It was the same voice that had been talking with the police chief just now.
 Chapter 64
Chapter 64

Yuri clearly remembered it since he had a unique metallic tone, and his voice pierced her
ears and shook her mind. She desperately repressed a queasy feeling churning inside her as
she broke out in a cold sweat.

Just then, a policeman approached her probably because he thought a shaking woman
standing in front of the door looked out of place.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“No, I’m just unwell.” Yuri shook her head and went back the way she had come.

She finally knew who was behind the threats made to her uncle – In-bae Lee, the former
mayor of Jinseong City and the current governor of Gyeonggi Province. The police had
moved strictly under his orders from when he was the mayor of Jinseong, so Yuri could not
trust the police if he was behind all this.

But why?

As far as she remembered, In-bae Lee and President Jin were in a symbiotic relationship,
and Yuri’s father and Hye-yeon were President Jin’s people. So why did In-bae Lee go after
them? Tae-jun had told her that President Jin was also dead, and In-bae Lee could be the
culprit.

As she processed the new-found information, affirming and negating, her head gradually
started to hurt. She, as soon, closed her eyes, and covered them with her hand. But the
wheels in her mind refused a respite.

What problems had arisen between In-bae Lee and President Jin? There was no other
explanation as to why the two most savage villains of their times, running the most
profitable organized crime syndicate in the city, had gone after each other’s throats.

If she wanted to make any progress in this matter, she had to take this detour and find out
what went down between the two big bullies. And there was only one person who would
know the truth of this matter.

Hye-seong!

When Yuri opened her eyes she knew where she had to go next.

⸙⸙⸙

“You lost your memories?” Hyeon-ah Kim lowered her coffee cup in astonishment.
Once she had zeroed in on the person she could gather info from, Yuri had headed straight
to Hyeon-ah Kim’s café. This former associate had welcomed her because she had only
been looking at her cell phone.

Then, Yuri had gone on to explain her situation in a calm voice. Even so, the shock the other
felt was genuine and but natural.

“Is this the ‘Where am I?’, ‘Who am I?’ situation we see in tv shows?” she asked in
incredulity.

Yuri didn’t take those words as ridicule for anyone would react just the same. Amnesia,
after all, was more rampant in fiction than in reality. More often than not, people in real life
would always think the other was faking it, it was just that implausible.

She shrugged before continuing in a soft voice. “You can say that. In my case, I don’t
remember as far as from my father’s accident to the beginnings of the time I spent in
America. My doctor says that it’s not uncommon to forget a certain period, a certain person,
or a certain incident.”

“What’s the cause? Were you in a car accident?” Hyeon-ah queried. She was no medico to
have in-depth knowledge, but she had enough common sense to discern that such an
incident always fell in the ‘response to stimulus’ category. For a perfectly normal young girl
to abruptly wake up without memories, there had to be a grave reason.

“I don’t know since I don’t remember. My diagnosis is transient global amnesia, which
occurs due to psychological shock instead of an external accident.”

Yuri’s memory loss was a defense mechanism of her body to avert the greater harm. As to
what that harm was, it was what she needed to find out.

“You really don’t know anything from that time?”

Hyeon-ah still had her suspicions, and Yuri was hesitant to trust her enough to discuss the
doubts surrounding her father and Hye-yeon’s death. The woman before her went a long
way, she not only knew her father but also President Jin’s family.

Even so, for an inexplicable reason, she felt something stuck in her throat, forbidding her
from sharing anything more. It was an omen she could not elucidate, but one that she could
not ignore either. Thus, she swallowed down her thoughts and schooled her expression.

“Yes, so you can imagine my surprise when I heard what happened to Hye-yeon, and that I
was the last person to see her before she died. Can I know more about her death?” She
deftly steered the topic in another direction.

“I don’t know much ‘cause I only heard Hye-yeon talk to you over the phone. She was
discovered at the Jinseong River later.” She stated nonchalantly.
“Was an autopsy performed on Hye-yeon?”

“I believe there wasn’t. The circumstances made it unnecessary, and President Jin said he
would not do so.” Hyeon-ah took out a cigarette and lit it.

“What happened to President Jin? I heard that he was involved in a gang dispute.”

Taking a long drag, Hyeon-ah puffed out, her vacant gaze trailing the wafting smoke. “On
the surface, yes. I personally think In-bae Lee had something to do with it since they were
bitter enemies after the Star Road incident.”
 Chapter 65
Chapter 65

Perhaps there was a lot more to this than what seemed to have transpired. While it was
widely believed President Jin was In-bae Lee’s subordinate, the latter was not really his
superior. The two were privy to each other’s dirty secrets and had arrived at a precarious
pact. Thus, each was using the other as one’s tool, but the upside was they were both
profiting from it. At least until they had friction.

Myung-je Jin was a wily old fox who had more underhanded means than he let on. Yuri was
certain that his man must have had something up his sleeve that led to the two biggest
bullies falling out. And if she wished to obtain the details of the transaction to the last letter,
she knew just the person.

“Are you still in contact with Hye-seong?” Yuri asked.

“Mr. Hye-seong Jin? What about him?” Hyeon-ah quirked her eyebrow.

“I want to know more about Hye-yeon. I might have heard her last words if I was the last
one to meet her before she died.”

Hyeon-ah was silent for a moment and slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know
about Mr. Hye-seong Jin. He disappeared after President Jin’s death.”

Is she telling the truth?

Yuri could not think of a reason as to why Hyeon-ah would keep things from her if she
knew something about the man in question. And given the circumstances surrounding that
incident, it was only an eventuality for the president’s son, and sole survivor of the Jin
family to go into hiding.

She sipped her coffee while shaking her head slightly. She had met her first obstacle too
soon. Where would she find Hye-seong Jin if he were off the grid? Is there another way to
gather information about President Jin?

A pensive Yuri, at the moment, was oblivious to Hyeon-ah’s scrutinizing gaze on her.

After a moment or so, the other woman suddenly asked, “Hey, didn’t you say that you were
going back to America?”

“I’ll be staying in Korea for now because I have to wrap up some things here.” She
answered vaguely.

“Where are you staying?”

Yuri hesitated for a moment before answering. “I’m staying with a person I know in Seoul.”

“Then give me a card or your phone number, and I’ll ask the people I knew in the hotel to
see if anyone knows about Mr. Hye-seong Jin.” She offered.

Yuri instantly brought out her card from the bag, Hyeon-ah leaned forward to receive it, her
voice barely a whisper. “Does he have anything to do with the things you have to finish?”

Yuri glanced at the window and thought her breath stopped. There was a classy car, a
foreign make, in front of the café, and a debonair Tae-jun was smoking a cigarette leaning
against it.

Before she knew it, amidst an eerie silence, the man shoved her into the passenger seat and
roughly cranked up the engine. She could see Hyeon-ah look out the store window with
worried eyes.

As they sped past, Yuri looked straight ahead and wondered how Tae-jun had found her so
quickly.

“What happened?” she asked, breaking the jittery silence

“I told you. I dislike variants.” He roared.

Yuri’s eyelids fluttered, and Tae-jun reached out to fasten her seatbelt.

“I want to know why you had to lie, saying you would go shopping instead of going to the
hospital.”

Even under his piercing gaze, Yuri was quite resolute about not going to the hospital. “I
know my body. The problem I have is with my memories.”

She had been undergoing treatment, knew everything she had to, what more could a doctor
tell her?

“So, you came here to find them? What’s the reason for this sudden decision?” Tae-jun
demanded.

“It’s not a sudden one. I’ve tried before but nothing worked. However, since I remembered
you somewhat easily, I thought it might be the same for others.”

Tae-jun drummed his fingers on the wheel. Yuri turned her gaze to the window under the
uncomfortable silence. They were passing by the beautiful and deep Jinseong River, she felt
a chill all over as she remembered Hye-yeon’s death.

o Are you sure that President Jin’s daughter is not there, too?
Judging by their conversation, Hye-yeon had not been the target. So why did she die, and what
was the reason In-bae Lee wanted to kill me?

The question overwhelmed her. One question only ushered in several more, and Yuri felt
more helpless than when she could not remember a thing. Closing her eyes, she endured
the incoming headache. She did not know how much time passed until Tae-jun stopped at
an exclusive Japanese restaurant.

“Let’s go, we’ll be having dinner here.”

So, it was already dinnertime. An employee guided them to a reserved room when Yuri got
out of the car. It was a large one, and the scenery of the pond in the garden, and the simple
pavilion was beautiful. The folding screen and the interiors of the room hinted at money.

The food placed on delicate and expensive dishes was exquisite. Yuri strived to eat
digestible food as much as she could. She had to eat to have enough strength to go through
what lay before her. Also, she did not want to offend Tae-jun by not eating.

Thankfully, he only placed certain dishes on her plate and did not speak.

Yuri was surprised as the food he served her were those she thought delicious.

The waiter brought fruits, sweet red bean jelly, and warm tea for dessert. Tae-jun made a
phone call once the server had left the room.

“Bring it here.”

The paper panel door opened after a little while, and a man with short hair, sharp eyes, and
a well-trained body walked in with an envelope in hand. When he got closer, Yuri
recognized him as Jin-wook Jeong.

Jin-wook handed Tae-jun the envelope and slightly bowed to Yuri before going out. The
man then handed the documents over to Yuri.

“Read it.”
 Chapter 66
Chapter 66

It was a contract almost the same as the one she had seen before, but with a few clauses
added.

“200 million won for each child?” she asked in astonishment.

“Why, do you want more?” He sneered.

“Weren’t you marrying Si-yeon Yoon? And you’re still asking me to bear your child?” She
retorted.

“What’s the problem? I’ll recognize the child as mine and provide the best environment and
education there is. If the child is smart enough, the group will not discriminate against him
or her.” He sounded so righteous that one would think he was proposing marriage and not
an illicit affair!

“Does Ms. Si-yeon Yoon know what you’re thinking?” Only Yuri knew how much will power
she was currently exerting to rein in her emotions. This man and his ridiculous contracts,
would there ever be an end?

“She has nothing to do with it, and I will give her sufficient compensation.”

Yuri was flabbergasted at Tae-jun’s insanity. She laughed and glared at him. Did he really
weigh the world in terms of money?! Where the heck had his demented notion stemmed
from?

She had been goaded into signing the contract once before, did he think there would be a
second time? This was simply outrageous, and she didn’t want any part in it. Not now, not
ever.

She gritted her teeth and said, “I will never bear your child, so there’s no need for this
nonsense.”

“You might already have one, or there will be one in the near future.” Tae-jun’s hawk-eyes
seemed absolutely determined.

“I haven’t had a period for two years, so there will never be a child.”

Perhaps this was her way of saying that he couldn’t control everything in the world, and
most certainly her menstrual cycle.

“What?!” He bellowed.
Tae-jun’s brow furrowed, he didn’t like her attitude. More importantly, he disdained things
that went out of his control and even so those that played him. And right now, the woman
before him was doing exactly that. She had done so four years ago, and she was doing so
now. He would tolerate nothing, especially her slipping out of his grip.

He brusquely grabbed Yuri’s wrist on the table and demanded. “And you say that you’re not
going to the hospital?”

Yuri did not avoid his penetrating gaze and boldly looked right into his devilish orbs. “I’ll
take care of my body, and to make things clear, I am not going to agree to a contract like
this.”

“Are the terms not enough for you? You can continue your art. You cannot be thinking of
tailing your teacher forever. You can hold an exclusive contract with the Seoin Gallery, or
I’ll let you have your own. Do you want anything else?”

In his view, this was the choicest offer under the sun and anybody would jump at it in the
first instance. Anybody, but this woman.

“I’m not going to work on them anymore. Didn’t you say I have two months? The reason I’m
still here is to finish the contract we had”

“Stop acting so difficult. You said it was about money, I can get you as much as you need.”
He twisted her wrist in agitation.

Yuri didn’t flinch at his atrocity and met him head-on. “Who said that it was about money?”

She didn’t know how on earth he would have such a notion. But when she did a double-
take, her eyes widened because she could think of only one person who would say
something like that.

“Did you meet Hye-seong? Where is he?”

Tae-jun’s expression distorted, and his grip on Yuri’s wrist tightened further as if to break
it.

“Were you searching for Hye-seong Jin instead of your memories?”

Tae-jun’s voice was cold enough to freeze the room. His hand lightly grasped the back of
Yuri’s neck, and her nerves stood on end at his touch.

“You’re really something. You were looking for a past boyfriend when we spent that much
time together in bed?!”

The hand that grasped her neck tightened further. His harsh and cold eyes, filled with the
murderous rage of a beast, bored at her.
“Was I not enough for you?” He sniggered.

She had enough of this man now, him and his twisted theories. She was furious. Just
because she had entered a contract with him, he was questioning her integrity now. What
right did he have?

“You know that I was never in that kind of relationship with Hye-seong.” She raised her
voice. “I just needed to ask him something.”

“What’s the question?”

“It is…”

Yuri’s throat went dry. Could she trust him enough to talk about her father and Hye-yeon’s
death? Would he help her?

She was still undecided when Jin-wook opened the doors again.

“Excuse me, but I have an urgent report to make.”

Tae-jun stood up, let go of her, and went out. After a few moments, he returned looking
with his usual nonchalance.

“We’ll talk more about this at home.”

After Tae-jun and Yuri left the restaurant, two burly men in suits approached them. Tae-jun
gave them their orders.

“Get her home.”

“Understood.”

Yuri recollected that she had seen one of them when she got out of the police station. So
there was one more person besides Department Head Choi and the driver watching her. It
was only now that she was reminded of the extent of Tae-jun’s meticulousness.

“Wait at home.”

With those parting words, he got into the car Jin-wook was driving. She was about to get
into hers when someone greeted her as he came out of the restaurant.

“Who is this?”

Yuri knew too well who the drunkard was.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 67
Chapter 67

Drenched in the stench of alcohol, swaying and staggering, this unkempt man looked
nothing like the renowned painter Seok-ha Yoo. However, he was the man himself, perhaps
in his truest form.

Fifty-five-year-old Seok-ha Yoo, a famous Western-style painter had won many accolades
in the world of paintings and held a prestigious status in Korea and abroad. He was Yuri’s
advisory professor, the very one to openly demand s3xual gratifications in return for
establishing her career in the realm of arts.

However, when the girl had refused his ‘kind’ offer, he had spared no effort to torment her.
In the end, he had succeeded in ruining her budding career for good, thus depriving the
world of talent and her hope of living

“Why, isn’t this Yuri Han? My proud and talented student.” His lecherous eyes leered at her
from top to bottom.

Unwilling to acknowledge his presence, let alone greet him, Yuri only glared daggers at the
man.

“You still look at me so boldly. Aren’t you going to greet me when I’m your teacher?”

The man Tae-jun had left her with immediately blocked Seok-ha when he reached for her.

“Who are you?” Seok-ha frowned.

The man, without a change in his expression, asked Yuri, “Madam, do you know this man?”

Yuri only nodded, discomfort evident on her face. Seok-ha sneered as he looked back and
forth between the man and Yuri.

“Madam? Ah, Yuri Han, you’ve climbed the ladder. If you’re being called madam and going
to this kind of place, you must have secured a man after giving up painting. Didn’t I tell you
that you had more talent in pleasing a man than art?”

“And you, more talent in crushing those weaker than you by using underhanded means
rather than art.”

“You still-!”

The man stopped Seok-ha again when the older man’s hand rose. He became livid and
cursed Yuri.
“I don’t know who your man is, but you’ll never get far in this field. You cheeky bitch, I’ll
make sure of that.”

Yuri’s hands balled into fists, she wanted nothing to do with this drunkard anymore. She
simply told the man to leave, turned around, and entered the vehicle.

Once in the car, sitting in pin-drop silence, Yuri slowly covered her face. As the events of the
day seeped in, her hands trembled.

“I don’t like how you managed this affair.”

Tae-jun took out a cigarette, Jin-wook proceeded to light it. Professor Yang nervously
bowed as his boss’ hawk-eyes looked around the room.

“I deeply apologize. Our employees must have been careless during their change in shifts, I
will see to it that such a thing will never happen again.”

Tae-jun took a deep drag. Hye-seong Jin disappeared.

Today was certainly not going well for the Director of Seoin Group. Department Head Choi
had reported that Yuri Han seemed to have cried a lot. Why did she cry? He hated to see her
cry alone. Also, she had lied at the department store and went to Jinseong City. If anything,
his question of what Yuri was doing there had answered itself more easily than he
expected.

• Did you meet Hye-seong? Where is he?

Yuri Han was looking for Hye-seong Jin, and this simple fact angered Tae-jun. Had she
looked for him even once during the last four years? The end of Tae-jun’s lips twisted coldly.

“Was Incheon his last whereabouts?” He demanded coldly.

“Yes, I have sent someone there.” Jin-wook was already on the matter.

“Why would he do something so impractical when he can’t even move well?”

Jin-wook shook his head. “I don’t know.”

What was Hye-seong Jin thinking?

Tae-jun contemplated the route his prisoner must have taken during the car ride back.
Even after a while, he had no definite answers. He did not have enough information
regarding President Jin’s son.
That man had been off the grid for so long now, that people almost thought he was dead.
But he would have to wait, he would get that man later. First, he had to know what Yuri
wanted to ask Hye-seong Jin.

The house was silent, and Tae-jun looked at the clock to confirm Department Head Choi
and the housekeeper had gone home. He did not see Yuri in the living room or the kitchen.
Given the happenings of the day, it was quite possible she had gone to bed already.

Tae-jun frowned when he opened the bedroom door because there was no sign of her. He
quickly checked the bathroom, but she was not there either.

Dammit, did she disappear again?! Tae-jun took out his cell phone and phoned the security
team that had brought her home.

“Where is Yuri Han?”

The head of the security team was taken aback.

– “She should be at home.”

“I can’t see her. Did she go out?” He bellowed.

– “No, we have been waiting in front of the house. She has to be inside.”
 Chapter 68
Chapter 68

As Tae-jun frantically kept looking from Yuri in vain, Tae-jun’s irritation grew. Door after
door he opened, room after room he checked; the entire second floor was scoured and he
found not a shadow of the girl.

He made down the stairs, jabbing his memory about the places she could be in, her former
habits. It was then that it struck him that when they’d lived together, she would often spend
time in the basement, painting, sketching, or doing something else. She was never the one
to rest her hands.

Tae-jun loosened his tie and opened the basement door. He had been using it as a private
home bar and wine cellar, but Yuri had used it as her workspace.

The basement was dark, so he turned on the lights but did not see her. He felt a strange
premonition just before he turned the lights off, closed the door again, and moved towards
the bar at the corner. He saw something in the small space inside the bar table.

Soon he was facing a Yuri who sat huddled, her face buried in her lap.

“I never knew you had a penchant for hide-and-seek.”

She didn’t move until Tae-jun opened his mouth. She slowly raised her head, the man’s eyes
narrowed as he saw the tear stains on her face.

“I always won whenever I played hide-and-seek as a child.”

Tae-jun noticed her uncharacteristically vacant eyes and the objects that lay at her feet.
There was a half-empty liquor bottle, a glass, and the shredded contract.

“Did you have a drink?” he asked, turning back to her.

“There are days you can’t stay sober.” She replied, nonchalantly.

“If you don’t like the contract, say what you want, and I’ll put it in.”

She only chuckled in response and poured another drink into the glass. Her dry laugh
annoyed him, and he held her hand grasping the glass that was en route to her lips.

“Stop. You’ve had enough,” he said, sternly.

“What’s the problem? You’ll be having your way.”

He wrested the glass and put it on the table. He helped her stand up, her weightless body
folding into his arms. She tried to break free from him, but he only held her tighter. She
would never win in power, she became limp and laughed in self-deprecation.

“I should have listened to Professor Seok-ha Yoo if things would have come to this.”

“Seok-ha Yoo?”

“Don’t you know the painter? He’s the best Western painter in this country, and his works
are in middle school and high school textbooks. I liked at first that he was my advising
professor and recognized my talent. However, he called me to his workspace before an
exhibition and told me to take my clothes off. He then asked me whether I wanted to be his
Camille Claudel.”

Camille Claudel was Rodin’s student and muse. Tae-jun’s expression grew stony when he
understood the meaning. Yuri continued with her story.

“Had I done his bidding, I would have finished the exhibition and gone abroad to study. I
wouldn’t have met you in Jinseong City, and President Jin wouldn’t have threatened me
with my father. Then … my father might not have died.”

Yuri broke down, each sob sounded like they were being squeezed out.

“You’re the same as them!”

Her weak fists hit his chest but it was her tears that ripped a part of his heart.

He couldn’t refute her accusation nor could he say he was different from them. If those
others were mean, he was vile. Holding her hostage for a year, using her as a toy … no
matter her identity was a despicable act and he had no means of acquitting himself from
the charges.

He held her even tighter and forcefully as he felt her tears raining on his collar. No one said
a word nor did he stop her from crying.

A long while passed, and the girl had cried herself to sleep. Sensing that she had quieted
down, Tae-jun carefully held her in his arms and brought her to the bedroom. He gently laid
the girl on the bed and stroked her wet cheeks.

“Seok-ha Yoo?”

Tae-jun’s face was livid as he muttered the name in a low voice. He gazed at the slumbering
visage for a long time, no one knew what thoughts coursed through his mind.

“Please eat.”
Yuri lowered the screen of her notebook when she heard Department Head Choi’s voice.
The picture of a man waving his hand with a smile disappeared, and a table filled with
culinary delights welcomed her.

Yuri took a spoonful of well-cooked rice as Department Head Choi removed the bones from
fish and portioned braised beef ribs on her plate. She had asked the woman not to wait
upon her, but she wouldn’t listen.

Department Head Choi had been in charge of managing Tae-jun when he was a shooter, and
she now acted as if her sole goal in life was to help Yuri gain some weight. After a few days
of eating high-calorie meals three times a day along with desserts and snacks in the
mornings and afternoons according to a professional menu, Yuri’s sunken cheeks and eyes
filled a little. Her pale skin regained some color and sheen.

Department Head Choi brought out oriental medicine after the meal.

“What is this?” Yuri asked, befuddled.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 69
Chapter 69

“It is a medicine from a famous practitioner to warm your womb and reduce menstrual
irregularity. He asked me to make sure you took them regularly.”

Her brow creased a little, but she took the medicine anyway.

It had been five days since an inebriated Yuri had cried her heart out before Tae-jun. In
hindsight, she had chided herself for telling him about Seok-ha Yoo and her father. One, this
man wasn’t related to this matter whatsoever; two, he was already a bully interfering in her
life and she hated him for that. Besides, they had about two months left, and it would end
earlier if she found her memories.

Fortunately, Tae-jun did not speak of what happened that day. He seemed to be busy,
coming late at night and going out early. Also, he did not brandish the contract or ask her to
lie with him. It had never been this peaceful in his presence, or rather his absence.

After downing the medicines, Yuri went to the living room and turned on the TV. Her eyes
met Sebastian’s, who she could not decide was sitting or adorning the corner of the living
room. She wondered whether the dog was happy or sad.

And when she thought deeper, she realized she couldn’t tell the difference between a
taxidermied dog and her current situation. After all, she was only an item to collect for Tae-
jun Seo.

The lingering bitterness of the medicine was still in her mouth, drawing her attention back
to now. She turned her gaze away from Sebastian, her thoughts were now on In-bae Lee
who was scheduled to be on television.

In the past few days, she had not been idle. Slowly but surely she had scraped together
information on him after having discovered that the owner of the voice in Jinseong City was
the governor’s underling.

This man was the proverbial rag to riches story. Born to a poor factory workman, In-bae
Lee did not receive proper education and instead worked at a plant. Rendered immobile
due to an industrial accident, he had managed to pass the high school qualification exam.
Right after graduation, he took up the judicial examinations and went on to become a
lawyer. And in just a year, he had been elected as the youngest city councilor in the history
of Jinseong City.

In-bae Lee and President Jin’s prosperous association had probably begun from thereon.
Twice he was elected the city councilor and congressman. He served as the mayor for two
consecutive terms and was now the governor of the Gyeonggi Province. He had been widely
touted as the most influential presidential candidate.

But why would a man like him try to kill me?

Yuri could not see a connection, and there were limits to the information she could find at
home on the internet. What should I do?

As she mulled, she almost dropped the remote controller as she changed the channel. She
stilled when she saw a familiar name on the news.

<A beginning of the Me-Too Movement in the Art Industry: Artist Seok-ha Yoo
accused of s3xual abuse.>

Yuri abruptly got to her feet in shock. On the screen right now was a group of women, of
varied ages, exposing the savage brutality of the revered Seok-ha Yoo. One by one, the
women were recounting their horrific tales, breaking down as they did.

Toe the line or be buried in obscurity- each woman was threatened, coerced, and shoved to
the brink of helplessness. One would argue that they should have stood their ground and
not yielded, but only those who were in it knew that they had tried and failed miserably.

Who would willingly jump into a pit of fire? Between the struggle to eke out even the
simplest living and trading one’s body with the villain in return for a roof on one’s head,
what would one choose? Besides, who would believe them, help or hear their plea? It was
their, a nobody’s, word against the celebrated professor’s.

How did this happen?

When she was a student, a Me-Too movement would’ve been impossible to end up making
any progress no matter how hard she tried. Firstly, she wouldn’t have the support of the
fellow victims who would be scared to go against the man. If they weren’t afraid of him, to
begin with, why else would he have had his way? Secondly, even if one or two did brave it,
they would have hardly lasted what with the backing this man had. It would be a miracle if
they would make it to the court alive.

With an atmosphere that publicly acknowledged the existence of sponsors and patrons,
Seok-ha Yoo’s actions were nothing peculiar. This barter seemed to exist from time
immemorial.

Willingly or unwillingly, people had ended up in this situation. Also, when it came to the
morality of the rich and famous, the public had a tendency to turn a blind eye toward the
victims. They would even go as far as to recriminate the aggrieved party which would be
worse than the harassment one had been through.
So then, what broke the norm?

The news was now showing a middle-aged woman with her head deep down. She could be
identified as the sitting chairman of the Fine Arts Association and the chief director of the H
School of Fine Arts. She stated deep grievance on the issue surrounding Professor Seok-ha
Yoo and promised to compensate the victimized students. She also calmly stressed that the
fine arts field would try its best to prevent such horrendous events from recurring ever
again.

Manager Choi let out a gentle gasp as she watched the TV with plates of fruits and dessert
in her hands

“What’s the matter?” Yuri asked.

“She tends to dislike appearing on TV. Is something going on? Are there issues at the
school?”

“Do you know who she is?”

“Of course, she’s our director’s mother.”

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 70
Chapter 70

The VIP sauna room at Hotel Seoin was filled with a dense fog of steam. Not many people
visited this place, so it was relatively peaceful and slow.

Eyes closed, a towel covering the face, reclined, Tae-jun was attentively listening to the
news streaming on the TV. Since the art industry had stayed out of controversy unlike the
movie community and the athletic field, the accusations against Yoo were being excitedly
broadcast with deep insight on the crimes of the once renowned artist.

Jin-wook started talking as he brushed off his sweat with a towel. “The impact of the
current issue is slated to be greater than expected.”

“That’s no surprise. It’s a wonder how silent everyone has been until now. Rape, assault,
painting fraud … he’s done so much to ruin the students’ lives.”

“Still, I didn’t expect you to reach out to your mother first.” Jin-wook remarked.

“What’s so weird about a son calling his mother?” Tae-jun retorted.

“Because it’s never occurred until now.”

As much as Tae-jun blamed his father for ruining the peaceful childhood that he had had, he
bore a deep resentment toward his mother too. She had, without batting an eyelid,
relinquished him like he were an object in her possession and not her son. And what child
could endure his parents’ abandonment?

He had taken a stand right there and then. Gone was the affection he had for his mother,
and instead, he treated her as a stranger. He wouldn’t talk to her when they met, which
would be mostly in a public setting, behaving like associates. Those who didn’t know better
would never be able to connect them as such.

That said, the man had never called his mother, not when he was a twelve-year-old in need
of motherly affection nor upon attaining adulthood as filial piety. He had behaved like she
didn’t exist in this world, rather his world. So, this sudden change would solely be
attributed to Yuri.

“It was necessary. I could’ve handled things my way but that wouldn’t suffice. Let karma slit
his own throat. I wish Yoo would lose his entire career, be shunned by his loved ones, and
helplessly crawl on the ground like a limbless bug.”

“If the chief director has resigned, then it seems impossible for Yoo to come back to that
field for a while.”
“For a while?” Tae-jun scoffed audibly. “Impossible … forever … because he’s going to have
his wrist chopped off from a very unfortunate accident. There’s no way he’ll be holding a
paintbrush ever again. That’s how I roll. ”

His voice was low enough to instantly cool down the steamed room. Tae-jun asked Jin-
wook as he ran his hand through his moist hair, “And about my request?”

“It was a car crash. The victim jumped towards the car intoxicated. The driver was
sentenced for a year and a half and is currently out of prison.”

“A year and a half? Why so short?” The man was surprised.

“The driver confessed, and the accident occurred on a very isolated road without any
cameras or streetlights in sight. Most essentially, there was a witness who stated that the
victim threw himself to the car first. Moreover, the toxicity report showed exceedingly high
levels of alcohol in his blood system. The initial sentence was to serve three years but the
extenuation of the case shortened it.”

Tae-jun ruminated on what Yuri had said.

o President Jin wouldn’t have threatened me with my father. Then … my

father might not have died.

He hadn’t believed Hye-seong Jin entirely when he said everything was about ‘money.’ The
woman that he had observed was full of pride and far from materialism. She was also
extremely conservative when it came to s3x. And the father whom she tried to protect so
desperately, going so far as to throw aside her self-respect and sell her body, had jumped
toward a car intoxicated. Was this what actually happened?

“What about the black box?”

“It was coincidentally out of order that day so the power was turned off.”

“Logically, none of this makes any sense. There was a witness on a road without any
cameras, black boxes, or even streetlights?

“It seems suspicious to me too. But what’s fishier is that the driver who hit the man has
worked on In-bae Lee’s election campaign.”

“Hmm, In-bae Lee gets involved once again.”

It was a name that kept coming up during the investigation of Yuri’s case. Why In-bae Lee
instead of Myung-je Jin? What sort of contact did Yuri and In-bae Lee ever have?
Jin-wook seemed to be asking the same question. “My instincts are telling me that there’s
something more to this accident. But it would do you no good to have beef with In-bae Lee.
After All, he is the strongest presidential candidate.”

As long as the Seoin Group kept its major business in the defense industry, it would always
be correlated with politicians. Lee’s speech about increasing the military budget made him
the most supported individual by the conservatives. It was crucial to stay on the same
wavelength with a soon-to-be man of authority. But Tae-jun was without the slightest
doubt.

“Doesn’t matter.” He declared flatly.

“I understand, Sir. I’ll take a deeper look into Suwon Han’s accident.”

Everything was hazy at the moment. What was at the end of all of this? Whatever it was, as
long as it was related to Yuri he was never going to stop investigating. To be more exact, he
wouldn’t be able to stop himself.

Tae-jun spoke as he was reminded of something. “And did you meet the owner of the
building?”

“Yes, Sir. He said he’ll sell it for 50 million more.”

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 71
Chapter 71

“The price is quite high.”

“The gallery’s quite successful these days. The owner’s receiving good rent too, so he seems
to have no interest in selling it. Also, there’s potential for a rise in the next few years. Why
are you suddenly so interested in the building?” Jin-wook said.

“I was thinking about giving it to Yuri Han.”

Jin-wook looked briefly surprised before his brow furrowed. “Has Ms. Han agreed to this?”

“The one thing I know for sure is that she has high bars for her career. Once she gets her
own gallery and starts regaining the opportunities she lost because of Seok-ha Yoo, she
might change her mind about this.” Tae-jun seemed quite positive about her changing her
mind.

But his retainer didn’t seem to share the boss’ views. “I doubt it, Sir. If she could be swayed
by something like this, I don’t think she would have resisted Seok-ha Yoo.”

Touché! Jin-wook’s words had hit home the bitter truth and Tae-jun was forced out of
excuses. The latter knew that such things had little effect on Yuri. Even so, he wanted to be
assured that he’d be able to make her stay beside him.

How could he not understand the other’s intention? Jin-wook gave out a small sigh. “If all
you want is for Yuri to stay beside you, you’re already doing a great job. Otherwise, just try
to have dirt on her uncle in America or Roy Jean. Just like President Jin did.”

Tae-jun frowned at the hint of poignance in Jin-wook’s voice, unlike his normal, impassive
tone.

Nevertheless, the man ignored his boss’ displeasure, and stubbornly continued on with his
opinion. “If not, you need to earn her trust. You need to make Yuri Han herself long for you
Sir.”

There was no rebuttal to that. Tae-jun stood up with a stiff face.

As they got out of the sauna, the duo bumped into a group of employees moving frames
covered in fabric.

Tae-jun asked Jae-won, “What is that?”

“We’re changing up the paintings in the banquet hall.”

“For what?”

“Didn’t you see the news? Artist Seok-ha Yoo is in deep trouble. We bought these a couple
of years ago for a really high price and it’s making me regret it big time. I don’t know,
maybe we got lucky since we chose to display Roy Jean’s work instead of Seok-ha Yoo’s art
at the very last minute.” Jae-won put his hand on his forehead as if it ached.

“How are things at Hotel Seoin?”

“Mother was never fond of Seok-ha Yoo’s artwork so I doubt she ever owned any. The
problem is Si-yeon Yoon. She even collaborated with Yoo for the merchandise last year.”

Jae-won’s reply reminded Tae-jun of Si-yeon for the first time in a while. That woman was a
flawless fiancée. She was the goose that would lay golden eggs for Hotel Seoin. Growing up
in a similar environment and being friends ever since childhood, the two felt comfortable
around each other. He especially liked the fact that she did not expect any ‘affection’ or
‘care’ from him. All he needed was to put on a show of a ‘perfect marriage’ for everyone to
see, and this woman seemed to be a sufficient fiancée for this act. Nothing needed to be
changed because of Yuri Han’s existence. There were various ways to keep her alongside.

o You’re the same as them!

Suddenly, he was reminded of her harrowed voice and tears … his heart ached. Is this how
Father felt? Was he burdened with frustration that had lingered inside him forever?

When Tae-jun got home, for a long time he remained standing at the entrance staring up at
the second floor. He could see the light in Yuri’s room glistening. He felt abnormally
relaxed. He walked upstairs and gently opened the door and saw her asleep. Based on the
laptop placed on the bedside table, she must have been looking up something. The screen
was locked.

What was she looking for?

According to Manager Choi, she was always stuck in her room or the subway with her eyes
locked to her laptop screen. Now Jin-wook’s words came to his mind.

o If not, you need to earn her trust. You need to make Yuri Han herself long
for you Sir.

How do I earn her affection?

He had already gotten off to a bad start with Yuri. He had forced her to stay with him, but
he was still very clueless about the woman. If he could, he wanted to dissect every part of
her to fully understand her.

Slowly, he approached the sleeping beauty. He stroked her face ever so gently as if he were
touching fragile glassware. How wrong he was to ever think simply having her beside him
was enough … He let out a deep sigh.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 72
Chapter 72

Late at night, in an empty café, Hyeon-ah Kim was staring at her phone as her lips formed a
gentle smirk.

“No wonder he seemed familiar; he’s a prominent figure.” She mumbled to herself.

The guy who had grabbed Yuri Han’s arm and drove her away from the café happened to be
Director Tae-jun Seo of Seoin Group. She had stumbled upon this piece of information when
she was mindlessly sifting through the women’s magazine at a hair salon one afternoon.
Most pages of the magazine were filled with the upcoming nuptials of Seoin Group and
Daejin Group.

Hyeon-ah meticulously read through the article. She remembered him perfectly well. After
all, how could she forget an attractive face like his?

When exactly was it … the Asian Games a few years back? The wealthy and good-looking
shooter who was a hot topic back then happened to be the same person. She also realized
that she’d seen him visit Hotel Jinseong a few times, although it was much later that she
found out that he did so with an intention to purchase the hotel.

Back then he’d used a different name. Perhaps, that doesn’t matter so much?

So, what did the Seoin scion have to do with the insignificant Yuri Han? How were they
associated in the first place? It was kind of obvious that their relationship was nothing typical.
The silence between them felt nerve-wracking and breathtaking to watch. To flirt with a guy
like him, Yuri must have a game.

Hyeon-ah leaned back and stared at the ceiling with a cigarette between her lips. As she
mulled, she recalled what Yuri had told her.

• In my case, I don’t have any existing memory since my father’s accident all
the way through my early years in America. My physician tells me that it’s
pretty common for people to lose their memory about a specific person,
event, or time period.

Was this all true, or was the story fabricated? Smoke gradually escaped her lips. No memory?
… Things are getting very interesting.

Her musing was interrupted by the sound of a door opening.

“I’m sorry but the café is closed for the day.”

As she was turning, she froze at the sight of the unexpected guest waiting for her. Her red
lips immediately lifted up into a hearty grin. She did not seem to be startled even in the
slightest bit.

“Oh my, I’m seeing so many unexpected faces these days.”

Standing at the door was Hye-seong Jin.

That night, Yuri did everything but sleep. In truth, she had not been sleeping from the start.
Once he had sedately closed the door behind him, and she was certain he had left, did she
open her eyes and gazed at the door.

Before he had walked into the room, she was at the peak of researching In-bae Lee’s
acquaintances. She was able to acquire most of the information from his fairly ‘active’ social
media. Most of it was glorified, but those who knew to read between the lines would sniff
out the shenanigans at a glance. The old newspaper reports from Jinseong City and the data
from the City Hall collectively offered her abundant facts about the man.

Among Lee’s family, assistants, bodyguards, and election camp members, one of them had
to be the owner of the voice she was desperately looking for. That person was most likely
the suspect. However, the labor of searching for this mysterious man was intolerably
arduous and dull.

A male in his 40s or 50s, relatively tall who happened to live in Jinseong for a significant
amount of years: this was basically the only material Yuri had on him. And sifting through
the thousands of Lee-followers on social media, matching their pictures with their names
was nothing short of looking for a needle in a haystack. After quite a few hours scouring,
she recognized a very familiar name.

Sang-gu Park …

Park was a manager at an NGO owned by Lee’s wife. She swore she recognized the name …
but from where?

It was at that moment, she heard the main door unlock. She reckoned Tae-jun must have
returned. She quickly locked her laptop and lay in her bed. She was hoping he would sleep
in his own room just as he had done for the past few days.

As if he was ignoring her hope, the man opened her door. She instinctively shut her eyes
and pretended to be asleep. She could hear him walk towards her, and sit at the corner of
the bed. His long fingers gently brushed away her hair from her face, then traced along her
forehead, nose, and down to her lips … It felt unnecessarily soothing and also
uncomfortable and painful at the same time. It felt even more awkward than when she was
stripped, legs pulled wide apart, pressed underneath his body.
He had stayed beside her for a long time caressing her cheeks. She couldn’t tell what the
man was thinking, but she was constantly on the edge.

After she was left alone again in the room, she blinked. His warmth and aroma lingered in
the air.

What if she hadn’t barged into his room to help out a customer that day? What if she’d never
pretended to be Hye-yeon Jin? What if she’d never resolved the misunderstanding he had
about the father? Then would things have been different? What if … what if ….

One thought led to another and another until a whole train was formed. The train only got
longer and longer ‘til took her far away from sleep. In the end, she had stayed up all night.

She painfully got up to the sound of Ms. Choi waking her up for breakfast. She sauntered to
the dining room, then twitched at an unexpected view.

At the table was Tae-jun sitting before her. Why is he here? It was 9 a.m. on a weekday. He
should have gone to work hours ago.
 Chapter 73
Chapter 73

As she took a seat across him she asked, “You’re not off to work?”

“Nope, not today. I’m taking a break until the weekend.” Tae-jun replied as he scooped a
portion of porridge.

A break from work, huh?

This unexpected development had wrecked her plans. She needed to look for evidence on
Sang-gu Park and investigate In-bae Lee further. They all needed to be done without Tae-
jun knowing. But he’s on break, for four whole days, how was she to even move an inch in
the direction? Yuri was so annoyed that her appetite had immediately flown far away.
Ironically, the man, oblivious to her thoughts, placed pieces of meat on her plate for her to
eat.

Tae-jun interrupted her as she was getting up without finishing even half of her meal. “Shall
we go somewhere?”

This random question made Yuri malfunction for a second. She looked at Tae-jun with a
blank, puzzled face.

“Go… anywhere?”

“Shopping, movies, long drive … wherever you want to go.” He looked expectantly at her.

“Why?” She really didn’t know the purpose behind these things that had popped up from
his mouth out of nowhere. The times they had spent four years ago, she had been cooped
up in the house. But now, he was suddenly proposing to go out… This was indeed shocking.

Tae-jun lightly frowned at her condescending question. “What do you mean ‘why’?”

She noticed that she’d inadvertently made him upset, but her lack of sleep ended up making
her attack him otherwise.

“I don’t want to go anywhere with you. We’re not acquainted that way”

Her words were scorching. Tae-jun couldn’t take it anymore and talked back with a deep
voice.

“Then what kind of a relationship do we have? Just have s3x and that’s it?”

“….”
“Just having sex in the bedroom like animals? Is this what you’re into? I wouldn’t mind so
much but you won’t be able to tolerate me.”

This instantly put a frown on Yuri’s face. His tone was cold and disparaging.

“You don’t have to trigger me to sleep with me, because I sleep with you when I feel like it.
If there’s nowhere you want to go, then I’ll decide. Go get ready to leave,” he said, marking
the end of the conversation.

Yuri reluctantly put on a dress and makeup.

When she got in the car, the man started driving without a word.

Where is he going? Though curious, she stayed silent for some time. But when she saw the
sign board ahead, she let out a gasp.

“Are we going to Jin-seong?” she said in disbelief.

“You told me you want your memories back. Isn’t that why you were searching for Hyeon-
ah Kim and Hye-seong Jin??” His tone was full of sarcasm.

“True, but…”

She was at a loss for words now. She thought he was acting especially weird today. From
asking her for a place to go as if they were on a date, to talking about her lost memories …
What is he thinking?

“I would like to give you an opportunity to see Hye-seong Jin, but he’s out of sight. So,
visiting a place related to your lost memory might trigger something.”

Is he genuinely trying to help? All of a sudden?

Questions she had a many, but reluctance even more. Thus, she let the awkward silence
linger on, and turned her eyes towards the window and away from the man.

The car drove past downtown to a familiar neighborhood. The car finally came to a stop
before the Jinseong Art School- Yuri’s alma-mater. On the field were students in the middle
of a lesson.

“It’s not like I can’t remember things from high school,” said Yuri.

“Let’s just call it a warm-up. It might help to start with the small things, right?” He was
surprisingly polite.

Why would she need a warm-up … Even so, she felt strangely refreshed coming back to her
school after so many years. The front entrance, the pole in the field where her friends and
she gathered for a chat, the art room where she spent most of her time … nothing seemed
to have changed.

The only change, she reckoned, was in herself. Actually, there was one more irreversible
change- Hye-yeon Jin. The person she had spent her entire time, her growing years … the
closest she had for a sister … Glimpses of the past rushed to her. She could still see the
young Hye-yeon running towards her, her mirthful laughter, mischievous eyes … like she
was there right now. As she trailed the girl, her eyes suddenly met Tae-jun’s. Just like that
little her little friend disappeared, permanently from her life.

She stared blankly at the man and was brought out of her trance by his voice.

“How was your school life?”

Why does his voice sound so affectionate as if he was talking to a loved one?

She blinked at him for a fleeting moment and decided to stop analyzing his intentions.
There was no point delving into a contractual relationship, drawing meaning to his every
action. It would do her more harm than good, and in the end, she would only be left with a
wounded heart and eternal solitude.

As such she responded drily. “Nothing special. I studied, drew a lot … did some
volunteering.”

“Volunteering?”

“Hm. Tending to people with special needs located just around the neighborhood. It was
worth a lot of points.”

“Is that when you learned sign language?”

How did he remember all these? Yuri wondered as she nodded. “That’s right.”

“Schools these days teach quite a lot.” Tae-jun looked genuinely amused.

He and Yuri were only apart by … no more than six years? Schools were always making
changes to their curriculums, but he didn’t expect it to be this drastic.

“You sound like you’ve never gone to school.” Yuri mocked.

“You’re right, I never did. I only attended to take my exams and spent the rest of my time at
the range.” He didn’t take offense to her tone and plainly revealed the fact surrounding his
growing years.

While children his age spent the most time at school building memories and relationships,
having fun, Tae-jun had spent his time at the shooting range establishing a strong bond
with the rifle, target, and competitions.
“Then how did you get your education?” she asked puzzled.

“I was homeschooled.”

His childhood is definitely not typical. Just then she remembered something.

“By the way, weren’t you a professional shooter?”

“How do you know this?”

“The internet told me everything about you.” She shrugged and asked, “What made you
quit?”

“It was about time, and I haven’t given up completely. I still go to competitions from time to
time because I need to maintain my athlete license to own a gun.”

It was such a dry response. Completely apathetic and straight to the point, just like the
relationship the two shared.

However, before she got lost in thoughts, the bell rang for the lunch break. After checking
the time, Tae-jun started the car again.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 74
Chapter 74

The next stop was a shaggy traditional Korean-style building. Unlike the building, the
parking lot was enormous with a sign that said “Seo Hwa Dang”.

What were they here for this time?

A bewildered Yuri was led into a wooden door by Tae-jun. The restaurant was crowded
with a constant stream of patrons since it was lunchtime on a weekday.

The pair was guided to the seats right away. The outdoors were left disheveled, but the
indoors was remodeled. Yuri astounded looked around the drastically upgraded interior.

“Anything you’d like to eat?” Tae-jun passed the menu to her.

“Is this also a warm-up?” she asked, taking the menu.

“You can say so. And you like it here; you like the dishes here.” He sounded as if he were
reminding her.

That’s true … She blinked as she read through the lengthy list of the menu. Since when were
there so many options? Tae-jun ordered not only her favorite chicken dumplings but also
the newest menus and a large hotpot.

A moment later, they were presented with a banquet. Yuri was appalled.

“Isn’t it too much food for the two of us?” she said, as she looked around the tantalizing
spread.

“You don’t need to finish it all.”

Easy said it looked hard to even go close to finishing!

Tae-jun eagerly sliced a dumpling in half and placed it on Yuri’s plate, he had done so
before too. The man didn’t eat much himself but would always buy a bunch of food and try
to feed her.

Then he, rather abruptly, asked, “Why do you like the food here?”

“The nanny who took care of me when I was young was from North Korea. Her cooking
tasted similar to this.” She replied without thinking.

Perhaps because Yuri hadn’t visited the restaurant for such a long time, or maybe because
she hadn’t had much breakfast, she was eagerly devouring the dumplings and curiously
trying out the new dishes that Tae-jun had ordered for her. One with mala, one with curry,
and another with cheese.

After watching her eat for a few minutes, he said, “This one seems to be your favorite.” He
was pointing at a curry dumpling that she was enjoying the most.

Yuri stared into his eyes with visible awe. “How did you know?”

This wasn’t the first time he’d guessed on point. Is he a psychic?

Tae-jun smirked as he replied. “I was just being observant. You tend to chew longer when
you’re enjoying it.”

It was a habit acquired from living with her grandmother. She was scolded when she was
being picky with her food, so she’d swallow it fast to finish the dishes she disliked. It felt
weird that Tae-jun noticed her smallest habits, and that he was meticulously observing her
every moment.

After their meal, they strolled on the promenade along the Jinseong River. The river looked
the same, but around it, everything seemed different. As they walked, Yuri slowly drifted
into her thoughts.

Retrieving her memories was in a state of stagnation. Off late, those fragments of memory
that hounded her in the name of dreams seemed to have vanished. Nothing new came to
her mind, at least not when she was sleeping. But the same could not be said during her
waking hours. The sequence of recollections after meeting Tae-jun had given her the hope
and confidence of resolving this mystery once and for all, and sooner. However, ever since
the last piece of that conversation, there had been zero progress.

She had thought that her looking into In-bae Lee’s case would help her reach ultimate
evidence that would solve the case, but things weren’t that easy. The more she discovered,
the more complicated it became. She knew with her current resources and the non-existent
power that she possessed, she could do nothing.

Yuri was in the midst of letting out a deep sigh when Tae-jun asked her a question.

“Any thoughts on going back to school?”

“…school?” she said, rather befuddled.

“You wanted to go back. You said you only have one more semester left. The school’s trying
to let the students who were victimized by Seok-ha Yoo return without any unfair
consequences. If you’re going to remain in this field, won’t it be better to at least get your
degree at H University?” He explained.

Graduating from school and getting a job in the field were things she wished for but had
long given up on. She didn’t expect him to bring this up.
“Were you involved in the Seok-ha Yoo incident by any chance?” she asked about the hunch
she had been long harboring.

“Yes.”

“What for?”

“What do you think?”

Yuri was at a loss for an appropriate reply, so she just stared at him. Her eyes met his, and
they remained so for a moment.

Tae-jun lit his cigarette. “You should hazard a guess as to why I was involved in Seok-ha
Yoo’s case. Oh, and also, think about going back to school too.”

They were interrupted by an incoming call. Tae-jun frowned looking at the caller, it seemed
like he had to take this call. While he was preoccupied with the conversation, Yuri started
walking along the river. Her head was full of thoughts.

What exact feeling does Tae-jun have for me? She knew he had positive feelings for her. To
be exact, he enjoyed having s*x with her.

So all of this just for it? No, that didn’t sound right.

Then is it love?

Absolutely not! What kind of love makes a guy think it’s normal to blackmail her with a
contract while being someone else’s fiancé?

He was just crazily attached to her like a greedy man.

Yuri fiercely shook her head as if doing so would eliminate these useless thoughts. She
didn’t want another thing added to her list of problems. For now, she had to focus solely on
her work, her purpose.

The very next moment, she froze as she fixed her eyes on the river ahead.

“Here…” She mumbled, her breathing automatically turned erratic.

She looked around in a trice. The enormous bud tree across the river looked very familiar.
She was certain that she knew this place. In fact, it was the place in her lost memory.

Yuri walked closer to the river for a confirmation. Not even the “Hazardous: Do Not Enter”
sign could stop her. The closer she got, the more horrified she looked.

It was here … This was where Hye-yeon died.

Before she noticed, the ground sank.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 75
Chapter 75

Splash!

Yuri was pulled into the river with an obnoxious uproar. The accident occurred all so
suddenly. She closed her eyes shut.

“Yuri! Yuri Han!”

Struggling to float up pushed her even deeper into the water. She couldn’t breathe. The
water was so freezing that it stopped her from making a sound.

That sounded like Hye-yeon’s voice, or maybe Father’s. Or actually maybe…….

The very next moment, she felt a strong force pulling her up. Gradually, she moved towards
the sky and out of water. She arduously lay on the ground, and when the fit of cough
abated, she finally took a deep breath.

“What were you thinking?! Are you out of your mind?” Tae-jun yelled furiously.

It was only now that Yuri noticed he was soaked as much as she was. Did he just … throw
himself into the river to save me?

Tae-jun looked confused and constricted. He didn’t know how a seemingly perfect girl,
without a preamble, abruptly jump into the water.

“I just … I just remembered something.” Yuri slowly murmured as her lips trembled. It was
so cold that her teeth were clenching.

“You remembered something?” He still couldn’t connect the memory and the jump.

But when he noticed her darting gaze, he followed her line of sight. One by one, people had
started gathering around them.

Visibly annoyed by the crowd, without a word, Tae-jun pulled her up. Yuri shook as she
tried to stand.

“Are you able to walk?”

When Yuri nodded Tae-jun held her by the wrist. The air was unbearably cold for the two
of them, he lifted her trembling body into his arms.

“I know it’s really cold, but hang in there. There’s a pension nearby.” He reassured her.
Tae-jun was also completely soaked from jumping into the water. Was this why his voice
seemed to tremble with a deeper tone? Just like he had said, a pension appeared after a few
minutes of walk.

“Is this … where …?”

“Correct. This is where the Villa President used to live.”

He had passed away years ago, but the house must have remained. Like Tae-jun said,
maybe nobody cared about this house because he had so many already. He entered the
passcode, and the heavy steel door opened up without a racket.

The house was empty with a few furniture covered in white fabric. He took off his jacket
and immediately walked up to the fireplace. Fortunately, there were some woods left. He lit
up the fireplace with a lighter and walked to the master bedroom to bring towels and a
blanket.

“Take off your clothes first, or else your temperature might drop.”

She struggled as she tried to take off her wet clothes because her trembling fingers kept
slipping from the zipper on the dress. Soon he lent her a hand and helped her unzip the
dress, effortlessly taking off her bra and pulling down her tights and underwear. When Yuri
rapidly covered up her body with a blanket, Tae-jun shot her a judging glance.

“We’ve seen each other n*ked countless times.”

Showing her n*ked body was always embarrassing. Unlike Yuri, Tae-jun actively got
undressed and brought the teapot and a couple of mugs. While she dried off her damp hair
with a towel, Tae-jun hung his wet clothes near the fireplace and steamed up the teapot.

“We only have underground water available since nobody really lives here. but I guess it’s
better than nothing.” He cussed quietly as he took out his phone, cigarettes, and his wallet
from his soaked clothes.

“What?” His eyebrows quirked up when he noticed her staring at him.

“It comes so naturally to you.”

For a man of wealth who had the best servants at his beck and call, he was pretty adept at
lighting the fireplace, drying soaked clothes, and boiling water in the pot.

“Done it quite a few times when I go hunting. Sometimes I even bivouac.” He shrugged.

“What’s bivouac?” She was curious.

“To put it simply, it means to sleep outdoors in the mountain. I’ve gone without three days
of sleep when I was super unlucky.”
“That sounds extreme.” It was an honest reply.

Tae-jun poured hot water into a mug and passed it to Yuri. She blew on the water to cool it
down and took a small sip. Finally, her frozen body seemed to warm up. The sudden feeling
of relaxation led to great fatigue.

She felt as though she could fall asleep any second. She tried to take another sip of the
water when she noticed the small letters on the handmade mug. Looked like an insignia, or
maybe a brand name. Yuri read the letters as she tried to escape from drowsiness.

“Ji-ye.”

Tae-jun stiffened. He spat out his words. “It’s the name of the woman that lived here with
my father.”

Oh, that’s what happened. Yuri slowly put down her cup.

Tae-jun looked rather dismayed. “I guess this isn’t news to you since you don’t look so
surprised? Was this on the internet as well?”

“You told me. Don’t you recall?” She looked directly into his eyes.

“I did?” He looked totally puzzled.

Yuri wasn’t at all surprised at his reaction. After all, that was the only day she had seen the
ever-in-control Tae-jun utterly intoxicated.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 76
Chapter 76

— Flashback Begins —

About six months into cohabiting with Tae-jun, one night, Yuri was awoken to the sound of
things falling around. It was dead into the night, and when she had gone to bed she had
been alone. When she went to the living room downstairs to check, she found a piss-drunk
Tae-jun, staggering, grabbing anything that he could hold onto to steady his out of control
body in vain.

Hair out of place, unkempt clothes, reeking of alcohol, he looked every bit the roadside
drunkard at the moment.

When he noticed her standing by the stairs, he waved to summon her. Yuri was kind of
intimated because she had never seen Tae-jun this drunk before.

o Help me undress.

Huffing and puffing, he was tugging at his tie that was seemingly annoying him. Yuri
gingerly drew closer, undid his tie, and took his jacket off. As she did, a whiff of an unusual
scent took her by surprise. It was easy to miss the fragrance of candles coming from under
the dominant smell of spirits, but it had still adhered to his clothes. It was now that her
attention was drawn to his clothes. He was dressed for a funeral.

What’s been going on?

As she slowly unbuttoned his shirt, Tae-jun pulled her closer. In an instant, she fell onto his
body. After a moment his warm tongue glided into her mouth. The taste of bitter alcohol
seeped into her mouth. Then he let go of her lips and embraced her, resting her head on his
chest.

She could distinctly hear the frantic beating of his heart. It invoked a strange sensation in
her, somewhat unsettling.

o … The Villa President that I talked about? That’s my father. Today is the
day that man died, the man who abandoned his wife and his son for some
woman.

He murmured about his father as if he were sleep-talking.

 o Nevertheless … I sometimes miss my father … the man who abandoned
me.

With that, he fell asleep while hugging and petting her.

Yuri stayed still for a while in his arms. She hesitated, but then gently brushed through his
hair. It was her first time touching him with sympathy. She started to feel pity for him. The
grown man who seemed so strong and intimidating was no different from an immature and
unstable boy.

It was from this moment on, that his impregnable exterior started to crumble and the dark
hell that lay behind came into view.

— Flashback Ends —

It was Tae-jun’s voice that stopped Yuri from zoning out.

“Enough with my story, it’s your turn. Tell me what did you remember? How astonishing
was it for you to make you jump into the river?”

“I didn’t jump into the river. I just forgot that I was in an area where the ground could
potentially sink.”

Yuri hesitated, she had yet to make up her mind about whether it was okay to tell him the
truth. There was nothing to be certain of except for one fact: Tae-jun Seo would never do
any harm to her. The man was many things, but somehow she could not see him as
someone pushing her into danger. She decided to follow her instincts.

“…… That was where Hye-yeon Jin died. And if I’m guessing correctly, I think I witnessed it.”

Although it was a few measly words, the weight they held was enormous. Unable to bear
the burden, Yuri fell asleep in an instant. In truth, she had passed out. The dip in the river,
the struggle to stay alive … her energy had been sucked dry.

Tae-jun gazed at the slumbering figure as his mind wandered around the confession she
had made.

o I was the last person whom Hye-yeon Jin encountered before she died.
After that, I witnessed her death … It was definitely not suicide.
Somebody murdered her.
Somebody murdered Hye-yeon Jin? He made a mental note to take a deeper look into this
claim.

Tae-jun examined the two phones he usually carried around. One seemed to be dead but
luckily his personal phone was waterproof. He bit on his damp cigarette and called Jin-
wook .

The man immediately responded.

o “Yes, Sir.”

“We need to look more deeply into Yuri. Find out what happened to her after she went
missing.”

o “Do you mean 4 years ago?”

“Correct. And you told me that you’ve met the officer who was responsible for Hye-yeon
Jin’s case? Were there any peculiar details?”

o “What do you mean by peculiar details?”

“The last person Hye-yeon Jin saw before she died was Yuri. Yuri witnessed Jin get
murdered.”

o “Did Ms. Han regain her memories?”

“Only partially.”

Jin-wook was speechless for a minute. He cautiously talked about the stories of the past.

o “To be honest, the officer did throw some questions during his investigation.
She drowned but her lungs weren’t full of water. It was logical to suspect
murder in regards to all the evidence, but back then I believed that it had
nothing to do with Ms. Han, which is why I did not report it to you.”

“If there were proofs of murder, then why didn’t the police investigate into it?”
 o “A person of high authority pressured them to end their investigation. It
didn’t even reach the National Forensic Service. Mr. Jin wanted to keep
things quiet too. They even skipped the funeral and cremated the body.”

“By high authority you mean …”

o “You’re right. It’s In-bae Lee.” He completed his boss’s words for him.

He’s in this again, In-bae Lee. Tae-jun chewed on his cigarette.

“If it was a murder, then who killed Hye-yeon Jin, and for what reason?”
 Chapter 77
Chapter 77

It was the most essential question to be asked. Also, if Hye-yeon Jin was murdered, then
why did Myeong-je Jin act so atypically towards his own daughter’s death?

o “Why are you curious? Isn’t it irrelevant?” Jin-wook asked.

“It’s not irrelevant once Yuri is a witness. If I were the criminal I would get rid of the
witness first.” In no time, Tae-jun had thought this through. As of now, Yuri Han’s existence
had yet to be discovered. How could one be sure that it would remain so? When a father
didn’t say a peep about his daughter’s murder, this was just a chauffeur’s daughter after all.

o “I’ll look into it.” Jin-wook replied with a heavy voice.

After hanging up, Tae-jun added more firewood upon noticing the temperature was going
down. There’s a two-week gap between the day Yuri left his house and the day Hye-yeon
Jin’s corpse was found. He wondered about the things that had led to her memory loss.

Cold, Yuri curled up into a ball. Oh no, she can’t end up getting cold after Manager Choi
trying so hard to keep her warm.

Tae-jun benevolently pulled Yuri towards himself. She instinctively snuggled into his warm
chest. The feeling of her slender arms felt magical. Her gentle breaths tickled his neck and
triggered his nerves.

Was it because he had been abstaining recently? Her bare body sticking to his was too
much of a challenge to his self-control. His rational mind was reminding him of how weak
she was to be touched at the moment, but his senses were throwing a tantrum. He knew he
couldn’t give in, most critically, he hated when Yuri looked pressured and intimidated by
him.

Thus, he resigned to calmly hugging Yuri and trying to control his desire when he noticed
the mug she was drinking from. It was one of the few objects of his father that had not been
moved to his own house.

Ji-ye. Was that woman’s hobby pottery?

Tae-jun added strength to the arm that was holding Yuri.

I am not like my father. I will never tolerate anybody hurting my woman. Whoever it happens
to be, I will not accept it. Not even In-bae Lee.

Tae-jun kissed Yuri’s forehead as if he was etching a vow.

Jae-won arrived at the bar earlier than promised. He greeted the bartender he was close to
and took a seat. This was one of Si-yeon’s favorite bars in the neighborhood. The bartender
embraced him and offered him a Glenfiddich.

He took a sip into the drink and enjoyed the moment of relaxation. It had been the busiest
two weeks of his life. From a betrothal of a rich family to a couple of celebrity weddings and
unofficial VIP meetings, he was all around the place. When he thought he could finally take
a break, the ‘Me-Too’ accusation against Seok-ha Yoo happened.

By the time he had wrapped up his tasks, he felt as if he had aged by five years. He was
planning on enjoying his drink and just dropping dead in bed tonight.

“Is the general manager not joining you today?”

It must’ve looked extremely unusual to the bartender that he was drinking by himself, but
it was true that he never did. Jae-won glanced at his watch and shook his head.

“She’ll be here later. She has an after-party to attend.”

“I see. I have something to tell you before she comes back.”

“What is it?” His sly tone made Jae-won fix his posture.

“She’s a frequent customer, and she told me to tell you that she’s interested in you Sir.”

The bartender handed him something. It was a name card. The words ‘Let’s get in touch.’
was written in cute handwriting. She identified herself as a model.

“Is she a model?” Jae-won asked the bartender.

“She is. She’s been making the front covers of the magazines recently. She’s really
beautiful.”

Jae-won smirked and stuck the name card into his pocket. I’ll call her when I get bored.
Then suddenly he remembered the time when he handed his name card to a girl.

o I might not be able to call you back.

Yuri had indeed never called. He thought she was only flirting when she said so but
allegedly she meant her words. He should’ve been able to tell that she wasn’t playing hard
to get.

He got her contact information from the agency, so he could always come up with an excuse
to talk to her. What should he do? He didn’t want to appear desperate but she was perfectly
his type. Should he keep his ego or follow his instincts? It was one helluva question to decide.

While he was in a dilemma, the bartender served him a second glass of Glenfiddich. When
he held up the glass, he noticed Si-yeon walking in through the door. It seemed like he had
no choice but to take her home.

After his family told him not to get “s*xually involved with a future family member” when
he took her home after an after-party, he was reluctant to get into that misunderstanding
again. He looked at her pathetically.

“Why are you so drunk?”

“I wasn’t in the best condition these days. It was my party with that branch … I kept
accepting drinks to be polite and I went past my limit.” Si-yeon took a seat and ordered 3
cocktails. It was an old habit of her to order a bloody mary with a tomato when she thought
she was getting close to her limit.

“What did your department store decide to do regarding Seok-ha Yoo?” Jae-won asked Si-
yeon.

“We’ve decided to sue him, of course. There are still two years left on the contract for our
collaboration. There’s a rumor that his wife is filing for a divorce.”

“That’s stupid. From what I’ve heard the wife’s reaction to this incident was ridiculous. I
heard she treated the victims as if they were gold diggers, and after all of that NOW they’re
getting divorced?”

“I know right?” Si-yeon chuckled as she took a sip of her cocktail.

“How was the after-party??”

“It was great. The stores are making quite a lot these days. Seo Hwa Dang, the restaurant, is
also becoming our branch. Oh, speaking of which, I was at the place for that matter and
bumped into Tae-jun. I think he was with a girl.”

At that instant, Jae-won gave out the loudest cough ever.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 78
Chapter 78

Jae-won cringed as he snorted out the burning whiskey from his nose, and Si-yeon was
laughing at the ridiculous sight.

“Wow, you looked genuinely surprised.”

“Is it true?” Jae-won asked as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“I think so, the person I saw did resemble him. It’s funny how the first person I was
reminded of was Tae-jun, but he does have strong features.” Suddenly, her smile
disappeared, she gazed at her best friend suspiciously. “But what’s up with that reaction?
You know something about this?”

“I-It just doesn’t make any logical sense. You know Tae-jun’s on vacation, right? He usually
goes hunting bison or something in some wilderness or practice shooting at the range. But
he’s seen at Seohwadang? It’s so random …”

Hold a second, Seohwadang? Jae-won was thinking rapidly. Isn’t Seohwadang the favorite
restaurant of that woman? The woman Tae-jun is looking for, the one who’s dead, the one’s
who’s Hye-yeon Jin but not actually Hye-yeon Jin… It’s good that he actually found her,
because he would’ve done anything to find her until he actually did. But wasn’t it too risky to
go places and be exposed to the public with her?

The Seo family tended to not interfere with their son’s dating life. However, marriage was a
completely different story. As long as Tae-jun was compliant with an arranged marriage,
the family did not care about anything else.

This went on to say that ethics and morality took a backseat when it came to business-
marriage. So, matters like how many mistresses he kept, brothels he visited, so long as they
were away from the limelight no one batted an eyelid.

Mrs. Go, Si-yeon’s mother, on the other hand, was well-known for her feisty personality.
She held a tight leash on matters business and personal. Si-yeon herself too was cold-
hearted compared to her bubbly appearance. Many things that girls her age took an
interest in, like affection and love, this businesswoman had never paid mind to them.

The reason behind Jae-won’s exaggerated reaction was the person he was most afraid of-
Chairman Seo, Tae-jun’s grandfather. No matter what the members of the Seo family were
up to, they could never escape this old tiger. He would turn a blind eye to everything his
children and grandchildren did, except for matters involving the arranged marriage. In this
regard, the old man would spare no one who interfered with his arrangements.
His worst fears were becoming reality. Jae-won emptied his glass in one go as dread
smuggled upon him.

On the ride back, Yuri was lost in thoughts. She had visited the place Hye-yeon died in
order to retrieve her memories but had failed to do exactly so.

Why did it have to be there out of all the places?

If her memory was accurate, that place was an old storage area of Jinseong Province. The
more she thought, the more confused she was. More questions whose answers she knew
not emerged.

Why was she with Hye-yeon in the first place? She tried to clear his thoughts but it was
easier said than done. She tried to think hard, trying to piece the bits of information she had
…

Yuri scowled in frustration which caught Tae-jun’s attention.

“Are you not feeling well?” he asked.

She turned to look at him. “No, I’m fine. It’s nothing to worry about.”

With that, the car returned to silence. Between her musings, it struck Yuri that she didn’t
feel uneasy like expected after a bout of drenching. She was susceptible to cold, just a few
minutes under a drizzle would set her up for days with a blocked nose and fever to say
nothing of a dip in freezing water. She was a hundred percent sure that she would catch a
cold, but surprisingly, that never happened. It probably helped to fall asleep in the arms of
a man with a warm body temperature and to have a hearty meal.

When they were almost home, Tae-jun broke the silence by asking Yuri a question.

“So, what’s your plan afterward?”

“Plan? What do you mean?” She looked at him confused.

“Your plan after you regain your memories. If you were right about Hye-yeon Jin’s murder,
what are you going to do about it? Are you going to call the police? That would be tricky
since the investigation ended years ago.”

“I know it’s going to be difficult. Nobody is going to be kind enough to reopen a case that
was finalized years ago simply because of my memory and no evidence.”

She knew that the police would not cooperate especially if the suspect was In-bae Lee. She
knew her recollection would only throw her into another kind of torment- seeing the guilty
live life king size. But what could she do? Go up against them with nothing to back her, not
even a shred of evidence? Who would heed her?

She had thought of this eventuality, her silence right now was proof.

Tae-jun tapped on his steering wheel as he wondered curiously. “You were looking to
retrieve your memory without any plan?”

“You don’t understand. You never will. You’ll never know the pain of not being able to
remember something so significant. A person I loved died before my eyes. I should never
forget that.”

That wasn’t all. Who, and why, was anyone trying to kill her? She had to know the truth to
protect herself. She didn’t know if she was out of danger for sure, she didn’t know if it was
being in the States that got her four years of lease to her life. Right now, she needed to
unearth the truth in order to keep herself secure, no matter how twisted the logic sounded,
this was all she had.

Tae-jun leaned his elbow on the window deep in thoughts.

Yuri was struggling with fatigue. She wanted to go home and take a long rest. Oh, the
medications… She suddenly remembered she had not taken her medications for the past
few days. The antidepressant wasn’t that essential, but she thought she should not forget to
take the other medications when she got back home.

They drove away from downtown and entered a calm suburban neighborhood. The car
entered the parking lot and came to a stop.

Yuri hastily unfastened her seat belt to get out of the vehicle, but the door stayed shut.
 Chapter 79
Chapter 79

When she turned to look at him, Tae-jun reached out to the black box to turn the power off.
Yuri stared at him curiously.

“What are you-?”

Before she could finish her sentence, her seat was pulled back. Tae-jun attached himself
onto her body and roughly pressed his lips onto hers and unzipped her dress.

“Wa …Wait!” Yuri grabbed his hands bringing him to a halt.

“Does it have to be… HERE?”

They were a staircase away from home. At home, there was a large soft bed. Yuri couldn’t
understand why this man was throwing his body onto her in the car at a parking lot.

Tae-jun was not pleased when she stopped him. He raised his eyebrows and pulled down
her hands. His hard member was bulging in his pants. Yuri was so surprised that she tried
to get away from him, but he stopped her.

“I was like this the whole time I was driving … All because I want to pen3trate you.” His
voice dropped, his head even more.

He impatiently took off her br@ and devoured her brea*ts. Yuri could feel his tongue
teasing her flesh. His hand was already playing around with her private area underneath
her underwe@r. As her cl!t was rubbed, she cried out in rapture.

“I want to shove mine into you and come inside you-” He mumbled, while a long finger
made it into her entrance. She arched her head back as the sharp sensation assaulted her
senses. His moist tongue l!cked her neckline and yet another finger made its way in. “- until
it squirts out of you.”

“Oh … Hmm~.” Muffled moans slipped her lips, she turned her head to the side.

“You’re getting wet easily now.”

Satisfied and excited by her response, his fingers wandered inside her. He started to kiss
her lips. Her cave greedily swallowed his fingers, tightening around them firmly soaking
them in her juices. His trail of kisses made their way downwards to her neck and rosy buds.
By now, her whole body was bathed in a hue of wine under the ministrations of the man
intoxicated by pleasure.
Now that her den was moist enough, he retrieved his fingers, stripped his pants, and freed
his throbbing shaft. Then, immediately grabbing her ankles, he placed them on top of the
seat.

“What are you doing!”

Yuri was startled to find herself sitting in a position that resembled a perfect “M”. Her
hidden features were so visible.

“Licking it, of course.” His lu*stful eyes never once left her honeypot.

“No, just … let’s just do it … I haven’t even washed-”

Other than being inundated, she hadn’t taken a proper shower. She felt disgusted at the
thought. However, Tae-jun did not stop and spread her folds with his finger. It was
completely w*t from excitement. It looked quite delicious to his eyes.

Tae-jun tickled her den, Yuri helplessly squirmed. He then opened up her legs further.

“You know that your scent turns me on so h@rd?” Tae-jun growled.

Her heavy breathing made him crazy. Her soft mo@ns were music to his ears.

Yuri could not help but twist her waist. Her legs were wide apart, and her tongue was
trembling. She tried to stop the man attacking her cherry with his tongue, but her ankles
were firmly held. It was going to leave a mark, a symbol that represented her everlasting
attachment to Tae-jun.

Whenever his tongue moved into her, she squeezed her toes from the tickling sensation.
Her sensual voice rang through the car.

“Hmm… my… goodness-” She could not stop the notes of plea*ure leaving her full lips.
Suddenly, her body froze and unrestrained rained over the leather seat.

“I should change the seat covers.” A pleased Tae-jun murmured.

Yuri was busy panting when he pulled down his pants. His already erect rod glided
smoothly into her hold. She arduously held back her scream.

Tae-jun sank as deep as he could, zealously swaying his hips. It was his first time indulging
at a place other than a bedroom. He was mightily ar0used, and the woman’s sensuous
appearance, still bathed in the afterglow, excited him even further.

Her core desperately played with his manhood. He let out a groan as he fell into a pattern of
going back and forth. Her body joined his rhythm, moving up and down. When his thrust hit
her hard, she felt herself on the brink of losing sanity. The car shook as the pair arduously
plunged into the ocean of coit@l ple@sure.
When she peaked, he too basked in his ecstasy, pouring his seed into her, until the last
moment. When she felt the hot liquid disperse inside of her, she firmly held onto his sturdy
back, trembling.

But he didn’t pull out. As he peppered her with kisses and fondled her domes, the one-eyed
monster stood upright declaring his stance.

Again? Here?

Before she could come to terms, they’d switched position. She snuggly sat atop him, as he
worked her hips. As the slapping of flesh transitioned into a carnal bliss in the enclosed car,
the air filled with a damp, squishy noise.

The second round lasted longer than the first. Unlike before, they were even more
passionate as they let loose themselves, surrendering to the other. This was different from
all the other times in which one dominated the other one. This time their actions and
feelings were mutual.

Yuri swayed in a seductive dance, unbridled she rode him … discovering and rediscovering
the sensu@lity. Tae-jun immersed himself in the whirlpool of seduction and thrill
embracing an euphoria he had never experienced.

After their long, amorous interplay, she lay nestled in his warmth. She heaved, face
radiating her inner ecstasy as she pressed her forehead onto the taut shoulder. Reveling in
this bliss, his sturdy arms enveloped her, gently stroking her back as he lowered his lips to
her neck.

Time stood still as a serene silence shrouded the entwined bodies, allowing them to etch
this moment in their hearts … forever.

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 80
Chapter 80

Ever since she returned from Jinseong, Yuri could not leave her bed for three days straight.
To be more exact, she could not leave Tae-jun’s arms. He ate most of the meals in bed and
even carried her to the bathroom. Was it because he worked out intensely on a regular
basis? His energy and virility were simply incredible. He coveted her as if it was the sole
purpose of his vacation.

It was ironic. He had tasked Manager Choi to help recover her health with nutritious meals,
but now that she was healthy again, the very man was exhausting her even more. She had
to endure him twice and even thrice in one night. To his credit, this avaricious man was
actually controlling his pace. What’s more, he even kept her hydrated and let her get
enough sleep.

But he tried to stick to her skin every little second. Her body was filled with his seed. Even
beasts that lived for s*x, by s*x, and because of s*x would not act as wildly as he was. It was
appalling how a person’s desire could be so intense.

But who was she to blame? Wasn’t she the one mo@ning in pleasure under his skin?

Yuri couldn’t even get herself together while the man was getting ready for work. Tae-jun
finished dressing up, walked towards her, and patted her bare back.

“I should tell Manager Choi to get some expensive supplements for you.”

Supplements to make me more exhausted? Yuri deliberately let out an audible sigh.

“You’re insane. Instead of getting me supplements, you should think about refraining
yourself. ”

“Did you not look at the mirror yesterday? You were so beautiful nobody could have
refrained from you.”

The word ‘mirror’ made her blush. Last night, he was enjoying a session in various
positions in front of a mirror that covered an entire wall in the dressing room.

“… You pervert.”

“It’s not like I enjoyed it by myself? And I’m actually trying my best to stay on the same pace
as you. You’re way too weak.”

There’s no way he can be holding back! She screamed in her mind but said nothing.
Tae-jun looked genuinely disappointed. He pouted while rubbing her buds. Yuri’s body
reacted immediately. She pushed him back and pulled up her blanket.

“You’re not thinking about staying home today, are you?” She glared at him.

Ta-jun chuckled as he got up from the bed.

It was an hour after Tae-jun left, that Yuri finally got out of bed. She wanted to get some
sleep while she was free of his touch but instead decided to do some more research on
Sang-gu Park.

She stopped her indifferent steps to the restroom when she was in front of the mirror in
the dressing room. The dresser that was completely sabotaged last night was squeaky clean
and neatly organized. However, the finger marks left on the mirror reflected the memories
of last night.

o Oh …!

The man’s pants and the woman’s mo@ns filled up the entire dressing room.

o No. Look directly in the mirror.

Tae-jun’s voice sounded very relaxed. He reached out to elevate her face. Yuri had no
choice but to gaze into the mirror. She was so flustered that even her neck was dyed scarlet.
The dresser was brightly lit to make everything clearly apparent.

The large mirror that was as big as the entire wall portrayed a woman and a man,
completely bare without even a hint of fabric around. Yuri’s eyes met with the woman in
the mirror. Her pale skin was covered with red marks. Her pair of wet and round buds
shook as they followed her every movement.

The n!pples that the man so eagerly played with his tongue were ripe as juicy berries.
Underneath them was a long hard stick that was stabbing the woman’s cherry.

Tae-jun very slowly turned his waist and endlessly tickled her cl!t. Yuri desperately tried to
withhold the peaking only in vain. Her body spazzed out and arched backward.

o Ah … ah!
The translucent nectar slid down her thighs and dropped on the floor. Her legs lost
strength and she dropped to the floor. She held his arms and pleaded.

o Sto … Stop it. I’m too exhausted to keep standing up.

Seeing her own n@ked body through the mirror was enough to stimulate her excitement
more than usual. Her body would not stop wetting.

o You keep finishing by yourself … that’s why.

And it’s all his fault! Yuri glared at his eyes touching his private area through the mirror.
The man in the mirror was truly enjoying the situation. His rod was upright even after
relieving several times.

o I have just started this round.

Tae-jun pushed his hot member inside while pulling her towards him, maintaining the
position. Yuri naturally ended up sitting on top of him and noticed his predatory glare. The
position allowed the man to pen*trate even more deeply, and their actions were more
exposed to the mirror.

Her core was wide open, welcoming his member from the tip to the base. She was so
shocked at the view that she tried to close her legs but the man meanly held her thighs
firmly and kept them wide apart.

She bit her lips and shook her head, she was ashamed. Her pale legs wide apart, her black
forest, pink, flustered flesh, with large meat deeply wedged into her were all enough to
make her feel embarrassed. However, what made her feel so weird was that she was
enjoying every second of this situation. Tae-jun’s panting became hastier as if he was
feeling the same.

o Look closely at how ecstatically you’re devouring me.

He held her hips and shook her up and down repetitively. She could see his wet rod
constantly tickling her senses. She was embarrassed and hid her face behind her hands.
How the man would not take his eyes off her. Unable to endure it any longer, she pleaded.
 o Please … I’m too shy for this.

o How come? Your beauty makes me go insane.

Tae-jun sounded genuinely puzzled. His hand felt her lips, neck, and traced downwards. He
grasped on her bosom, then slid down her ribs and to her flat stomach. He was gentle like
he were touching an exquisite and delicate piece of art. His finger stopped on her thighs.

She shook mildly.

o Put your hands down and look in the mirror.

His words were like a spell. Yuri obeyed him as if she were bewitched and looked at Tae-
jun’s eyes through the mirror. He licked her neck, keeping eye contact all along.

o It was only you … I only have you … the only one who makes me lose
control.
 Chapter 81
Chapter 81

He was not the only person wrecked by s*xual desire. The look in her eyes reflected his
feelings. She had plunged into this bottomless abyss, willingly.

Locking his hands onto her waist, he shoved himself inside of her. A squeaky racket
obnoxiously hit his ears. He made her lean on the mirror and propped her chin up.

o You better remember … How you look when I come inside you.

The woman in the mirror turned crimson. Her eyes were teared up, her cherry red lips
quivered. She had on a dreamy expression, her beauty triggering him full on. He felt
nauseous, every nerve of him seemed to react to her.

Yuri was on the verge of tears, but she did not stop squeezing and relaxing on his shaft. She
was ravening for every single drop of his seed. She did not want to admit it, but her body
desired him.

“Hmm …”

Yuri sighed as she took off her clothes and stepped into the shower. There were so many
afterimages running through her head. Her fingers were acting on their own like when she
was focused on her work.

When her slump impeded her from drawing, the people around her sincerely
recommended s*xual int*rcourse. She even had a coworker who got her inspirations from
indulging in debauchery.

But Yuri had shaken her head every time. It was impossible for her to build up such a
desire. She enjoyed lewd s*x in her dreams. She could never imagine sleeping with
someone in real life.

But ever since she started having s*x with Tae-jun, the fantasies that she had tried to resist
were starting to colonize her mind. What she saw through the mirror last night, the
scorching heat and tension, the energetic man, the bleary-eyed woman, were all wildly
boosting up her artistic creativity.

As she was lathering up the body wash all over her body, she noticed sem*n flow out from
in between her legs. It was as if Tae-jun, who would always affectionately clean her with a
towel after a session, had left a mark to indicate his possession of her. But no matter how
much he tried, there was no chance that he would impregnate her.
Yuri carefully scratched out the residue in between her legs.. Her body felt too weak to
function properly anymore. She silently looked down as yesterday’s residue was washed
away.

⸙⸙⸙
In the living room downstairs was Manager Choi awaiting her. Once she saw her, she
greeted her. “I was just about to wake you up for breakfast.”

The dining table was filled with platters of delicious dishes prepared for Yuri. Chicken soup,
cooked abalone, crab, steamed sea bream, eel and galbi, an assortment of vegetables,
pancakes, and three types of kimchi. The quantity was more than enough for a party.

The menu intimidated Yuri. These were all foods known to build stamina. She didn’t have
to think hard as to whose brains this idea had popped from. She inwardly sighed and
resigned to her fate. The man was hopeless in this regard.

After she had finished her meal, Manager Choi handed her a small shopping bag.

“What is this?” she asked, puzzled.

“It’s the phone you used. The director had asked me to get it repaired, but I thought it
would be better to replace it. Once it’s been in the water, it won’t function properly like
before.” She smiled politely.

“Oh, thanks.”

She’d completely forgotten about the demise of her phone, but she was more surprised that
the man had already dealt with it without her saying so.

When she turned on the phone, she was greeted by a series of missed calls and messages. It
was Roy Jean who had left the most calls as usual. He must have been worried sick about
her. She made a mental note to call him back and read through the list of missed calls. She
noticed Hyeon-ah Kim’s number.

Could it be … that she found Hye-seong’s number? Yuri hastily called her back.

o “Hello?” Hyeon-ah Kim’s drowsy voice sounded from the other end.

“Manager Kim, it’s me, Yuri. I saw that you had called me …”

She was no longer a manager, but Yuri couldn’t come up with an appropriate way to
address her. After all, it was a habit she had picked up when substituting Hye-yeon. The
woman on the other end too didn’t seem to care. She simply continued with the
conversation.

o “Did something happen? You didn’t reply for a while.”

“I’m sorry. I dropped my phone in water so I had to get it repaired. Do you, by any chance,
happen to know where Hye-seong is?”

o “Sorry. I don’t.”

She was disappointed by the firm response. Then why did she call? She silently waited for
the other side to speak.

o “To be honest, there’s something I was debating on whether to tell you or

not, but I think it’s right to tell you. It’s about Mr. Han’s accident.”

“About my father’s accident?”

o “It’s not something to talk through the phone. I would like to see you. Can
you come to the café?”

“I will. It would take about an hour or two.” She quickly agreed.

o “That’s fine. I’ll wait.”

Yuri hung up the phone and rushed to get dressed. Information about her father’s accident
… her heart was pounding.

However, before she could even take a step out, Manager Choi blocked her way.

“Where are you going, Ms. Han?” Her words were polite but assertive. Apparently, this girl’s
previous “shopping” had not bode her too well it seems.

“I have someone to meet. May I go out?” Yuri caught her drift and decided to take the
peaceful way out of this. After all, throwing a tantrum to have their way was something
only children would do.
“Of course you may, but you will go with a driver and guards. And I will report this to the
director. Will that do?”

Her boss would bring the roof down on all those breathing if this woman went missing. And
Manager Choi was someone who never committed the same mistake twice, nor had to be
told something twice.

Yuri nodded. Tae-jun wanted to help her recover her memories, so there was no reason for
him to hinder her from meeting Hyeon-ah Kim. Besides, it was just a car and escorts, she
would live with it.

⸙
 Chapter 82 - Temporary (1)
Chapter 82 – Temporary (1)

What secret is Hyeon-ah Kim holding onto?

The journey to Jinseong was filled with anxiety and thoughts. She didn’t completely trust
the former manager, but she worked for the Jins for a decade or so. So, she was someone
who would know something about them better than her. She had to face this no matter
what it held in store for her.

A sudden phone call almost jolted the jittery Yuri. She thought it must be Tae-jun checking
on her, but instead, it was Roy Jean. Yuri happily answered the call.

– “Yuri? Is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me, Yuri.”

– “Where were you these past few days? Is everything okay?” His voice was a mix of worry
and concern.

“Yes, I accidentally dropped my phone in water. I just got it repaired.”

– “I thought something happened to you.”

“I apologize for not calling you. I’ve been preoccupied these days.”

– “You’re taking your medications properly?”

“Yes.”

She felt bad for lying but she didn’t want to worry him. Roy finally seemed relieved.

– “How are your memories? Are you making progress?”

“I’ve retrieved a few. I’m actually on my way to speak to someone who has an essential key
to the secret.”

• “Secret? What secret?”

Yuri hesitated for a moment, then answered.

“Murder.”

That was all she could say at the moment.

⸙
“Welcome.”

Yuri walked into the café, and Hyeon-ah Kim greeted her. Her face was calm as usual, unlike
someone who was about to reveal a secret.

“You’ve come a long way. Aren’t you tired? Do you want something to drink? Coffee? Juice?”
She offered as if they were meeting casually.

“No thanks, I’m fine. What was it that you were trying to tell me about my father?” Seeing
the other party’s carefree attitude, Yuri broached the subject.

“Why so hasty? Take some time to breathe. By the way, who drove you here? There are
some suspicious-looking people outside over there.”

“I told you before. I know a person. They’re all hired by that person.” She wasn’t
comfortable with how the woman was being nosy. If it weren’t for the information, she
would have walked out.

“Oh right, Tae-jun Seo.”

Yuri’s eyes widened when Hyeon-ah mentioned his name. She had not mentioned this
name ever but still, she knew.

“How do you know him?” she asked, a little guarded now.

“I saw him the other day, didn’t I? He’s quite famous. I’d seen him at Hotel Jinseong several
times too. He got engaged recently, didn’t he? Is it okay for you to meet such a guy?”

“I just asked him for a favor while I’m in Korea. All aside, can you tell me about my father?”

“Of course, I keep losing track. Now’s not the time to talk about Tae-jun.”

Saying so, Hyeon-ah led her to a table. As Yuri was about to sit down, she heard a sound
from the storage.

“Is someone in there?”

Hyeon-ah Kim was bringing coffee. She looked at the storage and shook her head. “There’s
a cat in there once in a while.”

“Oh, I see.” Yuri’s eyes lingered a little in the direction of the voice.

“You seem to have gained some weight than before. You were always gorgeous, but you
look way better. Don’t you have guys queuing up for you?” Hyeon-ah Kim insincerely let out
a joke as she took a seat.

Hyeon-ah seemed so nonchalant, that Yuri felt suspicious, even so, she had to play along.
“Now tell me about my father’s accident.”

“To be honest … your father’s accident, might not have been an accident.” Her tone was
grave as she spoke.

“What did you say?”

The truth was revealed at an unexpected moment. Hyeon-ah examined Yuri’s reaction as if
she was looking out the window watching a passing scene, and then calmly bit on a
cigarette. She puffed out a thick cloud of smoke and started her story.

“Was it a day before the accident … Maybe two days before? President Jin and Driver Han
had an argument in the hotel lobby. Mr. Jin told his men to take him away. ”

“Father fought with President Jin? Why?”

She couldn’t believe this. Father argued with President Jin … The father she remembered
obeyed every single command and agreed on everything the president said.

“I don’t know the details, but from what I heard, Mr. Han had his hands on Mr. Jin’s
possession. I remember Mr. Jin furiously running around to have it back. Then, the accident
happened. It’s strange. Your father would never drink because of his job normally, but he
got hit by a car when fully drunk.”

“How could this be …”

Yuri clenched her fist.

“Did you tell the police about this?”

“The police?” Hyeon-ah Kim sniggered. “Honey, don’t you know what kind of frauds the
cops at Jinseong are? They’re not going to flinch an inch even when they hear the story.”

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Now!
 Chapter 83
Chapter 83

Yuri realized she was right. The lawmakers of this city could give the lawbreakers a run for
the money. Even if Hyeon-ah had gone to them even with substantial proof, they would
have just shrugged it off. And the man in question was a well-known personality, the list of
policemen on his payroll would be never-ending.

Suddenly, she was drained of all energy. Yuri held up the cup with her trembling hands and
took a sip of the coffee. She had to organize her thoughts. Now was not the time to crumble
and fall.

“Then why are you telling me this now?” she asked.

“You left for the States, and I didn’t have the authority to request a new investigation. But
when I heard you came back to Korea, I thought it was appropriate to tell you.”

Was this the truth? She didn’t know. If President Jin was the criminal, there’s nothing linked
to Sang-gu Park and In-bae Lee. Actually, Sang-gu Park shared a link with In-bae Lee and
Mr. Jin, so … fine. But what about herself? What about Hye-yeon Jin?

“Do you know what my father was trying to take from Mr. Jin?” She prodded.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. Was something missing from his belongings?”

“I don’t know. My uncle took care of it instead of me.” Yuri sighed. She remembered
nothing, not even her father’s funeral. Those ten or so days were such a big mystery.

“Why don’t you take a look into it? It might become essential evidence to reopen an
investigation.” Hyeon-ah suggested.

If there was evidence, a reinvestigation did not seem so impossible. But for that, where
should she look for the evidence, and was there even any?

Yuri got out of Hyeon-ah Kim’s café pale and frozen. The driver who was opening the door
looked concerned.

“Madam, Are you okay? You look very sick.”

“I’m just a little tired. I would like to go home and rest.” She politely replied.

“I understand.”

Yuri got in the car and leaned on the seat with her eyes closed. There were so many
questions … What was her father trying to take? Why did her father, who was ever so loyal
to Mr. Jin, suddenly have his hands on his possession, and what was this thing that even
triggered a murder?

She was going in circles. All this thinking and surmising was taking a toll on her, her head
started to ache. She could not breathe or move. She needed to take her medicine.

Yuri took out her medicine box from her bag. She took a pill and hoped that it would help
her and counted the remaining pills. She discovered she might not have enough for her
month-long business trip.

She had to go back to the States for a refill of her medication, and there were so many steps
to follow on the way back at the airport because the medication contained an ingredient
that was illegal in Korea. Luckily Davis and Roy were a great help, but she still had to waste
an entire day at the airport. It was awful just thinking about it. She doubted that Tae-jun
would allow her to go to the States alone anyways.

She had to double-check on her father’s belongings, so she did need to visit the States, but
how?

Fortunately, she was not as pale when she arrived home. She was drowsy from her
medication, and just dropped on her bed. She took a nap until Tae-jun came home and
woke her up.

Tae-jun asked Yuri, who was struggling to open her swollen eyes. “I heard that you met
Hyeon-ah Kim in Jinseong. Did she say anything helpful?”

Yuri was about to tell him about her father, but she hesitated. She remembered what
Hyeon-ah Kim said to her.

He got engaged recently, didn’t he? Is it okay for you to meet such a guy?

Okay, maybe there’s no need to mention Father … Their relationship wasn’t going to last
anyways. They were bound by a contract and he had a fiancée. Sooner than later they were
to part.

More so because she was of the opinion that her relationship with Tae-jun should only last
until she recovers her memories. She didn’t want him to go through her struggles. There
was no point in bothering him with her problems.

He didn’t owe her anything. Also, she couldn’t be a part of his life either. They came from
different worlds that were never supposed to intersect. It was a trick of fate that their paths
had crossed, but it was only for a short time. So it was safe to say that neither was obligated
to the other in any way. Then, why entangle when the time to break free was near?

Yuri said in a deep voice, “No, there was nothing helpful.”

⸙⸙⸙
 Chapter 84
Chapter 84

Perhaps it was her grogginess or something else, Tae-jun didn’t pursue the matter. He let
her be.

“Is that so? Have you had dinner yet?” he asked.

“No.” She replied, still struggling to open her eyes.

“We’ll eat first.”

By the time dinner was served, Yuri was wide awake. She was contemplating when and
how to broach the taboo topic plaguing her at the moment.

Yuri waited until Tae-jun put down his spoon before she started talking. “May I ask you a
favor?”

“What is it?” Tae-jun looked surprised. She had never asked him for a favor. In fact, she had
hardly ever asked him for anything. “What is it? Is there something you want to buy?”

Yuri was startled at how he was immediately about to call Manager Choi to give her a credit
card.

“It’s not that … I want to visit America.” She spoke hurriedly.

“America? The States?” Tae-jun’s face immediately hardened. This wasn’t something he had
expected.

However, Yuri calmly proceeded to say the things she’d memorized. “I told you that I was
thinking about going back to school. Well, I want to discuss things with my uncle. He’s
always worried about me. I need to talk to the agency manager about the period remaining
in my contract too.”

“You can’t do that in Korea?” He was obviously annoyed. He was not about to let her out of
his sight.

Fearing things will go south before even she had a chance at it, she persuaded him as
desperately as she could. “I need to get a refill from my pharmacy too. I’ll be back as soon as
possible.”

Tae-jun fixed his eyes on the girl for a while. The cry of plea in her voice and eyes were
hard to miss. After a moment, he reluctantly nodded. He must have been persuaded by her
mentioning her refill.
“How long would it take you?”

“About ten days.”

“No, that’s too long. I’ll give you a week,” he said flatly.

“I’ll waste two days already at the airport and on the plane. How would I possibly come
back in a week-”

“No? Then forget about it.”

There was no room for negotiation, she had to concede. “Fine, a week.”

“Under one condition.”

“Which is?” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“I want you to get an examination at Seoin Hospital after you come back from America.”

“I already got a check-up in America. My body’s fine.” She argued.

“I get to decide that. So what are you going to do about it?” His gimlet eyes pierced her,
making his intention loud and clear. He didn’t care about her opinion, in fact, he wasn’t
asking for one. It was all of it or nothing.

Yuri knew better than anyone how obstinate he could be. If he took things up as a
challenge, it would be even worse. She simply sighed, resignedly. “Fine, I’ll get an
examination. Are you happy?”

“Manager Choi’s going with you.” He declared.

“Manager Choi?!” She was taken aback now.

“She’s a great help while abroad, speaks three languages, so you would have nothing to
worry about. Or do you want Assistant Jung to go instead?”

Apparently, she was not going to go alone, so it was better for Manager Choi to follow her
than Assistant Jung. She was comfortable with this woman. Yuri agreed and just when she
thought this was the end of the conditions, the man spoke again.

“You will call me from there. Morning and night, twice a day.”

How many conditions were there? And a phone call twice a day? It’s not like she was a
prisoner that just got released. He has Manager Choi to watch her every move! Her mind was
screaming at the man’s unreasonable demands. She was a little irritated now.

“Manager Choi will report everything to you anyways. Why do I need to call you?” Her tone
was full of displeasure. But his next words were totally unexpected.
“You think you and Choi are the same?”

“…” She was silent for a brief moment. “Okay. I’ll call you.”

This was characteristic of Tae-jun Seo. The guy would always come up with things that
were impossible to rebut, the other party would have no choice but to toe the line. In fact,
even if they did have a rejoinder, they would not dare to speak up knowing just how
dangerous this person was. This way, he would always have his way no matter what.

To be honest, she was tired of it. But there was nothing that she could do about it. she just
shook her head and rose from her seat, about to leave but Tae-jun grabbed her arm. There
couldn’t be something else he wanted to add. She worriedly looked at him.

Tae-jun grinned. “We need to have a week worth of s*x right now.” He scooped her in his
arms and walked towards their bedroom.

It was just as she expected.