Speak of The Devil Chapter 41

“I mean, think about it. My place or the villa, it’s not that different, right?”

He was coming across so shamelessly that I had nothing to say. I didn’t have the energy to argue with him about going to his place or the residence he was suggesting.

Getting annoyed was tiresome. I just felt indifferent. After all, if it was Gapyeong, it wasn’t that far, and based on past experiences, it was an area I could easily return from if I wanted to.

Giving in to what Jung Yiyeon wanted felt like losing, but I didn’t feel like getting angry and fighting either. So, I just let out a deep sigh and stayed silent.

Well, since we were going all the way to the villa, maybe doing it one more time tomorrow, like last time, wouldn’t be so bad. It would definitely be quite a strain on the body, but after doing it twice, there would only be one time left, so it wouldn’t be impossible.

…He even said himself that it would end after ten times, so there was no need to worry unnecessarily. Since it turned out like this anyway, there didn’t seem to be any problem with taking it easy.

“Haven’t eaten dinner? Is there anything you want to eat?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

“Then let’s have a traditional Korean meal.”

He really seems to like traditional Korean meals. Of course, it was a good choice considering the wide variety of options available.

Thinking of a traditional Korean meal reminded me of the place he had taken me before. All the dishes were delicious, and the soju I had tried for the first time was also excellent. The only problem was that I got too drunk unexpectedly. This time, I silently promised myself not to drink.

While waiting at a traffic light, Jung Yiyeon made a phone call somewhere.

“Manager Yu. It’s me. Please make a reservation at the place I mentioned earlier. We’ll arrive within 30 minutes.”

Jung Yiyeon quickly finished his business on the phone and hung up. I was a little puzzled by his actions. While I had often worked overtime as his secretary and accompanied him on weekends for his schedules, I had never received a sudden request like this to make a reservation.

“…Is there a new secretary?”

“No. That position is for you…”

If I said I left it empty for you, I might just fill up the space with the side brake of the car running to Gapyeong. It seemed like Jung Yiyeon heard the voice of my mind, as he paused for a moment.

“I’m the Director of the Planning and Strategy Division at headquarters.”

“I didn’t know you used headquarters resources.”

“Even though it’s from the headquarters, it’s technically under the chairman’s secretary team. I never felt the need for it until now, so I never took advantage of it. But now, I’m giving it a try.”

Feeling somewhat uneasy, I remained silent.

Jung Yiyeon was clearly the CEO of a conglomerate, a third-generation heir of the Galaxy Group, a subsidiary of the Galaxy Hotel. When he took over the hotel, his grandfather, Chairman Jeong Pilwon, made Jung Yiyeon purchase a considerable stake in the hotel, as if preparing him to separate the hotel business from the group. Looking at the current structure of the group, if the subsidiaries were to be separated, the hotel business could easily be detached from the group.

Given that, Jung Yiyeon should have had a secretary office and a security team by his side, like any other conglomerate scion. However, he was someone who didn’t even have a proper assistant for performing secretarial duties in the company. Although there was a secretary office in the company, it was mainly composed of in-house secretaries performing administrative tasks, and the role of the office manager was limited to public areas. Instead of a third-generation conglomerate heir, he acted more like a salaried CEO.

It felt somewhat awkward to think that such a person was now operating a secretary office befitting a third-generation conglomerate heir. It was surreal that a man who would personally take the wheel, loiter around for hamburgers, and sometimes buy convenience store lunches would delegate something as simple as dinner reservations to someone else…

“As for your relocation…”

As I tasted the unfamiliar feeling, Jung Yiyeon suddenly brought up my relocation. Since I only needed him not to interfere, I didn’t insist on specific details.

“If you have a place in mind, I’ll prepare accordingly.”

“Well, it sounds like anywhere is fine.”

“It’s easy within the Galaxy Group. Besides, I should do it, even if it’s not. I promised, after all.”

A promise. As Jung Yiyeon said, the relocation was a promise. But why did it feel like such a prickly subject when he said he would arrange it? Was it because of my pride, not wanting to rely on him for help?

“As long as Jung Yiyeon doesn’t interfere, I’ll handle it.”

“Haha. Yeah, you seem to have a lot of people you want to handle.”

Although it wasn’t a pleasant conversation from my perspective, Jung Yiyeon laughed. His laughter implied that accommodating all my dirty whims was a significant accomplishment.

“If you want more rest, take it.”

“During this time, my living expenses… Should I use Jung Yiyeon’s card?”

“If it’s just receiving, it’s my honor.”

“Ah, if you spout nonsense one more time, I’m out.”

With a firm tone, Jung Yiyeon shut his mouth. However, there was a slight smile playing on his lips. He seemed quite pleased with the current situation.

A sigh escaped me involuntarily. I turned my head towards the window. What am I doing right now? I felt a sense of unease. But on the other hand, compared to the suffocating atmosphere of last week, this seemed better.

Yes, rather than the lukewarm ending that would have fizzled out without any communication, a definite end where everything promised would be fulfilled seemed preferable. Although the relationship started with Jung Yiyeon’s coercion, if I fulfilled the ten times and then started a new job in the position I desired, I felt I would truly be at peace.

And so, Jung Yiyeon and I were heading towards the end.

The hanjeongsik restaurant Jung Yiyeon took me to was different from before. However, it went without saying that the food was exceptionally delicious. Especially the soy sauce marinated crab was so tasty, it took me by surprise. Just that dish alone could make you polish off a bowl of rice, and the other side dishes were also delicious. So much so that I ended up overeating until my stomach was full.

I tried not to drink alcohol, but I couldn’t resist the sweet fragrance emanating from the clear liquid in the pottery pot. It had a different taste from the soju I had before. If there was anything comforting, it was that I succeeded in controlling my alcohol intake this time.

However, thanks to the alcohol, sleep washed over me again in the car. Since Jung Yiyeon was driving, I didn’t feel the need to stay awake, so I didn’t resist the encroaching sleep. I woke up again when we arrived at the villa in Gapyeong.

Once inside the villa, Jung Yiyeon led me to the bathroom with a jacuzzi. As I soaked my body in the pleasantly warm water, my body and mind relaxed completely.

It felt like I vaguely understood the reason why Jung Yiyeon had invited me to the villa. In this secluded space, my nerves relaxed very easily. It was a trip that I thought was tiring even to stand up for. Just the fact that I had come here on my own made my mind loosen up a bit more.

“Ah, please…”

However, no matter how much that was the case, Jung Yiyeon was really clinging too much. Despite my body already feeling hot, he kept pressing his lips against mine, and in the end, I turned my head and pushed him away.

“Nan-ah.”

But Jung Yiyeon called my name and pressed his lips against my neck. He hugged me without my consent and rubbed his hips against mine. The sensation of his body rubbing between my spread legs felt extremely strange.

The lips touching my wet skin felt incredibly ticklish. I flinched, but Jung Yiyeon persistently kissed my jawline, neck, and collarbone. At the same time, he repeatedly aimed for my lips, as if eagerly seeking them out.

“Ah…”

As his hot fingers squeezed my chest underwater and his thumb brushed against my nipple, I gasped. Seizing the opportunity, Jung Yiyeon’s lips enveloped mine, and his tongue pushed its way in. My already constricted breath became even more stifled by the kiss that ensued.

Yet, it was undeniably a moment of mixed sensations, both tender and euphoric. If my partner wasn’t Jung Yiyeon, I might have relished this sweet sensation, hoping it would last forever.

But because it was Jung Yiyeon. No matter how resolved I was to reciprocate his advances with a relaxed attitude, I couldn’t completely ease my mind knowing he was my partner.

“Wine…”

Pushing Jung Yiyeon away again, I murmured. Only then did Jung Yiyeon withdraw slightly from me. He retrieved a bottle of white wine from the ice bucket and filled a glass before handing it to me.

The sweet yet tangy liquid went down my throat. The chilled wine was so refreshing that I emptied the glass in one gulp. Jung Yiyeon took the empty glass from my hand.

Then, his lips pressed against mine again. His tongue entering my mouth, warmed by the chilled wine, felt hot. The moisture in the humid bathroom seemed even thicker. Breathing felt more difficult than before. With blood already rushing faster due to the heat, it seemed like the wine’s intoxication was accelerating even more.

As I sucked on Jung Yiyeon’s invading tongue, I was sucked in by his entangled tongue and lips. Because of Jung Yiyeon’s caresses, my libido surged up to my head. It would be perfect to just go at it like this, but Jung Yiyeon, while fondling my buttocks, didn’t touch the inside. My erect member was also left unattended.

“Quickly…”

I don’t understand why I’m supposed to be impatient and restless.

“If we’re going to do it, let’s do it quickly…”

“I’m going to tease you slowly while biting and sucking all night.”

“Ah, damn it… I’m not doing it.”

“Okay, okay. Come here, I’ll suck you off.”

As I tried to push him away, Jung Yiyeon chuckled. Pretending to release me, he grabbed the edge of the bathtub and flipped me over, lifting my waist and buttocks. His hand slipped between my legs and gripped my genitals.

Why bother sucking me off in this position? When that question pierced my mind, Jung Yiyeon’s lips engulfed my scrotum, sucking it deeply. A tingling sensation surged along my spine as his nose brushed against my perineum, making my back shudder.

“Ah…!”

Jung Yiyeon slowly squeezed my penis. Meanwhile, he relentlessly teased my testicles with his tongue and lips. Then, he licked along my perineum and jabbed at the edge of my anus, which felt incredibly malicious.

“Ugh, ah!”

His finger dug into the crease, and as I trembled with discomfort, Jung Yiyeon chuckled and bit my buttocks.

“Do you really hate it when I lick here?”

By “here,” he meant the area he was probing with his finger. A shiver ran down my spine as his finger teased the sensitive folds and crevices.

“Ah…!”

But I couldn’t respond. More accurately, I couldn’t find the opportunity to respond. Jung Yiyeon didn’t expect an answer from me.

“…”

I silently screamed as his slimy tongue slithered beneath me, exploring and teasing. The intense sensation overwhelmed me, and my vision blurred momentarily.

I hated it. It was still too much. Too dizzying. And yet, still too pleasurable.

“Ah, aah…”

I couldn’t help but collapse into ecstasy from the pleasure of his hand gripping and shaking my genitals, and his tongue teasing my membranes. Eventually, I reached the peak in Jung Yiyeon’s hands. He squeezed and shook my genitals, licked and sucked from behind. Overwhelmed by the nauseating sensation, I could only gasp for air.

Sometimes, Jung Yiyeon would suck on my testicles like eating candy and use his fingers to tease the back, causing me to moan helplessly as he pressed deep into my walls.

Thanks to the fact that his hands, which were caressing my genitals, weren’t particularly vigorous, I couldn’t help but climax. Jung Yiyeon released me only after my genitals ejaculated thick semen and went limp.

The post-orgasmic lassitude engulfed me, and it persisted even after washing up and returning to the bedroom. Since it was the refractory period after ejaculation, the desire for sex had vanished. I was already thoroughly satisfied. Although Jung Yiyeon’s lips and tongue had stimulated me intensely, there was no need for penetrative sex. I had even taken a bath, and my body felt lethargic—I simply wanted to fall asleep.

The problem was that Jung Yiyeon wasn’t satisfied yet. As I removed the sheet and sat up on the bed, he looked at me with dazed eyes and asked, “Shall we stop?”

Already aroused since the bathroom, Jung Yiyeon asked as if he could stop if I wanted. His grin annoyed me for no reason.

“Do you think once is enough?”

“No way.”

Damn bastard… Even in my dazed and listless state, I cursed internally and grumbled.

Jung Yiyeon leaned in to kiss me. His tongue slipped between my lips without hesitation, teasing and wandering inside my mouth. Amidst this, he gripped my genitals again. Despite the soft and weak sensation, his touch was only ticklish.

“Just quickly… Let’s fuck.”

“What’s the fun in that?”

It may be fun for you, but it’s not fun for me… If only I could say that aloud.

“Haah… Mm…”

It was my first sexual encounter in ten days. The sweet sensation of Jung Yiyeon’s kisses and the teasing touch on my genitals gradually aroused my body again. Despite feeling completely satiated, I knew from experience that sex with Jung Yiyeon could provide more than just satisfaction.

How exhilarating would tonight be again? It felt like my innermost desires, which had not been fully satisfied, were pulsating with excitement.

Jung Yiyeon’s lips left mine and lingered on my chest. He provocatively licked my nipples for a long time and teased them with his fingers. Not only that, but Jung Yiyeon, who seemed sincere in his promise to suck and nibble all night, left his lips all over my body. Every inch of my body tingled as if it were on fire. When Jung Yiyeon finally took my penis into his mouth, I was fully erect once again.

positioning himself between them, Jung Yiyeon squeezed the gel onto his palm and teased my genitals. Why did the already dauntingly erect member seem bigger than before? Without realizing it, I found myself salivating in anticipation.

“Nan-ah.”

As if it had become a habit for Jung Yiyeon to call my name anew, he beckoned me and pressed his lips against mine once more. Since avoiding his tantalizing kisses was no longer an option, I used my hand to block his approaching mouth.

“Ugh…”

Instead, I inserted my index and middle fingers between his lips. With my palm pressed against his chin, I slid my fingers, teasing his tongue. And like inserting my penis during fellatio, I explored his mouth with my fingers. Slowly, but sensually. When my fingers slid under his tongue, teasing the underside and intertwining with his tongue before pushing deeper, Jung Yiyeon’s face flushed anew.

“Haah…”

Jung Yiyeon sucked on my fingers, exhaling heavily. His hand reached below me, eager for contact.

“Ugh…! Ugh!”

Then, his penis began to penetrate. The entrance, loosened by the teasing of lips and tongue, widened eagerly. His slick penis, wet with gel, slowly delved inside.

As the sensation of his penis pressing against my walls intensified, his hand, which had been teasing inside his mouth, slipped down to his shoulders. I moaned, gripping his shoulders tightly. It was as if my body, melting with pleasure, was welcoming him with open arms.

“Ha…”

Breathing heavily, Jung Yiyeon pushed his penis all the way inside me. My body convulsed with the dull ache piercing my abdomen. It felt like a blazing fire was burning inside my flat lower abdomen.

“Guh, Hnng…”

With his hot hands gripping both sides of my hips and pressing my thighs apart, my body bent in half. The penetration was too deep. It felt like my insides were being pushed upward by the fully-filled penis. Breathing became difficult, and it was hard to endure. My toes curled in the air.

“Ah, Ugh… Ugh…”

“Haah, Nan-ah. Lee Nan.”

Deeply, deeply thrusting, Jung Yiyeon began to move his hips. As he pulled his body back, a sensation of emptiness seemed to fill the void below. Then, as he plunged back inside, flashes burst before my eyes.

I endured the overwhelming sensations, crumpling the sheets with the back of my head. Enduring the thrusts that drove his member deep inside and teased my waist finely before plunging forcefully, I couldn’t help but moan. With my mouth gaping open in pleasure, sighs and moans escaped uncontrollably.

“Uh, ugh, ah! Aghh, hnng!”

There was no way to suppress the instinctual cries. I moaned and gasped as Jung Yiyeon thrust into me. Consciousness seemed to fade away. In the dizzying pleasure, I held onto Jung Yiyeon’s back. It was difficult to breathe under the weight of our bodies pressing against each other, and the heat of our contact was unbearable, but I couldn’t help but cling to him.

“Lee Nan… Lee Nan.”

Jung Yiyeon repeatedly called my name as he thrust himself into me. It felt chaotic inside, overwhelmed and subdued. Every time he thrust deeply, my body involuntarily twitched. Especially the movements of my walls, squeezing and convulsing around Jung Yiyeon’s member, were beyond my control.

After releasing my legs, Jung Yiyeon embraced my body instead. Instinctively, my legs wrapped around his waist. As he thrust again, his lips met mine, pressing down from above. My lips, already parted from gasping, tangled messily with his.

“Lee Nan….”

Ah… No matter how intoxicated I was with the heat of sex, is it appropriate to call someone so tenderly like that? Was Jung Yiyeon capable of calling someone so affectionately? For a moment, my chest felt tight, but Jung Yiyeon’s relentless thrusts left no room for thoughts or emotions to linger. It was just exhilarating and dizzying.

The black pupils staring down at me. Why did their gaze feel so intense? Jung Yiyeon kissed me multiple times, moving his hips to stir me up inside while kissing me as if unable to resist.

“…Nan-ah….”

And as if unable to resist, he whispered like a sigh.

“I love you.”

Mad… This crazy bastard.

At that moment, I wanted to curse. If it weren’t for Jung Yiyeon’s lips sealing mine, preventing me from saying a word…

“…!!”

And at that moment, if it weren’t for his member thrusting roughly, penetrating me to the deepest depths…

You crazy bastard, didn’t we agree not to talk nonsense…!

I probably would have screamed like that.

“Ah…! Ah, ah……!”

But due to the steep peak that overwhelmed me, I couldn’t utter a single word. The timing was ridiculously perfect. Overwhelmed by the immense wave of pleasure to the point where I couldn’t push Jung Yiyeon away, I writhed and moaned indistinctly, held in his embrace.

While Jung Yiyeon continued to thrust his member into me, holding onto my body, I couldn’t see his face. I couldn’t discern his expression. As if he didn’t want to show his face, or…

As if unable to bear the confession of love that poured out uncontrollably, I couldn’t see what expression I was making. Jung Yiyeon held me tightly, and I, overwhelmed by unbearable pleasure, couldn’t release my arms from around his back. The overwhelming climax made me dig my nails into his back.

“Ah…!”

Amidst the overwhelming ecstasy that was hard to contain, a low voice echoed in my ears. I love you. A phrase I had wanted to hear from Jung Yiyeon someday. But now, a phrase I hadn’t even imagined hearing reverberated in my mind like a mantra.

We were heading towards the end. Just like our relationship would be completely resolved with the few remaining times we had sex, the sex we were having now also seemed to be nearing its end.

As I writhed in climax, Jung Yiyeon didn’t let go of me. As if by doing so, he could continue what was coming to an end. Holding me tightly, Jung Yiyeon occasionally whispered my name. He didn’t say he loved me again, but it was as if my name served as a substitute for those words.

“Nan-ah. Lee Nan.” That night, amidst the endless hours of ecstasy, Jung Yiyeon whispered my name multiple times.

***

When I woke up in the morning, even though my eyes were open, I wasn’t myself.

I couldn’t tell how long I had slept, or if it was even a short nap. My eyes were swollen and my body felt sore, devoid of any strength. Yet, the last time I had sex at the villa, I didn’t feel this drained. Maybe I’ve aged a bit since then, but this time was downright torturous.

Is this what they mean by post-coital blues? Moreover, the state between my legs was a complete mess. It felt as if my pelvis had been widened from how sore it was, and there were swollen creases. It felt absurdly empty now, despite being filled just yesterday. Amidst this emptiness, there was a persistent stinging sensation somewhere inside.

“Ah, damn it…”

Getting out of bed made profanities involuntarily escape my lips. Every step felt like a death sentence, as my insides were throbbing with pain. Furthermore, my waist, hip joints, and even my knees were in agony.

The reason my knees hurt was from being in a kneeling position for too long. And in various ways… gripping the bed with hands and knees until it seemed impossible to continue, I fled towards the headboard, only to be pursued by Jung Yiyeon, who continued to press against me, wedged between the headboard and Jung Yiyeon. I couldn’t bear it anymore and lay down, but the problem was that Jung Yiyeon continued to thrust into me relentlessly. The result is my current state… Just walking to the bathroom made my legs wobbly. Is there such a thing as post-sex cleanup, not knowing when to stop?

“You bastard…”

Entering the bathroom and seeing my miserable body in the mirror, I couldn’t help but curse. My entire body was covered in red marks, not to mention the untended areas on my back and between my legs. Looking at my swollen nipples, I suddenly felt like dying a little. It felt stingy for some reason, damn it.

As I cursed, I washed my body. Is taking a shower once supposed to make your hands tremble like this? It was a truly exhausting time to wash my body with no energy, feeling limp and lifeless.

After drying off and putting on a gown, I still felt dizzy as if floating in mid-air. Who knew excessive sex could be this detrimental to health? Meanwhile, my hunger had subsided.

I looked for my phone in the room, but it wasn’t visible. Nor could I see my clothes. So, I just left the room in my gown for now.

Looking back, where could the culprit of this situation, Jung Yiyeon, be? If I were to suggest doing it twice yesterday, they’d probably refuse. But we did it twice yesterday for real, damn it. It feels unfair.

When Jung Yiyeon suggested spending the night at the villa, I had plans to finish it twice in my head. However, it wasn’t the same as yesterday’s method. Jung Yiyeon is not someone who would ever admit to doing it twice. So if I were to stick to my plan, it means we have to do it again today…

I absolutely didn’t feel like it. Judging by my current condition, even tomorrow seems like a stretch. Then why the hell did Jung Yiyeon bother coming all the way here?

Just listening to the nonsense of love. It’s ridiculous.

Grumbling inwardly, I descended the stairs to the first floor.

Firstly, Jung Yiyeon wasn’t in the living room. So, I went towards the kitchen, where the smell of food started wafting. My stomach, feeling empty as if it had been hollowed out, grumbled at the scent of food.

Surely, I couldn’t imagine Jung Yiyeon cooking. During the days when he worked, whenever we spent the night together after work, we would either have dinner beforehand or bring something to eat. Even when he came to my place, didn’t we just eat convenience store food or order in?

So, I didn’t expect Jung Yiyeon to cook with such a delicious smell. But still…

“Oh, you’re up?”

I couldn’t have imagined a middle-aged woman with a cozy demeanor cooking in a house where two men had spent the night having sex. I was startled by the sight of the woman busy cooking in the kitchen.

“Dinner is almost ready. Please have a seat.”

“Who…”

“Mr. Jung called me and asked me to come. Please, have a seat.”

Jung Yiyeon called a housekeeper here…? Of course, I expected someone to take care of his spacious house and handle the household chores. But to call someone to a villa we would only stay at for a day. It felt strangely annoying.

I couldn’t ignore the maid’s kindness in preparing the meal, so I silently took a seat.

She placed a freshly cooked bowl of white rice and a soup filled with plenty of beef in front of me. I tried to help set the table, but she insisted, so I just sat there dazed. It was a perfectly prepared homemade meal with bulgogi, various side dishes, and even a fried egg at the end.

“Um… Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Yes. Please enjoy your meal and leave the dishes. I’ll come and clean up later.”

“Oh, okay… But where’s Mr. Jung?”

“He had some business to attend to and went out for a moment, but he’ll be back for dinner. Please, enjoy your meal. If you’re hungry later, feel free to heat up anything in the fridge.”

With a very polite attitude, the housekeeper greeted me and stepped back.

Being alone now relieved me of any burden. I picked up the spoon, erasing any lingering awkwardness, and started eating. The food smelled excellent from the start, and the taste was beyond words. After finishing all the side dishes, I brought the empty plates to the kitchen sink and did the dishes.

Lastly, when I opened the fridge to drink some water, I found several bottles of water inside. And there were also some ingredients and side dishes left from today’s meal… though it seemed like there wasn’t too much left. Why bother…? I didn’t think much about it until I finished drinking the water.

Coming back upstairs to the second floor, I returned to the bedroom. I remembered Jung Yiyeon had taken clothes out of the wardrobe before, so I checked it and found clothes inside. From suits to casual wear… there were more clothes than I expected. Why bother…? As I thought about it again, I noticed several unopened new underwear, so I put on one of them and took out a shirt and pants.

But I couldn’t find my phone anywhere. It wasn’t in the bedroom or the bathroom. I even checked under the bed, but couldn’t find it.

Could it be in Jung Yiyeon’s car, or did I leave it outside while getting out of the car? If not, did I leave it at the restaurant yesterday…? I couldn’t remember the last time I touched my phone.

For now, I decided to look outside. So I went back downstairs to the first floor, put on my shoes at the entrance, and tried to turn the doorknob. Then, I realized something.

The door wouldn’t open.

What’s going on?

I couldn’t move, holding onto the doorknob. I tried shaking the door, but it remained firmly shut. Why won’t the door open? My numb mind couldn’t come up with a proper thought.

Why… Could it be broken? I tried shaking it again, but it still wouldn’t budge.

Could this big house have only one door? I searched the first floor for other doors. I tried opening the visible windows just in case, but even the windows wouldn’t budge. After searching the first floor, I found a door that seemed to lead outside through the kitchen, but it was firmly shut and wouldn’t open.

Neither the windows nor the doors would open. Feeling blood draining from my fingertips, I went back to the entrance. I tried moving the doorknob and shaking the door several times, but it still wouldn’t move.

Then, I noticed a black block on top of the doorknob that I hadn’t seen before. It looked like a door lock. But even when I tried to touch it, there was no response.

Could it be some kind of locking mechanism where you have to insert a key card from the inside to open it?

Detainment. The two words that popped into my head were oddly “detainment.” But without further thought, I went back upstairs. I went back to the room where I originally was and looked out the window. It overlooked the garden and, in the distance, the gate.

At the gate, I could see people. It wasn’t Jung Yiyeon. I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but it wasn’t Jung Yiyeon. Standing as if guarding the gate were two men. Even from a distance, they were tall and well-built, wearing black suits.

The moment I acknowledged that it wasn’t an illusion, I realized one thing: I was trapped in this house.