CHAPTER 17

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Taeheon’s forearms, gripping the seat, stiffened as he heard Yeonseo’s soft moan. In that moment, he couldn’t deny that he desired this woman.

If all these confusing sensations were to be identified as s*xual desire, he felt like he could put a logical reasoning to his complex emotions.

A fire had been lit.

“Shouldn’t you take responsibility?”

“Sir, mmh…!”

A sweet smell wafted from her neck. Since they used the same hospital bathroom, they should have a similar scent.

It was fragrant and sweet, like honey and flowers spread around. Without hesitation, Taeheon pressed his lips against her neck.

“Mmm!”

He nibbled on her tender skin and sucked on it fervently. Gently brushing her hair aside, he trailed his lips down her neckline.

Slipping between her legs, clad in a skirt, he buried his nose in her skin. It felt like being immersed in seawater. An intense sense of fulfillment surged and soon thirst followed.

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Taeheon discreetly looked down at her. Her pointed chest was rising and falling as she nervously looked at him.

“Rely on me. I’ll take care of you as much as you want.”

“…Sir, someone might see.”

“I don’t care about that at all.”

With those words, Taeheon swallowed her lips again. He savored her soft lips, soft as a sweetened fruit.

One kiss after another, kissing her from different angles, relishing the pleasure that her delicate lips brought. Indecently, he enclosed Yeonseo in his arms, relentlessly nibbling and sucking her lips.

“Stop, Sir. There might be people outside…”

Vaguely, they could hear footsteps in the distance.

“If you want something, just ask. I’ll do my best to fulfill your wishes.” 

“Mm, then I’ll ask. Please… let me go.”

With a smirk, Taeheon grabbed her plump b*ttocks and pressed his hips against her, causing Yeonseo to jump like a startled fish.

“You’re so wet, yet you want me to let you go? How could I let you go when you’re giving off such a sweet scent?”

“Ah……!”

His hand slipped inside her skirt. When his fingers touched her thin underwear, he applied pressure on her chin.

Teasingly, he lightly caressed her soft skin, as if contemplating sending his long fingers into the dark passage, he gently caressed her soft flesh.

“If you’re wearing just a flimsy piece of underwear under this skirt, it’s like you’re asking me to act like a real beast.”

“Sir, hmm!”

His finger brushed past her damp underwear and firmly gripped her lower b*ttocks and thrust her pelvis upward. A wave of pleasure surged through her as if something had been inserted.

Various and hurried gasps escaped from Yeonseo’s parted lips. Their shallow breaths mingled closely in the air.

Usually, Taeheon had no interest in indulging in such acts in a place like this but his body was now eager to do so, without any self-restraint.

Taeheon spoke with a hoarse voice.

“Sleep in the officetel tonight.”

Recognizing the heated atmosphere, Taeheon retreated and pulled up to his seat.

Beside him, Yeonseo adjusted her clothes and sat there in a daze for a while.

Taeheon didn’t press her further. He only watched her with a smirk, his arousal evident and tightly restrained.

The sound of Yeonseo fixing her hair buzzed in his ears.

“Sir, is this what a mistress does?”

As Yeonseo asked with a slightly tearful tone, Taeheon became curious too.

Han Yeonseo, what on earth are you to make someone act like this?

“Why do you want to know?”

“I’m curious if offering myself every time we meet is what a mistress does.”

Seeing that his arousal still hadn’t subsided, it seemed that his primal desires were taking top priority. He had decided to keep Yeonseo by his side to torment Director Woo, but now, he was ready to change his purpose just for the sake of his s*xual desire.

He wanted to scold himself seriously.

“For that, you have to give something in return.”

“Then what have I given so far?”

Yeonseo’s sulking tone as if everything was ruined just because they kissed didn’t sit well with Taeheon. His desire was far from being satisfied.

“A kiss?”

“Is everything you say naughty?”

“Should I be honest with you?”

“Of course you should. How could you not?”

Yeonseo was choking back tears.

“Part of me wants to get between your legs and move my hips. I’m only holding back because I don’t want to do it here.”

Yeonseo’s eyes were wavering, as if she was hearing something unimaginable, she felt like her innocence was being stripped away.

While Taeheon was succumbing to his s*xual desire, Yeonseo had a different purpose.

She had only agreed to the deal to ensure Mrs. Kang’s safety. Taeheon decided to push a little further.

“It doesn’t seem like you will suffer any loss on this. Aren’t you willing to go along with this kind of thing?”

Yeonseo closed her lips, neither denying nor agreeing with the act itself.

“….”

“You’re using me too. I’ll treat you as my mistress until I’m satisfied.”

His burning desire was nothing more than a primal human instinct that needed to be relieved. The issue was that the subject of his desire was Yeonseo, but as long as he kept her by his side, that wouldn’t be a problem.

Taeheon quickly rationalized his actions. If he didn’t, he felt like he would mistake the unexpected mood swings, the head-spinning moments, for something else.

“But I still don’t understand. Isn’t it strange that you have to sort out things with Director Woo and end up kissing me?”

Taeheon’s brow furrowed.

“Do you think what I’m saying is just empty words?”

Yeonseo took a deep breath and asked cautiously.

“Sir… do you want to sleep with me?”

For someone who had lived a life of restraint, s*xual desire was a difficult thing to comprehend. As if being pointed out about it, Taeheon’s heart grew cold.

When he didn’t answer, Yeonseo continued cautiously.

“You’ll get angry if I don’t take the officetel key, right?”

“You’ll end up taking it, so don’t pretend otherwise.”

“Then please give it to me.”

Yeonseo reluctantly accepted the key as if it was offered with good intention. She placed the key in her hand.

Her phone rang loudly, playing a bright and cheerful pop song. To Taeheon, who was more familiar with classical music and instrumental pieces, it was like noise pollution. Thanks to that, the stuffy air in the car slowly dissipated.

“Take it.”

Yeonseo narrowed her eyes as she checked the caller ID. After wiping away the tears from her reddened eyes, she pushed the answer button.

The call was from the hospital where Moon-sik was admitted.

Why would they be calling at this hour? Did Dad get into another accident?

Suppressing her anxious thoughts, Yeonseo answered the phone.

“Hello?”

The voice that came through was that of a nurse, pouring out with agitation.

As the nurse continued to explain, Yeonseo’s grip on her phone tightened. After a while, she replied with a heavy voice.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll be there right away.”

After ending the call, she felt Taeheon’s gaze on her, but she turned away from him, avoiding his unspoken question.

She didn’t have the time and energy to explain the situation to him now. Taeheon, who didn’t hesitate to make s*xual demands, and herself, who couldn’t even refuse him and was being drawn into him.

She realized that their relationship had taken an irrational turn. At the same time, she realizes that it will be difficult to get back on the right track.

His kisses and touches had intoxicated her in pleasure like a drug, and she found herself unable to resist his words.

But for now, anyway, it was more urgent to respond to the call.

“I have to go… I’ll go now.”

“Take my car… I’ll give you a ride.”

“No, it’s okay, really.”

Yeonseo’s pale cheeks were trembling. She needed to be firm in her decision, especially at times like this when she needed to stay composed…

“Han Yeonseo.”

Without answering Taeheon’s call, Yeonseo staggered out of the car and walked away in a daze.

Hyeonho. Hyeonho…

She was looking for Baek Hyeonho.

But the alleyways were like a maze, and she suddenly her legs gave out. Yeonseo sat  hunched over, taking deep breaths. It felt as if cold water had been poured over her.

Her whole body shook as if the blood in her body had been swept away like grains of sand. Nausea was building up.

“Yeonseo? Yeonseo?”

Hyeonho’s voice reached her from a distance.

“Yeonseo! Why are you like this?”

Approaching with a rough voice, Hyeonho grabbed her wrist and helped her up. Yeonseo leaned against him weakly, as if all her strength had drained away.

“What’s wrong? Why are you like this? What happened?”

It was fortunate that Hyeonho, who asked straightforwardly, was the only pillar of support Yeonseo had. But at the same time, it made her sad, and Yeonseo bit her lips tightly.

Yeonseo tried to focus on Hyeonho’s face and expression, but her vision was blurry as she spoke.

“…It’s my dad.”

“Why? Did the man get into an accident again?”

“He’s dead.”

He’s dead, Hyeonho.

“….What?”

Yeonseo held Hyeonho’s arms tightly, feeling deflated.

“How… What do I do now, Hyeonho?”

“Ha, damn… What are you talking about?”

“They said he killed himself. He cut his wrists with glass shards in the bathroom…”

Yeonseo’s eyes wrinkled. As she spoke, the vivid image of Moon-sik’s final moments became deeply ingrained in her mind.

“Dad said he wanted to get out of the hospital, but I told him not to…it’s my fault”

Hyeonho ‘s arms tightened around Yeonseo’s small back.

“Why would that be your fault? Ha… it’s not like that.”

“I should have just let him leave. I should have just… listened to him.”

Her weak voice was filled with self-blame as she trembled.

While Yeonseo was kissing Taeheon and responding to his touches, while she was recklessly surrendering herself to him, while she questioned herself for such foolishness, Moon-sik was dying.

During the time she kept thinking about Taeheon, about the heat and resentment he left behind, Moon-sik felt the impulse to end his life.

“Hyeonho, I killed him.”

“Don’t say that! Yeonseo, please, Yeonseo…”

Hyeonho’s heart was pounding as he held Yeonseo close.

“Let’s go together. That’s what we should do.”

Hyeonho tried to console her, even though he was surprised himself. Yeonseo lowered her eyes. She hated this dark world too much.

“What do we do… what do we do…”

A sob escaped, and the tears she had been holding back burst out. Hyeonho’s steps quickened as he held the crumbling Yeonseo tightly in his arms.