Chapter 14
“Ha.”
“So it’s not that one. Satisfied now?”
Hyeon pushed the man’s body again. Surprisingly, he let her go without resistance.
Hyeon began picking up the food that had fallen on the floor. Trying not to feel his gaze still fixed on her back, she cleaned up the room and went downstairs.
Only after leaving his sight did the effects of alcohol begin to rise. Her legs lost strength, and she staggered as she walked.
‘Good. This is enough. I just have to keep doing this. I must never look like an easy woman. If I get involved with that man, it’s over.’
Hyeon praised herself for handling the harsh reality well, even if it was bleak.
It was already 1 a.m. when she checked the clock.
The warmth of alcohol spread through her body. It seemed impossible to sleep tonight.
Struggling, she opened the door and went inside, where Yerim had woken up.
“Yerim, you’re awake?”
“Mm.”
Despite being only five years old, Yerim was so composed that she didn’t cry even when she woke up. To Hyeon, she was hope. Love.
Even though she hadn’t given birth to her, she was a child she had fed and raised herself.
Hyeon lay down on the bed and pulled Yerim into her arms.
“I’ll put you back to sleep.”
“Did you drink alcohol?”
“Yes… yes.”
“Who with?”
Hyeon hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly.
“Just… with an uncle.”
“Ohh, that pretty uncle.”
“…Yeah. Right.”
The child, who knew nothing, seemed to think Seok-woo was a good person.
A nice house, a nice car, and a handsome man in the child’s eyes—that alone was enough to lower her guard.
“I like that uncle.”
“What do you like about him?”
“Just… I like him. He looks like a prince.”
“Yerim. You shouldn’t judge people by their looks.”
“Hmph, but I still think he’s a nice uncle.”
Hyeon gently closed Yerim’s eyes.
“Sleep now. You have to go to kindergarten tomorrow.”
She didn’t want to hear Yerim keep saying she liked Seok-woo.
‘He’s a bad person… a gangster.’
To the child, he might look like a prince, but to Hyeon, he was someone to fear.
Someone she had to stay cautious of. But…
A strange feeling lingered.
That faint trembling she had felt in her body. She couldn’t understand what it meant.
She had lived as a poor single mother all her life, never even having dated.
Never once having had a boyfriend, Hyeon had no idea what this feeling in her body was.
Drip, drip.
Drip, drip.
A late-night rain began to fall.
She tried to sleep while listening to the rain, but the rising intoxication and heat made her groan softly.
Of all times…
She shook her head vigorously.
‘I need to stay sharp. If my brother’s traces are discovered tomorrow…’
Her body trembled.
A sense of foreboding wrapped around her completely.
A shabby motel in Gangwon Province. Most of the guests were laborers working at a nearby ski resort construction site.
Since they were construction workers, most were from out of town.
Moving Filmo from the makeshift shelter to the motel had been almost like an operation. With payment given to a large foreign worker, they managed to transport Filmo to the motel.
Se-ah held Filmo’s unresponsive hand and cried continuously.
“Darling…”
“At least he doesn’t have a fever, so that’s good. Can you bring some cold water?”
“Yes, yes.”
On the way from the store, she had gathered medical tools that might be needed for Filmo. Small devices, but enough to check vitals including pulse.
The gunshot wound was not severe—it hadn’t passed through. But he seemed to have hit his head while falling, as he was unconscious.
“How did this… how did it become such a disaster…”
“Ugh… ugh…”
Occasionally Filmo let out painful groans, but there was nothing more they could do.
Taking him to a hospital was a last resort.
Ssshhh— ssshhh—
Seok-woo listened to the rain while drinking wine.
His nerves throbbed sharply.
He looked down at his hand.
The warm air in the room felt strangely heated.
No.
It was the desire he had felt when he saw her lips.
At that moment, he had the urge to bite her tongue slowly.
How many people could look him in the eye without fear?
That boldness, as if no provocation could shake her, had stirred something inside him.
“Interesting.”
Even knowing she was a dangerous hostage whose throat he could slit in an instant, his body was drawn to her.
Of course, that desire was purely instinct, not emotion—but she was clearly different from the other women.
Unlike the women he had grown tired of since birth, she was a clean blank canvas.
What kind of picture should he draw on it?
If he painted it with Filmo’s blood, what kind of expression would her face make?
“Seo Pilmo. Where are you hiding? I have your brother and your niece’s lives in my hands. Come out soon. Then I’ll spare your life.”
Seok-woo lifted his wine glass again.
Buzz—
His phone rang, and irritation surged.
It was that woman again—the one who had brought him into this world out of her own desire.
That disgusting existence he despised.
Hyeon walked aimlessly, her fingers brushing against rough rocks.
Tree roots tangled messily through the stone, and animal droppings were mixed into the ground of what seemed like a cave.
Drip—
A drop of water from the ceiling struck her neck, making her flinch.
‘Am I dreaming?’
Yes, this must be a dream.
She was walking through a pitch-black cave, feeling her way only with her fingers.
Then she heard someone’s groan.
“Who…”
“Hyeon-ah…”
“O-oppa! Oppa?”
Hyeon rushed toward the voice. But no matter how far she ran, she couldn’t see him.
“Oppa! It’s me, Hyeon! Tell me where those things are!!”
Suddenly she stopped.
Filmo stood there, a gaping wound in his chest, crying tears of blood as he looked at her.
“You… shouldn’t look for me.”
“Oppa…”
“If you look for me… you’ll die.”
“Oppa! Oppa!”
She tried to run toward him, but something wrapped around her feet.
Branches from all directions separated them.
At the same time, the branches turned into blades and pierced Filmo’s body.
“Ugh—”
Filmo coughed blood, still looking at her.
Hyeon screamed at the horrifying sight.
“……!!”
She jolted awake.
Haa… haa…
Breathing heavily, she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“It was a dream…”
Even now her body trembled.
She was drenched in sweat.
It was ominous.
Especially a dream like this.
Could it mean they would find her brother today?
No. If he could have been found, they would have found him already.
Her head throbbed.
It was 7 a.m.
She had barely slept two hours after tossing and turning until 5 a.m.
Her head felt like it was splitting from confusion and pain.
Yerim stirred awake.
“Mom.”
“Yes, get ready for kindergarten.”
“Okay.”
Hyeon prepared Yerim’s breakfast and helped her get ready.
A short while later, as they stepped outside with Yerim, she ran into Seok-woo smoking in the yard.
In the morning sunlight, it looked like only above his head was illuminated.
“Good morning.”
“Mm. Yerim’s going to kindergarten?”
He stepped on his cigarette to put it out immediately after seeing her. At least he seemed to maintain basic manners in front of the child.
“Yes! Thank you for the ride yesterday.”
“Don’t mention it. You’ll be late today. Another man will take you to kindergarten.”
“Yes!”
Yerim greeted him cheerfully, and Seok-woo narrowed his eyes.
What.
So she could smile like that too?
It was a different expression, like seeing something unexpected, but not unpleasant.
He hoped Yerim would remain just a guest in this house, not a hostage.
A small, precious guest.
Yerim soon held a guard’s hand and went down to the garage.
“I’ll get ready.”
