Chapter 15
“Come down in 10 minutes.”
“How will you have breakfast?”
“We’ll eat on the way.”
“Understood.”
Hee-yeon, as if she were merely a keeper, asked about breakfast with utmost politeness and then bowed respectfully before returning to her room. She hadn’t brought any clothes with her.
While she was worrying about that, someone knocked on the door.
“Yes.”
When the door opened, Manager Kim appeared. She handed Hee-yeon a shopping bag.
“Please wear this.”
“Oh, thank you.”
When she opened the bag, there were a jacket and pants with the tags still attached. When did he even buy these? Seeing how he had even personally prepared her outfit, she felt like she needed to brace herself mentally. Her throat tightened as if something sharp was stuck in it. At the same time, she wondered if there was even an outdoor store open at this hour. But what did it matter?
She just had to follow him.
As she removed the tags, she bit her lip.
No matter what she saw, she must not be surprised. She sincerely hoped her aunt would stay hidden with her brother…
A short while later,
After changing clothes and coming out, the others at the estate looked at Hee-yeon strangely because of her outfit.
“What is that?”
“Where is she going? And why is she dressed like that?”
“I heard she’s going to the provinces with the CEO. Is it some kind of trip?”
“She looks so naive. I bet she’s doing something shady behind the scenes.”
As expected, it easily led to misunderstandings.
Well, it made sense they would think that since Seok-woo himself was taking her out, but unlike them, her heart felt heavy.
Under their piercing gazes, she went down to the garage.
Chief Joo opened the back door.
“Um… shouldn’t I sit in the front?”
“The front seat is for the driver and me.”
“……”
Seok-woo was already sitting in the back seat. The idea that she would have to sit next to him made the discomfort obvious.
Suppressing her unease, she had no choice but to get in.
As soon as she entered the car, a pleasant scent filled the interior. It was Seok-woo’s scent.
The fragrance grew stronger and more addictive, pressing against her senses.
Hee-yeon folded her hands neatly and stared out the window.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
The garage door opened, and the car quickly sped onto the road. It was heading somewhere in Gangwon Province, and it would take at least three hours.
Inside the quiet car, he was looking at a tablet. He was, after all, the CEO of JM Capital.
He would be too busy to have time to casually chase after a subordinate.
Especially now that the chairman was in detention—there must be even more work waiting for him.
He probably doesn’t have enough time for anything… yet he’s spending it tracking my brother.
What did her brother take from him?
Was he looking for the chairman’s mistress? Or the item they had taken away?
She had a feeling it was the latter.
A sigh slipped out of her mouth.
“Are you nervous?”
“Pardon?”
“Today, you won’t be caught.”
“……”
He had a talent for raising people’s blood pressure.
Hee-yeon turned her head sharply and stared out the window.
But her gaze soon shifted to Seok-woo reflected in the glass.
Her insides boiled. No matter where she looked, it felt like her eyes were following him.
Overwhelmed by rising frustration, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Seok-woo, watching her, smiled—but she did not see it.
The road to the villa was lined with azaleas blooming like pink paint poured over the valleys.
Broadleaf trees spread out pale green leaves, stretching wide branches to welcome summer.
Just as she was about to admire the breathtaking scenery, a massive gate appeared before her, stealing her breath.
Ziiing—
The gate opened automatically, and her eyes widened. She had expected a normal villa, but the reality was far more extravagant. It was so grand it might have been even larger than a house in Seoul.
He said my brother took something important… so is this a villa used to store slush funds?
Even if she wasn’t sure, the tight security made it seem like a place storing something very important.
“The chairman’s woman especially liked luxury villas. She used to stay here often.”
“……”
“The woman who ran away with your brother.”
At that moment,
Bark, bark— bark bark!
Dog barking echoed.
Startled, Hee-yeon stepped back as several men appeared, leading large black dogs. The dogs bared their sharp white teeth, making her flinch.
“Bring out So Pil-mo’s clothing.”
A man handed Seok-woo a piece of clothing. He brought it close to the dogs’ noses.
Hee-yeon’s mind went blank.
…It’s over…
The nightmare she had the night before was becoming reality.
She tried to hide her trembling emotions, but Seok-woo, unfazed, continued letting the dogs smell the item.
“If you find him well, I’ll reward you. If you want a treat, work harder.”
“Bark! Bark!”
What kind of treat did he mean? Meat? If so, that meat would be…
A chilling thought made her shiver. It felt as if she was imagining her brother being torn apart by the dogs.
“Begin.”
“Yes!”
Immediately, the handlers grabbed the leashes and moved forward. They ran in step with the dogs as the convoy followed slowly behind in cars.
Bark bark bark—
Around the villa was a large lake. When the scent disappeared there, they loaded into vehicles and moved to the opposite side.
“This is where he abandoned the boat.”
“!”
On the abandoned boat, dried blood was visible. Was it Pil-mo’s blood?
Hee-yeon felt suffocated.
It was said that Pil-mo, wounded by a gunshot, had been supported by Se-ah and climbed into the mountains.
Once again, the dogs were made to smell the scent.
Bark bark bark—
All at once, the dogs turned toward one direction.
“It’s over there.”
“Pursue them.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.”
“If we find them today, it’ll be a family reunion.”
“Please… spare his life…”
“Hand over only the stolen items, and I will.”
Hee-yeon followed behind them as they climbed the mountain trail.
Everywhere there were traces left behind.
Following dried bloodstains, the dogs relentlessly tracked the scent. The closer they got, the more anxious Hee-yeon became.
Please.
Please.
We have to get through this.
But she had no idea how.
Unlike her frantic distress, Seok-woo climbed the mountain trail steadily in his suit and leather shoes.
His movements were smooth and unhurried, completely unshaken.
Compared to him, Hee-yeon felt dizzy.
“Sir, over there. The dogs found where the trail was previously lost.”
“Where?”
Her heart dropped.
Following them, several branching paths appeared.
“It’s a walking trail. That means there’s a village nearby.”
“Yes, there are several villages on the map. It’s likely somewhere around here.”
“He lost a lot of blood. He couldn’t have gone far.”
“Search everywhere.”
“Yes!”
Her strength drained away. The dogs sniffed around, trying to determine which path the scent was strongest on.
What do I do?
What now?
Please.
Someone help me.
At that moment,
Unexpectedly, the previously clear sky rumbled with thunder, and rain began to pour.
Startled, Hee-yeon looked up.
It was raining as if the sky had been torn open—practically a downpour.
Ah—
Brother is alive—!
She silently cheered. In the heavy rain, getting soaked didn’t matter at all.
The rain would erase Pil-mo’s scent completely. The dogs would no longer be able to track him.
“Damn it— the weather isn’t on our side.”
Seok-woo muttered darkly.
Boom— Boom—
Thunder cracked again, and the dogs became restless.
“Sir! What do we do? The rain makes it useless!”
“I know.”
“The dogs are getting agitated from the thunder.”
“Go down first.”
“Yes!”
The first group leading the dogs began descending but slipped.
The mountain trail had become completely slick from the rain.
“Everyone take cover from the rain.”
“Yes, sir.”
Each person scattered to take shelter under large trees. Hee-yeon tried to move to another tree, but she felt that any movement might provoke his displeasure.
Like the sudden downpour, his expression felt like a storm brewing.
“……”
“You look oddly relieved.”
