Chapter 41

The words hit me like a blow to the chest. My whole body stiffened, a tremor running through me before I even realized it. My breath caught, uneven.

Slowly, I pulled back from her embrace, searching her face with wide eyes. “W-What do you mean?” My voice cracked despite me trying to steady it.

She didn’t flinch. Her hand rose, brushing my cheek with a tenderness that only made the pit in my stomach grow deeper. “I mean,” she said evenly, “your enrollment ends today. I’ve already made the necessary arrangements. By tomorrow morning, you will no longer be a student there.”

“No…” The word fell out before I could stop it. My chest tightened, my throat dry. I stumbled back a step, my hand clutching the edge of the sofa like it was the only thing keeping me upright. “Yuna, you… you can’t just—”

Her reply cut through me like a blade. “I can.” Calm. Absolute. Unshakable. She stepped toward me, each click of her heel against the marble floor sounding like a verdict being delivered. “And I did.”

She continued, lifting my chin gently with her fingers, her gaze locking onto mine. “And starting next week, you’ll be working in my company.”

“W—What?” I stammered, shocked by his words. “Yuna, why are you doing something so unnecessary?” My voice trembled, sharp at the edges. “My semester ends in just a few weeks! Why can’t you just wait?”

Her gaze never wavered. Calm. Certain. Almost frightening in its stillness.

“I can’t wait any longer,” she said evenly. “Just look at what happened the moment you were out of my sight. Parasites already trying to cling to you.”

Her words cut deep, and I knew she was talking about Sera.

I clenched my fists. “Yuna, that’s not fair—”

“Haemin.” Her voice softened unnaturally, almost sweet. “I already forgave you for what happened, knowing I carried some of the blame too. Don’t you think this is a small price to pay?”

I shook my head furiously. “N-No. I don’t accept this. Just… just let me finish my semester.”

“Haemin.” Her voice dipped low, warning me.

“I haven’t even properly said goodbye to my friends.”

“Haemin.” This time her tone carried a sharp edge, her eyes darkening with irritation.

“I even studied hard for the upcoming exam,” I continued, desperation creeping into my voice.

“Hey, Haemin.” Yuna’s voice trembled with barely contained anger.

“Why are you doing this to me, Yuna?” My voice cracked despite myself.

“Enough!”

The single word cracked across the room like a whip. My whole body jolted.

Her eyes were darker now, her patience thinning. “Can’t you just follow what I’ve arranged for you?”

Her voice wasn’t a request. It was an order.

My chest tightened, anger and fear tangling inside me. “No! I don’t want to follow. I can’t believe you did this to me!”

Her eyes narrowed. The irritation she had been holding back surfaced. She reached forward suddenly, trying to seize my hand.

I dodged, stepping back. My heart hammered as I turned and walked away, refusing to look at her.

“Haemin.” Her voice was low now, dangerous. “Where are you going?”

I didn’t answer. I walked straight to the guest room, slammed the door shut, and locked it. My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped the handle.

For a few seconds, there was silence. My breath came in ragged gasps as I leaned against the door, trying to steady myself.

Then—

Knock, knock.

“Haemin,” Yuna’s voice called from the other side, unnervingly calm. “Open the door.”

“No. I don’t want to. Just leave me here tonight.”

“Haemin.” Her tone dipped, firmer now. “Open it… while I’m still speaking nicely to you.”

“No!”

Silence.

I almost thought she had left—

But then.

BANG!

The door shook violently under her kick. My body jolted in shock.

Another BANG! the lock rattled. 

BANG!

On the third kick, the lock gave way, the door bursting open with a deafening crack.

I stumbled back in terror as she stepped inside. Her presence filled the room—eyes cold and fixed entirely on me.

“Y… Yuna…” My voice trembled. I was pressed against the bed now, nowhere else to go.

She walked toward me slowly.

“Why, Haemin?” she said coldly. “I talked nicely, didn’t I?”

Her voice was calm, but her eyes—her eyes cut straight through me.

I shrieked softly as her hand shot forward, tangling in my hair and yanking my head back. Pain flared across my scalp, and I whimpered, my hands instinctively clawing at her wrist.

“Yuna—it hurts!”

“Does it?” she murmured coldly, leaning closer. Her breath was warm against my cheek, but her words cut like ice.

“Why do you always love testing my patience?” she hissed, leaning closer. “Do you like it when I treat you like this?”

“N-No—” My words came broken, trembling.

Her grip tightened. “Do you want me to be rough with you? Is that what you like?”

“Yuna, please—” My eyes stung, my chest tight, but I forced the words out.

Her cold gaze never left mine. “Then why do you make me this way?”

She shoved me down hard onto the bed. The mattress dipped under my weight as I fell back, her shadow looming over me.

With deliberate ease, she began unbuttoning her blouse, each button coming loose under her steady fingers. The crisp fabric parted, revealing the black lace of her bra, vivid against the pale curve of her skin.

Her voice dropped lower, taunting, cruel. “Is this what you want, Haemin? You like it when I corner you like this?”

Before I could react, she straddled me, her presence pinning me in place.

She leaned down, her face so close I could feel her breath against my lips. My stomach twisted violently—I turned my face away, struggling harder.

“No! Stop—please—”

In my flailing panic, my arm broke free, my hand flying wildly. And then—

SLAP!

The sound of the slap rang out sharp as it connected with her cheek.

Time seemed to stop.

Her head jerked to the side, hair falling forward, the red mark blooming across her skin. My breath hitched, horror flooding me.

“…Yuna—I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry, I’m sorry—”

She turned back slowly, strands of hair sliding from her face to reveal her expression. The softness was gone. Her eyes were colder than I’d ever seen them, empty yet blazing with something dangerous.

When she spoke, her voice was ice.

“You little—”

Fury overtaking her, she pressed me violently against the bed, the mattress groaning under the force. Her grip shifted, tightening like iron, her body pushing down harder until I could barely move.

Her cold eyes bore into mine, unflinching, sharp enough to cut through every ounce of resistance I had left. The air grew heavy, suffocating, as if the room itself bent to her will.

And in that silence, I knew—no matter how much I struggled, she wouldn’t let me go. I was trapped, completely at her mercy, bound by a control I couldn’t escape.

———

Yuna’s POV

The morning light crept into the bedroom, faint and soft against the drawn curtains. My eyes opened slowly, though I had already been awake for some time, lying still in the quiet.

Beside me, Haemin remained asleep, his breathing shallow, his body curled slightly away from me. His face looked pale against the pillow, the faint bruise on his cheek still visible under the morning glow.

I turned onto my side, letting my gaze linger on him. My hand moved almost of its own will, brushing back the strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead. His hair was soft beneath my fingers, and I let them trail down gently, caressing his cheek, stopping at the bruise.

The mark was small, yet it pierced deeper than I cared to admit. My chest tightened, and I released a long, quiet sigh.

I pulled my hand back, staring at him for a moment longer. Leaning forward, I pressed a soft kiss against his forehead. “I love you,” I whispered near his ear, though I wasn’t sure if he heard me or not.

With a quiet breath, I sat up, pushing the covers aside and steadying my breath. By the time I entered the bathroom, washed my face, and dressed, the woman in the mirror was once again flawless.

When I stepped back into the bedroom, Haemin hadn’t stirred. He lay still, untouched by the morning light, and I allowed myself only one last glance at him before my phone buzzed sharply in my hand.

Harin?

I answered.

“Chairwoman,” Harin’s voice came through, urgent and brisk.

“Yes? What is it?” I asked, my tone calm but firm.

“You need to come to the office immediately,” she said without pause.

My brows drew together. “What happened?”

“We just received a last-minute notice from Daehan office,” Harin explained. “Miss Hwang is already on her way to our headquarters.”