Prologue
The soft click of the closing door made her small shoulders flinch.
Nayoon tried hard to hide her tension, greeting Jaeha with a composed face.
“Is that really the reason you were so sure?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“You told me to experience it myself…”
Jaeha muttered under his breath, then let out a baffled laugh as he stared at her quietly.
The way she tried not to shed even a single tear—it was almost pitiful.
‘She’s a talisman. You’re lucky to have her.’
Even if she’d grown up hearing such madness from her family…
Still, she had never lost her own belief, her confidence, her self-worth. That’s what reassured him.
But the moment he came face to face with her Pandora’s box, it felt like lightning struck him from head to toe.
“You said I could have anything I wanted. Be it the company or whatever. Where else would you find a talisman like this? So, go ahead. Say the word.”
With a self-mocking smile, tearful eyes, and a voice still wishing for her own downfall—her proud posture finally wavered.
The faint trace of a smile disappeared, and he slowly rubbed his aching forehead.
“So, whatever it is…?”
As he repeated her words, something unwelcome brushed through his voice—desire.
His intense gaze wavered for the briefest moment, but still, Nayoon nodded.
“Yes. Whatever it is.”
A heated, aching gaze lingered.
He could bind people with his eyes alone.
As Nayoon stood frozen, not even lifting a finger, just trying to steady her breath—
“Alright then. Let’s do whatever.”
At last, breaking the silence with a low murmur, he stepped closer.
Without hesitation, he began unbuttoning her blouse, one button at a time.
Nayoon’s eyes widened.
“W-wait a second.”
He’d already undone several buttons, revealing one bare shoulder. Nayoon quickly pulled at her blouse.
Jaeha tilted his head slightly at her reaction.
“Is there a problem?”
“It’s not that, it’s just…”
The air felt heavy—so thick she could barely breathe.
Jaeha, watching her intently, gave a low chuckle.
“You said I should experience you.”
He stepped back and calmly removed his wristwatch, placing it on the bedside table. Then, one by one, he began undoing the buttons of his shirt.
“So I will. I’m going to experience you.”
His hands moved without hesitation, and the warmth of his chest spilled out.
Her innocent gaze darted, unfocused.
The shirt fell to the floor with a soft thud. His burning gaze pressed into her.
“I’ll be the one to bring those people down.”
“…”
“You… just fall apart here with me.”
“That’s all you need to do,” he whispered against her skin.
Nayoon trembled.
Those pitch-black eyes—yes, they were Gu Jaeha’s eyes.
But this wasn’t the Gu Jaeha she thought she knew.
It felt like… someone else entirely.
