Chapter 1
The man holding her with effort let out a deep breath.
Normally, she would have pushed Ethan away right after sex, complaining that he was heavy. But today, for some reason, she didn’t.
Thanks to that, Ethan was able to enjoy the lingering warmth of their union. With a deep smile, he gently pressed his lips against those of his beloved.
He had only meant to give her a light kiss, but the moment he felt the soft warmth of her lips, he changed his mind.
Ethan wrapped an arm around Seoha’s slender waist and kissed her deeply.
Perhaps finding his slightly aggressive approach overwhelming, Seoha furrowed her brows slightly—but that was all.
She didn’t push him away or turn her head. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and welcomed his tongue as it delved into the depths of her mouth.
Wet, sticky sounds filled the room as their damp mouths rubbed against each other.
Desire, which had briefly subsided, began to stir again as Ethan stroked her waist.
“Stop.”
Seoha pushed against Ethan’s firm chest.
“You’re still not feeling well. Let’s end it here.”
“I’m fine.”
“To me, you don’t look fine. So move.”
When she pushed him away again, Ethan stepped back, albeit reluctantly.
“You’re going to wash up now, right?”
“Yeah. So get out.”
She didn’t want him to see her naked.
They had already seen everything of each other, but Ethan found her modesty adorable. He kissed her small forehead and walked out.
Her face, slightly flushed a moment ago, darkened the moment Ethan left. She looked visibly tense.
“Hoo…”
Seoha slowly got up and sat at the edge of the bed, covering her face with both hands as she let out a long sigh.
“It’s fine, Han Seoha. Everything will be okay.”
It would all be okay.
As if hypnotizing herself, she muttered under her breath for a while, then put on a robe and stepped outside.
Water was running in the bathroom—Ethan was showering.
Seoha pulled a transparent pouch out of her bag, which lay carelessly on the floor.
Inside the pouch was a fine white powder that she poured into a cup of dark black coffee.
“…”
Was this really okay? Did it have to be this way? Was there no other choice?
I… I…
All sorts of thoughts ran through her mind, but there was no turning back.
She stirred the coffee with a teaspoon until the powder dissolved completely.
The bathroom door opened just then.
Ethan stepped out, ruffling his wet hair, and stopped when he saw Seoha.
“You didn’t wash up?”
“I wanted some coffee first.”
Ethan approached and wrapped his arms around her waist, whispering in her ear.
“You should’ve said so. I would’ve made it for you.”
His low voice brushed against her earlobe, carrying the soft scent of shower cologne.
And with the vivid memory of the night still lingering, heat rushed to Seoha’s face and her heart pounded.
Though her heart wasn’t racing just because of that.
“I made one for you too, so drink it.”
She handed Ethan the cup containing the drugged coffee.
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
The clean cup touched his red lips.
As his Adam’s apple bobbed with a swallow, Seoha watched him closely, swallowing dryly herself. Her grip on the cup tightened from the growing tension.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Do you trust me?”
It was a rather random question, and Ethan tilted his head slightly.
“Why ask that all of a sudden?”
“No reason. Just curious.”
“You’re being silly.”
Ethan chuckled and set the cup down on the table.
“Of course I trust you.”
His lips curved into a smile.
“If you can’t trust the one you love, then who—”
He couldn’t finish his sentence. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the floor. The smile that had bloomed so easily on his lips vanished.
As he tried to steady himself, his arm hit the cup on the table and knocked it over.
Clang.
The cup shattered with a loud crash, and black coffee seeped between the broken pieces.
Ethan pressed one hand to his face and the other to the floor.
His eyelids grew heavy, like a boulder was weighing them down. His body felt sluggish, as if someone were pulling him downward.
His vision blurred, and his mind grew hazy. Struggling to keep his head up, he looked up at Seoha.
She looked down at him with a complicated expression, her eyes trembling as if she might burst into tears.
“What… did you do to me…?”
His tongue felt thick, his words slurred.
“What did you… do to me…?”
“It’s nothing. Just a sleeping pill.”
Her eyes quivered, but her voice was calm.
“So don’t worry. Just sleep.”
Seoha placed her hand gently over Ethan’s eyes. Darkness fell.
“When you wake up, I’ll be gone.”
“…Are you running away?”
Ethan grabbed her wrist, the one covering his eyes.
His body shouldn’t have had much strength left, but his grip was surprisingly firm, making Seoha frown slightly.
“You can’t leave. I won’t let you.”
“Well. We’ll see about that.”
“You—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Ethan collapsed, unconscious, onto the cold floor.
Three Months Earlier, Winter
No matter where you go, there are always problem clients—and veterinary hospitals were no exception.
“Why is the surgery so expensive? Isn’t this a rip-off?”
Starting with pet owners who demanded treatment and surgery, only to claim later they couldn’t pay.
“My baby is sick! You need to see him right now!”
They ignored the staff explaining the hospital operated by appointment for non-emergency cases, insisting on immediate care.
“You have such fair, pretty hands. You only use them to treat animals?”
Even pet owners who sexually harassed the staff.
“What is with today?”
It wasn’t that she hadn’t had her share of rude clients before—but to get this many in one day was a first.
Finally done with her appointments, Seoha pressed a hand against her heavy eyelids, which felt like they were weighed down by stones.
Dealing with rude clients all day had left her mentally and physically exhausted.
And then there was someone who made her even more tired.
“Finished for the day?”
It was Cha Sunyong, a fellow vet at the clinic.
She didn’t like how he nosed into everything. But more than anything, she hated how he kept hitting on her.
No matter how many times she made it clear she wasn’t interested, he never stopped.
“Got any plans for dinner? Want to eat together?”
Just like now.
A smirk crept onto Seoha’s lips. Why on earth would I have dinner with you?
“I have plans tonight.”
“How about tomorrow night?”
“I’m busy then too.”
“What about the day after?”
Persistent as a tick. So damn clingy.
Seoha’s brows furrowed. What would it take to get rid of this pest?
“I have plans the day after too. And the week after. So stop asking.”
She replied firmly and turned her head. Her ponytail swayed with the movement.
As the pale skin of her neck was exposed, Sunyong swallowed dryly.
His gaze dropped down her neck and fixed on her long, slender fingers moving over the keyboard.
“What are you staring at?”
“Ahem, nothing…”
He quickly looked up with a forced cough, only to be caught in her pitch-black, unblinking eyes.
Her eyes had a magnetic pull, like black holes.
Her neatly tied hair could’ve made her seem cold, but her youthful face gave off a fresh, college-student vibe.
Her flawless, baby-soft white skin added to the impression.
And those glistening red lips…
“Dr. Cha?”
Every time she called his name with those pretty lips, Sunyong felt a thrill.
“How long are you planning to stay in my office?”
“Until you say yes to a date?”
He even winked, trying to be charming. But it only annoyed her more.
“I guess I’ll have to call the director.”
“J-just kidding! I’m leaving now.”
As Seoha picked up the receiver like she meant it, Sunyong fled the room.
Idiot. Seoha snorted and put down the phone.
The end of her day consisted of finishing patient charts. After organizing records and checking on the hospitalized animals, she clocked out.
Since it was winter, the evenings were short. It was only 7 PM, but the sky was already dark.
“Ugh.”
Walking among the crowd, she felt suffocated. A mix of foul smells assaulted her sensitive nose.
She scrunched her face and covered her nose.
Normally, she wouldn’t have been this sensitive. She must’ve been mentally worn out from dealing with the clients.
Riding the bus in this state would be torture.
No helping it. A taxi it is.
She hailed a passing taxi, gave the driver her destination, and let her tired eyes rest in the darkness.
By the time she opened them again, they were near her home.
Due to illegally parked cars blocking the narrow alley, the taxi couldn’t pull up to her door. She got out nearby.
It had grown darker, and the wind had turned colder.
She pulled her coat tight and hurried down the street—then stopped.
Someone was crouched in the shadows of the alley.
A drunk?
But the smell of blood was too strong.
If the smell was this bad, the person must be seriously injured.
A wounded person in a dark alley.
Nothing good ever came from getting involved with someone like that.
She turned to walk away—
“You’re heartless.”
A mocking voice stopped her in her tracks.
