CHAPTER 8
Silence fell.
Slowly lifting his head, Beom Kwon-yeol tilted it slightly as he looked into Yoon Hee-jo’s eyes.
“Say it in a way I can understand.”
“Whether it’s once or three times, it’s all the same to you, isn’t it, oppa?”
Hee-jo swallowed.
His pitch-black eyes were so deep and dark that she couldn’t read a single thought from them.
As seconds stretched into what felt like minutes, tension gathered around her lips.
Then, just as they continued silently sizing each other up—
Kwon-yeol suddenly reached out.
Hee-jo reflexively squeezed her eyes shut.
Instead of anything harsh, she felt the soft touch of a napkin wiping her lips.
When she opened her eyes, Kwon-yeol folded the napkin neatly and placed it in front of himself, meeting her gaze.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heartbeat pounded loudly in her ears—so loud it felt like he might hear it too.
“You’re surprisingly clumsy, Yoon Hee-jo.”
His unexpected remark made her blink.
Did he not hear what I said?
Or… is he pretending he didn’t?
Right. He’s pretending…
Her nose stung.
Afraid she might burst into tears, Hee-jo abruptly stood up.
“I’ll go brush my teeth.”
“In the middle of eating?”
“I’m done. And it seems like you’d prefer that too.”
She turned sharply and entered the bathroom attached to the master room, slamming the door behind her.
“Ha… ha… ha…”
Breathing heavily, she soon let out a hollow laugh, as if she’d lost her mind.
No matter what—how could he act so calm after what he did to her until dawn?
Biting her lip hard, she squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush.
Calm down. I have to calm down.
After Yoon Hee-jae died, she had sworn never to cry again.
Because he wouldn’t be there to wipe her tears.
Because she wanted to show him only happiness.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly brushed her teeth.
Once she left the hotel, she’d pack her things first. Then go to the workshop.
The teacher said I could stay in the empty room.
Currently, Hee-jo was living in a luxury apartment under Kwon-yeol’s name.
He had wanted to give it to her as a gift, but she refused.
Even staying there temporarily felt like a burden—accepting something that big would make her feel like a parasite.
This is just going according to plan.
Steeling her resolve, she moved her hands quickly.
She needed to get away from Kwon-yeol as soon as possible—only then could she breathe.
—
Kwon-yeol, seated on a black leather sofa, turned his head as Hee-jo approached.
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.”
He narrowed his eyes.
This was the usual Yoon Hee-jo.
Drawing an invisible line between them, hiding her emotions behind a smile—no longer a child.
“It suits you.”
“…What does?”
“That outfit.”
Ha.
The composure she had carefully built crumbled at his single comment.
She hated him for talking about clothes as if he knew nothing.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“……”
“I’ve never been scared in front of the Chairman. But right now, Yoon Hee-jo looks like she might tear me apart.”
His gaze, filled with curiosity and amusement, made her harden her eyes.
“Did you hear what I said?”
After a brief pause, he replied.
“I did.”
“Then how can you be so—”
So calm?
Before she could finish, he spoke.
“Because it’s interesting.”
“Interesting…?”
“When did that little kid grow up like this?”
Her face twisted at the word kid—
“When did she grow enough to try to devour me?”
Devour…?
Even though she was the one who made that proposal—
After what happened last night, anyone would say she was the one who got devoured.
She had experienced it firsthand—like prey caught by a beast.
“Why? Is it unfair?”
“……”
Unable to answer, she stood silent as he slowly rose.
His coat lay neatly folded beside him.
“The unfair one is me.”
Unlike yesterday’s perfectly tailored three-piece suit, he now wore a simple black knit.
Yet his overwhelming presence remained unchanged.
“Getting devoured all night by a little brat I didn’t even expect.”
Broad shoulders, thick arms, and firm abs showed clearly even through the knit.
“And I’m trying my best to pretend I don’t know anything, thinking you’d regret it and panic in the morning.”
Step by step, he approached her.
“But you keep provoking me.”
His long legs closed the distance in just a few strides.
Startled, Hee-jo stepped back—but he grabbed her waist and pulled her in.
She lost her balance and fell into his solid chest.
“Why do you keep pushing your limits, Yoon Hee-jo?”
Why…
“Do you want the same thing as other women?”
His words cut through her chest coldly.
She stood at a crossroads.
Would she remain the friend’s little sister who received special treatment—
Or become just another woman he found annoying?
I hate both.
Even after leaving, she wanted to be remembered by him.
Even a tiny trace would be enough.
If only he would think of her, even for a moment.
“I’ve always found you fascinating since I was young.”
“…Fascinating?”
As she echoed his word, he showed interest.
Taking a quiet breath, she spoke as calmly as possible.
“You were the first person I’d ever seen who was both that handsome and that rich.”
He gestured for her to continue.
Ignoring the warmth of his hand around her waist, she went on.
“So… I set a goal. To win a trophy.”
“A trophy.”
“If I were to give my first time, I decided it would be to the heir of the Beomho Group.”
“……”
“I wanted to leave behind the memory that someone like that once stayed in my life.”
Silence fell.
Kwon-yeol stared into her eyes, while she held herself steady.
Don’t look away.
If she showed her true feelings, she would become just another forgettable woman.
“You hid it well.”
Her heart dropped.
She had lied—but hearing him accept it still hurt.
“If Yoon Hee-jae knew, he’d cry until the day he died.”
…He probably would have.
Her brother, who adored her.
“Your goal was that? Spending a night with me… no, with the heir of Beomho Group?”
“As long as he was from a chaebol family. You’re just the only one I know.”
A crack formed in Kwon-yeol’s previously indifferent gaze.
He had two younger brothers.
If they hadn’t gone abroad…
If they had grown up with Hee-jo too—
Then it wouldn’t have mattered whether it was him, Beom Si-yeol, or Beom Jae-yeol.
In fact, it didn’t even have to be a Beom.
As long as he was a chaebol—
Just like last night.
“Maybe you should attend executive meetings in my place.”
He lifted the rose-pink knit top she was wearing—the one he had chosen.
“You’re goal-oriented, bold.”
Her skin, marked from last night, was fully exposed.
“And you know how to lower yourself well enough to hide it.”
Very well.
Tap.
He released what had been covering her skin and pressed down on her shoulder.
Her body slowly lowered under his touch.
“I’ll give it to you.”
“A gift.”
