Chapter 24
I rushed out of the mall and flagged the first taxi I could find, sliding into the back seat and telling the driver my address without wasting a second.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and checked the time.
7:30 p.m.
A sigh of relief escaped me. If traffic stayed light, I could make it back with time to spare.
I quickly typed out a message to Yuna:
I already bought a new phone.
The reply didn't come as text. My phone lit up almost immediately with an incoming call.
Her name flashed on the screen.
I answered. "Hello?"
Her voice came out cold and straight to the point.
"Where are you now?"
"I'm on my way back," I answered carefully.
There was a pause, before she spoke again.
"I'll be home in thirty minutes."
"Okay," I said, trying to keep my tone steady.
Then her tone became more firm.
"When I get back, I expect you to already be inside the house."
I swallowed and quickly replied, "Don't worry… I'll be home."
The call ended.
Fifteen minutes later, I arrived. After paying the driver, I went straight inside.
Once inside, the first thing I did was glance down at my clothes. My face stiffened. There was still a faint scent of perfume — Sera's perfume. It wasn't strong, but Yuna would definitely notice it.
I cursed under my breath as I hurried to change into fresh clothes, tossing the ones I'd worn straight into the washing machine. When I heard the machine start running, I finally relaxed a little.
A few minutes later, the front door opened.
Yuna was home.
I stepped into the hallway to greet her, taking her handbag from her arm. "You should shower first," I offered quickly, already moving to set her things down. "I'll get dinner ready."
But before I could turn away, her voice stopped me.
"Wait."
I turned back. "Yes?"
She walked toward me slowly, her eyes locked on mine. I felt uneasy without knowing why. I took one small step back.
Another step forward from her. Another step back from me.
I didn't know what she was thinking. A small part of me was worried she might already know I had been with someone else earlier, even though nothing happened.
I kept retreating until the back of my knees hit the sofa, and I stumbled down into a seated position. Before I could regain my balance, Yuna moved closer, her height and presence looming over me.
Then she was on me. Both of her arms wrapped around my back, pulling me forward as she leaned down.
Her face pressed close to my neck, her breath warm against my skin. Then I realized what she was doing — she was smelling me.
"I miss your scent," she said softly, her voice low. Her breath brushing along my skin, sending an involuntary shiver through me.
Her lips didn't leave my neck. Instead, she let her breath linger. The sensation tickled and made my chest tighten in an unfamiliar way.
Then, without warning, her mouth pressed against the side of my neck, and I felt the faint sting of her teeth marking me — a love bite. Before I could fully react, her lips were on mine.
The kiss was slow but deep, her hand on the back of my neck so I couldn't move away. By the time she pulled back, my face was burning.
She stood and looked down at me. I stayed frozen, still processing what just happened.
She leaned forward slightly and held my chin with her fingers.
"Lucky for you, I don't smell any trace of another woman on you." She paused, her gaze turning colder before continuing, "If I did… that kiss would be the last thing you ever remember."
I quickly said, "I was only with Hyunjae. I wasn't with anyone else."
Her eyes didn't waver. "I know."
Then her tone shifted, just slightly. "So, you're not upset anymore about being dropped, right?"
I lowered my gaze. "…I don't have any choice, do I?"
"Good. I'm glad you know that."
She let go of my chin. "I'll take a shower first."
With that, she turned and walked away toward the bedroom, leaving me sitting there with my heart still beating fast.
__________
Dinner was quiet as usual.
After we finished eating, she stood up from the table and said, "I'll be in my office. There are documents I need to review."
I simply nodded and cleared the plates.
The night felt boring. There was nothing on TV, and I wasn't in the mood to scroll through my phone. I sat on the couch for a while, staring blankly at the wall, then finally stood up and headed to the kitchen. Maybe Yuna would like some coffee.
After making a cup, I walked quietly toward her private office and knocked on the door.
"Come in," she said, her voice clear and calm.
I stepped in and saw her sitting on the sofa, glasses on, documents in hand. She was wearing one of her usual satin robes, but the glasses made her look even more mature and elegant. My heart skipped a beat. No matter how many times I saw her like this, she still made me nervous.
I quickly looked away and walked over, trying to keep my cool. I placed the cup on the table beside her.
"Here. I thought you might get sleepy," I said, trying to sound casual.
She glanced at me and smiled slightly. "Thanks."
I looked at the documents on the table. One of them had a title I remembered from our past conversation.
"Is this about the collaboration you mentioned before?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied, flipping a page.
"Is there a problem with it?" I asked again. "You've been working on this every night. I've never seen you this focused."
She paused for a moment. "It's not a problem. I'm just being thorough."
I blinked. "Why? You're never this cautious before."
She looked up at me slowly with a faint smile. "Because this time, I'm up against someone different. Someone I've known since university. She's different from the usual ones I deal with."
I tilted my head. "Is she that good?"
"She's the only one who's ever stood on equal ground with me." Her voice was calm, but laced with pride. "So, I'll play a little smarter this time. Doesn't mean I'll lose."
I was surprised. Yuna never acknowledged anyone in her field—let alone gave them credit. Hearing her say this was strange. But I decided not to ask further.
"Well, I shouldn't disturb you anymore then," I said, taking a step back. "I'll leave you to it—"
"Wait."
I stopped and looked at her, confused.
She patted the empty space on the sofa beside her. "Come sit here."
Still confused, I walked over and sat down. She put the document aside and turned to face me.
"Is there something you want to tell me today?" she asked quietly.
"What do you mean?" I blinked.
"You were acting strange earlier when I got home," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly.
My body tensed. Did she notice something? Did the perfume not completely come off?
"I—I don't think so?" I said, trying to sound normal.
She didn't press further. Instead, she tilted her head slightly and asked, "Do you want to hear a story?"
I blinked. "A story?"
"A legend, actually," she said. Her voice was quiet, almost playful.
In my head, I wondered, but I nodded anyway. "Okay…"
Yuna began quietly. "There was once an Empress, she was beautiful, powerful… the kind of woman everyone feared and admired. She came from a family known for being heartless, cold-blooded, and cruel. No one ever expected her to fall in love. But one day, she did. And not just with anyone but with a commoner."
She paused for a moment, her eyes fixed ahead.
"She wanted to marry him. But of course, her family was against it. They said the difference in their status made it impossible. So do you know what she did?"
I shook my head, unsure where the story was going.
"She killed them," Yuna said simply. "Her whole family. Just so she could be with him."
I stared at her, stunned. "Just because of that?"
Yuna gave me a cold smile. "Yes. Just because of that. But she was careful. She covered everything up. The man she loved had no idea what she had done. But everyone inside the palace knew the truth. Still, none of them dared to speak a word. They stayed silent out of fear. After that, the empress went ahead and married him, just like she wanted."
She leaned back slightly, her tone calm but chilling. "But the man didn't know what he had gotten himself into. He had married someone dangerous… someone completely obsessed with him. After their wedding, the empress gave him just one rule: to always stay by her side—wherever she went. And she warned him not to talk to other women, not even a glance, not even a smile. She said she'd never tolerate it. And the man nodded and promised to follow her rule.
She paused before continuing.
"But one day, while walking through town in disguise, the empress's husband saw a little girl crying on the street—she had gotten separated from her parents. He helped the child and managed to reunite her with her family. But somehow, word of it reached the empress. That night, she confronted him, furious. He tried to explain that she was just a child who needed help.
"The empress laughed like a madwoman and said 'okay.'
"The next day, someone came to the husband and told him that the little girl's entire family had been murdered. Brutally.
"The husband was horrified. He confronted the empress and asked if it was her doing. She smiled and admitted it without hesitation—and then laughed."
Yuna's voice remained unchanged as she spoke.
"He had been angry, of course—he shouted at her in frustration. But the empress simply stared at him and asked why he was so upset over someone else. She coldly questioned what he planned to do about it. Was he going to report her? Or did he want a divorce? Then she asked if he truly believed he could ever leave her.
The husband said yes. He said they were done. He wanted a divorce, and then he simply turned around and walked away.
Her eyes grew colder.
The empress stared at him for a long time. Then she laughed again. But it was different this time—something had snapped. She walked up behind him… and slit his throat."
Yuna's voice remained calm.
"No one ever found out what happened to the husband after that. He just disappeared. Everyone in the palace noticed… but no one dared to ask.
It turns out, she never buried him. She kept his body in her bedroom. Letting it rot. And every night, she would sit with him. Talk to him. Pretend he was still alive."
Yuna's eyes darkened.
"One day, the empress didn't come out of her room. The palace staff grew worried. The guards broke down the door—and found her lying on the bed next to his decaying body. Her wrists were slit. She had taken her own life."
When Yuna finished her story, I swallowed hard.
"That's a bit… extreme, isn't it?" I asked cautiously. "She killed him just for helping a child? That's horrible."
Yuna's eyes didn't blink. "Was it?"
She looked at me calmly. "Didn't she warn him? Was it really her fault when her husband was the one who didn't take her seriously?"
I stayed quiet.
"Do you get the message?" she asked coldly.
I nodded slowly, gulping. "Yes…"
She placed her hand behind my head and pulled me in gently.
"I hope you never forget who you belong to."
She said it softly, but I could feel the weight behind her words.
I nodded right away.
Then, her hands moved behind my neck, pulling me in until our faces were just inches apart. Her eyes didn't move away from mine.
Then she kissed me.
Her lips were slow, firm, and completely in control. Her robe had loosened slightly, the smooth fabric brushing against my arm as she pressed herself closer.
I hesitated for a second, flustered. "Should we move to the bedroom…?"
She leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Silence."
The kiss deepened again, and this time, she didn't let go. Her hands gripped the back of my shirt, pulling me closer. Her body pressed against mine, her scent, her warmth—everything surrounding me.
And in that moment, I stopped thinking. The night went on.
And nothing else needed to be said.