The evening had settled into a quiet, tense lull, but my mind refused to rest. The funeral was over, yet the weight of Jao's death, Seonghee's lingering threat, Myun Hyuk's shadow, and now the mysterious caller pressed down on me like an unyielding tide.
I sat in my private room, the faint glow of the city lights filtering through the curtains. Jun-seo leaned against the desk beside me, arms crossed, silent but attentive. "We need to start from the beginning," he said softly, his voice carrying a subtle authority. "Who could have known everything we did… everything you've planned against Seonghee and Myun Hyuk?"
I traced the edge of my glass, pretending to sip, while my mind replayed every interaction from the past few weeks. Every step, every move, every person I had manipulated or protected. And then it clicked—small details I had dismissed before:
The subtle surveillance in the villa, beyond what Myun Hyuk could have arranged.
Unexplained notes left for Seonghee, hinting that someone knew she would confront me.
The timing of Jao's murder—coinciding too perfectly with Seonghee's and Myun Hyuk's schemes.
"It's someone calculating," I murmured, voice low, almost to myself. "Someone who's been watching us… waiting for the right time to strike. And they've been close enough to know every move, every plan."
Jun-seo's eyes narrowed. "Close enough… like inside your circle? Someone you trusted?"
I shook my head, but a shiver ran down my spine. "I don't know yet… but whoever it is, they're meticulous. They've studied me as much as I've studied them. And they've been patient. Too patient."
Jun-seo's hand brushed mine again, grounding me. "Then we start digging. Every ally, every enemy, every loose end. We'll find them."
I let out a slow breath, a smile ghosting across my lips. "Yes… and when we do, they'll regret underestimating me. Just like Seonghee. Just like Myun Hyuk. And this time, Jao's death won't be in vain. It'll be the spark that exposes everything."
For hours, we reviewed evidence, old files, and every subtle clue left behind by Myun Hyuk's men, Seonghee's schemes, and even Jao's actions before his death. Patterns began to emerge—anomalies that didn't belong, moments where someone had stepped in without revealing themselves.
And then… I found it. A hidden camera, buried in a corner of the villa, one that neither Myun Hyuk nor Seonghee could have planted. The footage was grainy, but the silhouette of a figure moving strategically through the rooms was unmistakable. They had been observing me, orchestrating events, and ensuring I moved exactly where they wanted.
My pulse quickened. "Jun-seo… look at this," I said, pointing at the screen. "This is who's been behind everything. Not Myun Hyuk. Not Seonghee. Someone else. Someone clever… someone patient… and someone dangerous."
Jun-seo leaned in, studying the footage. "So… the game isn't just between you and them," he said. "It's bigger. And now we know the real player."
A smile crept across my face, but it was sharp, predatory, and calculated. "Exactly," I whispered. "And now… the hunt begins."
Outside, the city glittered in the night, oblivious to the storm brewing within these walls. Every move, every secret, every shadow now belonged to a game far larger than anyone could imagine. And I—Ajin—was ready to control it all.
---
The night was thick with tension, the villa silent except for the faint hum of the city beyond the walls. I moved carefully through the rooms, each step measured, deliberate, my mind running multiple calculations at once. The footage from the hidden camera played over and over in my head, the shadowy figure's movements etched into my memory. Whoever they were, they had been watching me… always watching, always waiting.
Jun-seo followed closely behind, silent but alert. "You sure about this?" he asked, voice low. "We don't even know who we're dealing with yet."
I smiled faintly, my gaze sharp. "Exactly. And that's why I have to draw them out. Someone this patient… they won't make a move unless they believe they're in control. And I… will make them believe it."
My plan was simple yet deadly precise. I would use Seonghee as the bait. Her obsession with me, her rage, and her unpredictability were perfect tools. If the mysterious figure was truly watching, they wouldn't resist intervening when Seonghee attempted another attack. It was a gamble… but one I was willing to take.
The following day, I orchestrated the scene. Seonghee, predictably, arrived at the villa under the pretense of "paying respects" at the poolside area—a location she couldn't resist because it held memories of our earlier confrontation. I let her enter, letting the subtle sounds of my movement in the mansion carry to her ears, giving the illusion that I was unaware of her presence.
Jun-seo stayed hidden, positioned strategically to intervene if necessary. "Careful," he murmured through the small earpiece we had set up.
Seonghee's movements were slow, deliberate. She scanned the area, her eyes narrowing when she saw shadows moving just out of reach. And then… she stepped too close. I allowed her to, intentionally placing her exactly where I wanted.
Suddenly, I appeared from behind a column, the smile on my face calm, almost playful. "Seonghee," I said softly, voice carrying across the quiet pool area. "I see you've come to visit… again."
Her eyes flicked toward me, and for a moment, there was hesitation—a microsecond of uncertainty. "Ajin…" she hissed, voice sharp, venomous. "You think you can mock me?"
I stepped closer, each movement deliberate, controlled, like a predator circling her prey. "Mock you?" I echoed, tilting my head. "No, Seonghee… I'm letting you see the difference between who you were and who I've become. That scar on your face… it's proof of your failure. And today… you'll help me find out exactly who's been behind everything."
Seonghee's lips pressed together, her fingers twitching. "What… what do you mean?"
I let the silence hang for a moment, long enough for tension to build. Then, softly, almost teasingly, I said, "The person who's been orchestrating, watching… they won't resist stepping in when you try again. You're perfect bait."
Her eyes widened slightly, a flicker of fear hidden behind the usual arrogance. She realized, too late, that she had walked into something far bigger than herself.
From the corner, Jun-seo signaled with a subtle nod. I smirked, turning my gaze toward the shadows of the villa, aware that someone else was there… observing, calculating, ready to make a move of their own.
And in that quiet moment, the game shifted. Seonghee was no longer in control. Myun Hyuk was still lurking in the background, dangerous but predictable. And the mysterious figure… the one who had been patient, who had watched every step I took… was about to reveal themselves.
I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar thrill of strategy, manipulation, and danger coil inside me. "Let's see who's bold enough to play," I whispered.
And as Seonghee stepped closer, unaware of the trap I had set, I knew… the true hunt was just beginning.