PSS - 8

Chapter 8: Twisted Affection

“President, Chairman Park has summoned you to the main house.”

“Why?”

“He said you’ll understand when you get here… According to the information I gathered, it seems Miss Yoon Hae-in is currently with him…”

“Haa... What?!”

Before Chief Choi could even finish his sentence, Soo-hyun erupted in frustration.

He grabbed the phone he’d been holding and hurled it across the room. The brand-new device, purchased just a few weeks ago, smashed into the wall, breaking into two pieces before clattering to the floor.

It seemed the stubborn girl who had prattled on about family had gone ahead and declared her intention to marry in front of Chairman Park. Soo-hyun couldn’t fathom why Hae-in was so insistent.

‘Did they brainwash her or something? She thinks clinging to that cesspool is what family means.’

To Soo-hyun, family was merely a label for the people who had lived under the same roof during his childhood—strangers, or perhaps even less than that.

The only people he might have called real family were already dead.

His chronically ill father, who spent more time in hospitals than at home; his father’s second wife; and his grandmother, Park Yoon-hwa—Soo-hyun had never felt any familial affection from them.

Especially not from Park Yoon-hwa.

She was the worst.

If someone had offered him a chance to abandon the Taesung name and start a new life—even one spent homeless and begging on the streets—he would have accepted without hesitation.

That’s how much he despised being the crown prince of the Taesung empire.

A position many dreamed of and revered was, to him, nothing more than an unwanted crown.

The shadows of his mother and older brother, who had died under the weight of the Taesung name, haunted his adolescence and continued to cast a dark cloud over his entire life.

Even if he tried to run, there was nowhere to escape—whether domestically or abroad, Park Yoon-hwa’s influence was inescapable.

Yoon-hwa had been obsessively attached to Soo-hyun since the day he was born.

She adored him because he was healthy and robust, unlike her other children, and because he was intelligent and bore some resemblance to her. Under her suffocating affection, Soo-hyun grew increasingly twisted.

The only time he had tasted freedom was during his years in the military. He secretly joined the naval special forces, escaping Park Yoon-hwa’s grasp for a few precious years.

Of course, it wasn’t complete freedom, but compared to the life of being “raised” by Chairman Park at the Taesung estate, those years were happier. At least, that’s how Soo-hyun remembered them.

That’s why, when he realized Hae-in was trapped in a situation where she couldn’t live for herself—or rather, didn’t know how to—he wanted to free her. He thought his offer was the best possible solution.

‘Is her brain paralyzed from never experiencing freedom? Or does she lack self-awareness?’

He had heard that some people accept suffering as their fate, but if Yoon Hae-in was one of those fools, it was disappointing.

Regardless of who she really was, she existed in a handful of his memories, and the thought of her being tainted by Park Yoon-hwa was unbearable.

---

Unable to wait even the short time it would take for a driver to arrive, Soo-hyun sped toward the Taesung estate himself, driving recklessly.

Thud, thud, thud. His loud footsteps echoed as he stormed into the main house. At the far end of the hallway, he spotted Hae-in and Ji-hyung standing together.

“Young Master, welcome.”

Ji-hyung greeted him calmly, showing no surprise at Soo-hyun’s obvious anger.

Ji-hyung, old enough to be Soo-hyun’s father, had joined Taesung the year Soo-hyun was born.

He had repeatedly expressed his desire to retire, but Yoon-hwa had denied him every time, asking him to stay just one more year.

One year turned into three, and this year, he had truly wanted to leave—but Soo-hyun had overheard rumors that Ji-hyung remained reluctant to go. Though Ji-hyung was one of the few adults Soo-hyun somewhat respected, seeing him standing there with Hae-in made his blood boil.

“Chief Seok, we’ll talk later. What the hell is going on?”

“Please come inside.”

Ignoring Ji-hyung’s calm response, Soo-hyun shifted his gaze to Hae-in. His eyes conveyed a clear warning: Didn’t I tell you? But Hae-in simply stared back at him, unflinching.

Her gaze.

Those tearful eyes watching him made his mind go blank, erasing all previous thoughts.

This wasn’t the time to get lost in sentiment, so Soo-hyun avoided looking at her for too long. Instead, he roughly brushed past her and flung the door open.

“Chairman!”

Inside, the sight of the detestable Mr. Im and Yoon-hwa sitting side by side greeted him.

“Ah, you’ve arrived just in time. We were just talking about you. I called you here because there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Chairman!”

“Calm down. You love negotiations, don’t you?”

Yoon-hwa spoke casually, unfazed by Soo-hyun’s fiery glare.

“After you get married, I’ll make an announcement regarding succession. How about this: if you have a child, I’ll adjust the terms in your favor.”

“That’s enough!”

“Why are you so upset? Isn’t this a pretty good deal?”

Soo-hyun’s face flushed red with anger, and he stood there trembling, unsure of what to do. Watching him, Mr. Im quietly rose and exited the room.

“What do you think I am? Do you see me as some pet you’re raising?”

“Hmph.”

Yoon-hwa’s dismissive laugh suggested she viewed Soo-hyun’s protests as nothing more than childish tantrums. Maintaining her gentle tone, she coaxed him.

“Would I do this much for a mere pet? Don’t be so ungrateful—I love you so much.”

“Hah. Love? This is your idea of love?”

“What else could it be but love, wanting to see my grandson build a family? Soo-hyun, have children. Continue the Taesung legacy.”

As Soo-hyun listened to Yoon-hwa’s words, his face paled beyond its earlier flush of anger.

He had witnessed countless relatives lured into marriage by Chairman Park’s promises, only to endure miserable lives. Some divorced under her suggestion, remarried, and repeated cycles of hardship.

Now it was happening to him. The realization filled him with dread.

“I won’t let you have your way, no matter what.”

Without hesitation, he turned to leave. Marriage could be undone, and time was on his side. No matter how smugly Yoon-hwa smiled, she was already an octogenarian.

“…Wasn’t that girl your first love?”

Just as Soo-hyun reached for the door, Yoon-hwa’s voice drifted lazily behind him. His hand froze on the doorknob. Outside, a group of bodyguards and Mr. Im stood waiting.

“If you refuse this marriage, aren’t you curious how that girl will be ruined?”

Limit.

At that moment, a vein bulged on Soo-hyun’s forehead, and he spun around, screaming.

“Aaargh!”

Simultaneously, the waiting bodyguards lunged at him. A sharp sting pricked his neck, and Soo-hyun collapsed unconscious.

---

Hae-in sat in the hotel room, fiddling with the card key in her hand.

Her meeting with Chairman Park hadn’t lasted more than ten minutes. After politely bowing and leaving the room, Seok Ji-hyung handed her the hotel-branded card key.

Ji-hyung’s face, heavy with unease, betrayed his discomfort.

“Chairman’s orders… you must stay in this room tonight. I’ll handle explaining to your parents.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s where you’ll meet President Jung, though I can’t guarantee anything.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Hae-in understand the meaning behind Ji-hyung’s hesitant demeanor. Realizing why he had hesitated made her cheeks burn with embarrassment. It was awkward, mortifying.

“For now, try to have a proper conversation with him.”

Conversation.

Thinking back to their last exchange, she recalled Soo-hyun offering her freedom in exchange for abandoning her family.

Surely, he must have believed his proposal would appeal to her. But the more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

Losing two family members at such a young age should have deepened his attachment to those who remained.

Clearly, he was angry or despairing over his own circumstances, yet strangely, her thoughts kept returning to him instead of her own predicament.

Lost in these musings for a while, she checked her phone and realized she had been in the hotel for several hours already.

[Chief Seok, should I just wait?]

Unable to bear the waiting, she texted Ji-hyung, but there was no reply. Outside the window, the sun was setting.

[I’m sorry. Something urgent came up. If you’re hungry, order room service.]

The vague response didn’t answer her question.

Stretching, Hae-in finally began exploring the hotel suite. Located on the top floor, the suite had three bathrooms. Entering what she thought was a bathroom, she discovered it was actually a walk-in closet.

“Oh my, what is all this?”

The closet was filled with women’s lingerie and revealing outfits. Still tagged with price stickers, their bold colors were shockingly explicit. As Hae-in examined a few pieces, her cheeks reddened.

‘Do they expect me to wear these?’

She picked up a flimsy piece of lingerie, then returned it to its place. After rummaging through the clothes, she settled on a modest slip and underwear.

After a warm shower, she dressed and wrapped herself in the thick bathrobe hanging in the bathroom. Fortunately, the air conditioning kept the room cool, so the robe wasn’t stifling.

Returning to the living room and sitting on the couch, she checked the time—it was already 9 PM.

Knock, knock.

How much time had passed? Drowsy from waiting, she had fallen asleep when a knock at the door startled her awake.

“Excuse me. I’ll come in briefly.”

The person knocked lightly, announced themselves, and entered. A tall man, as broad as Soo-hyun, stepped in, followed by a group of suited men.

Hae-in tightened her bathrobe as she watched them. Two men supported Soo-hyun between them.

“Perhaps this is surprising. I’m Chief Choi Hyun-woo, President Jung’s secretary.”

The tall man approached Hae-in and handed her his business card. Behind him, the suited group carried Soo-hyun into the bedroom.

“…Something happened. It might take some time for him to regain consciousness.”

“What exactly happened?”

“It’s difficult to explain further, given the nature of your future relationship. Please take care of him tonight. If anything happens, contact me.”

Chief Choi’s expression was deeply troubled.

After handing over his card, he hesitated as if wanting to say more but ultimately left the room.

Click.

With the door closing, Hae-in was left alone in the room with Soo-hyun.