TATMFL - 47

“Aaaah!”  

“Ugh!”  

The building was filled with screams, groans, and the sounds of things shattering.  

“Huff…”  

Amidst the chaos, Joon held his breath as he watched Do-kyung’s face, which looked far from refreshed—instead, it appeared even more menacing than usual.  

At Do-kyung’s feet lay a pile of battered bodies, reduced to near-lifeless lumps.  

This had been going on for days.  

It started shortly after he received Mu-jin’s warning not to stir up trouble with Se-jin over a mere debtor.  

‘No.’  

Joon corrected himself.  

It had begun even before that. Specifically, on the day Do-kyung had left in a frenzied state after nearly crippling the loan shark boss, driving off like a man possessed.  

He had returned only after sunrise the next day, and since then, he’d acted as if a screw had come loose in his head.  

There was no need to confirm where he had gone—it was obvious he had sought out Ra-on. That was why Joon hadn’t followed him. But now, looking back, he regretted not forcing himself to trail after Do-kyung despite the difficulty. Watching Do-kyung stand there with unfocused eyes, Joon felt a pang of remorse.  

But regret was just that—regret.  

Joon cautiously broached a long-delayed appointment while gauging Do-kyung’s reaction.  

“The chairman has requested your presence for dinner.”  

Do-kyung barely glanced at Joon, rolling his eyes dismissively before replying in a flat tone.  

“I’m not going.”  

“But, Young Master…”  

“I won’t say it twice, Joon.”  

Joon flinched under Do-kyung’s hazy gaze, which was all the more chilling for its lack of focus.  

Do-kyung’s pheromones surged violently, issuing a warning. Lately, Do-kyung had made no effort to rein them in, fully unleashing his alpha presence. As a result, those around him—other alphas tasked with serving him—were suffering immensely.  

Reflecting on how burdensome it had become to deal with Do-kyung recently, Joon hesitated before speaking again.  

“I’ll inform him that you decline.”  

“…”  

Only then did Do-kyung turn his attention away from Joon. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he stared out the window.  

His glassy pupils reflected a well-tended garden. Though it was more of a modest backyard than a grand garden, the lush trees and blooming flowers made for a pleasant view.  

The sharpness that had defined his gaze over the past few days softened momentarily.  

But that didn’t last long. As if nothing had changed, Do-kyung furrowed his brows and clenched his jaw tightly.  

The image of Ra-on walking into the house alongside Hye-sung tormented his vision like a vicious nightmare.  

When he closed his eyes to escape it, Ra-on’s radiant smile directed at Hye-sung appeared vividly, only to linger as an afterimage when he opened them again, shaking him to the core.  

Each time, he was painfully reminded of something:  

The influence Ji Hye-sung had over Yoo Ra-on was far greater than he had imagined. Recalling how Ra-on had willingly sacrificed herself for Hye-sung, Do-kyung sneered bitterly.  

“Hah.”  

Tracing his distorted lips, Do-kyung narrowed his eyes. His insides burned as though he had swallowed a ball of fire.  

The sensation was akin to jagged claws mercilessly tearing through his gut, leaving raw wounds in their wake. Do-kyung cracked his stiff neck from side to side.  

Lost in a haze of feverish thoughts, he pondered:  

What should he do moving forward?  

“This is the end…”  

Suddenly, a single word struck him, causing him to tilt his head slightly. His pupils shimmered as they gazed at the landscaped backyard.  

The end?  

“For whose sake?”  

Do-kyung laughed coldly.  

He had no intention of ending anything, nor was it within Ra-on’s power to conclude their contract. Just because Hye-sung had suffered once didn’t mean their agreement could be nullified.  

After all, the mountain of debt Hye-sung owed remained unpaid.  

“Ah, that’s right.”  

Yes. How could he have forgotten? As long as Hye-sung was in his grasp, she belonged to him.  

Muttering evasively about endings, Do-kyung stretched his lips into a long, hollow smile.  

“Heh.”  

Exhaling a weary breath, Do-kyung licked his lips. Swallowing the thirst that assaulted him like a tidal wave, he slowly closed and reopened his eyes, thinking:  

I want to see Ra-on.  

Meanwhile, Joon, who had been watching Do-kyung lean precariously against the window, hardened his expression as a chill ran down his spine.  

‘The pheromones…’  

The intensity of the alpha pheromones was overwhelming—enough to make one gag. What had been merely ferocious earlier now carried an added heat.  

Joon swallowed hard, choking back his breath. Quickly assessing the situation, he signaled his subordinates to prepare a car and reached out to Do-kyung.  

“Young Master, I’ll escort you to a hotel immediately.”  

The body beneath his palm was scorching hot—so much so that it felt like it might boil over.  

At that moment, Do-kyung muttered.  

“A hotel…”  

“Yes. The car is waiting. Please head straight to the hotel, Young Master!”  

Joon called out urgently, but Do-kyung’s steps were faster as he brushed past him.  

Reaching the waiting car, Do-kyung jerked his chin toward the passenger seat.  

“Get out.”  

“…What?”  

The beta driver, bewildered, hesitantly stepped out of the car.  

Just as Do-kyung was about to get in, Joon, who had followed closely behind, restrained him with a pale face.  

“Young Master, this isn’t allowed.”  

Do-kyung raised an eyebrow and glared irritably at Joon, who dared block his path.  

“Joon.”  

His tone, devoid of inflection yet spine-chilling, caused Joon’s shoulders to tremble faintly. The wave of pheromones pressing down on him made his insides feel like they were being turned inside out.  

Gasping raggedly, Joon pushed himself away with trembling hands as Do-kyung shoved him aside and climbed into the car.  

The car roared to life and sped off in an instant.  

“Damn it…”  

Joon staggered, clenching his teeth. Then he shouted.  

“Bring the car!”  

He had to chase after him immediately.  

Before the raged-up Do-kyung could do something reckless.  

---  

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!  

The sound of someone pounding on the door as if trying to break it startled Ra-on, who had just been about to enter her room.  

“What the…?”  

Instinctively checking the time, Ra-on’s expression froze. It was nearly midnight. But even setting aside the late hour, the violent knocking was far from ordinary.  

Ra-on took a hesitant step back. Her heart raced with fear and unease.  

Her face taut with tension, she stared intently at the entrance.  

Yet, the door fell eerily silent, as if she had imagined the noise.  

Trembling like a leaf, Ra-on cautiously moved forward to check the intercom.  

As she picked up the receiver with bated breath, another round of pounding erupted.  

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!  

Startled, the receiver slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor. Ra-on, frozen in place, panted heavily as she glared at the screen.  

Moments later, she instinctively squinted. The face on the screen was partially obscured, but it was unmistakably familiar.  

Had she misseen? Surely not. Suppressing her racing heart, Ra-on scrutinized the screen.  

She murmured.  

“…Han Do-kyung?”  

Even though the receiver lay on the floor, his voice somehow carried through. Responding to her, the half-visible face now filled the entire screen.  

Do-kyung’s face appeared on the glowing blue monitor.  

-Ra-on.  

“…”  

-Ra-on.  

His voice, filtered through the intercom speaker, sounded strained.  

Calling her name again, Do-kyung exhaled sharply and stared directly into the camera.  

-Open the door.  

“Ha.”  

For a brief moment, Ra-on was stunned by the unexpected visitor. But her bewilderment quickly turned to exasperation at his audacity in demanding entry so brazenly.  

“Are you drunk? What are you doing right now?”  

-The door. If you don’t open it now, I don’t know what I might do.  

“Han Do-kyung.”  

The face on the other side of the intercom smiled faintly.  

-You finally called me by my name.  

“What do you mean?”  

-But I don’t have the mental capacity to be happy about it right now.  

“…?”  

-Hey, is that bastard inside with you?  

…That bastard? Could he possibly mean Hye-sung?  

Ra-on didn’t think Do-kyung was unaware that she lived with Hye-sung. But still, to barge in unannounced and ask such a question—what? That bastard?  

-Hye-sung. Are you with him right now?  

“…I don’t understand why you’re barging in here and asking about that.”  

Hye-sung wasn’t home at the moment, but she saw no reason to tell him that outright.  

However, whether it was frustration or a catalyst, the face on the screen chuckled softly. Then, abruptly cutting off the laughter, he ran his fingers through his hair.  

-Ah, this is even worse than I thought.  

The icy tone carried clearly through the receiver, causing Ra-on to flinch.  

-Ra-on.  

The whisper that followed felt like something out of a horror movie. Ra-on stared at the pale face on the screen, her own complexion drained of color.  

-If you don’t open the door, I’ll break it down myself.  

With that, he took a step back, his movements ominous.  

As Ra-on frowned, puzzled by his intentions, Do-kyung lifted his leg—  

“W-wait!”  

Forgetting her fear, Ra-on shouted urgently.  

“Are you insane?!”  

At the sound of her voice, Do-kyung froze mid-motion. Slowly lowering his leg, he muttered in a dazed tone.  

-I must be.  

Heh. A low chuckle followed, accompanied by a gentle yet eerie voice.  

-How could I be sane when you’re living under the same roof as Hye-sung?  

As he spoke, the glare in his eyes intensified, piercing through the intercom camera.