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Jisoo's eyelids fluttered open, her entire body throbbing with pain.
She let out a whimper, her head pounding with pain as the world spun around her in a dizzying blur.
Her trembling fingers reached for her head, finding it enveloped in bandages, the fabric securing her wounded forehead.
Jisoo attempted to rise, every fiber of her being protesting against the effort due to the searing pain coursing through her body.
Her gaze swept across the room, and in an instant, recognition dawned upon her. This was undoubtedly his room.
Before, her condition might have served as a shield against his advances, but now that she was awake, she feared his intentions, knowing he might not hesitate to take advantage of her fragile state.
Jisoo knew that her best course of action was to leave the room and retreat to where she had slept the previous night. There, at least, she could evade his gaze and potential advances.
Just as she was about to rise from the bed, the door creaked open, revealing Seungcheol. His gaze, already fixed upon her form, sent a shiver down her spine.
Her big eyes met his expressionless ones, and without a word, he entered the room, shutting the door behind him with a ominous click.
"You're awake," he said in a low, gravelly voice that echoed in the quiet room, his gaze never leaving her.
He took measured steps closer to her until he stood right in front of her, towering over her.
She had to raise her chin to meet his gaze, feeling small and vulnerable in his presence.
"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice quivering with panick. "I know what I did was wrong. Please, forgive me."
Seungcheol looked down at her, his expression unchanged. Jisoo stood there awkwardly, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze, feeling increasingly intimidated by his presence.
"How are you feeling?" he asked gruffly, prompting her to furrow her brows in slight bewilderment.
She had anticipated him yelling at her, not showing concern for her.
"Oh...I'm okay," she replied.
"I'll get you some painkillers and food. And you'll have to sleep here tonight. The stitches could come loose, and I don't want you bleed again," he said plainly, his tone practical.
"But why do I have to sleep here?" she asked, her confusion evident as she tried to grasp his intentions.
"So I can keep an eye on your wound," he replied, glancing at his wristwatch.
"It's fine, I can sleep in the other room," she almost pleaded, the idea of sharing a room with him making her whole body tense.
He studied her with a furrowed brow, a hint of anger mixing with his usual stoicism.
With measured steps, he closed the distance between them, causing her to instinctively retreat until her back pressed against the firm surface of the headboard.
Her heart raced in her chest, feeling the intensity of his gaze bearing down on her as he leaned closer.
"What did you say?" His voice was a low growl, each word dripping with a dangerous intensity that sent a chill down her spine.
His eyes bore into hers with an unrelenting gaze, as if searching for any hint of deception.
"I want to sleep in my room, please," she replied, her eyes pleading for understanding as she mustered every ounce of courage to voice her request.
"Since when did the guest room become your room?" His chuckle held a hint of mockery, though his aura persisted as intimidating as ever.
Jisoo didn't even know what she was saying. All she knew was that she didn't want to sleep in the same room with him.
It was as if his presence alone had robbed her of her ability to articulate her thoughts, leaving her feeling powerless and vulnerable.
As he settled onto the edge of the bed, the mattress dipped under his weight, drawing him closer to her.
With deliberate movements, Seungcheol extended his arm, reaching out towards her but placing his hand strategically on the other side, effectively trapping her between his body and the bed.
Fear rooted her to the spot, rendering her unable to move or resist.
His hand hovered dangerously close to her, the warmth of his breath brushing against her skin as he drew nearer.
She could feel the weight of his gaze, heavy and penetrating, as it bore into her, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Her breath caught in her throat, her heart racing as she struggled to maintain her composure. Heat rose in her cheeks, betraying the fear that pulsed through her veins.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they remained locked in this uncomfortable proximity.
And then, with a surge of adrenaline, she found her voice, her words tumbling out in a desperate plea for freedom.
"Please," Jisoo whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. "Please, I can't...I can't do this."
"You can't do what?" His voice, rough and raspy, echoed through the quiet room, sending a shiver down her spine.
She teetered on the edge of tears, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her, and Seungcheol immediately took note, as a small chuckle escaped him.
"Don't start crying. I won't do anything, if that's what you're scared of," he whispered, his voice a low murmur.
His eyes roamed over her, tracing a path from her eyes to her lips and then down to her neck, before returning to meet her gaze once more.
"They're playing with someone as innocent as you, and it's really sad, you know? You should be focusing on finishing your studies, pursuing a career, falling in love. Instead, you're trapped here. And you're going to continue being trapped," he whispered.
She regarded him with a frown, her confusion evident in her expression.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly with fear of what his response might hold.
"You don't want to know. Frankly, we're both going to destroy each other's lives. You're a puzzle to me, one I can't seem to solve," he started, his tone a blend of perplexity and intrigue.
"I can't tell if you're genuinely scared of me or if you're secretly brave, much like the night we first crossed paths. All I can gather is that you're a young teenager who treats life like a game, unafraid to indulge in reckless notions." His gaze remained fixed on hers, probing for any discernible reaction.
"Now, after it took me hours to calm down and resist the urge to wreck everything, possibly including you, listen carefully to what I have to say. Then, you decide what to do," he said, his tone carrying a weight of seriousness as he awaited her response.
"Are we settled on this?" he asked, noticing her lack of response.
Jisoo hesitated before nodding, her uncertainty evident.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, barely perceptible, as he registered her agreement.
"Unfortunately, we'll have to interact more often than you may anticipate," he began, noting the furrow in her brow.
"I'm not stupid enough to impose arbitrary rules on you. You're not a pet. I trust you to think for yourself and discern when to stop," he continued, his words hanging in the air as she puzzled over the reason for their increased interaction.
"But you need to understand that we can't keep playing this cat-and-mouse game every time you crave a thrill," he asserted firmly. "I'm dead serious about this, Kim Jisoo. I can't stand people who refuse to listen and then lament the consequences of their actions. And you fall into that category. You could have lost your life in that accident. Was it worth it? Instead of simply sitting down for breakfast and eating like a normal fucking person, you decided that a race was preferable. Tell me, was it really worth the risk?"
She involuntarily gulped, feeling the weight of his intense gaze bearing down on her like flames licking at her skin.
"As long as you're under my roof, in my possession, you will behave," he declared sternly, his words laden with authority. "I don't care how much you miss your family or yearn for freedom. If you want to remain safe, you will stay in your place quietly," he continued, his tone brooking no argument.
"I made this clear on the first night, and it appeared that you understood the gravity of my warnings. But if you dare to step out of line again, if you dare to test me," he paused, his gaze hardening, "I won't hesitate to enforce them again. Consider this your only warning. The next time, the consequences will be far more severe than a mere wound on your forehead."
His frown deepened as he scrutinized her expression, searching for any sign of defiance or understanding.
"Do you understand?" he asked, his voice firm, demanding a clear response.
Despite her fear, she couldn't suppress the urge to question him. "Why do we have to see each other more often? And why do you expect me to behave like a pet? I'm a human being; I make mistakes just like you and everyone else," she spoke softly, her voice almost a whisper, not wanting to provoke him further.
"Why? Because wherever you go, you seem to attract trouble," he spat sharply, his frustration evident in his tone. "I didn't sign up to babysit an immature teenager who can't differentiate between danger and recklessness. Your mistakes could cost you your life. And they could certainly cause problems for me," he added, his voice tinged with exasperation. "So you'd better think twice before you decide to make another mistake," he concluded sternly.
She fell silent, realizing that even the slightest word or action could provoke his anger.
It felt as if she were walking on eggshells, tiptoeing around him in an attempt to avoid setting off his volatile temper.
"Are we clear on this?" he asked.
Jisoo nodded quietly, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. It felt eerily reminiscent of being scolded by her father for sneaking out on a date without his knowledge.
"Words," he demanded, his unwavering gaze fixed upon her.
"Yes, I understand," she sighed once more, her voice barely above a whisper as she reluctantly uttered the words, feeling compelled to comply.
"I hope today's events taught you a valuable lesson. You can't gamble with your life, just like your beloved father did. I won't tolerate you putting yourself in danger again. I may not care about you personally, but your actions could have had serious consequences for me," he explained.
"And you'd better drop this fucking attitude of yours if you want this relationship to stay on good terms," Seungcheol stated firmly, assuming his stance before rising from the bed, granting Jisoo a moment to breathe again.
"Now wait for me to bring you something to eat and the painkillers. After that, you can take a shower," he instructed before turning towards the door to leave.
As the door closed behind him, she couldn't help but release a heavy sigh, a scoff escaping her lips.
"Who does he think he is?" she muttered to herself, frustration evident in her voice. "Why should I have to listen to him? Is he my father or something? And what, can't I speak my mind without him dictating how I should act?" she continued, her irritation mounting with each passing moment.
"You know I can hear you, right?" Seungcheol's voice came from outside the door, causing her eyes to widen in alarm as she instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, realizing she had been overheard.
"Sorry," she replied sheepishly, even though Seungcheol was already descending the stairs, having seemingly intended to give her a small heart attack.
"What the fuck is going on, dad?" Mingyu shouted, his voice reverberating throughout the entire house.
His stepmother descended the stairs, her eyes fixed on Mingyu, who met her gaze with a furrowed brow, a silent question in his expression.
"Where's my father?" he sighed, clearly uninterested in dealing with the woman before him.
"He went to settle his debts, but he knew you were coming," Eunji replied.
"Settle his debts? With what money?" Mingyu spat, his frustration evident in his tone.
"Choi Dongyul lent him a hand and your father made a choice," she clarified, her tone steady.
"Now, could you do me a favor and take this to your sister?" Her request caught Mingyu off guard, causing him to pause momentarily, unsure of how to respond.
"What do you mean, woman?" he demanded, his tone edged with confusion and frustration.
She scoffed, meeting his gaze with a raised eyebrow. "What's unclear?" she retorted. "Your sister's belongings are in this suitcase. She's leaving this house," she clarified bluntly.
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to be continued...