Chapter 34: An Unexpected Encounter and a Planned Escape

There was no amiable conversation between Han Jung-woo and me on the way back to the resort. Only a heavy silence permeated the car.

As soon as the car pulled into the parking lot and slowly came to a halt, I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door. Han Jung-woo silently followed behind me, even as I tried to leave without a word of farewell.

As I entered the room and tried to close the door, a hand abruptly slid into the narrowing gap, forcing it wide open. The audacious intruder stood before me.

A sensor light flickered on, casting a bright glow above Han Jung-woo’s head. His face was obscured by shadows, making it impossible to discern his expression.

“Yoo Seo-jin, I’m curious about you.”

My mind had been a tangled mess throughout the entire journey here. Han Jung-woo’s words kept echoing, always bringing forth the same question: ‘Why?’

‘What in the world is he thinking?’

Why would Han Jung-woo be curious about Yoo Seo-jin? It should be normal for him to detest even being in the same space as me. So why does he keep trying to understand me?

That’s something he should be doing with Jung Hee-soo.

“Mr. Han Jung-woo, you’re acting strangely.”

Finally, I voiced the question that had been swirling in my mind. Han Jung-woo, who had been about to step closer, paused, raising one eyebrow askew.

“Well, I suppose I am acting strangely.”

He mumbled to himself, then extended a hand. The approaching hand brushed past my cheek, where the bruise had now faded, and descended slightly further. A cool touch lingered near my lips.

“Otherwise, why would I be curious about someone I once found horrifying just to breathe the same air as?”

“Wouldn’t you agree?” Han Jung-woo tilted his head, a faint smile gracing his lips. Knowing he wasn’t genuinely asking for an answer, I remained silent.

“This time, I’ll ask the questions.”

Erasing the smile from his face, he strode purposefully towards me. The sudden proximity made me recoil, but I was quickly met by the wall behind me.

Han Jung-woo blocked my front, the wall my back, leaving no avenue for escape. Having completely cut off my retreat, he bent low, meeting my wavering gaze directly.

My anxious reflection appeared in the bottomless, obsidian depths of his eyes. Han Jung-woo watched me, his gaze unblinking.

“Why did you suddenly leave?”

“……”

“Didn’t you approach me because you needed me?”

As Han Jung-woo implied, Yoo Seo-jin had indeed needed him. To surpass his half-brother, Yoo Ju-jin, the backing of Han Jung-woo, heir to Daejin Group, had been essential.

But that was no longer the case. I coveted neither Yoo Hae-jung’s company nor Han Jung-woo’s influence. My sole wish was to live quietly somewhere Yoo Seo-jin was unknown.

However, everything had been ruined by someone who had suddenly appeared.

“I left because I no longer needed you.”

“Why don’t you need me?”

“I told you. I’m going to live well, spending money lavishly.”

Though I offered the predetermined answer, Han Jung-woo didn’t seem to believe it. His reaction was no different from when I had first sought him out and uttered those very words.

“Yoo Seo-jin, content to live with just that?”

Han Jung-woo scoffed. Anyone who knew the former Yoo Seo-jin would naturally scoff at such a statement, yet I couldn’t help but feel wronged.

After all, I wasn’t the Yoo Seo-jin they remembered.

“Not Yoo Seo-jin; he would never.”

Han Jung-woo mumbled to himself, then gently pressed his thumb against my lower lip. As a breath I had been holding escaped through the slightly parted opening, a strange glint appeared in his dark eyes.

‘His pheromones…’

The pheromones, pouring out like an assault, made my vision swim. With every breath, a familiar yet alien scent filled me completely.

It was only because Yoo Seo-jin was a dominant omega that I could endure; an ordinary omega would have been soaked between the legs, begging for a f*ck. Even knowing this, Han Jung-woo didn’t cease his shower of pheromones.

“S-stop it.”

I tried to break free from Han Jung-woo before the fragile thread of my reason snapped, but he blocked my path, unmoving.

He gently closed his downcast eyes and tilted his head. Our lips drew so close they seemed poised to meet at any moment.

‘No.’

Despite my will, my body was already prepared to accept him. The strength drained from my hands, which had been desperately pushing him away, and my eyelids fluttered shut of their own accord.

His lips brushed mine, trembling faintly. Another’s breath entered through the involuntarily parted gap, but that was all. The kiss had not even begun.

“Why are you so tense?”

He chuckled playfully, a smirk that seemed out of place, and took a step back. Returning to reality, I couldn’t contain my fury. I knew it was because of the pheromones, but the mere fact that I had wavered, even for a moment…

“Get out.”

Gritting my teeth, I issued an order for Han Jung-woo to leave. I stared at him, desperately hoping that this time, he would retreat without a second thought.

“Get some rest; you must be tired.”

Perhaps my desperation had reached him, for Han Jung-woo turned and left without another word. I remained rooted to the spot until the door closed and his footsteps faded completely.

I simply couldn’t move.

****

On days when my thoughts ran wild, I often struggled to sleep, but lately, it had grown far worse. Indeed, after hearing such words yesterday, there was no way I could have slept properly.

‘This is hard.’

Having given up on sleep entirely since dawn, I had been sprawled on the sofa for hours. Perhaps I had drifted off while leaning deeply against the backrest, gazing out beyond the panoramic window. When I opened my eyes again, it was already high noon.

Through my slowly fluttering eyelids, a cloudless blue light repeatedly appeared and vanished. It seemed today would be a truly beautiful day.

On a day like this, one should go down to the village, take a stroll, fill up on a sandwich, and finish off at a pub.

‘Should I go for the first time in a while?’

While part of me wanted to go out to soothe my restless mind, a greater urge was to escape the resort. Staying here would only increase the chances of encountering Han Jung-woo.

At least for today, I wanted to put some distance between us.

Once my decision was made, my actions were swift. After quickly getting ready and stepping outside, I headed straight for the lobby. As I was about to ask a staff member for the drop-off service, I noticed someone already there before me: Jae-hyun.

“Seo-jin!”

Detecting an impending nuisance, I tried to quietly turn away, but Jae-hyun, who happened to glance back, caught sight of me. With no other choice, I smiled and greeted him as he approached.

“Where are you going?”

“Just taking a walk around the resort.”

“Right, it’s a beautiful day; you should go out.”

Jae-hyun chuckled heartily and lightly patted my back. I had been nervously anticipating him asking to join me, but his next words were entirely unexpected.

“I’m going to visit an island for a bit.”

“Which one?”

“There are plenty of islands around here, aren’t there?”

“Didn’t you know?” Jae-hyun asked, looking puzzled. Of course, I knew there were many islands nearby, but I had never visited one, nor had I ever even considered going.

Looking again, I noticed a small suitcase in Jae-hyun’s left hand. It was clear he was leaving for somewhere, but I had been too distracted to notice it earlier.

“Why? Want to come along?”

“No, I’m fine.”

At my swift refusal, Jae-hyun pouted. Yet, the excitement of his upcoming trip must have outweighed any disappointment, as his dejection didn’t last long. He truly was a peculiar fellow.

“When are you coming back?”

“In about three days?”

“That works; three days is good.”

By then, I would have settled things with Han Jung-woo and be making preparations to leave. It would be enough time to say a final farewell to Jae-hyun before departing.

I hadn’t decided where I would go yet, but I planned not to tell Jae-hyun. If he tried to follow me again, like last time, I would have to gently dissuade him, reminding him that he had a home to return to.

“Don’t cry because I’m gone.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never done that.”

“I’ll bring you back something tasty.”

With a final promise to return, Jae-hyun left the lobby, citing that his boat was due to depart. I briefly considered returning to my room but proceeded to request the drop-off service as planned.

While waiting for the car, I sat on a lobby sofa, idly fiddling with my phone. As I searched for something to pass the time, my phone briefly vibrated.

[Han Jung-woo: What are you doing?]

After reading the message, I quickly scanned my surroundings. Fortunately, Han Jung-woo was nowhere to be seen in the spacious lobby. It seemed he was still in his room.

I turned off my phone screen, removing Han Jung-woo’s name from my sight. I could reply later. The excuse was simple: I would just say I was asleep.

‘Later. I’ll do everything later.’

Right now, I wanted to think about nothing at all.