Ye jun
Mom was already in full drama mode when we walked through the door. She stood in the middle of the living room like she had been waiting for hours just for this mont. Her hair was perfect. Her makeup was perfect. But her face was tight with anger. Her phone was in her hand and she waved it in the air the second Si-woo stepped inside. She had clearly talked to Dad already. She had clearly heard every detail. The air in the house felt thick and heavy.
"How could you embarrass the family like that?" she snapped. Her voice was sharp and loud. "I had three ssages from Mrs. Park already asking if the company was going under. Do you know how humiliating that is?"
Si-woo stopped just inside the door. He had not even taken off his shoes yet. His jacket was still on. His face looked empty. Calm. But I knew him. I could see the small tight line in his jaw.
"Don’t yell at like my mom," he said. His voice was flat. "I had backups."
"So I’m not your mother?! Backups that didn’t work!" Mom cut him off fast. Her voice rose higher. "And then Ye Jun had to step in and fix your ss. Do you have any idea how that looks?"
She said my na like it tasted sweet in her mouth.
Dad walked in from the kitchen at that mont. He moved slowly and calm. A glass of whiskey was already in his hand. He looked relaxed like none of this bothered him at all.
But he did not look at Si-woo first.
He looked at .
Then he smiled.
"You did good today, kid," he said. "Real good. Saved our ass."
Then turned to Si woo.
"The next ti you ever talk to your mom like that, I’ll strip you bear and roast you."
I shrugged one shoulder like it was nothing and smirked.
"Just doing what needed doing."
Mom turned to right away. Her whole face changed. Her eyes went bright and soft. Pride almost glowed on her face.
"My smart boy," she said warmly. "Always so quick. Always so clever."
She pulled into a hug. Tight. I slled her perfu. Jasmine and sothing sweet. She held like I had done sothing amazing.
"I’m so proud of you," she said softly.
Then she pulled back and turned toward Si-woo again. Her eyes went cold.
"You?" she said sharply. "You should be ashad. First big pitch and you choke like that? Unacceptable."
Si-woo’s jaw moved again.
"It was my project," he said quietly.
"And you almost destroyed it," Dad said.
His voice was quiet too. But not angry quiet.
Satisfied quiet.
He took a slow drink of whiskey. Then he looked at again.
"Ye Jun earned his position today," he continued. "Maybe it is ti we talked about moving him up."
Si-woo laughed once.
It was a short sound. Hard and bitter.
"Right," he said. "Because he is so perfect. One little project and you all are wilding?"
Mom let out a long sigh like she was tired of him.
"Si-woo," she said. "It is your first real mistake. I will forgive you. This ti."
She reached out and patted his cheek like he was a small child.
"But do not let it happen again."
Then she turned away and walked toward the stairs. Her heels clicked loudly with each step.
She was already pulling out her phone again.
"I need to call my friends," she said to herself. "They will want to hear how well Ye Jun did."
Dad waited until her footsteps faded upstairs.
Then he looked at both of us.
"Go get changed," he said. "Dinner in twenty."
I nodded and headed for the stairs.
Si-woo did not move.
I did not look back.
But later I ca back down for a second. I had forgotten my charger in the living room. Or maybe I just wanted to walk again. I do not know.
The house was quiet.
Then I heard voices from the kitchen.
Low voices.
Dad spoke first.
"I know what happened today."
I stopped on the stairs.
Silence filled the kitchen.
Then Si-woo spoke.
"What do you an?"
His voice sounded tight.
Dad did not raise his voice.
"I know Ye Jun took those files from you," he said calmly. "I raised you, Si-woo. I know how you work. You do not lose things unless soone takes them."
My stomach dropped so fast I almost missed the next step.
I froze on the stairs.
Dad kept talking. His voice stayed calm. Almost gentle.
"He is smart," Dad said. "Smarter than I thought. Lucky for him he is the son of the woman I actually loved."
My heart started beating harder.
"If it was anyone else who pulled that on you," Dad continued quietly, "I would have killed you both. You and him. Slowly."
The words sat in the air like ice.
Si-woo did not answer right away.
Then he spoke.
"You are not mad?"
Dad gave a soft laugh.
"Mad?" he said. "I am impressed. He played you. And he won. That is business."
I gripped the stair rail so hard my fingers hurt.
"But you?" Dad added. "You better get smarter. Fast. Because next ti he might not stop at embarrassing you."
Silence followed.
I stood there frozen. My heart was beating so loud I was sure they would hear it.
Step son.
Lover’s son.
Kill us both.
The words echoed in my head.
Slowly I backed up the stairs.
Step by step.
Quiet.
I reached my room and shut the door.
I did not lock it.
Not yet.
Dinner was hell.
Mom would not stop talking. She kept smiling at . She kept telling the sa story about the eting again and again.
Dad nodded along.
Every now and then he gave a look of approval.
Like he was proud.
Si-woo barely spoke.
He just stared at his plate.
His face looked calm again.
But his hands were tight around his fork.
Every ti our eyes t he looked away fast.
But I felt it.
A promise.
A threat.
After dinner I went upstairs first.
This ti I locked my door.
My heart was still beating fast.
I sat on the bed with my back against the headboard.
My phone rested in my lap but I was not really looking at it.
I was waiting.
Because I knew he would co.
The house grew quiet.
Ten o’clock passed.
Then ten thirty.
Then eleven.
Right at eleven.
Knock.
Soft at first.
Then harder.
"Open the fucking door, Ye Jun."
I did not move.
More knocks.
Faster.
"Open it or I swear to god I will break it down and kill you and then spend the rest of my life in jail smiling."
I laughed.
I could not help it.
The sound ca out shaky.
"Go away, Si-woo."
Silence filled the hall.
Then the door knob rattled hard.
"I am counting to three."
I sighed and stood up.
I walked to the door slowly.
Then I opened it just a crack.
That was enough.
He shoved it wide open.
He stepped inside.
Then he slamd the door behind him.
Click.
He locked it.
Before I could move he grabbed my throat.
Not just choking.
Not Just holding. It was like he wanted to kill .
His fingers wrapped around my neck.
His thumb pressed against my pulse.
Then he pushed backward.
My legs hit the bed.
"You think you are clever?" he whispered.
His face was close.
Very close.
I could see the small flecks of color in his eyes.
"Think you can take everything from and walk away?"
I swallowed against his hand.
"Worked today."
His grip tightened just a little.
Just enough to make my breath catch.
"I am going to punish you so hard you will not believe it," he said quietly. "You will beg to stop. And I might not."
I tried to laugh again.
But it did not co out right.
"Big talk."
He leaned closer.
His lips brushed my ear.
"You wanna know my real fetish, right?" he murmured.
"All that porn you hide in encrypted folders. BDSM. Weird drawings. Positions that look like they hurt. Assistive stuff. You get off on suffering." I answered
My face burned hot.
"Close," he said softly. "But it is not just anyone. It is you. I love watching you suffer. You are my real fucking fetish "
His voice dropped even lower.
"Sotis it makes feel guilty. Sick even. But tonight?"
His thumb pressed harder on my pulse.
"You crossed every line."
He breathed slowly beside my ear.
"So I am giving you the chance to feel nothing. Just take it."
I stared at him.
My heart was beating in my throat.
Literally.
His hand was still there.
"You are insane," I whispered.
"Maybe," he said.
Then he smiled slowly.
A dangerous smile.
"But you opened the door."
He pushed down onto the bed.
I landed hard against the mattress.
He followed right after.
His knees pressed against my hips.
His hand still rested around my throat.
"Last chance," he said.
"Scream and I will stop."
His eyes stayed locked on mine.
"Or do not. And we see how far you can go before you break."
I looked up at him.
I saw the anger in his face.
The hunger too.
I did not scream.
I just smiled.
"Your move, asshole."
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