Hwan's Mansion
Yuna's wrists were bleeding.
The ropes had cut into her skin, leaving deep marks. Her bare feet pressed against the cold stone floor, and her thin clothes did little to shield her from the chilling air.
How long had she been here?
Hours? Days?
Time had lost its meaning. The only thing she knew was…
Hwan had no intention of letting her go.
The creaking of the door broke the eerie silence of the room.
Yuna's breath hitched as she lifted her gaze.
And there he was.
Hwan.
He stepped inside, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world.
Today, he looked… different.
He wasn't wearing his usual suit. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing just enough of his toned chest to be distracting. The rolled-up sleeves exposed his muscular arms, and his black pants hung loosely around his waist.
But the most terrifying thing…
Was the cold, calculated rage in his eyes.
He approached her with a predatory grace.
Then, he crouched down.
And grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"How are you feeling today, Yuna?"
Yuna clenched her teeth.
"Let me go!"
Hwan smirked. But it wasn't a smile of kindness.
It was the kind of smile a hunter gave its prey before the kill.
His fingers traced her cheek slowly.
Then…
He suddenly gripped her wrist.
Yuna sucked in a sharp breath, biting back the pain.
"Does it hurt?" he whispered, his voice dripping with amusement.
Her eyes welled up with tears, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction.
Seeing her resistance, Hwan leaned in closer.
So close that she could feel his breath against her skin.
"There's fear in your eyes." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "But do you know what's even scarier?"
His lips brushed against her ear.
"You won't leave this place… until I decide to let you go."
A shiver ran down Yuna's spine.
Disgusted, she turned her face away.
"You're sick!" she spat.
But Hwan just chuckled.
Then, his hand moved.
He wrapped it around her throat.
Not tight enough to choke her.
Just enough to remind her… that he could.
"Go on then." His voice was almost playful. "Let your angel come save you."
Yuna's breath hitched.
Angel?
Her mind raced.
What was he talking about?
Then, the memories flooded back.
The night at the bridge. The cold wind.
And the warmth of the arms that had caught her before she fell.
Eunwoo… was it really him?
Hwan grabbed her shoulder, shaking her lightly.
"What's wrong, Yuna? You didn't know, did you?"
Yuna looked up at him in shock.
Eunwoo… is an angel?
But if Eunwoo was an angel…
Then who—no, what—was Hwan?
Yuna's breath quickened.
Hwan smirked, his dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
He leaned in even closer, his voice a whisper against her skin.
"Are you wondering why Eunwoo saved you?"
Yuna swallowed hard.
Hwan tilted his head, a slow, devilish smile curling on his lips.
Then, he whispered,
"Let me tell you a little secret, Yuna…"
The air in the room felt heavier.
And in that moment, Yuna realized… she was on the edge of discovering something far darker than she had ever imagined.