when the phone rings novel

It was 11 p.m. when the phone rang again. She pressed the phone to her ear with a blank expression.

"I heard she had some kind of surgery in Germany. It took a long time."

"Now her hearing has recovered."

"What you were supposed to do is essentially over now."

The constant presence of Baek Sa-eon suddenly seemed to vanish. What was this feeling?

"My sister has returned..."

Someone like me, just a shadow, would surely disappear in an instant. The familiar despair crashed over her like a wave of fear. Perhaps that was why the threatening calls and the once-urgent need for a divorce now seemed so absurd.

It was a night of sorrow, when all willpower and resolve faded away.

The phone rang again.

In the terror of being swept away, she wanted to hold on to something. If that was the case, why not do something bad? She didn't need to pretend to be good; she could indulge in that side of herself and let herself fall. Fortunately, she indeed had that side of herself.

"Hello?" Hee-joo spoke mechanically. "I heard the Blue House spokesman is actually dealing in gossip." Her hand gripping the phone grew cold. Ah, how exhausting. Does this even work? Have I been dreaming foolishly all along? "I'm going to expose everything..."

"Oh, oh, so obedient." The voice was cold, yet carried a hint of a smile. "Just expose all those dirty deeds of yours, and it's all over..."

"I thought you'd be scared enough to run away, but you still called."

"...!"

"I hoped you'd understand how terrifying the world is and stop, but you never reached out. I was worried. 406 also wants to keep going to bed with you, so let's keep this threat on schedule."

... What are you saying? Is this sarcasm? Hee-joo couldn't comprehend, her eyes shifting restlessly.

"Did you perhaps pick another victim?" The question instantly made her forget about her sister.

"I've been waiting for the terrifying threatener."

"...!"

"If you toy with others, I'll get angry."

She was dumbfounded. I'm the one threatening, so why does it feel like I'm playing around with him?

"Isn't it more fun to have only one target?"

Hee-joo was so angry that she couldn't speak.

"If you're being so half-hearted, then forget it. Here I am starving, and you're out having fun with others?"

"What... no..."

"So, how do you plan on making up for it? I hate people who are late, and that goes for threateners too."

It sounded like he was smoking; the white cigarette butt was twisting in the glow of fire.

"There has to be punishment, of course."

"What?" She instinctively used a formal tone.

"What are you wearing right now?"

The hot phone was sticking to her palm.

"How about you take your clothes off first?"

It was an odd impulse.

"I'm curious about Hong Hee-joo's language."

"Mr. Baek, do you have a woman?"

"In-ah is coming."

A dark unease burned like fire deep inside her. Hee-joo felt suffocated by the pressures from inside and out, her blood nearly running dry. She wished for even a second to be free from such helpless and miserable thoughts. She wanted to feel nothing. However, Baek Sa-eon, like a spark, kept fanning the flames.

And so, her anger exploded.

"If I really took it off, what would you do?"

— ...!

She quickly pulled down her pants, speaking provocatively.

"You wouldn't even dare touch me; what could you do?"

— What was your most satisfying sexual experience?

No matter how much Hee-joo mocked him, the other party remained calm and composed. Hearing that low voice, her ears started to heat up.

Indeed, this kind of conversation was lethal for her.

"That, well..."

She didn't want to brush it off...

Hee-joo felt a surge of anger as her husband, posing as 406, asked these questions. The fact that he seemed genuinely interested only irritated her more.

She frowned, trying hard to squeeze out an answer.

"Only... when I'm angry."

— ...!

"Very angry."

— ....

The other end of the phone fell silent for a moment; she could almost hear rapid breathing, though it was uncertain.

— Sounds like you enjoy rough sex, is that it?

"Yeah, maybe."

— ....

"Releasing anger is good. I thought I'd never have any sexual desire, but whenever I get really mad, I just want to go wild, do bad things, and curse."

— ....

"Because I want to forget."

— Who made you this angry?

"My husband."

— ...!

"I have a partner just like yours—a real bastard."

He seemed to move the phone away suddenly, the sound of coughing coming from a distance.

— Your husband is a bastard to you?

"Yes."

Hee-joo spoke straightforwardly.

"From the beginning, it was a mistake of a marriage anyway."

— ....

"How could something like that ever go smoothly?" she said self-deprecatingly, her eyes starting to feel hot.

She felt anger, as if announcing that the storehouse of her emotions was empty. Besides, even though she had been worried about her sister all along, she didn't entirely feel happy about her return, and this feeling made her feel ashamed and sorry. Her emotions were a complete mess.

"So now I don't want to think about anything."

— ....

"My legs are bare now, what's next?"

— ...!

A suppressed sigh slipped out, like a thin line. She couldn't tell what expression he had, but it seemed as if he was wiping his face. It wasn't hard to notice this now.

— Lick your fingers first.

"What?"

— Wet your index finger and middle finger, and then move them down.

It was an unfamiliar and awkward request, but Hee-joo tightly closed her eyes, slipping her hand under the blanket.

It was as if he knew her every move. His voice dropper lower as he instructed, "Where are your hands now?"

"My stomach, near my navel?" she replied, feeling her thighs naturally part. Cold sweat broke out on her skin as his demands came one after another.

"Lower," he commanded.

"...!"

"Keep going."

She took a deep breath.

"Do you feel it?" he asked.

Her hand brushed against soft skin, eliciting a strange sensation. "Mmm..." Her lips parted involuntarily. She couldn't tell if it was discomfort or pleasure but the feeling was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

"Spread them a bit more and press down," his voice even deeper now, urged insistently. "Do you feel anything?"

"Mmm...yes..." she murmured.

"Now move it," he directed.

The more Hee-joo touched herself below, the more heat spread across her back.

"Mmm..." Even though she wasn't doing it intentionally, her breathing grew heavier, and an embarrassed moan slipped out. She was surprised that her body could experience such pleasure and the man's intermittent, firm instructions only heightened her excitement.

"Wet your fingers a bit more, then go lower."

"Mmm..."

"Keep moving, lower."

"Mmm..." Her body gradually became hotter. Her legs parted further without hesitation, entirely unashamed. Even though she didn't fully understand what she needed, she foolishly craved more.

"Mmmm...a little more..."

"You'll have to move yourself. I can't do it for you," his voice said, gritted with restraint.

"Ah...it feels so slippery..."

"...Damn it." His voice came out as a mix between a sigh and a curse. Hee-joo's shoulders trembled, but strangely, she felt like she was losing her mind. Her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest, sinking lower and lower.

"A little more."

"No...I can't.."

"Scared?"

"Mmm..."
"You can't start crying over something this minor."

But as the conversation deepened, her body grew increasingly warm, and a sense of disappointment quietly took root. He dared to say such boundary-crossing things to a woman he had never met before. Yet, oddly enough, her confidence seemed to swell, as though her self-esteem was inflating like a clenched fist.

"No, I prefer someone else to do it...!"

"..."

"I like—" Hee-joo's mind flashed to a daring lyric she had once heard. "I like... the King Cobra."

"..."

"And... whips and... collars."

"..."

He let out a sound that could have been either a sigh or laughter, but she didn't have the luxury of paying attention to it. Her body and mind felt disconnected, yet a hazy sense of exhilaration lingered.

"I like men with depth. That's why I need someone else to touch me..."

"Then go find that bastard. The one you call your husband."

"...!"

"Beg him. He'd surely be more than willing."

"No... it's not..."

"...How could your husband not go crazy for you, a beautiful wife like number 406, pleading so sweetly?"

"My husband...isn't like that," Hee-joo said with trembling breath, struggling to form her words.

"406, you have no idea how cruel those bastards can get when they're in heat," he continued. "They're nothing more than animals, desperate to grind themselves against a female."

"..."

"Especially men who've been holding back for a long time."

"But even with my husband, I can't do something like this," Hee-joo firmly rejected, her determination evident.

His voice suddenly turned sharp, laced with a dangerous edge.

"Then do it with me. Everyday, listening to my voice, as you do it."

"Mmm...!"

Her wrist ached, but she didn't stop. The rush of pleasure clouded her thoughts, and her vision grew hazy, she stared blankly into space.

"It feels...like you're right in front of me," she murmured.

"..."

"Like.... You're touching me."

The sensation intensified as she closed her eyes.

"Ha, ha...mmm!"

Bust as her vision cleared, a chill seeped into her chest. The illusion shattered like a mirage, leaving behind a hollow satisfaction that felt absurd, yet somehow painfully real. It was as if this absurdity perfectly mirrored her own reality.

The heavy panting gradually subsided, leaving behind an overwhelming sense of insignificance. As she was lost in a daze, filled with a feeling of emptiness, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Chapter 47

"...!" Ah...! She hastily hung up the phone, staring in panic at the figure standing at the door. Baek Sa-eon, holding a briefcase, stood there with a face as dark as thunder, staring intensely at her. Hong Hee-joo's heart felt as if it would burst out of her chest, her face turning deathly pale.

"Hong Hee-joo, what are you doing?"

"..."

Her mind went completely blank. Hee-joo forced herself to suppress her heated breaths, her whole body stiffened. However, she noticed that Baek Sa-eon's breathing had also become rapid, his piercing gaze filled her with dread.

'How did this happen so suddenly...?' Hee-joo quickly shoved the phone under the blanket, pretending to be composed. But her flushed cheeks and moist eyes from the unfamiliar peak of pleasure betrayed her; she couldn't hide it no matter how hard she tried.

"Should I come over?" Hee-joo clutched her blanket tightly, shaking her head desperately.

However, the man still moved closer uncontrollably, placing his palm on the bed and leaning down. For some reason, his bloodshot eyes slowly and meticulously scanned Hee-joo's face.

"So this is what it looks like."

"...!"

At that moment, his lips came down on hers as if to devour her. He kissed her like a parched man seeking water, hungrily sucking on her lips, urgently thrusting his tongue inside. Because of his weight, Hee-joo was forced to open her mouth wide.

Baek Sa-eon looked like he was savoring something incredibly delicious. He mercilessly consumed every breath from Hee-joo, his tongue rubbing deeply against hers.

What is happening here...?! He's the one who called another woman, yet he's treating me like this...?! What does he take me for...?!

Hee-joo bit down hard on his lip.

"...!"

Despite the force of her bite, he twisted his head and kissed her even more deeply. The taste of blood mixed into their mouths, but he didn't seem to care at all, gripping her face firmly.

"What? Do you think I'm a bastard?" he growled against her lips.

"Going this far, I suppose I deserve to be called one."

"...!"

"Didn't they say there are many ways for a husband and wife to communicate?"

Between their lips, once again locked together, saliva boiled sweetly. The soft mucosa was continuously pressured, their full lips tangled over and over. His lips gradually moved to her ear, her chin, and her neck. The heat, like branding iron, made her legs cross instinctively. This man now... After finishing the call with 406, he came looking for me...!

Hee-joo pounded his shoulder fiercely with her fist. He said he'd wait for her to speak first—was this what he meant? It felt like he was trying to make her respond. That thought caused a surge of disgust in Hee-joo's heart.

So, instead of pushing him away, Hee-joo grabbed his collar forcefully.

"...!"

In that moment when he was caught off guard, she boldly stretched out her tongue to respond, her eyes meeting his as she clumsily yet earnestly moved her jaw. She gently licked his stiff lips, occasionally giving them a light tug. As her tongue slipped over his neat teeth and brushed the soft inside, he suddenly pushed her away and stood up.

He covered his jaw with his large hand, looking almost drunk, his neck slightly flushed. Seeing this, Hee-joo only blinked.

"... You'll catch a cold, put your pants back on." He pointed at her clothes lying on the floor, then walked out of the room.

Hee-joo's face flushed red as well. His pants had a noticeable bulge in the front.

Hee-joo opened her eyes drowsily to the sound of birds chirping in the morning. After being discharged from the hospital early and then attending the ritual, she was completely exhausted and had fallen asleep immediately. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, and she squinted, becoming fully awake in an instant.

'Oh my god...!'

After sleeping, her mind finally recovered from its limits. What she faced next was the aftermath of a storm.

This was already the second kiss.

'Crazy...!'

She covered her mouth. Not just that. There was also the initiated phone sex, the lewd words, the kiss...

Hee-joo grabbed her hair.

'What on earth is that kidnapper doing...!'

Now, all her misdirected anger was focused on the innocent kidnapper. To put it calmly — ever since the call had turned perverse, the threat had already failed. No matter what weakness she threw at him, he only sneered, suggested a deal, and ultimately completely controlled 406.

Threatening him now seemed almost impossible.

'It's over...'

A long sigh escaped her lips.

'No, maybe this is the first time I truly see the reality.'

Baek Sa-eon seemed certain that he could completely handle all slander, accusations, and rumors against him. Hee-joo hadn't expected him to be so resolute, and that was her mistake. With her limited experience, breaking through his calm demeanor was indeed a challenge. Thus, she needed the support of that kidnapper who had once backed her up. However, recently he had been unusually silent.

Hee-joo sat at the dining table, casually poking her salad with a fork, when her phone vibrated briefly.

"......!"

Hee-joo reacted like lightning, setting down the fork and picking up her phone to check it. But unexpectedly, it wasn't a message from the kidnapper; it was a call from the PR office.

"Hello? Oh, yes, this is Translator Hong Hee-joo's number, right?" Hee-joo swallowed her bite of vegetables and gently tapped the screen.

"Ah, yes...! Actually, today the president has a special speech, along with a briefing by the spokesperson. Since it's live, we initially planned for your simultaneous translation, but unfortunately, you weren't included in the schedule."

Hearing this, her mood became even heavier.

"But we do have a few upcoming briefings scheduled. Could you familiarize yourself with the atmosphere beforehand?"

Her eyes lit up at once.

On his way to work, at the red light, Baek Sa-eon rested his forehead on the steering wheel. Listening to the morning news broadcast was a fixed habit for him, but today, he couldn't concentrate at all. His patience was slowly wearing thin. While receiving a threatening call like this had taken him by surprise, seeing her doing her best to respond had made him laugh at times, and at other times, it ignited something within him.

Even though he was the one who initiated it, gradually, he began to feel dissatisfied. Every time he saw her tightly sealed lips — did she truly want to end this marriage that badly? The veins stood out on his hand gripping the steering wheel.

While Hee-joo was asleep, he rummaged through her bookshelf, wardrobe, dressing table, and bag, trying to find that second phone, but found nothing. Finally, his eyes landed on the blanket. Without hesitation, he lifted the blanket.

Pale ankles, calves, and smooth thighs were exposed in front of him...

'......!'

The thought of the phone was instantly thrown out of his mind. He had an overwhelming urge to bite into that skin.

Beep, beep —! Beep, beep —!

The sharp sound of a horn snapped Baek Sa-eon out of his daze, and he slammed his foot on the gas pedal. The morning irritation surged through him like a low-grade fever. Suddenly, cultural news came on the radio.

"To improve accessibility for disabled audiences, barrier-free initiatives are underway. The play 'The Prince and the Pauper' provided Korean subtitles for the first time in the country for two weeks and completed all performances. The National Theater plans to actively produce sign language translations, audio descriptions, and Korean subtitles in future performances. They will also be invited to attend next week's special screening of the late Baek Jang-ho's documentary..."

Hearing his grandfather's name unexpectedly mentioned, his expression instantly turned cold. He erased the fleeting smile that had appeared when he thought of Hee-joo, and he immediately turned off the radio. The way he turned the steering wheel seemed somewhat forceful.

"Ah—!"

Upon entering the PR office, a sharp scream echoed in the room. He frowned and quickened his steps.

"What happened?"

"Ah, spokesperson, it's... it's..."

Someone sobbed, struggling to speak coherently. He scanned the panicked faces, pushing his way through the crowd. In the spot surrounded by staff members was a sturdy transparent plastic bag, the kind used to carry tropical fish.

"This... we found this when we arrived..."

One of the staff members had their hand over their mouth, looking as if they were about to vomit. Inside the plastic bag filled with water floated dozens of severed goldfish heads. Their white eyes were stiff like plaster, and the jagged cut surfaces looked eerie and terrifying.

"And, on the spokesperson's desk as well..."

It was 11 p.m. when the phone rang again. She pressed the phone to her ear with a blank expression.

"I heard she had some kind of surgery in Germany. It took a long time."

"Now her hearing has recovered."

"What you were supposed to do is essentially over now."

The constant presence of Baek Sa-eon suddenly seemed to vanish. What was this feeling?

"My sister has returned..."

Someone like me, just a shadow, would surely disappear in an instant. The familiar despair crashed over her like a wave of fear. Perhaps that was why the threatening calls and the once-urgent need for a divorce now seemed so absurd.

It was a night of sorrow, when all willpower and resolve faded away.

The phone rang again.

In the terror of being swept away, she wanted to hold on to something. If that was the case, why not do something bad? She didn't need to pretend to be good; she could indulge in that side of herself and let herself fall. Fortunately, she indeed had that side of herself.

"Hello?" Hee-joo spoke mechanically. "I heard the Blue House spokesman is actually dealing in gossip." Her hand gripping the phone grew cold. Ah, how exhausting. Does this even work? Have I been dreaming foolishly all along? "I'm going to expose everything..."

"Oh, oh, so obedient." The voice was cold, yet carried a hint of a smile. "Just expose all those dirty deeds of yours, and it's all over..."

"I thought you'd be scared enough to run away, but you still called."

"...!"

"I hoped you'd understand how terrifying the world is and stop, but you never reached out. I was worried. 406 also wants to keep going to bed with you, so let's keep this threat on schedule."

... What are you saying? Is this sarcasm? Hee-joo couldn't comprehend, her eyes shifting restlessly.

"Did you perhaps pick another victim?" The question instantly made her forget about her sister.

"I've been waiting for the terrifying threatener."

"...!"

"If you toy with others, I'll get angry."

She was dumbfounded. I'm the one threatening, so why does it feel like I'm playing around with him?

"Isn't it more fun to have only one target?"

Hee-joo was so angry that she couldn't speak.

"If you're being so half-hearted, then forget it. Here I am starving, and you're out having fun with others?"

"What... no..."

"So, how do you plan on making up for it? I hate people who are late, and that goes for threateners too."

It sounded like he was smoking; the white cigarette butt was twisting in the glow of fire.

"There has to be punishment, of course."

"What?" She instinctively used a formal tone.

"What are you wearing right now?"

The hot phone was sticking to her palm.

"How about you take your clothes off first?"

It was an odd impulse.

"I'm curious about Hong Hee-joo's language."

"Mr. Baek, do you have a woman?"

"In-ah is coming."

A dark unease burned like fire deep inside her. Hee-joo felt suffocated by the pressures from inside and out, her blood nearly running dry. She wished for even a second to be free from such helpless and miserable thoughts. She wanted to feel nothing. However, Baek Sa-eon, like a spark, kept fanning the flames.

And so, her anger exploded.

"If I really took it off, what would you do?"

— ...!

She quickly pulled down her pants, speaking provocatively.

"You wouldn't even dare touch me; what could you do?"

— What was your most satisfying sexual experience?

No matter how much Hee-joo mocked him, the other party remained calm and composed. Hearing that low voice, her ears started to heat up.

Indeed, this kind of conversation was lethal for her.

"That, well..."

She didn't want to brush it off...

Hee-joo felt a surge of anger as her husband, posing as 406, asked these questions. The fact that he seemed genuinely interested only irritated her more.

She frowned, trying hard to squeeze out an answer.

"Only... when I'm angry."

— ...!

"Very angry."

— ....

The other end of the phone fell silent for a moment; she could almost hear rapid breathing, though it was uncertain.

— Sounds like you enjoy rough sex, is that it?

"Yeah, maybe."

— ....

"Releasing anger is good. I thought I'd never have any sexual desire, but whenever I get really mad, I just want to go wild, do bad things, and curse."

— ....

"Because I want to forget."

— Who made you this angry?

"My husband."

— ...!

"I have a partner just like yours—a real bastard."

He seemed to move the phone away suddenly, the sound of coughing coming from a distance.

— Your husband is a bastard to you?

"Yes."

Hee-joo spoke straightforwardly.

"From the beginning, it was a mistake of a marriage anyway."

— ....

"How could something like that ever go smoothly?" she said self-deprecatingly, her eyes starting to feel hot.

She felt anger, as if announcing that the storehouse of her emotions was empty. Besides, even though she had been worried about her sister all along, she didn't entirely feel happy about her return, and this feeling made her feel ashamed and sorry. Her emotions were a complete mess.

"So now I don't want to think about anything."

— ....

"My legs are bare now, what's next?"

— ...!

A suppressed sigh slipped out, like a thin line. She couldn't tell what expression he had, but it seemed as if he was wiping his face. It wasn't hard to notice this now.

— Lick your fingers first.

"What?"

— Wet your index finger and middle finger, and then move them down.

It was an unfamiliar and awkward request, but Hee-joo tightly closed her eyes, slipping her hand under the blanket.

It was as if he knew her every move. His voice dropper lower as he instructed, "Where are your hands now?"

"My stomach, near my navel?" she replied, feeling her thighs naturally part. Cold sweat broke out on her skin as his demands came one after another.

"Lower," he commanded.

"...!"

"Keep going."

She took a deep breath.

"Do you feel it?" he asked.

Her hand brushed against soft skin, eliciting a strange sensation. "Mmm..." Her lips parted involuntarily. She couldn't tell if it was discomfort or pleasure but the feeling was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

"Spread them a bit more and press down," his voice even deeper now, urged insistently. "Do you feel anything?"

"Mmm...yes..." she murmured.

"Now move it," he directed.

The more Hee-joo touched herself below, the more heat spread across her back.

"Mmm..." Even though she wasn't doing it intentionally, her breathing grew heavier, and an embarrassed moan slipped out. She was surprised that her body could experience such pleasure and the man's intermittent, firm instructions only heightened her excitement.

"Wet your fingers a bit more, then go lower."

"Mmm..."

"Keep moving, lower."

"Mmm..." Her body gradually became hotter. Her legs parted further without hesitation, entirely unashamed. Even though she didn't fully understand what she needed, she foolishly craved more.

"Mmmm...a little more..."

"You'll have to move yourself. I can't do it for you," his voice said, gritted with restraint.

"Ah...it feels so slippery..."

"...Damn it." His voice came out as a mix between a sigh and a curse. Hee-joo's shoulders trembled, but strangely, she felt like she was losing her mind. Her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest, sinking lower and lower.

"A little more."

"No...I can't.."

"Scared?"

"Mmm..."
"You can't start crying over something this minor."

But as the conversation deepened, her body grew increasingly warm, and a sense of disappointment quietly took root. He dared to say such boundary-crossing things to a woman he had never met before. Yet, oddly enough, her confidence seemed to swell, as though her self-esteem was inflating like a clenched fist.

"No, I prefer someone else to do it...!"

"..."

"I like—" Hee-joo's mind flashed to a daring lyric she had once heard. "I like... the King Cobra."

"..."

"And... whips and... collars."

"..."

He let out a sound that could have been either a sigh or laughter, but she didn't have the luxury of paying attention to it. Her body and mind felt disconnected, yet a hazy sense of exhilaration lingered.

"I like men with depth. That's why I need someone else to touch me..."

"Then go find that bastard. The one you call your husband."

"...!"

"Beg him. He'd surely be more than willing."

"No... it's not..."

"...How could your husband not go crazy for you, a beautiful wife like number 406, pleading so sweetly?"

"My husband...isn't like that," Hee-joo said with trembling breath, struggling to form her words.

"406, you have no idea how cruel those bastards can get when they're in heat," he continued. "They're nothing more than animals, desperate to grind themselves against a female."

"..."

"Especially men who've been holding back for a long time."

"But even with my husband, I can't do something like this," Hee-joo firmly rejected, her determination evident.

His voice suddenly turned sharp, laced with a dangerous edge.

"Then do it with me. Everyday, listening to my voice, as you do it."

"Mmm...!"

Her wrist ached, but she didn't stop. The rush of pleasure clouded her thoughts, and her vision grew hazy, she stared blankly into space.

"It feels...like you're right in front of me," she murmured.

"..."

"Like.... You're touching me."

The sensation intensified as she closed her eyes.

"Ha, ha...mmm!"

Bust as her vision cleared, a chill seeped into her chest. The illusion shattered like a mirage, leaving behind a hollow satisfaction that felt absurd, yet somehow painfully real. It was as if this absurdity perfectly mirrored her own reality.

The heavy panting gradually subsided, leaving behind an overwhelming sense of insignificance. As she was lost in a daze, filled with a feeling of emptiness, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Chapter 47

"...!" Ah...! She hastily hung up the phone, staring in panic at the figure standing at the door. Baek Sa-eon, holding a briefcase, stood there with a face as dark as thunder, staring intensely at her. Hong Hee-joo's heart felt as if it would burst out of her chest, her face turning deathly pale.

"Hong Hee-joo, what are you doing?"

"..."

Her mind went completely blank. Hee-joo forced herself to suppress her heated breaths, her whole body stiffened. However, she noticed that Baek Sa-eon's breathing had also become rapid, his piercing gaze filled her with dread.

'How did this happen so suddenly...?' Hee-joo quickly shoved the phone under the blanket, pretending to be composed. But her flushed cheeks and moist eyes from the unfamiliar peak of pleasure betrayed her; she couldn't hide it no matter how hard she tried.

"Should I come over?" Hee-joo clutched her blanket tightly, shaking her head desperately.

However, the man still moved closer uncontrollably, placing his palm on the bed and leaning down. For some reason, his bloodshot eyes slowly and meticulously scanned Hee-joo's face.

"So this is what it looks like."

"...!"

At that moment, his lips came down on hers as if to devour her. He kissed her like a parched man seeking water, hungrily sucking on her lips, urgently thrusting his tongue inside. Because of his weight, Hee-joo was forced to open her mouth wide.

Baek Sa-eon looked like he was savoring something incredibly delicious. He mercilessly consumed every breath from Hee-joo, his tongue rubbing deeply against hers.

What is happening here...?! He's the one who called another woman, yet he's treating me like this...?! What does he take me for...?!

Hee-joo bit down hard on his lip.

"...!"

Despite the force of her bite, he twisted his head and kissed her even more deeply. The taste of blood mixed into their mouths, but he didn't seem to care at all, gripping her face firmly.

"What? Do you think I'm a bastard?" he growled against her lips.

"Going this far, I suppose I deserve to be called one."

"...!"

"Didn't they say there are many ways for a husband and wife to communicate?"

Between their lips, once again locked together, saliva boiled sweetly. The soft mucosa was continuously pressured, their full lips tangled over and over. His lips gradually moved to her ear, her chin, and her neck. The heat, like branding iron, made her legs cross instinctively. This man now... After finishing the call with 406, he came looking for me...!

Hee-joo pounded his shoulder fiercely with her fist. He said he'd wait for her to speak first—was this what he meant? It felt like he was trying to make her respond. That thought caused a surge of disgust in Hee-joo's heart.

So, instead of pushing him away, Hee-joo grabbed his collar forcefully.

"...!"

In that moment when he was caught off guard, she boldly stretched out her tongue to respond, her eyes meeting his as she clumsily yet earnestly moved her jaw. She gently licked his stiff lips, occasionally giving them a light tug. As her tongue slipped over his neat teeth and brushed the soft inside, he suddenly pushed her away and stood up.

He covered his jaw with his large hand, looking almost drunk, his neck slightly flushed. Seeing this, Hee-joo only blinked.

"... You'll catch a cold, put your pants back on." He pointed at her clothes lying on the floor, then walked out of the room.

Hee-joo's face flushed red as well. His pants had a noticeable bulge in the front.

Hee-joo opened her eyes drowsily to the sound of birds chirping in the morning. After being discharged from the hospital early and then attending the ritual, she was completely exhausted and had fallen asleep immediately. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, and she squinted, becoming fully awake in an instant.

'Oh my god...!'

After sleeping, her mind finally recovered from its limits. What she faced next was the aftermath of a storm.

This was already the second kiss.

'Crazy...!'

She covered her mouth. Not just that. There was also the initiated phone sex, the lewd words, the kiss...

Hee-joo grabbed her hair.

'What on earth is that kidnapper doing...!'

Now, all her misdirected anger was focused on the innocent kidnapper. To put it calmly — ever since the call had turned perverse, the threat had already failed. No matter what weakness she threw at him, he only sneered, suggested a deal, and ultimately completely controlled 406.

Threatening him now seemed almost impossible.

'It's over...'

A long sigh escaped her lips.

'No, maybe this is the first time I truly see the reality.'

Baek Sa-eon seemed certain that he could completely handle all slander, accusations, and rumors against him. Hee-joo hadn't expected him to be so resolute, and that was her mistake. With her limited experience, breaking through his calm demeanor was indeed a challenge. Thus, she needed the support of that kidnapper who had once backed her up. However, recently he had been unusually silent.

Hee-joo sat at the dining table, casually poking her salad with a fork, when her phone vibrated briefly.

"......!"

Hee-joo reacted like lightning, setting down the fork and picking up her phone to check it. But unexpectedly, it wasn't a message from the kidnapper; it was a call from the PR office.

"Hello? Oh, yes, this is Translator Hong Hee-joo's number, right?" Hee-joo swallowed her bite of vegetables and gently tapped the screen.

"Ah, yes...! Actually, today the president has a special speech, along with a briefing by the spokesperson. Since it's live, we initially planned for your simultaneous translation, but unfortunately, you weren't included in the schedule."

Hearing this, her mood became even heavier.

"But we do have a few upcoming briefings scheduled. Could you familiarize yourself with the atmosphere beforehand?"

Her eyes lit up at once.

On his way to work, at the red light, Baek Sa-eon rested his forehead on the steering wheel. Listening to the morning news broadcast was a fixed habit for him, but today, he couldn't concentrate at all. His patience was slowly wearing thin. While receiving a threatening call like this had taken him by surprise, seeing her doing her best to respond had made him laugh at times, and at other times, it ignited something within him.

Even though he was the one who initiated it, gradually, he began to feel dissatisfied. Every time he saw her tightly sealed lips — did she truly want to end this marriage that badly? The veins stood out on his hand gripping the steering wheel.

While Hee-joo was asleep, he rummaged through her bookshelf, wardrobe, dressing table, and bag, trying to find that second phone, but found nothing. Finally, his eyes landed on the blanket. Without hesitation, he lifted the blanket.

Pale ankles, calves, and smooth thighs were exposed in front of him...

'......!'

The thought of the phone was instantly thrown out of his mind. He had an overwhelming urge to bite into that skin.

Beep, beep —! Beep, beep —!

The sharp sound of a horn snapped Baek Sa-eon out of his daze, and he slammed his foot on the gas pedal. The morning irritation surged through him like a low-grade fever. Suddenly, cultural news came on the radio.

"To improve accessibility for disabled audiences, barrier-free initiatives are underway. The play 'The Prince and the Pauper' provided Korean subtitles for the first time in the country for two weeks and completed all performances. The National Theater plans to actively produce sign language translations, audio descriptions, and Korean subtitles in future performances. They will also be invited to attend next week's special screening of the late Baek Jang-ho's documentary..."

Hearing his grandfather's name unexpectedly mentioned, his expression instantly turned cold. He erased the fleeting smile that had appeared when he thought of Hee-joo, and he immediately turned off the radio. The way he turned the steering wheel seemed somewhat forceful.

"Ah—!"

Upon entering the PR office, a sharp scream echoed in the room. He frowned and quickened his steps.

"What happened?"

"Ah, spokesperson, it's... it's..."

Someone sobbed, struggling to speak coherently. He scanned the panicked faces, pushing his way through the crowd. In the spot surrounded by staff members was a sturdy transparent plastic bag, the kind used to carry tropical fish.

"This... we found this when we arrived..."

One of the staff members had their hand over their mouth, looking as if they were about to vomit. Inside the plastic bag filled with water floated dozens of severed goldfish heads. Their white eyes were stiff like plaster, and the jagged cut surfaces looked eerie and terrifying.

"And, on the spokesperson's desk as well..."