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She had no idea who he was.
But he already knew everything about her.
---
Seo-rin's hands trembled as she reached for the tray he left behind.
Steamed rice. Soup. Side dishes. It looked like a normal meal — comforting, even. But nothing about her situation felt normal.
Not the luxury of the room.
Not the silence.
Not him.
She didn't eat.
Her appetite had vanished the moment he said those words.
"Not yet."
What did that mean? Would he kill her later? Was he toying with her?
Her eyes scanned the room again — searching. The walls were solid marble. The door was locked tight. The windows… nonexistent.
She was trapped.
---
Hours passed. She tried to stay calm, but her thoughts spiraled.
Who was he? Why hadn't he gotten rid of her already?
He looked so composed, like someone used to blood and secrets. Someone who didn't flinch when people screamed.
Someone powerful.
Untouchable.
She thought of the man he shot.
And then — the door opened again.
Seo-rin shot to her feet, heart racing.
He stepped inside casually, dressed differently this time — black slacks and a fitted dark coat, a faint trace of blood near the collar. Not enough to shock her now. Just enough to remind her.
He didn't speak at first. Just walked to the center of the room and poured himself a glass of something amber.
She stared at him. "Why are you doing this?"
He took a slow sip, then looked at her.
"Because you saw something I can't erase."
"I won't say anything. I swear—"
He raised a brow. "You think this is about trust?"
A pause. Then, with maddening calmness—
"It's about control."
Seo-rin took a shaky breath. "What's your name?"
That seemed to surprise him. His eyes flicked toward her, cold and unreadable.
He didn't answer right away.
Then he walked toward her — slow, deliberate. He stopped just in front of her, close enough that she could smell faint smoke and metal on his coat.
"Jae-hyun."
The name settled in the air like a warning.
Seo-rin swallowed. "What… are you?"
He looked her straight in the eyes.
"I'm the man your world pretends doesn't exist."
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