TIN 97

His tone was casual. That made this whole thing feel even more surreal.

“…”

For a moment, I couldn’t even respond. The unbelievable words made me feel distant, as if in a dream. His gaze looking down at me, the voice from his lips, even the pheromones I had just felt—it all seemed like some sort of fantasy.

“Me…”

My first word came out broken and unsightly. A strange flutter mixed with the excitement I had felt earlier. I swallowed hard and asked carefully,”You’ll take me to the sea?”

What was a lifelong wish for me, Joo Do-hwa was offering to fulfill in a single day. As if it were nothing, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

“Wow.”

An exclamation escaped his lips, accompanied by a small laugh.

“You really like that idea.”

“Should have done this earlier,” Joo Do-hwa muttered with a sigh. He seemed both pleased and somewhat wistful. He smiled at me as I continued to remain in a daze.

“I need to go to the port for work.”

His thumb pressed down on my lower lip. His fingertip touched my exposed lower teeth before peering intently inside my mouth.

“A lot of goods are coming in for this party…”

That was it for his explanation, but I could guess the rest. A party for drinking and entertainment wouldn’t be their only purpose. Among the things being exchanged discreetly, body heat wouldn’t be the only thing passing between those attending.

“I’ll send the goods ahead this week, then follow up to check next week.”

Coincidentally, “this week” he mentioned would end in two days, when we had our agreement. Originally I had planned to leave by then, but accepting his offer now would undo everything. At least, I wouldn’t be able to get away from him immediately.

“It’s a few days’ trip because of the distance, but I’ll take you if you want.”

Yet my heart wavered at his words. If I could see the sea, if I could go there, enduring a few more days would be nothing. Even if I had to get that drug from Chairman Joo again. No, even if I had to steal Joo Do-hwa’s suppressants.

“I have a villa there too.”

I knew that. The villa he mentioned must be where I stayed with the child. The place where the child came to recover, more familiar to me than this mansion.

“The sea view from the villa windows will be prettier than the painting you always look at.”

His blood-red lips kept whispering seductive words. His sweet voice was like a devil’s whisper. And as if that weren’t enough, his face smiled so innocently.

“So?”

“…”

“Do you want to go?”

My lips quivered. I really wanted to go. What stopped me from saying it was his next words as he lifted my chin, “Then kiss me.”

As if enchanted, I reached out and wrapped my arms around his neck. There was no time for deep thought or rational judgment. I just pulled him closer, half-embracing him, and tilted my head slightly.

“…”

His languid gaze slowly closed. As his golden eyes were hidden behind his eyelids, I too gently closed my eyes. Our lips met slowly, burning as if they would scorch upon contact.

***

There are only three ways to get to the sea. Either be born by the sea, get permission from the Sae Group, or have enough money to use secret routes.

Well, all three methods were essentially the same. In the end, being born into the upper class was the only answer. A fate determined at birth wasn’t something you could escape through effort.

Although I knew I had to somehow make it happen.

Originally, I had planned to use all my saved money for illegal routes. I had saved enough money—finding a reliable broker who wouldn’t scam me was the only issue. Of course, I planned to buy information through Theo, but I wasn’t completely without worry.

“Should I take you?”

Joo Do-hwa’s offer was tempting and attractive to me. The Sae Group, symbolizing the four seas of north, south, east, and west. If the sole heir of this group that owned the seas would take me there, I could fulfill my wish without any risk.

Naturally, I was enticed, which was why I kissed him without hesitation. The momentary intoxicating excitement came from thinking this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even if my joy differed from what Joo Do-hwa had in mind.

My fundamental desire wasn’t something that could be fulfilled by simply going to the sea. Returning to the times when I lived with that person. Escaping this unstable state to gain complete freedom. And purely enjoying the sea itself.

All these were things Joo Do-hwa couldn’t resolve, and naturally, I had no intention of settling in his embrace. What he offered was nothing more or less than a means to escape this place. My racing mind quickly reached one conclusion:

If I was going to escape anyway, wouldn’t the villa be more advantageous than this massive mansion? It was more familiar to me, and security might be relatively looser. With the vast ocean just steps away, I could even choose it as a last resort if necessary.

Yes, so take me to the sea.

Let me remember our villa, that beautiful place, one last time.

And before my sense of danger grew any stronger.

“Then kiss me.”

Perhaps intending to keep his word about not touching me, that day’s kiss ended right there. Though his hands did slip under my clothes, Joo Do-hwa only touched my stomach and sides before withdrawing. His grip on the bed sheets, uncharacteristically, looked as if he were holding something back.

It was strange. All his actions, unlike before, seemed considerate of me. To the point where I wondered why he hadn’t shown such restraint when I had begged him while in tears, if he could hold back just because I was in pain.

It was odd from the start. Kissing was different from mere fucking. Not about romance, but the purpose of the contact was different.

Take Theo, for example. Though he pretended not to notice, he clearly had feelings for me. Even if it culminated in conquest and lust rather than pure love, it was impossible not to notice his affection that bordered on fondness.

That was why the kisses he asked as payment occasionally mixed with Theo’s personal desires. He used them to release his urges toward me, distinctly different from the guests who jumped at the chance to bed me. When the atmosphere became unnecessarily tender, I would deliberately speak cheaply, asking if he was a kid, for that very reason.

So why did Joo Do-hwa act that way?

As he said, he had plenty of omegas willing to spread their legs for him. Even the middle-aged man’s son at the party had approached him hoping for a night together. So he wasn’t in a position to be desperate for sex, and even if he were, there was no reason to just rub lips and hold back.

He acted like we were lovers. Calling me “hyung” and all. Wasn’t it strange to treat both “hyung” and “me” that way? I was  just merchandise bought from Oceans, and the hyung he was looking for was merely someone he lived with when he was six.

Yet why does he keep acting strangely?

“Did you sleep well?”

“…Mmm.”

When I opened my eyes in the morning, Joo Do-hwa was still beside me. His pheromones filled the air, and sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his golden eyes clearly. As I briefly thought the light was dazzling, Joo Do-hwa tilted his head and ordered, “If you’re awake, open your eyes properly.”

“…”

My drowsiness vanished instantly. Such an unnecessarily thorough bastard. I thought he’d let it slide, but to check first thing in the morning.

“Quickly.”

At his light urging, I blinked and looked straight at him. There was nowhere to hide now, and I planned to act brazen. If he noticed anything strange, I’d insist it was a side effect.

“They’re still a bit cloudy…but no problems with vision?”

“I’m fine, I can see well.”

Fortunately, Joo Do-hwa just nodded without saying more. Though I couldn’t see a mirror, the blue tinge apparently wasn’t very noticeable yet. It might even stop spreading if I was lucky. As I thought this, he gently stroked my hair.

“Yuna is coming today.”

“Ms. Yuna?”

“Yes, Yuna.”

It was quite a familiar way of addressing her, but I sensed no particular affection. If anything, it felt rather indifferent.

“She’ll just have a meal and leave, so stay in your room.”

Another one of those meals, huh. If Lee Yuna was coming to this house, there could only be one reason. Regardless of their feelings, they were engaged after all, so they had to meet out of obligation.

“Must be annoying every time.”

What kind of farce was this for? Having to do this for work when they don’t even like each other. Especially Lee Yuna, having to come all this way to meet someone she so despised.

“It is annoying.”

Joo Do-hwa plainly agreed without objection. It was quite an ill-mannered sentiment, but he didn’t seem interested in acknowledging that fact. Instead, he just twirled my hair with his index finger and muttered dryly, “Maybe I should break off the engagement…”