I was in another country, attending a critical meeting with investors, when my phone rang. At first, I considered ignoring it, but then I saw it was Chef Kang. My heart skipped a beat. What could be so urgent? I quickly excused myself, interrupting the meeting, and everyone left the room, leaving me alone.
"Madame Yura, Jiyeon was attacked by Seo Yoojin," Chef Kang's voice was filled with concern. "It seems she tried to seduce Jiyeon with her pheromones."
Anger surged through me like a wildfire. Seo Yoojin had crossed the line, and she would pay dearly for it. "Thank you for informing me, Chef Kang. I'll handle this," I said, my voice trembling with fury.
After ending the call, I immediately summoned my secretary. She arrived promptly, her face pale with apprehension. "Prepare my private jet immediately. I'm returning home," I ordered as I stood up.
She nodded quickly and rushed out to make the arrangements. Two hours later, I was on my private jet. The flight was three hours long, and as soon as we landed, I headed straight for the car waiting to take me home. It was still early morning, and the sun had yet to rise. An hour later, I arrived at the manor, the house still enveloped in the quiet of pre-dawn.
I moved silently through the halls and entered Jiyeon's room. She was sleeping peacefully, and seeing her there, safe and sound, calmed me slightly. I slipped into bed beside her and let the exhaustion of the past few hours take over, falling asleep almost instantly.
When I woke up, Jiyeon was still asleep beside me. I watched her for a moment, feeling a mix of protectiveness and love. Eventually, she stirred and opened her eyes, looking surprised but happy to see me.
"Yura, you're back early!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of surprise and delight.
I smiled gently. "My business trip was canceled. I missed you too much, so I decided to come back early."
She beamed at me, her eyes shining with happiness. We both got up and began our morning routine. Jiyeon headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, and I followed her, wanting to spend every moment I could with her.
I watched as she cooked, meticulously detailing each step. She made a traditional Korean breakfast, with all the care and love she always put into her cooking. The aroma of soybean paste stew, steamed eggs, and seasoned spinach filled the kitchen, making my mouth water.
We sat down to eat, savoring the food and each other's company. For a while, it felt like everything was perfect, as if the outside world and its problems didn't exist.
After breakfast, we spent the morning together, talking and laughing. It was a precious time, a moment of peace and joy. But as the afternoon approached, I knew I had to take care of the issue that had brought me home.
"I have something to take care of, but I'll be back soon," I told Jiyeon, leaning in to kiss her gently.
She looked a little disappointed but nodded. "Okay. Be careful."
I left the manor with a sense of determination. The car took me to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Inside, Seo Yoojin was tied to a chair, looking terrified. Her eyes widened with fear as I approached, a cold smile on my face.
"Yura, please, I'm sorry," she began to plead, tears streaming down her face.
I stopped in front of her, staring down at her with contempt. "I warned you to stop. I told you not to touch what's mine. Now, this is your end."
As I spoke, a group of men entered the warehouse, their expressions cold and merciless. I stepped back, giving them a nod.
"Torture her, then kill her," I ordered, my voice devoid of any mercy.
The men moved forward, and Yoojin's pleas turned into screams. I watched for a moment, feeling a dark satisfaction at seeing her suffer for what she had tried to do to Jiyeon. Then I turned and walked out, leaving the warehouse and its gruesome scene behind.
As I returned to the manor, the sun was beginning to set. The peace and warmth of the house felt like a different world compared to where I had just been. I found Jiyeon in the living room, looking up with a smile as I entered.
"You're back," she said, her voice filled with relief.
"Yes, and now we can relax," I replied, sitting down beside her and pulling her into my arms.
She nestled against me, and for a moment, everything felt right. I knew there would always be challenges and threats, but as long as we were together, we could face anything.
Later that night, after Jiyeon had fallen asleep, I lay awake for a while, thinking about what had happened. I had done what I needed to do to protect her, to protect us. And I would do it again, without hesitation.
In this world, love and power often collided, but I was determined to keep our love safe. No matter what it took.