Morning rose gently over Seoul, sunlight spilling across Gangnam Street and filtering into Shan Wolf's penthouse. The city hummed far below, distant and muted, while warmth wrapped around the king-sized bed.
Ingrid Mikage was buried deep beneath the blankets, her body heavy with sleep, when the unmistakable sound of sizzling reached her ears. The rich aroma of fresh eggs and bacon drifted through the room, teasing her senses.
"Mmm… that smell…" she murmured, still half-asleep.
Her eyes snapped open.
"HUH?!!"
Ingrid jolted upright, the blankets slipping down her shoulders as reality hit her all at once. She looked around in disbelief, her gaze landing on the familiar yet dangerous luxury of Shan Wolf's bedroom.
"Fuck…" she muttered, running a hand through her hair. "I slept in his bed. And had sex last night."
Fragments of memory flooded back to her in a rush. Shan Wolf's hands, his strength, the way he drove into her again and again, relentless yet intoxicating.
The way her body responded without restraint. Heat pooled low in her stomach as she recalled how many times he had made her come, how deeply he had filled her, rough in all the right ways.
She glanced down instinctively, noticing the lingering dampness between her thighs.
"…Unbelievable," she chuckled softly to herself. "I can't believe a woman my age is in this state."
Shaking her head, Ingrid rose from the bed, her muscles sore in a way that made her acutely aware of everything that had happened.
She stretched her arms above her head, letting out a quiet sigh before catching her reflection in the mirror. Her breath hitched.
Marks. Kiss marks, bite marks, faint bruises scattered across her neck, collarbone, and thighs. Evidence of last night's passion stared back at her unapologetically.
"…Tch. That bastard," she murmured, though the corner of her lips lifted despite herself.
She reached into Shan Wolf's closet and pulled out one of his button-down shirts. Slipping it on, she let it hang loosely over her body, the fabric brushing her thighs as she buttoned only a few buttons before leaving the rest open.
Wrapped in his scent, she stepped out of the bedroom, following the trail of sound and smell toward the kitchen.
"I didn't know you could cook, bastard?" she called out, her voice carrying a mix of sarcasm and lingering warmth.
Shan Wolf turned from the stove, spatula in hand, just in time to see Ingrid standing there half-naked in nothing but his shirt. His eyes lingered openly, a slow grin spreading across his face.
"Hehe," he said. "It fits you just right, babe."
"Babe?"
Ingrid walked closer, each step deliberate. She pressed her index finger firmly against his chest while planting her other hand on her hip, her posture confident and unyielding. She tilted her head slightly, eyes sharp despite the playful glint within them.
"We're not mutual, darlin. Get that?!"
Shan Wolf raised both hands in mock surrender, a lazy smile still plastered on his face.
"Yes, ma'am."
She studied him for a brief moment before smirking.
"Good boy."
The smell of breakfast continued to fill the penthouse, but the tension between them lingered just as thick, unspoken and unmistakable.
"So what's the next plan, Ingrid?" Shan asked as he poured coffee into two cups.
Ingrid exhaled softly, leaning back in her chair as she gathered her thoughts. "Right now, we need some dirt on Jen Heo Won, the vice president. Something solid enough to make sure it goes public. I know a few leads already, but they won't make a big impact." She tapped her fingers against the table, brows knitting slightly. "We also need the press. Someone we can trust. It has to be outside of the Won Group and Seoul itself, Shan. No strings attached."
They continued eating in silence for a moment, the clink of cutlery filling the space. Ingrid glanced at the clock on the wall, her eyes widening instantly.
"Fuck! We are so going to be late!"
She jumped to her feet and rushed toward the bedroom, only to stop abruptly. Her clothes were neatly folded on the bed, clean and fresh, as if prepared ahead of time. She blinked in surprise.
"How did…?!" She turned sharply toward Shan Wolf.
He leaned casually against the doorway and gave her a teasing blink, a smug smile tugging at his lips. "It's not just cooking I'm good at, dear."
Ingrid let out a short laugh before scoffing, shaking her head as she grabbed her clothes. "Hmph. You'd make a fine house husband one day, asshole."
Shan raised a brow and stepped closer, closing the distance until they were face to face. Ingrid stiffened slightly, already bracing herself for a sarcastic remark.
Instead, his voice softened.
"Have a safe work, okay? I'll be there in an hour's time."
Her eyes widened at the sudden shift in tone. For a brief moment, Ingrid was at a loss for words.
"Y yeah… thanks," she mumbled. "I'll see you at work, bastard."
Shan Wolf leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I know. I'm your bastard, sweetheart."
Flustered, Ingrid quickly turned and rushed toward the door, slipping out of Shan Wolf's penthouse before anyone noticed her.
As twenty minutes passed, Ingrid finally arrived at the Won Group headquarters. Her assistant, the clumsy yet endearing Mei Yoo Jun, was waiting for her and now walked beside her.
"What's today's schedule?" Ingrid asked as they moved toward the elevator.
"You have an online deal meeting with Mr. Sakamoto Dagai from Japan," Mei replied. "Then another one in Dubai with Abu Sahadi. Both are online, but at different times. Each of them will want to discuss the stock movement in the market."
"Typical," Ingrid muttered, shaking her head. "Investor Relations at Won Group never changes."
As they approached the elevator, a group of large, bulky men in technician outfits stepped inside.
"Is there a technical issue?" Ingrid whispered, suspicion creeping into her voice.
Mei Yoo Jun shook her head, her expression tense. "None that I can see."
When the elevator reached the Investor Relations floor, they stepped out—only for one of the men to smack Ingrid's plump ass.
"Hehe, sorry, baby. It was begging," he said with a smirk.
The elevator doors shut before Ingrid could react. "Get me intel on who they are," she instructed Mei. The assistant nodded immediately and began digging through the system.
Ten minutes later, Eva Kin entered the building and approached the elevator. Outside, five vans and two large trucks were parked in front and along the sides of Won Group.
"Hmm… why do I feel like something is about to happen?" Eva murmured to herself.
As she stepped into the elevator, Rae Yoorin arrived a few minutes later.
"Hey," Rae said curtly.
"Sup," Eva replied. Just before the doors closed, more men in technician uniforms squeezed in. Eva noticed tattoos along their arms, and one figure had a conspicuous bulge at his hip.
"Hey, can you not squeeze in like that?" Rae complained, raising her hands. The men didn't flinch. Just as she reached to tap one on the shoulder, Eva stopped her. Rae glanced at Eva, about to ask why—but froze when she noticed Eva's eyes.
"Funny… I thought you were all dead," Eva mocked, her tone sharp.
One of the technicians turned, his grip tightening. "What makes you say that, little cutie…?"
Just then, the elevator jolted to a stop and the doors slid open.
"Simple," a calm voice said. "How are you, Number 078?"
Eva's gut reacted instantly. She kicked the man squarely in the stomach, sending him flying backward into the fish tank. Water and shattered glass sprayed across the floor. Employees screamed and gasped in shock.
Another technician drew a knife and lunged at Eva. With lightning speed, she caught his wrist, twisted it, and snapped it. The man cried out in pain as she grabbed the knife, stepping into a guarded stance.
"You're not technicians, right, 078?" Eva demanded, scanning the men.
The man from the broken fish tank staggered to his feet, clapping slowly. "Hehe… I can't believe the great Viper still lives."
Eva glanced at Rae, who looked shocked. She motioned for Rae to step back.
"What are you doing here?" Eva asked, voice sharp.
078 snapped his fingers, and the remaining technicians shed their disguises. Eva's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Impossible… he gave you all freedom, and this is how you repay him?!"
078 shook his head, calm but commanding. "Sorry, Viper. Nothing personal… just business. And…"
He pulled out a small device and pressed a red button. "Orders."
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Flames erupted through the Won Group building. Smoke billowed, and fire cascaded like a molten river down the structure. Employees screamed, ducking for cover as chaos overtook the floor.
From a distant rooftop, the same black-clad figure from Eh San Won's household raised binoculars, eyes glinting as he watched the destruction.
"I wonder… will you come out now, old friend? Your little sister is in trouble. Hehehe…"
Meanwhile, Ingrid scrambled to her feet from her chair amid the smoke and debris. She froze as one of the technicians—one who had smacked her earlier—tore off his disguise and revealed an assault rifle. He began firing into the ceiling.
"Everybody on the ground!!!" he shouted.
The Won Group headquarters was now under a full-scale, unexpected terrorist attack. Employees dove for cover, panic spreading like wildfire.
Shan Wolf, on the other hand, made it to the Won Group building only to be greeted by chaos.
The entrance was in complete disarray. Shattered glass littered the floor, smoke hung thick in the air, and the once-polished lobby looked like a battlefield.
"What in the cibai…?" he muttered in Malaysian slang, his eyes narrowing.
He scanned the area quickly and noticed the two receptionists crouched under the reception desk, trembling as they clung to each other. Their eyes widened when they saw him.
Just as Shan took a step forward to confront them, the sharp metallic click of a gun being cocked echoed behind him. Cold steel pressed against the back of his head.
"Heh, who is this nigga?" a voice sneered. "Never seen a black person in Korea. Though you look Indian. Hey, do that thing. Donte telle me wahta do ah…"
"This racist, sohai…!" Shan snapped.
In the blink of an eye, Shan Wolf moved. His body twisted sharply as his hand shot back, snatching the gun with brutal precision. A single shot rang out.
Bang.
The terrorist collapsed instantly, a point-blank headshot dropping him lifeless to the floor. The sound echoed through the lobby as smoke curled from the barrel.
The receptionists stared in shock, frozen in place.
"M Mr. Wolf… how do you know how to do that?" one of them asked, her voice shaking.
Shan exhaled slowly, lowering the gun as his eyes hardened. "For now, tell me what the hell is going on here. What the fuck happened?"
They hurriedly explained about the unknown terrorist attack, the explosions, and the armed men storming the building. Before Shan could respond, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and frowned. Kim Yeon Mikage.
"What the… when did I get that kid's number?" he muttered.
He answered the call. "Kid?"
"Uncle…" a panicked voice cried out. "Is my mom with you? Please tell me she's okay."
Shan clenched his jaw, forcing down his frustration at being called Uncle despite being only twenty-six. He softened his tone.
"Kid, why are you saying that?" he asked calmly.
"Because… it's all over the news."
His phone began vibrating nonstop. Notification after notification flooded in, headlines screaming about the Won Group being hit by a surprise terrorist attack.
Shan's eyes darkened as he looked around the ruined lobby once more.
Something bad had already started, and he knew it was far from over.
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Chapter 69 — End.