"Why is he even here?""If he wants to talk to me, then just talk—why is he just sitting there, staring at me like that?"
These were the thoughts racing through Yeo Jun's mind.And Joon Hyunk… he knew exactly what was going through Yeo Jun's head.He could sense the fear, and he wanted that.He wanted Yeo Jun to be the one to speak first.
So he stayed silent.
Eventually, it was Yeo Jun who gave in and broke the silence, his voice trembling, hesitant.
"Mm… I… w–why… am I here?"
He finally asked.
"Because I brought you here."
Yeo Jun looked up at him immediately—but the moment he saw Joon Hyunk looking straight back at him, he dropped his gaze again.
"W–why… d–did you… bring me h–here…?"
He asked in a barely audible voice, eyes still lowered as they flicked toward the open door.Could he run?Would this man stop him?
Joon Hyunk caught the shift in his gaze and smirked.
"Because I wanted to," he replied simply.
Yeo Jun felt a wave of disbelief. That's it? That was the reason? He brought a stranger into his home just because he wanted to?He couldn't understand what Joon Hyunk really wanted from him.
And that's when the memory hit him—The last time he was kidnapped.Was this happening again… because of his father?
The thought sent a cold wave of panic through him.His eyes welled up with tears. He felt his chest tightening, his breathing uneven.And Joon Hyunk saw them—those silent tears hitting the carpet like quiet betrayals.
"L–let me… g–go…"
Yeo Jun whispered, his voice weak and breaking.
Joon Hyunk suddenly stood up—And Yeo Jun instinctively took a step back in fear… only to bump into the window behind him.Nowhere left to run.Joon Hyunk in front of him.Glass behind.
He had no way out.
"Why…?" Yeo Jun thought miserably."Why is it always me who ends up stuck with this cruel man?"
He felt like if Joon Hyunk took even one step closer, his soul would leave his body—and he'd die right then and there.But… Joon Hyunk didn't move any closer.He stopped a few feet away.
"You'll stay here as long as I want," Joon Hyunk said calmly."You're free to move around the house.And I brought food. Make sure you eat."
He turned as if to leave, but paused at the door.
"Oh—and from now on, if you want food, you'll have to come to the dining table for it. Understood?"
With that, he walked out.
Yeo Jun dropped to the floor, knees giving way as he sat there, crying silently.
What kind of fate was this?
Every time I try to walk toward freedom… someone pulls me back.
What am I being punished for this time?
I just wanted to leave quietly, without bothering anyone. So why is it always me who gets hurt?
I never did anything wrong to anyone…Then why is the punishment always mine alone…?
How long…How long would he continue to suffer because of his father?How long would people keep torturing him for mistakes that weren't even his?
But then… a tiny sliver of hope sparked in his heart.
No… no, this can't be it.Papa will come looking for me. He'll definitely come.He saved me last time too, didn't he?
But that hope shattered as quickly as it came.Because this time… he had left a letter at home.A letter saying he was leaving for good.
So… who would even think to look for him in Korea?No one even knew he was here.
He stayed on that cold floor until night fell.Hours had passed.Yeo Jun had been sitting there, thinking all kinds of things—Some rational, some desperate, some completely lost.
No one had come to that room again.And by now, he had started to accept that this place was his prison.
He had thought about everything—Tried to guess again and again what Joon Hyunk really wanted from him.But all he could see in his mind were those dark eyes…And his scarred soul, his damaged mind, gave him no answers.
It had been more than 24 hours since he last ate anything.His body couldn't take the hunger anymore.So he walked over to the side table.
Lifting the lid of the dish, he found only a cold slice of bread and a fried egg—Alongside a bottle of water.
It was barely anything.But he was starving.So first, he opened the water bottle and drank eagerly,Then slowly began to eat the small portion of food.
Once some energy returned to him,He began to explore the room.
The last time he was here, he had only seen the hall and the garden.Now he realized—it was a huge room, decorated in white and light gray tones.It was beautiful, just like the rest of the house.
If he hadn't been kidnapped…He might have actually admired it.
One entire wall was made of mirrored windows,Through which he could clearly see the gazebo in the garden.
He began opening doors—One led to a spacious bathroom.The other was a walk-in wardrobe.
To his surprise, all his belongings had been neatly arranged there.His clothes were hung up perfectly,And all three of his bags were sitting in the corner.
He rushed to them, immediately checking for his phone and laptop—But neither was there.
That was it.Once again, tears welled up in his eyes.He felt completely helpless.
It truly felt like he was trapped in a jail.And the thought that scared him most was not knowing—How long would he have to stay here alone?Would that beast ever let him go?
Then suddenly…A memory hit him.
That day in the restaurant.How Joon Hyunk had beaten those boys so brutally—Just for bothering him.
What if he does something even worse to me now…?
What if Joon Hyunk ended up torturing him just like he did those boys...?Would he even survive that?
Yeo Jun kept spiraling in his thoughts for a long time.He always did this—overthinking everything and assuming the worst about himself.And then, scared of his own thoughts, tears would start falling from his eyes.
Right now, he was convinced Joon Hyunk would walk in any second…And who knows what he'd do to him.
—
When Joon Hyunk returned home, he went straight to his room to shower.He didn't want Yeo Jun to see him in that condition.Because usually, when he got back from "work," his clothes were stained with blood.
After getting fresh, he walked to the dining room and sat down, pulling out a chair.Sun Hee was serving dinner, and Ji Ho was helping her.
(Min Jae had originally offered Ji Ho a job at his own place, and he had been working well there.But after Joon Hyunk brought Yeo Jun home and noticed how terrified he was of him,he decided that if they stayed alone in the house together, Yeo Jun might never even step out of his room.So, Joon Hyunk asked Ji Ho to work at his house temporarily as a chef—Ji Ho's nature was soft, gentle, and kind.Maybe, just maybe, his warm presence could help Yeo Jun feel a little less afraid.He even thought Yeo Jun might be missing his family,so he tried to give the house a more welcoming, homely environment.That's how Ji Ho ended up working there with Sun Hee.)
While Ji Ho and Sun Hee were still setting the table,Joon Hyunk asked casually, while dishing out food onto his plate,"Did Yeo Jun eat anything?"
Sun Hee answered gently, "No, sir. He hasn't come out of his room since he arrived.If you allow, I can take his dinner upstairs to him?"
She was genuinely worried about the boy.In all the years she had worked for Joon Hyunk,she had never seen him act like this.He had never, not even once, brought a stranger into his house before.
But to her surprise, Joon Hyunk said flatly,"No.He'll come down when he gets hungry enough."
Once dinner was over, he told them,"You both can go now. It's getting late. I'll take care of the rest."
—
Meanwhile, upstairs…
It was Yeo Jun's second night in that room,and he was suffering from intense hunger.But still, he didn't want to leave the room.He sat on the bed, feeling like death could creep up on him from anywhere at any moment.
He hadn't slept in two days.The hunger just wouldn't let him.
Eventually, when the hunger became unbearable,he got up and slowly approached the door.There was no lock from the inside—but strangely, there wasn't one from the outside either.
Joon Hyunk had never intended to imprison him.That's why the door opened easily.
The room was on the upper floor.Yeo Jun quietly turned the door knob and peeked outside.No one was there.
On tiptoes, he began walking—carefully, quietly—and started heading down the stairs.