"This is wonderful information, Y/n." There was a gleam of excitement in Yoon Jiwoo's eyes.
Y/n had just repeated what she had heard the previous evening.
"I couldn't understand most of the things," Y/n added.
"So, I just took down notes and texted you last week."
"Yes. My team is decoding most of them. This is truly helpful, especially the pictures you sent."
During one of the house cleaning sessions, Y/n had found some documents and papers lying on the office desk. It was quite risky, but she had somehow sneaked out her secret phone and took pictures of those documents and sent them to Yoon Jiwoo.
"Don't you think Kim will begin to suspect my daughter if his shipments are intercepted by the police?" Y/n's father looked worried.
"As you mentioned before, Mr. Kang, Kim Tae-hyung thinks he's invincible. And like most men, especially the ones who are drunk with power, he most likely considers his wife non-threatening and would never suspect her. Y/n is able to manage getting us information using whatever resources she has. She should continue doing it unless she feels there's a threat."
Y/n controlled the burn in her cheeks and tried not to show anything on her face.
She wasn't ashamed of what she was doing to make the devil let his guard down around her and not consider her threat. But at the same time, she didn't want her father to know she was sleeping with his enemy.
"Can I look at the Home Minister's mansion's blueprint once again?" she asked, trying to divert the topic.
"Sure." Yoon Jiwoo put up the image on the screen and went over what had to be done and what Y/n specifically needed to look out for. "And make sure you are the one handing over the gift to the Choi's," the policewoman reminded.
Y/n nodded. "I will. And I will keep you posted either tonight or tomorrow." She picked up the medium-size figurine which was gift wrapped and kept ready for her.
Going to her father, she kissed his cheek. "I'll see you next week, Dad." He nodded, even though there was worry written on his face.
Letting out a sigh, she stepped out of her father's office room to head home. But before she left, she visited Young-ok.
Young-ok hadn't been feeling well. A twinge of fear and sorrow pierced Y/n's heart at the thought of losing the lively old woman who had been a part of her mother's and her life since their births.
Passing through the side yard, Y/n went towards the staff quarters. Young-ok's home was the brightly colored house which was kept separate from everyone else's.
Y/n knocked on the door.
"Come in, Y/n," a frail voice called out.
Opening the slightly rickety door and making a mental note to send someone to repair it, Y/n stepped in. "How do you always know it's me?" she asked with a smile.
The old woman was seated on the bed knitting something colorful. The wrinkled hands were shaking, but still there was determination in her bright eyes.
"I recognize people by their auras. You and your mother have similar auras."
Y/n laughed and sat next to her on the narrow cot. "How are you feeling now, Young-ok?" she asked. The previous week Young-ok was down with a bad cold.
"I'm fine. Just a touch of a cold and people think I'm already half in the grave."
"You are close to eighty years. Young-ok. You need to take it easy and rest." She gently held Young-ok's frail hand. "I already told you that you don't have to work inside the house anymore. Dad deposited money into your account, and you will receive a pension each month."
Young-ok shook her head. "I'm not going to rest until I fulfill your mother's promise to take care of you and see to that you have a happy life."
"I am happy," she lied.
"No, you are not. But you will be soon." Young-ok reached for her colorful cards and shells. She threw the shells on a small table until some settled up and some down. She drew a card and watched it in fascination.
"You let the devil possess your body. He's not going to stop there. He's going to demand and steal your heart and soul too."
Y/n's heart jerked in surprise, but she shook her head with a laugh pushing away the ominous words. "Young-ok! Stop saying such things to scare me."
Young-ok gave her a sweet smile, displaying her several missing teeth. "There's nothing to be scared of, my love. Let destiny take its course. Your happily-ever-after is not going to be a smooth sail, but unlike your mother, your heart will belong to the right man."
"Well, I hope so, Young-ok," she said and diverted the topic.
****
Y/n stared at the passing scenery as the SUV took her back to the beach house.
She closed her eyes briefly and opened them again with a loud exhale.
"Your heart will belong to the right man."
Although she had managed to divert Young-ok from the topic, Young-ok's words continued to resonate in her head.
Will her heart ever belong to the right man?
Nearly two-and-a-half months passed since Kim Tae-hyung had forced her to marry him. But so far, she had no clue about her future. She knew she would somehow secure her father's future, no matter what. The information she was passing would ensure that her father would be in safe hands when things came to a showdown. But it was her future that appeared bleak.
She knew she couldn't go back to Eunwoo. She also couldn't imagine marrying someone after getting her freedom. Her mind was so consumed by the man she was married to that she knew he would haunt her until eternity.
She knew she should fight the devil harder.
But each night when she let him into her body, he not only possessed her will, he also stole a part of her soul. She came apart in his arms while his dark eyes held her captive. She told herself she clung to him as a part of the act, but when he drew away from her arms and left their bed, the empty, hollow feeling persisted for a long time after. She had to repeatedly remind herself that he was evil and had no soul or humanity, and all that mattered to him was power.
"He's going to demand and steal your heart and soul too."
Young-ok had predicted wrong. The devil had already made it very clear early on that he didn't care for her heart or love. All he wanted was her to fear him and not betray him.
A sudden shiver passed through her at the thought of him finding out her betrayal.
"Tomorrow morning we'll be going to the shooting range."
Y/n blinked when she heard Suho's voice. She realized they had arrived at the beach house.
"Shooting range?" she asked.
"Yes. Tae-hyung wants you to learn how to shoot. Have you used a gun before?"
"No." She didn't want to either. But she knew she wouldn't have a say in it. Kim Tae-hyung was very particular that her ongoing training didn't stop, no matter what the reasons were. And most of the reasons were him keeping her awake until late. But each morning, he pushed her out of their bed to train near the beach with Suho while he swam in the ocean or ran along the beach.
She knew he watched her and got updates on her progress from Suho. Sometimes, he even took over the training. And when he did, it was terrifying.
Unlike Suho, who was a professional, Kim Tae-hyung attacked her like a true assailant. He pushed her limits so much that sometimes she froze. But he continued to do it many times and in such unexpected ways that she could now keep a cool head, despite the terrifying fear and circumstances.
"All right. See you later, Suho." She got out of the car and headed into the house.
There was an important social event that night. She had been accompanying Kim Tae-hyung quite a lot lately. Most of them were social gatherings thrown by some high-profile person either in their homes, resorts or even clubs.
Yoon Jiwoo and her team gave her a heads up most of the time, but sometimes she ended up in places she didn't expect. But no matter which event she attended, she played the role of a meek, subservient wife while she observed and gathered every piece of information she could. She continued to do it mostly through recording devices.
"Would you like something to eat or drink?" Yona asked.
Y/n was about to climb the stairs. "No, I'm fine." She smiled at the older woman. "How was your trip?"
"My grandchild is due in six months."
"That's great. Hope your daughter is feeling better now."
"Yes. Now that the first three months are over, she's recovering from the morning sickness." The older woman's eyes lowered and fell on Y/n's stomach.
Y/n's stomach clenched involuntarily at the speculative smile.
"Will you be out for dinner tonight?" Yona asked.
"Yes. Do let the staff know they can leave early this evening."
"Sure. Have a great time."
As soon as the older woman left, Y/n continued up the stairs while reminding herself of the appointment she had the coming week to get the refill of her birth control pills.
She couldn't afford to miss taking the pill. Each morning after breakfast, she put an alarm on her phone to remind herself to take one.
Kim Tae-hyung saw her taking them too. It wasn't as though she was keeping it a secret from him. She kept them in the medicine cabinet inside the bathroom she shared with him. She knew he didn't care as long as he had complete access to her body and her father's shipping line.
With a tired sigh, she was about to open the bedroom door when she heard him talk on the phone. Slowly, without making much sound, she pushed the door open.
He was standing near the open French doors leading to the bedroom balcony and talking on the phone.
"No," he commanded. "I don't want anything to happen to that shipment. Let it pass. Pay them whatever they are asking. We need them as our allies. And alert the coast guards stationed there well ahead of time in case there's a need to change shifts."
She stepped in and shut the door softly behind her. It was breezy enough for him to miss the sound of the door.
And yet, as though sensing her presence, he turned and his eyes met with hers.
"All right, Jake. Keep me posted on the updates. I don't want anything going wrong with this one."
His voice was sharp and precise while he ordered his men. But still, she had to struggle to keep her mind alert and listen to what he was speaking. Her mind was diverted by him. He looked devastatingly handsome in a suit.
Soon, he ended the call and put his phone into his pocket. "Done with your shopping?" he asked, his eyes sweeping over her lazily.
"Yes."
His face was unreadable as always, but her heart began to thud as he came closer.
Stopping in front of her and keeping his gaze locked on her face, he reached for the small shopping bag she held in her hand. He pulled out the thick, comfortable cotton nightwear she had bought in her ten-minute shopping spree that morning.
"For someone who barely wears clothes during nights, you sure do have a lot of nightwear."
A blush covered her face. He was the one who didn't let her wear clothes at night. Even if she wore them, they were thrown away carelessly within minutes of him inside the bed.
"I wear them when you are away. You are gone most of the time."
There was the barest hint of amusement. "Is that a complaint?"
"No. Just an observation."
He did travel a lot. And she still had no clue when he would return because he never informed her. She only knew when he came back home.
"How is your father?" he asked.
Her heart gave a sick thud inside while she struggled to keep a neutral face. Although there was no change in his look, she knew he was observing her like a hawk.
She felt like a cornered prey. "My father is doing fine." Surprisingly, he never demanded an explanation of why she visited her father often. Even though she didn't tell him of the visits, she was sure the bodyguards would have informed him.
And yet, she felt the need to cover up those visits under the pretext of shopping. Maybe it was because of fear or guilt of strategizing his downfall during those visits.
"You should invite your father here for dinner sometime."
He began to unbutton her top.
"W-why?" she asked. Her voice trembled and her skin broke into goosebumps as his fingers brushed over her heated skin.
"Why not?" he returned. "After all, he's... my family now, isn't he?"
She trembled once again. She wasn't sure if it was because his mouth met with her bare shoulder or because of the way he said the word 'family' in reference to her father.
There was a dark undertone to it.
She knew her father absolutely hated and feared Kim Tae-hyung. But she didn't know how and what the devil felt for her father. She knew there was a personal grudge and enmity towards her father because of the past. But did it get satisfied by marrying the enemy's daughter and stealing the company?
Neither she nor her father had answers to those questions.
Despite the intimacy, Kim Tae-hyung was still a complete enigma to her. She couldn't predict what he would say or do next. She had to be constantly on her toes to keep up with him and his mind games.
He was a master manipulator. Over the weeks, she had seen and heard how he manipulated people around him. High- powered businessmen, politicians, bureaucrats or even criminals, it didn't matter. They always did his bidding, either due to greed, fear or respect.
Sometimes, she wondered to what extent she was being manipulated by the devil.
Her thoughts scattered, and she gasped when his mouth met her throat where her pulse thundered.
"W-we are going to be late," she whispered, placing her hands on his chest to stop him from turning her mind into a complete puddle. She needed to be alert that night. "You are already dressed. And I still need to shower and get ready."
The heated look in his eyes got her heart pumping faster. She knew her excuses weren't going to work. "Tae-hyung," she gasped, trying to reason with him. "We are going to be late. I -"Before she could complete her sentence, his mouth crashed on top of hers.
She moaned and kissed him back. His dark hunger made her body instantly melt.
Her heart pounded as he got rid of her clothes in record time, until she was completely naked. He carried her to their bed and dropped her on it before attacking his clothes. The dark look in his eyes as he shed his clothes made her stomach tremble both in need and in nervousness.
Did he suspect anything? She didn't know, and neither could she think rationally right then. But her fear dumped a ton of adrenaline in to her bloodstream, spiking up her arousal and thrumming her body with need.
He stalked towards her, naked and completely aroused. He stood next to the bed, waiting and watching her. She held his eyes, trying to keep her breathing steady, but anxiousness and intense arousal made her breaths come out faster.
He finally moved to lay on top of her, balancing his weight on one elbow. And then, without any preliminaries, he buried his face into the crook of her neck and pushed deep into her, joining their bodies completely.
She gasped as her body received him greedily. It was hard, fast and with a strange underlying emotion that she wasn't able to decipher. She kept her eyes open to stop from feeling the connection that became stronger with each joining. But like each time she tried, it failed. The man who possessed her body, continued to steal a piece of her heart and soul.
She cried out her release as it ripped through her and made her shatter in his arms. She heard his harsh grunt as he gave in to his own release and exploded inside her.
Barely a few moments later, before she could completely catch her breath, he brushed his lips against her forehead and pulled out of her and stood up. She struggled once again to come back to her senses.
He bent down and scooped her into his arms, and carried her to their bathroom. A flash of amusement passed on his face while her cheeks burned in embarrassment realizing they were going to shower together.
He invaded her shower or pulled her into one many times, but still she couldn't get used to the intimacy it offered. Unlike her, he was uninhibited when it came to intimacy or his body. He paraded around his perfectly chiseled body in naked form inside their bedroom while she always tried to hide her body while changing.
"We have to hurry," she reminded breathlessly while he squeezed the shower gel on top of her breasts and slid his hands all over her sensitized skin. "We will be late," she gasped when his hands lingered on certain places.
Thankfully, he listened and it turned out to be a quick shower.
"I didn't know you were so eager to attend the Home Minister's anniversary party," he commented.
He was stark naked while he took out a fresh set of clothes to wear from his closet.
She tried not to blush when she got ready along with him, trying to keep her towel on while she slipped on her underclothes.
"The Home Minister's wife and I became good acquaintances," she replied.
She was stretching the truth. She had met the Home Minister's wife a few times during social events, but had barely spoken to the woman. The only reason she had to attend the party that night was because she was given a task to do.
"Really? Choi's second wife is known for her peculiar tastes and spending. I didn't think you'd have much in common with her."
The Home Minister's young second wife was known to be a drug addict. She was also known to have indulged in sexual affairs in exchange for money. There were rumors that her husband got the minister post because of one such favor.
"She is... friendly." The reason sounded lame even to her. Her heart thudded when he fell silent.
But before he could analyze or grill her further, thankfully his phone began to ring. Giving her a brief look, he went to answer it.
Meantime, she hurried to the walk-in closet and grabbed the clothes she had kept ready for the evening. It had a tiny recorder stitched near the seams.
"Ready?" he asked, watching her as she smoothed her dress.
She forced out a small smile. "Yes."
She picked up the gift that she received from the NIS to plant it in the Home Minister's house.
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