Speak of The Devil

It was a polite tone, but it was clearly a threat. And it was a very effective threat.In the end, without properly explaining the situation, the consultation ended with only questions about where Hyung was detained and how to visit him.As I left the lawyer’s office, the lawyer added one last piece of advice.“Find a way to reach a settlement with the victim.”Those words grabbed me by the ankles.“That way, you might even receive a suspended sentence.”Since Hyung had been referred to the prosecutor’s office, there was no avoiding it. All that remained was to reach a settlement for Hyung’s sake.The only way was to meet Jung Yiyeon. I knew it in my head. But my feet just wouldn’t move.Jung Yiyeon. Whenever I thought of him, his bloodied face kept appearing. He lay on the hospital bed, unconscious from medication, not even aware of my presence. His pitiful state lingered in my mind.So, I couldn’t bring myself to go see Jung Yiyeon.***One day, two days. Time passed relentlessly. No matter how much I searched the internet at home, I couldn’t find a clear answer. I spent days alone, without seeking advice from anyone.But what could I do?In the end, I picked up my phone. It was a number that Yoo Seokjun had saved before returning the phone to me.-Yes, this is Yoo Seokjun.After a few rings, the man answered the phone. My mouth felt dry, as if filled with sand, making it difficult to speak.-Mr. Lee Nan?“Is there… a way to meet Hyung?”I blurted out my business without even saying hello. Yoo Seokjun responded as if he didn’t mind.– I’ll schedule a visitation right away. Get ready and come out.I hung up the phone and got up. I took a shower, neatly styled my hair, put on a shirt and slacks, threw on a jacket, and then straightened my outfit once more before leaving the house.In front of my house, the man who had been giving me rides whenever I went out for the past few days was waiting for me. I nodded politely in greeting, and then got into the back seat without needing to touch the door—it closed on its own. The man in the driver’s seat gently pressed the accelerator.Easy. It was all so easy. It felt ridiculous how much I had been worrying. The despair in my chest only grew stronger.Hyung was imprisoned in Seoul Detention Center. As per the instructions of the employee who accompanied me, I was quickly processed, and without having to wait, I was escorted to the visitation room. The narrow room had a transparent partition with a few small holes in it, providing a space for communication but not warmth.I sat down first and waited for a while. At the end of what felt like a long wait, Hyung appeared at the entrance on the opposite side.His large frame and rugged face were not much different from what I remembered. The only thing that left me speechless was the fact that he was wearing khaki prison clothes.I had planned to start off with swearing when I saw him, but no swear words came out. Not even a question of “Are you okay?” came out.Hyung, realizing that it was me who had requested the visit, furrowed his brow. Just from his face, one could guess that he had hoped I wouldn’t come.“How did you know I was here?”Hyung, seated on the other side of the transparent partition, asked in a casual tone. Warmth welled up inside me amidst his indifferent voice.It felt both surreal and infuriating. To see a person I had seen at home only moments ago in such a situation was mind-boggling. I knew Hyung was involved in dangerous activities, but I had never imagined visiting him in prison.“Why is your face like that again?”“Would you expect me to sing a cheerful song while witnessing Hyung getting arrested right in front of me?”“You’re timid. So how did you end up here?”I didn’t know what to say in response to his disbelief at my presence here. Hyung grimaced.“Is it because of Jung Yiyeon?”“……”“Did you ask that bastard? To tell you where I am.”Knowing that silence was as good as admitting it, I couldn’t bring myself to deny it. Hyung sighed deeply as he looked at me, who couldn’t even open my mouth.“Go back. And never meet that bastard again.”“What’s going to happen to you, Hyung?”“I’ve hired a lawyer. Once the trial’s over, it’ll be done.”Hyung said it with an indifferent tone, as if it was no big deal. But how could being arrested, having a trial for assault, be no big deal?“Worst-case scenario, I’ll go to prison. It’s not that long for assault.”“Are you crazy!”Unable to bear it any longer, I burst out yelling. But Hyung didn’t flinch. Instead, he smirked.“It’s not the first time, so what.”“……”“Don’t worry. It’s really not a big deal.”“Is there nothing I can do? Like submitting a petition or something.”“No. Just eat well and take care of yourself.”“If you go to trial, should I testify?”At my question, Hyung furrowed his brow again.“What would you testify about?”“…That I was locked up.”“…And then?”Looking at Hyung’s stiffened face, I could easily guess what he was thinking. Hyung was misunderstanding something. It might be natural for him to have such a misunderstanding if he remembered the sight of me barging into the mansion. But the reality was completely different from what Hyung had seen.Aside from being deprived of my freedom to go out, Jung Yiyeon didn’t force anything on me. There was no rape. Instead, he tried to avoid any sexual encounter with me by any means necessary.“It wasn’t like that. Nothing like that happened…”Damn it… But I almost wished he had just raped me. At least then, it could have justified Hyung’s violence in some twisted way.“Ha… I should’ve just killed him back then.”“Hyung…!”After beating Jung Yiyeon to a pulp, Hyung’s words about how he should’ve just killed himmade me unable to hold back my outcry.How could he accept me like this? Perhaps Hyung wouldn’t even believe that he hadn’t done anything to me.“Enough, just stay quiet.”Hyung, who had calmed his emotions with a single sigh, returned to me with an indifferent face.“You won’t have to go to court.”“Then I’ll see a lawyer, Hyung. Maybe explaining the situation could help.”“I said it’s enough. Just staying quiet is helping.”“Damn it, how can I just stay quiet when it’s because of me…!”Unable to contain the surging emotions, curses burst out of me. Suppressing and suppressing again, even just not shouting was a struggle.But of course, it didn’t matter to Hyung.“Even if they try to interrogate you as a witness or put you on the stand over there, refuse. Don’t say a word.”“Hyung…”“And why is this your fault? That bastard started it first. They know it’s better to keep things quiet on their side too. So you have nothing to worry about. It’s not like you’ll end up in prison or anything like that.”Could it really be true? I wanted to believe Hyung’s words.It was a case of assault due to a gay prostitution scheme. If this were to be known to the world, the backlash wouldn’t be against me but against Jung Yiyeon. So I hoped they wouldn’t try to sweep it under the rug quietly. I hoped that was the truth.And if Jung Yiyeon… If Jung Yiyeon has any conscience, he might agree to a settlement. He was the man who begged for my love.“Just in case, don’t go see Jung Yiyeon.”As if reading my mind, Hyung’s voice was resolute.“Surely you’re not still attached to him, right?”“No.”He’s perfectly fine at our house. If he just stayed a few more days, he would have gone home anyway. Why did he come? Why did he hit Jung Yiyeon…?I kept my mouth shut because I felt like if I opened it, accusations would come pouring out. I had to hold back the tears that kept welling up.“It’s nothing. Just stay knowing that. You don’t need to worry about anything unnecessary.”Since I couldn’t do anything anyway… Though Hyung didn’t say it explicitly, that was the implication. I trembled with helplessness.“Settlement…”“Lee Nan. I said not to worry. This is as far as it goes.”I had no choice but to close my mouth again at his firm words that he wouldn’t listen to anything else. I felt suffocated. Facing Hyung across this narrow space with the wall between us was painful.“Don’t meet Jung Yiyeon.”“…”“Don’t listen to anything from his side. Just live your life.”In front of Hyung’s firm demeanor, where not even a needle could pierce, all I could do was nod my head. I didn’t express my desire to cry and just said:“I’ll leave some money for bail.”“If you have that money, spend it on your living expenses. I have plenty of people to get money from.”“Then if there’s something else you need…”“What I need is for you to stop worrying about me. Now go. Don’t come back.”Hyung got up from his seat as if he had no regrets. I had no choice but to stand up with him.“Eat well. What a pathetic sight.”Damn… How could I eat in this situation? I wanted to retort like that, but I just silently nodded my head.“Take care of yourself too, Hyung.”“Sure.”Behind Hyung’s cool response, the visit came to an end. Hyung went through the door on the opposite side, and I exited the visitation room through my side. Only then did tears trickle down, but I quickly wiped them away, not wanting anyone to see.That seemed to be the intention behind not informing me. Just the sight of my family, only one left, in prison attire was enough to make me feel like I was crumbling. Hyung tried to reassure me by saying it was just an assault case, but the feeling creeping up on me was anything but light.As I left the prison, the officer who brought me here was waiting for me. I followed him wordlessly to the parking lot. I got into the car as he opened the door, and as I sat there in a daze, the officer took the driver’s seat.“Shall we go home?”I couldn’t readily answer the question.But eventually, there was only one answer that had to come out of my mouth. The image of Hyung in prison attire was still imprinted in my retina, so I couldn’t refuse Hyung’s request.In an instant, I made up my mind.Or maybe it was recklessness.“To the hospital.”The hospital where Jung Yiyeon lay.I still didn’t have the courage to look at Jung Yiyeon’s swollen and bruised face, but now I couldn’t ignore or avoid it anymore.In less than an hour, I arrived at the entrance of the hospital’s special ward. The corridor was unusually quiet, not what you’d expect from a hospital at noon. My footsteps echoed loudly in the silence, sounding like the beat of my own heart. I couldn’t even tell if I was walking properly due to the tension.I just walked lifelessly. To where I needed to go.The whole way, I only thought of Hyung. Even with my limited legal knowledge, I knew that a settlement was the best option. It wasn’t a situation where we could avoid a guilty verdict. The lawyer’s words about seeking a settlement with the victim to possibly get a suspended sentence if already detained echoed in my ears.“Do not meet Jung Yiyeon. Do not listen to whatever they say over there. Just live your life.”I wasn’t a fool who couldn’t grasp the meaning behind Hyung’s earnest plea.…Even in this situation, does Jung Yiyeon still want me?If so, perhaps as Hyung said. I might have to mortgage my life to reach a settlement for Hyung. Even if it’s not what Hyung wants…But why do my steps slow down as the hospital room gets closer?It wasn’t that my resolve to do anything for Hyung had diminished. It was simply one image weighing heavily on my mind.The sight of Jung Yiyeon lying on the hospital bed, where I couldn’t even look properly and had to run away from, that was it.Several days had passed, so he should be awake now, shouldn’t he?Apart from his arms, they said there were no fractures, but is his face okay? Could his nose be broken? Or maybe it’s swollen and bruised beyond recognition.I’m sure I saw Jung Yiyeon’s face while he slept on the bed, but I couldn’t recall it clearly. All I remembered was the fear I felt at that moment.We arrived at the door of the hospital room. My hand trembled as I raised it to knock.How should I look at Jung Yiyeon’s face? No, can I even face the brutal marks of violence?Is Jung Yiyeon still suffering in pain?The thoughts looped endlessly in my mind. I forced myself to cut them off and finally moved my hand. Knock, knock. Without waiting for a response, I opened the door. I knew it was the waiting room anyway.“You’re here.”The one who greeted me was Manager Yoo Seokjun.“Hello.”This time, I could properly greet him.“Is the boss…”“He’s awake. Please come in.”Yoo Seokjun glanced at the closed door of the hospital room. Upon hearing that Jung Yiyeon was awake, my heart began to beat even more violently. I didn’t understand why confirming his condition felt so terrifying and trembling.“Please go in. He’s waiting for you.”Why was Jung Yiyeon waiting for me? Surely… he wants something from me. And whatever it may be, I couldn’t refuse the hand he extended to me.Hyung. Thinking of Hyung, once again clad in hospital garb, I reluctantly took a step forward. Standing in front of the firmly closed door, I grasped the handle of the sliding door and pushed it aside. As expected of an expensive hospital room, the door slid open smoothly with little effort.Sunlight poured in through the window, casting a white glow over the white room. Jung Yiyeon was lying on the bed.“I… I’m here.”The voice calling me pulled me in. Though I felt like I couldn’t look directly at him, his voice made me unconsciously raise my head. Thanks to that, I met his gaze.“Ah…”A small sigh was born of relief.Had I been too extreme in my expectations of his condition due to the extreme circumstances? Compared to the memories of being carried away covered in blood, Jung Yiyeon’s face looked quite okay.Of course, there were wounds on his nose, with redness and swelling around it, and bruises around his eyes and cheekbones. But it wasn’t so horrifyingly disfigured that I couldn’t recognize him. His good looks were slightly faded, but even that seemed like it would recover soon.Jung Yiyeon wasn’t dead. His arm was broken, but there were no other serious injuries. He could speak just fine.His face was fortunate enough. An inexplicable sense of relief washed over me. This was enough. Somehow, anything would be resolved. Such a meager hope sprouted within me.“Cough…!”As he tried to sit up, leaning on the bed, he grimaced and bent his waist, groaning in pain.Shocked, I approached him. Seeing the young pain on his paler-than-usual face, I quickly adjusted the remote control attached to the bed and raised it so that he could sit up comfortably. Sitting up with his back against the bed, Jung Yiyeon looked at me with a much improved expression.“Why do you look so pale…”…How could one word astonish a person like this?Is this guy unaware of how he’s lying here right now? How can he talk as if he’s the one worried in this situation?I felt like I was about to burst into tears any moment. Maybe it’s because Jung Yiyeon is so typically Jung Yiyeon-like. No tears came, but there was a dull ache in my heart.“How’s your body?”In response to my question, Jung Yiyeon smiled as if nothing was wrong.“I’m okay because I’m on painkillers. It doesn’t hurt at all.”Didn’t he groan and break out in a cold sweat just from trying to sit up a moment ago? Just by looking at the sweat still beading on his pale forehead, it was obvious he was putting on a show.He was still saying nonsense. Shamelessly, even in this situation, he was still himself. While I’m in this state because of my Hyung, Jung Yiyeon is still Jung Yiyeon.“Why did you lose so much weight in just a few days?”Dealing with a man who talks as if he’s unaffected by the fact that he can barely move, I couldn’t figure out what to do. I bit my lip, feeling something heavy settle in my chest.“My Hyung might end up in prison because of you.”I was so frustrated. So my tone wasn’t polite. I knew I shouldn’t provoke Jung Yiyeon for the sake of reaching an agreement, but he was so exasperatingly composed that I couldn’t help it.“How can I be okay when my Hyung might go to jail because of you?”It wasn’t unreasonable to be angry at Jung Yiyeon’s crazy display of affection that brought the situation to this point. Why did he do such things and end up like this? Why did he even make my Hyung end up in prison?Human emotions are so cunning. I was so anxious and scared. I couldn’t even bring myself to properly look at Jung Yiyeon in case he was seriously injured, so I ran away.The moment I realized he was much better than I thought, resentment surged within me toward him.But Jung Yiyeon didn’t even give me a chance to be angry with him.“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”Jung Yiyeon smiled faintly. His hesitant right hand reached out and grasped my cheek. I bit my lip at the warmth that spread through me.So, what’s the price…?It all began with the nauseating coercion for sex, threatening Hyung and me. If it hadn’t been for that, I would have gotten rid of Jung Yiyeon from my life much earlier.Now, Jung Yiyeon truly held Hyung’s safety in his hands.In response to my silence, Jung Yiyeon gently coaxed me with his affectionate voice.“They are just causing a fuss because I’m the third generation of Eunha Group, and the prosecution is overreacting. Since I’m fine, what’s the problem? So…”His fingers gently brushed my cheek. His thumb carefully swept under my eye.“Please don’t cry.”…I didn’t cry. Not a single tear fell. But it seemed like my face was about to burst into tears any moment.Unconsciously, my head nodded.“It’s okay. Hyung will be released soon.”Jung Yiyeon tried to reassure me.His voice was so tender… His caressing touch on my cheek was so gentle… Ironically, it felt like tears were about to come. Rather than relief, another emotion filled my chest.Jung Yiyeon hadn’t demanded a price yet. As a condition for helping Hyung get released, he would likely ask me to stay with him.Even if that were the case… with Jung Yiyeon like this, maybe.But then, it happened.“Who gave you permission?”A woman’s elegant yet firm voice echoed.It was just Jung Yiyeon and me, with Manager Yoo Seokjun outside. So, the woman’s voice was unexpected.Turning my head to the door, I saw a woman standing there in a deep blue dress. She had a slender figure and was tall. Her tousled short hair suited her beautifully.She was someone I hadn’t seen before. More precisely, it was the first time I had seen her in person.“…Director.”Jung Yiyeon, the President and CEO of Eunha Hotel and also a Managing Director of the conglomerate holding company, a position he could never take lightly. I knew her name too. Jung Sangyeon. She was the eldest granddaughter of Chairman Jung Pilwon and the most promising female successor to the group.In other words, she was Jung Yiyeon’s cousin.Though I knew she was supposed to be in her early forties this year, she looked much younger. However, she was a woman who exuded a formidable presence that was anything but light.