Chapter 45
By the time the clock neared ten in the morning, Yeonho was still deep in his sleep, buried under the covers.
Gyeongjae used the quiet to call a private doctor to look at the torn skin on his arms.
Once the call was placed, he quickly took a shower while Min-hyuk stayed with Yeonho.
Fifteen minutes later, the doctor arrived. Freya checked the security feed and immediately let him inside the moment he introduced himself under Gyeongjae's family name.
Down in the spacious living room, Gyeongjae finally descended the stairs, now fully wearing his top clothes as he walked toward the waiting physician.
The doctor worked efficiently, cleaning the scrapes and deep splinters tracking down his arms before wrapping the wounds in tight, professional bandages.
"All done, Mr. Woo. Your arms are badly bruised, especially the right one. A few of these cuts run pretty deep. Do you mind if I ask what caused this?"
The doctor dropped a blood-stained cotton swab onto the metal tray, setting his medical tools down with a metallic clink.
Freya, who had been standing silently near the edge of the room, stepped forward and raised a cautious hand.
"I think it's best if we keep the details between us, Doctor. It seems people in this country have a strange hostility toward my mistress. Mr. Woo, do we really need to explain the situation?"
"We don't have a choice, Freya," Gyeongjae muttered, flexing his bandaged wrist.
"We need to get Yeonho's physical state fully checked out."
"In that case, perhaps I should contact Master Jiseok for assistance—!"
"No!"
Gyeongjae's voice rang through the open living room, sharp and demanding enough to make everyone's eyes widen in surprise.
Freya hesitated, her fingers twisting together, but she pushed through her nerves to ask, "Why not?"
Sinking back into the plush leather sofa, Gyeongjae let out a heavy breath, running a hand over his face.
"Just don't. Jiseok isn't in the country right now. Don't you think he'd be mad if he found out things turned out this badly, especially when he told you to help Yeonho recover in the first place?"
Freya went quiet, processing the logic. She nodded slowly, swayed by the argument, though a sharp prickle of guilt remained.
After all, her primary directive was to report every single detail back to Jiseok.
"Fine," Freya conceded softly. "I will hold off on informing the master of what happened. For now."
"Um, Mr. Woo," the doctor interjected, breaking the tension as he looked up from his medical bag.
"Did I hear that correctly? Did you say the name Yeonho?"
Instead of offering an explanation, Gyeongjae pushed himself up from the cushions and turned away from the seating area.
"Where are you going, Mr. Woo?"
"To check if he's awake. Wait here."
Gyeongjae headed straight for the staircase, disappearing up to the second floor.
The moment his presence left the room, the atmosphere turned thick and painfully awkward. The doctor blinked, looking around at the remaining crowd—the sleeping woman curled on the opposite couch, the imposing figure of Carl, the tense hotel employees, and Freya.
"Don't worry, your work isn't finished yet. Mr. Woo is simply checking on our mistress. Please be patient." Freya informed the physician.
Upstairs, Gyeongjae paused outside the master suite, his eyes tracking the splintered, ruined door frame.
"This needs a replacemen"
Gyeongjae took out his phone to send a quick text to a maintenance crew to have it handled first thing tomorrow morning.
Stepping through the gap, he found Min-hyuk already on his feet, murmuring into his phone.
"Yeah, I'm heading out right now. My bad," Min-hyuk whispered, ending the call the second Gyeongjae stopped by the side of the bed. He looked over, his expression strained.
"I've gotta run. I can't push this photoshoot back any longer. The crew has been waiting on me for an hour already."
Carefully, Min-hyuk disentangled his fingers from Yeonho's hand.
This time, the sleeping figure didn't instinctively tighten his grip to pull him back.
Min-hyuk stepped away from the mattress, smoothing down his designer clothes while taking one last, lingering look at the pale face on the pillow.
"See you around."
With a brief nod, Min-hyuk walked out.
Downstairs, Freya offered him a deep, graceful bow, thanking him quietly for his help before he slipped out the front door.
Back in the bedroom, Gyeongjae sat on the edge of the mattress, looking down at Yeonho.
He reached out, his fingertips lightly tracing the curve of Yeonho's face.
"Yeonho. Are you still asleep?"
The room remained completely silent.
Gyeongjae waited another minute, finally deciding it was best to let him rest and simply schedule the doctor for a follow-up exam later in the week.
But the moment he began to pull away, a cold, firm grip clamped around his wrist.
"Where are you going?"
Yeonho's eyelids fluttered open slowly, his gaze heavy and clouded with lingering exhaustion.
Gyeongjae adjusted his position, reaching behind Yeonho's shoulders to help steady him as he pushed himself up against the pillows.
"Are you alright? Does anything hurt?" Gyeongjae kept his hand braced against the back of Yeonho's back.
"I'm fine," Yeonho muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "What time is it?"
"Ten-thirty in the morning."
Yeonho's gaze swept across the room, landing squarely on the jagged, broken hole smashed into the center of his bedroom door.
The raw, unfiltered chaos of the morning flooded back into his consciousness.
"Damn it…"
The memory was sharp and completely vivid. He knew he had entirely lost control of himself earlier—it had been a pathetic, miserable display.
But he deliberately shoved the phantom pains of the past out of his mind, locking them behind a wall of fury.
Right now, a far more pressing reality took priority: someone had actually had the nerve to spy on him inside his own territory.
"Where is that little bitch?" Yeonho asked, his voice snapping back to its usual icy, arrogant edge.
There wasn't a single trace of the crying, miserable state from a few hours ago.
Gyeongjae stared at him, instantly catching the sudden frost in Yeonho's demeanor.
"Downstairs."
"Perfect. Because we need to have a little chat."
Yeonho swung his legs out of bed, changed his clothes, and marched straight out of the room toward the stairs.
Gyeongjae trailed silently behind him, keeping a watchful eye on his back.
The moment Yeonho stepped into the living room, every eye pinned to him. His blue eyes were absolute cold.
The doctor stiffened visibly, instantly recognizing the notorious, exiled son of the Choi family. Ignoring the medical staff, Yeonho walked directly over to the sofa where Jihi was still sleeping.
"Still sleeping, I see," Yeonho scoffed.
Freya rushed over, her face twisted with worry, while the rest of the catering staff stood rigid against the wall, terrified to move.
"Mistress! How are you feeling? Are you okay? Do you have a headache, or any pain?"
Freya bombarded him with questions, but Yeonho completely ignored her, keeping his sharp gaze locked onto the nervous employees.
"Wake her up," Yeonho commanded.
"B-but she's—" one of the female staff members stammered.
"I'm not going to say it twice. Wake her up."
"Y-yes, right away…"
The worker quickly scrambled over to the couch, shaking Jihi's shoulder.
"Jihi. Come on, wake up."
Jihi barely stirred, remaining dead to the world until Carl calmly stepped forward, picked up a glass of ice-cold water from the coffee table, and poured it directly over her face.
Jihi gasped, her eyes flying open as she bolted upright, wiping the freezing water from her face.
"What the hell?! What's going on?! Who did—"
She choked on her words, her jaw dropping the moment her vision cleared.
"C-Choi Yeonho? Am I dreaming?"
Yeonho walked over to the opposite sofa, sinking comfortably into the cushions while Gyeongjae took a seat right beside him. Yeonho flicked his eyes toward the man with the medical bag.
"What's this guy doing here, Gyeongjae?"
"I called him to check your vitals."
Yeonho dismissed it with a brief nod, having absolutely no intention of letting a stranger touch him. He had much bigger fish to fry.
"The doctor is unnecessary. I'm perfectly fine, and I don't need an exam."
"Yeonho, you need to—" Gyeongjae started, but Yeonho cut him off without a second thought.
"I said I'm fine. What happened earlier was just a temporary glitch because of that little rat over there." Yeonho pointed a sharp finger directly at Jihi.
"Little rat? Excuse me? Did you just call me a rat, you disgusting—" Jihi snapped, her defensive attitude flaring up despite the wet hair clinging to her face.
Before she could finish the insult, Freya's voice barked across the room like a whip.
"How dare you use that tone with my mistress!"
"Mistress…?" Jihi repeated, glancing between Freya and the elegant blonde sitting across from her.
The other catering workers immediately shifted in panic, trying to pull Jihi back before she ruined all of their lives.
"Jihi, shut your mouth!"
"Watch what you're saying, or we're all going to get dragged down with you!"
"Just stay quiet!"
Yeonho leaned back, studying Jihi's panicked expression.
A slow, deeply dangerous smile spread across his face as the pieces fully clicked together. He let out a low, mocking chuckle that filled the tense room with curiosity.
"You…" Yeonho shook his head, his smile widening as he tilted his chin up.
"Choi Hana."
Jihi froze instantly at the mention of the name.
"What?"
"You work for Choi Hana. You're the exact same waitress who helped Hana slip a drug into my dear Gyeongjae's drink."
Yeonho stated with absolute certainty, crossing his arms elegantly. Gyeongjae, who had remained quiet up until now, shifted slightly.
"Are you sure about that? You might be confusing her with someone else. And Yeonho… we shouldn't be discussing this topic with people around."
"Why? Are you nervous? Are you trying to protect Hana right now?"
"We just don't need extra people knowing what happe—"
"So you're protecting her."
"I… look, that's not what I—"
Gyeongjae cut himself off, completely trapped by Yeonho's glare.
"Then keep your mouth shut for a minute and let me handle my business."
Watching the fluid, incredibly intimate back-and-forth between Yeonho and Gyeongjae left both the doctor and Jihi completely confused.
They looked far too close, and the comfortable way Yeonho ruled the space was deeply unsettling.
"So, let's hear it. Was it Hana? Did she order you to dig up dirt on me? I'm well aware the entire hotel staff saw Gyeongjae carrying a mysterious blonde last night." Yeonho continued, turning his full attention back to Jihi.
Jihi's eyes darted frantically around the room, the sweat on her neck turning cold as she realized how deeply she had been cornered.
"I already know it was you. I have proof that Hana drugged Gyeongjae's drink. Honestly, I could take it straight to the authorities, but we both know my darling sister would just pay off the right officials to make it vanish. It's a waste of my time." Yeonho purred, leaning forward.
"What? I don't even know what you're talking about," Jihi lied, her voice cracking.
"Please. Are you really risking your life because Hana throws a little cash your way? Or is she holding something over your head? And you…"
Yeonho's eyes flicked past her, landing squarely on the male employee standing rigid against the wall.
"You look like you're about to have a panic attack. Don't you think it's smarter to spill something before Gyeongjae strips your work away?"
The entire room went entirely still. Gyeongjae remained quiet, knowing his own reputation was tied up in that video, but he trusted Yeonho's sharp instincts to handle the interrogation.
He couldn't risk a massive public scandal breaking out—both for the sake of the Woo family name and for Yeonho's immediate safety.
"Just confess, and I might consider letting it slide. Right, Gyeongjae? You're the victim of a corporate security breach here. Your own staff is stabbing you in the back. If I were in your shoes, a total termination of their contracts would be the bare minimum."
Gyeongjae scanned the trembling workers, his gaze hardening as he took Yeonho's cue.
"Fine. Effective immediately, every single one of you is fired."
A collective gasp echoed through the room.
The two female employees who hadn't been involved in the scheme immediately dropped to their knees, tears welling in their eyes as they began to beg.
"No, please, Director Woo! I swear I had nothing to do with what Jihi was doing! Don't fire me!"
"Me too! Please, Director! I was the one trying to help break open the door earlier to save him!"
They bowed frantically, pleading for their livelihoods. As they wept, Yeonho kept his eyes locked on the male staff member, who was sweating through his uniform.
"Are you on my sister's payroll too? You've been awfully quiet."
The man choked on his breath, his heart hammering against his ribs now that the spotlight was directly on him.
Seeing the sheer terror in front of him, a brilliant, wicked idea sparked in Yeonho's mind.
But before he could speak, Gyeongjae stepped in to deliver the final blow.
"The two of you who tried to help the door can stay. But you," Gyeongjae pointed a cold finger directly at Jihi, "and you… step forward."
He glared at the male accomplice.
"Both of you are stripped of your positions. Get your things and get out."
Realizing their careers were officially finished, both Jihi and the male worker collapsed to their knees beside the others, completely broken. The never expected Gyeongjae to actually listened to Yeonho.
"Please, don't do this! I only did it because I needed the money! Ms. Hana promised she would pay off my sick sister's hospital bills if I just kept an eye out! I had no choice!" Jihi cried, the tears streaming down her face.
"I only did it because of my family's land! Ms. Choi promised she would use her family's influence to get our property back! Please, Director Woo, don't fire us!" the male worker cried out, his voice shaking.
Gyeongjae's jaw clenched tightly. Hana had just exposed another dark, manipulative layer of herself that he had never seen coming.
Was she tracking his every movement just to make sure he wasn't looking at anyone else?
All four men in Hana's circle were technically dating her, waiting for her to make a final choice—yet she was running covert operations behind his back.
The sheer disappointment turned heavy in his chest.
"I can't have spies running around my establishment. Whether you like it or not, you're both done here."
Jihi and the male accomplice stared up in absolute horror.
Losing a prestigious position at a Woo corporation asset meant they would be blacklisted across the entire industry.
"No. You're not going to fire them," Yeonho said carelessly, his tone incredibly casual.
Jihi and the male worker snapped their heads up, staring at him in disbelief, while Gyeongjae turned to look at him with a deep frown.
"Yeonho, I have to let them go. Otherwise, Hana will just use them to pull another stunt like this. I refuse to be monitored. It's true that I'm dating Hana, but I draw the line at corporate workplace." Gyeongjae reasoned, his voice tight.
"Sure, but firing them is amateur work."
Carl, who had been observing from the corner, leaned in.
"But mistress, what if they secretly record you or take photos again?"
"NO! I swear I won't ever do it again! We won't!" Jihi frantically promised, though she knew deep down that if she stayed, Hana would simply threaten her into compliance again.
"What you both need… is protection. You won't fire them, Gyeongjae. Let them continue on their work. I'll do something about it"
Yeonho clapped his hands together as the perfect trap finalized in his mind. Gyeongjae stared at Yeonho, completely unable to map out the train of thought.
First, he demands their heads on a platter, and now he's acting as their savior.
Rubbing his temples to stave off a massive headache, Gyeongjae let out a defeated sigh.
"Fine… you're not fired. Now are you happy?"
He turned his head toward Yeonho, only to find him smiling back.
Before Gyeongjae could react, Yeonho leaned in and planted a swift, mocking kiss directly onto Gyeongjae's lips.
"I sure am."
The employees and the doctor froze, their mouths hanging open in shock.
Right on cue, the sharp ring of Gyeongjae's phone shattered the silence.
He glanced down at the flashing caller ID and immediately stood up, his fingers typing out a rapid response.
"Where do you think you're going now?"
Yeonho got up too, tracking his movements.
"An emergency at the main office. I have to handle this. I'll come back to check on you the second I get a break." Gyeongjae replied, already adjusting his cuffs as he strode toward the door.
"Bye!" Yeonho called out gladly, waving a hand.
The moment the heavy front door clicked shut, the playful smile vanished from Yeonho's face.
He dropped back onto the sofa cushions, leaning his head back as a dominant, chilling aura filled the living room.
"Now then. Let's make things a little more interesting. The four of you… and you, Mr. Doctor. You're going to want to pay very close attention to what I'm about to say."
Yeonho crossed his legs slowly as his gaze swept across the terrified crowd.
He laced his fingers together over his knee, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction.
"From this moment on, you work for me."
"What?" they gasped out in unison.
"You heard me. You'll work for me"
The doctor, completely out of his depth, raised his hands defensively.
"I'm sorry, but I'm a medical professional. I am absolutely not involved in whatever family feud is happening here."
"You are now. Every single person in this room is firmly in the palm of my hand. And honestly? You're going to love it, because my twin sister needs for a very harsh reality check." Yeonho countered, his voice smooth as silk.
He shifted his gaze to the three catering workers.
"I'm fully aware the three of you witnessed my little performance upstairs. And rest assured, I wasn't faking a single second of it."
The workers nodded frantically, completely captured by his confidence.
"But you can forget about that. I have the capital and the resources to give every single one of you exactly what you want by tomorrow morning. All you have to do is sign your loyalty over to me." Yeonho dismissed with a wave of his hand.
The staff members exchanged hesitant, bewildered glances.
The female employee who had broken her hairpin trying to save him slowly raised her hand.
"I'll do it."
Jihi swallowed hard, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Why should we trust you?"
"Because Im more powerful than you think. Well, not my own power. It's My partner's."
"Partner? Who?"
"You don't need to know. But I can assure you, I am infinitely more capable of fulfilling your desires than Hana will ever be. If you want something, consider it done. Just give me your word." Yeonho laughed softly.
The doctor stepped forward, his professional curiosity piqued despite his better judgment.
"What if I were to ask for a fully funded private clinic and an immediate promotion within the medical network?"
"Child's play. I can make a single phone call and have the deed in your hands before the weekend." Yeonho replied with effortless ease.
Realizing that Yeonho wielded a terrifying amount of hidden influence—far greater than anything Hana had offered them or any people the knew—the room erupted into frantic, eager questions.
Yeonho answered each one without a single shred of hesitation, a master class in corporate manipulation.
Looking at the greedy, desperate glints in their eyes, Yeonho knew they had swallowed the bait whole.
One by one, they nodded their agreement, completely blinded by Yeonho's offer.
Yeonho watched them, his smile dripping with absolute satisfaction as the trap around his twin sister officially snapped shut.
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