Three days had passed. Unlike the first day, the time without Kwon Yido didn’t feel all that empty. From the next day onward, I went back to the greenhouse and spent my time reading books like nothing had happened.

Just as he had promised, saying he’d install lighting in the greenhouse, Kwon Yido had arranged for a team to come while I was at the main house. They ran wiring along the ceiling so the lights would come on automatically at night. I hadn’t visited in the dark yet, but I could already imagine how beautiful it must look.

“Do you have something planned tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

We were having tea, as usual, when Lee Taeseong suddenly asked. I was admiring the petals floating in the teacup, taking in the gentle scent of lavender. It wasn’t the blooming season yet, I thought absently, before I looked up and asked again. Lee Taeseong, however, looked even more puzzled.

“The Executive Director said you don’t need to go in ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) tomorrow.”

“...Hmm.”

Did I have something tomorrow? I thought it over carefully, but nothing came to mind. It wasn’t the day Kwon Yido was returning, nor had I planned to go out. The only thing I could guess was that it was just a belated show of concern for my wellbeing.

“Well... I suppose I’ll just rest.”

I figured Kwon Yido must have his reasons. That’s what I said, but Lee Taeseong’s expression grew stranger. He took a sip of his lavender tea, frowned slightly, and spoke in a low voice.

“May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

I set down my book and met his gaze. He wrapped his large hand around the teacup, still frowning.

“I’ve wondered for a while—does it actually mean anything for me to be guarding you?”

“...Hmm.”

That was something I’d wondered about too. What was Kwon Yido’s intent in assigning Lee Taeseong to me? If it wasn’t to monitor me, then there was no real reason to keep someone this close.

“Well, you’ll have to ask your employer that.”

But I had nothing to tell him. I wasn’t the one who’d hired him, and I couldn’t possibly know what Kwon Yido was thinking. If I said there was no reason for a bodyguard, he’d probably just be told to run errands instead.

“I don’t know much, to be honest.”

I replied calmly, and Lee Taeseong fell silent. I checked the time on my phone and got up from my seat. It was almost time for lunch. Lee Taeseong picked up the book he’d been reading and rose to follow me.

For lunch, they served chestnut rice porridge as the starter—thinly sliced chestnuts placed atop the thick, milky porridge. Its gooey texture was cut by a pleasant nutty aftertaste, making it easy to swallow. There had always been an appetizer, but starting a few days ago, everything seemed easier to digest. As if they already knew I’d had indigestion.

Three days ago. The day I stole those documents from Kwon Yido’s room. As soon as I woke up, I threw up everything I’d eaten the day before. My bed was a mess, soaked in cold sweat, and I looked pale and miserable. If Father had seen me, he probably would’ve thought I’d outlived my usefulness.

Was the nausea from indigestion? That part still wasn’t clear. My digestion had definitely been off, but the queasiness came from the nightmare I’d had that night.

“You should’ve known your place.”

In the dream, Kwon Yido wore a cold expression I’d never seen before. He looked down at me like I was a worthless insect, his sharp eyes frozen stiff. More than the sting of my swollen cheek, it was the ferocity of his pheromones that had tormented me.

It felt like my guts were being shredded with a knife. Kwon Yido was the only dominant alpha I’d ever met, and he had never once unleashed pheromones on me in anger.

It was just a dream, and yet, I felt like dying would’ve been easier. It was worse than when I’d suffered through childhood flus. Getting hit by those pheromones bare-skinned—painful, agonizing, humiliating. When I opened my eyes, my face was soaked with tears.

Do nightmares evolve over time like this? Or maybe, a cold rejection from Kwon Yido hurt more than being raped by a stranger.

Either way, after I’d emptied my stomach, I came down for breakfast like nothing had happened. It was pure stubbornness. There was nothing to gain from looking sick. Whether it was luck or coincidence, everything served that day was porridge.

“He said he’ll be back the day after tomorrow...”

I sat on the sofa, counting the days. A week had felt long at first, but now it seemed absurdly short. My head was such a mess, it felt like it took the whole day just to sort through my thoughts.

“......”

The documents I stole from Kwon Yido still sat on my table. I knew I should return them, but I couldn’t bring myself to go back into his room. I’d hidden them in the bookshelf, afraid a staff member might see. But by afternoon, I always took them out again and stared at them with my own hands.

“Jung Sejin.”

He called my name. Not in the usual gentle tone. The next words were cold, too.

“You’ll regret this for a long time.”

“......”

There are moments in life when you stand at a crossroads. For me, it’s happened more than once—and this felt like another one. Do I betray Kwon Yido? Or do I betray my father?

“...Betrayal.”

A dry chuckle slipped out. To speak of betrayal when I had no loyalty to begin with. Was I overestimating myself?

I had to decide before Kwon Yido returned...

With that thought, I shut my dry eyes tightly, then opened them again. In the past three days, I hadn’t slept even three full hours. Sleeping pills didn’t work, and the fear of another nightmare drove off any sleep that might have come.

When I turned my head, I saw the glass dome on my bedside table. The bouquet Kwon Yido had given me at the engagement, now preserved in a neat display. Next to it was the perfume bottle—green as a blade of grass.

...I should put it all back.

Like a habit, I fiddled with the ring on my left ring finger. Whenever I got lost in thought these days, my hand would unconsciously reach for it. This house, this room, even the car key set aside—all things Kwon Yido had given me.

I may have been born and raised without roots, but I still knew how shameless this was. Even the fact that I was considering doing this was disgraceful. If not for that voice constantly ringing in my head, I would’ve returned the documents already.

“Even a beast knows to repay kindness...”

“......”

This marriage was meant to revive Haesin. Wasn’t my worth, as a person, based on playing this role? If my reason for existence was to carry out Father’s orders, shouldn’t I try to protect that family name?

Even after rationalizing it over and over, the fear I kept pushing aside would always catch me at the end. No matter what happened tomorrow, I had to resolve this. Three days had already passed thinking like that. I knew I had to act, but I still couldn’t summon the courage to decide.

“......”

Eventually, I picked up the bundle of papers and carefully hid them again in a bookshelf. Two days until Kwon Yido returned. No matter what, I had to reach a conclusion tomorrow. Nothing would be resolved by simply worrying.

At the time, I didn’t think much of the fact that Kwon Yido had told Lee Taeseong not to go in to work.

***

After dinner, I soaked in a bath drawn by the house staff. The tub, filled with foamy bubbles, smelled like the lavender tea I’d had that afternoon. They say lavender is soothing. The tension in the back of my neck seemed to ease slightly.

After my shower, I collapsed face-down on the bed, wearing only a robe. My hair was still damp because I hadn’t dried it properly. I knew I should get dressed and lie down again, but my body felt like wet cotton—I couldn’t move a finger.

Good thing I’d taken the pills early. Sleepiness came at just the right time. In that hazy state, all the tangled thoughts in my head slowly drifted away. Even the fear of unknown nightmares began to fade before I noticed.

But as I slept, a heavy heat began to settle in. With every breath, warmth poured out of me. My throat felt like it was on fire, like I’d swallowed something burning. The weather wasn’t warm enough for this. My body temperature was rising unnaturally.

Am I dreaming?

That’s what I thought at first. I had so many vivid dreams—maybe this heat was part of one. If so, once I woke, everything would cool down as if nothing happened.

“Sejin-ah.”

Yes, it must be a dream. A familiar voice gently calling me Sejin. When I didn’t answer, the voice dropped lower and firmer.

“Jung Sejin.”

The man pinned both my wrists to the pillow. I had no intent to resist, but he gave no room to move. With his other hand, he gripped my thigh and forced my legs apart, sneering.

“If you like being fucked so much, you should’ve said so.”

His tone was mocking, but instead of anger, my chest stung. I couldn’t explain myself, couldn’t break away. All I could do was breathe heavily and blink up in a daze.

“Spread your legs.”

I couldn’t see his face. Everything was blurry—I couldn’t make out who he was. The voice was familiar, yet I had never heard it so cold.

“Hh...”

He shoved a hand between my legs without a word. His fingers reached my slick, already-wet entrance, and after a moment’s pause, he sneered in a low, restrained voice.

“Even while being treated like this...”

I gasped. He pulled his fingers out and grabbed my thighs hard. Even after he let go, my arms were still stretched limply above my head. And then something large and rough forced its way inside me.

“......!”

It felt like my guts were being crushed. The thick shaft pushed open my tight walls without giving me time to adjust—then slowly pulled out. Then slammed in again, all the way to the root.

“Ah, it hurts...”

“...Hurts?”

At my pained whisper, the man instinctively paused and asked back. Then he ran a hand through his hair and gave a bitter laugh.

“You’re hard like this... and you say it hurts?”

A large hand gripped my erect cock tightly. I didn’t know when it had happened, but precum was already dripping from the tip. He pressed his thumb against the head, then thrust deep again.

“Hh—ugh...!”

My lower abdomen twisted. My legs, stretched to the limit, screamed in pain. My insides felt like they’d tear—but the heightened pleasure refused to subside.

“If you don’t want to become a cripple...”

“Ah—ahh...!”

“You’d better relax.”

My inner thighs trembled violently. I twisted like I had a cramp, and he grabbed my hips tighter, like he wouldn’t let me escape. Each thrust scraped my inner walls roughly as he kept going.

In the end, I came after just a few more thrusts. I remember him saying something degrading as he saw the semen spill out. He flipped me over like an object and whispered into my ear, pressing between my shoulder blades.

“I told you you’d regret this.”

“—Haa!”

A breath I didn’t know I’d been holding burst out. I shot up like I was having a seizure. The pain splitting me in half was gone—but instead, my whole body burned like I’d been drenched in boiling water.

“Haa... haah...”

I curled up, but the heat spreading through me couldn’t be stopped. I clawed at the sheets, clenched my teeth, and swallowed dryly. My stomach ached with desire. Pheromones burst out of me like I was suffocating.

It was a heat cycle.

***

Professor Shim had told me that my cycle would start creeping forward every six months. There’s no way to prepare—just stay alert a week before and after. I hadn’t ignored him exactly, but since I was staying home, I’d grown complacent.

“Hhh...”

Still, I never imagined it would come this suddenly. There were still over seven days left in the cycle. Of course, even if it had come with warning, it wouldn’t have made much difference.

“Aah... ngh...”

Groaning, I writhed in pain. The heat surged, and I couldn’t tell whether the wetness on my temples was sweat or tears. As I rolled over and buried my face in the bed sheets, my hardened cock rubbed against the inside of my robe.

“Hh—nn...”

Instinctively, I touched myself. But it wasn’t enough. My hands trembled so much I couldn’t even get off properly. After a few useless strokes, I came without satisfaction.

“...Haa.”

I didn’t even know what time it was. Judging by the light, it had to be morning. The staff would check in soon. If I didn’t respond, would he come in? Or just give up?

Either way, I didn’t want that. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. But I didn’t want to be left alone either. Conflicting feelings churned in me. Through blurred vision, I stared at the tightly shut door.

“Bringing home a defective product...”

“......”

I swallowed a moan. I yanked the covers up over my head so nothing could escape. It felt suffocating, but I just wanted to hide.

I didn’t do anything wrong. So why did I have to hide like a criminal? I felt wronged. But I also accepted it. I’d always lived like this—what would complaining change now?

“...Hh.”

A sob slipped out between my lips. The door, as always, remained tightly shut. Until tomorrow. No, until the heat ended, no one would open it.

“I’ll be back.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. Not because I thought of him—but because when I did, what I felt was longing. He’d only come to the greenhouse once, and yet I found myself hoping again.

I blinked slowly, swallowing the ache. The desire, far beyond normal, was tormenting me worse than any pain. Two more days... no, maybe three. At least by then, Kwon Yido would return home.

I buried my face in the blanket, clinging to that thought.

Knock knock. Someone tapped on the door. A sound no different than usual—yet my heart dropped like a stone. I slowly opened my eyes. The door remained firmly closed.

“......”

I think I just... hoped. That just this once, the door that had never opened—might. That someone might come and relieve this suffocation. And if I dared hope for more, that the person would be him.

I blinked once more.

And then, in that still frame, something changed.

The doorknob slowly turned.

With a soft click, the tightly shut door opened.

I fluttered my eyelashes, dazed as if in a dream. Someone stepped into the room and looked toward me.

Crisply dressed in a suit. A heavy scent of wood. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“...Kwon Yido.”

It was Kwon Yido.