Crave You Forever
Chapter 91: Leave him(1)

Chapter 91: Leave him(1)

Haeun gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white as he sped down the empty road, mind racing and heart pounding. The package he’d opened back at home had shaken him to his core. It wasn’t just the evidence of Yeongsoo’s actions; it was the cruelty, the ruthlessness in those voice recordings and videos that haunted him, images of a person he no longer recognized.

The headlights cut through the darkness as he tried to focus, but his mind kept flashing back to the recordings. The dispassionate tone in Yeongsoo’s voice, the grim precision with which he issued orders—he’d hidden this part of himself so completely. Haeun felt sick, trapped in a nightmare he couldn’t wake from.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he barely noticed the black SUV pulling up beside him, matching his speed. The sudden, sharp flash of headlights in his mirror jolted him, and he glanced over, realizing he was being followed.

"What the—" Haeun’s voice caught in his throat as another SUV appeared on his other side, boxing him in. Panic surged through him, and his first instinct was to accelerate, try to lose them. But he remembered the child he was carrying, the fragile life he couldn’t risk. His heart thundered as he weighed his options, his grip on the wheel tightening even further.

The SUVs nudged closer, a clear signal for him to pull over. Haeun’s mind raced. If he tried to fight, he could put his child in danger. But if he surrendered, there was no telling what they’d do to him. His pulse roared in his ears as he realized he had no choice.

With a shaky breath, he eased his foot off the gas and pulled to the side of the road. The SUVs followed, cutting off any chance of escape. His hands trembled as he placed them on the steering wheel, trying to calm himself, trying to prepare for whatever was coming.

The men approached his car, faces shadowed and unreadable under the dim streetlights. One of them rapped on his window, gesturing for him to step out. Haeun hesitated but reminded himself to stay calm, to keep his wits about him. Slowly, he unlocked the door and opened it, stepping out with his hands raised slightly in a gesture of surrender.

"Smart choice," one of the men muttered, his gaze cold as he looked Haeun over.

"What do you want?" Haeun asked, his voice tense but steady. He didn’t want to show fear, even though his heart was pounding in his chest.

The man smirked, as if amused by his defiance. "Just a little insurance," he replied, his eyes glinting with something sinister. "You’ll understand soon enough."

Before Haeun could respond, one of the men grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the SUV. He wanted to struggle, to fight back, but a fierce instinct to protect his unborn child stilled him. He couldn’t afford to risk anything right now.

They pushed him into the back seat, slamming the door shut. The SUV roared to life, merging back onto the road and speeding off into the night, carrying Haeun into an uncertain and terrifying unknown.

The SUV screeched to a halt, the sudden jolt pulling Haeun out of his tense thoughts. The men grabbed him by the arms, dragging him out of the vehicle and into an unfamiliar, dimly lit underground facility. The cold concrete floors echoed with each step, and Haeun’s heart raced as he tried to steady his breath, the panic from earlier morphing into something darker—a sense of impending doom.

He was pushed into a room, harsh fluorescent lights flickering above. His mind was still foggy, his thoughts scattered, but he quickly realized this was no ordinary place. It reeked of industrial decay, of something far worse than what he’d imagined. Metal walls, rusted pipes, and heavy machinery stood in stark contrast to the cold, sterile nature of the place. It was like a forgotten part of the world, one that shouldn’t exist.

Before he could make sense of the situation, he was shoved into a chair. His wrists were bound tightly behind him, the ropes cutting into his skin as he struggled. His heart pounded harder now, and his eyes darted around the room, trying to find any escape route.

The door to the room creaked open, and Haeun’s breath caught in his throat. There, standing in the doorway with a smug, cold smile on his face, was Bai Youran.

Bai Youran studied him for a moment before speaking, his voice smooth and mocking. "So, you’re the famous Haeun," he said, his gaze sweeping over him. "I’ve been curious about you for some time now."

Haeun didn’t reply. His mind was racing, trying to formulate a plan, trying to find a way out. But he was tied, trapped, and every move he made only seemed to tighten the ropes.

"I see why Yeongsoo chose you," Bai Youran continued, his smile widening. "You’re just as naive and trusting as he is." He clicked his tongue, as if disappointed. "But that’s not why you’re here."

Haeun’s jaw tightened. "What do you want from me?"

Bai Youran took a slow step forward, circling Haeun like a predator sizing up its prey. "I’ve been watching Yeongsoo for a while. I’ve seen the kind of man he really is, not the one you think you know," he said, his voice almost a whisper now, dripping with venom. "You know, he’s responsible for so much bloodshed, Haeun. People have died, not just from his actions, but because of him. And you’re sitting there, pretending everything is fine, blind to the truth."

Haeun flinched, but he refused to let his fear show. "I know who he is," he spat, his voice low but firm. "And I know the kind of person he can be."

Bai Youran chuckled darkly, his gaze lingering on Haeun’s tied hands. "Then you must be aware that you’re in danger now. Not just because of me, but because of everything Yeongsoo’s built. He’s got enemies everywhere, and they’ll come after you next. It’s only a matter of time."

He crouched in front of Haeun, his face inches from his, eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "Here’s what I’m offering you, Haeun. A chance to get away from it all. Leave Yeongsoo. Walk away. No one else has to get hurt."

The words hit Haeun like a slap to the face. His heart clenched, his pulse racing as the weight of Bai Youran’s words sunk in. Leave Yeongsoo? Leave everything behind? His mind screamed in protest, but there was a painful part of him that couldn’t help but listen to the twisted logic in Bai Youran’s voice.

"I can’t do that and even if I do it shouldn’t be because of you.."

"...!!!"

"Oh!"

"Then I’ll just have to make you..."

Piak!

Bai Youran’s hand came down again and again with a harsh, unrelenting rhythm. The first slap hit hard, jolting Haeun’s head to the side, the sting igniting his skin as his cheek burned under the force. He barely had a second to register the shock before the next slap struck, even harder, leaving his face throbbing and his mind whirling. Each slap was a new wave of pain, the impact precise, calculated—this was no loss of temper; Bai Youran was in full control, and he was sending a message.

By the fourth slap, Haeun felt the numbness begin to settle in, though each hit still sent a raw, pulsing ache deep into his bones. He clenched his jaw, biting down hard, trying to keep himself silent, refusing to give Bai Youran the satisfaction of a reaction. But Bai Youran was relentless, his fingers biting into Haeun’s skin as he gripped him by the jaw, forcing him to face forward again, as if daring him to look away.

Haeun’s vision blurred, his mind fighting to hold onto clarity as the pain consumed him. His cheek was hot and swollen, his lip now split, the metallic tang of blood seeping onto his tongue. Every nerve seemed to hum with the dull throb, his breaths shaky but measured, keeping his body tense, refusing to break.

With the final slap, Bai Youran stepped back, letting Haeun’s head drop forward as if to show his work, admiring the bruises beginning to bloom on Haeun’s cheek. Haeun’s chest rose and fell heavily, the adrenaline leaving him slightly dizzy, his mouth still tasting of iron and salt. His cheek throbbed with every heartbeat, and yet he forced himself to meet Bai Youran’s gaze, his eyes blazing despite the pain.

Bai Youran let out a small, pleased hum. "Still holding up, huh?" He laughed, soft and mocking, stepping back with a smirk. "It’s cute that you think you can handle Yeongsoo. But let me tell you something, Haeun: he’s not the man you think he is. And he never will be."

Haeun’s mind flashed back to the package, the images seared into his memory—each brutal act, each life Yeongsoo had ended without hesitation, his face cold and unfeeling. It was a side of him Haeun had only glimpsed in fragments, and now it was all laid bare, impossible to deny. The weight of it bore down on him, and he felt the walls closing in, suffocating.

"Leave him," Bai Youran’s voice cut in, cold and unwavering. "Before he turns you into another casualty, another toy broken by his hands." He leaned in, his gaze piercing. "This is your last chance."

Haeun swallowed hard, his throat dry, his mind tangled with pain and confusion. His heart twisted at the thought, but reality hit him harder than any of Bai Youran’s slaps. He thought of the child growing inside him, of the future he’d hoped to give them—a future that now seemed fractured and dangerous.

After a long silence, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Fine," he forced out, though his heart felt like it was shattering with each word. "I’ll leave him."

Bai Youran’s smirk widened, pleased with the broken expression on Haeun’s face. "Good," he said smoothly, his tone laced with satisfaction. "It’s the only wise choice you’ve made so far." He straightened, letting the moment linger, savoring his victory. "Now go. And don’t look back."

As he loosened his grip and stepped back, Haeun felt the crushing weight of his decision, his chest tight and hollow. The strength in him drained, and he knew that leaving Yeongsoo would rip him apart—but he had no choice.