DOTH Volume 2 Chapter 7.4

Director Yeon walked through the hotel lobby with an indifferent expression. For someone visiting a hotel near midnight, he was dressed rather casually, yet the air of authority surrounding him made him difficult to approach.

Stepping into the elevator with familiarity, he remained impassive as always, his expression set in stone even as the doors slid open at his destination floor. His hardened features made him seem almost bored.

Before he could even press the doorbell, the hotel room door opened from the inside.

“Director, you’ve arrived.”

The timing was impeccable, but Director Yeon was unsurprised. Without breaking stride, he stepped into the suite, as he always would.

“How many are here?”

His lazy voice directed a casual question toward Shim Soocheon, who had followed behind him.

“Three should be enough, but since you seemed concerned, we have five standing by.”

“That’s plenty.”

Since he hadn’t taken off his shoes, his footsteps echoed ominously against the marble floor, disrupting the luxurious atmosphere of the luxurious room.

“Sir.”

Kim Chulwoo greeted him as he took a seat on the sofa in the center of the living room. Everything about the man’s demeanor suggested familiarity. As he looked ahead, the city skyline stretched before him, twinkling against the night sky. It was a striking view—one he would usually glance at without much thought. But this time, he lingered on it longer than usual. It was because Jung Heeyeon came into his mind.

Maybe showing him a night view from a high floor wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Despite the tense air in the room, Director Yeon allowed such a placid thought to surface.

“The materials you requested are ready.”

Accepting the tablet, his gaze briefly flickered toward the door shrouded in darkness before returning to the screen. He hadn’t come all the way here just to receive a report. Noticing his silent cue, Kim Chulwoo subtly asked on behalf of the team leaders.

“Shall we take care of that first?”

“Later.”

With a curt response, Director Yeon turned a page on the tablet. Kim Chulwoo stepped closer, handing him a cigarette as he began his report.

“It took about a week since it was an old case, but we were able to trace Jung Heeyeon’s past movements.”

“He was taken in at five years old.”

“Yes. Until then, he lived with his fathers.”

At the word fathers, Director Yeon furrowed his brows, placing the cigarette between his lips. Shim Soocheon, who had been waiting behind the sofa, bent down and lit it for him. Acrid smoke curled into the ornate chandelier above, mirroring his displeasure.

“Wasn’t Chairman Jung’s son a dominant omega?”

“It seems he fell for an alpha and ran away. He despised Chairman Jung, after all. And since the chairman had already disowned him, he didn’t pay much attention—at least, not until his grandson presented as a dominant omega.”

Kim Chulwoo frowned slightly, as if recalling something unpleasant, but continued his explanation smoothly.

“Around that time, issues regarding the rights of alpha and omega started gaining traction, and the chairman withdrew from business. However, since his grandson was still his blood, he was able to take legal custody. The plan was to raise the child until he reached the age of adult and then sell him off for one last transaction.”

The idle movement of Director Yeon’s fingers across the tablet came to an abrupt halt. A brief news article had caught his eye.

“It seems Jung Heeyeon-ssi’s fathers caught onto the plan. They had been living in hiding and were planning to flee overseas. But during the escape, an accident occurred, and both of them died.”

“…An accident?”

Director Yeon smirked faintly, the corners of his lips curling upward. There was no way it had been an accident—not with Chairman Jung involved. Fifteen years ago, things were different. There were far more hands willing to do his bidding.

“Officially, it was ruled an accident. But as you suspected, it was far from that… A container malfunctioned, crushing the car and sending it straight into the sea. Jung Heeyeon, who was only five at the time, was the sole survivor.”

Could that really be called a rescue? Director Yeon tilted his head lazily, his expression devoid of emotion. The cigarette dangling between his fingers wavered slightly as he moved his hand.

“Where?”

“They were planning to leave by sea, not by air, likely because of Chairman Jung. It was an easier way to escape.”

“Busan?”

“Yes.”

The familiar place left Kim Chulwoo’s lips at the same moment Director Yeon’s sharp gaze narrowed. That very sea—the one where he had first met Jung Heeyeon.

Director Yeon flicked his cigarette with a casual motion, unbothered by how precariously it balanced between his fingers. 

Only when Shim Soocheon stepped forward with a portable ashtray did he finally let it go.

“Did you find the physician?”

“Yes, we’re keeping an eye on him.”

Director Yeon’s expression remained unchanged, as indifferent as when he had first entered the hotel. Silence stretched between them before the man rose from his seat with an unhurried grace. His steps were moving towards the darkened room. Kim Chulwoo followed closely behind.

A strange smell lingered in the air. As if sensing someone’s presence, a low, beast-like sound echoed from the corner.

The lights switched on. A figure, curled up in the shadows, flinched violently, its head darting around in panic. A blindfold covered his eyes. A guy who had lost his sight in an unfortunate accident.

“Bring something to drink.”

“Yes, sir.”

Director Yeon stared at the crumpled man with a dispassionate gaze. There was nothing left to extract from him. Now wouldn’t be a bad time to dispose of him.

Despite sensing Director Yeon’s presence, the guy didn’t even attempt to flee. Repeated failures and learned helplessness had reduced him to this state—just like how Jung Heeyeon had never even considered stepping beyond the walls.

“Director.”

Taking the whiskey Kim Chulwoo handed him, Director Yeon felt the chilled glass against his fingers—cold as midwinter snow. The golden liquid inside shimmered under the light, though the blindfolded man couldn’t see it.

“Drink it.”

Bending down, he pressed the glass into the man’s hands, which were still clenched tightly to his chest. Feeling the cool sensation on his fingertips, the man instinctively lifted it to his lips.

“Gah! Cough, cough!”

It seemed he had expected it to be water instead. Director Yeon watched him without a trace of interest before turning away without hesitation.

“Finish it.”

“Y-you—! Guhk!”

Only after the sharp burn of alcohol touched his tongue did Lee Yootae realize who had spoken. The man who had leaned down to him—the one who had placed the glass in his hands—was Yeon Woobeom. Rage boiled inside him, but when he tried to scream, only a frail, broken sound escaped his throat. His voice was weak, like that of an old man. No matter how much fury and pain consumed him, it remained trapped within his own ears, echoing only in his mind.

Lee Yootae writhed, crawling along the floor in a desperate attempt to face Director Yeon. But his ruined eyes saw nothing—not even the shadow of the man standing before him. Because the freak accident had taken even that from him.

–

As soon as Director Yeon stepped into the entrance, he halted. He could smell faint, unstable pheromones lingering in the air.

The omega should be asleep at this time. Without hesitation, he strode forward. His footsteps were eerily silent, like a predator accustomed to moving through the dark. Not even the sound of his breath betrayed his presence.

Jung Heeyeon’s bedroom door creaked open, revealing a small, sleeping omega curled up with his back facing the door. Without hesitation, Director Yeon stepped closer. His delicate face was scrunched slightly, as if he were having a nightmare. A hand reached out instinctively but stopped just shy of touching him. Instead of closing the distance, Director Yeon simply stood there, staring. The unstable pheromones of unease were palpable, seeping into the air.

Was it really just a sense of kinship, like Nam Soohyun suggested? Or…

“Director…”

A whisper-like murmur slipped between Jung Heeyeon’s lips, barely distinguishable from a sigh.

“Yeah, Heeyeon.”

Bending over the sleeping figure, Director Yeon lightly brushed the soft cheek. The peacefully closed eyelids rose at a slow pace, casting deep shadows. At the same time, the alpha’s broad back muscles tensed noticeably.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

“N-No. I don’t think so…?”

Even in his groggy state, Jung Heeyeon turned toward Director Yeon. He vaguely recalled calling out to the director in his dream, though the details remained hazy. Still, waking up to see him right in front of his eyes felt strangely reassuring.

“Heeyeon.”

As gentle fingers ran through his hair, Jung Heeyeon blinked drowsily.

“From now on, why don’t we sleep together in my bed?”

An affectionate touch, followed by an equally affectionate suggestion.

***

---

Make me feel happy and supported by leaving a comment!

---