97
I watched a man plunge headfirst into luxury, drugs, and sex. He squeezed out every last drop of the ugly desires buried deep inside him until there was nothing left, then passed out drunk on booze and narcotics. He was carted off to a guest room.
"Can't tear himself away from this place, huh."
That was my take after seeing the footage. Master patted my shoulder and grinned, curling the corner of his mouth.
"Exactly. That's what it's built for. If you like it, how about managing the place?"
"....."
Master's sudden offer. I wondered if I could build my own independent force here. After mulling it over, I realized it was impossible. This was just an auxiliary facility tacked onto the casino—no real money flowed through it. Sure, drugs and women were traded here, and training trashy girls to fit the vibe was my specialty, but it wouldn't let me grow my own power base.
"Let me think about it some more."
"Mm. Alright, take your time."
"Yes. I'll get back to you once I've sorted my thoughts."
Master nodded and stood. I figured I'd seen everything I needed to here, so I rose to follow him. But then.
"Ah."
Master turned to me abruptly, his face lighting up like he'd just remembered something. The smile that followed sent chills down my spine—loaded with meaning.
"Heard something amusing recently. Forgot to show you."
...Amusing report? What could it be? Curiosity stirred, but I kept my expression neutral as I met his gaze.
"Take a quick look before you go." Master sat back down, pulled out his phone from his pocket, called someone, and ordered, "Play it."
All the monitors—from 1 to 40—went dark, leaving only number 20 glowing alone.
-Flash!
Silence hung thick in the control room. Then the sharp click-clack of high heels echoed through the speakers.
"....!"
I recognized the owner of those heels from the monitor. There was Hayoung Lee, striding into the casino in them.
"She's changed a lot, hasn't she?"
I barely registered Master's words, my mouth hanging open as I stared at the screen. Hayoung Lee had her porcelain skin back, her slim figure restored. The madness was gone from her eyes; they shone with the sharp, intelligent gleam from our old days.
[I'm here to find someone.]
Hayoung spoke up on the feed. The casino manager flashed a salesman's smile and asked who.
[Lee Hajin. He's 22.]
Lee Hajin—Hayoung's little brother. I remembered him from when we dated; he was always unusually friendly. But why was she looking for him here?
[Ah~ So it's the new guy. Pardon, but what's your relationship?]
[His sister.]
[Mm. Big sis, huh. Tough to meet right now, though. He's in the middle of his shift. You know he works here, right?]
Hajin got a job at this casino? Why the hell would he?
The answer came from Hayoung on the screen.
[A job? More like you're working him like a slave!]
[Haha, some misunderstanding—]
[Shut your mouth. I know everything. How you lured him in, saddled him with massive debt. I know you got him hooked on drugs and women so he'd blow his piddly paycheck. All of it.]
The Hayoung on the video wasn't the one I knew. Until recently, she'd been a tanned, cum-dripping whore with her asshole on display. Now she'd done a complete 180, back to that bold, noble girl from before.
[Mm. Quite the accusations. But he brought it all on himself. He blew his money here, borrowed from us, got addicted to drugs and girls because of his own lack of self-control. We pay him on time, and if he squanders it, that's on him. Can't understand why you're dumping his mistakes on us.]
The manager didn't flinch, countering her confidently. Hayoung smirked dismissively and stepped closer, locking eyes with him from below.
[Never expected you'd admit it. Not looking for an apology either.]
[.....]
[How much does Hajin really owe?]
[Hmmm... Quite a bit. Tough to pay in one go.]
[So how much?]
[.....How much?]
The manager glanced at the desk clerk, who tapped away at the keyboard before announcing, "175 million won."
The manager grinned like he was saying, 'See? Can't pay it.'
[175 million? I'll pay it all at once.]
But Hayoung's response was out of left field. She called over her bodyguard, who plunked down two 007 bags in front of the manager. They were stuffed tight with bundles of 50,000-won bills.
[Two hundred million. Count it, keep 25 million for yourself, and take the rest. Fire Hajin effective immediately and shred all his contracts.]
Caught off guard, the manager hesitated, then picked up the phone, made a call, and resumed his salesman smile.
[Of course, ma'am. We'll do as you ask. Shall I bring Hajin here?]
[No. I'll handle the contract termination as his proxy. Show me.]
[...Yes. This way.]
The manager led her toward an inner conference room, hands extended. The video ended with Hayoung following him.
I stared at the blank screen even after it went dark. I couldn't believe Hayoung had changed so dramatically.
"Kukukukukuku...."
Master laughed at my stunned face. Must've looked hilarious. I composed myself and turned to him.
"You were holding Hajin hostage."
"Hoo. Quick learner. Pretty much."
"Letting her take him means you've given up on her completely."
"Kuku. Quick on the uptake."
I gazed at the black screen again. The old Hayoung still seemed to shimmer there. Back to her senses. The Savior's doing?
"Hmm. More boring reaction than expected. What's your take?"
My take. How to put this feeling into words? Emptiness? Rage? Fondness? Injustice? Regret? A nameless cocktail of them all.
".....Not sure. So... she won't come back here?"
"Kuku. Yeah. Letting her go."
"Mind if I ask why?"
"Raising you seems more fun. Hayoung just gets in the way."
.....That made sense. If she'd come back, I might've lost it and clung to her again.
"Savior's got skills. Even if I gave up, changing her this fast..."
Master muttered something, but it didn't register. My ears rang like I was sinking into the deep sea, heart plummeting, body going limp. What pulled me up from the depths was a crystal-clear surge of rage. I realized its source: betrayal toward Hayoung.
'Forever together. Let's fall together forever.'
Back then, I'd resolved to be her slave for one reason: in her eyes as she dragged me down and humiliated me, I saw love. She abused me because she loved me, savoring the taboo thrill, orgasming from its intensity. And I confirmed the depth of her love by watching her eyes roll back in ecstasy from tormenting me. That's how we'd sustained our love—as mistress and slave, affirming it for each other.
But when she was sold to the Savior and I awakened to become a dominant, that form shattered. In the end, she became the Savior's devoted daughter, and I his faithful heir.
"Alright, let's head out. Think you've seen enough for today."
".....Yes."
I followed Master out of the casino and sank into the car backseat, trying to process the day. First, what business should I take on?
'.....'
Couldn't focus. My mind flooded with that video, thoughts of Hayoung consuming me.
.....I'd thought I could forget her easily by now. A woman who turns obedient with a cock in her pussy? Nothing to me. But as Master said, she was like a religion to me. Just as my father, Hyeonjae Jeong, devoted his life to Sina Lee, I'd inherited that trait and given mine to Hayoung.
'Don't make me laugh.'
I refused to accept that weakness. No, I wouldn't tolerate it. I wouldn't crumble over one woman. If she was that indispensable, I'd steal her back no matter what.
"Heading in."
"Kuku. Yeah. Get some rest."
Back at Master's mansion before I knew it, I strode quickly to the annex. Ignoring Heeyeon Lee and Park Harin greeting me, I showered first. Even when they barged in offering to wash me, I shoved them out. Not in the mood.
"Going out."
Freshly showered and changed, I headed to a quiet PC bang and logged into our secret account—the one only Hayoung and I used. There sat a post from about two months ago, lonely and alone.
"Pfft."
I burst out laughing after reading the letter. Seeing her old tone from when she was my mistress brought back memories. Yeah, Hayoung was that level of depraved bitch. But how'd she change like that?
...Doesn't matter. The key was the clue to contact her in that post, left in case she couldn't return.
I pulled out my smartphone, dialed the number she'd left, and called.
-Ring... ring... ring...
Steady ringing. But no answer. At this point, fully turned to the Savior, the number might be useless.
-Click.
"...Sungmin...?"
Hayoung's voice. Still had the number? Lingering attachment to Master?
".....Hayoung. What the hell happened."
"Haha... Your voice has changed a lot."
"What happened."
"What happened... You know. Master ditched me, so I chose Father to survive. That's it."
"Then why keep this number?"
"...In case you called."
In case I called? I glanced back at her secret post, where she prioritized Master over everything. And she kept it for me?
I snorted, venom dripping from my words like I was chewing glass.
"You fucking bitch, you think I'm still your plaything dick-for-brains?"
"....."
Silence after my outburst. Her trembling breath came through the receiver. Acting, no doubt.
"What'd the Savior order? Decided to whore for him now? Well, his cock's the real deal."
"....."
"Rescued your brother too, huh? Traded for that? Better than pigging out under Master. Play big sis."
"S-Sungmin. I..."
"Shut up, you slut. I know all your tricks, so keep that mouth shut. Makes me sick."
".....I, I'm."
"I'll make sure you go back to how you were. Fatten you up like a pig, cover you in hair like the beast you are. That's your true self, right?"
"....."
"I'll destroy your whole family too. Gambling and drugs are addictive, huh? Little nudge for your bro—"
"Sungmin—! No! I-I was wrong! Forgive me, just spare my family—"
Spare your family? What about mine, you bitch?
"Kikikikikikiku. Squirm all you want. I'll ruin your parents and brother proper."
"S-Sungmin... ha... Sungmin. I was wrong. Really—!"
"You ditched your best friend too. Know what happened to Heeyeon?"
"Hee, Heeyeon...?"
"She's my slave now. Using her onahole ass real good."
".....S-Sungmin. Sungmin... I was wrong. I'll atone forever... I was insane. Out of my mind then."
Drink, kill someone, claim insanity for forgiveness? No way.
"Ruin someone else's life, be ready to have yours ruined. You said it—fall together to the end. I'll keep that promise. Drag you to hell no matter what."
"....."
Silence again. Ragged breaths over the line, choked sobs she desperately held back.
...Can't fall for it.
"Yeah. Uh-huh. Drag me to hell together. All my fault."
Her voice resigned, like she'd given up. I wondered what scheme she was plotting. Nothing came to mind.
"And one more thing."
Desperation laced her tone. I listened.
".....You won't believe it, shameless now, but... I still love you. Even as Father's erased Master's traces, my feelings for you lingered... Even if he cast me out, probably."
Bullshit. Another ploy to toy with me.
"Sungmin. I'll accept it all. No grudges, whatever you do. So just once, let me see your face?"
See my face. Meet up?
"...No sweet talk if we meet. I'll destroy you for real."
".....I see. Th-then video call at least. Please? Just a video call..."
Video call. No real loss. Flashed to her getting railed by the Savior, deceiving me—but I'd toughened up to betrayal watching Sina toy with Hyeonjae.
"You call."
I hung up, sighed deeply, gripping my phone tight. Soon it vibrated, ringing.
-Click.
Braced myself, I answered. Held the phone high; her tear-streaked face filled the screen. She gazed at me with a sad smile.
Don't fall for it—she nailed the old Hayoung, the one I'd longed for desperately.
"Sungmin... mi, mi..."
Tears poured as she saw me; she clamped her mouth, sobbing quietly, clutching her chest. I closed my eyes, tamping down surging sorrow, analyzing coldly. What did she gain from this? Conclusion: nothing. Freshly loyal to the Savior after Master's rejection, this act profited her zilch.
I opened my eyes, stared at her messy, tear-soaked face.
"Hayoung. Let's meet and talk."