ALL BARK NO BITE | SADISTIC BEAUTY SPINOFF

Chapter 83

(Spoiler and trigger warning in comment:-)

~ 'Mideum' Manor, Cha Estate, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Cha Wonsik turned the television off as the news began rolling into endless advertisements and telemarketing jingle, rolling his neck as he took off his glasses, placing them on the nightstand. He reached for the buzzer and pressed it, waiting patiently with his legs crossed on the chaise lounge, before the large, ever-grand king-sized bed where he made his wretched son with his wretched wife. Where now a naked, nameless whore lay, only to be gone in the morning. He had wished to adorn both his wife and son onto his life, be a sharp, enigmatic family of combined talents.

A strong and stoic wife, dressed in luxury with a mouth full of respectful silence.

She was none of that... she wanted love, mischief, adoration... intimacy and... pointless conversation. It made him resentful, her silly smile and welcome touch for anyone and everyone she met. So trashy... like a whore... it made him want to crush the frivolity out of her bones. He dealt with her alright... Wonsik laughed, staring down at the ghostly lines of the wedding ring. He couldn't reckon with what great misfortune, his only son turned out to be exactly like her. Messy and emotional... a pianist... a reader of books... a passionate lover.

How could he forgive it all? He watched as his own son grew into a crooked collage of everything that made men weak. An effeminate version carrying his last name... let loose upon society. He had heard of how he ran his company... like a close-knit family. Wonsik bit on his tongue to keep from cackling. Now as he lounged in this empty room to live the rest of his life... without their stupid banter and little shabby things he tolerated for so long... all that was left was his son. Wonsik believed he had all the leisure to play with Wookyung again but...

Why did time seem against him?

A knock came from his bedroom door "Sir" Ryeo, his gracious butler stepped in and he stared at his shoes "Did you wipe them after you came back from the supermart?" Wonsik asked and Ryeo paused "I... did" he replied and Wonsik nodded "Wipe them better next time, I can smell the outside on your shoes" he extended his arm and Ryeo slowly walked across the shadowy room, lit by the fading light of a metallic chandelier. "Your tea" he offered Wonsik the cup and he pulled back "Wipe it... I see your smudges," he said and Ryeo shook his head "I had my gloves on, sir" he replied calmly and Wonsik clicked his tongue.

"Fire the cook then, she's not washing my cups well enough" he waited for Ryeo to wipe the cup again and carefully took it again, placing it on his knee. "Okay, sir Anything, else?" Ryeo asked and Wonsik exhaled "That sounds so good... okay. Some days, I think you're the only person I can bear," he remarked. "I'm paid to serve you, sir..." Ryeo answered and Wonsik clicked his fingers "Exactly. Money is the best human exchange. No person I have paid has ever done more or less of what I've expected them to do..." he looked behind his shoulder at the prostitute sleeping under the sheets "Family, however..." he trailed.

"Family is the most important thing" Ryeo answered in a low voice and Wonsik let out a snort "Don't you remember why you came to me in the first place?" he said slyly and Ryeo's moustache bristled, "You say that family is the most important thing after yours nearly drained all your family money over illnesses" Wonsik swirled the tea in his cup "You were crushed after you found out your mother had cancer... your father the year after that... you dropped out of college because you had no money... gave up boxing because it never made enough money..." he recounted calmly

"You never married... had no child... why was that?" he asked and Ryeo gulped, "I didn't want to bear the pain of seeing a loved one look at me helplessly again" he answered and Wonsik nodded "There it is..." he said and Ryeo looked down "Love comes with grief" he replied and Wonsik didn't even pause to consider it "It shouldn't. Love is compromise... of time, goals... happiness. If I was you... I would've killed them all and lived out my life" he whispered. "Well... seems like you have achieved something of the sort" Ryeo ran a hand down the front of his suit and Wonsik smiled "I have... I always get what I want"