Beauty Next Door (vsoo)

[13]

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The faint sound of the keys with bells echoed through the vast, empty corridor, slowly creeping into the walls of the house. The person stepped inside with deliberate, measured movements, making sure his presence was unmistakable. The echo of his footsteps, though muted by the luxurious surroundings, still carried a weight of intent.

Tin… tin… tin… the sound of keys rattling continued as he walked across the spacious living room. No one was there.

He took a moment to survey the area, his eyes scanning every corner, searching for her. But she was nowhere to be found.

His lips curled into a smirk as he walked further into the kitchen, searching again. The silence in the house seemed almost unnatural, but he wasn't deterred. He moved methodically, opening cabinet doors and drawers, until he found what he was looking for—a packet of potato chips.

With a casualness that seemed out of place for the tense atmosphere, he ripped open the packet and began munching on the chips, savoring each bite as if he had all the time in the world.

He slowly approached the staircase. The soft creaking of the steps under his weight barely disrupted the silence. His smirk deepened, his mind focused on one thing...her.

"Sooyaa… sooyaa…" he called out in a mocking tone, his voice oozing with a twisted amusement. "Where are you? You wanted to play, but it’s not time for that yet, is it?" He chuckled darkly to himself, continuing to munch on the chips as though it were just a game to him.

He reached the stairs, each step calculated, as if he were in control of everything, every moment. At the top, two rooms stood before him—one was the bedroom, the other a room that only they knew about, a room that held a history of secrets.

The man approached the bedroom door with his usual nonchalance, his hand brushing against the knob as he continued his one-sided conversation. "Just three counts, and you should be here… standing right in front of me… Do you understand?" His voice held a commanding tone, cold and resolute.

Then, with a final glance, he turned the knob, allowing it to creak open, before he dropped the empty packet onto the floor.

His voice softened, yet held the same dark edge, "One… two… three."

He stood there, awaiting her response, anticipation building in the tense air.

From inside, a faint, desperate voice echoed through the door.

"Don’t… don’t you dare come near me, leave me…"

Her words were filled with fear, a cry for help that only he seemed to find amusing. He smiled to himself, his grip tightening on the doorknob. She was scared.

Perfect.

With a sinister grin, he pushed open the door, his steps slow and deliberate, knowing exactly what kind of power he had over her.

×××××

It’s past six in the evening, and the cool breeze of the early evening swirled around Jisoo’s car as she drove through the quiet streets of Seoul. The city, always buzzing with life, had a calm that evening, the sky still lit in hues of pink and orange.

Jisoo, sitting at the wheel, glanced at Rowoon in the backseat through the rearview mirror. His excitement was palpable, his little hands pressed against the window, his eyes scanning the street for the arrival of his big friend, Taehyung.

“Taetae!” Rowoon suddenly called out, waving his tiny hand with a grin. Jisoo could see how much her son adored him, and despite the odd shift in the dynamics with Taehyung recently, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for how kind and patient he had been with Rowoon.