THE COST OF PERFECTION

The Unseen Path

Jeong Eun returned home in the early hours of the morning, her mind still swirling with the revelations and uncertainties from her meeting with hacker. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft, golden hue across the city as she parked her car in the garage and walked towards her front door.

She moved with purpose, her heels clicking on the marble floor of the foyer as she entered the house. The quietness of the early morning was a stark contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. She was determined to uncover the truth, no matter where it led her.

Once inside, she headed straight for her study. The room was a sanctuary of order and tranquility, a stark contrast to the chaos she felt inside. Jeong Eun's fingers hovered over the iPad on her desk, the device reflecting the dim light of the room.

Sitting down at her desk, she took a deep breath and powered on the iPad. The screen flickered to life, displaying her home screen with various apps and notifications. She navigated to her tracking app, the one she used to monitor Joon Jae's location discreetly.

Her heart raced as she tapped the screen, bringing up the map with real-time location updates. The app pinpointed various locations, including Joon Jae's office, their home, and several other places. However, today there was a new marker—an unexpected and unfamiliar location.

Jeong Eun's eyes widened as she focused on the map. The location was marked at a high-end hotel on the outskirts of the city. Her fingers trembled slightly as she tapped on the hotel's name, pulling up additional details about the establishment. The name of the hotel was a luxurious one, known for its discretion and exclusivity.

Jeong Eun jaw clenches "Is he with his mistress?"

In the dimly lit suite of the high-end hotel, Joon Jae lounged comfortably on the plush, modern sofa, a glass of fine whiskey in hand. The room was a picture of understated luxury, with deep, rich colors and soft lighting that created an atmosphere of relaxation and secrecy.

Joon Jae's attention was fixated on his phone, which buzzed with incoming notifications. He picked it up and saw a new message alert: Jeong Eun had accessed the tracking app, pinpointing his location to this very hotel. A knowing smile curved his lips as he read the message from her tracking app, confirming that she had indeed discovered where he was.

He chuckled softly to himself, the sound a low rumble of amusement. "Seems like she got my location," he murmured, his voice laced with a hint of satisfaction. "Hmm, which location should I send her next?"

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Joon Jae began tapping on his phone, carefully selecting a new location from the map. He scrolled through various addresses, each one more remote and inconspicuous than the last. His goal was clear: to lead her on a wild goose chase, further entangling her in the web of deception he had spun.

As he chose a secluded location—a quaint, nondescript cabin on the outskirts of the city—he couldn't help but smirk at the thought of Jeong Eun's reaction when she realized she had been misled. The cabin was situated far from the hustle and bustle of the city, a place that would be challenging to find and even more difficult to access without the proper knowledge.

Joon Jae typed out a brief but misleading message, directing her to the new location with a cryptic hint that would keep her guessing. 

He hit send and watched with satisfaction as the message disappeared into the ether. His expression remained composed, but internally he was reveling in the game of cat and mouse he was playing. Each move was calculated, designed to keep Jeong Eun off-balance and confused.

As he leaned back, taking a slow sip of his whiskey, Joon Jae's  gaze shifted to the large window overlooking the city skyline. The lights twinkled in the distance, a stark contrast to the darkness of his current machinations. He knew that Jeong Eun's search would only intensify, but he was ready for whatever came next.

With a final, contented sigh, Joon Jae glanced at the clock and prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation. For now, the suspense and uncertainty were his allies, and he was determined to enjoy every moment of it.

Just then, the door to the suite opened, and a woman wrapped in a towel entered the room, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders. Joon Jae's gaze shifted from the phone to her, a wicked smile spreading across his face. Without hesitation, he stood up and pulled her into a passionate embrace. Their lips met in a fervent kiss, the towel slipping slightly as their bodies pressed together.

As they broke the kiss, Joon Jae eyes darkened with a mix of desire and malice. He whispered, his voice low and taunting, "Hmm, you're not very good at sex, are you? Hana wasn't either, and that's why she died."

The woman's eyes widened slightly at his words, but before she could react, he pulled her back into a heated kiss, his tone leaving no room for doubt about his twisted intentions. The night stretched on, the suite echoing with their mingled breaths and hushed whispers as Joon Jae continued his manipulative game.