THE COST OF PERFECTION

A Tangled Lie

Jeong Eun woke up, her body sore and tangled in the sheets. The warmth of Heo Joon Jae beside her made her heart sink. She could feel him inside her, still holding her close, his breath steady against her neck. Her body betrayed her with a soft moan, but her mind raced with turmoil.

She smiled sadly to herself, feeling a deep ache—not from the physical strain, but from the emotional one. If only he were better... real, she thought. If only he wasn't just a facade of cruelty, manipulation... not the reason for all this suffering.

As her eyes fluttered open, she looked down at his hand resting on her bare waist, the gentle rise and fall of his chest deceiving. She flinched internally when he stirred, brushing his lips against her breast. The intimacy no longer felt like love; it felt like an invasion.

How many others have felt this same kiss? she thought bitterly, the realization hitting her hard. She felt pain—not just in her body, but deep in her soul—knowing that these moments had been shared with countless women, all of whom he had likely deceived, just like her.

Jeong Eun let out a shallow breath, willing herself to remain calm as Joon Jae continued his intimate gestures, his actions devoid of the love she once craved from him. Inside, she wished for something pure, something genuine, but all she had was the cold reality of his cruel game.

Her thoughts darkened as she gazed at the man she once thought perfect. One day, I'll make him pay. For everything.

As Jeong Eun lay there, trying to mask her internal agony, Joon Jae stirred, his movements becoming more deliberate. He stretched lazily and then, with a satisfied smile, he murmured, "Last night was incredible. I'm still feeling so horny."

He began to move inside her again, his hands roaming with a possessive fervor. Jeong Eun's eyes remained closed as she forced a smile, her voice carefully crafted to sound enthusiastic. "I enjoyed it too," she said, letting out a moan that was more a product of her desperation to keep up appearances than genuine pleasure.

Joon Jae, clearly pleased, chuckled as he teased her. "I almost wish I could take you to the office like this. Imagine the fun we could have."

Jeong Eun's heart clenched at his words, knowing exactly what he meant. She turned her head slightly, hiding her expression, and responded with a sarcastic tone he didn't seem to catch. "Oh, I'm sure you'd love that," she said, her voice dripping with subtle disdain. "It would be quite a spectacle."

He didn't notice the sarcasm, his attention solely focused on his own desires. He continued his movements, reveling in the power he had over her. The contrast between his pleasure and her emotional turmoil was a bitter reminder of the facade she was forced to maintain.

She moaned again, but it was a sound of her will breaking rather than of real pleasure. Inside, she felt a cold determination hardening. I'll endure this now, but one day, he will pay for everything he's done.

Joon Jae, lost in his own world, did not see the fire burning behind her forced smiles. He only saw a willing partner, one who played her role well even as she struggled beneath him.

As Joon Jae continued his relentless kisses, trailing from her shoulders down to her chest, he murmured with a mixture of satisfaction and possessiveness, "You know, I could cancel all my meetings today. I'd much rather have you all to myself."

He pressed a tender kiss against her breast, his lips lingering as his hands roamed over her body, savoring the closeness and intimacy. "The office can wait," he said with a grin, his breath warm against her skin. "Nothing's more important to me right now than having you here with me."