BOUND BY OBSESSION|| L.HS X S.JY

S I X

CHAPTER SIX: BREAKFAST

Jaeyun had barely slept. His mind raced with thoughts of escape, of Sunghoon’s hidden threat, and most of all, of Heeseung’s twisted obsession. Every time he closed his eyes, he could feel Heeseung’s presence—those dark, cold eyes watching him, the weight of his touch lingering on his skin.

Morning arrived in a slow, agonizing crawl, and Jaeyun dragged himself out of bed. He had no idea what the day held, but the suffocating anxiety clung to him like a shadow.

The door to his room creaked open, and Jaeyun flinched as Sunoo stepped inside.

Heeseung’s bodyguard was always composed, his face giving away little emotion. He was tall and sharp-featured, with a quiet intensity that made Jaeyun uneasy. Every move Sunoo made was deliberate, as if he were always calculating, always a step ahead.

“It’s time,” Sunoo said in a low voice.

Jaeyun blinked. “Time for what?”

Sunoo didn’t respond immediately. He gave Jaeyun a once-over, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if assessing whether Jaeyun was going to be a problem today. “Heeseung wants you to join him for breakfast.”

A cold shiver ran down Jaeyun’s spine. Breakfast with Heeseung? He wasn’t sure if he could stomach sitting across from the man who treated him like a possession, let alone share a meal with him.

“I’m not hungry,” Jaeyun muttered.

Sunoo’s gaze didn’t waver. “He didn’t ask if you were hungry. You’re coming.”

Jaeyun felt the weight of the command behind Sunoo’s words. He had no choice. He stood up, his limbs heavy with exhaustion and dread, and followed Sunoo out of the room. The hallway was quiet, each step they took echoing ominously.

As they neared the dining room, Jaeyun’s anxiety spiked. He could hear the faint clatter of cutlery and the murmur of voices. One of them was unmistakably Heeseung’s—smooth, controlled, with that unsettling calmness that Jaeyun had come to dread. But there was another voice too, one that Jaeyun hadn’t heard in days.

Sunghoon.

The realization made Jaeyun’s heart race. He wasn’t ready to face Sunghoon again, especially after Heeseung’s warning. Sunghoon was dangerous, that much was clear, and Jaeyun had no idea how to navigate the power dynamic between the two cousins.

Sunoo stopped in front of the large double doors to the dining room, glancing at Jaeyun before pushing them open. Jaeyun stepped inside, his eyes immediately landing on Heeseung, who sat at the head of the table, his gaze already fixed on Jaeyun.

Sunghoon was seated to Heeseung’s right, his expression unreadable as he cut into his breakfast, not even sparing Jaeyun a glance.

“Good morning,” Heeseung said, his voice carrying a dangerous edge that sent a shiver down Jaeyun’s spine.

Jaeyun forced himself to sit across from them, his hands trembling slightly as he avoided looking directly at either of them. Heeseung’s presence was suffocating, but Sunghoon’s silence was somehow even worse.

“Eat,” Heeseung ordered, gesturing to the plate in front of Jaeyun.

Jaeyun hesitated, his stomach churning at the thought of eating. But he didn’t want to provoke Heeseung’s ire, so he picked up his fork and forced himself to take a few bites. The food tasted like ash in his mouth.

For a few minutes, the only sound in the room was the clatter of cutlery. Jaeyun could feel both Heeseung and Sunghoon watching him, though in very different ways. Heeseung’s gaze was possessive, as if he were mentally laying claim to every inch of Jaeyun, while Sunghoon’s felt more calculating, as though he were evaluating Jaeyun’s usefulness or weakness.

The tension in the room was unbearable, and just when Jaeyun thought he might break under the pressure, Sunghoon finally spoke.

“So, what are your plans for him, Heeseung?”

Jaeyun’s breath hitched, and he dared a glance at Sunghoon, who had a faint smirk on his face. The question was laced with something dark, something malicious, and it sent a wave of unease through Jaeyun.

Heeseung leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Jaeyun’s. “My plans for Jaeyun?” Heeseung’s voice was smooth, but there was an undercurrent of possessiveness that made Jaeyun’s skin crawl. “He’s mine. I don’t need to explain anything beyond that.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “Is that so? I thought you were getting soft. Keeping him around for so long… It’s not like you.”

Heeseung’s expression didn’t change, but the air around him seemed to grow colder. “Don’t mistake my patience for softness, Sunghoon. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Sunghoon chuckled, shaking his head. “If you say so.”

Jaeyun could feel the tension between the two cousins growing, a silent battle for dominance playing out in the air. Heeseung’s grip on his fork tightened slightly, but his face remained calm, unbothered.

He didn’t want to be here. Not between them. Not anywhere near Heeseung or Sunghoon. But before Jaeyun could find an excuse to leave, Sunoo entered the room again, standing silently by the door.

“Heeseung,” Sunoo spoke up, his voice as calm and steady as ever. “There’s an issue with the delivery.”

Heeseung’s expression darkened. “I’ll deal with it later. Keep everything on schedule.”

Sunoo nodded and turned to leave, but Heeseung’s voice stopped him. “Wait. Take Jaeyun back to his room. I don’t want him wandering around.”

Jaeyun’s heart sank. He didn’t want to be alone, locked up again, but he had no choice. He stood up quietly, his gaze flickering toward Sunghoon for a moment. Sunghoon’s eyes met his, a glint of something dangerous lurking behind that smile.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Sunghoon said softly as Jaeyun walked past him, his voice barely loud enough for Jaeyun to hear.

Jaeyun stiffened, his steps faltering for just a second before he followed Sunoo out of the room.

As they walked through the hallway, Jaeyun’s mind raced. What did Sunghoon mean? And why did he feel like he was trapped in the middle of something far darker than he could have ever imagined?

Sunoo didn’t speak the entire way, and when they finally reached Jaeyun’s room, he opened the door and gestured for him to step inside.

“Stay here,” Sunoo said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Jaeyun nodded, his mouth dry as he stepped into the familiar cage that had become his prison. The door closed behind him with a soft click, and Jaeyun was left alone once more.

But this time, the silence wasn’t comforting. It felt suffocating, as though the walls were closing in on him. The weight of Heeseung’s obsession and Sunghoon’s veiled threats pressed down on Jaeyun, making it hard to breathe.

What was Heeseung planning? And what role did Sunghoon play in all of this?

Jaeyun’s thoughts swirled, fear gnawing at him from the inside. He couldn’t escape. He couldn’t fight. All he could do was wait, trapped in this nightmare, as Heeseung’s obsession grew more dangerous with each passing day.